Smarag the Shardstone Dragon

Smarag, the Shimmering Stone Dragon, is an optional boss from’Elden Ring. You meet him in Liurnia des Lacs, right in front of the Académie de Raya Lucaria. This stone dragon patrols the shallow waters of the lake, near the entrance to the academy.

You don't have to kill him to progress, but he still has access to the academy. Here's a complete guide to locating him, understanding his resistances, and defeating him.

What is Smarag in Elden Ring ?

Smarag is a Shining Stone Dragon that guards the entrance to the Academy of Raya Lucaria in the region of Liurnia.

This is an optional boss: you don't need to defeat it to progress in Elden Ring. It might be the second dragon you encounter, after Agheel in Lake Limgrave.

Its full name in the game is «the Shimmering Stone Dragon” Smarag«. He shares his attack patterns with other dragons from the world of’Elden Ring : Agheel, Greyll, Ekzykes, Adula and Borealis.

If you want to know How many bosss are there on a Elden Ring? are available; a dedicated page on our wiki provides the complete answer.

Lore of Smarag

Smarag is one of the ancient dragons that have made their home in the waters of Liurnia. Like the other Shardstone dragons in the game, it has scales imbued with Shardstone magic, which explains its distinctive magical breath.

These creatures are associated with the tradition of Raya Lucaria and the academy that dominates the region. In the world of’Elden Ring, ancient dragons are powerful beings that the wizards at the academy have long studied.

Information about Smarag

• Type: boss (optional) from the region of Liurnia
• Nearest Site of Grace: Collapsed Ruins by the Lake
• Multiplayer is authorized for this boss
• You can call upon the Spiritual Ashes to help you
• Main loot: a Dragon Heart and some runes.

The Shining Stone Key is not a drop from the boss. It’s located right behind Smarag, on a wizard’s corpse, resting on a rock. You can pick it up without necessarily defeating the dragon.

A boss is the main requirement for admission to the academy: without the Key of Radiance Stone of Liurnia, you can't go through the entrance gate of Raya Lucaria. the Dragon Heart It allows him to unlock dragon communion spells at the dedicated altar.

Where to find Smarag ?

Smarag is located in Liurnia des Lacs, west of the Academy of Raya Lucaria. This Shimmering Stone Dragon patrols the shallow waters of the lake, right in front of the academy's entrance.

The easiest starting point is still the Blessing Site at the Collapsed Ruins by the Lake. From there, head due south, following the rugged island on your left. You'll come across the dragon pretty quickly.

You can also start from the website of the Temple district. In that case, head north and you'll end up right at Smarag.

Invokes Torrent before entering its area. Your mount allows you to dodge its charges and keep your distance from the stone dragon.

Strengths and Vulnerabilities of Smarag

Know the resistors of Smarag is essential before facing it. This stone dragon is highly resistant to fire, like most dragons in the game. However, lightning is its main weakness.

Table of Strengths and Weaknesses

A lightning-based build significantly speeds up combat. A weapon coated with lightning grease works very well. Shards of Stone spells also deal good damage. On the other hand, avoid firearms just as you would against Makar, the Magma Dragon.

Guide: Attacks by Smarag and how to avoid them

Smarag It unleashes a series of attacks that are easy to read once you've spotted them. This boss dragon follows predictable patterns that you can quickly anticipate.

The Breath of Shining Stone

This is the dragon's main attack. Smarag spits a wide spray of magic onto the ground in front of him. Step back to the side rather than straight behind him: the damage area spreads out in a semicircle. On Torrent, a simple sidestep is enough to avoid the magical attack.

Paw swipes and bites

When you stay right up against the dragon's head, it swats with its paws or tries to bite. The area under its belly and on its hind legs is much safer. Position yourself there to strike without too much risk.

A leap followed by a charge

The dragon gains altitude and then dives toward you. Torrent allows you to to flee quickly. As soon as you see Smarag Take off, sprint away, then come back in for the attack after the impact.

The combination of wings and tail

This melee combo happens when you stay facing him on the ground for too long. He alternates between a wing attack and a tail whip. It remains mobile and prefers to dart quickly beneath the creature rather than engage in direct confrontations with it.

How to Win Smarag : Combat strategies?

Here are the best strategies for defeating this Shardstone Dragon in Elden Ring.

Main strategy: mounted combat with Torrent

This is the most effective method against Smarag. Remains mounted on Torrent throughout the battle.

Circle around the dragon, stamps its paws with each pass, and retreats as soon as it prepares its Blazing Stone breath attack. This mixed approach gives you the mobility to dodge most of its attacks.

Always aim for the hind legs and the belly. These are the weak points the ones that are easiest to reach on horseback. Between attack sequences, you have a window of two to three strikes before the dragon reacts.

Alternative Strategy: Summon the Spiritual Ashes

Summon your Spiritual Ashes right at the start of the battle. They'll distract the dragon while you attack. Smarag target the invocation, which gives you openings to strike safely.

Ashes with good damage resistance perform better: they last longer in a boss zone.

Strategy for Magic Builds

If you're playing a spell-based build, stay at a distance and use Shardstone spells. Spells like Glintstone Pebble or the academy's more powerful spells deal good damage to this dragon.

Keep Torrent to avoid attacks and return to casting range after each dodge.

Strategy for Melee Builds

In close combat, the area under the dragon's belly is your best ally. Stick close to its hind legs and keep attacking. When Smarag prepares a soufflé or a takeoff, step back immediately. Coat your weapon with lightning grease to maximize damage against this fire-resistant boss.

My Struggle Against Smarag

At the time of the battle, I was around level 60, and Smarag It still hurt a lot. I waited until I leveled up before I defeated it.

This isn't the hardest boss in’Elden Ring, but his template and its area-of-effect damage can catch you off guard in a flash.

The most effective way is still to call Torrent. On horseback, you stay mobile enough to dodge charges and strike at the legs between attacks.

I also used Spiritual Ashes to distract him—it really changes how difficult the fight is.

Watch the video below to see the fight in detail:

Explanatory video in French by Alucare, ideal complement to the page. View video (you can use YouTube's automatic translation)

Loot after defeating Smarag

Once you've defeated the dragon, you'll receive several significant rewards:

• Dragon's Heart : Can be exchanged at the Dragon Communion Altar for communion incantations, which are very useful for a faith build
• Key of Radiance Stone : Essential for entering the academy, it's located right behind where the dragon is. Be sure to pick it up from the wizard's corpse before or after your battle.
• Runes : a big stack of runes to help you progress with your build

The Shining Stone Key is the true progression reward for this boss. The Dragon Heart and the Communion Incantations are bonuses for players who want a Faith or Draconic Magic build. To learn more about bosss and the game’s zones, check out our wiki Elden Ring.

Other dragons to face in Elden Ring

Smarag is far from being the only dragon in the game. Here are the main dragons you can encounter in Elden Ring :

• Agheel : the second dragon that many encounter first, in the lake of Limgrave
• Greyll : dragon from the region of Caelid, much more aggressive
• Ekzykes : decaying dragon from Caelid, with a burp
• Adula : the straw-stone dragon associated with the quest for Ranni, To Nokstella and in the Manus Celes Cathedral
• Borealis : the icy fog of the snow-covered plateau
• Fortissax : a boss dragon that can be accessed through a specific quest
• Placidusax : legendary dragon of Farum Azula, one of the most impressive bosss in the game
• Lansseax : a lightning dragon found in several areas of the open world
• Makar : magma dragon with similar resistances

These dragons all share similar attack patterns. The experience gained from fighting Smarag will help you prepare well to face them.

Other major boss models from’Elden Ring

If you want to advance in the game beyond Liurnia, several key boss challenges await you:

• Margit : the goalkeeper of Stormveil, often the first challenging boss encountered
• Godrick : Lord Demiurge of Stormveil
• Radahn : boss colossal from Caelid, one of the most formidable
• Rykard : Lord of Blasphemy, boss from Volcano Manor
• Morgott : boss, the capital's main line Leyndell
• Mohg : Lord of Blood, accessible through a hidden passage
• Malenia : boss (optional) is considered the hardest in the game
• Radagon and Elden Beast : the final boss from’Elden Ring
• Maliketh : boss from Farum Azula
• Godfrey and Hoarah Loux : first Erdtree Lord, in the royal capital
• Gideon Ofnir : boss at the end of the game, Sir Gideon Ofnir the Omniscient One
• Loretta : Knight of Raya Lucaria, boss of the academy
• Astel : boss stellar related to the quest for Ranni

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you Smarag Is it required?

No, it's an optional boss. But the Shardstone Key it drops is essential for entering the Academy of Raya Lucaria.

If you want to access the academy, you'll need the key.

Good news: You don't have to win Smarag to get it, since it's on a corpse right behind him. You can pick it up stealthily without triggering a fight.

At what level should we compete? Smarag ?

Levels 50 through 70 are recommended for this boss from Liurnia. Below level 50, the Shardstone Dragon's attacks can kill you in two or three hits. Starting at level 60, the fight becomes manageable with Torrent.

Can we play cooperatively against Smarag ?

Yes, multiplayer is allowed for this boss. You can summon a ghost player to help you defeat the dragon. Place a Furlcalling effigy to activate the summons.

What is the difference between Smarag and Adula ?

Adula is a stone-and-straw dragon associated with the main quest of Ranni. Smarag is a radiant stone dragon that guards the entrance to Raya Lucaria. They share similar attack patterns, but Adula is generally considered to be more difficult.

Available on PS4 ?

Yes, Elden Ring is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox and PC. The boss Smarag is available in all versions of the game.

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