In this Elden Ring Build Guide, I’ll be showing you my Dragon Cult Incantations build. This is a Shadow of the Erdtree build that takes place after level 150. If you’ve been looking for a lightning build for Shadow of the Erdtree burst down enemies then you might want to check this build-out.

The Dragon Priestess build focuses on using Dragon Cult Incantations. This build features a new Dragon Cult incantation, Knight's Lightning Spear, which is exceptionally powerful. The spell has incredible range and can still release projectiles even if the caster is interrupted mid-animation. Charging it up increases its damage, and its significant stance damage allows for breaking boss stances effectively.

When a boss is stance broken, a powerful combination involves using Knight's Lightning Spear followed by a charged Ancient Dragons' Lightning Strike. This combination can finish off many bosses if they are below half health, especially medium to large-sized bosses. The synergy between these spells makes this build extremely potent in boss fights, often bypassing the challenging second phases of many encounters.

Other spells used in this build include Lightning Spear, which serves as a staple for any Dragon Cultist build. It is a good ranged single-target spell that can be charged for extra damage, ideal for eliminating regular enemies efficiently. Lightning Strike is another useful spell for dealing with groups of enemies, as its straight-line AOE can hit multiple targets. Honed Bolt is a fast-casting alternative to Lightning Spear, but Knight's Lightning Spear often outperforms it against tougher enemies. Ancient Dragons' Lightning Strike is the go-to spell for larger AOE damage and is devastating against medium to large enemies. Electrocharge, another new spell, is currently not recommended due to its minimal damage and lack of synergy with other attack-boosting talismans. In testing, it also did not maintain stance damage on bosses, making it less effective for this build's aggressive playstyle.

For sacred seals, the Erdtree Seal is used for its high incantation scaling with 80 Faith, while the Gravel Stone Seal in the off-hand boosts Dragon Cult incantation damage. If possible, using two Gravel Stone Seals (one upgraded and one unupgraded) can slightly outperform the Erdtree Seal setup.

Armor-wise, the build uses the new reusable item Priestess Heart, which transforms the player into a dragon priestess. This transformation provides a 7% damage negation boost and increased resistances. The light weight of this setup allows for light rolling, crucial for dodging attacks. However, this build has zero poise, meaning players will be interrupted easily if hit during spell casting. The Priestess Heart can be reused to grant a 20% damage boost to Dragon Cult incantations for 60 seconds without costing FP, making it ideal for continuous combat.

An alternative armor set is the Death Knight Set, which provides a 2% boost to Dragon Cult incantations per piece worn. While this set offers better protection, it provides less overall damage boost compared to the Priestess Heart. The Death Knight Armor Set might be better for players new to the DLC or those needing extra protection, but the Priestess Heart is preferred for more experienced players seeking higher damage output.

For talismans, the build uses the Flock's Canvas Talisman to increase incantation damage, the Godfrey Icon to enhance charged spell damage, and the Lightning Scorpion Charm to further boost lightning damage. To mitigate the increased damage taken, the Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman can be used to boost physical damage protection, especially useful when exploring the landscape. In the fourth slot, the Crusade Insignia typically increases damage further when enemies are killed, providing a stacking damage boost as you progress through the landscape. However, during boss fights, this talisman is less effective, so alternatives like the Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman for added protection, the Ritual Sword Talisman for increased damage at full health, or the Two-Headed Turtle Talisman for stamina recovery are recommended.

At level 159, the attributes for this build are: 55 Vigor, 38 Mind, 20 Endurance, 8 Strength, 12 Dexterity, 16 Intelligence, 80 Faith, and 9 Arcane. Vigor is set at 55 for survivability, with a goal of reaching 60. Mind is at 38 to provide ample FP for spell casting, with potential to increase further. Endurance is at 20 to enable light rolling, essential for dodging. Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, and Arcane are kept at minimal levels, as they are not needed for this build. Faith is maximized at 80 to take full advantage of the Erdtree Seal's scaling.

The Lightning-Shrouding Cracked Tear is used to boost lightning damage. Other options include the Greenburst Crystal Tear for stamina recovery, the Opaline Hardtear for increased protection, and the Stonebarb Cracked Tear for increased stance damage.

The recommended Great Rune is Radahn's Great Rune for additional health, FP, and stamina. Morgott's Great Rune for extra health and Malenia’s Great Rune for health regeneration upon taking damage are also viable options.