Elden Ring - Awkward changes

Transformations, and dragon form especially, have been a popular request for the DLC, and now that it's out, those requests seem to have been answered. The path of the dragon has always been a complicated one in-universe though, so is it any better in the Lands Between?
Song used: Korok Forest (Night) - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild OST

[@ZullietheWitch]

The stone heart used for the basic dragon form transformation claims it's a relic of an older form of Dragon Communion, so it seems the modern version where Placidusax has ordered all the drakes be hunted down and feasted on is a strange distortion of its original purpose.

[@LeMann777-vl7qd]

Must...Curse...... BAAAAAAYLE!!!!!

[@seamusfinnerty5897]

alternatively, placi's version is the old one, and the modern version where you eat the hearts is a corruption over time. After all, florissax doesn't have you eat the hearts, she just sorta holds her hand out to you.

[@cyberninjazero5659]

​@@seamusfinnerty5897From the Rock Heart description "Heart consumed in the ancient, original form of Dragon Communion" So it always involved consuming hearts

[@theformation3781]

I think since there's a massive focus on the ancient dragons being made of rock (ancient dragon smithing stones and gravel stones), priestess heart is also mentioned to be made entirely of stone like the rock heart and quite specifically a heart of an ancient dragon and unlike all the drake hearts+heart of bayle the rock heart and priestess heart don't have flesh components, and the rock heart and priestess heart both state that it turns you into an ancient dragon per their descriptions instead of a normal dragon, presumably the rock heart is also that of an ancient dragon and implies original dragon communion was anathema to the dragon communion of today and involved hunting ancient dragons and becoming ancient dragons eventually instead of wyrms (which is obvioisly a no-no if we go by placidusax's decree and implies a shift in culture). Shadow of the Erdtree is full of remnants of practices that were overwritten by their successors in the lands between due to the golden order, so the rock heart of the original dragon communion might be one of the only remnants of the older communion. This can presumably also answer some questions about dragonkin soldiers, since the rock heart also implies being above ground is important to the draconification process (also implied by dragonkin weapons specifically as they call ancient dragons their skyborn kin) as apparently witnessing a faded and tarnished sunset was the final thing someone becoming an ancient dragon saw with human eyes (which seems to be allegorical to being above ground or being born under the sky; since the original dragon communion would have been driven underground due to being superseded by the new one, similar to how the underground has a lot of practices anathema to the golden order, one might assume the dragonkin soldiers are what was the eventual fate of this ancient process in the lands between; their features are also somewhat similar to how cave based life "devolves" a lot of traits).

[@mruczek1273]

Have look at Bayle and The dragonkin soldiers, you might find something interesting there.

[@johnyappleseed8267]

I kinda understand why dragons are always hostile. When my character looks like a lizard cooked beef jerky style, I too become very self conscious to anyone in my line of sight and attack unprovoked.

[@TheGreatThicc]

Isn't jerky uncooked meat?

[@omegaheartless]

No?

[@omegaheartless]

No?

[@Nat-ri3ip]

You mean you don't attack unprovoked even when you're not transformed ?

[@FaithG-s1f]

@@TheGreatThicc not technically cooked, but im sure you dont need to correct someone on a silly description they gave themselves. Unless youre seriously that... special.

[@topcat59]

It makes sense that the transformation would be more graceful in Elden ring, since you’re technically being rewarded for killing bayle’s cursed bloodline and being acknowledged as a true dragon that’s still loyal to placidusax.🐱

[@KingAlpha4108]

Idk I feel like most people killed him too RIP one of the coolest bosses

[@Sioolol]

>Kill Placidusax >Kill Bayle >Refuse to elaborate >Become half-dragon >Leave

[@martusmartus8976]

​@@Sioololremember to make florissax your maiden

[@LongClawzHidden]

@@martusmartus8976 eggs for breakfast WHAT 💀

[@drdca8263]

@@LongClawzHidden… even unfertilized, this still (to me) feels much more like cannibalism than the consumption of the other kind of gamete (and accompanying supporting fluid) does? Which, idk if that feeling really makes sense.. Maybe it is because an unfertilized egg looks the same as a fertilized egg? Eating something that looks (even on the inside) basically identical to something that could hatch into a sapient being, feels too cannibalism-adjacent to me. (Note: I’m not opposed to like, eating chicken eggs. But I don’t feel that I could be comfortable eating the unfertilized eggs of a sapient species? Well, I guess *maybe* if it was a ubiquitous thing among their species to consume unfertilized eggs they lay? Also I don’t know how to tell whether an egg is fertilized. (… birds do internal fertilization, right? (I know ducks do at least) So, do chickens just, know whether the egg they’ve just laid has been fertilized? Or do they just assume they all have been? Or…???)) Edit: I looked it up. So basically, the answer to “how do hens know if the egg is fertilized” is, “They don’t. If they want it/them to hatch, they will try to incubate it for 21 days, and if it isn’t hatching by then, they will give up on it. Some might also change their mind. Younger hens will often not ‘get broody’ even after laying fertilized eggs.” I get the impression that whether they get “broody” doesn’t even substantially depend on whether they have been with a rooster lately? Also, sometimes they will steal an egg laid by another hen and incubate that. This all seems quite alien if you try to translate it to a sapient being. I mean, I guess in some human societies, infanticide has been not all that uncommon… So, maybe it isn’t exactly against human nature to not particularly value an already-outside-the-mother distinct-human-life ? I guess maybe the reason I find this alien could be more cultural than something intrinsic to humanity..? So, uh, I guess if chickens were sapient, there wouldn’t be many “pro-life” chickens??

[@r3gret2079]

Aw, look how happy bro is to be a dragon. He is literally smiling from ear to ear. How cute.

[@edmarcamy]

They may be smiling on the outside, but inside they’re 🗿.

[@ultimatevtgb7551]

🐴

[@GeorgeDroyd1998]

Darksouls 2 did this best

[@DaJodad]

​@@ultimatevtgb7551ìiikkkkkkķ75

[@grantharrison1715]

0:04 my brain just automatically adds in the GNNNNAAAAAAAAAAAH at this point.

[@lordfickle8900]

I UNDERSTOOD THIS REFERENCE

[@fafniroth]

Good to know I'm not alone

[@ONshowON]

ThePruld

[@wumb0mannnn314]

We must🐉for it is the true dragon roar

[@CosmicMischief]

"Behold I am the drag- GNAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!"

[@Time4theJuice]

Never caught that the naked drake form had the funny omnivore teeth. That's a pretty good detail

[@Pennywise12528]

You can even see a canine in there, but it's not where you'd expect it to be. Like the transformation recycled the base human's teeth, and knew that teeth went in the mouth, but didn't realize that there was supposed to be a specific order to them because dragons just have lots of interchangeable pointies.

[@Turian_Hustle]

@@Pennywise12528AI assisted dragon transformation.

[@cakehunt3r442]

I think the headmesh underneath is there for the designer to have a fixed point where human features would be to garantee that it is entirely covered. And then probably just left it in...

[@HolyKnight-kh1im]

So the only way a human can truly become a dragon without going mad or becoming a monstrosity is through these hearts. Probably the only time a truly successful attempt at dragonhood happens in this franchise.

[@colorpg152]

unless you consumed the heart of bayle then you are doomed to be consumed from the inside, perhaps a hint that its ruinous after all

[@luna7157]

​@@colorpg152I think the implication behind consuming Bayle's heart is that he will eventually regrow from within you and break free.

[@Alex-cq1zr]

I think dark souls 2 ones aren't bad either - they get a bit of (living?)armor at least and look dope af

[@duckyduckington9736]

@@luna7157 well yeah, bayle isnt linked into the erdtree the same as placi and fortisaxx, he's ancient like placi but unlike placi, his immortality is from his own spirit.

[@niall_sanderson]

@@luna7157Twenty bucks says that if/when Elden Ring gets a sequel, Bayle will reappear and be heavily implied to have emerged from the player character of this game

[@GerudoKing_]

So if that is how ancient dragons look in more human-like form, then Lansseax would… Vyke, you are a man of strange taste.

[@XDarkGreyX]

Don't judge the man

[@todd3143]

the lore says lansseax loves vyke, but did not specify in what kind of love. maybe it was motherly love, and vyke was more romantically involved with his maiden, you know, like us

[@nunaalsoknownasohare6388]

To be fair it seemed like Vyke was more invested in his finger maiden

[@GayLPer]

a man of good* taste

[@aftertone3146]

His favorite book was The Lusty Argonian Maid

[@jstar3382]

In prior games we forced draconic aspects onto our player, something that was not meant to be. In ER, we more accept draconic strength into ourselves, and allow it to change us. Its not nearly as forced The forced transformation is still present with the Lamenters Mask

[@duckyduckington9736]

its much more forced in dark souls 3, in dark souls 2 its much more natural, hell you see an entire group of them protecting and living in harmony with dragons.

[@Gabu_]

@@duckyduckington9736 You have to remember those dragons we see in DS2 are largely "false dragons", as the true dragons were all hunted and killed long before the rise of Drangleic. That's why the DLC has us going into the past to fight Sihn.

[@PngReaver]

That dragon form is still much stronger than the shit they gave us in Elden Ring ​@@Gabu_

[@217adaptiveperspective]

​@@PngReaver Atleast in 2 it actually gave some protection since it was considered a set

[@mayday2237]

I like to imagine coming to become as one with these two new hearts has spared our tarnished their fate as crawling Wyrm. Said fate was something of an unknown punishment for failing to become a TRUE Drake warrior, and the "Reward" for either accomplishing the art's purpose or meditating on its deeper meaning is to find peace with that burgeoning inner dragon and state of Limbo.

[@metalmonster9536]

Maybe transforming animation is more graceful because the Dragonlord is overseeing it as part of dragon communion? At least we Tarnished are free from the curse of *GNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA*

[@cherrycola4476]

We will never be free. "What is done cannot he undone"

[@retronnity]

2:18 - ancient dragon man said "🗿"

[@polyraxhehe-jf6dg]

🗿

[@thaias9654]

🗿

[@silverreaps6803]

🗿

[@rayzu4380]

🗿

[@godjj8482]

Is that a malicious face from Utrakill

[@alastor8091]

No TRUE DRAKE WARRIOR would ask this question Zullie, how could you??? :(

[@metalmonster9536]

AND I, IGON!

[@piotr78]

What question?

[@axllow3914]

​@@piotr78 The title probably got changed

[@alastor8091]

@@piotr78 The original upload had something like "Is becoming a Dragon worth it?" or something.

[@ghostinbruh7798]

Thumbnail

[@GigaR2610]

Been watching for years and just wanted to break silence... When I see a new video of yours drops I CANNOT click on it fast enough, the lore, the implications, the details, the music, the presentation just hit a vibe with me so so much, to me at least you're my favourite Souls/Lore creator and I just wanted to say thank you so much Zullie, keep up the work and look after yourself 🌟

[@ZullietheWitch]

I'm always bad at responding to positive comments, so I'm going to stop for once and specifically say, thank you for the kind words.

[@AnmarBatarfi]

​@@ZullietheWitchkorok forest music goes hard

[@mystic930]

@Pooslice2610 great name youre a legend and zullie youre a legend both legends

[@ForumArcade]

I feel the same way, Mr. Pooslice. What a name. 😂 I wrote a comment expressing similar sentiments just before seeing yours. Zullie's is a very special channel.

[@moonlightning8269]

Absolutely agree, Zullie’s videos always put a smile on my face

[@ladonmccabe]

It is said that after granting our beloved Dragon Priestess sleep, she gains a human heart. If she goes from Ancient Dragon>dragon human>dragon with human heart, could she possibly become a human with a human heart? And if so, would it really be a stretch for a human, that has been eating numerous dragon hearts to become a dragon human>dragon human with a *rock heart* >ancient dragon? I mean, magma wyrms already show that we can become those, as we eat hearts haphazardly. Perhaps a rock heart is the catalyst to making us the true dragon(lord) Florissax believes we will be?

[@MrDaimeon]

Fromsoft, hire this person!

[@anodyne-4736]

A Dragonlord ending would be sick af

[@ltcaphide]

No. she's still an ancient dragon, she just isn't recognized as one because she broke the terms thereof. It doesn't matter if she breaks her vow, she's still an ancient dragon.

[@CelestialDraconis]

Dragon's Dogma still with the best ending because it let me become a full-fledged dragon.

[@jacobfreeman5444]

I think the problem is that it takes enormous effort and time to make the transition. These petty transformations are just the surface level of a change that has to go all the way to the core and has just started. With magma wyrms being what happens when you fail to temper and discipline yourself. But understandably something that takes so long would engender impatience so failure is almost always the result. Seemingly the ancient dragons are creatures of vast lives, unfathomable patience, and incredible self discipline.

[@__-tp4tm]

For all that self discipline and patience, every single dragon is kinda immediately on my azz, even ambushing at times... They brought it upon themselves is all I'm saying.

[@jacobfreeman5444]

@__-tp4tm you ARE tarnished after all. While what that really means is not clear what is clear is every being in the lands between see you as a pariah. An untouchable. Someone that they can and should inflict horrible torment upon in full justification. Few are willing to greet you as a person worthy of any respect and decency. Maybe that is unjustified and maybe it isn't. We don't really know what the majority of tarnished have done so it is possible most have been true villains

[@__-tp4tm]

@@jacobfreeman5444 The tarnished followed the first Elden Lord into an exile war somewhere else, no shame in finding our end there just to get brought back by grace. Well, anything that's attacking me, I also got full justification to defend myself, especially when it's Dragons or Gods trying to smite me with their different powers. They all can try and end me, they can all succeed for all I care - Yet, as long as the grace does not abandon me, I will prevail.

[@jacobfreeman5444]

@@__-tp4tm but what is grace? Why does it choose some but not others? Why does not bearing the mark of it even though one is risen by it enough to turn so many against you? I agree you are not obligated to make the petty denizens of the lands between lives easier by letting them have their way. Most are no more civilized than a stray dog by the time you meet them. They failed to make something worth holding onto so now it is your turn

[@psychohuh]

It's interesting that the only two dragons with confirmed human forms were women. I wonder if it was easier for them or if male dragons are just too prideful to bother with it.

[@ZullietheWitch]

Both of them took on a human form to specifically serve in the role of "priestess", so there's probably some of the usual FromSoftware emphasis on divine femininity.

[@traceantonacci2495]

That’s because dragon girls are superior to dragon boys. Just look at Priscilla versus Bayle.

[@sophieprime4669]

​@@traceantonacci2495implying bayle isnt the most fuccable lizard ive ever seen

[@InternetHydra]

@@ZullietheWitch Come to think of it, How many different versions of their "magical maiden" architype exist in ER?

[@LordBackuro]

I think it’s mainly because the female ones are the only ones who actually had a good reason to, mainly Lansseax and Vyke liking each other as well as the dragon priestess just doing their job more effectively probably in that form. The male dragons don’t have any reason, to become humanoid.

[@whateveryousayfam5240]

Dragon these runes across yo face

[@AzraelSoulHunter]

Florissax my beloved. Ranni could never compete.

[@acrazyweeb7225]

Maiden better than Ranni: **Exists** Miyazaki: “There can only be one.”

[@MrDaimeon]

The moment I learned Florissax would join us, I gave up on Ranni entirely. And knowing she uses an incantation meant for one she'd love that she never used before until US? Yeah, no. She's truly the best maiden

[@AzraelSoulHunter]

@@MrDaimeon Florissax + Gold Mask ending is official canon now. Common Ranni L.

[@arcanefire7511]

Okay now, too far

[@acrazyweeb7225]

​@@AzraelSoulHunter As a Drake Warrior, we accept that Bayle's spawn are our prey and our enemy for what they did to the Dragonlord Placidusax. Ranni, interestingly enough, has alligned herself with a drake (Adula) therefore making her our enemy. TL;DR kick that porcelain smurf's ass and sentence her to execution for heresy against the Golden Order and siding with the Omen-Dragon's crotchlings.

[@Kroododile553]

1:40 “Vyke…? Anything to say for yourself hmmm???”

[@justinrodriguez5957]

"Worth it."

[@curiouscommand5916]

Bro is not beating the scalie allegations.

[@themrrental2509]

"I'd fuckin' do it again!"

[@Xgenstudioz777]

Vyke what? Vyke ended up choosing a human woman, lol. It was never said that Lansseax's love was mutual.

[@Archris17]

Nope, evidence rejected, we're not accepting anything that says Lansseax's human form wasn't a total babe. Sorry not sorry! :P

[@SharuMagala]

The human face in the transformation reminds me of Sekiro’s Old Dragons

[@artemisDev]

very true

[@Liam-pi9vi]

What they did with the Dragon lore in the DLC was perfect. I always felt odd when I was using ancient dragon lightning and communion spells, the former being a power gained through dragon worship, and the other through their deaths. But the adversarial relationship between the ancient dragons and drakes in the DLC reconciled that. I’m interested what the “ancient” form of dragon communion mentioned in the Rock Heart’s item description was done for, though.

[@DracoSafarius]

Could be in the unlikely event one dies they choose a follower to ascend as one. Decent way to keep your numbers high since they don't seem to breed often.

[@acrazyweeb7225]

Honestly I feel like ancient dragon communion could be what lead to the dragon man, while modern dragon communion is what leads to magma wyrms. Think of it like this: When the priestesses were there, the dragon communion partakers had someone to guide them and help control their urges, which I think would help them obtain a rock heart and become the perfect blend of dragon and human, a being of respectable position in both camp. Modern Dragon Communion lacks the guidance of these priestesses, and due to that, partakers are more likely to succumb to greed and a lust for power, turning them into monsters that are unacceptable to either humans or dragons.

[@Liam-pi9vi]

@@acrazyweeb7225 that’s a cool theory, I like that.

[@burghleyimeanberdly6513]

one weird throughline with Elden Ring's dragon hybrids is a lack of eyes, it's seen with the stone dragon heart and the Nox's attempts

[@madserialkiller3394]

2:07 i just noticed this dragon form still retains human teeth

[@warcoder]

0:47 for a moment I was like: "damn, Igon has pretty eyes", then realized that it probably was just his helmet

[@scarypoltergeist]

2:33 i think the rock heart is the heart of a ancient drake and was made to resemble one, while the priestess form was made using the same body and textures to save them time. the draconians are also probably descended from ancient dragons who became human, as they are the only dragons mentioned having done so, so giving her grey skin like the draconians makes sense

[@colorpg152]

but we already saw the hearts of drakes and they are all fleshy like the priestess if anything the rock heart looks more like a ancient dragon

[@EricIsntSmart]

I was kinda hoping that bayle would drop a remembrance that has his spells, and his heart instead would be a reusable tool like the rock heart, that gives a more bayle-like dragon form

[@Celt420]

I'm sure it'll happen eventually, but I would absolutely love to see an inspection of the items in the Specimen House. I was in awe the first time I saw them

[@ForumArcade]

Your channel is so interesting for being as successful as it is while remaining considtent and bucking nearly every trend in KZbin's "meta". Thanks for being you.

[@rickrains7661]

Not only is turning into a dragon cool as hell but the priestess has such a nice voice

[@skeletor1375]

I love how you always use the korok forest theme in these.god it brings back memories

[@kingofflames738]

I still pray to one day get a game that let's us fully transform into majestic flying dragons.

[@justpython4021]

Well, there is divinity 2 ego draconis for you. Literally about a dragon knight

[@BackwardsPancake]

@@justpython4021 Fair warning though, it's the most Larian game-ass Larian game, possibly ever. (In that it's core mechanics are very hit-or-miss and don't sell the fantasy very well, and it completely runs out of steam in the final act)

[@lleer00na.79]

1:45 vyke was so real for this.

[@Fuogor]

The humanoid face (particularly the jaw/cheeks) reminds me of when you max out sliders in the character creator. Perhaps it was just a placeholder so that the modelers knew to make it big enough such that it wouldn't oddly look as though part of your character's head caved in during the transformation? Not that it would particularly stand out anyhow, or that it would be the craziest part about, you know, *turning into a dragon-man* (or is it just a dragon?).

[@ethanwashington6789]

Considering theres probably over a dozen helmets that do that, i doubt fromsoft cares that much about the whole head-getting-caved-in thing

[@michajerchel7350]

So you're telling me that Godwyn had fun with a lizard person, not basicaly just a person? Our golden boi is kinky

[@FalcoMoment]

I'm sure Fortissax kept it all a secret, he wouldn't want that being known

[@Athena908]

Godwyn and Fortissax, Vyke and Lansseax, now the Tarnished and Florissax. Fromsoft said Dragonfuckers Rights 💀

[@captaincluckers8686]

Not only that, Fortissax is never mentioned to be able to transform so Godwyn was likely banging him in full-on dragon form. In other words he has excellent taste.

[@edmarcamy]

What are you people on about? Godwyn and Fortissax were allies. Where are you taking this stuff from?

[@captaincluckers8686]

@@edmarcamy Look, we're horny for dragons. Let us have our fun.

[@maninthesnow4393]

I wish being higher ranks in the covenants would lead to different appearances.

[@elleofmusic]

I wonder if the un-Ancient Dragon-like appearance of their "humanoid" forms are how the drakes came to be in the first place? The Ancient Dragons barely even seem like organic creatures, so in taking on a more humanoid form, their draconic features naturally become more fleshy, leading to a drake-like appearance. And this would then potentially facilitate breeding between humans and dragons, resulting in hybrids that eventually lead to Draconic people and drakes respectively.

[@Grimsly3736]

Ds2’s Dragon Transformation/Armor is made up from scales of Kalameet or the “Black Dragon” as the game puts it and all the Black Dragon weapon are made from his tail even though the Obsidian Greatsword was already his tail weapon? Odd and the shield is of his talons so essentially Kalameet got the Monster Hunter Treatment, the dragon head stone’s flame breath attack looks more like Kalameet flames too.

[@jamesvarela233]

Tbh there’s more dragon weapons in DS2 than in Elden Ring that’s actually good.

[@GreebleClown]

“Those who feast on too many dragon hearts risked becoming Magma Wyrms” And that would be a bad thing? That sounds awesome! Not as awesome as becoming a realm dragon, but imagine how fun just rampaging would be?!

[@xXFuzzeeXx]

I mean, sure, up until the next candidate for Elden Lord comes and murders you.

[@walrideralp6275]

magma wyrms also cant fly so its still not truly perfect that said being a big ass wyrm with powerful scales, jaws, and fire breath (all while still retaining the capacity to wield melee weapons) is a very tempting offer

[@metalmonster9536]

​@@xXFuzzeeXxAnd just because they don't want to bother finding elevator keys 😂

[@selenagamya1612]

iirc, the transformation is agonizing both physically and mentally

[@KingJus122]

@@selenagamya1612yeah u pretty much lose all of your sanity and intelligence so it’s not like you’ll be able to enjoy being a wyrm anyway

[@relariis_the_paradox]

Zullie: "these new forms are arguably smoother, a better blend of human and dragon." Me: "I can't stop looking at those crusty malnourished and discolored pelvis bones, it's so jarring. I can forgive the rest of the model but it looks like an extra set of vertebrae above each leg and two extra tail bones... Are we a dragon or a reverse Cerberus?"

[@irithylldragon]

my dragon-themed build was not pleased to discover that, because i avoided spoilers, i missed out on a whole ass spell and the dragon priestess ashes 😤

[@ACuriousTanuki]

NG+ baby!

[@pepperjack3777]

Neither are particularly good so you didnt really miss anything.

[@RealLofef]

the spell is terrible and the ashes are just spirit ashes, meanwhile you get to become the dragon priestess now, much better reward

[@imjustsodamntired]

It is indeed an ass spell

[@jamesvarela233]

@@RealLofefwell no weapons to use since you need faith though I think you can use dex too Idk if it’s any better, though you probably need arc to change too.

[@childeater7327]

What if instead of dragon communion it was freak communion and instead of eating dragon hearts we ate…

[@Messmer-The-Impaler-n8i]

Vyke approves

[@dsagent]

I just realized some of the heads in armoured core look like the dragon heads but are smoother and without horns.

[@dondrapper1419]

The music choice is a good touch. So peaceful 🙂

[@brianlyers7484]

2:09 I would have never noticed the dragon form looks like it still has human teeth. that's a creepy put really cool detail

[@JNelly241]

Zuillie, thank you for your videos. I love the Zelda ost in every video you do. Rock on friend!

[@overestimatedforesight]

... This whole time i thought the DLC dragon priestess was wearing a mask. I didn't realize that's what she actually looks like

[@sharkk127]

I wish thier was an ending in this game where you return the world back to the time of the dragons and maybe even the player becomes one

[@JojenReed]

Thank you once again Zullie, your witch hat is truly full to the brim with knowledge and lore

[@ElNerdoLoco]

I use the dragon form in co-op boss fights mostly to take advantage of the blue dancer charm. It's best to keep your equip load under 8 with that. The dragon form though offers some slight protection while you play naked.

[@jamesvarela233]

But no offhand weapon in case yah run out of FP and not something to fool around with in PvP?

[@ElNerdoLoco]

@@jamesvarela233 I use different setups for PvP. Dragon form is just asking to be 1-shot even at 60 vigor.

[@lepyrolink182]

Something interesting is how both, the draconic soldier and the dragon transformation, seem to have lost their eyesight as there's only two small pits instead of eyeballs. As if the the transformation from human to dragon causes that. However, Florissax does have her eyes still, just like her full dragon counterparts.

[@InternetHydra]

It just dawned on me that the dragon forms in Souls games might have been inspired by the stages of draconic transformation from Dark Sun. Certainly visually similar, and has a similar issue of inevitable failure and loss of self as they get closer to the end goal (I don't remember if there's natural dragons in Dark Sun though). And From has drawn from many sources of classic fantasy for inspiration before.

[@DracoSafarius]

IIRC all dragons in there by default (someone could always just make one plane hop over if they wanted so excluding that) are former races that basically ascended.

[@MythMasterMao]

Glorantha (RuneQuest and King of Dragon Pass setting) has a notable influence on Miyazaki's work, and during the past in the setting there was a great empire in the centre of the continent that was entirely focused on becoming 'like dragons'. They had dragonewt teachers (neotenous dragons who are essentially like dragon humans, glorantha invented this term btw) and varying levels of integration with true dragons and their dream dragons. True Dragons are godlike entities who are so large they are like the landscape itself, usually sleeping/meditating. While they sleep their dreams have such power it creates Dream Dragons which are essentially what you think of when you think of a Dragon, but they can have widely varying forms. They're the equivalent of D&D dragons. They are 'real' but once killed their bodies tend to fate over decades-centuries since they're really only a dream. It's very different to the Ancient Drag/Drake distinction in Elden Ring, and True Dragons don't have particular enmity for their Dream offspring or vice-versa. But still it might be where the idea came from. Anyway, the highest in that Empire could gain more and more draconic traits. Some did so for expediency and power, others for meditative reasons to escape the world (dragons are kind of buddhist in glorantha, its weird but very cool). Bonus, the Emperor of the !not China (actually a different empire but technically the source of the other empire's dragon cult, its complicated) is actually a True Dragon who takes human form to guide humans! So a little bit similar to Florissax. Yeah so anyway Glorantha might be the source for the whole >turning into dragons thing that Miyazaki might be cribbing from. I'm aware of the Dark Sun dragon transformation stuff which is really fucking cool in its own right, I would just put forward Glorantha/Runequest is just as likely an influence since we have on record it being an influence on Miyazaki and the games.

[@fsjof]

The similarities are impossible to ignore, luckily for the Lands Between this transformation is much less destructive, they already have enough with the frenzy flame...

[@CazadorSlayer]

I wanna use the goofy placeholder face as a stone mask, haha!

[@Epsonea_482]

A certain someone “would”

[@toniku2]

Thanks!

[@Metaretru]

"Is becoming a dragon worth it?" It is worth the GNAAAAAAAA

[@fosterbennington6405]

I was very surprised with how dragon transformation was done in this game, as normally it’s a failure and a sign of hubris, but it seems the wyrms and dragonkin filled that role and we finally got something that might be successful.

[@D.Wapher]

Let's see what's under that draconic mask 🗿

[@themaniae4803]

Ah yes LanSEaX, the favorite dragon of Vyke and a lot of knights of the capital. Also, it's damn creepy see human teeth on that lizard face.

[@casketbase7750]

The DLC has a strong theme of malleable identity. All four nameless mausoleum bosses, Miquella, Messmer, and Florissax all aspire to overcome their own nature. The player naturally gets the option to do the same.

[@dogmat8733]

Oh god that humanoid face it horror material. Imagine if that was the head instead of the dragon head we have now, similar to the Dragons of the Tree from Sekiro.

[@thexdfacedgamer2306]

2:22 *_"My honest reaction:"_* 💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

[@joshbest1929]

Absolute love your vids Zullie!

[@moisttowelette5353]

DS2 still has the best dragon transformation to this day. The dragon armor was sick.

[@FalcoMoment]

It was certainly more useful for general gameplay then the 1 or 3 counterparts considering you got actual defense stats.

[@moisttowelette5353]

@@FalcoMoment yeah it was incredibly light weight for the defense it gave. Every fromsoft game that comes out, I’m crossing my fingers they bring back something similar

[@lomo1407]

2:06 I bet he's Bri'ish

[@thekapp2862]

It makes you look goofy in the cutscenes and the frenzy flame ending looks 10x better in dragon form….its 100% worth it(this goes for all 3 forms I’ve done it with them all)

[@isaackane4931]

The differences in transformations and context makes a lot of sense with the Lands Between being a place defined by religion. From the general faith of the populace, to leadership with an actual Divine Right to Rule, to the fundamental aspects of their reality being defined by Gods and their doctrine. Dragon Communion is obviously aping on that religious symbolism, even with the introduction of a "Priestess" that spread its teachings. When, in actuality, the whole thing was more like the Dragons putting a hitjob on their two-legged kin, and payment was becoming a scalie.

[@snowwolf0295]

I've always love that dark souls 2 version of the dragon form was a nod to kalameet or at least seemed to be

[@eclecticspaghetti]

2:19 holy shit it’s Maurice

[@bbcarrioncrow]

holy shit it really is

[@moody-user]

I remember when, in dragon form, pressed against the wall, I saw the shape of a human head. It was creepy considering I was in Laindell's dungeon at the very bottom of a pit of mad flames.

[@knightofastora1324]

How I miss the DS2 dragon form. That was the only design I really liked, although the DS1 design wasn't bad. I loved the mystical third eye on the forehead, the long elegant horns, the sleek body that meshes human armor with draconic scales and features, plus who could forget that prominent tail... Well apparently Miyazaki can, because WHY THE HELL DON'T ANY OF THE OTHER DESIGNS HAVE TAILS??? AND WHY DO THE NEWER DESIGNS LOOK LIKE MALNOURISHED ARGONIAN SKOOMA FIENDS?! FROMSOFT PLEASE, BRING BACK THE DRAGON DRIP FROM DS2!

[@colorpg152]

but its an armor, the concept art even shows a "fully" human face under the open helmet

[@knightofastora1324]

@@colorpg152 Oh of course, that explains the fully human tail and the fully human third eye

[@colorpg152]

@@knightofastora1324 you think you cant stick a tail and a jewel in a piece of armor?

[@EnergyBurst2]

Bugs me a bit how the stone heart form doesn't have eyes, just empty looking sockets unlike the ancient dragon heart form.

[@joolsstoo3085]

2:20 The first thing I thought of when seeing that featureless face: King's Field

[@aurllcooljay]

Doesn’t go without mentioning my favorite armor in the game, the drake armor. Wearable wings FTW.

[@_Tzer]

Eternal ring has the theme of humans turning into dragons this is an old fromsoft tradition like patches or the moonlight sword it seems.

[@lagswitchengage3893]

I'm eternally thankful that Elden Ring gave us the largest amount of dragon related content out of any From title. The most compelling designs, fights, lore, everything. Peak dragon game. The DLC revealing the war between the two broods was fucking mental to me.

[@Rohtix]

I think ds1s dragons are my favorite, their unique fur covered design and introduction was so mysterious and powerful.

[@Basteal]

Now we know the 'curse you Bale' guy was probably just jealous.

[@vardellsfolly5200]

My cousin became a dragon, quite recently. She has no problem being different.

[@maxisnotthegreatest]

What the fuck is this meant to mean 😭

[@camillerodriguesmelonoguei7934]

Sometimes just trying is already laudable, even if you don't quite reach you goal. There's merit in such ambition

[@cyanspartan1757]

Christ I didn't even realize the dragonkin soldiers have two sets of teeth.

[@JKurayami]

Holy crap. I just realized the Hornsent Ascetics, are like the dragon cultists of Darksouls. They meditate, become skinny blue skin guys, to eventually try and turn into mummified statues that collect spirit ash.

[@reeven1721]

Never forget our man Vyke saw Lansseax and went: "would".

[@thelandofchickens]

Dragon face with uncanny humam face under it reminds me of grima from fire emblem. Grima is a weird divine dragon and human homonculus. When you fight it and get his health low enough, the dragon dace explodes off revealing the human one. Obviously though its just a coincidence, but it was the first thing I thought of when i saw the face under the head.

[@ace-zq8pm]

The magick cup is passing from the high priest's learned hands

[@-k-b-]

The dragon form face TOTALLY looks like Wylde but draconic I can't believe I never noticed that lol

[@AmenoMagatsu]

The dragonkin soldiers really intrigue me

[@theprodigalson4003]

Wanted to say 100 hours in the game, and I haven’t enjoyed it at all, barring a few cool cutscenes and movie moments. But after watching your videos, I’ve gained a respect for this game, somewhat, and am now enjoying a new playthrough with the knowldge and context of the world in mind Thankyou for helping me to enjoy a game, that I would not have otherwise, I appreciate you and the work you do to further the enjoyment of fans of these series

[@milktank...1776]

Something ive noticed with the eldenring transformations is both the standard transformation and the dragon kin soldier both lack eyes in their sockets, something to think about perhaps?

[@jessewise8054]

Between the God slaying black flame, the Elden beast looking suspiciously like the celestial spirit beast and dragons reading dragon magic to humans who eventually turn into dragons I can only assume the dev team were watching a lot of fairy tail

[@distressedbagofbeans]

I just realized that our dragon form still has human teeth and am now slightly more upset than a couple of moments ago

[@FalcoMoment]

I personally don't view the DS2 transformation as just being armor, the tail naturally sways back and forth. I think underneath is supposed to be something malformed like the Dark Souls 3 form, but unlike 3 it's covered up with armor made from dragon scales as a substitute. Remember that 2 and 3 don't feature a real dragon to commune with, hell 3 doesn't even have a covenant. 1 has you actually interacting with one of the few ancient dragons that avoided Gwyn's violence, and as such the form you take looks more natural.(and a direct mimic of it)

[@colorpg152]

its looks pretty and its mechanical useful but its a armor lets not lie to ourselves, maybe if they only changed the head a little i could buy it,

[@Thegravedigger0]

I actually imagined a game inspired by George 're Martin and elden ring based on an apocalyptic westeros where bosses like viserys and aerion tried to become dragons through grafting whereas aegon came closer but even then he was supposed to look like when Gerald from south park tried to become a dolphin.

[@fsjof]

So the Dark Sun campaign setting but in Westeros

[@WanderfromSOTC]

Perfect timing, I just turned into a dragin yesterday, after beating Bayle

[@IceCreamPlague]

Well, you know what they say, Two heads are better than one

[@REsparza-um7qp]

Love your video big fan ❤

[@diegocantu9853]

Apparently Lansseax could switch between both forms, assuming Florissax could do the same, unless its for a short period until their form becomes permanent in Florissax’s case 🤔 Bayle could also possess anyone who eats his heart, reminds me of Fatalis from Monster Hunter

[@colorpg152]

but fatalis is much prettier

[@diegocantu9853]

@@colorpg152 He is quite epic 👍 Especially when Proof of a Hero plays

[@CutACrow]

Wonderful, now let's see Paul Omens form.

[@Bee_Tea_Sea]

2:23 Thats a very memeable picture, with the placeholder head guy in deep contemplation lol

[@Ragnarokflare1]

For as gangly, malnourished and odd the dragon form seems to be I always find it pleasent one can transform into one, I only wish there were less violent means to do so. I for one wish for dragons in general media to take a step away from being merely beasts to kill and conquer but instead worshiped and or at least respected entities of nature. Then again from what I know, dragons often times are depectic as reflections of a man's fears and sins, so while I personally don't like it, it's fitting that many cultures often see them as monsters, monsters born from man's imagination. But, disregarding all that, I have this last thing to say about all the dragon forms we've seen so far in ther series... Would.