Divine Beast Dancing Lion Weakness and Locations | Best Build Against Dancing Lion

This is a guide for the Divine Beast Dancing Lion in the Elden Ring DLC Shadow of the Erdtree. Learn about the Divine Beast Dancing Lion's weakness and locations, as well as the best build against the Dancing Lion.

Divine Beast Dancing Lion Weakness

Pierce Damage is Highly Effective

Divine Beast Dancing Lion is very weak to attacks that deal Pierce damage compared to the other three physical damage types. Weapons with movesets that deal Pierce damage, such as Heavy Thrusting Swords and Great Spears, are excellent armaments against the Lion.

List of all Pierce Weapons

Weak to Fire Damage

Fire damage is slightly stronger against the Divine Beast Dancing Lion compared to the other elemental damage types. Apply Fire Grease, or use weapons like the Blasphemous Blade, Rivers of Blood and the DLC-exclusive Fire Knight's Greatsword that have both innate Fire damage and Pierce damage moves, to exploit his weaknesses.

Spellcasters, especially FAI builds, have several fire damage spells, such as Giantsflame Take Thee and Fire Serpent, that are perfect for slowly and surely burning the Lion to cinders.

List of All Fire Weapons

Susceptible to Bleed, Poison and Scarlet Rot

The Dancing Lion is highly susceptible to certain debuffs, specifically Bleed, for bursts of damage, and Poison and Scarlet Rot for DoT. Using or infusing weapons with affinities that inflict Bleed or Fire are great choices for dealing the highest amount of damage per hit. The Antspur Rapier is an especially good choice, since it both builds up Scarlet Rot and deals Pierce damage.

Ranged players can use Rotbone Arrows or Poisonbone Arrows to safely cause the Lion to die to damage over time. For Bleed spellcasters, Impenetrable Thorns and Swarm of Flies are reliable ways of procing Blood Loss.

Best Builds Against Divine Beast Dancing Lion

Pierce Weapons are Highly Recommended

Messmer Soldier's Spear	Mohgwyn's Sacred Spear	Bloody Helice
Antspur Rapier	Milady	Venomous Fang

STR builds can rely on either pure physical Pierce damage or a split with Fire damage to penetrate the Dancing Lion's defenses. The Messmer Soldier's Spear is one of the best farmable Great Spears with Ash of War flexibility, but there are similarly good options from base game like the Lance and Godskin Stitcher.

Hybrid ARC builds also have great Pierce weapon choices to deal good damage while accumulating Bleed. The Bloody Helice and Mohgwyn's Sacred Spear are the prime selections for DEX-ARC or STR-ARC builds, respectively.

DEX builds will rely more on fast attacks to stack Poison and Scarlet Rot. Antspur Rapier and Venomous Fang can quickly accumulate each of these statuses, but the Milady is a very flexible alternative that can also be affixed with Poison using the Black Whetblade (or can be built for Bleed or physical damage instead).

Equip Talismans for Skill and Attack Power Buffs

Shard of Alexander

Lord of Blood's Exultation

Kindred of Rot's Exultation

Several talismans can be equipped to gain attack buffs depending on your playstyle and how reliant your build will be on Bleed, Poison or Scarlet Rot.

For fighting Dancing Lion, Shard of Alexander is a must-pick for Ash of War spammers, while the Lord of Blood's Exultation and Kindred of Rot's Exultation will be invaluable boosts to your attack power once you proc Bleed, Poison, or Scarlet Rot.

Fire Damage is Viable Versus the Lion

Blasphemous Blade	Bloodflame Blade
Greatsword	Eleonora's Poleblade

Aside from Pierce weapons, targetting the Dancing Lion's weakness to fire is a highly recommended build strategy. One of the strongest weapons for STR-FAI builds is the Blasphemous Blade, which deals high damage by spamming its Ash of War and can be further boosted by the DLC-exclusive Talisman of the Dread.

Pure STR build weapons, like the Greatsword and Giant-Crusher, can be affixed with Fire affinity while still retaining good scaling in STR. Or, they can be infused with the Bloodflame Blade incantation for both fire damage and bleed buildup.

DEX builds have especially good choices with Eleonora's Poleblade and Rivers of Blood, as they have innate bloodflame that allows them to rapidly deal fire damage and build up bleed.

Cast Fire, Bleed, Poison, or Scarlet Rot Spells

Magma Shot	Frenzied Burst
Swarm of Flies	Ekzykes's Decay

Casters have several spells to deal effective ranged damage against the Dancing Lion, and the boss' attack windows are long enough to cast them safely. For direct Fire damage, Magma Shot and Frenzied Burst are consistent and quick damage-dealers.

If your focus is on status effects, then Swarm of Flies and Ekzykes's Decay are reliable incantations to proc Bleed and Scarlet Rot.

Use Talismans and Armor for Physical and Non-Physical Damage Negation

Pearldrake Talisman +2

Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman

Scaled Armor

The Divine Beast Dancing Lion will regularly cycle between different phases that focus on physical, lightning, cold, and storm damage. Early into the DLC, the most flexible talismans you can equip to negate every type of damage it can do will be the Pearldrake Talisman +2, Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman, and the Scaled Armor set.

Cast Incantations and Ashes of War for Further Defense Buffs

Golden Vow

Golden Lightning Fortification

For defensive spells, Golden Vow is the most reliable incantation or Ash of War to cast for general damage negations. To specifically resist the Dancing Lion's lightning phase attacks, Golden Lightning Fortification provides hefty lightning damage negation.

Equip and Use Items That Resist or Cure Death Blight For the Rauh Ruins Lion

Rejuvenating Boluses	Order Healing
Speckled Hardtear	Prince of Death's Cyst

For the Dancing Lion in Rauh Ruins, try taking consumables or equipment that resist or cure the annoying Death Blight status inflicted by the boss and its Basilisk summons. If you have high Vitality from your ARC, you may not need these items, since Vitality increases your resistance to Death Blight.

To cure Death Blight buildup, memorize the Order Healing incantation or craft Rejuvenating Boluses beforehand. For Death Blight resistance, consider equipping the Prince of Death's Cyst to greatly raise Vitality, or drink Wondrous Physick with Speckled Hardtear to both cure Death Blight and increase your resistance to all statuses for the rest of the fight.

Specific Recommended Build: DoT and Stance Break Build

Main Hand Weapon					Off-Hand Weapon
Messmer Soldier's Spear Skill: Impaling Thrust Heavy					Antspur Rapier Skill: Repeating Thrust Poison
Character Stat Distribution
VIG		60			MND		20
END		30			STR		54
DEX		20			INT		9
FAI		25			ARC		25

Stats above are based on Confessor class's stat distribution at RL 164.

The DoT and Stance Break Build is a damage-focused STR-ARC build that targets three of the Dancing Lion's weaknesses: Scarlet Rot, Poison, and Pierce damage.

To maximize our damage, we will be affixing Poison affinity on the Antspur Rapier, which comes with innate Scarlet Rot buildup and will be able to proc both types of DoT. Then, our primary physical damage dealer will be a Heavy-affixed Messmer Soldier's Spear with Impaling Thrust to deal significant Pierce and poise damage for easy stance breaks.

Equip Armor and Talismans for Damage and Protection

Helm	Armor	Gauntlets	Greaves
Mushroom Head	Scaled Armor	Scaled Gauntlets	Mushroom Legs
Talismans
Shard of Alexander	Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman	Rotten Winged Sword Insignia	Kindred of Rot's Exultation

Your armor and talismans for this build will balance attack buffs and damage negation. Shard of Alexander will boost both your Ashes of War, and Rotten Winged Sword Insignia will specifically enhance Repeating Thrust. The Mushroom Head and Kindred of Rot's Exultation will enhance your attack power after you proc Poison or Scarlet Rot.

For defense, equip the Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman and Scaled Armor pieces to negate incoming physical and non-physical damage. The Mushroom Legs are just equipped so you can still medium roll; they provide minimal defenses.

Proc Poison and Scarlet Rot for DoT and Damage Buffs

The gameplay clip above was recorded in NG+ at Scadutree Blessing Level 20.

Open the fight by quickly applying Poison and Scarlet Rot to the Lion with a Poison affinity Antspur Rapier via a combination of normal attacks and Repeating Thrust. The damage of Repeating Thrust can be boosted further by the Thorny Cracked Tear.

Spam Impaling Thrust for Big Pierce and Poise Damage

The gameplay clip above was recorded in NG+ at Scadutree Blessing Level 20.

After your DoTs have been procced, spam Impaling Thrust for the rest of the fight to deal heavy Pierce and poise damage while Poison and Scarlet Rot eat away at the Dancing Lion's HP. For faster stance breaks, make sure you have the Stonebarb Cracked Tear in your Wondrous Physick.

Divine Beast Dancing Lion General Tips (Belurat Settlement)

Tips for Beating Divine Beast Dancing Lion (Belurat Settlement)
Collect Scadutree Blessings Before the Fight Adapt to the Lion's Elemental Phases Memorize the Lion's Delayed Attacks Use Spirit Ashes and Summons to Draw Aggro
Available Summons	・Redmane Freyja ・Spirit Ashes

Collect Scadutree Blessings Before the Fight

The Dancing Lion is likely the first Remembrance boss you will tackle due to how close it is to the start of the DLC. But, even with a high character level, it will be tough to deal damage to and take damage from it until you have upgraded your Scadutree Blessing level.

Collect Scadutree Fragments around the map before tackling this boss, up to at least Scadutree Blessing Level 3, to improve your odds of survival.

All Scadutree Fragment Locations

Adapt to the Lion's Elemental Phases

The Dancing Lion's main gimmick is when it jumps into the air to change its elemental phase. The most important part of fighting Dancing Lion is keeping track of the Dancing Lion's four phases and each phase's unique ranged attacks, which vary in terms of speed and AoE.

Memorize the Lion's Delayed Attacks

Dancing Lion's melee strings aren't too long, but they can be a bit annoying to dodge due to its tendency to delay attacks, like its dive rolls, to catch you if you roll spam. Stay composed and get used to the rhythm of the Dancing Lion's combos to exploit its highly telegraphed moveset.

Use Spirit Ashes and Summons to Draw Aggro

The Dancing Lion's attacks are a mix of single target and small AoE moves, but they are heavily focused on locking down single targets rather than widespread arena coverage. Take advantage of Redmane Freyja's NPC summon or your own Spirit Ashes to attract aggro so you can attack with impunity.

Divine Beast Dancing Lion General Tips (Rauh Ruins)

Tips for Beating Divine Beast Dancing Lion (Rauh Ruins)
Fights Similar to the Other Lion Use the Pillars as Cover Focus Down the Basilisks Use Spirit Ashes to Draw Aggro
Available Summons	・Spirit Ashes

Fights Similar to the Other Lion

This Divine Beast Dancing Lion fights similarly to the one in Belurat Settlement, but does not go into a lightning phase, making this a somewhat easier variant to fight.

Use the Pillars as Cover

Unlike the Belurat Settlement fight, this one takes place in an open area where you are free to retreat behind cover. As such, if you need some breathing space against the Lion, try putting a pillar between both of you.

This will cause the Lion to bump into the pillar during his attacks, giving you the chance to retaliate safely once his attack string is done.

Focus Down the Basilisks

When the Lion drops down near 50% HP, he will scream and summon for some Basilisks to appear at his position. These extra enemies usually are not anything special, and can be taken out quickly.

While these opponents are easy to kill, they should not be ignored as they can either be a nuisance during the fight, or can inflict Death Blight, which will automatically kill you, so try to focus them down quickly to prevent this.

Use Spirit Ashes to Draw Aggro

With the addition of more enemies to look out for during the fight at the half-time mark, using your Spirit Ash to draw the Lion's aggro while you take out the small enemies is highly beneficial.

This can give you a much-needed breather in an otherwise hectic fight, or give you the space needed to focus down the summoned foes.

Divine Beast Dancing Lion Locations

Boss	Location and Rec. Level
Divine Beast Dancing Lion (Stagefront)	Rec. Lvl.: 150+ Location: Stagefront Where to Find: Optional Remembrance boss in the arena by the Stagefront site of grace, at the end of the Belurat legacy dungeon.
Divine Beast Dancing Lion (Grand Stairway)	Rec. Lvl.: 170+ Location: Ancient Ruins, Grand Stairway Where to Find: Optional boss northeast of the Ancient Ruins, Grand Stairway site of grace, in an open temple at the end of the bridge.

Divine Beast Dancing Lion Rewards

Divine Beast Dancing Lion Rewards
Belurat Settlement	・230000 Runes ・Remembrance of the Dancing Lion
Rauh Ruins	・180000 Runes ・Divine Beast Tornado

Remembrance of the Dancing Lion Rewards

Enraged Divine Beast

Divine Beast Frost Stomp

The Remembrance of the Dancing Lion can be turned in to Finger Reader Enia at the Roundtable Hold.

Doing so lets the player choose either the Enraged Divine Beast, or the Divine Beast Frost Stomp as a reward.

Remembrance of the Dancing Lion Effects

Elden Ring Related Guides

List of All Bosses

DLC Bosses

DLC Boss Lists
All DLC Bosses Order and Locations	All DLC Remembrance Bosses
Bosses Difficulty Tier List	-
Main Bosses
Rellana, Twin Moon Knight	Golden Hippopotamus
Messmer the Impaler	Romina, Saint of the Bud
Promised Consort Radahn
Optional Bosses
Divine Beast Dancing Lion	Commander Gaius
Demi-Human Queen Marigga	Demi-Human Swordmaster Onze
Blackgaol Knight	Chief Bloodfiend
Black Knight Edredd	Ancient Dragon-Man
Furnace Golem	Lamenter
Putrescent Knight	Jori, Elder Inquisitor
Death Knight	Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame
Bayle the Dread	Scadutree Avatar
Metyr, Mother of Fingers	Red Bear
Rakshasa	Jagged Peak Drake
Rugalea the Great Red Bear	Ralva the Great Red Bear
Ancient Dragon Senessax	Curseblade Labirith
Black Knight Garrew	Fallingstar Beast
Death Rite Bird	Tibia Mariner
Ghostflame Dragon	Tree Sentinel
Magma Wyrm	Crucible Knight Devonia
Hostile NPCs
Logur the Beast Claw	-

Main Bosses

All Bosses in Elden Ring
Margit the Fell Omen	Godrick the Grafted
Red Wolf of Radagon	Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon
Royal Knight Loretta	Starscourge Radahn
Godfrey, First Elden Lord	Morgott, the Omen King
Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy	Fire Giant
Malenia, Blade of Miquella	Mohg Lord of Blood
Regal Ancestor Spirit	Astel, Naturalborn of the Void
Lichdragon Fortissax	Godskin Duo
Dragonlord Placidusax	Maliketh, the Black Blade
Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing	Hoarah Loux, Warrior
Radagon of the Golden Order	Elden Beast

Optional Bosses

Limgrave Optional Bosses
Beastman of Farum Azula	Bloodhound Knight Darriwil
Demi-Human Chiefs	Flying Dragon Agheel
Guardian Golem	Leonine Misbegotten
Mad Pumpkin Head	Miranda the Blighted Bloom
Patches	Runebear
Scaly Misbegotten	Soldier of Godrick
Stonedigger Troll	Tree Sentinel
Liurnia of the Lakes Optional Bosses
Adan, Thief of Fire	Alabaster Lord
Alecto, Black Knife Ringleader	Bols, Carian Knight
Bloodhound Knight	Glintstone Dragon Smarag
Glintstone Dragon Adula	Magma Wyrm Makar
Royal Revenant	Spirit-Caller Snail
Caelid Optional Bosses
Battlemage Hugues	Black Blade Kindred (Caelid)
Commander O'Neil	Decaying Ekzykes
Fallingstar Beast	Flying Dragon Greyll
Frenzied Duelist	Magma Wyrm
Nox Swordstress & Nox Priest	Putrid Tree Spirit
Altus Plateau Optional Bosses
Ancient Dragon Lansseax	Crucible Knight Ordovis
Demi-Human Queen Gilika	Demi-Human Queen Maggie
Demi-Human Queen Margot	Draconic Tree Sentinel
Elemer of the Briar	Esgar, Priest of Blood
Fell Twins	Full-Grown Fallingstar Beast
Godefroy the Grafted	Kindred of Rot
Mohg, The Omen	Necromancer Garris
Onyx Lord	Perfumer Tricia
Red Wolf of the Champion	Sanguine Noble
Virgin Abductors	Wormface
Mountaintops of the Giants Optional Bosses
Astel, Stars of Darkness	Black Blade Kindred (Mountaintops of the Giants)
Borealis the Freezing Fog	Commander Niall
Misbegotten Crusader	Putrid Grave Warden Duelist
Great Wyrm Theodorix	Vyke, Knight of the Roundtable
Siofra River Optional Bosses
Ancestor Spirit	Valiant Gargoyles
Mimic Tear
Ainsel River Optional Bosses
Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella	-
Deeproot Depths Optional Bosses
Crucible Knight Siluria	-
Multiple Location Optional Bosses
Ancient Hero of Zamor	Black Knife Assassin
Bell Bearing Hunter	Cemetery Shade
Cleanrot Knights	Crucible Knight
Crystalian	Death Rite Bird
Deathbird	Erdtree Avatar
Erdtree Burial Watchdog	Godskin Apostle
Godskin Noble	Grafted Scion
Grave Warden Duelist	Mad Pumpkin Head
Misbegotten Warrior	Night's Cavalry
Omenkiller	Tibia Mariner
Dragonkin Soldier	-

Mini-Bosses

All Bosses in Elden Ring
Elder Dragon Greyoll	Lion Guardian
Valiant Gargoyle (Leyndell)	-

Hostile NPCs and Invaders

Limgrave Invaders and Hostile NPCs
Bloody Finger Nerijus	Old Knight Istvan
Recusant Henricus	-
Liurnia of the Lakes Invaders and Hostile NPCs
Great Horned Tragoth	Festering Fingerprint Vyke
Altus Plateau Invaders and Hostile NPCs
Eleonora, Violet Bloody Finger	Inquisitor Ghiza
Maleigh Marais, Shaded Castle Castellan	Rileigh the Idle
Vargram the Raging Wolf & Errant Sorcerer Wilhelm	Magnus the Beast Claw
Mountaintops of the Giants Invaders and Hostile NPCs
Juno Hoslow, Knight of Blood	-
The Roundtable Hold Invaders and Hostile NPCs
Mad Tongue Alberich	-
Multiple Location Invaders and Hostile NPCs
Anastasia, Tarnished-Eater	-