Beating those pesky Drakes

[arichards45]

Well I finally got the learning curve for this game. At least I thought I did until I encountered those drakes at that bridge. I am a tank knight with 23 vitality, 21 strength, endurance, anddexterity. I also have the black knight sword modified. It kills just about everyone with one or two cuts except the bosses. Where I can circle around a drake I pick him apart with about 4 or 5 swings but if I am on the bridge or ledge i am screwed. I can't circle them obviously. I wanted to fight these guys before the Hydra.

[Istral]

the blue drakes in the valley of drakes?

[arichards45]

Yes those that are on a bridge and on the other side...oh and on the path to the left behind the first drake after I come down the elevator.

[Istral]

I just bow most of them down or fight them 1 on 1 first 2 before the flood gate and bridge you can cirlce around easy, one of the bridge just kite him off it, and the 3 in a pack just range them down if possible, I use Lighting Longbow +1 poison arrows/normal arrows for the bridge one and the 3 in a pack

[Wasabi Wei]

They can be kited with melee. If you pull all three, hide in the elevator and have some cheezy crackers while they turn away. If on the bridge zig-zag back to the elevator and hope the lightning strafe misses you or backpedal while watching them. Siderolling the lightning-strafe is not too hard imo.

[Istral]

^ Also works pretty well

[cua_bien02]

Or you can find a bleeding weapon, which works magic with these pests. There's one in The Catacombs, which is kinda hidden. Also if you move slowly you can lure each of the 3 drakes beyond the bridge out alone. You can circle them on the bridge. It's just a little bit harder. Just keep to their side when they turn around and hit them once they start roaring lightning (you can't get completely behind them on the bridge though). If you stay close and lock on them, the lightnigh strafe usually misses so just remember not to put too much distance.

[arichards45]

Hmmm...Very interesting. It just seems freaky to just get right up close. My natural reaction is circle and hack at their backside but usually get hit with lightning sooner or later.

[cua_bien02]

Originally posted by arichards45:

It just seems freaky to just get right up close.

Yeah, it might seem counterintuitive but quite effective against large, slow-moving enemies (Knights, Havel, Bell Gargoyles, even the Capra Demon). I've found that this tactic is a must against some bosses, as I'm a melee class.

[Nereus]

my advice is get a claymore, they flinch on every one of your hits once you have upgraded it to at least +6

[Elendil]

They're dumb to ranged attacks, especially from bows. The one at the far side close to the path where the zombie dragon is is the only one you really have to worry about, but it prefers biting over flying anyway which makes it more predictable and easier to kill.

[Zenuf]

I'd reccomend if your having trouble with them, as your build. Keep your shield up, circle strafe them, and get a quick bleed weapon. A +0 bandit knife or a jagged ghost blade if you've got it will make short work of them. You'll be able to stay offensive most of the time only pulling the shield up when they attack. Should be able to drop each drake in about 15-45 seconds, little bit more if they spam lightning.

[McFly]

You can run past them pretty easily as long as you dodge to the side when they use their breadth weapon. They'll stay in their general area so you don't have to worry about aggro once you get out of range of their breath weapon.

Now if you want to farm them for dragon scales or souls, they are surprisingly weak against fire. An upgraded pyro glove with Great Comnbustion or Great Fireball should do the trick.

[arichards45]

Thanks. Since I am a clunky tank knight with the black knight upgraded modified sword I just circled them and struck 4 or 5 swats killed them. Now to get the one on the path...

[dcy665]

Originally posted by arichards45:

Thanks. Since I am a clunky tank knight with the black knight upgraded modified sword I just circled them and struck 4 or 5 swats killed them. Now to get the one on the path...

Which one on the path? The dead one? Just beat it to death.

The other two on the path I just take out with bows. If you don't get too close they don't even agro. Takes a few minutes but it worked well enough to farm for scales when bumping up a dragon weapon. I range agro the one on the bridge as well, he slowly tromps his way over and then gets blocked where the path narrows. Then stand back and pin-cushion the little lizard. Pin cushion the dead one too if you cannot get close enough or roll fast enough. I don't recall but I don't think he even moves from where you find him.

[Cho Ku Rei]

Theirs not to much of need to kill the drakes. If you want the red tearstone ring just run through. However if you need dragon scales thats a diffrtent story. If your not trying to get anyhting it's not worth fighting them.