Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree: How to Get and Use the Priestess Heart

May-23-2025

In Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, players can discover the Priestess Heart—a mysterious and powerful tool tied to the Dragon Communion. This reusable item not only transforms your character into a humanoid dragon, but also greatly enhances certain magical abilities.

If you're looking to tap into ancient draconic power, this guide covers everything you need to know—from where to find the Priestess Heart to how to use it effectively.

Priestess Heart Overview

The Priestess Heart is a unique, reusable tool introduced in Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. It allows you to transform into a humanoid dragon and boost the power of certain incantations. It's a unique item tied to the Dragon Communion and offers both a cool cosmetic change and a practical buff for players using Dragon Cult magic.

How to Get the Priestess Heart

To get the Priestess Heart, you first need to visit the Grand Altar of Dragon Communion. This place is located in the south of the Gravesite Plain, near a large, dead dragon and a site of grace in the DLC.

There, you'll meet the Dragon Priestess. Speak to her and exhaust her dialogue, then give her the Draconic Essence. To progress further in her questline, you need to pick the option to drink the essence.

After this, your mission is to climb Jagged Peak and defeat the powerful boss Bayle the Dread. This will be a tough fight, so make sure you're prepared before heading to the top.

Once you've defeated Bayle, return to the Grand Altar of Dragon Communion. Sadly, the Dragon Priestess will have died by the time you return. However, you'll find some loot where she once stood. Search her remains and you'll receive the Priestess Heart and the Flowerstone Grave.

There is an important thing that you need to bear in mind. You can’t use Thiollier's Concoction on her during the night. If you used the concoction, the item won't appear. 

Giving Thiollier's Concoction to the Dragon Communion Priestess after nightfall causes her to enter a deep slumber, breaking her vow to Placidusax. This slumber unlocks alternative rewards, including her spirit ashes and a new incantation.

How to Use It

Using the Priestess Heart is simple but has a few requirements. First, you must remove all of your armor—you need to be completely disrobed. Then, use the item, and your character will transform into a humanoid ancient dragon. This transformation is permanent until you die, which will return you to your normal human form.

Once you're in dragon form, you can use the item again to temporarily power up your magic. Specifically, it gives a 20% boost to Dragon Cult incantations (such as ancient lightning spells). This damage boost lasts 60 seconds, cannot be extended with items like the Old Lord's Talisman, and can stack with other buffs like Golden Vow or Flame, Grant Me Strength. The dragon form also gives you 7% damage negation across all types and adds 70 resistance points, making you tougher in combat.

The Priestess Heart does not get consumed when used, so you can activate it as often as you like. Just remember you need to be unequipped to use it, and death is the only way to return to your original appearance.

In short, the Priestess Heart is a powerful and stylish item for magic-focused players, especially those who use Dragon Cult incantations. It offers strong buffs, a cool transformation, and adds another layer of depth to your Elden Ring build.