Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree expansion finally unveils the fate of Dragonlord Placidusax, a long-standing enigma. The expansion reveals the whereabouts of two of the three missing heads from this formidable boss.

Elden Ring and Shadow of the Erdtree lore and boss spoilers follow.

Dragonlord Placidusax, a notoriously difficult-to-find secret boss in the Crumbling Farum Azula, is encountered as a significantly weakened version—missing three heads and a wing. This raises the question: what happened?

Placidusax's Missing Heads: A Battle with Bayle the Dread

Reddit user Matrix_030's observation sheds light on this mystery. Two of Placidusax's missing heads are found embedded in the neck of Bayle the Dread, another challenging dragon boss. The damage isn't limited to the heads; Bayle is also missing wings and limbs, suggesting a brutal, mutually destructive encounter.

The Talisman of the Dread, found in Elder's Hovel near the Fort of Reprimand, further confirms this theory. Its description details a challenge issued by Bayle to the ancient Dragonlord, resulting in "grievous mutual injury."

Despite their injuries, both Bayle and Placidusax remain formidable foes, boasting immense health pools and complex, devastating attacks. Bayle's initial hyper-aggressiveness makes summoning Spirit Ashes challenging, demanding strategic use of effects like those provided by the Opaline Bubble Tear in a Wondrous Physick.

While the location of Placidusax's third head remains unknown, many Elden Ring players speculate that Bayle is also responsible for its removal.