Image: Eyes Locked Before Battle: Tarnished vs. Glintstone Dragon Smarag

Published: January 24, 2026 at 4:23:45 PM UTC
Last updated: January 24, 2026 at 4:24:42 PM UTC

High-resolution anime-style Elden Ring fan art capturing a tense face-to-face standoff between the Tarnished in Black Knife armor and Glintstone Dragon Smarag in Liurnia of the Lakes.

Anime-style fan art showing the Tarnished in Black Knife armor facing Glintstone Dragon Smarag head-on in the flooded plains of Liurnia of the Lakes, moments before combat.

Available versions of this image

Regular size (1,536 x 1,024): JPEG - WebP
Large size (3,072 x 2,048): JPEG - WebP

Image description

The image presents a tense, anime-style confrontation set in the misty wetlands of Liurnia of the Lakes, capturing the exact moment before combat begins. In the left foreground stands the Tarnished, fully facing their opponent. Clad in sleek Black Knife armor, the figure is wrapped in layered dark fabrics and fitted plates that absorb the cold light of the overcast sky. A deep hood obscures the Tarnished’s face, leaving their expression hidden and emphasizing anonymity and resolve. Their posture is low and deliberate, knees bent slightly as boots sink into shallow water. In their right hand, a narrow dagger glows with a pale, bluish sheen, angled forward in readiness rather than aggression, signaling caution and anticipation.

Directly opposite, dominating the right side of the composition, is the Glintstone Dragon Smarag, crouched and fully facing the Tarnished. The dragon’s massive head is lowered to eye level, bringing its glowing blue eyes into direct alignment with its challenger. Its jaws are partially open, revealing sharp teeth and a faint inner glow that hints at arcane power gathering within. Smarag’s body is covered in jagged, overlapping scales in deep teal and slate tones, while clusters of crystalline glintstone erupt along its neck, head, and spine. These crystals emit a cold, magical light that subtly illuminates the dragon’s features and reflects off the surrounding water.

The dragon’s wings are half-unfurled, framing its hulking form and reinforcing the sense of coiled strength held barely in check. One clawed forelimb presses into the wet ground, sending ripples across the flooded terrain, while its long neck arches forward, closing the distance between monster and warrior. The sheer scale difference between the two figures is striking: the Tarnished appears small and fragile, yet unyielding, standing their ground against an overwhelming force.

The environment heightens the drama of the standoff. The ground is a patchwork of shallow pools, wet grass, and mud, reflecting muted blues and grays from the sky above. Fine mist drifts across the scene, softening distant silhouettes of ruined stone structures and sparse trees in the background. Raindrops or drifting moisture speckle the air, suggesting recent or ongoing rainfall, while the overcast sky diffuses the light evenly, creating a cold, somber atmosphere.

Overall, the composition centers on eye contact and balance, with both the Tarnished and Smarag facing each other squarely, neither yet striking. The anime-inspired style enhances the emotional intensity through dramatic lighting, crisp silhouettes, and heightened contrast between glowing magic and dark armor. The scene captures the breathless pause before violence, embodying Elden Ring’s themes of quiet tension, looming danger, and the courage to stand before an ancient, arcane foe.