How To Easily Beat Starscourge Radahn in Elden Ring: Strategies and Tips

Since its launch, Elden Ring has introduced some of the most iconic characters to the world of RPGs, including its expansions, Shadow of the Erdtree and Nightreign. Among these madmen and demigods, Radahn stands out as a powerful force of nature. Honing the prowess of gravitational magic and driven to madness by the Scarlet Rot, Radahn is anything but predictable. So, if you’re wondering how to beat Radahn, you’ll need to keep a couple of strategies in mind.

While Radahn is a completely optional fight in the main game, it’s highly recommended that you defeat him. Not only will this test your motivation for the game ahead (and a chance at satisfying victories), it will also put you up against Radahn’s two phases — some of the most well-designed battles in the game. This guide will cover all the playstyles and strategies you can use to win the fight, and hopefully live to tell the tale of becoming the Elden Lord. 

Starscourge Radahn Overview

Fighting Radahn is one of the most iconic boss battles in Elden Ring — and FromSoftware games as a whole. Once you encounter him at the Radahn Festival at Redmane Castle, you’ll have to use every combat technique you’ve mastered so far. This involves battlefield awareness, summoning NPCs, timing your attacks and dodges, and healing whenever you need to.

His range of attacks makes use of both grounded and aerial attacks that can be difficult to predict. However, when you’re between level 50 and 70, you can take the risk of losing the fight a couple of times to properly gauge Radahn’s movesets and what you can expect of him when you’re fighting him properly. 

When (and Why) You Should Fight General Radahn in Elden Ring

This pivotal moment in the game’s story is a not-so-gentle reminder that you need to seriously level up in Elden Ring before fighting someone like him. Radahn’s recommended level is between 50 and 70. Upgraded weapons (usually +6 or higher) do much better in the fight, especially if you’re playing solo.

Radahn’s festival unlocks as you progress through the Atlus Plateau region. This event may contain cutscenes, and you’ll know when the castle opens up for the narrative to progress. Remember, fighting Radahn early can be highly rewarding, as he drops a Great Rune, a Remembrance, and unlocks access to Nokron, Eternal City.

Regardless of which class you pick, Radahn will help you improve your build and stats. If you delay this fight, there’s a risk of messing up multiple NPC questlines and access to key areas and alternate routes in the game. 

Where To Find Starscourge Radahn

As you come across different boss locations in Elden Ring, you’ll uncover several areas and quests that tie themselves to Radahn.To unlock the Radahn Festival and trigger this fight, two methods work. You can check out Grubmagnet Gaming’s video guide to understand the process better. The first involves progressing through Ranni’s questline, eventually leading to Sellen and Seluvis’ questlines. 

The second method requires you to have two halves of the Dectus Medallion. Once you have these, you can head to the Grand Lift of Dectus, which eventually gets you to the Radahn Festival.

Radahn Boss Fight Overview

The fight opens up with a view of a battlefield basked in crimson light that reflects through Radahn’s gladiator-style festival. Everything about this fight sets the perfect RPG setting, highlighting Radahn’s presence and the silence before the storm, until the boss music starts playing. Next, you’ll notice NPC summon signs throughout the field. Once you enter the portal to trigger the fight, you’ll start facing Radahn’s ranged attacks.

The massive field is the highlight here, as the cinematic fight mixes gameplay with impressive animations. But you can’t linger too long, as you’ll need to get on Torrent and ride across the battlefield to quickly summon NPCs. In a true action-adventure fashion, the fight itself unfolds in multiple phases. First, Radahn unleashes long-range gravity arrows and sweeping melee strikes. In phase two, he disappears for a few seconds before crashing down on you like a falling star. 

While this fight is avoidable, skipping it means leaving out some of the game’s most crucial story content. This means ignoring Ranni’s questline, Nokron, Eternal City, and the rewards of defeating Radahn. You don’t want to miss those if you wish to explore Elden Ring’s content properly. 

Radahn Phase 1 Strategy

Before you take on General Radahn, it’s important to know about Radahn’s weaknesses and specific attacks. Whether it’s an MMO or MMORPG, knowing your enemy is the ultimate strategy to winning fights, and here’s every attack you need to prepare for.

Gravity Arrows 

The moment the fight begins, Radahn will charge arrows with gravity magic and fire them. Study this animation, and dodge accordingly (while you’re on Torrent). You can use terrain or objects on the battlefield to block the same.

Rain of Arrows

From a distance, Radahn will draw back his bow and fire a volley of arrows. Again, get on Torrent and run away from this, or toward Radahn if you’re feeling confident.

Radahn will also fire a large spread of arrows, with low accuracy. It can hit you and NPCs around, so be careful. Again, dodge these arrows with Torrent’s help.

Slams and Sweeps 

Occasionally, Radahn will perform sweep attacks and slams. These attacks are predictable, but keep in mind that if two attacks happened together, there’s a chance two more will follow. Dodge accordingly. You can get a few hits during the openings in between attacks.

Next, Radahn will leap with both blades above his head, slamming them down once the animation is complete. This may seem like bait (and it is!), so carefully study his arms, and dodge at the right time. Once you roll or ride toward him, get some extra hits. However, be careful about the AoE attacks—something Radahn will do when he leaps into the air and comes crashing down.

Gravity Pull (Black Hole)

Radahn will use a gravity field to pull enemies toward him and follow up with a strike. The tell here is the swirl of purple-black magic around him, as a vacuum pulls you in. When the pull starts, roll away several times or use Torrent’s speed to move away.

Charged Slash

Once in a while, Radahn will charge forward while spinning his swords. This is fast and covers a long distance, which can (and likely will) catch you off guard. Stick to Torrent and avoid the charge path, and stay behind and try to flank him. Do not approach him from the front! 

Radahn Phase 2 Strategy

After you finish Radahn’s first phase, every part of your Tarnished’s body will wonder, “What is Radahn weak to?!” In phase two, not only is Radahn faster and more powerful, he’s also going to change his attacks and give you a set of new challenges to counter (or dodge). 

Like all the epic build-ups to boss battles in the best action games, this time Radahn will disappear for a while, building up tension, only to come crashing back down. However, not all is lost. The NPC summon signs also respawn in the second phase, so be sure to call on allies to help you finish the job.

Meteor Crash

The moment Radahn reappears, he’ll be a blazing meteor, slamming into the battlefield. The screen shakes, and a burning trail appears — a cue to back off immediately. Seriously, don’t try to approach Radahn during this attack. And, don’t linger around other NPCs. Elden Ring’s AI friends are pixels without your kind of cleverness. 

Gravity Explosion

Next, Radahn will likely charge gravity energy around him and release it into a deadly shockwave blast that deals AoE damage. When you see the glow, back off and get out of range with Torrent’s help. Also, avoid healing; otherwise, you’ll waste a few precious moments.

Magic Comet Barrage

Radahn will summon multiple gravitational rocks (like meteorites) above his head and launch them in a spread-like manner. You can easily dodge this, and should start covering some distance to get closer to him.

Powerful Sword Combos

These aggressive melee attacks become faster and deadlier, chaining three to five strikes in succession. Don’t stay in front of him for too long, and let your summons (NPCs) draw his attention. Then, strike when you feel an opening after a series of attacks.

Leaping Gravity Stop

Radahn will jump high and slam down with a gravity-charged stomp that triggers yet another AoE burst. When this happens, ride away and time your dodge to avoid landing within the shockwave. You can use this window to heal or resummon NPCs during this period.

Gravity Pull and Slam

This time, Radahn will pull you towards him with gravity magic, and follow up with a sweep or slam attack. Dodge this immediately when you feel the pull, and closely watch the attacks. They’re slower than they appear, which is the time for you to reposition. 

Spinning Slam Combos

Radahn will spin his swords in a wide arc before slamming them into the ground with a powerful force. It’s flashy, deadly, and can kill several summons in one go. You’ll need to back out completely from this one and return when he’s distracted by surviving NPCs. Then, punish him all you want! 

How To Beat Radahn 

By now, you must have realized and accepted how brutal General Radahn can be on the battlefield. Yet, players acquainted with FromSoftware games know there’s no challenge they cannot overcome after a few devastating losses. If you’re still wondering how to beat Starscourge Radahn, there are several strategies you can use to overcome this boss fight.

Torrent Strategy

Your loyal companion, Torrent, will be extremely helpful during this fight. It’s almost essential to use him during both phases to dodge and traverse through the battlefield.

Pro Tip: Stay mobile and run in a zig-zag pattern during arrow attacks. Also used his double-jump to avoid AoE. Those stomp attacks are going to be annoying otherwise! 

Warning: Torrent may be fast, but he is vulnerable. Dismount him if Radahn is going to one-shot you in any way. 

Ranged Strategy

If you’re using bows or other long-range weapons, this fight will hopefully be a breeze for you. Simply let the NPCs deal melee damage, while you keep picking your shots from a distance. Who’s the boss now?

Pro Tip: Try to equip lightweight gear to roll quickly through the fight, especially when Radahn switches targets. 

Warning: Never, ever stand in one place. Radahn’s gravity attacks will hit you, especially when trying to use a long-range weapon without changing positions. 

Melee Strategy

This one’s the most accessible yet most challenging way to kill Radahn. As a melee user, you’ll need to be patient with his attacks and bold when going in for those hits. Try using fast weapons, especially those with bleed or frost buildup.

Pro Tip: A bleed build and weapons like the Bloodhound’s Fang or dual katanas can shred Radahn’s health bar when he’s distracted.

Warning: When he finishes a combo, just land a few hits and back off. He often chains multiple attacks, and it’s easy to get caught in them if you’re at close range.

Magic Strategy

If you’re into Sorcery or Incantation builds, you might just complete the fight with your eyes closed. If you keep your distance, using spells with fast casting times can bring down Radahn’s health in no time.

Pro Tip: Stack your Mind and Vigor stats to avoid getting one-shot, and cast from horseback if needed.

Warning: Slow-casting AoE attacks may seem appealing, but they’re risky. Avoid those! 

Summon Ally Strategy

This is one of the few fights in Elden Ring where you’re encouraged to bring in as many NPC friends as well. It’s like a true showcase of Elden Ring’s PvP and PvE mechanics. So, interact with every single golden summon sign you find on the battlefield.

Pro Tip: Resummon allies who have fallen in battle. Prioritize this over fighting solo, if you can. 

Warning: At the same time, don’t completely rely on summons. You need to find a balance between using the NPCs’ help and inflicting damage by yourself. 

Hit-and-Run Strategy

This noob-friendly strategy (I’m not judging) ensures you’re safe and going through the fight at your own pace. Simply land one or two hits every time Radahn takes a breath, and then back off. Repeat this until the fight’s over.

Pro tip: Note his delayed slams or Gravity Pull attacks. These are the best windows to swoop in, land some hits, and get out. 

Warning: You can get caught in Radhan’s combos if you miss your hit-and-run attempts. So, don’t get greedy! 

Tank Strategy

If you’re into heavy armor, high Vigor, and use shields and heavy swords, you can take a more aggressive approach to the fight. Instead of being distracted by NPCs, let Radahn focus on you instead. 

Pro Tip: Rely on a loadout that lets you have magic resistance and high physical defense. Stagger him with charge attacks as often as you can. 

Warning: Even tanks aren’t the ultimate answer to Radahn’s deadly presence. You’ll still need to dodge and block when necessary.

Tips for Beating Starscourge Radahn

Radahn may be one of the most intimidating enemies in Elden Ring, but with the right strategies and tips, you’ll come out victorious in no time. These tips will help you prepare efficiently.

• Utilize Torrent’s speed: Torrent can help you close gaps, avoid attacks, and study the battlefield better. 
• Summon NPCs or Spirit Ashes: Interact with all the summon signs, and bring in as many NPCs as possible. Also, summon Spirit Ashes as additional help.
• Clear the battlefield: Don’t rush in, and clear your path first. Make sure there are no distractions, and the terrain is in your favor. As long as you’re far away from Radahn, you should be safe. 
• Dodge in the right direction: A lot of Radahn’s attacks have delayed timings and openings for you to either dodge or punish him. The more you fight him, the easier it’ll be to understand where you should move.
• Buff your character: Use Flask of Wondrous Physick to ensure you have the right buffs. This can help you improve your damage and increase defensive stats. 
• Debuff Radahn: If you can, use Bleed, Poison, Frostbite, or Rot effects to debuff Radahn. This will bring down his HP a lot quicker. 
• Maintain range: Unless you have a melee-focused build that forces you to stay near him, always keep some distance from Radahn. 
• Target Radahn’s head: Just like most enemies,
  Radahn will take a lot more damage to his head. If you manage to stagger him, aim for the head! 
• Be patient: There’s no point in rushing into the fight. Take your time, scout the area, and only attack when there’s a safe opening. 
• Take the opportunity to heal: This may come naturally to you, but don’t forget to heal if things look dicey. You can always use Torrent to get to a safe distance for this.
• Focus on piercing attacks: Radahn is vulnerable to thrusting and piercing attacks, so use weapons that support this, such as spears, rapiers, piercing arrows, and so on.

What Happens After Beating Radahn?

If you’ve managed to beat Radahn (congratulations!), there will be a cutscene that leads to a newer part of the narrative. It creates a massive crater south of Mistwood, which marks a new beginning. There are a lot of secrets and areas to explore next, so treat it like a level in a Metroidvania game, and explore the battlefield before heading off. 

Explore More Epic Boss Fights and Adventures

Radahn isn’t the end. In fact, he’s just the beginning of all the brutalities and fascinating worlds and storylines  Elden Ring has to offer. Just like some of the best RPGs on Steam and other platforms, games like Elden Ring often encourage players to explore and revisit areas within a game to keep things interesting. 

On that note, explore more games and discover your next epic adventure. As you explore a mighty collection of games, you can dive deeper into the RPG subgenre. Whether you take on a heartfelt story or a blood-pumping action-adventure game, there’s always something waiting for you.