Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Defeating Starscourge Radahn

Strategies for defeating Starscourge Radahn in Elden Ring, including how to trigger the fight and combat tips.

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Defeating Starscourge Radahn

While Starscourge Radahn is a formidable boss encountered in the base game of Elden Ring, his defeat serves as a crucial prerequisite for accessing the content within the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. The Radahn Festival, which initiates his boss encounter, must be triggered to progress the necessary events that eventually lead to the discovery of Miquella's cocoon.

Defeating Starscourge Radahn - Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree screenshot
Defeating Starscourge Radahn

Accessing the Radahn Festival

To commence the Radahn Festival and subsequently face the Starscourge, you must meet one of the following conditions:

  • Progress Ranni the Witch's Questline: Advance Ranni's quest until you speak with Sorceress Sellen regarding entry into Nokron, Eternal City.
  • Reach the Altus Plateau: Simply reaching the Altus Plateau and resting at any Site of Grace will automatically trigger the festival.

Initiating the Fight

Once the Radahn Festival is active, make your way to Redmane Castle in Caelid. Speak with Witch Hunter Jerren, who will be overseeing the festival preparations, to officially begin the boss encounter.

Boss Strategy: Starscourge Radahn

Starscourge Radahn is a colossal and aggressive boss renowned for his devastating gravity magic and wide-reaching melee attacks. The arena for this fight is vast, allowing ample space for Torrent, your spectral steed.

Phase 1: Ranged Onslaught and Melee Barrage

Radahn begins the encounter by launching a series of powerful gravity arrows from a distance. These arrows can be dodged by:

  • Summoning Your Mount: Immediately summon Torrent upon entering the arena.
  • Using Debris for Cover: Utilize the scattered debris in the arena as temporary cover.
  • Dodging with Torrent: Time your dodges with Torrent just as the arrows are about to hit.

Once you close the distance, Radahn will transition to his melee attacks, which include:

  • Wide Sword Swings: Be prepared to dodge through or away from his sweeping attacks.
  • Gravity Pulls: He can pull you towards him before unleashing a powerful strike.

Key Strategy: Utilize Summons! The arena is littered with summon signs for various NPCs participating in the festival. Activating these summons is paramount. They will draw Radahn's aggression, allowing you to attack him from behind or heal. As your summons fall, new summon signs will reappear, so constantly be on the lookout to re-summon allies.

Phase 2: Enhanced Gravity and Meteor Crash

Upon depleting roughly half of his health, Radahn will ascend into the sky and disappear for a brief period. This signifies the start of his second phase, characterized by:

  • Meteor Crash: Radahn will return to the arena as a fiery meteor, crashing down with immense force. Keep a close eye on the sky and be ready to outrun or dodge this devastating attack. Torrent is invaluable here for quickly repositioning.
  • Enhanced Gravity Magic: His gravity attacks become more potent, including larger gravitational orbs and a more aggressive pull.

Continued Strategy: Continue to rely on your summons to manage Radahn's aggro. Focus on identifying openings after his major attack animations. Ranged attackers can maintain distance and chip away at his health, while melee characters should look for opportunities to strike after dodging his combos.

Recommended Loadout and Items

  • Weapons: Weapons with good reach or high stagger potential are beneficial. Consider weapons that can inflict status effects like Scarlet Rot or Frostbite, as Radahn is susceptible to them.
  • Armor: Prioritize physical damage negation.
  • Talismans: Talismans that boost defense, stamina recovery, or damage output are recommended.
  • Consumables: Uplifting Aromatic (if you have it) can provide a defensive buff. Ensure you have plenty of Flasks of Crimson Tears and Cerulean Tears.

Rewards for Defeating Starscourge Radahn

Upon his defeat, you will receive:

  • Remembrance of the Starscourge: This can be traded with Enia at the Roundtable Hold for either the Starscourage Greatswords or Radahn's Singed Greatbow.
  • 70,000 Runes (NG)

Common Pitfalls and Missables

  • Ignoring Summons: Attempting to fight Radahn solo without utilizing the available summons is significantly more challenging and not recommended for most players.
  • Underestimating Meteor Attack: The meteor attack in phase two can easily one-shot players if not dodged effectively.
  • Not Having Torrent Ready: Failing to have Torrent available for quick repositioning, especially during phase two, can lead to swift defeat.