Elden Ring
Elden Ring

Godrick the Grafted

Defeat Godrick the Grafted in Elden Ring: Stormveil Castle boss guide, strategies, phases, and how to get his Great Rune.

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Godrick the Grafted

Godrick the Grafted is the first major shardbearer and boss encounter in Elden Ring, serving as the gatekeeper of Stormveil Castle and a significant early-game hurdle. Defeating him is crucial for obtaining his Great Rune, which provides a substantial boost to all your stats, and for progressing the main story into the later regions of the Lands Between.

Godrick resides at the end of Stormveil Castle, a sprawling legacy dungeon located in the northwestern part of Limgrave. The castle itself is a challenging area filled with traps, ambushes from Godrick Soldiers, Banished Knights, and dangerous environmental hazards. It's recommended to explore Limgrave and the Weeping Peninsula thoroughly before attempting Stormveil Castle to ensure you are adequately leveled and equipped.

Preparation for the Fight:

  • Level: Aim for a character level between 25-40.
  • Vigor: Ensure your Vigor is at least 20-25 to survive a few hits.
  • Weapon Upgrades: Upgrade your primary weapon to at least +3 or +4 using Smithing Stones found in Limgrave.
  • Spirit Ashes: Consider using Spirit Ashes like the Lone Wolf Ashes or the Jellyfish Ashes to draw aggro and deal damage.
  • Flasks: Allocate your Flasks of Crimson Tears and Cerulean Tears appropriately.

The Boss Arena: The fight takes place in a large, open courtyard. Godrick is a hulking figure who wields a massive axe and has a grafted dragon head attached to his arm, which he uses in his second phase.

Phase 1:

  • Godrick attacks with wide, sweeping swings of his axe. These are telegraphed but hit hard.
  • He can perform a lunging attack that covers a significant distance.
  • He occasionally slams his axe down, creating a small shockwave.
  • His grafted dragon head can breathe fire in a cone in front of him. Dodge to the side to avoid this.

Phase 2:

  • After depleting his first health bar, Godrick will rip off the dragon head and graft it onto his arm. This phase is significantly more dangerous.
  • The dragon head allows him to breathe powerful streams of fire, covering a wide area. Stay mobile and dodge through the flames.
  • He gains new aerial attacks, including diving slams with his axe and fire breath.
  • His axe attacks become more aggressive and can have longer combos.

Strategies:

  • Dodge timing: Focus on dodging *through* his attacks, not away from them, to get behind him for counter-attacks.
  • Exploit openings: Attack after he finishes a combo or a major attack animation.
  • Spirit Ashes: Summon your Spirit Ashes as soon as the fight begins to distract Godrick.
  • Ranged attacks: If you are a spellcaster or archer, use the arena's space to your advantage, but be wary of his fire breath.
  • Poise damage: Heavy weapons can stagger Godrick, creating opportunities for critical hits.

Upon defeating Godrick the Grafted, you will receive Godrick's Great Rune and the Remembrance of the Grafted. The Remembrance can be traded with Enia at the Roundtable Hold for either the Grafted Blade Greatsword or the Dragon King's Axe. Godrick's Great Rune, when activated with a Rune Arc, provides a +5 bonus to all your stats, a massive boon for any build.