How to Beat Elden Lord Godrick the Grafted in Stormveil Castle

Struggling with Godrick the Grafted in Stormveil Castle? Our guide breaks down his attacks, phases, and provides strategies to help you defeat this tough Elden Ring boss.

Alright, Tarnished! So you've made it to Stormveil Castle and you're staring down the barrel of Godrick the Grafted. Don't sweat it, this guy looks way scarier than he actually is once you know what you're doing. He's a Demi-God boss, and you'll find him after a fog gate. The closest Site of Grace to get your bearings is the Secluded Cell. Remember, Stormveil Castle itself is a Legacy Dungeon, and you'll have to fight through a bunch of tough enemies to even get to Godrick, so make sure you're stocked up and ready!

The fight itself kicks off in the courtyard just up from that Secluded Cell grace.

Godrick's Attacks (Phase 1)

Godrick's got two wicked-looking axes he swings around like a madman. Honestly, some of his regular swings can feel a bit unpredictable, but the good news is his special moves are pretty telegraphed. You'll get a feel for them!

• Heavy Axe Swing: You'll see these swooshing lines before he swings. He often strings a few of these together, so be ready to dodge roll away multiple times.
• Dragging Axe Attack: If you try to back off to heal, he might charge you, dragging his axe on the ground. Sparks fly, so you know it's coming! He'll then lift it for a big hit. It's easy to spot, but can catch you if you're trying to disengage.
• Roll: He'll sometimes curl into a ball and roll around. It looks chaotic, but it's pretty dodgeable. After rolling, he jumps and slams down – easy to avoid, and it leaves him open for a few hits while he recovers.
• Axe Ground Slam: He slams his axe down, causing rocks to fly up. Don't be fooled into thinking it's safe to rush back in after the first slam! He'll slam it deeper, making the area of effect bigger. Wait for the second slam, then you can move in for some free hits while he's recovering.
• Whirlwind: He creates a damaging whirlwind around himself. It might not do massive damage, but it can stagger you, leaving you open for a bigger axe attack. Sometimes, he'll follow this up by launching mini tornadoes at you – dodge sideways! Other times, especially if you back off too far, he'll jump into the air after the whirlwind. Keep an eye out for that.

Godrick's Attacks (Phase 2)

Okay, this is where things get spicy. Godrick grafts a dragon's head onto his arm, and it's pure chaos. Expect more wild swings and some nasty fire attacks.

• Dragon Arm Fire Breath: This is your classic dragon fire breath. It has a long range, so if you're close when he starts, roll to his *opposite* side and get some hits in while he's breathing fire. If you're further away at the start of the phase, watch out for a big fire blast right after the cutscene!
• Dragon Arm Fire Breath Meteors: He'll shoot fire into the air, and then it rains down fiery meteors. The impact area is pretty big, so roll out of the way fast. Getting hit will knock you down, making you vulnerable to more fire or axe attacks.
• Dragon Arm Bite: He'll swing that dragon arm around and try to bite you. If he catches you, it's brutal – you'll be incapacitated, ragdolled, and then he'll breathe fire on you. Definitely a move to avoid!
• Fire Whirlwind: It's like the first phase whirlwind, but now it's on fire. It'll burn you, so disengage to avoid the flames. This can sometimes lead into him shooting fire… (the source text cuts off here, but you get the idea!).