How to Beat Godfrey, First Elden Lord in Leyndell, Royal Capital

Struggling with Godfrey, First Elden Lord in Elden Ring's Leyndell, Royal Capital? Learn his attacks and get a winning strategy to defeat his projection.

Alright, Tarnished! So you've made it to Leyndell, the Royal Capital, and you're staring down Godfrey, First Elden Lord. Don't sweat it, this guy's a projection, and while he hits hard, he's surprisingly manageable once you know what you're doing. We'll get you through this!

Where to Find Godfrey: You'll find Godfrey chilling in the palace at the southern end of Leyndell. Head southwest, then climb up some Erdtree roots to reach a portico on the southern side of the palace. Step inside, and bam! Boss fight.

Godfrey's Moveset: Godfrey's not exactly subtle. He's got a big axe and he likes to swing it. Most of his attacks are pretty telegraphed and have moderate range, but he's aggressive, so don't get complacent.

• Axe Rush: He'll charge forward with both hands on his axe, then try to smack you with the flat of it. This is usually his go-to move if you're trying to hit him from afar. Just dodge backward; it's super easy to avoid.
• Axe Thrust: He'll jam his axe into the ground like a spear. Dodge sideways when he commits to this one.
• Dragging Sweep: He drags his axe along the ground for a sweeping attack. He sometimes does this if you're behind him or on his flank, but it can also be part of his combos.
• Overhand Chop: A big two-handed overhead chop. He telegraphs this one well, but watch out – he can extend its range by switching to a one-handed swing mid-attack. This can start or end his combos.
• Axe Combo: This is just a series of axe swipes, and he might throw in his Axe Thrust or Dragging Sweep during it.
• Jumping Axe Smash: He leaps into the air, hovers for a sec, then smashes down with his axe. You can either get out of the way while he's airborne (he doesn't travel far) or time your dodge for when he lands.
• Stomp: He'll raise his foot to signal this one. When he stomps, stone spikes erupt from the ground in a cone. It's got decent range, but a well-timed jump can get you over it. Be careful, he can do this right after a dash, so just running away might not always save you.

Strategy for Victory: Honestly, this fight is simpler than his title suggests, mainly because you're fighting a projection. The arena is pretty open, with only a few columns to worry about. If you've got ranged attacks, you're in luck – Godfrey has a tough time dealing with them. Keeping your distance and dodging when he closes in will let you avoid most of his attacks without needing to master every single one.

If you're feeling brave and want to go melee, you'll find many of his attacks are slow and give you good openings to punish him. Just remember, he hits hard. In phase one, he'll mostly use his axe swings. They have some range, but they're slow enough to dodge with good timing. If he lands a hit, he might combo you, and he can take down even tough players in just a few hits, so don't try to trade blows.

Once he drops to about 50% HP, he'll enter phase two. This is where he gets more dangerous, bringing out his Stomp, Jumping Axe Smash, and a nasty dash attack that lets him close distance super fast. This makes him tougher for ranged players, but for melee, dodging and jumping (for the stomp) will still get you through.

Overall, Godfrey's axe attacks are pretty predictable and dodgeable. While he can end you quickly if you get caught in melee, you'll usually have enough time to back off and heal. If you've got some decent ranged options and are willing to use a Spirit Ash summon, Godfrey shouldn't give you too much trouble.

Weaknesses and Resistances: Godfrey is pretty open to all physical damage, especially Thrust. He's moderately resistant to Holy damage, has minor resistances to Magic and Fire, and is completely vulnerable to Lightning. So, if you're a Holy-focused build, you might need to adjust your strategy a bit.

Rewards: Defeating Godfrey, First Elden Lord grants you passage further into the palace, an extra Talisman Pouch (bringing your total to four slots!), and allows you to activate the Erdtree Sanctuary Site of Grace. Go get 'em!