Promised Consort Radahn emerges as the formidable final obstacle in Elden Ring‘s Shadow of the Erdtree’s DLC, demanding Tarnished to surpass their limits. This iteration of Radahn is faster and more relentless than his base game counterpart, pushing players to master precise timing and memorize intricate attack patterns in the intense second phase. While victory seems elusive, a crucial weakness exists, offering a glimmer of hope in this challenging encounter.
This Elden Ring DLC guide provides a comprehensive walkthrough on how to beat Promised Consort Radahn, detailing strategies to exploit his vulnerabilities and navigate each phase of this epic battle.
Location of Promised Consort Radahn in Elden Ring DLC
You will find Promised Consort Radahn awaiting your challenge at the pinnacle of Enir-Ilim, the concluding dungeon of Shadow of the Erdtree. The arena for this decisive showdown is located atop the Divine Gatefront Staircase. Facing Consort Radahn is essential; he stands as a mandatory DLC boss for those seeking to unravel the complete narrative of Shadow of the Erdtree.
Understanding Consort Radahn’s Weaknesses and Resistances
Consort Radahn presents distinct vulnerabilities that can be leveraged across various character builds. Echoing many bosses within Shadow of the Erdtree, Radahn exhibits significant susceptibility to both Frostbite and Hemorrhage. Therefore, builds centered around these status effects are highly recommended. Hemorrhage, in particular, proves exceptionally effective, as we will explore shortly. Furthermore, he is vulnerable to Scarlet Rot and Poison, while demonstrating complete immunity to Sleep and Madness.
Regarding resistances, Radahn possesses a natural resilience to a broad spectrum of damage types. According to the Elden Ring Wiki, he demonstrates 40% damage reduction against standard, slashing, striking, magic, fire, and lightning attacks. Piercing damage is less mitigated, with only a 20% resistance. Notably, while he has no resistance to holy damage in the first phase, this increases to 40% in the second phase, indicating a shift in his defensive profile.
Preparing Your Build to Face Consort Radahn
To effectively challenge Promised Consort Radahn, aiming for a character level above 150-160 is advisable. While higher levels are always beneficial, this range ensures you are well-equipped statistically. However, maximizing your Scadutree Blessing by collecting Fragments to at least level 20 will offer a more substantial advantage in this encounter.
For your build, select a versatile weapon that aligns with your stats and can be enhanced with Ashes of War, focusing on applying cold or bleed effects. While heavy weapons can inflict substantial damage, their slower attack speed might lead to taking more hits than you can recover from, especially when trying to break Radahn’s stance. Lighter, faster weapons allow for more frequent strikes, accelerating the buildup of status ailments. Milady, obtainable from Castle Ensis, or the Backhand Blade are excellent choices, enabling you to maintain a safer distance while attacking.
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Combining the Rolling Sparks skill with Chilling Perfume Bottles can deliver multiple instances of frost damage with a single application. Given Radahn’s large size, this skill is likely to connect reliably within range. However, it’s observed that Radahn seems to lose his frost vulnerability in the second phase, making a bleed-focused build potentially more consistently effective throughout the entire fight.
If you seek a more direct path to victory, a bleed build can rapidly deplete significant portions of Radahn’s health. Essential components for this strategy include:
- Impenetrable Thorns spell and sufficient Faith to cast it. An Arcane stat exceeding 30 is also highly beneficial to maximize bleed buildup.
- Albinauric Staff or Staff of the Guilty, with the Albinauric Staff preferred for its enhanced blood loss buildup.
- A weapon capable of inflicting blood loss. Rivers of Blood and Eleonora’s Poleblade are powerful options, though the Reduvia dagger offers faster attacks and ranged blood loss application via its weapon skill. While not strictly necessary, a bleed weapon enhances your Mimic Tear’s offensive capabilities.
- A fully upgraded Mimic Tear Spirit Ash.
Similar to the frost strategy recommended for the Messmer boss, the core principle here is to consistently exploit Consort Radahn’s weaknesses with each attack. Limit your spell selection to Impenetrable Thorns to ensure your Mimic Tear prioritizes its use, making it your primary offensive tool.
Impenetrable Thorns inflicts blood loss more effectively than any tested weapon, including those mentioned above. The self-damage is minimal, especially with a Vigor stat above 50. Continuously cast Impenetrable Thorns during openings in Radahn’s attacks. Approximately every two successful casts will trigger Hemorrhage, dealing substantial damage, roughly 2,000 HP, to Radahn.
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The Bloodfiend’s Arm colossal weapon infused with a blood Ash of War is a popular choice, but its slow attack speed can make timing hits challenging.
Ensure your Mimic Tear is sufficiently upgraded; levels below eight Revered Spirit Ash may struggle significantly. Ideally, aim for a maximum level 10 Mimic Tear, though level 9 can also be viable. Continue collecting Scadutree Fragments to reach a Scadutree Blessing level of 15 or higher, ideally 20, to maximize your damage negation. Even at level 20, Radahn hits hard, but you’ll withstand more than just a couple of blows.
Maximize the HP and FP recovery of your Flask of Tears. Prioritize Crimson Tears charges over Cerulean Tears; if employing a Thorns build, Cerulean Tears may be entirely unnecessary. Consider adding Holyproof Pickled Liver and a Marika’s Blessing charge to your quick item slots for added defense and healing.
For your Flask of Wondrous Physik, the Opaline Hardtear and either a Crimsonspill Crystal Tear or Opaline Bubbletear are recommended. Activate it at the start of the second phase when Radahn ascends to unleash holy light barrages; this combination will significantly mitigate the incoming damage.
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For talismans, consider equipping the following:
- Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman
- Two-Headed Turtle Talisman
- Haligdrake Talisman +2
- Lord of Blood’s Exultation (for bleed builds) or Pearldrake Talisman +2 (for non-bleed builds)
The holy light attacks in phase two inflict substantial health drain over time, making the Haligdrake Talisman crucial for mitigating this damage and easing the challenge.
Finally, regarding NPC summons, your options depend on the outcome of the Leda fight. You might be able to summon Thiollier, Ansbach, Hornsent, or a combination of survivors. Avoid summoning multiple NPCs; even a single summon significantly increases Radahn’s HP, making the fight considerably harder. However, bringing one NPC ally can be beneficial as a distraction for Radahn.
Strategies to Defeat Radahn, Elden Ring DLC Final Boss
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Phase one begins with Radahn descending from the sky, enveloped in gravity magic. He crashes into the arena, generating stone blades around him upon impact. Dodging just before his landing avoids both initial and subsequent hits. If you’ve summoned an NPC, staying near the arena entrance is advisable. This positioning encourages your NPC ally to engage quickly, drawing Radahn’s attention and creating an opening for you to summon your Mimic Tear.
Consort Radahn’s sword combos closely mirror his phase two attacks from the base game encounter. Expect sequences of single sword swings, followed by double swings with the other sword, often culminating in a downward thrust. He also executes broad swings with both swords in alternating directions, frequently ending with a ground slam, sometimes interspersed with additional slashes mid-combo.
Sidestepping his attacks often leads to being clipped by the edge of his slashes. Backwards dodges are safer, while forward dodges can force Radahn to reorient and offer slightly larger evasion windows. However, forward dodging can complicate camera management, potentially leading to disorientation. Backwards dodging might be a more consistent approach.
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Attack opportunities are scarce during his relentless combos. However, brief openings appear at the conclusion of heavier combos, such as after a ground slam, where you can cast a spell or land weapon attacks. If he is focused on another target, approach from behind to maximize your attack window before drawing his aggro.
When you are close and in front of Radahn, he will perform an X-shaped ground slash, a knockdown attack like many of his moves. Dodge backwards to evade. He also performs ground stomps or sword thrusts into the ground, both summoning damaging cones of rocks.
He frequently leaps into the air with his swords, crashing down at your location, often followed by an upward strike with a 50/50 chance. If caught by the upward attack, you’ll be launched skyward and slammed down. Dodge backwards and away after the initial crash to avoid the follow-up.
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Similar to his Caelid fight, Radahn employs gravity magic, reminiscent of Mohg’s style. He imbues his swords with gravity, plunges them into the ground, then yanks them upwards, generating meteor projectiles. The upward strike itself can damage you if nearby; dodge back or sideways to avoid it. The meteors impact after a short delay, demanding precise dodge timing. Dodge sideways just as the first meteor is about to hit to evade the entire barrage.
He also uses gravity to pull you in, followed by a damaging circle of rotating stone blades erupting from the ground. Close-range dodging is ineffective against this. Retreat after the gravity pull and dodge backward as the blades appear. Staying close during this attack will result in multiple hits.
Once Consort Radahn’s health is reduced to approximately one-third, phase two commences.
Mastering Radahn’s Final Phase
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Miquella intervenes, enhancing Radahn with divine power for the remainder of the battle. Frost vulnerability appears to diminish in this phase, so transition to bleed-focused tactics to exploit his remaining weakness.
Radahn retains all phase one attacks, with key modifications. When raising stone blades, he now summons holy blades of light instead. Backwards and away dodging remains effective. He also adds holy light pillars to his sword slashes. These are typically single pillars, easily dodged in any direction, though combo finishers often produce a horizontal line of pillars, requiring forward or backward dodges.
He continues to use meteor attacks, gravity pulls, and whirling jump assaults.
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New, more challenging moves emerge. Radahn often begins phase two by ascending and casting Miquella’s Light, a widespread rain of holy pillars. If distant enough at the start, you can outrun the area of effect. Otherwise, dodge as the light peaks in intensity. Multiple pillars make damage almost unavoidable. Use your Mixed Physik during casting to minimize damage and potentially attack Radahn if your weapon range allows.
A particularly dangerous new attack involves Radahn teleporting away, then quickly approaching with a slash, sometimes followed by a third. Predicting his target is difficult, but if he faces you after teleporting, you are likely the target. He may target an ally first, then strike you with the third attack.
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Radahn may leap into the air and rush you with five rapid attacks, extremely difficult to dodge. Sideways dodges sometimes work, but his angled approach often still hits. Forward dodging offers a better escape chance. He may also imbue both swords with holy power, then unleash a massive light blast shortly after. Time your dodge as he raises his swords towards his shoulders.
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Finally, Radahn’s comet crash attack returns, now holy-aligned. Dodging upon landing or running to the arena edge is possible, but damage is almost guaranteed. If you are close upon his landing, exploit the brief vulnerability to attack.
Early in phase two, Miquella may attempt to charm you or a nearby ally, marked by Miquella’s sigil. The effect of this charm is unclear, but Radahn becomes invulnerable until the character is released. Use this time to heal if you are not the target.
Consort Radahn, like Serpent Messmer, is faster and more dangerous in his enhanced form but offers more attack openings. He pauses after major holy attacks, including Miquella’s light, the five-attack rush, and the teleport slash combo. He also briefly pauses after firing holy light discs, but distance often limits counter-attack opportunities.
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Bleed remains highly effective in phase two, offering the quickest and safest route to defeat Radahn and end Miquella’s ambitions. Upon their defeat, you’ll receive Miquella’s crown and their Remembrance. A final cutscene awaits near the crown location, offering cryptic closure.
Cheese Strategy for Promised Consort Radahn
This boss fight is notoriously challenging, and employing easier methods is understandable. Several “cheese” strategies exist for Promised Consort Radahn to simplify your victory.
The shield and poke method, demonstrated by YouTuber Cainfoe, is a highly effective cheese. While Cainfoe’s video details advanced techniques, the core strategy involves using a greatshield (like the Black Knight’s Shield) and a thrusting weapon (such as the Frozen Needle rapier). Further community recommendations can be found on Reddit.
While you still need to evade major magic attacks by running or dodging, attacking from behind a shield provides a consistent, safer approach to reduce Radahn’s health to zero. For a visual guide to perfect execution, refer to Cainfoe’s video.
With Radahn defeated, the main story of Shadow of the Erdtree concludes. However, the Land of Shadow offers much more to explore. Discover optional areas like Cerulean Coast and complete remaining NPC quests, including Igon’s quest, which leads to another challenging boss fight against Bayle the Dread.
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