Elden Ring has its fair share of terrifying bosses, some of which can be quite the hassle for even the most skilled of players. Such is the case with Radagon, a dauntingly tall god who wields the very same hammer seen in the game's intro cutscene. He resides at the Leyndell, Ashen Capital -- formerly known as Leyndell, Royal Capital before it falls into ruin following the battle with Maliketh, the Black Blade.
Radagon is one of the final bosses in Elden Ring, whose place within the game’s lore holds considerable weight. You will encounter him in the first phase of the final boss fight (followed up by the Elden Beast for the second). Although you do not receive any rewards for battling this foe, it is a pinnacle point in Elden Ring's story. Entering this fight will challenge each and every capability you have as an Elden Ring player. Fortunately, this guide will offer you tips and strategies to aid you in becoming victorious.
Updated by Nathan Round on 30th December 2022: We have updated this guide with additional helpful tips to aid in the battle with Radagon of the Golden Order in Elden Ring. We have also introduced useful images and relevant links.
Preparation For The Battle
Bring Defensive Items - Radagon will inflict both Holy and Physical damage, so equipping the Haligdrake Talisman (used to reduce Holy Damage), the Dragoncreast Greatshield Talisman (which reduces physical damage), as well as the Pearldrake Talisman (aids in reducing non-physical damage) will help you keep your health at optimum levels.
Be aware of Holy Damage – Make use of a strong faith build. Devine Fortification, Holyproof Dried Livers, and the Lord's Divine Fortification will prove useful in countering Radagon's signature Holy Damage attacks.
Bring Fire – Radagon is resistant to Holy Damage and completely immune to Bleed. In fact, this boss is somewhat resistant to every kind of damage, with his only significant weakness being Fire Damage. Weapons like the Blasphemous Blade and the Sword of Night and Flame will be of great asset in this boss fight. Fire Incantations like Flame Sling are also useful considerations.
Countering Radagon’s Attack Strategies
Before jumping into this epic endgame fight, it’s important to note Radagon’s powerful and unpredictable moves. Keeping a keen eye on his movements and understanding his cues can be the difference between victory and failure.
Hammer wind-up – One of Radagon’s attacks will begin with him winding up his hammer to emit a swing, which conceives an explosive aura of Holy substance aimed at dealing AoE damage. This is unavoidable unless players dodge inward to the attack as he begins to swing the hammer.
Lightning – Radagon will generate a lightning bolt within his palm and hurl it toward you. This attack is more challenging for ranged-combat players but is avoidable by dodging either to the right or left of the lightning bolt.
Uppercut – Radagon will lift his hammer, accumulating Holy power, then bring it downward to create a bursting explosion within that area. The best way to counter this attack is to roll behind him, but be careful to get the timing right. Perform this too late, and you may just roll into his devastating attack.
Stunning – Radagon will make a dramatic lunge-like leap, stunning the player with his knee, and following that with a stomp attack. This attack is tricky to predict as it is performed fairly quickly. Ensure you have a shield ready to create a barrier between the force of the attack, while also giving you slight room for dodging afterward.
Smash Combo – If you haven’t already noticed, Radagon does a lot of slamming and smashing to gain the advantage. One of these smash attacks is an elaborate combo, in which Radagon will stomp on the ground and quickly ricochet himself into the air. He’ll come crashing down a couple of seconds after leaping, so dodge before he can reach you. Take note of his movements and dodge accordingly.
Teleportation – Radagon will quickly shift to a different area via teleporting and with each move he makes, he'll leave behind an explosive attack. Even though each explosion is relatively small, they can deal a significant amount of damage. Take note of his whereabouts and utilize dodge rolls to get out of the way.
Iconic Combo – Radagon’s most notable combo occurs when he stands upright, moves the hammer skyward, and swiftly smashes it into the ground to emit Holy Damage. This move is performed twice, followed by him smashing it down once more to create a symbol of the Elden Ring on the ground below. This final smash-down emits even more Holy Damage across a wider area. Even though this combo is devastating, you are given enough time to plan accordingly due to its more obvious anticipation.
Tips For Melee Players
For melee players, using Colossal weapons to disturb Radagon’s flow is your best bet to beating him. Position yourself accordingly to Radagon and keep his attack cues in mind. Moreover, the closer the player is to him, the easier the fight will be overall. But be patient and wait for an opening to strike first, for Radagon is fast and deadly with his attacks. The only real disadvantage for melee players is your inability to disrupt his movements whilst he performs airborne attacks.
Another tip is to make use of Radagon's susceptibility to Fire Damage. Try using Fire Grease or Faith weapon scaling on your weapon choices for the best results. All-in-all, Radagon will be a smoother fight if you stick to melee combat partnered with Fire Damage.
Tips For Ranged Players
Equipping the most damage-inflicting arrows is recommended before you head into battle. When in ranged combat, Radagon will make an effort to close the gap between himself and the player, giving you an opening to attack. Shooting him with the most devastating arrows possible before he’s able to close the gap completely will allow players to get some damage in. However, do not forget the importance of dodging, especially when Radagon performs his own ranged attacks.
Tips For Caster Players
Unleashing your strongest spell right as you enter the arena is key in the beginning to dealing some significant damage early on -- especially when you consider that Radagon has a larger gap to close in on you at this moment, offering you plenty of time to strike. Summoning a Spirit Ash is also a useful tactic, as it will divert much of his attention, offering you more opportunities to get some damage in.
However, again remember the importance of dodging, especially during Radagon's aerial attacks. Although it might seem like a good time to cast a spell or pop a heal, you may just be leaving yourself open for attack.