How to Beat Starscourge Radahn
Phase 1 arrow storm, gravity magic and summoning strategy. Phase 2 meteor entry and comet tracking. Answer above the fold — no video needed.
Phase 1: Mount Torrent. Ride in a large circle around the battlefield to avoid the arrow volleys and gravity pulls. Close in on Radahn when he is occupied with your summons. Dismount to attack, remount immediately to dodge.
Phase 2 entry: When Phase 2 begins he launches into space and returns as a meteor. Run away from where he disappears. When the blue comet trail appears in the sky, sprint in any direction — do not stand still. The impact is survivable with decent HP but devastating if you are caught directly.
01 — Before the Fight — The Summon Signs
The Radahn battlefield is unique in Elden Ring — it has dedicated NPC summon signs for Alexander, Blaidd, Patches, Jerren, Millicent, Okina, and others. These are not optional. The fight was designed around the Festival of Radahn, where warriors come from across the Lands Between to battle him. Use them all.
Walk the battlefield before engaging Radahn directly and activate every glowing golden sign. Each NPC you summon draws aggro and deals damage. Even after they die mid-fight, the signs refresh — ride Torrent back to them and re-summon during Phase 1 if needed. Patches in particular is a reliable tank who survives long into the fight.
02 — Phase 1 Attack Guide
| Attack | Read It | Counter | Danger |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greatbow Volley | He raises both bows from extreme range | Ride Torrent in a wide arc. The arrows track but Torrent's speed outdistances them. Never run in a straight line. | HIGH — at range |
| Gravity Pull | He raises one hand and purple energy builds | Ride laterally — do not ride toward him. The pull has a cone in front of him. Flanking breaks the pull. | MED |
| Gravity Orbs | Floating purple spheres track you slowly | Sprint away on Torrent. The orbs are slow — they will not catch you if you keep moving. Do not stop to fight near them. | MED |
| Sword Slam (close range) | Raises both blades and slams forward | Dodge into the slam, not away. One backwards roll after the hit. Two attack window. | HIGH |
| Spinning Blade Rush | Spins both swords and charges forward | Ride Torrent directly away. The rush covers a long distance but stops when he reaches his target position. | EXTREME |
| Jump Slam | He jumps and falls with both blades aimed at you | Dodge sideways as he lands. Never directly away — the shockwave covers backwards direction. | HIGH |
03 — Phase 2 — Meteor Entry and Comet Attacks
Radahn Phase 2 begins when his health reaches approximately 50%. He launches himself into the air and disappears. This is the most dangerous transition in the fight because many players stand still watching where he went.
Do not watch where he went. Run immediately. After a brief pause, a blue comet trail appears in the sky showing his return trajectory. He crashes into the earth and creates a massive explosion. If you are still near his departure point, you will be hit. Sprint on Torrent in any direction for at least 20 blocks.
In Phase 2 his sword attacks gain scarlet rot infusion — the same Scarlet Rot that appears in his lore. Hits from his blades can build Scarlet Rot status. Bring Preserving Boluses if you find yourself getting tagged by his melee attacks frequently.
04 — Best Builds and Weapons
Bleed builds are the most efficient. Rivers of Blood or any bleed weapon with high attack rating can proc bleed twice in Phase 1 which takes off large chunks of health. Radahn has moderate bleed resistance — still effective, just not quite as dominant as against Malenia.
Strength builds work well because his large health pool rewards high per-hit damage. Greatswords and colossal weapons stagger him into critical hits more reliably than fast weapons with low poise damage per swing.
Sorcery and incantation users should maintain medium distance — far enough to cast safely, close enough that his ranged attacks are not the main threat. Stars of Ruin is particularly effective as it tracks even through his movement.
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