Starscourge Radahn (2024)

Starscourge Radahn is a boss in Elden Ring. He is a Demigod and a Shardbearer who is encountered in Caelid. While this encounter is not required to advance the story, Radahn must be defeated to access Nokron, Eternal City and achieve a certain ending.

Overview[]

Radahn was the son of Queen Rennala and Radagon, and became a demigod stepchild after his father's marriage to Queen Marika.^[1] He is regarded as the mightiest hero of the demigods,^[2] and was one of the strongest participants of the Shattering.

Pre-Shattering[]

Radahn was born the son of Radagon, a champion of the Erdtree, and Queen Rennala, head of both the Carian Royal Family and Academy of Raya Lucaria. He had two siblings, Rykard and Ranni. Radahn inherited his father's flaming red hair, and was fond of its heroic implications.^[3] From a young age, he was enamored with the Elden Lord Godfrey. Attempting to emulate his idol, Radahn adorned his armor with lions, the symbol of Godfrey.^[4]

At some point, the first Elden Lord, Godfrey, was robbed of grace and hounded from the Lands Between. Radahn's father, Radagon, left Rennala to become Queen Marika's new consort and the second Elden Lord.^[5] Radahn and his siblings were thus raised to demigod status by their new step-mother, Marika.^[6]

Radahn grew to a massive size, eventually outgrowing his scrawny but beloved steed, Leonard.^[7][8] Not wanting to abandon his horse, Radahn studied gravitational magic in Sellia under a master who was an Alabaster Lord.^[9]

Mastering gravitational magic allowed Radahn to manipulate the forces of gravity, and to challenge the very stars themselves.^[10] Radahn conquered the stars, saving Sellia in the process, using his vast gravitational powers to 'shatter' the stars and arrest their cycles, earning him the moniker of "Starscourge." During this time, he engraved the gravity crest upon his blades.^[2]

Radahn's soldiers were known as the Redmanes for the red-maned lion raising a sword in the image of Radahn on their surcoats.^[11] The longest serving of the Redmane Knights was Ogha, who studied gravitational techniques alongside Radahn in Sellia.^[12] It was popularly said that the Redmanes knew no weakness.^[13] At an unknown period in time, Jerren, a guest of the Carian royals, became a guest commander for Radahn's armies, and they swore a mutual oath of honorable death.^[14][15]

The Shattering[]

At some point following the Night of Black Knives, Queen Marika shattered the Elden Ring, and her offspring acquired the Great Runes. The maddening taint of their newfound strength led to the Shattering, a war between Marika's demigod descendants, each seeking to become the new ruler of the Lands Between.^[16]

From his stronghold of Redmane Castle in the Caelid Wilds, Radahn led his armies against the forces of the other demigods. By the end of the Shattering, only Radahn and his half-sister Malenia, Blade of Miquella were the mightiest left standing. The two fought to a stalemate in the Battle of Aeonia, which ended when Malenia unleashed her Scarlet Rot.^[17]

The Scarlet Rot ravaged Caelid, and consumed Radahn from the inside, eating away at his psyche. Following the Battle of Aeonia, Radahn roams the Wailing Dunes as a mindless beast who devours the flesh of friend and foe alike, howling at the sky.^[18] Without their commander, the Redmane Knights burned the crest on the left breast of their armor to indicate their resolve to not return home, and to serve as a bulwark against the spread of the rot in Caelid using fire.^[19][20]

In spite of his madness, Radahn continues to ride his scrawny steed, as well as hold the motions of the stars. The Radahn Festival has been organized by his men in Castle Redmane to celebrate his last battle and his death. It is a gathering of mighty warriors who might finally put the General out of his misery, and claim his Great Rune for themselves. The festival serves as Jerren's way of fulfilling his oath of honorable death to Radahn.

Upon the participation of The Tarnished (Protagonist), the festival is a success, and Radahn is freed from his tortured existence. His death causes the stars to resume their cycles, some of which come crashing down upon the Lands Between. One such falling star lands in Limgrave, opening the path to Nokron, Eternal City, and allowing the fate of Ranni the Witch to progress.

Boss Fight[]

The fight against Starscourge Radahn only becomes available when the Radahn Festival commences. This requires the player to either activate a Site of Grace in Altus Plateau, talk to Blaidd the Half-Wolf about Radahn in Siofra River, or talk to War Counselor Iji about Jerren.

Torrent can be called during this fight, and is useful for closing distance and evading Radahn's ranged attacks.

Multiple NPCs are available to be summoned during the fight, and their summons can be located throughout the arena. Six can be summoned at a time, and once a summon sign is used it will vanish, however each NPC has multiple summon signs that can be used.

The list of available summons is:

• Blaidd the Half-Wolf
• Alexander, Warrior Jar
• Lionel the Lionhearted
• Okina
• Great Horned Tragoth
• Patches (will leave a few seconds after summoning)
• Finger Maiden Therolina
• Castellan Jerren (only available in phase 2)

Moveset[]

Phase 1[]

The player will spawn some distance away from Radahn, with the boss visible at the top of a dune in the distance. Immediately, Radahn will begin firing volleys of arrows which rain down from above, homing in on the player, as well as gravity arrows. The latter can be avoided by hiding behind the clusters of weapons dug into the ground, however the weapons will break when struck. Riding Torrent will make it easier to avoid the volleys. Summon signs can be found in clusters all around the arena, and can be used to summon NPCs to assist in the fight.

Once the player is close enough, Radahn will begin attacking using his swords. He is very mobile, using his horse to cover distance easily. He also uses a number of gravity-based attacks, such as Cragblade, gravity waves, and Collapsing Stars.

Phase 2[]

Once his health is below 50%, Radahn will launch himself into the sky, disappearing for several seconds. He will then come crashing down in a ball of fire, dealing devastating damage to anyone caught in the impact. Radahn now gains the ability to raise four floating rocks, which will hover beside him and then launch at the player or their summons. He also gains the ability to float into the air and spin rapidly while charging.

Environment[]

The Wailing Dunes is a very large arena consisting of many tall dunes, with Radahn initially standing at the top of the largest dune close to the centre of the area. Clusters of weapons can be found stuck in the sand, and can be used to hide from Radahn's arrows. Summon signs can be found throughout the arena, often in clusters of two or three.

Notes[]

• This boss can be cheesed by luring him up the cliff far in the north, from where he will fall to his death. Alternatively, you can make him crashland into the ocean with his phase 2 transition meteor by standing at the edge of the southern shore when he comes down.
• The introductory cutscene appears to depict Radahn, surrounded by his foot soldiers, fighting Morgott, the Omen King in his guise as Margit, the Fell Omen.
• Radahn is the only Shardbearer boss with no dialogue and no cutscene either preceding the fight (unless one counts the cutscene when talking to Castellan Jerren) or at the start of his second phase.
• Radahn has feet in official cinematics, but he appears to be missing them when you face him.

Gallery[]

References[]