Master Elden Ring’s ultimate challenge with expert strategies for defeating Radagon and the Elden Beast
Introduction: The Final Confrontation
To claim the title of Elden Lord, every Tarnished must overcome the monumental challenge of defeating both Radagon and the Elden Beast. This guide provides comprehensive strategies to conquer what many consider FromSoftware’s most demanding final encounter, revealing critical weaknesses and battle-tested approaches.
The path to Elden Lordship culminates in a two-stage confrontation against divine entities. Radagon represents the Golden Order’s might, while the Elden Beast embodies the primordial force of the Elden Ring itself. Understanding this duality is key to victory.
Upon reaching the Erdtree’s heart, a profound revelation unfolds about Marika and Radagon’s shared existence, setting the stage for your ultimate trial. This silent narrative emphasizes the gravity of dismantling the established order to forge a new age.
The final encounter unfolds sequentially: first you must overcome Radagon’s martial prowess, then confront the Elden Beast’s cosmic power. Success in both phases unlocks one of Elden Ring’s multiple endings based on your journey choices and post-victory decisions.
Strategic preparation separates victorious Tarnished from those who fall at the threshold of greatness. The following sections detail exact methods to triumph where countless others have failed.
Radagon of the Golden Order: Phase One Strategy
After the shocking revelation concludes, Radagon immediately initiates combat wielding his signature golden hammer. His movements mirror a blacksmith’s rhythmic strikes, reflecting his obsession with mending the fractured Elden Ring. Recognizing this thematic pattern aids in anticipating his attack sequences.
Radagon’s offensive patterns combine direct strikes with area-denial attacks. Rather than purely dodging his hammer, strategically reposition to avoid the impact zones entirely. Many beginners mistakenly roll directly into follow-up shockwaves – instead, create lateral distance during his wind-up animations.
Ranged combatants should maintain medium distance while bombarding him with spells or projectiles, but remain vigilant for his closing maneuvers. Melee specialists must master circling to his flanks during recovery frames, striking his back while he completes attack animations. His wide-arcing swings punish greedy frontal assaults.
Critical preparation note: Both phases inflict substantial Holy damage. Equip appropriate resistance gear and preserve your Spirit Summons for the Elden Beast encounter. Radagon’s vulnerability to fire damage makes flame-based weapons exceptionally effective during this phase.
Advanced tactic: Radagon can be parried with precise timing, requiring three successful parries to break his stance. This high-risk approach rewards skilled players with critical attack opportunities but demands flawless execution.
Elden Beast: Phase Two Mastery
Upon defeating Radagon, a transformative cutscene reveals his absorption into the Elden Ring, manifesting as the cosmic Elden Beast. This Lovecraftian entity presents completely different combat dynamics that require adaptive strategies.
The Elden Beast employs devastating area-of-effect attacks covering enormous ranges. Its Cosmic Breath attack demands immediate evacuation from the targeted zone. Fortunately, most attacks feature pronounced telegraphing, providing adequate reaction windows for experienced players.
When the Elden Ring symbol materializes above your character, sprint continuously rather than rolling – running provides superior distance coverage for this particular mechanic. The homing projectile assault requires constant movement until the tracking subsides; inadequate Vigor investment often results in instant death during this sequence.
Proximity management is crucial: close positioning avoids certain ranged attacks but risks area damage. Melee combatants should maintain aggressive pressure while monitoring tell signs for area explosions. Ranged specialists have advantage in this phase but must manage stamina for evasion.
Essential knowledge: Status effects including bleed, poison, scarlet rot, and sleep are completely ineffective against the Elden Beast. Builds relying on these mechanics require complete reconfiguration for this encounter.
The Elden Beast features a luminous weak point on its underside that takes increased damage. Ranged attackers can safely target this zone, while melee users risk devastating counterattacks when attempting to strike it directly.
Location and Preparation
Both Radagon and the Elden Beast await on the Stone Platform within the Erdtree’s core sanctuary. This arena becomes accessible only after defeating Godfrey/Hoarah Loux, Marika’s first consort.
Upon conquering Godfrey, a luminous portal materializes leading to the final confrontation. Radagon stands ready alongside Marika’s imprisoned form, representing the culmination of your journey through the Lands Between.
While immediate progression is possible, prudent Tarnished should utilize the nearby Site of Grace for healing and preparation. Consider returning to Roundtable Hold for final gear adjustments, weapon upgrades, and inventory organization before engaging this ultimate challenge.
Preparation pro tip: Allocate your Flask of Crimson Tears for maximum healing capacity, and consider specifying Cerulean Tears for FP regeneration if employing spirit summons or magic-intensive strategies.
Boss Statistics and Weaknesses
During the initial combat phase, Radagon of the Golden Order possesses these combat attributes:
After depleting Radagon’s health and witnessing the transitional sequence, you’ll confront the Elden Beast with these characteristics:
Both entities share vulnerability to Black Flame damage, though Radagon exhibits additional weakness to all fire-based attacks, skills, and spells. Weapons like the Sword of Night and Flame or Blasphemous Blade prove exceptionally effective against him.
The Elden Beast possesses a luminous abdominal weak spot that sustains additional damage when struck. Ranged combatants can target this area relatively safely, while melee specialists risk catastrophic retaliation when attempting to exploit this vulnerability.
Statistical insight: Radagon’s holy damage can be reduced by approximately 60% with optimal talisman combinations, while the Elden Beast’s physical attacks become significantly less threatening with proper armor selection.
Advanced Combat Optimization
No NPC summons are available for either encounter, though multiplayer cooperation remains an option. Strategic Spirit Ash deployment dramatically influences success probability.
Conserve Spirit Ashes exclusively for the Elden Beast phase. Deploying summons during Radagon’s phase wastes valuable resources that prove crucial against the more demanding second stage. Your spectral allies will divert the Elden Beast’s attention, creating safe damage windows.
The optimal Spirit Ash selection is Black Knife Tiche at maximum upgrade level. Lore-aware players recognize Tiche’s expertise in deicide, while mechanically she utilizes Black Flame magic – the Elden Beast’s primary vulnerability. Her dagger imbues attacks with additional Black Flame efficacy.
Acquire Tiche by defeating Black Knife Ringleader Alecto at Ringleader’s Evergaol in Liurnia. This summon requires 132 FP for deployment.
Alternative option: If you provided Seluvis’s potion to Dung Eater rather than Nepheli Loux and transformed him into your puppet, he becomes summonable against the Elden Beast. Dung Eater employs Black Flame attacks and possesses exceptional durability for sustained engagement.
Gear optimization is paramount since both bosses inflict Holy damage. The Haligdrake Talisman is essential, reducing Holy damage taken. The standard version resides on a corpse in Stranded Graveyard, the +1 variant in Leyndell Catacombs, and the +2 version at Mohgwyn Palace near grave clusters.
Supplement with Dragoncreast Greatshield Talisman and Pearldrake Talisman for comprehensive damage reduction. Both locate in Miquella’s Haligtree region.
Consumable advantage: Holyproof Dried Liver boosts Holy damage negation by 35% for two minutes. Find it in Leyndell Royal Capital’s sewer system and Deeproot Depths.
Both adversaries are susceptible to Black Flame damage, the divine-slaying substance. Black Flame incantations project searing dark fireballs that explode on impact and inflict damage-over-time. This ranged option costs 18 FP and requires 20 Faith. Unlock it by providing the Godskin Prayerbook from Stormveil Castle to Brother Corhyn or Miriel.
Defensive magic: Lord’s Divine Fortification significantly enhances Holy damage negation for you and allies. It costs 30 FP and requires 27 Faith. Obtain it from Gideon Ofnir after defeating Malenia or purchase from Twin Maiden Husks post-Maliketh.
Complete Attack Pattern Analysis
When engaging Radagon, remain vigilant for these primary attacks:
Upon transitioning to the second phase, monitor the Elden Beast for these dangerous abilities:
Advanced pattern recognition: Radagon’s hammer attacks create predictable shockwave patterns that can be avoided with diagonal positioning. The Elden Beast’s sword crescent projectiles travel in fixed arcs that leave safe zones between them.
Rewards and Progression
Upon emerging victorious from this grueling encounter, you’ll receive 500,000 runes and the Elden Remembrance as testament to your triumph.
The Elden Remembrance can be converted into 50,000 additional runes or exchanged with Enia at Roundtable Hold for either Marika’s Hammer or the Sacred Relic Sword – powerful armaments reflecting your victory over the game’s ultimate challenges.
Weapon analysis: Marika’s Hammer features unique ash of war that creates golden shockwaves, while the Sacred Relic Sword’s Wave of Gold skill efficiently clears groups of enemies, making it ideal for rune farming.
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