How to Beat Starscourge Radahn in Elden Ring (Fast Boss Guide)
GamerScout Editorial Team17 Jun 2026
- Key
- Value
- Boss
- Starscourge Radahn (Shardbearer, demigod)
- Location
- Wailing Dunes, Caelid (reached through Redmane Castle during the Radahn Festival)
- Nearest checkpoint
- Impassable Greatbridge Site of Grace, then the waygate into Redmane Castle
- Recommended level
- Around 50 to 70, ideally 70 with a weapon upgraded to +6 or higher
- Weakness
- Scarlet Rot (lower resistance, can be procced a few times); generally vulnerable to fire and lightning
- Resistances
- Holy damage; immune to Madness; high resistance to Sleep
- Notable drops
- Remembrance of the Starscourge, Radahn's Great Rune, 70,000 Runes
- Remembrance trade
- Starscourge Greatsword or Lion Greatbow (via Finger Reader Enia)
- Mount
- Torrent is allowed and strongly recommended
How to beat Starscourge Radahn
- Get there first. Trigger the Radahn Festival by progressing Ranni's questline or simply by activating any Site of Grace in the Altus Plateau, travel to the Impassable Greatbridge Site of Grace in Caelid, and use the nearby waygate to teleport into Redmane Castle. Speak to Jerren in the plaza, then take the elevator and beach waygate into the Wailing Dunes arena.
- Summon everything. The arena is dotted with golden NPC summon signs. Activate every one you can reach before engaging. Blaidd the Half-Wolf is the standout, he hits hard and survives almost the whole fight, while Iron Fist Alexander and the three charging warriors also pull aggro well.
- Stay mounted. Call Torrent immediately. The mobility lets you cross the wide sand flats, dodge his charged gravity arrows, and reposition between summons.
- Use cover on the approach. Radahn opens by firing homing gravity arrows from extreme range. Weave between rocks and dunes, or ride in at an angle so you are not eating arrows the whole way in.
- Let the NPCs tank, then trade hits. While a summon holds his attention, ride in, land one or two hits or a spell, and ride out. Greed gets you killed because his combos have fast recovery.
- Lean into Scarlet Rot. His Rot resistance is comparatively low, so a Rot-inflicting weapon or item can proc the status a few times across the fight for strong chip damage. Bleed also works well. Avoid relying on pure Holy damage, which he resists.
- Survive the meteor transition. Around half health he flies into the sky and crashes down as a meteor. Watch the sky, then gallop perpendicular to his trajectory and do not stop until he lands and explodes.
- Win Phase 2 at mid-range. After the crash he leans harder on magic, including fast purple homing bolts and repeated arrow spam. Re-summon any fresh signs (Jerren appears for Phase 2), keep light pressure on, and disengage whenever he winds up a big spell.
Phase-by-phase breakdown
| Phase | What he does | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 (approach) | Fires homing gravity arrows from long range while you cross the arena | Ride Torrent in at an angle, use rocks and dunes as cover, summon NPC signs along the way |
| Phase 1 (melee) | Long sword combos, ground slams, and a wide gravity-pull area attack | Let summons hold aggro, hit one or two times then back off, watch for his quick recovery |
| Transition (around 50% HP) | Flies up and drops back down as a screen-filling meteor | Mount up, watch the sky, gallop sideways out of his path until impact, then heal |
| Phase 2 | More magic-focused: meteor crashes, fast purple homing bolts, heavy arrow spam | Fight at mid-range, dodge or roll through projectiles, re-summon fresh signs (Jerren), keep steady pressure |
Recommended setup
You do not need a niche build to win, but range, mobility, and a strong status proc make it far easier.
- Vigor and weapon level: Aim for around 30 to 40 Vigor and a weapon upgraded to at least +6 (higher if you are going solo) before stepping in.
- Damage type: A Scarlet Rot or Bleed weapon is ideal because both statuses stick to him. Long-range options like a fast casting tool (for example the Moonveil Katana's ranged skill, often recommended for this fight) let you trade safely from horseback.
- Avoid: Pure Holy damage builds, since Holy is his strongest resistance.
- Mount: Keep Torrent up almost the entire fight for spacing and meteor dodging.
For a beginner-friendly all-rounder, a bleed-focused melee build paired with a mid-range spell or the Lion Greatbow you can earn from his own Remembrance covers every phase comfortably.
FAQ
What is the easiest way to cheese Starscourge Radahn?
The intended "cheese" is the summon system itself. Activate every golden NPC sign in the arena so the boss splits aggro, then poke him from horseback or from range while the summons soak hits. Stacking Scarlet Rot procs on top of that melts a large chunk of his health bar.
What level should I be for Radahn?
Most guides put the sweet spot around level 50 to 70, ideally 70, with a weapon upgraded to +6 or better. You can attempt him earlier, but his damage and long combos punish underleveled, low-Vigor characters hard.
Where exactly is the Radahn fight and how do I start it?
He waits in the Wailing Dunes in Caelid, reached through Redmane Castle once the Radahn Festival is active. Activate the Festival via Ranni's questline or by touching any Altus Plateau Site of Grace, then teleport in from the Impassable Greatbridge Site of Grace and talk to Jerren.
What do I get for beating him?
You receive 70,000 Runes, Radahn's Great Rune, and the Remembrance of the Starscourge. Trade the Remembrance with Finger Reader Enia at the Roundtable Hold for either the Starscourge Greatsword or the Lion Greatbow.
Should I use Torrent against Radahn?
Yes. Torrent is allowed in this fight and is one of the biggest reasons it is winnable. The horse lets you outrun his gravity arrows, reposition between summons, and dodge the Phase 2 meteor by galloping out of its path.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest way to cheese Starscourge Radahn?
The intended "cheese" is the summon system itself. Activate every golden NPC sign in the arena so the boss splits aggro, then poke him from horseback or from range while the summons soak hits. Stacking Scarlet Rot procs on top of that melts a large chunk of his health bar.
What level should I be for Radahn?
Most guides put the sweet spot around level 50 to 70, ideally 70, with a weapon upgraded to +6 or better. You can attempt him earlier, but his damage and long combos punish underleveled, low-Vigor characters hard.
Where exactly is the Radahn fight and how do I start it?
He waits in the Wailing Dunes in Caelid, reached through Redmane Castle once the Radahn Festival is active. Activate the Festival via Ranni's questline or by touching any Altus Plateau Site of Grace, then teleport in from the Impassable Greatbridge Site of Grace and talk to Jerren.
What do I get for beating him?
You receive 70,000 Runes, Radahn's Great Rune, and the Remembrance of the Starscourge. Trade the Remembrance with Finger Reader Enia at the Roundtable Hold for either the Starscourge Greatsword or the Lion Greatbow.
Should I use Torrent against Radahn?
Yes. Torrent is allowed in this fight and is one of the biggest reasons it is winnable. The horse lets you outrun his gravity arrows, reposition between summons, and dodge the Phase 2 meteor by galloping out of its path.