Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree: How To Defeat Starscourge Radahn (2025)

A requirement to access the new area and content within Elden Ring’s DLC is defeating another one of the base game’s optional bosses. This particular boss is Starscourge Radahn.

While Starscourge Radahn is relatively simple to reach, you should be at a very high level when facing him, as his attacks are extremely powerful, capable of killing even veteran players in one hit.

To access everything Shadow of the Erdtree has to offer, you must defeat this enemy, as well as Mohg, Lord of Blood, the two optional bosses. This is a guide on how to defeat Starscourge Radahn.

Searching for Starscourge Radahn on the Elden Ring Map

Unlike Mohg, Lord of Blood who you must also defeat in order to access Shadow of the Erdtree, Starscourge Radahn is much easier to find, but that doesn’t make him any less difficult to defeat.

Like any typical boss part of the FromSoftware titles, this boss is extremely challenging, and one of his strengths is that he has several attacks that can instantly kill you. He’s a big boss who wields two deadly colossal swords with an enormous range, making him difficult to manage.

Many veteran and expert players consider him to be one of the hardest and most complex bosses in the base version of Elden Ring.

Not only does defeat this boss unlock access to the expansion, but it also unlocks a specific game ending for players who enjoy these variations and a more content-rich experience. It’s highly recommended to be at least level 70, or higher, to defeat Starscourge Radahn.

Starscourge Radahn Awaits His Battle

To find this character, players must head to the Caelid area south of Sellia, then travel east of the Cathedral of Dragon Communion.

Once you arrive, you’ll need to speak with Jerren, who will teleport you from a Site of Grace and allow you to access an elevator that will take you to face Starscourge Radahn. Movement and keeping distance from the boss’s attacks are essential to surviving this fight.

This boss has a total of three phases that you’ll need to overcome to defeat this imposing Elden Ring enemy.

There are several strategies for taking on this powerful boss, and thanks to the large space provided by his battle arena, many options give you a significant advantage during the fight.

Starscourge Radahn is eager to face any powerful opponent before succumbing fully to the madness of the Scarlet Rot.

Dealing with Starscourge Radahn’s First Phase

During this phase, the boss will continuously fire two specific attacks at you that cover a large range and are long-distance strikes.

The first attack, which he will use most frequently until transitioning to the second phase, consists of purple arrows. To dodge them, roll in the attack direction, taking advantage of the invulnerability frame rolling provides.

As this attack repeats various times, you must carefully time your dodge to avoid taking damage.

This phase gives you plenty of opportunities to summon allies scattered across the arena, which can help you defeat Radahn more easily.

When he switches to his second type of attack, which consists of continuous barrages, you’ll need to summon your horse and move to the left to dodge these strikes while continuing to summon more characters in the battle arena. The key strategy is to keep summoning allies to defeat this boss.

In this phase, more attacks are coming, but you’ll need to watch out for different movements because any direct hit will kill you almost instantly.

One of his attacks even alters gravity due to how hard he strikes the ground. Dodge into his moves and stay under his feet. If you can dodge his powerful combos, you’ll have enough time to deal a significant amount of damage to him. Another crucial factor to prevent a single swift strike from killing you is distance.

Transitioning to the Second Phase

In the second phase, things become more difficult, as nearly any hit from this boss can kill you instantly.

This attack will become harder to avoid over a short distance. The best strategy is to hit him as soon as possible, summon allies who will repeatedly die, and continue this strategy until you can force him into his third phase.

The summoning is the most effective strategy for consistently dealing massive damage to Radahn.

If you want to use Elden Ring‘s assistance with ranged magic attacks, you can use spells. However, exercise caution and avoid locking the boss, as this could complicate your escape.

If he turns toward you, he’ll likely try to deliver a final blow unexpectedly. Always cast your spells while moving, and be ready to cancel and retreat quickly. Once again, it’s crucial to remember that one hit from Radahn can kill you instantly.

One of the attacks to watch closely is when he strikes the ground and creates an electrical shockwave.

He’ll likely catch you if you don’t double jump. He also has a slightly less dangerous attack that deals minimal damage but is nearly impossible to avoid.

You’ll either need to move far away or take the hit and continue attacking. You must be mindful of the direct strikes he intends to deliver, as they have the potential to kill you in a single blow.

The Final Push to Defeat Starscourge Radahn

When the boss appears to be about to defeat you in the final phase, he unleashes a new, extremely annoying ability.

While you’re dodging it, Radahn might land a single blow and finish you off. This attack involves four giant meteors appearing behind the boss’s head, taking an absurd amount of time to fall. The best course of action is to run and get as far away from the meteors as possible.

Naturally, you’ll want to approach the boss and deliver the final blows, but it’s advisable to take a more cautious approach, as any of Radahn’s strikes could kill you without warning.

Your best option is to keep running and continue summoning allies throughout the map, allowing them to eventually kill the boss while you dodge the giant meteors. This strategy may be a bit boring, but it ensures victory.

Starscourge Radahn is one of the toughest bosses in the game, but defeating him has now become practically mandatory to experience the Shadow of the Erdtree content.

The fight allows you to use long-distance strategies, and if you’re patient enough, you can exploit his weaknesses and slowly take him down across his phases.

Patience pays off greatly in this case. Upon defeating Starscourge Radahn, you’ll receive 70,000 Runes and the Remembrance of the Starscourge.

What’s your favorite Elden Ring boss? Let us know in the comments!