Radagon of the Golden Order stands between you and Elden Ring’s final revelation-a relentless foe whose holy hammer can shatter even the bravest Tarnished. To survive his onslaught, you’ll need more than brute force: discover the firepower, timing, and tactics that turn this legendary boss fight into your crowning triumph, whether you play on PC, PlayStation, or Xbox.
If you’re having trouble when fighting Radagon or just want to start his fight with the upper hand, we’re here to help. In this Elden Ring guide, we’ll show you where to find Radagon, how to prepare for the fight and his weaknesses, as well as a complete explanation of how to win the fight.
Radagon of the Golden Order location in Elden Ring
Radagon of the Golden Order is located inside the Erdtree in Leyndell, Ashen Capital, accessible after defeating key bosses like Hoarah Loux in the late game. To reach him, players must progress through the Ashen Capital, take the stairs from the Elden Throne arena, and enter the glowing wall that leads into the Erdtree where Radagon awaits as the first phase of the final boss fight. This encounter is mandatory and cannot be skipped, setting the stage for the subsequent battle with the Elden Beast.

Radagon of the Golden Order is a late-game boss who you can only face after having progressed in the game and completed basically all the obligatory content.
Once you’re in the Ashen Capital, which is the latest area you unlock in Elden Ring, you need to defeat two other bosses, Sir Gideon Ofnir and Hoarah Loux. You can then get to Radagon’s arena, which is located inside the Erdtree. Just take the stairs from the Elden Throne arena and get into the ablaze massive tree in front of you.
Radagon weaknesses and how to prepare
Radagon of the Golden Order is notably weak to fire damage and Black Flame incantations, making fire-based weapons like the Blasphemous Blade or Sword of Night and Flame highly effective against him. Despite his resistance to most status effects and immunity to bleed, Radagon can be slowed with frost damage, though this takes time to proc. To prepare for the fight, players should aim for a character level of 120 or higher with weapons upgraded to +22 or above, and equip armor and talismans that boost holy damage negation, such as the Haligdrake Talisman and the Lord’s Divine Fortification incantation. Spirit Ash summons like Black Knife Tiche or Mimic Tear are also recommended to aid in battle. Prioritizing fire damage and holy damage reduction will significantly improve survivability and damage output during this challenging encounter.
At first glance, considering that you have just beaten Hoarah Loux, fighting Radagon will seem less complicated. Even so, there are a few aspects of this boss that you should consider before jumping to action. First, you should be around level 150 to kill him.
To improve your chances of surviving, it’s important to prepare your gear. Radagon attacks by swinging his hammer at you or with holy magic that follows up his regular moves. Dodging whenever Radagon tries to strike you with his hammer isn’t too tough, so you should focus on stacking Holy resistance for this – and the next – fight.
When it comes to armor, the Crucible Tree set is by far the best option against holy damage. You should also run the Lord’s Divine Fortification incantation which increases holy damage negation.
While physical damage works just fine against Radagon, detrimental effects such as poison and bleeding don’t do much in this fight. On the other hand, Radagon has no resistance against fire damage. Weapons like the Godslayer’s Greatsword or the Blasphemous Blade are great against him. Black Flame spells work fantastically too.
To assist in this battle, besides the multiplayer, you can only rely on summoning Spirit Ashes. There are no NPC summons to invoke to fight Radagon alongside you.
How to beat Radagon in Elden Ring
To beat Radagon of the Golden Order in Elden Ring, focus on exploiting his weakness to fire damage, as poison and bleed effects are largely ineffective. Equip fire-based weapons like the Blasphemous Blade or Godslayer’s Greatsword, and use Black Flame incantations for extra damage. Prepare with high holy damage resistance gear such as the Crucible Tree Set and cast Lord’s Divine Fortification to reduce his holy attack damage. Summon fast Spirit Ashes like Black Knife Tiche to help manage aggro. During the fight, stay patient, dodge his hammer swings and holy magic attacks carefully, and strike when openings appear. Avoid healing excessively since the next boss follows immediately after, making resource management crucial.
The Radagon boss fight has just one phase, and he has a set of moves with some variations. But this doesn’t mean it’s an easy fight. Radagon is an aggressive foe who rarely gives you time to heal or recast an incantation. He can move considerably fast, closing the gaps with quick dashes or attacking you from afar using magic.
The best strategy is to be patient, dodge his attacks, and learn the best moments to attack him. There are a few moments after Radagon attacks that you should take advantage of to hit him. Heavy hits can break his stance. Below, we will break down all the abilities and moves you need to learn about to finish him.
Radagon regular attacks list
The most basic moves in Radagon’s kit are the sequence of swings and a stomp attack. These are, to some extent, the foundational attacks in his move set. Throughout the fight, he’ll perform variations of them, but in most situations, will just use the regular versions.
The swings are sequential attacks with his hammer. Because the animations are fairly slow, roll away from them. While you can’t determine how many times he is going to attack in sequence, try to attack Radagon back after the last one – usually a hit on the ground. An early variation of this attack that he uses ends with a stomp attack instead of striking the ground with the hammer.

In case you’re far from him, he might dash toward you and attack with his hammer. Like the swing sequences, the animation is clearly telegraphed, giving you more than enough time to roll toward him and avoid getting hit. Radagon will sometimes delay some of his swings, baiting your rolls. A more responsive approach is better than relying on predicting what he is going to do.

The stomp attack, as mentioned, might happen after a Radagon swings his hammer a few times. He can, however, simply start with a stomp attack in case you are too close to him. Unlike the aforementioned moves, this animation is pretty fast since he won’t raise his leg too high. In other words, avoiding this attack is a matter of reflexes.
Radagon holy attacks list
Most of the time, Radagon attacks you with abilities imbued with holy magic or simply casts holy spells at you. These are the most deadly moves he has, so preparing yourself to deal with them is essential for your survival.
The swing and stomp attacks have a holy variation in which Radagon strikes the ground with a glowing hammer or feet causing a small explosion in the location. The stomp has two versions when imbued with holy magic, a quick and a slow one. While the former is similar to the regular version only changing the fact it causes the follow-up explosion, the latter has a slower animation, showing Radagon charging the attack with his leg raised. The area of the explosion is also larger, so try to get some distance if you see him in this pose.

When it comes to casting direct spells, Radagon can shoot some holy darts at you. When you’re far from him, it’s not difficult to dodge them. However, Radagon might use this ability when close to you and more than once. There is also a chance of him mixing this ability with a sequence of hammer swings. By timing your roll correctly, you can escape the attack. Or you can simply put up a shield and try to mitigate as much damage as possible.

Radagon has a set of jumping attacks that aren’t too much of a problem if you know what is about to happen. Plus, they create wide windows of opportunity for you to attack him while he’s locked in the animation.
The first type is when he jumps and throws a spear of holy light at your location. It sticks on the ground and eventually explodes causing damage around it. When he uses this version, your goal is to dodge the lance and get far from it as quickly as possible.

Another version of the jumping attack is when he unleashes a wave of holy magic in front of him when he lands. You know he is about to use this version because his right arm holds the hammer toward his left side.

Radagon might also use this attack when he is on the ground as well. This move can hit you twice. The first is when the wave is unleashed and later when the area it covered explodes. Jump the initial part of the attack then dodge to your side to escape the cone area of the attack.

The last version of the jumping attack that Radagon performs is a direct strike on the ground which is followed up by a large explosion. When using this move, Radagon jumps and holds the hammer with his right hand. To avoid getting smashed by it, move toward him or get some distance.

Eventually, Radagon starts using an ability that teleports him and causes an explosion when he reappears. When he is about to use this ability, Radagon’s body gets wreathed in golden light. After a few seconds, he will appear where you are. The best way to avoid this attack is to time it correctly and wait until Radagon is about to appear. Roll out of the location and get ready to avoid the attacks that usually follow this ability.

The last type of holy attack that Radagon has access to is a powerful grab move, which can kill you in case you haven’t done any preparations to mitigate holy damage. To escape from this attack, pay attention to when he raises his left arm and it starts to glow. Run from him, otherwise, in case the attack connects, you get locked in the animation. If you get hit, stay calm, dodge any incoming attacks and find the right moment to heal yourself.
What secret strategies can help me outsmart Radagon’s attack patterns
Secret Strategies to Outsmart Radagon’s Attack Patterns
Mastering Radagon’s unpredictable moveset is key to victory. Here are expert strategies to help you outsmart his attacks and claim your win:
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Time Your Dodges Precisely
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Radagon often delays his attacks to bait early rolls. Wait for the last possible moment before dodging, especially against his hammer swings and grab attack, which comes later than expected.
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Roll Towards, Not Away
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Most of Radagon’s melee attacks are best avoided by rolling toward him at the last second. This causes his swings to go over you and puts you in a good position to counterattack.
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Exploit His Recovery Windows
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After certain combos or heavy attacks (like his slam or hammer shove), Radagon has a brief cooldown. Use this time to land heavy or jumping attacks, which can stagger him and break his poise.
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Stay Aggressive, But Smart
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Radagon has a relatively low health pool for a final boss phase. Stay on the offensive when he’s open, but don’t get greedy-always prioritize survival over extra hits.
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Avoid AoE Traps
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Watch for golden cracks or glyphs on the ground-these signal delayed AoE detonations. Move away immediately when you see them to avoid massive damage.
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Counter His Teleportation
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When Radagon vanishes, he’ll reappear in a bolt of lightning that damages nearby players. As soon as he disappears, roll backward to avoid the incoming strike.
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Prepare for Holy Damage
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Equip gear that boosts Holy damage resistance, such as the Haligdrake Talisman, to mitigate much of his offensive power.
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Cheese Method (Optional)
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There’s a glitch where, if you run directly up to Radagon without locking on or attacking, he may freeze in place. While he’s immobilized, you can attack with spells or arrows for an easy win. This method may require a few attempts to trigger and could be patched in future updates.
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Summary Table: Radagon Outsmarting Tactics
| Strategy | Description |
|---|---|
| Precise Dodge Timing | Wait for delayed attacks before rolling |
| Roll Towards Attacks | Avoid swings by rolling into them last second |
| Exploit Recovery Windows | Attack after his combos or heavy moves |
| Avoid AoE Patterns | Move away from golden cracks and glyphs |
| Prepare for Holy Damage | Equip Holy resistance gear |
| Counter Teleportation | Roll back when he vanishes |
| Use Cheese Glitch (Optional) | Freeze Radagon by running up and not locking on, then attack from range |
By mastering these strategies, you’ll turn Radagon’s own aggression and unpredictability against him, making your path to Elden Ring’s final challenge much smoother.
How can I use Radagon’s attack delays to my advantage
You can use Radagon’s attack delays to your advantage by resisting the urge to dodge immediately and instead waiting for the true moment of impact. Radagon often telegraphs his attacks with a wind-up, then pauses to bait early dodges-this “delay” is designed to punish panic rolling. By carefully watching his animations and only rolling at the last possible second, you’ll consistently avoid his hardest-hitting moves and conserve stamina for counterattacks.
After successfully dodging a delayed attack, Radagon typically has a brief recovery window. Use this opportunity to land a quick hit or two before backing off and preparing for the next sequence. Training yourself to recognize and exploit these patterns-rather than reacting on instinct-will make the fight much more manageable and open up safe chances to deal damage.
