Radahn

Lore & Background

Radahn is the child of Radagon, a red-haired champion of the Golden Order, and Rennala, Queen of Caria. This lineage made him the brother of Lunar Princess Ranni (later Ranni the Witch) and Praetor Rykard. Unlike his father, who resented his red hair as a curse from the Giants, Radahn viewed it as a sign of heroic qualities. Growing to a giant size threatened his bond with his beloved scrawny steed, Leonard, so he studied gravitational magic under an Alabaster Lord in Sellia. This allowed him to lower his weight and continue riding. His mastery of gravity led to the crushing victory of halting the stars entirely. Some speculate this also halted Miquella's destiny, but no direct causal link is established in canon.

In Their Own Story

The Shattering, an immense war of succession following the breaking of the Elden Ring, pitted Radahn against his half-sister Malenia in the wilds of Caelid. The battle ended in a standstill until Malenia, near defeat, unleashed her full power and spread the Scarlet Rot. This toxin engulfed all of Caelid and drove Radahn insane, turning him into a feral beast. His soldiers, unable to watch their leader suffer, created the Radahn Festival. Held when stars align, this event invites warriors to slay the general and put him out of his misery while preserving his honor. When defeated by the Tarnished during the festival, Radahn's Great Rune is claimed, causing the stars to snap back into position and restoring fate for Ranni. His death also triggers a large meteor impact that unlocks an underground region.

Reader's Guide

Defeating Radahn is optional but required to obtain one of the game's Great Runes and progress specific storylines, including Ranni the Witch's quest and access to the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. The first encounter takes place at the Radahn Festival with assistance from various NPCs. While challenging, players can exploit a trick involving standing adjacent to a cliff during his meteor attack; this causes him to undershoot and fall off the arena for an instant kill. A 2022 update initially lowered his difficulty due to unintended balancing but was later adjusted. In the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, he is fought again as Promised Consort Radahn, resurrected in a vessel made from the body of his step-brother Mohg and restored to full strength with Miquella on his back. This second battle is considered one of the hardest bosses in FromSoftware history.

Did You Know?

• Radahn studied gravitational magic under an Alabaster Lord specifically to lower his weight so he could continue riding his scrawny steed, Leonard.
• The first encounter with Radahn is Hidetaka Miyazaki's favorite boss battle in Elden Ring.
• Defeating Radahn causes the stars to snap back into position, which restores fate for Ranni the Witch and unlocks underground regions via a meteor impact.
• In the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, Radahn is resurrected as Promised Consort Radahn, but there is no canon evidence of him being resurrected inside Mohg's body.
• Players discovered an instant-kill trick in the first fight by standing next to a cliff, causing Radahn to fall off the arena during his meteor strike.

The Gravity-Bound General

Radahn's unique power stems from his desire to remain mounted on Leonard despite his growth into a giant. He studied under an Alabaster Lord, learning gravitational magic that reduced his weight to almost nothing. This feat allowed him to achieve the title 'Conqueror of the Stars' by halting their movement entirely. His reputation as the mightiest demigod was built on being an intelligent tactician and powerful sorcerer who gained respect through noble qualities. He maintained a friendly rivalry with Gaius, who created the 'Blades of Stone' gravity sorcery in response to their competition. Even before his fall, Radahn was known for his kindness as a leader to the Redmanes.

The Tragic Fall of Caelid

The Battle of Aeonia between Radahn and Malenia ended in a draw, forcing Malenia to unleash the Scarlet Rot. The toxin poisoned Radahn so deeply that he lost his sanity, becoming a mindless monster while Caelid became a wasteland. Despite his madness, the stars remained halted in their orbits due to his lingering magic. His forces established the Radahn Festival to grant him an honorable death when the stars aligned, ending his suffering and allowing fate to resume.

A Legacy of Cosmic Consequence

Radahn's defeat has immediate cosmic effects: the stars snap back into position, restoring destiny for Ranni the Witch, and a meteor impact unlocks underground regions. His soul later travels to the Land of Shadow as planned by Miquella, where he is resurrected as Promised Consort Radahn in Mohg's body. This second battle features him fighting alongside Miquella, ending with the Tarnished slaying both.

Critical Acclaim and Design Philosophy

Critics praised Radahn's first fight for its scale and complex backstory, calling him one of the game's best bosses. Hidetaka Miyazaki revealed this encounter as his favorite boss battle. The second fight in the DLC has been called one of the hardest in FromSoftware history. Data mining revealed cut dialogue where Radahn introduces himself during the second battle. Technical quirks include Leonard tracking the player even when underground to aid Radahn's meteor attacks.