Godfrey vs. Radahn: A Clash of Titans in the Lands Between

Godfrey, the First Elden Lord, and Starscourge Radahn stand as monumental figures in the lore and challenge of Elden Ring. Determining which is “harder” is subjective and depends heavily on player build, playstyle, and experience. However, generally, Godfrey is considered a more difficult encounter than Radahn for most players. While Radahn presents a unique initial challenge with his vast arena and ranged assault, Godfrey’s aggressive, relentless melee combat and raw power often prove a greater hurdle, especially in his second phase as Hoarah Loux. Godfrey demands near-perfect timing and positioning, rewarding skilled players and punishing mistakes severely. Radahn, while imposing, can be cheesed with summons and strategic use of the environment, making him manageable even at lower levels.

Analyzing the Boss Fights

To understand the perceived difficulty, let’s break down each boss fight:

Starscourge Radahn

• Strengths: Radahn’s initial phase is characterized by long-range projectile attacks that can quickly overwhelm unprepared players. His arena is vast, forcing you to learn to dodge projectiles while traversing long distances. The summoning mechanic allows you to bring in numerous NPCs to aid in the fight, but this can also be a detriment as Radahn’s aggro becomes unpredictable. Later, his meteor descent at half health provides significant damage.
• Weaknesses: Radahn is vulnerable to Frostbite and Scarlet Rot. Utilizing these status effects can drastically shorten the fight. The abundance of summons means you don’t have to deal all the damage yourself. He also has a horse which has HP and when they are both knocked off he needs to summon the horse again. The arena can also be exploited for cover. The NPC allies, once summoned can be resummoned each time they fall making the fight more about surviving long enough for the allies to eventually defeat Radahn
• Overall Difficulty: Radahn’s fight is a spectacle, but the ability to summon allies significantly lowers the difficulty. Once players understand the mechanics, Radahn becomes more of a war of attrition than a test of skill.

Godfrey, First Elden Lord/Hoarah Loux, Warrior

• Strengths: Godfrey’s first phase as the Elden Lord is a challenging melee encounter, testing players’ ability to dodge and parry. He uses deliberate but powerful attacks with long reach. His second phase, as Hoarah Loux, is where the fight truly shines. He becomes hyper-aggressive, relying on grabs, stomps, and devastating physical attacks. He has no ranged moves so he is always closing in on players.
• Weaknesses: He is susceptible to Bleed damage in phase one and Thrusting damage in both phases and not Holy damage. However, his high health pool and relentless aggression make it difficult to exploit these weaknesses. Well-timed dodges and precise attacks are crucial to victory.
• Overall Difficulty: Godfrey is considered one of the toughest bosses in Elden Ring due to his raw power, speed, and punishing attack patterns. His transition into Hoarah Loux represents a significant difficulty spike, requiring players to master the art of dodging and counter-attacking.

The Verdict

While both bosses offer unique challenges, Godfrey’s difficulty is generally considered higher due to his aggressive melee combat style and relentless pressure. Radahn can be overcome through strategic use of summons and exploiting his vulnerabilities, while Godfrey demands a mastery of the game’s core combat mechanics.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is Godfrey harder than Elden Beast?

While both are end-game bosses, Godfrey is often considered harder than the Elden Beast. The Elden Beast’s large health pool and teleporting can be frustrating, but its attacks are relatively telegraphed. Godfrey, especially as Hoarah Loux, demands more precise timing and aggression.

2. Is Godfrey one of the hardest bosses in Elden Ring?

Yes, Godfrey is widely regarded as one of the hardest bosses in Elden Ring. His aggressive attack patterns, powerful grab attacks, and high damage output make him a formidable opponent.

3. Does Radahn like Godfrey?

Yes, Radahn idolized Godfrey from a young age. He adorned his armor with lions, the symbol of Godfrey, as a sign of respect and admiration.

4. Is Radahn stronger than Malenia lore-wise?

In their prime, Malenia and Radahn were likely on equal footing. However, if Radahn had obtained more Great Runes, he would have likely surpassed her. Their battle resulted in a stalemate, with Malenia unleashing the Scarlet Rot, devastating Caelid and driving Radahn insane.

5. Does Radahn love his horse, Leonard?

Yes, Radahn’s love for Leonard is a key part of his lore. He used gravity magic to continue riding Leonard, even as he outgrew him, showcasing a deep bond.

6. Is Godfrey immune to Scarlet Rot?

No, Godfrey is unfortunately pretty resistant to Scarlet Rot, but he’s pretty susceptible to Bleed damage.

7. What level should I fight Godfrey at?

Players should aim to be around level 110 or higher with weapons upgraded to +20 or more when facing Godfrey.

8. Is Radagon stronger than Godfrey?

According to the lore, Radagon is likely more powerful than Godfrey due to being a god and the male half of Marika. However, Godfrey possesses superior fighting skills and experience.

9. What percentage of Elden Ring players have beaten Godfrey?

Approximately 70.7 percent of players on Steam have defeated Godfrey, according to the game’s achievements page.

10. Is Radahn Rennala’s son?

Yes, Radahn is one of the children of Rennala and Radagon.

11. Who won Malenia or Radahn?

Their battle ended in a stalemate. While PC tests show Melania wins she ends up nuking the entire place with the Rot. Their forces clashed in the Caelid Wilds, and the two fought a bitter duel for supremacy. In the midst of the combat with Radahn, the Scarlet Rot was unleashed by Malenia, resulting in her first bloom.

12. Why did Radahn lose his legs?

Radahn didn’t lose his legs. Most fans agree that Scarlet Rot is the cause of his missing feet.

13. Why did Radahn go insane?

Radahn was infected with the Scarlet Rot by Malenia in their battle, which drove him to insanity.

14. What is Radahn most weak to?

Radahn is vulnerable to Frostbite and Scarlet Rot, with Scarlet Rot being particularly effective.

15. How did Malenia lose her arm?

Malenia had Scarlet Rot coursing through her veins from the very beginning of her life, which caused insurmountable amounts of pain and rotted her limbs away.

Ultimately, the perceived difficulty between Godfrey and Radahn depends on individual player skills and strategies. However, Godfrey’s unrelenting aggression and demand for precise execution often place him higher on the difficulty scale for most Tarnished. You can delve deeper into the game’s mechanics and learning aspects at the Games Learning Society website, GamesLearningSociety.org. Learning and mastering the combat mechanics is the key to overcoming the challenges presented by these formidable bosses.