Starscourge Radahn

The general who stopped the stars, now lost to rot and memory.

Starscourge Radahn, also known as General Radahn, is a central demigod boss in the 2022 action role-playing game Elden Ring. Once hailed as the mightiest of all demigods and an honorable warrior, he mastered gravitational magic to halt the movement of the stars themselves, earning the title "Conqueror of the Stars." A son of Radagon and Rennala, Radahn admired Godfrey so deeply that he adopted the lion motif associated with Marika's First Elden Lord. His tragic arc defines a significant portion of the game's narrative, as his descent into madness following the Scarlet Rot infection turned him into a mindless, man-eating monster in the rotting wilds of Caelid.

Quick Facts

First major: Elden Ring (2022)
Creator: Hidetaka Miyazaki
Voice: Pip Torrens
Race: Demigod
Spouse: Miquella the Kind (consort of)
Home: Redmane Castle

Lore & Background

Radahn was born to Radagon, a red-haired champion of the Golden Order, and Rennala, Queen of Caria. This union allied the Golden Order with the Carian nobles. Despite his father's resentment toward his red hair—a curse from the Giants—Radahn viewed it as a sign of heroism. Growing rapidly in size, he feared abandoning his beloved scrawny steed, Leonard.

To solve this, he studied gravitational magic under an Alabaster Lord, learning to lower his weight enough to ride despite dwarfing the horse. He also formed a friendly rivalry with Gaius and Messmer, who acted as elder brothers; Gaius even created the "Blades of Stone" sorcery during their competition. Radahn's greatest feat was challenging the stars, succeeding in a crushing victory that halted their movement entirely. This act froze the destiny of Miquella as well.

During the Shattering, Radahn failed to capture Leyndell. His half-sister Malenia marched from the Mountaintops of the Giants to confront him, seeking his death so Miquella could reclaim his soul. Their battle ended in a standstill, forcing Malenia to unleash her full power and spread the Scarlet Rot. The toxin engulfed all of Caelid and consumed Radahn's mind, leaving him a feral beast.

His loyal soldiers, the Redmanes, established the "Radahn Festival" to invite warriors to kill their general honorably, preserving his dignity while waiting for the stars to align.

Reader's Guide

Radahn is an optional boss found in Caelid, but defeating him is required to obtain a Great Rune and progress Ranni's questline or access the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. The first encounter features a massive arena where players can summon various NPCs to assist, a mechanic praised as thematic and emotionally rewarding. While the fight is challenging, using summons makes it manageable. A known trick allows players to stand adjacent to a cliff during his meteor attack; if Radahn undershoots, he may fall off the arena ledge.

The second boss fight in the DLC is widely considered one of the hardest in FromSoftware's history due to its aggressive moveset and high difficulty. An update in 2024 lowered his power slightly to address visual clutter and hitbox issues. Data mining revealed cut dialogue where Radahn introduces himself during this battle. Players have defeated him using unconventional methods, such as a saxophone controller or without taking damage. Beating this form is essential for completing the DLC storyline.

Did You Know?

Hidetaka Miyazaki stated that the first encounter with Radahn was his favorite boss battle, citing the festive feeling of the fight.
The second Radahn fight in the DLC is so difficult that player 'Let Me Solo Her' took three hours to defeat him after initially struggling against Malenia.
Radahn's red hair, which he viewed as a heroic trait, was actually a curse from the Giants and their Fell God.

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