He stands in a cathedral of gold with a hammer like a verdict. Radagon punishes early rolls, chases panic heals, and turns sloppy spacing into a quick walk from the grace. The upside? He’s fair once you learn his rhythm. This guide gives you a clear plan for 2025: where to find him, what hurts him, how to read his tells, and how to carry that momentum straight into Elden Beast without blowing your stash of flasks.

You’ll get crisp, game‑tested tactics for melee, caster, and hybrid builds; a no‑nonsense breakdown of his weakest points; and a clean blueprint you can repeat. Short version: roll late, strike hard, and save gas for phase two.

• Target level and upgrades: around level 120–125 with a +20 to +24 weapon (somber +9–+10). You can win lower, but these tiers feel steady for a first playthrough.
• Best damage types: fire and strike‑leaning hits perform well; pure holy tends to underperform. Treat this as a raw‑damage fight with short, honest punishes.
• Status: bleed and most other procs barely register here. Build for posture breaks and direct damage.
• Spacing: stand mid‑range. Too far invites projectiles; too close muddies his wind‑ups. Mid‑range baits the lunges you can punish on command.
• Punish windows: delayed hammer slams, stomp into dive, and the dashing swipe. Answer with jump heavies or guard counters to push stance, then riposte.
• Mindset: Radagon is only phase one—budget flasks and buffs so Elden Beast doesn’t catch you empty.

Radagon of the Golden Order is the first half of the final two‑phase encounter. You reach him from the Elden Throne after clearing late‑game Leyndell. The arena is wide, clean, and built for reading long wind‑ups. The nearest Site of Grace sits just outside. If you lose to Elden Beast, you’ll always refight Radagon first, so aim for execution you can repeat under pressure rather than flashy gambles.

Radagon is the red‑haired champion of the Golden Order—both a symbol and an architect of its strict rules. In Leyndell’s chapel, a certain incantation exposes the link between Radagon and Marika, locking in one of the game’s signature reveals. It’s more than trivia: the theme runs through his moves, his glow, and the holy pulse behind his hammer. That helps you anticipate the kind of damage to expect and the talismans or armor you might stack for comfort.

What hurts

• Fire: weapons or temporary buffs that add fire damage perform well in practice.
• Strike: hammers, flails, and skills that count as strike hit cleanly.
• Stance damage: jump attacks and guard counters build posture pressure quickly, setting up ripostes.

What falls flat

• Holy: numbers are usually soft here; swap away from holy‑centric ashes or seals if possible.
• Status: bleed, poison, and similar procs are negligible in this matchup. Treat it as a no‑status fight.

Comfort picks

• Holy negation on a talisman or armor piece adds real breathing room against the shockwaves.
• Stamina flow is never wasted—faster recovery means you can roll late and still answer with a punish.

The shape of the fight is simple: Radagon strings long delays into sharp finishes. If you roll the wind‑up, you get clipped. If you roll the release, you glide through and land a safe answer. Here are the patterns that pay.

1. Dashing Swipe 
   Cue: He leans forward with a quick lunge across mid‑range.
   Response: Roll through his forearm at the last beat and tag his flank with one or two quick hits. Reset.
   Why it works: The recovery is honest, and the cue is visible from mid‑range.

2. Glowing Stomp → Hammer Dive
   Cue: A light pulses at his foot, followed by a vertical hammer strike.
   Response: Don’t roll on the glow. Step aside or through the impact, then jump heavy or guard counter for posture damage.
   Why it works: The dive is slow and punishable; it’s your best riposte setup if you have charged heavies ready.

3. Delayed Overhead Slam
   Cue: Hammer held high with a hang that tempts early rolls.
   Response: Count a heartbeat, roll late and inward, land a two‑piece punish, and back out.
   Why it works: The delay is the trap. Once you discipline the timing, the punish is free.

4. Light Spear / Radiant Projectiles
   Cue: He gathers luminous energy and throws a spear or spawns arcing shots.
   Response: Side‑roll on the final release; poke once if you’re already mid‑range. Don’t chase.
   Why it works: Many players over‑pursue after dodging projectiles and eat a follow‑up. Keep it small.

5. Teleport Step
   Cue: A blink with a brief shimmer, often into an immediate swing.
   Response: Hold your roll until you see the new swing’s release, then punish with a single hit.
   Why it works: The teleport itself isn’t the attack; the finish is. Treat it like a reset into a standard cue.

• Walk in settled. Pre‑buff, place the camera just off his right shoulder, and give yourself two body lengths of space.

• Read the opener. He favors Dashing Swipe—roll late through the elbow and land two quick hits.

• Build posture, not greed. Jump heavy after safe slams; guard counter when a block feels clean.

• Keep punishes short. Two hits, then reset footwork. Shave risk early so you save flasks for the Beast.

• Track your own rhythm. If you miss a window, don’t mash for it—back out and bait the next honest cue.

• Close with a riposte. The moment you crack his stance, cash the riposte, then reset your spacing instantly.

Strength / Quality (greatswords, colossal weapons)

• Plan: Jump heavy into guard counters, then riposte.
• Damage: Add fire if your weapon accepts it; otherwise trust your raw numbers.
• Comfort: One holy‑negation piece and a stamina helper.
• Note: Charged heavies after a safe slam push posture fast—don’t overstay.

Dexterity / Bleed (katanas, curved swords, twinblades)

• Plan: Short chains, frequent resets. Bleed won’t carry, so play for clean chip and posture.
• Damage: Fire grease if available; jump‑in single strikes are safer than three‑hit strings.
• Comfort: Medium roll with enough stamina to dodge late and still answer.

Intelligence (pure caster)

• Plan: Pair a fast projectile with one medium cast for big whiffs.
• Damage: Keep casts short; charged beams are for the widest slams only.
• Comfort: Casting speed and stamina regen keep your windows open.
• Movement: Recenter the arena often to keep cues visible.

Faith (melee‑hybrid or pure incantations)

• Plan: Utility and survivability tools shine; let your weapon handle most damage.
• Damage: Swap away from pure holy for this fight; fire‑leaning tools are the safer bet.
• Comfort: A single defensive charm saves multiple flasks over a run.

Bow / Ranged Hybrids

• Plan: Mid‑range weaving with short strafes. Button in an Ash of War punish only after a clear slam or stomp.
• Damage: Bleed arrows won’t pay here—lean into raw or fire‑tipped shots.
• Movement: Never finish a long draw if he blinks; cancel and reposition.

Elden Beast at a Glance (so you don’t throw a great pull)

Right after Radagon, the Elden Beast swims into view. No grace, no breather. Your goal is to arrive with enough flasks and poise to keep the pace.

Damage plan

• Physical shines; holy and most elements feel muted. Short, repeatable combos beat risky strings.
• Status is mostly a wash—don’t bank on procs.

Movement plan

• Chase diagonally when it “swims” away; cut straight only when it plants for a cast.
• The wide sword sweeps look dramatic but are readable—roll late through the light edge, tag once, and break off.
• When Elden Stars fills the sky, run first, then look for a single punish after the pattern thins.

Mindset

• Treat phase two like a second boss you already scouted. Short windows, steady chip, zero greed.

Practice Path (if Radagon keeps walling you)

• Warm‑up on knights and elites near the throne to rehearse late rolls and jump‑heavy punishes.
• Tighten your flask split. If you’re a melee player still drinking like a caster, you’re paying a tax you don’t need.
• Push your weapon to its next tier before grinding more attempts. Raw output fixes more than rearranging trinkets.
• Run short sessions—five pulls, then step away. You’ll memorize the hang on his overhead faster than in marathon sets.

Rolling the wind‑up, not the release. Count a beat on long hangs; move only when the hit actually leaves.
• Over‑punishing after a good dodge. Two hits is the rule. The third hit is the tax you pay in deaths.
• Chasing teleports. Recenter and bait a readable cue; don’t swing into the air.
• Banking on status. Equip for raw damage and posture—procs won’t bail you out here.

• Arriving at Elden Beast empty. Treat Radagon as the opening act; leave with a cushion.

Back‑step heavy after an inward roll: when you dodge through the overhead, a quick back‑step heavy keeps you safe from the trailing swipe.
• Parry practice: a handful of cane swings are parryable in earlier fights; if you mastered that rhythm, some of the same discipline carries into Radagon’s late rolls even if parries aren’t the plan.
• Stance routing: if your build loves posture breaks, plan your heaviest action after the stomp or the high hang. That’s where charged heavies land safely.

Radagon rewards composure. Stand at mid‑range, watch the wind‑up hang, and roll the release—not the hint. Strike twice, reset, and let his posture crack under steady pressure. Keep your eyes on the bigger picture: you’re not winning a single duel; you’re closing a two‑phase marathon. Arrive at Elden Beast with gas in the tank, and finish the run with clean, short strings.

If you want this guide tuned to your exact build, say the word—weapon, ash, stat spread—and I’ll sketch a step‑by‑step plan around your kit without changing the clean rhythm that makes this fight feel fair.