Elden Ring: All the best cheese strategies to beat Consort Radahn

Steven Rondina Published 27/01/2025

Promised Consort Radahn can wipe out unsuspecting Tarnished in the Elden Ring DLC, but players can get around it with a good cheese strategy.

FromSoftware made a relatively surprising move when it nerfed the final boss of Shadow of the Erdtree. The returning Starscourge absolutely annihilated players with his extreme aggression, fast attacks, and relentless combinations. This was reeled in to some degree in updates and post-release patches, which made Radahn’s attacks slower and made him less likely to instantly pounce on the player.

That doesn’t mean he’s easy, though. Many will still find themselves struggling to take down Radahn, even after these changes. Thankfully, there are several ways to cheese him.

Cheese strategies to beat Consort Radahn in the Elden Ring DLC

Players can cheese Radahn with Scarlet Rot builds, or builds that prioritize strength and HP to the extreme.

While there are some wacky one-shot builds and strategies that require intense item investment and some intense execution, it’s actually easier to play this one straight. Consort Radahn has a few specific weaknesses that players can explain. By really honing in on these, the fight can be made much easier.

Naturally, players need to make sure their characters are sufficiently leveled and have gotten sufficient Scadutree Blessings.

Heavy armor with bleed build

The easiest cheese strategy for players to use against Consort Radahn is a bleed-focused build. There are a number of different ways to do this and many players will work their way through the game using one. Players who didn’t, or find themselves struggling despite using one, have one option that requires just a respec and one upgraded weapon.

The Bloodfiend’s Arm is one of the strongest weapons in the Elden Ring DLC. Found in the mountains overlooking Belurat Tower Settlement, it offers both respectable damage and heavy bleed buildup. Even after multiple nerfs, it’s still very powerful against Consort Radahn and players can combine it with heavy armor to chunk down the boss with heavy attacks.

lion's claw ash of war art

High-strength Lion’s Claw build

One of the first big finds players can make in the Land of Shadow is the Savage Lion’s Claw Ash of War. Make no mistake, though. The original Lion’s Claw Ash of War is still one of the best methods for taking down Consort Radahn to the point where it effectively counts as a cheese strategy.

Putting the Lion’s Claw Ash of War on a heavy weapon lets the Tarnished inflict massive poise damage with each hit. Two or three hits will stagger Radahn, and players ultimately just need to do this four or five times to score the victory.

In terms of item and level investment, players will want to pick a heavy weapon and invest heavily in strength, vigor, and endurance. This cheese strategy is predicated on using the Lion’s Claw attack to poise through Radahn’s attacks, so players are well-served by having a tanky character. A PVP-friendly Guts Greatsword build works here, but the the Black Steel Greathammer is the most optimal option. Consort Radahn is weak to holy damage, and the Black Steel Greathammer offers some with the ability to somersault to victory.

radahn vs malenia

Scarlet Rot, Poison, and Frostbite spam is the best cheese for Consort Radahn when summoning allies

The big Elden Ring lore reveal in the DLC was why Malenia marched her Cleanrot Knights on Caelid against Radahn. The reason, it turns out, was so she could kill Radahn using the Scarlet Rot to let Miquella later resurrect and enchant him. The plan worked, but Miquella didn’t really fix that exploitable hole.

Radahn is particularly weak to Scarlet Rot. Not only that, but he’s also susceptible to poison, frostbite, and bleed.

Using Rot Pots is a great way to beat Consort Radahn that doesn’t require a respec. Rot Pots, and especially Hefty Rot Pots, can be crafted and used without any prerequisites.

The percentage-based damage over time of Scarlet Rot and poison are actually a must when it comes to beating Consort Radahn when summoning allies. This includes players who want to complete Thiollier and Ansbach’s questlines. While these are necessities when summoning, inflicting Scarlet Rot offers significant damage without much trouble when fighting solo or with a summon.

Steven Rondina

About Steven Rondina

Steven Rondina is a true lifelong gamer. His earliest memories are of playing video games, and he has continued playing them throughout his life with no plans to stop any time soon. Steven’s favorite franchises in gaming include Pokemon, Dark Souls, and Counter-Strike. He has previously published with Bleacher Report and other gaming outlets.

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