Promised Consort Radahn is widely considered the most difficult boss in *Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree*. To “cheese” him effectively, players typically use one of two primary methods: the **Greatshield Poke Build**, which turns the fight into a battle of attrition you cannot lose, or the **Stealth Status Method**, which exploits AI pathing to kill him without traditional combat.

## The Greatshield Poke Build (Most Reliable)
This strategy is the most consistent “easy mode” for Radahn. It allows you to maintain a permanent block while dealing continuous damage through status effects like Bleed and Scarlet Rot.

### Core Equipment
* **Weapon:** **Antspur Rapier** (infused with Blood affinity). This weapon has innate Scarlet Rot and, with Blood affinity, adds high Bleed buildup. It allows you to attack while your shield is raised.
* **Shield:** **Fingerprint Stone Shield** or **Verdigris Greatshield** (Moore’s Shield). These have the highest Guard Boost in the game, minimizing stamina loss when blocking.
* **Armor:** **Verdigris Set** or **Bull-Goat Set**. High poise and physical negation are essential to survive any chip damage.
* **Talismans:**
* **Greatshield Talisman:** Further reduces stamina loss while blocking.
* **Pearl Shield Talisman:** Increases non-physical damage negation while guarding (vital for Phase 2 holy beams).
* **Golden Braid:** Massive holy damage negation (essential for Phase 2).
* **Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman:** Maximum physical damage negation.
* **Two-Headed Turtle Talisman:** Greatly boosts stamina recovery speed.

### Recommended Stats & Buffs
* **Stats:** Prioritize **Endurance (60+)** for a massive stamina bar and **Strength (48+)** to wield the shields. Add **Arcane** to increase Bleed and Rot buildup.
* **Flask of Wondrous Physick:** Use the **Greenburst Crystal Tear** (stamina recovery) and **Opaline Hardtear** (all damage negation).
* **Spells:** If you have 27 Faith, use **Lord’s Divine Fortification** to negate 60% of holy damage in Phase 2.

### Execution Strategy
1. **Phase 1:** Enter the arena and immediately hold L1 (Block). Walk toward Radahn and stay glued to his right leg. Poke him with R1 while holding L1. Only lower your shield for a split second between his combos to recover stamina.
2. **Phase 2:** When Miquella joins, the strategy remains the same, but you must be more careful with stamina. The **Pearl Shield Talisman** and **Golden Braid** will allow you to block his holy light beams with minimal health loss.
3. **The Grab:** The only move you must dodge is his grab attack (where he glows purple/white). If grabbed twice, you lose instantly. Use **Miquella’s Broken Rune** to cleanse the charm if you are grabbed once.

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## The Stealth & Status Method (Passive Cheese)
This method involves killing Radahn without him ever initiating combat. Note that this often requires specific items and may be patched in later versions (current as of 1.16).

### Required Items
* **Assassin’s Gambit** (Ash of War) or **Unseen Form** (Sorcery).
* **Mimic’s Veil**.
* **Poison Mist** (Incantation).
* **Hefty Rot Pots**.

### Step-by-Step Instructions
1. **Preparation:** Apply **Assassin’s Gambit** and **Unseen Form** before entering the fog gate.
2. **Infiltration:** Enter the arena. Do not move immediately. Wait for Radahn to turn his back or move away. Sneak toward the back of the arena, keeping a wide distance.
3. **The Poisoning:** Crouch behind him. Cast **Poison Mist** repeatedly. This spell does not “alert” enemies, allowing you to tick down his health while he stands still.
4. **The Transition:** Once he reaches Phase 2, he will disappear and crash down as a meteor. Immediately use the **Mimic’s Veil** to hide.
5. **Phase 2 Death:** In some versions of this cheese, hiding at the very edge of the arena during his Phase 2 transition can cause his AI to glitch, potentially leading him to fall through the map or simply stand still while you finish him with more Poison Mist or Hefty Rot Pots.

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## Key Tips for Success
* **Scadutree Fragments:** Regardless of the cheese, ensure your Scadutree Blessing level is at least **17–20**. Even with a greatshield, low blessing levels will result in your stamina being broken instantly.
* **Stamina Management:** Never let your stamina bar reach zero. If it does, your guard will break, and Radahn will likely one-shot you. Release the block button for a half-second during his brief pauses.
* **Summoning:** Using the **Mimic Tear** with the Greatshield Poke build makes the fight trivial, as the Mimic will also apply Rot and Bleed while tanking hits. Avoid summoning NPC allies (Ansbach/Thiollier) if you are struggling, as they significantly increase Radahn’s total HP.