Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree – Who Is Radahn?

Gamers of Elden Ring know Radahn as one of many few mounted boss fights, the place you get to summon a military of NPCs in a Pageant meant to present the warrior a correct finish. However who was this mighty normal earlier than this unusual insanity turned him right into a senseless warrior?

Effectively, even should you thought you knew every thing about Radahn, Shadow of the Erdtree, Elden Ring’s DLC, introduces numerous new details about him. He was extra linked to his siblings than we thought, and people connections shed gentle not solely on Radahn himself, however on his household as a complete.

Spoilers For Elden Ring And Shadow Of The Erdtree!

Early Life

Radahn is likely one of the three kids that got here from the union of Rennala and Radagon. Radagon was a champion of the Golden Order, and he married Rennala to unify her realm of Liurnia and keep away from any confrontation between her Carian Royals and the Erdtree.

The opposite two kids of Rennala and Radagon are Rykard and Ranni.

Radagon was a god, the illustration of the Larger Will within the Lands Between, and he had one other aspect named Marika. These two sides had many kids, not solely with totally different spouses, however with each other as effectively; all these kids had been demigods.

Whereas Radahn inherited the pink mane of his father, who he actually appeared as much as was Godfrey, the primary Elden Lord. He wished to be a fierce warrior like his idol, coaching his physique to be the mightiest of the demigods, and utilizing lion-like iconography to characterize Godfrey, since that was his symbolic animal.

This, nonetheless, didn’t make him a senseless brute, since he was cherished by many, his brothers and half-brothers included. Rykard, for instance, goes towards every thing the Golden Order represents, however he nonetheless has a portray of Radahn at his Manor, displaying affection and respect for the overall.

This charisma and kindness was observed by Miquella, son of Marika and Radagon. Miquella wished to ascend to godhood, and wished Radahn to be his Lord Consort (similar to Godfrey was for Marika), one thing the red-maned lion would agree on one situation.

Sadly, we don’t know what that situation was (or “vow” as it’s spoken in-game), however it was possible one thing to do with honorable fight and conquest. In spite of everything, the downfall of Godfrey was the dearth of something to beat, so Radahn may want to keep away from the identical destiny.

Studying Sorcery

Whereas Radahn appeared as much as the soldiers of the Golden Order, he was nonetheless one of many sons of Rennala, the Queen of the Full Moon. Rennala and her Carian Royals had been adept magic customers, so Radahn had ample entry to sorceries if he ever wished to study any.

Gaining access to one thing doesn’t imply that you just want to study it, and Radahn had no real interest in one thing like Glintstone Pebble. However that modified when Radahn needed to cease using his beloved horse, since he had grown too giant for the scrawny creature to help him.

Based on dataminers, the title of Radahn’s horse is Leonard.

This led Radahn to study Gravitational Sorceries, that manner, he might magically negate his colossal weight whereas on high of his horse. This not solely led to Radahn using his horse to each battle, however he additionally added many Gravitational skills to his fight repertoire, like throwing rocks and falling like a meteor.

Common Radahn

Finally, Radahn gained his personal piece of land, similar to all the opposite demigods, and that land was Caelid. He shaped a friendship with Jerren, a nomad warrior, who helped him in lots of battles not solely in Liurnia, but additionally in Caelid.

By way of Jerren we will study that Radahn hadn’t minimize ties together with his maternal dwelling, that he continued to earn the favor of many warriors, and that he waged many wars. We don’t know who precisely he was preventing towards, however it was possible enemies of the Golden Order.

There was even a City of Sorcery in Caelid often called Sellia, displaying that, if nothing else, Radahn nonetheless saved a passing curiosity in sorcery. This curiosity was key to protecting Sellia secure, since a horrible disaster was falling immediately into that City.

Stopping The Destiny Of The Stars

Plainly Radahn discovered of a meteor that might fall immediately on high of Sellia, destroying the City fully. Since Radahn couldn’t combat the meteor together with his swords, he did so together with his Gravitational Sorcery, and he pressured the celebrities to be nonetheless, so the meteor would by no means fall.

At the least, that’s what we will put collectively so far as why Radahn determined to maintain the celebrities nonetheless. This had dire penalties for Ranni, whose destiny is tied to the celebrities, however there isn’t something pointing to Radahn eager to do Ranni any sick, particularly contemplating the great relations he appeared to have together with his maternal dwelling.

The Shattering

When the Elden Ring was shattered, all of the demigods rushed to get their very own shard of the factor, gaining untold energy. Plainly Radahn’s rune is what made him so large, a minimum of judging by his change of measurement throughout the intro cinematic of the sport.

He possible fought the opposite demigods throughout the Shattering, however it’s laborious to say if he fought for sport, or if he actually wished to be Elden Lord. In spite of everything, he did promise Miquella he’d be his Lord Consort as soon as the Empyrean achieved godhood, and that purpose lied exterior the needs of the Larger Will.

The important thing occasion right here was Radahn’s combat with Malenia, however they didn’t combat alone: their forces clashed as effectively, ending in an epic confrontation the place solely the demigods remained. It isn’t identified why Malenia invaded Caelid, since she doesn’t appear thinking about turning into Lord, however it might need to do with Miquella’s vow all these years in the past.

Of their ultimate conflict, Malenia whispers to Radahn “Miquella awaits thee, o promised Consort,” after which unleashes her Scarlet Aeonia, infecting each Radahn and the entire of Caelid with the corruption of the Rot. Malenia is carried again dwelling by one among her Cleanrot Knights, and Radahn is left being consumed by the Rot in each thoughts and spirit.

Radahn’s Rune is what retains him alive, burning the Rot inside him so it doesn’t devour him. He’s, nonetheless, nonetheless inclined to being Rotted by a participant.

With out their chief, the Redmane troopers did what they might to combat their biggest foe but: the Rot infestation. Their primary weapon was hearth, they usually developed what strategies they might to maintain the Rot at bay and burn it away, however to no avail: Caelid fell to the Rot, its Common now wandering the battlefield as a husk of his former self.

The Pageant

Jerren, Radahn’s shut buddy, promised him a warrior’s dying way back, and he deliberate to maintain his promise. He now holds the Radahn Pageant, an occasion that not solely commemorates the nice Common Radahn, however it works as a technique to summon nice warriors that may give Radahn his deserved finish.

Gamers can partake within the festivities, becoming a member of forces with many NPCs to slay Radahn. The Common makes use of his full may, using his loyal steed and utilizing his lethal Gravitational Sorceries to maintain his enemies shut, and to fall like a meteor.

Gamers looking to complete Ranni’s quest line have to slay Radahn (so the Destiny of Stars can transfer once more), however past that, he’s an optionally available boss. If you happen to want to enter the DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, Radahn isn’t optionally available, since he must be lifeless for the occasions of the DLC to occur.

The Promised Consort

Whereas Radahn was operating Caelid as an honorable Common would, Miquella was placing his plans into fruition. He possible sends Malenia to slay Radahn, and he leaves with Mohg (son of Marika and Godfrey), charming and utilizing him to enter the Realm of Shadow.

Mohg isn’t all that related to Radahn’s story general, however he bears point out right here. Whereas he’s a demigod, he’s additionally an Omen Youngster, that means that his face and physique are lined in deformed horns; in his case, one even goes into his left eye.

He follows one of many Outer Gods, the Formless Mom, and goals to construct a brand new dynasty exterior the Golden Order alongside Miquella. He was truly charmed by Miquella, since no matter Mohg did to him allowed the Empyrean to enter the Realm of Shadow.

As soon as Mohg is defeated by the participant, Miquella (in some way) takes his corpse and carries it with him into the Realm of Shadow. He plans to make use of this corpse as a vessel for Radahn’s soul within the Divine Gateway, bringing the mighty Common again to life, albeit in a barely smaller body.

We are able to see vestiges of Mohg in Radahn’s new physique, since there are a number of small horns popping out of Radahn’s gauntlets.

That is the primary time we see Radahn without the influence of Rot, however he appears extra senseless than throughout his authentic boss combat. Most bosses, particularly the demigods, have some type of dialogue establishing who they’re or why they combat us, however the one one doing the speaking right here is Miquella.

After studying how charismatic and beloved Radahn was, it appears odd that he says nothing when his idol Godfrey had lots to say throughout each phases of his combat. Whereas it’d simply be a stylistic selection, all of it appears to level in the direction of Miquella being in command of the Common, charming him with the identical magic he makes use of on everybody else.

Nonetheless, Radahn did promise to be Miquella’s Consort all these years in the past, a minimum of in line with the reminiscence we see after beating the ultimate combat of the DLC. We nonetheless don’t hear from Radahn, nonetheless, since we solely get to listen to Miquella’s aspect of their dialog.

Whereas we will see why Miquella might need admired Radahn, it’s laborious to see it the opposite manner round, since Radahn was a person of motion and honor who would hardly look kindly at deceptive ways and charming magic.

The best way the Common was in a position to naturally acquire folks’s belief might need been why Miquella was after him, however by protecting him on a divine leash, Radahn would hardly be himself as Lord Consort within the Age of Compassion.