The conclusion boss battle in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree has undergone some adjustments—whether these are warranted is still up for debate among fans.
FromSoftware has rolled out update 1.14 across all platforms (PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC). This patch includes the standard bug fixes but primarily aims for balance improvements concerning weapons and enemies throughout the game. Among these changes, the most significant impact will be felt in the battle against the final boss in the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion: Promised Consort Radahn.
The balance adjustments are as follows:
- The battle’s initial action pattern has been modified
- Some attack animations have been refined
- Reduced damage for certain attacks
- Lowered stamina depletion from specific moves
- Shortened the range of several non-weapon-based attacks
- Enhanced clarity for some attack effects
Radahn is known for being a colossal, swift enemy who delivers heavy damage—an expected challenge for any Elden Ring player. His notorious attack speed and visually overwhelming particle effects during his second phase, particularly the Miquella attacks, left many players scrambling to evade. The combination of these factors has led to an exceptionally punishing encounter.
The adjustments in update 1.14 include a noticeable slowdown in a variety of his attacks. A prime example is his cross-slash, which involves him swinging his swords in quick succession—now, it’s easier to predict and dodge. The update also provides more opportunities for players to land hits. One improvement that stands out is the reduction of on-screen particle effects, making it simpler to track Radahn’s movement in the arena.
Notably, Reddit user ChiefLeef22 has shared a helpful visual comparison illustrating these changes.
For context, Radahn has now experienced two nerfs from FromSoftware; he is the same boss featured in the original game as Starscourge Radahn, who was unintentionally weakened in Patch 1.03.3 (though this was subsequently corrected).
The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, released in June, received widespread acclaim from both players and critics. Nonetheless, many were surprised by how much tougher the DLC seemed compared to the already challenging base game. In response to the initial outcry regarding the increased difficulty, FromSoftware offered guidance to players during the DLC launch week, advising them to utilize Scadutree Blessing. Moreover, the developers introduced the option to summon Torrent during the climactic battle in the base game, providing a little relief in that final confrontation.