Yes, you can fight Radagon again in New Game Plus.
So, you’ve conquered the Elden Ring and are thinking of taking on the Lands Between once more? You might wonder, can you fight Radagon again in new game plus? The answer is a resounding yes. The game allows you to replay the main bosses, including this iconic final foe.
New Game Plus lets you experience the entire game again with your existing character and equipment. This includes the right to challenge Radagon at the Erdtree’s base once more. Prepare to test your skills against him again!
Can You Fight Radagon Again in New Game Plus?
So, you’ve conquered the Elden Ring and faced the formidable Radagon of the Golden Order, maybe even the Elden Beast right after. You might be wondering, after all that hard work, can you do it all again? Specifically, can you rematch Radagon in New Game Plus (NG+)? The short answer is a resounding yes! But let’s dive deeper into what that really means for your next Elden Ring adventure.
What is New Game Plus in Elden Ring?
Before we talk about Radagon specifically, let’s quickly recap what New Game Plus is all about in Elden Ring. Think of it as a way to replay the game, but this time, you get to keep a lot of your hard-earned stuff. When you finish the game and choose to start NG+, you begin again from the very start, but with some major perks. You don’t just lose everything! Here’s a simple breakdown:
- You Keep Your Levels: All those levels you gained? Yep, you keep them. You’ll start out incredibly powerful compared to a fresh character.
- You Keep Your Equipment: Your weapons, armor, talismans, and spells all carry over to your new playthrough. That favorite sword you spent hours upgrading? Still with you!
- You Keep Your Inventory: Most of your items also move to your next game. Things like crafting materials, cookbooks, and consumable items are all ready for round two.
- You Keep Your Flask Upgrades: Those Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears used to upgrade your flasks stay with you, meaning more healing and magic for your battles.
- Enemies are Tougher: Now, it wouldn’t be a challenge if everything was the same. Enemies in NG+ are stronger, have more health, and hit harder. It’s a noticeable step up in difficulty, designed to test your improved character.
- You Keep Most Key Items: Certain key items that are essential to your progression are NOT carried over. Things like Great Runes are removed, meaning you still need to defeat demigods again. But generally, important quest items will not transfer, as to not break quests.
Radagon’s Role in New Game Plus
Now, let’s get back to Radagon. In New Game Plus, Radagon’s role remains the same as in your first playthrough. He is still the final mandatory boss of the game before you face the Elden Beast. You’ll need to make your way through the story again, facing all the same bosses and challenges. Radagon is waiting at the very end of your journey, a final gatekeeper before the true Elden Lord. This means you will need to complete all the main required story bosses to get to him, just as you did before.
Why Fight Radagon Again?
You might be asking, “Why would I want to fight Radagon again?” Well, there are a few reasons:
The Challenge
As mentioned, enemies in NG+ are harder, and that includes Radagon. Even with all your levels and equipment, he will present a bigger challenge this time around. His attacks hit harder, and his health pool is increased, so be prepared for a more intense fight. This is perfect for players who felt they beat the game too easily the first time or who want to experience a new level of difficulty.
Experimenting with Builds
New Game Plus provides the perfect opportunity to experiment with different character builds. Maybe the first time you focused on a strength build, but now you want to try out magic. Having all of your upgraded equipment lets you swap builds without having to grind from the start. This also allows you to refine and modify how you approach the battle with Radagon. Try different spells and weapons to see what works best against him in the harder difficulty.
The Story
While the core story of Elden Ring remains the same in NG+, there are details and lore that you may have missed your first playthrough. Playing through the game again allows you to experience the story and characters from a different perspective and look out for things that you might have missed. It also helps to re-familiarize yourself with the history of the world and to appreciate the narrative flow. Radagon’s fight is a crucial part of that, and the lore around him is particularly compelling.
Personal Satisfaction and Achievement
Beating a boss as challenging as Radagon again is satisfying. The satisfaction of overcoming tough challenges will be even better. Knowing that you’ve beaten him in NG+ adds another layer to your accomplishments in the Lands Between.
Preparing for the Radagon Rematch
So, you are planning your Radagon rematch, great! Here are a few tips to ensure you’re fully prepared:
Gear Up
Make sure you are using the best equipment you have. The stats of your weapons and armor are even more important in NG+. Upgrade your gear as much as possible before going into the fight. Talismans are also important, so be sure to choose those that will give you the best benefits for this boss encounter.
Optimize Your Build
Decide what build you will use and commit to it. If you are using magic, make sure you have enough Mind to use your spells. If you use a melee build, make sure you have enough Strength or Dexterity. Choose the right stats to make sure your attacks are hitting as hard as possible.
Study Radagon’s Attacks
Even if you fought Radagon before, take the time to study his attacks again. His moves will be familiar, but they will hit much harder this time, and you will want to be able to dodge all of his attacks. Knowing when to attack, and when to dodge will be crucial.
Use Spirit Ashes
Spirit Ashes can be a huge help in boss fights. Choosing the right Spirit Ash to summon at the start of the Radagon fight can give you the edge you need. Some ashes, like the Mimic Tear, can do a lot of damage, while others can be used to distract him while you do your damage.
Utilize Buffs
Use items that buff your character. Things like Golden Vow, or Flame, Grant Me Strength, can give you a boost in attack power and make the fight easier. There are also consumable items that can increase your defense and resistance. Having a good set of buffs ready will be invaluable in your battle.
Practice Makes Perfect
Don’t be afraid to die a few times! Everyone has trouble with Radagon. Each time you try, take note of what went wrong and adjust your strategy to become better. Learning from your mistakes is key to eventually defeating him. This fight is very difficult, but practice will help you win.
Is Radagon Different in New Game Plus?
While the Radagon fight does become harder in NG+, his core moveset and mechanics remain the same. Here’s a breakdown of what’s consistent:
His Attacks
Radagon still uses all the same moves. You’ll still see his hammer attacks, his teleporting, and the ranged holy attacks. His patterns remain unchanged. The only change is that his attacks will hit harder.
His Phases
Radagon will still have the same phases that you experienced in your first playthrough, transitioning to the Elden Beast fight after the encounter is done. You should have already been familiar with them during your first fight, so you can be prepared again. He will still start with his main attack set, and then when you get his health low enough, he will enter a second phase. There are no new phases, so you don’t have to worry about that.
His Weaknesses
His weaknesses remain the same as well, though they might be more difficult to exploit as your attacks might not do as much damage as before the first time. He is still vulnerable to weapons that deal physical damage as well as certain types of magic.
A Deeper Look at the Radagon Fight
To get even more prepared for the rematch, let’s look more closely at the Radagon encounter itself. This will help you form your strategy.
The Setting
The fight takes place in the Erdtree, which is a huge open area. The environment doesn’t really play much of a role in the fight, however. Radagon will have full movement over the whole area, so you can’t rely on the setting to block any attacks.
Radagon’s Attacks in Detail
- Hammer Slam: Radagon will slam his hammer into the ground. This will have a large area of damage, so you must dodge or get out of the way quickly.
- Holy Spears: Radagon summons holy spears that are ranged attacks, These do a lot of damage if they hit you.
- Teleportation: Radagon can teleport around the arena and will be hard to keep track of. He will usually teleport and then go into a quick attack, so be ready to dodge.
- Ground Slam: Radagon will slam the ground, and holy energy will come up from the floor. When this happens, you have to move, or it will do a lot of damage to you.
Elden Beast Transition
As many know after the Radagon fight, you will then have to face the Elden Beast right after, without a break. Make sure to manage your flasks accordingly as you will need them during both encounters. The Elden Beast will also be a much stronger version in NG+.
Tips for Radagon’s Attacks
Now that you know the attacks, let’s look at some quick tips to help you survive.
- Dodge Often: Dodging is key, as many of his attacks are telegraphed. Watch for tells in his movements and you will get a better feel for when to roll to avoid his blows.
- Keep Distance: Staying at a bit of distance can give you a better view of the entire arena. If you try to get up close too much, it can be harder to dodge his ranged attacks.
- Learn Timing: This will come with practice, but timing when you roll is more important than anything else. Practice will allow you to learn the proper timing for every one of his attacks.
- Use Openings: Every attack leaves a brief opening. Use these small gaps in his attacks to get your own damage in.
What Happens After You Beat Radagon in NG+?
Once you have defeated Radagon in NG+, you will then be able to complete the game. When you select your ending, you can then start another NG+ cycle. You can also keep playing in your current world, if you desire, and then start another NG+ when you are ready. Elden Ring can be played as many times as you like, going through the story each time, with the enemies getting stronger each time. So, yes, you can fight Radagon again, and again, and again!
Fighting Radagon again in New Game Plus is a great way to test your skills and enjoy the game once more. You can experience the story again, challenge yourself, and refine your skills even further. The fight will be tough, but it is definitely rewarding.
Elden Ring – What Happens If You Begin Journey 2?
Final Thoughts
Yes, you can absolutely fight Radagon again in New Game Plus. Starting a new cycle allows you to revisit all bosses. Radagon, along with the Elden Beast, must be faced again to complete the game’s final section.
This replay offers another chance to test builds or fight Radagon with new strategies. The difficulty scales up in new game plus. So you must prepare for a greater challenge each cycle.
