Elden Ring: How to Beat Promised Consort Radahn

Promised Consort Radahn is one of the hardest bosses FromSoftware has ever designed-an unrelenting, hyper-aggressive duel that tests spacing, stamina control, and Elden Ring Runes punish timing. Many players struggle with the fight for dozens of attempts, especially because Radahn's aggression scales throughout the battle, leaving almost no downtime. However, one of the most effective, reliable, and surprisingly simple strategies centers around a classic weapon and a single Ash of War: the Longsword with Square Off. When used correctly, Square Off turns Radahn's most terrifying attacks into clean punish windows and allows you to fight him on your terms.

Below is a full explanation of how this method works, why it is so effective, and how to execute it consistently.

1. Step One: Acquire a Longsword with Square Off

The Longsword is one of Elden Ring's most fundamental weapons-fast, stamina-efficient, buff-friendly, and excellent for learning boss patterns. What makes it shine here is the Ash of War Square Off, which provides two moves:

Standard: quick, far-reaching thrust.

Heavy: fast, high-poise-damage upward slash.

Both activate extremely quickly, giving you far more speed than Radahn's tracking combos expect you to have. Square Off's startup is short enough to slip between his strings and long enough to punish the end of nearly every major swing he throws.

If your damage is too low, consider:

Upgrading the sword to +20 or higher.

Using Golden Vow, Flame, Grant Me Strength, or Bloodflame Blade.

Infusing the sword with Keen, Heavy, or Quality, depending on your build.

Once the sword is ready, you're prepared for the Square Off style of play: reactive, punishing, and patient.

2. Step Two: Use Square Off (and Only Square Off)

The trick to defeating Promised Consort Radahn is not to out-damage him, but to stay just outside his aggression range and punish only when the opportunity guarantees safety. Square Off is perfect for this because:

The thrust (Light attack out of Square Off) has excellent reach.

The slash (Heavy attack out of Square Off) deals high stance damage.

The movement of both attacks subtly shifts your hitbox, causing some swings to miss outright.

Both attacks recover fast enough to avoid the follow-up swings that normally delete players.

Instead of playing aggressively, you specialize in tight counter-punishes. Every time Radahn ends a combo, Square Off forces your attack into the window before his next.

3. Phase 1: Reading and Punishing

Square Off completely neutralizes Radahn's Phase 1 if used correctly. Here are the main punish moments:

After the Triple Slash Combo

He swings twice, pauses, then overhead slams. Dodge the slam, then immediately Square Off thrust.

After the Twinblade Cross Sweep

He crosses the blades, sweeps outward, then spins. Roll the spin and use the Square Off heavy slash.

After Lunging Stabs

If he lunges in a straight line, sidestep or i-frame, then thrust while he recovers.

Because Square Off comes out instantly, you do not need large openings-just a fraction of a second.

4. Phase 2: Handling Radahn + Miquella

Phase 2 is chaotic, but Square Off's speed prevents disaster. Radahn gains holy burst attacks, delayed combos, and Miquella's lingering AoE rings. The strategy remains:

Never chase. Never commit to multi-hit strings.

Stay close enough to bait melee attacks, far enough to avoid instant grab attempts.

Key Square Off punish moments:

After the Five-Hit Holy Combo

Roll every hit with late timing, then punish with the fast thrust.

After the Holy Explosion

Radahn expands a holy ring around him. Roll the blast, sprint in, Square Off heavy.

After the Miquella Halo Wave

He throws a slow, delayed halo. Walk sideways-not roll-and punish as it passes.

Square Off's short commitment makes it perfect for navigating delayed Phase 2 timings.

5. Why Square Off Works So Well

Speed beats aggression. Radahn expects slower weapons.

Reach punishes safely.

Stance damage lets you score staggers more often than expected.

Low stamina cost avoids being punished.

This strategy doesn't require insane reflexes-only patience and consistency.

Conclusion

Beating Promised Consort Radahn with a Square Off Longsword is a brilliantly simple, highly effective method that transforms a nightmare duel into a readable, controlled fight. By focusing entirely on clean punish windows and cheap Elden Ring Runes​ letting Square Off do the heavy lifting, you neutralize Radahn's pressure and dismantle him piece by piece.