How to fix final boss in DLC.

[Scorpix]

Final boss in game should be challenging and there is no doubt in it, but I do not think that Radahn is a well designed final boss. 2nd phase looks more like an attempt to make him as hard as it is possible, no matter if it will be still fair (at least we dont get any adds or it doesnt change into duo fight).
I think this boss could be easily improved into great experience:
1st phase
It is almost perfect, it is fun to learn and enough challenging to feel that you are against the most powerful enemy in DLC. I would just change 2 things.
- less rocks in his rock throw attack. With 8 rocks you sometimes get hit, because you were targeted by the last rock, which was hidden behind the other rocks. 3 or 4 would be enough.
- no damage from gravity pull
2nd phase
The main reason this boss is hard, but not always fair. Laser beams and Miquella's hair are often a reason of not being able to see what combo Radahn is doing, so we have to often guess. I would change few things:
- His Huge AOE attack (Light of Miquella) should be delayed by 2 seconds or have better telegraphed moment when explosion will happen. Instead it would deal way more damage.
- Less laser beams during his sword attacks. They still can be, but only in few moments like the ending of his 4 hit combo, when he is pulling rocks up after overhead smash, after his somersault or at the end of some clone attacks
- His pulling attack in 2nd phase is probably the hardest to avoid, if player will get caught in the initial pull. Instead of another set of spikes in 2nd part of attack, there should be a blast of light beams, which player would be able to avoid by roll.
- His clone attacks are fine. I wouldnt change much with them, other than the situation with pull attack

This changes would make this boss feel more fair. He will be a bit easier, but still very hard and challenging. ATM 2nd phase has too much chaos and elements which can blind player to be considered balanced

[echo_ML]

Also slow his double slash down so you can avoid the whole thing with normal dodges.

[opt33]

I just modded the game for my first playthrough. I made 2 changes. 1) added the blasphemous blade heal on hit to my favorite swords. This allows me to heal and do damage so dont have to choose between the 2 in few boss openings. And 2) I combined 3 talismans which allowed me 6 talismans effect, which gave me more defense and offense.

During the original elden ring (my first soles game) I never used mods but:
first 50 hours, my thoughts were this games sucks way to hard, hate it.
500 hours, I start trying permadeath runs. I can kill all early bosses in my sleep now.
2000 hours, even permadeath isnt that hard.

first 20 hours of elden ring dlc, this game sucks, too hard
after 2 mod changes I made myself for my style, ok now its balanced
300 hours in, im sure Ill drop the mods, as made it too easy.
not sure if Ill do permadeath with this dlc, but I said I would never do that to elden ring, so who know

[Lance]

I think all they really have to do is make his 2nd phase start later. it shouldnt start at 70% but at 40% of his HP. Also they need to reduce the brightness of some of the holy attacks cause multiple times I found myself not being able to see the next attack starting up

[Dregora]

Turn down the damn visual clutter and most bosses would be much more manageable in a fair way.

[GosuCab]

Literally just give miquella a haircut. It's all I'd ask for.
You are supposed to roll towards or behind to dodge attack but when you are behind most you see is just a blob of hair. A blob of hair does not provide a quickly discernable silhouette of the boss to give you information of upcoming moves.

[Jelly Donut Galaxy]

Originally posted by Scorpix:

Final boss in game should be challenging and there is no doubt in it, but I do not think that Radahn is a well designed final boss. 2nd phase looks more like an attempt to make him as hard as it is possible, no matter if it will be still fair (at least we dont get any adds or it doesnt change into duo fight).
I think this boss could be easily improved into great experience:
1st phase
It is almost perfect, it is fun to learn and enough challenging to feel that you are against the most powerful enemy in DLC. I would just change 2 things.
- less rocks in his rock throw attack. With 8 rocks you sometimes get hit, because you were targeted by the last rock, which was hidden behind the other rocks. 3 or 4 would be enough.
- no damage from gravity pull
2nd phase
The main reason this boss is hard, but not always fair. Laser beams and Miquella's hair are often a reason of not being able to see what combo Radahn is doing, so we have to often guess. I would change few things:
- His Huge AOE attack (Light of Miquella) should be delayed by 2 seconds or have better telegraphed moment when explosion will happen. Instead it would deal way more damage.
- Less laser beams during his sword attacks. They still can be, but only in few moments like the ending of his 4 hit combo, when he is pulling rocks up after overhead smash, after his somersault or at the end of some clone attacks
- His pulling attack in 2nd phase is probably the hardest to avoid, if player will get caught in the initial pull. Instead of another set of spikes in 2nd part of attack, there should be a blast of light beams, which player would be able to avoid by roll.
- His clone attacks are fine. I wouldnt change much with them, other than the situation with pull attack

This changes would make this boss feel more fair. He will be a bit easier, but still very hard and challenging. ATM 2nd phase has too much chaos and elements which can blind player to be considered balanced

The massive problems are his double slash into a cross, and how you just cant dodge his aftershock beams unless you're hugging to get behind him.

just slow down the double cross so you can dodge all of it (and get rid of the lasers that happen on every swing of it for some reason), and either lower his range so you can actually avoid his beams if you dodge in the RIGHT direction, or something like that, make directional dodges matter instead of hug left. the rock attack is fine and you can even dodge the double gravity follow up if you run straight backwards and jump right before it starts, keep running to avoid the after images, then jump again.

[stormtrooper2022]

Originally posted by Corpse:

I think all they really have to do is make his 2nd phase start later. it shouldnt start at 70% but at 40% of his HP. Also they need to reduce the brightness of some of the holy attacks cause multiple times I found myself not being able to see the next attack starting up

I'd say this plus making the AI less likely to spam these attacks.