Elden Ring’s capital city, Leyndell, is one of the most dense and labyrinthine environments to ever grace a Soulsborne game. If you followed our Draconic Tree Sentinel boss guide, you were able to get in the front door with little trouble. However, now that you’ve reached the city’s heights, it’s time for your first encounter with Godfrey, the First Elden Lord. Thankfully for you, we put together this guide to beating Godfrey and getting yourself one step closer to your own Elden Lordship.
- Gearing up in Altus Plateau
- Dodging to live, living to dodge
- The range option
- Summoning for Godfrey
The fight with Godfrey after climbing Leyndell’s tree roots won’t be your last encounter with the First Elden Lord, and it’s really just a warm-up for the boss battle that will follow soon afterward. Nevertheless, the Golden Shade of Godfrey can stymie even experienced Souls players with unpredictable combos and a difficult-to-dodge stomp attack.
That means you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared. If you followed our guide to defeating Draconic Tree Sentinel on the way into Leyndell, you’ve already explored the Altus Plateau. But if not, you should — there’s plenty of loot that can help you in the fight.
Gearing up in Altus Plateau
First off, you want your healing Flasks to be as effective as possible at this point, so make sure to grab all the Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears you can find in Altus Plateau. Without venturing too far and encroaching onto Mt. Gelmir to the west, you can grab two Sacred Tears in Altus Plateau at the following locations:
- Second Church of Marika, on the western edge (accessible from the north)
- Stormcaller Church, near the Rampartside Path site of grace
Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon
Meanwhile, Golden Seeds can be found in the following locations:
- Beside the Erdtree Gazing Hill site of grace
- Roadside East of 1
- Inside the Capital wall past the two Tree Sentinels
- North of 3
- Near the road heading north from 4, outside the Capital wall
- Near the Minor Erdtree (watch out for the wormface enemies)
Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon
And within the capital city itself, you can find two more Golden Seeds:
- The Ulcerated tree Spirit that spawns in the courtyard near the Avenue Balcony site of grace drops one
- One is guarded by a group of envoys and a large gargoyle enemy on a balcony just outside the West Capital Rampart site of grace room (it’s hard to miss on your way to Godfrey fight)
With your flasks upgraded, you’ll want to grab the Arsenal Charm +1 from the Altus Tunnel dungeon, which you can see on your map — it’s a roundish discoloration just south of the Altus Plateau Minor Erdtree. In addition, if you somehow missed the extra Margit fight on your way to the Draconic Tree Sentinel, follow the road north/northeast from the Outer Wall Phantom Tree site of grace and fight the boss again for the Viridian Amber Medallion +1. These two talismans raise your maximum equip load and maximum stamina, respectively, and should be useful no matter what kind of build you’re running.
Get the Dragoncrest Shield Talisman +1 in the Sainted Hero’s Grave.
Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco via Polygon
However, the Brass Shield, Boltdrake Talisman, and defensive incantations you may have looted for the Draconic Tree Sentinel fight won’t be much use here. Despite appearing to be a big golden ghost, Godfrey uses purely physical attacks. And a shield is basically useless for this fight, as we’ll explain shortly. One thing you will want to grab, though, is the Dragoncrest Shield Talisman +1, a charm that boosts physical damage negation. You’ll find it behind a stone sword key fog gate in the Sainted Hero’s Grave dungeon in the central area of the Altus Plateau.
As we’ve mentioned, the Golden Shade of Godfrey uses entirely physical attacks, so your elemental defense talismans and incantations are useless. And surprisingly, using a shield during this battle is hard to pull off, thanks to Godfrey’s aggressive and powerful moves. His combos often include five or six successive attacks, which will leave you stance-broken and vulnerable if you try to block them all. Instead, you’ll have to either keep your distance from Godfrey, or learn how to dodge his attacks.
Dodging to live, living to dodge
Thankfully, Godfrey’s attacks are fairly predictable. This Golden Shade only has one phase, and he never changes his combos up, even as he approaches death. Spend some time getting to know his move set; putting down your summoning sign by using the Tarnished’s Furled Finger item outside the boss fog is a great way to get some practice in.
Without a doubt, Godfrey’s most dangerous move is his stomp attack, which sends spikes jutting up from the floor in a cone outward in front of him. It might seem counterintuitive at first, but it actually is quite easy to dodge this attack. The trick is waiting until his foot starts coming down, then dodging toward the boss. You’ll be safe from damage and firmly in melee range, ready for a counterattack.
However, you’re still not quite free to get some swings in. Godfrey nearly always follows up the stomp with several powerful melee swings. This post-stomp combo often involves one powerful swing followed by the boss dragging his axe in a circle behind him before unleashing another overhead attack. Dodging this can be tricky, as you’ll be tempted to roll far too early; instead, let the axe complete its circle and begin to come down before you roll.
The other possibility involves a combo of up to five attacks that begins with two rapid-fire overhead swings. If Godfrey begins to unleash these, make sure you’re ready to dodge all five swings before trying to get your own hits in.
The range option
Of course, if you’re a magic or faith user, there’s no need to get close to Godfrey’s Golden Shade at all. Simply back away from him continuously, dodging when necessary, and unleash spells whenever you have an opening. Godfrey can be staggered, so the Rock Sling sorcery is a particularly good choice (it can be found in a chest in the Street of Sages ruins in Caelid). For faith users, Stone of Gurranq is another great option, though it’s less easily accessible, since it requires giving six deathroots to the Beast Clergyman in eastern Caelid.
Of course, the same timing tricks will apply — Godfrey’s attacks have surprising reach, so you want to wait for him to finish his combos before you start casting. In fact, the best strategy is probably a combination of melee and magic attacks; either way, you’ll have to learn how to avoid Godfrey’s attacks.
Summoning for Godfrey, First Elden Lord
Just like with other boss fights in Elden Ring, you can summon help by opening your multiplayer menu and using the Furlcalling Finger Remedy item to enable you to see other players’ summon signs. And don’t forget that you can use the Tarnished’s Furled Finger item to place your own summon sign, allowing you to help other players beat the boss in their own world, while getting to practice the fight without risking your runes.
With a summoning pool effigy and a Stake of Marika right next to the boss fog, summoning help or offering your own help for Godfrey’s Golden Shade is easy. However, keep in mind that the more players or NPCs you summon for the fight, the more health the boss will have. With that in mind, you might want to opt for a Spirit Ash instead — using one doesn’t increase the boss health.
With these strategies, the Golden Shade of Godfrey, the First Elden Lord, should soon dissipate, netting you a much-appreciated extra talisman slot — and access to the Capital’s real final boss fight, Morgott, the Omen King.
After some time, in a player’s journey through The Lands Between, they will inevitably encounter Godfrey, The First Elden Lord. He can be found in Leyndell Capital of Ash, only after completing Crumbling Farum Azula. He is one of twelve bosses in Elden Ring that are not optional.
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Like many other boss fights, Godfrey is divided into two phases. Upon reducing Godfrey’s health to 40%, the boss will shed his armor and fight as Hoarah Loux Warrior. This guide will offer methods and advice for effectively defeating this foe, taking you one step closer to becoming the Elden Lord.
Godfrey, The First Elden Lord’s Location
The First Elden Lord dwells in Leyndell, Capital of Ash. This chamber is southeast of the Queen’s Bedchamber, at the top of a long staircase. The closest site of grace is the one inside the Queen’s Bedchamber.
It is important to note that this boss fight can only be accessed after the city falls, upon completion of Crumbling Farum Azula. This, in itself, is a quest that also has many of its own prerequisite missions. If you are early in your journey through The Lands Between, consider turning back and focusing on other endeavors until you become stronger and more well-versed in the game.
Godfrey, The First Elden Lord’s Stats
Here are some stats about Godfrey that could prove useful in your efforts. Information is power!
- HP: 21,903
- Phase two activation: 11,831 HP damage dealt to Godfrey
- Seven types of attack as Godfrey
- Seven types of attack as Hoarah Loux
Preparation For The Battle
For almost all ventures in the Lands Between, it is wise to make preparations beforehand. This is especially true when attempting to vanquish the original Elden Lord himself. Of course, countless strategies can be employed to accomplish any task in this game. However, here is a suggested inventory for a particularly effective strategy. You will need to acquire each of the following items. The amount of each item listed is technically not mandatory, though acquiring these amounts will allow for a much smoother effort.
- Keen Scimitar: 2
- Serpent Bow: 1
- Serpent Arrows: 99
- Golden Beast Crest Shield: 1 (Ash of War “Barricade Shield” should be applied)
- Finger Sacred Seal (for using Rotten Breath)
- Crucible Knight armor set
- Crucible Axe Helm: 1
- Crucible Tree Armor: 1
- Crucible Gauntlets: 1
- Crucible Greaves: 1
- Arrow Sting Talisman
- Kindred of Rot’s Exultation
- Green Turtle Talisman
- Dragon Crest Shield Talisman
- Flask of Crimson Tears: 12
- Flask of Cerulean Tears: 2
- Flask of Wondrous Physick: 1 (mixed with Crimson Burst Crystal Tear and Greenburst Crystal Tear)
- Exalted Flesh: 10
- Pickled Turtle Neck: 10
- Fire Grease: 10
- Starlight Shards: 3
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Defeating Godfrey – Phase One
When you first traverse the mist, it is helpful to save and quit immediately after entering the fighting area. After loading back into the game, Godfrey should spawn much further back. This gives you much more time to get oriented and fire off a handful of poison arrows. Before you traverse the mist a second time, however, don’t forget to consume your starlight shards.
Immediately upon stepping foot inside, you should use your spirit ashes and combat lock onto Godfrey. Then, begin peppering him with Serpent Arrows, using the Serpent Bow. Try to land at least five good shots. At this moment, switch to the sacred seal and apply scarlet rot. At this point, Godfrey will be rushing you, so prepare to block or dodge.
Try, now, to put some distance between Godfrey and yourself. Allow Godfrey to become distracted by your Ancestral Follower. During this time, consume a Flask of Wonderous Physick and Exalted Flesh. Then, switch back to sword + shield, and apply fire grease.
Now, it is up to you to decide whether to play aggressively or defensively. It is usually a good idea to try and deliver some damage while your Ancestral Follower is still alive. You can attempt some hit-and-run tactics by approaching and dealing damage then retreating, to allow Godfrey to become distracted again by the Ancestral Follower.
Ultimately, it is up to you to demonstrate your combat skills and destroy the boss. Don’t forget to use your Flasks of Crimson Tears or your bow and arrows. Here is a list of Godfrey’s attacks and ways you can counter them.
- Ax toss: Run under him, avoiding the ax and successive slam.
- Fissure: Move away from the fissure.
- Plunging ax: Dodge precisely when he lands.
- Regal Roar: Jump as his foot slams down. Continue jumping to evade successive combo hits.
- Triple ax combo: Dodge towards the direction that each attack comes from.
- Stomp: Jump as his foot slams down, or simply dodge out of the way.
- Overhead smash: Simply dodge to either side.
Once you have dealt 11,831 points of damage to Godfrey, he will discard his armor and fight as Hoarah Loux the Warrior, finally activating phase two of the fight.
Defeating Hoarah Loux – Phase Two
At the beginning of phase two, usually, Hoarah Loux will spawn much closer than he did for phase one. Sometimes, however, you can get lucky and he will spawn farther away. At this time, using the recommended strategy set out above, your primary objective is to apply poison, Scarlet Rot, or both. It is worth tanking a charge or two of his, to apply the Scarlet Rot.
Once the Scarlet Rot has been effectively applied, all you need to do now is evade Hoarah Loux’s attacks. Run around the arena and avoid getting hit. You will notice a red aura around Hoarah Loux and that his health is slowly chipping away over time. Here is a list of the attacks available to Hoarah Loux and some ways to counter them.
- Choke Slam: Dodge to the side or backwards, avoiding the grab. Expect this attack to come after him knocking you down with a kick.
- Earth Shattering Stomp: Jump just has his foot slams down and avoid subsequent combos with additional jumps
- Power Bomb: Dodge to the side. Time it well.
- Running Power Bomb: Can be dodged in the same way as the regular Power Bomb
- Hoarah Loux’s Earthshaker: Develop distance between yourself and Hoarah Loux while he roars. Time a dodge for the following slam. Clear out of the area.
- Claw Barrage: Block or dodge toward the direction each attack comes from. Since you are equipped with the Golden Beast Crest Shield, blocking is most likely the better option here.
- Kick: A simple sidestep or dodge to the side will suffice. The hitbox for this attack is relatively small.
Continue to avoid taking damage and allow his health to slowly tick away. If you are feeling impatient, don’t forget you have a bow and arrows. Create distance, if you can, and fire some serpent arrows. Eventually, his life will drain, due to the scarlet rot, and the boss will be defeated. You are now ever closer to becoming the Elden Lord and can proceed on your journey under the light of the Erdtree.
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