Summary
- The final boss in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is extremely weak to Hefty Rot Pots.
- These throwables are so effective that using them against him can be considered cheesing.
- The strategy becomes less effective on New Game Plus runs, which significantly increase boss status effect resistances.
Following some testing, one Elden Ring fan has recently found out that the final boss in Shadow of the Erdtree can be cheesed with Hefty Rot Pots. Their discovery could help other players deal with the Elden Ring expansion's ultimate challenge.
Major Shadow of the Erdtree spoilers ahead.
Prime Radahn has been giving fans a lot of trouble ever since the critically acclaimed DLC launched on June 21. Between his complex moveset, high stats, and the tendency to obscure the player's vision with incessant AoE spam, Radahn's revived form is already widely considered to be the hardest boss in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, and possibly the most difficult challenge FromSoftware's Soulsbornes have delivered to date.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Final Boss Originally Talked
The final Shadow of the Erdtree boss originally had some dialogue that could have changed the interpretations of the Elden Ring expansion's story.
Elden Ring: SOTE's Version of Radahn Still Can't Handle Scarlet Rot
Be that as it may, some strategies can still potentially trivialize this encounter. One such approach was recently discovered by Reddit user H4xolotl, who realized that the 
Hefty Rot Pot can absolutely obliterate the boss. Since this newly introduced DLC throwable deals percentage-based damage and inflicts the only status effect that Radahn doesn't meaningfully resist, it is possible to beat the final Shadow of the Erdtree boss by hitting him with just three Hefty Rot Pots, then finishing him off with literally any attack.
Although the pot's Scarlet Rot buildup still takes time to process and whittle down Radahn, this approach effectively allows the player to primarily focus on dodging his attacks rather than constantly trying to find openings, improving their survivability. Coupled with a tanky Spirit Ash like the Mimic Tear or Shadow of the Erdtree's Taylew the Golem Smith, most players should be able to find enough opportunities to hit Radahn with the Hefty Rot Pot three times after some practice. When executed properly, this strategy is so effective it might even be considered cheesing. But given how much trouble Radahn has already given to the fandom, there's likely no shortage of players who won't think twice about throwing everything they have at him, pots included.
Hefty Rot Pots Get Less Effective Against Radahn on Elden Ring NG+ Runs
Scarlet Rot was also one of the most effective ways to fight the Caelid version of Radahn in the base game. Unfortunately, Hefty Rot Pots aren't as deadly against him on Elden Ring New Game Plus runs, the first seven of which significantly increase all bosses' status effect resistances. Since Radahn doesn't give the player a lot of time to breathe, having to chuck something like ten Hefty Rot Pots on an NG+5 run could potentially be more difficult than just trying to fight him in a more straightforward manner.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
- Released
- June 21, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
Shadow of the Erdtree is the first and only DLC expansion for FromSoftware's groundbreaking Elden Ring. It takes players to a whole new region, the Land of Shadow, where a new story awaits the Tarnished.
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Base Game
- Elden Ring
- Developer(s)
- FromSoftware
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment, FromSoftware
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
