The Lands Between, a realm steeped in lore and formidable challenges, presents players with an array of powerful rewards for overcoming its most perilous guardians. Among these coveted items is the Remembrance of the Starscourage, obtained by defeating the mighty General Radahn. While the primary allure of a Remembrance lies in its ability to bestow unique weapons or powerful sorceries and incantations, understanding the nuances of what you get from this particular memento transcends a simple item acquisition. It’s about the strategic advantage, the thematic resonance, and the sheer power that Radahn’s legacy imbues within your Tarnished. This guide will delve deep into the offerings of Radahn’s Remembrance, dissecting the choices available and their implications for your journey through Elden Ring.
Unveiling the Remembrance of the Starscourage
Upon vanquishing the gravity-defying General Radahn in the Caelid wastes, players are granted the Remembrance of the Starscourage. This spectral echo of Radahn’s might is not a consumable item to be used up; rather, it serves as a key to unlock potent equipment from Enia, the Finger Reader at the Roundtable Hold. Enia acts as a conduit, allowing you to exchange these Remembrances for the specific boons they represent. The Remembrance of the Starscourage, in particular, offers a choice between two distinct, yet thematically linked, rewards: Radahn’s Greatsword and Radahn’s Starscourge Sorcery. The decision of which to pursue first, or indeed which to prioritize in your playthrough, will significantly shape your combat effectiveness and build specialization.
The act of receiving a Remembrance is more than just acquiring an item; it’s a narrative reinforcement. It signifies that you have overcome a monumental obstacle, a feat of strength and perseverance that echoes the very trials of the Tarnished. Radahn, a demigod who once held back the stars themselves, embodies a raw, destructive power. His Remembrance, therefore, is not merely a trophy but a direct inheritance of a fraction of that formidable essence. The choices presented are carefully curated to reflect his iconic abilities and devastating weaponry, offering players a tangible piece of his legend.
The Significance of the Choice
The dilemma presented by Radahn’s Remembrance is a cornerstone of Elden Ring’s build diversity. Unlike some Remembrances that offer a single, albeit powerful, reward, Radahn’s forces a strategic decision from the outset. This isn’t a choice to be made lightly, as each option caters to vastly different playstyles and can dramatically influence the early to mid-game progression. Choosing Radahn’s Greatsword leans towards a strength-focused, melee-centric build, emphasizing raw physical damage and staggering power. Conversely, opting for Radahn’s Starscourge Sorcery opens the door to a more versatile, intelligence-based playstyle, allowing for ranged damage and crowd control through the application of gravity magic.
This duality is a deliberate design choice by FromSoftware, encouraging players to consider their existing character build, their preferred combat approach, and even the future potential of their character. The impact of this choice extends beyond mere stat allocation; it influences the types of enemies you’ll find easier to defeat, the spells you’ll need to learn, and the armor and talismans that will best complement your chosen path. Furthermore, players who wish to acquire both rewards must find a way to duplicate the Remembrance at a Walking Mausoleum, a task that itself requires careful planning and exploration.
Radahn’s Greatsword: A Force of Gravity and Might
The first, and perhaps most iconic, offering from the Remembrance of the Starscourge is Radahn’s Greatsword. This colossal weapon is a testament to the General’s immense physical strength and his mastery over gravity, a force he wielded with unparalleled devastation. Upon exchanging the Remembrance with Enia, players will receive this formidable blade, a weapon that immediately signals a shift in combat potential for any Tarnished brave enough to wield it.
Attributes and Scaling
Radahn’s Greatsword is classified as a Colossal Sword, a weapon type renowned for its sheer damage output, incredible reach, and significant stagger potential against most enemies. Its base damage is exceptionally high, making it a potent choice for players focusing on strength. The weapon boasts impressive physical damage, with secondary damage types that can vary depending on its innate properties. Critically, Radahn’s Greatsword scales primarily with Strength, requiring a substantial investment in this attribute to unlock its full destructive capabilities. However, it also benefits from Dexterity scaling to a lesser extent, and importantly, possesses Intelligence and Faith scaling as well. This hybrid scaling makes it a surprisingly versatile weapon, capable of fitting into builds that might otherwise be pure Strength, allowing for some minor investment into magic without severely compromising its core effectiveness.
The unique aspect of Radahn’s Greatsword lies not just in its raw stats but in its inherent connection to gravity magic. This is most evident in its unique weapon skill, “Starcaller Cry.”
The “Starcaller Cry” Weapon Skill
The true power of Radahn’s Greatsword is unleashed through its exclusive weapon skill: Starcaller Cry. This ability allows the wielder to invoke the essence of Radahn’s gravity manipulation. Upon activation, the player slams the colossal sword into the ground, creating a shockwave that draws in nearby enemies. This pull effect is incredibly potent, clustering foes within a significant radius around the user. Immediately following this gravitational pull, the sword is then flung into the air, and a torrent of meteors descends upon the gathered enemies, dealing massive damage.
Starcaller Cry is not merely an offensive ability; it’s a tactical masterpiece. The initial pull can disrupt enemy formations, pull ranged attackers into melee range, and isolate dangerous individuals from their companions. The subsequent meteor shower provides devastating area-of-effect damage, capable of decimating groups of weaker enemies or significantly softening up tougher opponents. Mastering the timing and positioning of Starcaller Cry can turn the tide of even the most challenging encounters, making it an invaluable tool for players who can manage the considerable FP cost and the brief animation wind-up. The skill’s effectiveness is further amplified by talismans and buffs that increase magic damage or grant additional effects to weapon skills, allowing for truly astronomical damage numbers.
Radahn’s Starscourge Sorcery: Gravity’s Embrace
The alternative reward for claiming the Remembrance of the Starscourage is Radahn’s Starscourge Sorcery. This powerful incantation allows the Tarnished to wield the very essence of gravity magic that Radahn himself commanded, offering a potent ranged option and a new avenue for build specialization, particularly for those inclined towards Intelligence and Faith.
Spell Description and Effects
Radahn’s Starscourge Sorcery is a high-tier sorcery that requires a significant investment in Intelligence to cast effectively. Upon activation, the caster summons a cluster of swirling rocks that orbit them before being launched at the target. These projectiles possess a unique homing property, making them difficult to dodge, and they deal significant magic damage. What truly sets this sorcery apart is its inherent gravity manipulation. Each projectile carries a portion of gravitational force, which can disrupt enemy positioning and even stagger smaller foes.
When cast in rapid succession or against multiple targets, the combined effect of these projectiles can create a disorienting and damaging barrage. The visual spectacle of the sorcery, with its swirling, arcane rocks, is a clear nod to Radahn’s association with celestial powers and his command over the stars. It’s a spell that is as aesthetically impressive as it is functionally powerful, offering a satisfying visual and auditory feedback loop with each successful cast.
Strategic Applications and Build Synergy
Radahn’s Starscourge Sorcery shines in its versatility. It excels at medium to long-range combat, allowing players to engage threats from a safe distance. Its homing capabilities make it effective against agile enemies that might otherwise prove difficult to hit with slower projectiles. Furthermore, the gravity-based nature of the projectiles can be used strategically to interrupt enemy attacks, pull them out of position, or even stagger them, creating openings for follow-up attacks or a tactical retreat.
This sorcery is a natural fit for Intelligence-focused builds, complementing other sorceries and spells that deal magic damage. It synergizes exceptionally well with staffs that boost magic attack power or offer increased casting speed. Players can further enhance its effectiveness by equipping talismans that boost sorcery damage, reduce FP consumption, or increase their overall casting range. For players venturing into hybrid builds, the Faith scaling present in some aspects of gravity magic means that certain combinations with Faith-based incantations can also be viable, creating unique and potent magical arsenals. It offers a distinct playstyle that emphasizes control, ranged damage, and the strategic application of arcane forces.
Duplicating the Remembrance: A Path to Both Rewards
For players who desire the power of both Radahn’s Greatsword and Radahn’s Starscourge Sorcery, the path forward involves a specific mechanic within Elden Ring: the duplication of Remembrances at Walking Mausoleums. These colossal, bell-wielding entities roam the Lands Between, and their spectral guardians can be felled to allow for the duplication of one Remembrance per mausoleum.
The Role of Walking Mausoleums
Each Walking Mausoleum, distinguished by its distinctive shell and the mournful toll of its bell, houses a dormant spirit that can be disturbed. To access the duplication service, a Walking Mausoleum must be found and its guardian defeated. This typically involves strategically attacking the guardian’s weak points, often its spectral legs or its massive bell. Once defeated, the mausoleum becomes active and will offer a selection of Remembrances that the player currently possesses for duplication.
It is crucial to note that each Walking Mausoleum can only be used once to duplicate a Remembrance. Therefore, players must carefully consider which Remembrance they wish to duplicate. For those seeking both of Radahn’s offerings, finding multiple active Walking Mausoleums is essential. The locations of these structures are scattered across the various regions of the game, encouraging exploration and rewarding players who venture off the beaten path.
Strategic Considerations for Duplication
The decision to duplicate Radahn’s Remembrance should be made with careful consideration of your build’s needs and your overall progression. If you are leaning heavily into a Strength build, acquiring Radahn’s Greatsword is paramount. However, if you also see value in the ranged utility and crowd control offered by the Starscourge Sorcery, duplicating the Remembrance becomes a priority. Conversely, an Intelligence build might initially favor the sorcery, but the sheer power and stagger potential of the Greatsword could still be a desirable acquisition for later-game challenges or for a potential respec.
The process of duplication requires not only finding active Walking Mausoleums but also having the Remembrance of the Starscourge in your inventory. The game will then present you with the choice of which Remembrance to duplicate from your current collection. This mechanic incentivizes players to explore the entirety of the game world, as access to specific Walking Mausoleums and the ability to duplicate certain Remembrances are tied to their geographical locations and their progression through the game’s narrative. Ultimately, the ability to duplicate Radahn’s Remembrance offers unparalleled flexibility, allowing players to tailor their character’s arsenal to an even greater degree and embrace the multifaceted legacy of the Starscourge.