Godfrey and Hoarah Loux

Key takeawaysSpoilers

The battle becomes more manageable when each phase is treated as a separate moveset rather than one continuous boss pattern.

• Expect a phase change Godfrey begins with his axe and transitions into Hoarah Loux, Warrior during the same health bar. Do not spend every limited consumable or long cooldown before the transformation unless you already have a reliable plan for the second phase.
• Do not panic-roll the stomps Several area attacks have delayed timing or cover a broad section of the arena. Watch the release of the attack and use a well-timed roll or jump instead of reacting to the initial wind-up.
• Treat grabs as the main emergency Hoarah Loux's wrestling attacks can take a large amount of health and are not ordinary weapon blows that a shield makes safe. Preserving stamina and leaving room to evade is more valuable than standing directly in front of him for an extra hit.
• Punish recovery, not animation length Both forms display long-looking attacks that remain dangerous until their recovery begins. Commit damage after a confirmed miss, then disengage before the next stomp, sweep or grab can connect.

Godfrey and Hoarah Loux overviewSpoilers

Godfrey and Hoarah Loux is a late-game two-phase boss battle that tests spacing, delayed attack recognition and the ability to punish brief openings without becoming greedy.

The encounter takes place at the Elden Throne in Leyndell, Ashen Capital, after Leyndell has changed during the endgame sequence. The player first faces Godfrey, First Elden Lord, as a large spectral manifestation wielding an enormous axe. This first form combines heavy melee swings with attacks that weaponize the arena itself, so the safest approach is to learn the timing of his delays rather than treating his size as a signal to roll immediately.

Godfrey's first phase is built around controlled pressure. His axe gives many attacks substantial reach, while stomps and shockwaves can catch a player who retreats in a straight line or assumes that jumping is always safer than rolling. The fight rewards staying near his flanks when possible: close positioning can make some long-range options less threatening, but it also demands careful recognition of his foot and axe follow-ups.

At roughly the midpoint of the battle, the spectral presentation ends and Godfrey reveals his identity as Hoarah Loux, Warrior. The second phase abandons the measured axe style for wrestling attacks, lunges, leaps and enormous area-of-effect slams. Hoarah Loux's grabs are especially important because they bypass the normal rhythm of trading hits with a weapon boss; the player must read the approach and evade the grab rather than attempting to block it like an ordinary strike.

This boss matters because it is one of the final mandatory barriers before the conclusion of Elden Ring. It is also a deliberate contrast between Godfrey's ceremonial image and Hoarah Loux's original warrior identity. Players deciding whether to use a spirit summon, a shield or a ranged build should plan around the phase transition: tools that create safe damage during the axe phase may be less reliable once Hoarah Loux begins covering the arena with leaps and ground eruptions.

Encounter progressionSpoilers

Requirements and preparation

No specific player level, weapon or quest item is required by the encounter itself. Preparation should focus on surviving delayed area attacks and the phase-two grab pressure.

• RequiredReach Leyndell, Ashen CapitalThe fight is located at the Elden Throne in the endgame version of Leyndell; the earlier royal-capital encounter with Godfrey is not this battle.
• RequiredA damage plan for two phasesChoose a weapon, spell selection or skill that can deliver damage in short windows. A setup that needs long uninterrupted casting can lose its safe opportunities when Hoarah Loux begins leaping and closing distance.
• RecommendedEnough healing and defensive resourcesThe fight punishes repeated mistakes rather than requiring one particular item. Enter with enough healing to survive learning both movesets instead of relying on a single phase-one burst strategy.
• RecommendedRoom to maneuverAvoid filling the arena with unnecessary effects or positioning yourself against the boundary. Hoarah Loux's leaps and eruptions are easier to evade when there is open space behind the player.
• OptionalSummon choice, if usedA spirit summon or cooperator can create attack windows, but additional targets do not remove the need to recognize grabs and area attacks. Use the distraction to secure controlled damage rather than attacking continuously.

Encounter phases and attacksSpoilers

1. 1

   Godfrey, First Elden Lord

   Starts: The opening of the encounter

   Opening portion of the shared boss health bar; exact threshold is not specified here.

   Godfrey fights with his axe and uses stomps or ground shockwaves to extend his threat beyond the weapon's immediate hitbox. His attacks are powerful but readable when the player waits for the actual impact instead of rolling at the beginning of the animation.

   • Axe swings and sweeping combosTell Godfrey raises or draws the axe through a broad wind-up before committing to the swing.Answer Roll toward a safe side of the attack or around his body, then take only a brief punish before checking for the next swing.
   • Stomp shockwaveTell He lifts a foot and creates a ground-based area attack that can reach a player who is backing away.Answer Jump or roll according to the timing of the release; do not assume that distance alone removes the threat.
   • Axe slamTell The axe is lifted for a heavy downward strike, often creating a dangerous area around the impact.Answer Move laterally or roll through the impact, then attack during the recovery rather than during the wind-up.
   • Repeated ground pressureTell Godfrey chains his foot or axe pressure into another area attack instead of always ending after one hit.Answer Wait for the complete sequence before committing to a heavy attack, especially if your recovery animation is long.
   • Stay near a flank when you can read the axe's direction, but keep enough stamina for a second roll.
   • Jumping can avoid some ground-based attacks while preserving a counterattack opportunity, but it is not a universal answer to every axe swing.
   • Use the first phase to learn the arena and conserve resources for Hoarah Loux.
2. 2

   Hoarah Loux, Warrior

   Starts: The transformation during the same boss battle

   Closing portion of the shared boss health bar; exact threshold is not specified here.

   Hoarah Loux discards the axe and attacks as a grappler. He closes distance quickly with lunges, leaps and wrestling attacks, while ground impacts can spread across the arena and punish players who remain underneath him.

   • Wrestling grabTell Hoarah Loux lowers into a forward approach and reaches for the player rather than using a conventional weapon swing.Answer Evade sideways or through the approach at the last moment; blocking is not a dependable answer to the grab.
   • Leaping grab or body attackTell He launches into the air or covers distance with a sudden forward movement before crashing down.Answer Watch his trajectory and roll on the descent or leap away from the landing zone; punish only after confirming that the follow-up has ended.
   • Ground slam and eruptionTell A forceful impact marks the beginning of a broad ground effect that can persist beyond the initial hit.Answer Create distance, jump or roll through the active timing, and return after the eruption has finished rather than trying to trade beneath him.
   • Charging rushTell He drives directly toward the player with little need for the axe's extended range.Answer Move diagonally rather than retreating in a straight line, then attack from the side after the rush misses.
   • Keep the boss in view and avoid standing directly in front of him when your stamina is low.
   • Do not chase after every leap; the safest damage often comes after the landing recovery.
   • If a summon draws attention, use the opening for one or two attacks and reposition before Hoarah Loux turns back.

Boss encounter strategySpoilers

• Location
  Elden Throne, Leyndell, Ashen Capital
• Health
  Two-phase shared health bar; exact totals are not specified.

Open by watching Godfrey's first complete sequence rather than immediately spending your strongest resource. His axe attacks are easier to manage from an angle than directly in front, but do not remain close after a punish because a stomp can begin before the next weapon swing. When the second phase starts, reset your spacing: Hoarah Loux's threat comes from rapid gap closing and grabs, so preserve stamina and wait for a missed lunge, leap or slam. Ranged characters should cast after a confirmed recovery instead of during a long neutral animation, while melee characters should prefer quick attacks and leave before the next area attack. Summons can provide useful distraction, but the encounter is still safest when the player treats every opening as temporary.

StrategySpoilers

1. 01

   Begin the boss encounter without losing the room needed for later evasions.

   Enter the arena and establish spacing

   Pass into the Elden Throne arena and let Godfrey approach before committing to a long attack or spell. Keep the camera centered on him and position yourself with open floor behind you, because the fight's ground attacks become harder to read when you are trapped against the edge.

   Location: Elden Throne, Leyndell, Ashen Capital

   TipA short opening attack is safer than a full combo while you are still learning the distance of the axe.

2. 02

   Identify whether the current animation is an axe strike, a stomp or a chained follow-up.

   Read the first axe sequence

   Godfrey's opening form uses broad axe attacks with delayed commitment, so watch the weapon and shoulders rather than rolling as soon as he raises the axe. Evade through or around a completed swing, then make a brief attack before checking whether he has started a stomp or a second swing.

   Location: Elden Throne

   Watch outRolling early can place you inside the path of the delayed hit or leave you without stamina for the continuation.

3. 03

   Avoid the area damage while preserving a punish window.

   Handle the ground shockwaves

   When Godfrey lifts a foot or drives the axe into the ground, do not simply sprint straight backward. Use the appropriate jump or late roll for the attack's release, then return to his side only after the active shockwave has passed.

   Location: Elden Throne

   TipJumping is useful against attacks that travel along the floor, but it does not replace reading the axe's direct hitbox.

4. 04

   Reduce the first phase without trading health for damage.

   Damage during recovery windows

   Attack after Godfrey completes a swing, slam or stomp rather than trying to interrupt the wind-up. Favor attacks with short recovery unless you have a confirmed long opening, and disengage immediately if he turns into another ground attack.

   Location: Elden Throne

   Watch outGreedy charged attacks can still be caught by the next stomp even when the previous animation looked finished.

5. 05

   Survive the transition and begin the second phase with resources intact.

   Prepare for the transformation

   When the first form gives way to Hoarah Loux, stop using the old axe-phase rhythm and create space before attacking again. Reorient the camera, recover your stamina and ensure that your summon or cooperator is still visible before committing to a spell or heavy skill.

   Location: Elden Throne

   Watch outThe phase change is not a separate checkpoint; dying after the transformation requires repeating the opening phase.

6. 06

   Remove the most dangerous source of sudden damage in phase two.

   Evade Hoarah Loux's grabs

   Hoarah Loux approaches with wrestling attacks that must be avoided rather than absorbed. Watch for the forward reach or leap, roll sideways or through the approach at the final moment, and wait until the landing or grab sequence is over before attacking.

   Location: Elden Throne

   TipKeep a reserve of stamina for the evasive roll; spending the entire bar on attacks directly in front of him makes the grab much harder to escape.

7. 07

   Convert phase-two recoveries into safe damage.

   Punish leaps and ground eruptions

   After a missed leap, slam or charge, move in for limited damage from the side and then retreat before the next eruption begins. If the impact creates a broad ground effect, wait it out instead of chasing the boss through the active area.

   Location: Elden Throne

   Watch outThe end of the leap animation is not always the end of the attack; confirm that the follow-up ground effect has stopped.

8. 08

   Defeat both forms and complete the mandatory encounter.

   Finish the shared health bar

   Repeat the evade-and-punish cycle until Hoarah Loux falls, prioritizing survival over a final burst. Once the boss is defeated, collect the victory rewards before leaving if you want to confirm the remembrance is in your inventory.

   Location: Elden Throne

   Checkpoint

Pre-fight checklist

• Confirm that your weapon, spell loadout or skill can deal damage in short openings.Long uninterrupted attacks are difficult to protect once Hoarah Loux starts closing distance.
• Keep enough healing and stamina for the second phase.Do not treat the transformation as the end of the encounter.
• Choose whether to use a spirit summon or cooperative help.A distraction can create openings, but it does not make grabs safe to ignore.Optional
• Leave room behind and beside your character in the arena.Open space improves your response to leaps, rushes and ground effects.
• Practice identifying delayed stomps before spending limited buffs or consumables.The first phase provides a safer opportunity to learn the timing.Optional

Weaknesses and damage

Failure conditionsSpoilers

• The player dies during either phaseThe encounter resets, and a death after the transformation requires defeating Godfrey's first form again before reaching Hoarah Loux.
• The player is caught by a Hoarah Loux grabA failed read of the forward reach or leap can cause severe damage and may leave too little health for the following ground attack.
• The player rolls early into a delayed stomp or axe attackThe initial wind-up is not necessarily the impact timing. Rolling on the visual start of the animation can place the player inside the later hit.
• The player exhausts stamina while attacking in front of the bossWithout stamina for a last-second evasive roll, the player is vulnerable to the next grab, rush or area attack.
• The player remains in an active ground effectMoving toward the boss immediately after a slam can cause the lingering eruption or shockwave to connect even though the initial impact was avoided.

Rewards and dropsSpoilers

• Remembrance of Hoarah Loux
  A boss remembrance awarded for victory. It can be exchanged through the game's remembrance systems for one of the associated rewards or consumed for runes, so keeping it is preferable if you want to inspect both exchange options first.
• Rune reward
  The victory grants a large quantity of runes, the game's currency for leveling and purchasing. The exact amount is not stated here because reward values can depend on game context.

LoreSpoilers

Godfrey was the first Elden Lord and a central figure in the history of the Lands Between. His public identity is associated with kingship, conquest and the role of a consort to Queen Marika, while his original name, Hoarah Loux, points to a life and reputation rooted in warfare rather than courtly rule.

The spectral opening form presents Godfrey as a solemn, monumental figure carrying his axe. The change to Hoarah Loux is more than a cosmetic phase transition: it frames the fight as a return to the warrior beneath the title. The axe disappears, and the boss attacks with throws, lunges and impacts that express physical aggression rather than formal weapon discipline.

The encounter's setting reinforces its narrative position. Leyndell, Ashen Capital is no longer the intact royal city encountered earlier, and the Elden Throne marks the approach to the final sequence of the game. Defeating Godfrey and Hoarah Loux therefore resolves a major confrontation with the figure who once held the Elden Lord title while opening the path toward the remaining endgame battles.

Encounter componentsSpoilers

• Godfrey, First Elden LordThe spectral axe-wielding form at the start of the battle.

TriviaSpoilers

• The encounter uses both names in its title because Godfrey's lordly identity and Hoarah Loux's warrior identity are represented as separate phases of the same battle.
• The first phase's spectral presentation contrasts with the physical, unarmed second phase, making the transformation communicate character history through mechanics as well as dialogue and visual design.
• The boss is a late-game counterpart to the earlier Godfrey encounter in Leyndell, but the two battles should be treated as separate pages and separate movesets rather than one repeated fight.

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