How to Beat Godfrey, First Elden Lord (Hoarah Loux)
A practical Ashen Capital plan for Godfrey’s axe phase and the Hoarah Loux ground-slam phase—spacing, punish windows, summons, and what to do if you keep dying after Fire Giant.
Godfrey is one of the last major story bosses before the final Erdtree fights. Phase one plays like a readable axe duel; phase two (Hoarah Loux, Warrior) drops the weapon and adds grab, stomp, and delayed ground quakes that punish panic rolling. This page is for the Ashen Capital fight—not the earlier Golden Shade of Godfrey in regular Leyndell.
Which Godfrey Is This?
- Golden Shade of Godfrey: earlier Leyndell remembrance boss—hard, but not this page.
- Godfrey, First Elden Lord → Hoarah Loux: Ashen Capital story fight after you burn the Erdtree path via the Forge. That is the fight covered here.
If you have not beaten Fire Giant and reached the Forge yet, follow the progression hub first. Clearing Morgott only gets you into the capital—Godfrey comes much later.
Where to Find Godfrey
After the Mountaintops route and lighting the Forge, Leyndell becomes the Ashen Capital. Progress through the ash until you reach the audience / throne approach where Godfrey waits. Rest at the nearby Site of Grace, clear inventory, and decide whether you want a spirit ash before the fog—phase two is long if you learn it cold.
Recommended Level & Gear
- Suggested level band: roughly 100–120+ (lower is possible with a fully upgraded weapon and practice)
- Weapon upgrade: near-max smithing or Somber path for your main weapon
- Vigor in the high 40s or 50s—phase two stomps and grabs delete low-HP builds
- Physical defense and poise help more than niche elemental resists here
- A mid-range weapon or ash of war that lets you punish and reset is easier than ultra-slow trades
Preparation Checklist
- Finish Mountaintops upgrades; do not enter Ashen Capital under-leveled after a rushed Fire Giant clear
- Bring a tanky spirit ash—Mimic Tear or similar reduces phase-two pressure while you learn stomps
- Stock flasks; this fight rewards patience more than one huge DPS window
- Optional: co-op for a first clear, then solo later if you want the patterns
- If your build feels weak, respec after Rennala into a setup you already trust (strength, bleed, or faith)
Phase One — Godfrey with the Axe
- Stay slightly outside axe reach and bait vertical / horizontal swings; punish after the final hit, not mid-combo.
- When he stomps or plants the axe for a delayed shock, roll toward him or sideways—standing still gets clipped by the delayed hit.
- His leap and slam strings look scary but leave clear recovery; take one or two hits, then reset spacing.
- Do not empty your entire stamina bar chasing him across the arena—Godfrey walks into you if you hold mid-range calmly.
- Save a few flasks for phase two even if phase one feels “easy.” Many runs die with empty bottles after a greedy first half.
Phase Two — Hoarah Loux, Warrior
- Expect faster pressure: stomps, earth cracks, and grab attempts. Prioritize reading wind-ups for the first 30 seconds.
- Ground quakes often have a delay—leave the glowing or cracked ground early instead of rolling on reaction alone.
- When he goes for a grab / command-grab style attack, roll late toward his side rather than straight back into the tracking.
- Punish after big slam recoveries only; Hoarah Loux punishes greedy jump heavies more than phase one does.
- If your spirit ash dies, stop trading and return to bait-and-punish. Panic rolling into stomps is the most common wipe.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing this fight with Golden Shade Godfrey and arriving from the wrong Site of Grace
- Using every flask in the axe phase and entering Hoarah Loux empty
- Rolling too early on delayed ground attacks
- Standing directly in front during grab wind-ups instead of circling
- Bringing a mid-game upgrade level because “story said go to the capital”
Builds That Work Well
Strength jump-attack setups still work if you only swing on true openings. Bleed shortens long phase-two attempts if your weapon applies it reliably. Faith sustain builds help on long learning sessions—see the faith guide. Pair damage with HP and stamina talismans from the talismans page; raw damage charms do not replace Vigor here.
After Godfrey
Defeating Godfrey / Hoarah Loux opens the final Erdtree approach (Radagon and the Elden Beast). Rest, re-buff, and make sure flasks and physick are ready before you push the last fog. Optional challenges such as Malenia can wait until after the ending if you prefer. For the broader late-game order, return to the progression path.