The Red Wolf of Radagon is one of the main bosses in Elden Ring and serves as a mid-game encounter found in Raya Lucaria Academy in Liurnia of the Lakes. This fast and aggressive wolf wields magic and melee attacks, making it a formidable opponent for those unprepared. Here’s a detailed guide to help you defeat the Red Wolf of Radagon:
Location
The Red Wolf of Radagon is located inside Raya Lucaria Academy, a legacy dungeon in Liurnia. To access the academy, you’ll need to find the Academy Glintstone Key, which can be found on a corpse behind the large dragon, Glintstone Dragon Smarag, near the academy’s entrance.
Once inside, you will progress through the academy until you reach the Debate Parlor Site of Grace. The boss is just ahead from there, up the stairs and past a few enemies.
Boss Overview
The Red Wolf of Radagon is reminiscent of Sif, the Great Grey Wolf from Dark Souls, but it uses magical abilities alongside physical attacks.
The fight emphasizes quick movement, dodging, and reacting to both melee and magic attacks.
It has relatively low health compared to other mid-game bosses, but it can deal a lot of damage quickly if you aren’t careful.
Boss Mechanics and Attack Patterns
Understanding the Red Wolf's attack patterns is crucial to defeating it. Here are its main attacks:
Melee Bites and Lunges: 
The Red Wolf has quick melee attacks, including lunges, bites, and swipes. These can be difficult to dodge because of how fast they come out.
•Tip: Roll sideways or backward to avoid these attacks, and keep an eye out for its movements to anticipate when it’s about to lunge.
Magic Sword Slash:
The wolf can conjure a glowing magical sword and use it to swipe at you. This attack is quick and can catch you off guard if you're not watching its movements closely.
•Tip: Roll sideways when you see the magic sword appear. It has a slight wind-up, giving you a brief moment to react.
Magic Sword Projectiles:
The Red Wolf can summon multiple magical sword projectiles that will float and fire towards you. This attack is similar to a sorcerer’s Glintblade Phalanx spell.
•Tip: Keep moving to dodge the swords. Running sideways will often cause the projectiles to miss you, but you can also roll through them if you time it correctly. Use this opportunity to close the gap and attack.
Magic Beam Attack:
Occasionally, the wolf will shoot a beam of magical energy at you. It can be hard to dodge if you're close, but it is telegraphed by the wolf pausing briefly to charge up the attack.
•Tip: Dodge to the side when you see it charging up. The beam moves quickly, so you need to be prepared to roll as soon as you see the animation start.
Combo Attacks:
The Red Wolf can chain together different attacks, such as following up a bite with a magic sword slash. Be prepared for quick combos, especially as the fight progresses.
•Tip: Don’t get greedy with your attacks. Hit once or twice and then prepare to dodge. Watch for when it finishes a combo before attempting to counter.
Strategies to Defeat the Red Wolf of Radagon 
Keep Moving:
The wolf’s attacks are fast, so staying mobile is key. If you stand still for too long, it will likely hit you with a magic attack or lunge. Constantly moving will help you evade its attacks and keep you ready to react.
Maintain Mid-Range Distance:
Staying at mid-range helps you see the Red Wolf’s attacks more clearly, giving you time to react. If you’re too close, it may overwhelm you with melee attacks, and if you’re too far, it will spam its magic projectiles.
Being at mid-range lets you quickly close in for an attack after dodging.
Use Shields Carefully:
If you’re playing with a shield, blocking some of the wolf’s attacks can help, but be mindful of your stamina. The magic sword attacks deal more damage and can break your guard if you’re not careful.
A 100% physical block shield can be useful for blocking melee attacks, but you’ll still need to dodge most of the magic attacks.
Take Advantage of Summons:
Summoning Spirit Ashes can be a great way to distract the Red Wolf, allowing you to land more hits. Spirit summons like the Lone Wolves or Jellyfish can help draw the wolf’s attention and give you opportunities to attack.
You can also summon other players or NPCs if you’re struggling with the fight. Just remember that bringing others into the fight will increase the boss’s health.
Magic Users:
Magic users should maintain distance and cast spells like Glintstone Pebble or Rock Sling to chip away at the wolf’s health. Be ready to dodge if the wolf lunges or uses its own magic attacks.
Using shields or defensive spells to block or mitigate incoming damage can be helpful. Spells like Carian Retaliation can also be useful if timed correctly.
Recommended Equipment and Preparation
Upgrade Your Weapon:
Make sure your weapon is upgraded enough to deal sufficient damage. The Red Wolf can be taken down quickly if your weapon is strong, but if it’s under-leveled, the fight can drag on, giving it more chances to kill you.
Use Smithing Stones or Somber Smithing Stones to upgrade your weapon before the fight.
Magic Defense:
Equip gear that provides higher magic resistance to mitigate damage from its magical attacks. Talismans like the Spelldrake Talisman can help reduce incoming magic damage.
Consider using spells like Magic Fortification if you’re a Faith-based build, which can temporarily boost your resistance to magic.
Healing and Buffs:
Make sure you have enough Flasks of Crimson Tears to sustain yourself through the fight. Consider allocating more health flasks than mana flasks if you find yourself taking a lot of damage.
Use consumables like Magic Grease or Blood Grease to temporarily boost your weapon’s effectiveness. If you’re a melee user, buffs like Golden Vow can also help increase your attack power and defense.
After Defeating the Red Wolf of Radagon
Once you defeat the Red Wolf, you’ll be rewarded with a significant number of Runes and a Memory Stone. Memory Stones increase your spell slots, which is useful for magic users who want to carry more incantations or sorceries.
The path forward will lead you deeper into Raya Lucaria Academy, eventually taking you to the next major boss, Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon.
Conclusion
The Red Wolf of Radagon is a fast and aggressive boss that tests your reaction time and adaptability. By staying mobile, learning its attack patterns, and using your summons wisely, you can overcome this challenging encounter. Equip yourself with the right gear, upgrade your weapons, and be prepared to dodge quickly. With patience and practice, you’ll be able to conquer the Red Wolf and progress further into the depths of the academy.
