Ascended/Radiant Markoth is a really terrifying boss in hollow knight, and has caused grief to many players trying to beat him on radiant difficulty, so I wanted to share this blog so that it may reduce the suffering and ease defeating this boss

Tips to defeat Markoth on radiant mode :

1. Charm build :

• Gubberfly's Elegy : really useful for attacking him while avoiding the dreamshield

• QuickSlash : for improved hit rate

• Mark of Pride : for improved range

• Steady Body : to avoid recoil just in case

• Fragile/Unbreakable Strength : for extra damage

  

2. Strategy/Tactics :

• During nail barrage prioritize survival over dealing damage, but attack if possible to deal safe hits

• Best opportunity to attack is when he is spinning his dreamshield

• Try not to jump in the air too often as there is no ground to stand on, and you can fall off platforms easily

• Try to tank much damage when he is spinning his sheild right before his second phase, to shorten its duration

• Critically prioritize survivng during the nail barrage in the second phase

• During his dreamsheild-spin attack in the second phase, wait until a radial gap appears between the orbits of both dreamshields, and attack from this gap

  

3. Prerequisites :

• Would recommend doing path of pain first to get used to the ascended arena

• Would recommend doing Xero (to get used to semi-floorless arenas too) and Soul Tyrant on radiant to get used to homing projectiles