The question of what poise to maintain when facing General Radahn in Elden Ring is indeed more nuanced than it might initially appear. Poise isn’t just a static stat to hit and forget; it plays a pivotal role in dictating how much you can sustain hits while delivering your own attacks, especially in a fight as punishing and multi-faceted as Radahn’s.

To start, it’s important to clarify what poise does in Elden Ring. Poise determines your character’s ability to resist staggers and interruptions when you get hit mid-animation. Against Radahn, whose attacks pack immense power and often come in rapid succession, having sufficient poise can mean the difference between landing your pivotal heavy strikes or being knocked out of your combo and punished severely.

However, the notion of an “optimal” poise threshold varies based on your build. For heavy-hitting, slow weapon users-like those wielding colossal Greatswords akin to Radahn’s own-the value of poise escalates. This is because these weapons have longer animations that are vulnerable to stagger. In this case, aiming for a higher poise value, possibly exceeding 60-70 poise, can enable you to weather hits mid-swing and output consistent damage without being interrupted.

On the other hand, agile builds that rely on dodging or faster weaponry don’t necessarily need as much poise. In their case, prioritizing mobility and stamina might outweigh stacking heavy armor sets for poise, as their strategy revolves around evasion rather than tanking hits.

Armor choice significantly influences poise capacity. Heavy armor sets, such as Bull-Goat or Lionel’s, provide a substantial poise boost allowing your character to absorb the brutal stagger damage Radahn dishes out. Yet, wearing heavy armor without exceeding your equip load threshold can cripple your mobility-an essential element in this fight. Balancing armor load to remain in the medium or even light roll category can often be more advantageous because Radahn’s moveset includes unavoidable area-of-effect and ranged attacks, where positioning and evasion may trump pure tankiness.

Weapon choice also subtly changes poise considerations. Weapons with fast recovery frames and quick stagger recovery might benefit less from high poise because you can recover and reposition quickly. But with large, slow weapons that mirror Radahn’s slow but powerful style, investing in poise becomes much more meaningful.

In conclusion, while aiming for a poise value around 60-70 is a practical benchmark for tanky, heavy-weapon builds facing Radahn, the best poise is the one that complements your overall playstyle. Whether that means dodging deftly or standing your ground with iron resolve, understanding the synergy between build, armor, and weapon will guide you to the poise threshold that best prepares you for this breathtaking showdown.