BURSTElias Iagnemma has made the first ascent of Exodia and proposed the grade 9A+/V18. If confirmed, Exodia would become the first boulder problem of its grade and quite possibly the hardest boulder in the world.
Originally envisioned by legendary Christian Core, the project remained untouched for years after its initial attempts. Iagnemma began working the moves in June 2021, returning every summer and autumn to refine his sequence. Over the span of more than four years, he invested over 200 dedicated days on the rock, studying holds and body positions.
“When I discovered Exodia, something clicked,” Iagnemma said on Planet Mountain. He described a journey filled with frustration, incremental progress, and an eventual harmony. The name Exodia, borrowed from the Yu-Gi-Oh! universe, reflects the climb’s difficulty. “It has been the most difficult challenge of my life, and for that reason I propose 9A+,” he said. “I hope someone else will one day try it, feel what I felt, and share their experience of the line.”
Iagnemma is one of the world’s most accomplished boulderers, as he’s climbed Burden of Dreams V17, and made the first ascent of The Big Slamm V17. Time will tell if Exodia settles at V18, but no matter where it lands grade wise, it’s now one of the world’s most difficult boulders.
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