In November 2025, Elias Iagnemma made the first ascent of Exodia in Italy, and proposed a grade of V18 (9A+). The boulder was first envisioned by Christian Core and features a 60-degree overhang, around 25 hand moves, and is approximately eight meters long.
Describing Exodia, Iagnaemma said it starts with a hard V14 into a no-hands inverted double knee-bar rest, followed by a V16 section with a very powerful crux move. It took him 211 sessions over the course of four and a half years to send. “I’m not saying it’s the hardest boulder in the world,” said Iagnemma, “I’m saying it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
While Iagnaemma considers the second half V16, it’s rumoured that Adam Ondra, who’s climbed Soudain Seul V17, considers the second half hard V15 – according to V17 climber Aidan Roberts on the Testpiece Podcast. That slightly lower grade might slightly lower the overall grade of Exodia. Thanks to his height, Ondra has reportedly found slightly different beta through the crux.
Iagnemma has climbed some of the hardest boulders in the world. In March 2024, he became the fourth ascensionist of Burden of Dreams V17. In January 2025, he made the first ascent of The Big Slamm V17 in Italy. Earlier this year, Iagnemma tried Soudain Seul V17, but didn’t get the send.
Other Boulder News
Ryuichi Murai, who’s climbed Burden of Dreams V17 and Return of the Sleepwalker V17, is working on a new hard project in Japan dubbed the Daihang Project, with around six sessions invested so far. It’s estimated to be V16 or harder.
Mei Kotake has climbed Sent Hazel Grace V14, Quiet Storm V14 and Pi V15, becoming the 12th woman to climb a V15 boulder. Read more about her sends here. Sam Weir has climbed Permanent Midnight V15 after around four weeks of work, noting there might be an even lower start.
Pablo Zamora has climbed two new V15s in Spain with La Ley del Más Fuerte and Kora, and Owen Whaley has climbed Creature from the Black Lagoon V16 in Colorado – read about it here.
And Yannick Flohé downgraded Solar Plexus from V15 to V14 after making the fourth ascent. He said, “One move boulders are hard to grade. Comparing it to Defying Gravity, I’d say 8b+ [V14] makes more sense, as it feels a grade easier and I did it on my third try.”