Defeating Malenia, Blade of Miquella: A Comprehensive Elden Ring Guide
Malenia, Blade of Miquella, is widely considered one of, if not *the* hardest boss in Elden Ring. Her relentless aggression, life-stealing attacks, and devastating Waterfowl Dance make her a formidable opponent. This guide provides a detailed strategy to help you overcome this challenging encounter, covering character builds, strategies, and specific techniques for each phase of the fight.
## Understanding the Challenge: Why is Malenia so Difficult?
Before diving into specific strategies, it’s crucial to understand what makes Malenia such a difficult boss:
* **Aggression:** Malenia is relentlessly aggressive, constantly attacking and closing the distance. This leaves little room for error and requires precise timing for dodges and attacks.
* **Life Steal:** Every hit Malenia lands heals her, even if you block. This means chip damage is not an effective strategy. You must avoid getting hit as much as possible.
* **Waterfowl Dance:** This is Malenia’s signature move and arguably the most difficult attack to avoid. It’s a flurry of rapid strikes that deal massive damage and heal her significantly. Mastering the dodge is crucial.
* **High Damage:** Malenia’s attacks deal significant damage, often capable of one-shotting players with lower vigor.
* **Scarlet Rot (Phase 2):** In the second phase, Malenia gains the ability to inflict Scarlet Rot, a status effect that continuously drains your health.
## Preparing for the Fight: Character Builds and Equipment
Your character build and equipment play a significant role in your success against Malenia. Here are some recommended builds and gear options:
### Recommended Builds:
* **Strength Build (with Mimic Tear):** A classic strength build focusing on high damage output and the ability to stagger Malenia. The Mimic Tear ash is particularly effective for drawing aggro and allowing you to deal damage safely.
* **Stats:** Prioritize Vigor (60), Strength (60-80), Endurance (30-40), and some Mind (20-25) for ash usage.
* **Weapons:** Colossal Weapons (Greatsword, Ruins Greatsword, Starscourge Greatsword), Greatswords (Blasphemous Blade, Bloodhound’s Fang), or Great Hammers (Giant-Crusher). Infuse your weapon with Fire or Frost for extra damage.
* **Armor:** Heavy armor for poise and physical damage negation. The Bull-Goat’s Talisman is crucial for increasing poise and resisting stagger.
* **Talismans:** Green Turtle Talisman (stamina recovery), Erdtree’s Favor (HP, stamina, equip load), Bull-Goat’s Talisman (poise), and a damage-boosting talisman like Shard of Alexander (skill damage) or Claw Talisman (jump attack damage).
* **Dexterity Build (with Rivers of Blood or dual katanas):** A dexterity build focusing on fast attacks and bleed buildup. Rivers of Blood’s weapon art is particularly effective, but requires caution due to its range.
* **Stats:** Prioritize Vigor (60), Dexterity (60-80), Endurance (30-40), and some Mind (20-25) for ash usage.
* **Weapons:** Rivers of Blood, dual katanas (Uchigatana, Nagakiba) with bleed infusion. Consider using Seppuku for increased bleed buildup, but be cautious of the self-inflicted damage.
* **Armor:** Medium armor for mobility and decent protection.
* **Talismans:** Green Turtle Talisman, Erdtree’s Favor, Lord of Blood’s Exultation (damage boost after bleed), and a damage-boosting talisman like Shard of Alexander.
* **Faith Build (with Black Flame Tornado or Tiche):** A faith build focusing on incantations and support spells. Black Flame Tornado is a powerful weapon art that deals significant damage, and Tiche provides excellent damage and distraction.
* **Stats:** Prioritize Vigor (60), Faith (60-80), Mind (40-50), and some Endurance (20-30) for equip load.
* **Weapons:** Sacred Relic Sword (for Wave of Gold), Godslayer’s Greatsword, or any weapon infused with Sacred or Flame Art.
* **Seal:** Godslayer’s Seal or Erdtree Seal (depending on your faith level).
* **Incantations:** Black Flame Tornado, Black Flame, Golden Vow, Flame, Grant Me Strength, Blessing’s Boon.
* **Armor:** Armor with high poise and physical/holy resistance.
* **Talismans:** Green Turtle Talisman, Erdtree’s Favor, Shard of Alexander, and a faith-boosting talisman like Sacred Scorpion Charm.
* **Arcane Build (with Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear or dual bleed weapons):** An arcane build utilizing bleed and status effects, focusing on powerful weapon arts like Bloodboon Ritual.
* **Stats:** Prioritize Vigor (60), Arcane (60-80), Mind (40-50), and some Endurance (20-30) for equip load.
* **Weapons:** Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear, dual bleed-infused weapons (e.g., twinblades, curved swords).
* **Armor:** Armor with high poise and physical/fire resistance.
* **Talismans:** Lord of Blood’s Exultation, Godfrey Icon (increases charged spell/skill damage), Marika’s Soreseal (increases Mind, Intelligence, Faith, Arcane), Green Turtle Talisman.
* **Incantations/Sorceries:** Bloodboon Ritual, Swarm of Flies (for inflicting bleed), Dragon Communion Seal (for scaling incantations with Arcane).
### Essential Equipment:
* **Weapon Upgrade:** Maximize your weapon’s upgrade level. A fully upgraded weapon significantly increases your damage output.
* **Spirit Ash:** Mimic Tear is highly recommended. Black Knife Tiche is also a strong option. Experiment with others like Lhutel the Headless, depending on your build. Level your spirit ash to +10.
* **Armor:** Prioritize armor with good physical damage negation and poise. Poise is crucial for avoiding stagger and interrupting Malenia’s attacks. The Bull-Goat’s Talisman significantly increases poise.
* **Talismans:** Talismans can provide significant advantages. Essential talismans include Erdtree’s Favor, Green Turtle Talisman, and Bull-Goat’s Talisman. Choose other talismans based on your build and playstyle.
* **Consumables:**
* **Uplifting Aromatic:** Provides a temporary damage boost and poise.
* **Exalted Flesh:** Increases physical attack power.
* **Boiled Crab/Prawn:** Reduces physical damage taken.
* **Pickled Turtle Neck:** Increases stamina recovery rate.
* **Throwing Knives/Kukri:** Useful for interrupting Waterfowl Dance or staggering Malenia.
* **Fire Pots:** Throwing fire pots during the flower blossom animation can interrupt and stagger Malenia.
### Key Stats to Focus On:
* **Vigor (60):** This is non-negotiable. You need high HP to survive Malenia’s attacks.
* **Endurance (30-40):** Stamina management is crucial. You need to be able to dodge, attack, and block effectively.
* **Strength/Dexterity/Faith/Arcane (60-80):** Focus on your primary damage stat to maximize your weapon’s damage output.
* **Mind (20-50):** If you rely on weapon arts or incantations, you’ll need sufficient FP.
## General Strategies for Both Phases
These strategies apply to both phases of the fight:
* **Learn Malenia’s Attack Patterns:** This is the most crucial step. Spend some time learning her attack patterns and timings. Knowing when to dodge and when to attack is essential.
* **Patience is Key:** Don’t get greedy with your attacks. One or two hits are often enough. Focus on dodging and creating openings for counterattacks.
* **Maintain Distance:** Staying at a medium distance allows you to react to most of her attacks. Don’t get too close, or you’ll be vulnerable to her rapid strikes.
* **Use Spirit Ashes Strategically:** Your spirit ash is a valuable tool. Summon it at the beginning of the fight to draw aggro and create openings for you to attack. Keep an eye on its health and re-summon it if necessary.
* **Exploit Openings After Attacks:** Malenia often leaves herself open after certain attacks. Take advantage of these openings to deal damage.
* **Use Jump Attacks:** Jump attacks can be effective for dealing damage and staggering Malenia. They also provide some invincibility frames during the jump.
* **Target the First Phase Carefully:** The first phase is your opportunity to inflict as much damage as possible before the second phase’s Scarlet Rot.
## Phase 1: The Blade of Miquella
### Understanding Malenia’s Moveset (Phase 1):
* **Basic Sword Attacks:** A series of quick sword strikes. Dodge these with precise timing.
* **Thrust Attack:** A lunging thrust with a long range. Dodge to the side.
* **Jumping Attack:** Malenia jumps into the air and slams down with her sword. Roll away when she lands.
* **Clone Attack:** Malenia creates several clones that attack you in succession. This attack is difficult to dodge but can be identified by Malenia floating in the air before the attack. Lock off and dodge away from the direction she is facing before the clones appear, then dodge each clone attack individually. Keep moving.
* **Waterfowl Dance:** This is her signature move. See detailed dodging strategies below.
### Dodging Waterfowl Dance:
Waterfowl Dance is the most challenging aspect of the Malenia fight. Here’s a breakdown of the dodging strategy:
1. **The First Flurry:** When you see Malenia jump into the air and wind up for the attack, immediately roll *away* from her to create distance. This initial dodge is the most crucial.
2. **The Second Flurry:** After the first roll, lock onto Malenia if you aren’t already. She’ll dash towards you for a second flurry. Roll *into* her, slightly to the left or right. The timing is tight, but rolling into the attack can help you avoid the worst of the damage.
3. **The Third Flurry:** Malenia will perform a third and final flurry. For this one, roll *away* again. If you’ve timed the first two rolls correctly, you should be far enough away to avoid most of the damage.
**Alternative Dodging Method (Bloodhound’s Step):** If you’re struggling with the standard dodge, consider using the Bloodhound’s Step ash of war. It provides significantly more invincibility frames and makes dodging Waterfowl Dance much easier. However, it consumes FP, so make sure you have enough Mind to use it effectively.
**Blocking Waterfowl Dance:** Blocking is generally not recommended due to the life-steal effect. However, if you have a shield with high stability and can withstand the damage, you can try blocking the initial flurry, followed by dodging the subsequent attacks. This is a risky strategy and should only be used as a last resort.
**Interrupting Waterfowl Dance:** It is possible to interrupt Waterfowl Dance before it begins. Throwing a Kukri, fire pot, or using a weapon art with a quick stagger can prevent her from executing the attack. However, this requires precise timing and quick reflexes.
### Strategies for Phase 1:
* **Use your Spirit Ash to Draw Aggro:** Summon your spirit ash at the beginning of the fight. This will give you opportunities to attack while Malenia is focused on your summon.
* **Attack When She’s Open:** Malenia often leaves herself open after certain attacks, such as the thrust attack or the jumping attack. Take advantage of these openings to deal damage.
* **Use Jump Attacks to Stagger:** Jump attacks can be effective for staggering Malenia, creating opportunities for critical hits.
* **Be Patient:** Don’t get greedy with your attacks. Focus on dodging and creating openings for counterattacks.
* **Manage Stamina:** Stamina management is crucial. Avoid over-committing to attacks and always have enough stamina to dodge.
* **Rivers of Blood Strategy (Caution):** If you are using Rivers of Blood, be careful of its short range. Only use the weapon art when you’re close enough to guarantee hits, and be prepared to dodge immediately after.
* **Strength Build Strategy:** Use heavy jump attacks when possible and try to time attacks after Malenia performs an attack animation, staggering her is key.
## Phase 2: Malenia, Goddess of Rot
When Malenia’s health bar is depleted in Phase 1, she will transform into Malenia, Goddess of Rot. This phase introduces new challenges and requires a slightly different approach.
### Understanding Malenia’s Moveset (Phase 2):
In addition to her Phase 1 moveset, Malenia gains the following abilities in Phase 2:
* **Scarlet Rot Bloom:** Malenia leaps into the air and creates a massive explosion of Scarlet Rot. This attack deals significant damage and inflicts Scarlet Rot buildup.
* **Phantom Attacks:** Malenia summons phantom versions of herself that attack you in succession. These attacks are similar to the Clone Attack in Phase 1, but they also inflict Scarlet Rot buildup.
* **Scarlet Rot Infusion:** Malenia can infuse her attacks with Scarlet Rot, increasing the buildup on each hit.
### Dodging Scarlet Rot Bloom:
The Scarlet Rot Bloom is a dangerous attack that can quickly overwhelm you. Here’s how to dodge it:
1. **Create Distance:** As soon as you see Malenia leaping into the air, run away from her as quickly as possible. The further away you are, the less likely you are to get caught in the explosion.
2. **Roll at the Last Moment:** Just before the explosion occurs, roll towards Malenia. This will give you some invincibility frames and help you avoid the worst of the damage.
3. **Cleanse Scarlet Rot:** If you get hit by the explosion, immediately use a Preserving Boluses to cure Scarlet Rot. This will prevent the status effect from draining your health.
### Dodging Phantom Attacks:
The Phantom Attacks are similar to the Clone Attack in Phase 1, but they inflict Scarlet Rot buildup. Here’s how to dodge them:
1. **Unlock and Run:** Unlock from Malenia and run in a circular pattern around the arena. This will help you avoid the phantoms’ attacks.
2. **Dodge at the Last Moment:** As the phantoms approach, dodge at the last moment to avoid their strikes. Timing is crucial.
3. **Cleanse Scarlet Rot:** If you get hit by the phantoms, immediately use a Preserving Boluses to cure Scarlet Rot.
### Strategies for Phase 2:
* **Maintain Distance:** Maintaining distance is even more important in Phase 2 due to the Scarlet Rot attacks. Stay at a medium to long range to give yourself time to react.
* **Use Ranged Attacks:** If you have ranged attacks, such as incantations or spells, use them to deal damage from a safe distance.
* **Cleanse Scarlet Rot:** Keep Preserving Boluses on your quick slot and use them immediately if you get infected with Scarlet Rot.
* **Exploit the Scarlet Rot Bloom:** After the Scarlet Rot Bloom, Malenia is vulnerable for a short period of time. Use this opportunity to deal damage.
* **Be Aggressive When Safe:** When you have an opening, be aggressive and deal as much damage as possible. However, don’t get greedy and always be prepared to dodge.
* **Consider Freezing Pots:** While frostbite resistance is high, you might be able to interrupt her bloom attack animation with a freeze pot to buy some time.
* **Fire Pots:** Throwing fire pots during the flower blossom animation can interrupt and stagger Malenia.
## Advanced Tips and Tricks:
* **Co-op Play:** Summoning other players for co-op can make the fight significantly easier. However, Malenia’s health and damage will be increased.
* **Frostbite:** Frostbite can be an effective status effect against Malenia. It reduces her defenses and deals a burst of damage.
* **Poison:** Poison can also be effective, but it’s less reliable than frostbite due to Malenia’s high resistance.
* **Bleed:** Bleed is highly effective against Malenia and it can interrupt her attacks, staggering her. This is why builds with bleed effects are so popular.
* **Parrying:** Parrying Malenia is extremely difficult but possible. However, it’s not recommended for most players due to the tight timing and high risk.
* **Optimize Your Build:** Experiment with different weapons, armor, and talismans to find the combination that works best for you.
* **Practice Makes Perfect:** The more you fight Malenia, the better you’ll become at dodging her attacks and exploiting her weaknesses.
## Specific Weapon Strategies:
* **Blasphemous Blade:** The weapon art, Taker’s Flames, deals fire damage and heals you, making it a strong choice for this fight. Use it to interrupt her attacks and sustain your health.
* **Rivers of Blood:** The weapon art, Corpse Piler, deals rapid bleed buildup, which can quickly stagger Malenia. However, be cautious of its short range.
* **Moonveil:** The weapon art, Transient Moonlight, deals magic damage and can stagger Malenia. Use it from a safe distance to avoid her attacks.
* **Dual Katanas (Uchigatana, Nagakiba):** Dual katanas with bleed infusion can quickly inflict bleed buildup, staggering Malenia and dealing significant damage. Use jump attacks and running attacks to apply bleed quickly.
* **Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear:** This weapon’s unique weapon art, Bloodboon Ritual, does immense damage and can inflict bleed, which can disrupt Malenia’s attacks and create openings.
* **Greatsword (Colossal):** Use jump attacks and charged heavy attacks to stagger Malenia and deal high damage. The Lion’s Claw Ash of War can provide a quick stagger, creating openings for follow-up attacks.
* **Godslayer’s Greatsword:** The weapon art, Queen’s Black Flame, deals fire damage and applies black flame, which deals continuous damage over time. This can be effective for chipping away at Malenia’s health.
* **Sacred Relic Sword:** The weapon art, Wave of Gold, deals holy damage in a wide area, which can be effective for hitting Malenia during her Scarlet Rot Bloom. The high faith requirements make it more suitable for faith-based builds.
## Conclusion
Defeating Malenia is a challenging but rewarding experience in Elden Ring. By understanding her attack patterns, preparing your character build, and utilizing the strategies outlined in this guide, you can increase your chances of success. Remember to be patient, persistent, and don’t give up! Good luck, Tarnished!