There isn't a doubt that Malenia, Blade of Miquella, is one of the most challenging humanoid bosses in Elden Ring. Although she is an optional boss, facing her is an experience Tarnished will forever remember. Adventurers can encounter Malenia once they've made it to the heart of Elphael, the Haligtree Roots. Defeating her will reward players with a Rememberance which can be exchanged with Enia for her stunning yet deadly Incantation, Hand of Malenia, or her unique weapon in Elden Ring, the Hand of Malenia Katana. Furthermore, if the protagonist has completed her daughter Millicent's questline, they will be able to unlock a new ending for the game.
To unlock the boss battle with the Goddess of Rot, Tarnished must defeat Morgott and collect the two halves of the Haligtree Secret Medallion. This item is used to activate a hidden mechanism within the Grand Lift of Rold, granting access to the Hidden Path to the Haligtree. Afterward, the player must travel to the north of the Consecrated Snowfield to Ordina, where they will complete a puzzle to enter Miquella's Haligtree. Once Tarnished have braved their way through Legacy Dungeon, they will confront Malenia at the tree's core beneath the palace.
Before moving on to tips and tricks for overcoming the Malenia boss fight in Elden Ring, it is highly recommended to face the Blade of Miquella with an ally. Having a partner to either distract or tank the damage from Malenia will make the fight exponentially easier. In addition, the best support a player can receive in this battle would naturally be from another human player. However, in the case adventurers are unable to summon a fellow Tarnished or prefer to take on the boss solo, challengers are advised to acquire a powerful Spirit Summon, such as the Mimic Tear.
How To Beat Malenia In Elden Ring
The Goddess of Rot features two distinct mechanics unique from other bosses in the Lands Between. First, every attack landed by her sword will replenish her HP. Moreover, guarded attacks that do little to no harm to the player will still restore Malenia's health. Next, her most lethal attack, a series of swirling-blade slices, can potentially one-shot any Elden Ring player. It is paramount Tarnished recognize when she's about to execute this skill by observing the moment she rises into the air, rearing back to strike. Dodge-rolling out of this attack is extremely difficult yet feasible with practice. As soon as she rises from the floor, turn towards open space and sprint away. Once she does the move twice, she will dash at her target and execute the finale, followed by a shockwave. The moment she approaches, dodge into her third attack and immediately roll away afterward to negate damage entirely.
Tarnished should watch the only other notable attack for her is her signature "skewer move," where she grabs her target, throws them into the air, and impales them with her blade in Elden Ring. However, it's much easier to dodge than the aforementioned triple storms of endless slicing.
Next, in her second phase, she will begin by casting Scarlet Aeonia, which has her slam into the ground, creating a gorgeous yet deadly flower of Scarlet Rot. The petals have an extensive reach, so be sure to make room for her landing. She will perform the same moves as before, except she also has a few new abilities, including one where she summons spirit clones that consecutively charge a single target. Nevertheless, the main attack that players will want to watch for is still her thrice-slice tornados.
Despite being one of the most challenging bosses in Elden Ring, Malenia still has some notable weaknesses. First, she has no standard moves to attack or defend her rear, allowing players to easily land strikes when she's occupied. Additionally, Malenia can be staggered fairly quickly with heavy and charged attacks in Elden Ring, yet keep in mind that she can regain Poise at an incredible rate. Finally, during her second phase, her Scarlet Aeonia Incantation causes her to become highly vulnerable to powerful ranged attacks, such as Comet Azur.
Furthermore, those with ranged abilities can potentially cheese Malenia by running to the back of the arena and climbing atop the lowest roots using a jump followed by Agheel's Flame. From here, players can snipe her from above but still will need a form of protection from her uppercuts and whirlwinds of death. During her second stage, the player will return to the center of the room. Nonetheless, they can repeat the same procedure as before atop the roots. Yet, it is recommended that Tarnished summon a Spirit this time to keep her distracted, as she will have more aerial abilities in Phase 2. Once she is vanquished, players can receive their reward and the satisfaction of beating the most challenging humanoid boss in Elden Ring.
Elden Ring is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.