Some Elden Ring players may be surprised to know that there is an item that can, essentially, turn the game into Bloodborne. While not completely transforming the newest FromSoftware hit, fans of Bloodborne can change the combat style to resemble that of the Gothic PlayStation 4 exclusive. This game set itself apart from previous entries in the Souls series, with its aggressive combat. Elden Ring players can use Malenia's Great Rune to replicate Bloodborne's rewarding and fast-paced action.
Great Runes are special items earned from defeating the main story bosses, or demigods. They are directly related to the Elden Ring and thus contain powerful skills. Players can choose to equip a Great Rune to gain a strong passive ability, similar to one of Elden Ring's Ashes of War. Some raise multiple attributes, while others raise just one. There are only seven Great Runes in the game and acquiring them all can prove to be a challenge. Fans that wish to recreate the satisfying combat of Bloodborne should seek out Malenia's Great Rune.
To obtain the desired item, players must travel to Miquella's Haligtree. There, they will encounter the optional boss Malenia, Blade of Miquella. After the difficult fight, players will receive Malenia's Great Rune, along with 480,000 runes. According to the in-game description, players will be able to partially recover HP from "Attacks made immediately after receiving damage." The item's passive ability also reduces the healing power of Flask of Crimson Tears when equipped. This, among other similarities, is why Elden Ring is more Bloodborne than some players may think. In FromSoftware's PS4-exclusive title, the game rewarded fans that played aggressively, by allowing them to recover health if they attacked after they were hit. Malenia's Great Rune implements this same mechanic into Elden Ring. However, players must activate the item before the passive ability can be used in the game.
Activating Malenia's Great Rune In Elden Ring Makes Combat Like Bloodborne
Before a Great Rune can even be equipped, players must travel to the respective Divine Tower. These are special locations associated with the demigods and can restore the power of the items. Afterward, players need to acquire and use a Rune Arc to activate the passive ability of the Great Rune. Unfortunately, the powerful buffs from Great Runes are lost upon death and require that a consumable be expended to reacquire the bonus, but Great Runes can prove to be a massive help when progressing through difficult content. These skills can be especially useful for Elden Ring's New Game Plus mode.
Malenia's Great Rune can be used to make Elden Ring's methodical combat more aggressive, like in Bloodborne. Players that strike at the right time, can partially heal the damage taken, reducing the need to use Flask of Crimson Tears. The aggressive playstyle required to use Malenia's Great Rune effectively may not be for everyone, but Elden Ring has six other Great Runes for fans to acquire, each augmenting gameplay in different ways.