Malenia, Blade of Miquella is a boss in Elden Ring. Learn about Malenia's location & item drop information, preparation for combat, first & second phase, strategies, & more!
Table of Contents
Place Of Appearance & Drop Information
Malenia, Blade Of Miquella & Goddess Of Rot
| Runes | 480,000 |
|---|---|
| Item Drop | Malenia's Great Rune, Remembrance of the Rot Goddess |
| Exchanging Remembrance | Hand of Malenia, Scarlet Aeonia |
Resistances
| Affinity | Standard, Piercing | |
|---|---|---|
| Status Effect | Strong against Poison, Rot, Holy | |
| Weak against Fire, Frostbite, Hemorrhage, Sleep | ||
| Immune against Madness, Death Blight | ||
Parry & Critical Strikes
| Parry | Critical Strikes |
|---|---|
| ✔︎ | ✔︎ |
You can perform stance-breaking on Malenia by parrying.
Elphael, Brace Of The Haligtree
Malenia is located at the roots of Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree. You will need the Haligtree Secret Medallion left & right to access the Hidden Path to the Haligtree from the Grand Lift of Rold. Once you got out of the catacombs, make your way to Ordina, Liturgical Town. You need to activate the 4 candles inside the evergaol in order to gain access to the portal that leads to Miquella's Haligtree.
Elphael & Miquella’s Haligtree - Location Map & WalkthroughPreparation For Combat
| ① | Greatshields are recommended |
|---|---|
| ② | Inflicting Hemorrhage is recommended |
| ③ | Raise the stats for survivability |
| ④ | Use skills with a single shot |
| ⑤ | Learn how to avoid Waterfowl Dance └ Can blocked & parried |
Greatshields Are Recommended
Malenia recovers HP whenever she lands a hit but it is still better to block dangerous attacks than dying. You can learn her attack patterns the more times you fight her which can increase your reflexes for proper timing of guarding & evading. Greatshields are recommended as it increases your poise when guarding.
All Shields ListInflicting Hemorrhage Is Recommended
You can deal great damage with Blood Loss since it works well against Malenia. Enhance & use weapons that has Blood Loss buildup. In addition, there are different builds that can inflict Hemorrhage like Rivers of Blood build, Grave Scythe build, and Godskin Peeler build.
Blood Affinity Weapon ListRaise The Stats For Survivability
Equip armor that has high vitality stat & raise Vigor to increase HP to further increase your durability and survivablity. There are different ways to farm runes in Mohgwyn Dynasty Mausoleum to gain levels faster which includes luring a bird off the cliff & killing numerous idle Albinaurics. Take time to farm runes so you can raise your stats that suits your build.
Gain Early Access To Mohgwyn Dynasty MausoleumUse Skills With A Single Shot
Malenia has a low poise and can be easily staggered. Whenever you can land attacks on her just remember to not overlook her attack patterns & skill. However, since you can often stagger her with attacks & skills, hit her once or twice then keep a safe distance and let her chase you.
Maintaining A Safe Distance
It could be extremely difficult to avoid Malenia's attacks at a close range. If you could avoid her attacks by moving backwards, you can make a safe distance from her. Maintain it so you could avoid some of her attacks & skills. Although the chances of landing a hit on her decreases, that can be aided by using weapons that can inflict Hemorrhage.
How To Avoid Waterfowl Dance
▼ Dodging Malenia's Waterfowl Dance Perhaps the biggest threat that makes all players worried and challenged is the Waterfowl Dance. It can be blocked with Greatshield although some players are not into the idea of using a shield. In this article, learn how to avoid Waterfowl Dance without using a shield.
Bloodhound's Step On Greatshield
Waterfowl Dance could be very difficult to avoid in a straightforward way. If you just want to overcome Malenia, it is recommended to use Ash of War: Bloodhound's Step on a Greatshield so you can block & dodge simultaneously.
Malenia - First Phase
Malenia, Blade Of Miquella
| ① | Two choices for Malenia's first phase |
|---|---|
| ② | Do not miss 3 chances to attack |
| ③ | If a spark comes out from her prosthesis, dodge it by rolling diagonally forward |
| ④ | ▼ Dodging Malenia's Waterfowl Dance |
Two Choices For Malenia's First Phase
① Chance if you don't attack
When Malenia is approaching without any sign of hostility, approach her too. If she had no movement even after landing a successful hit, quickly make a follow-up attack then make & keep a safe distance. Avoid her attacks by rolling backwards depending on her attack pattern. In this way, you can deal damage & safely dodge.
② Move Away When Intercepted
When Malenia is approaching with a sign of hostility, dodge backwards then keep a safe distance from her attacks. Observe until she finishes her attacks and wait for an opening for an attempt to land a hit. With that said, these are the choices for combating Malenia in her first phase.
Do Not Miss 3 Chances To Attack
Regardless of the distance, Malenia has three types of piercing/grab/reserve attacks which are all are powerful. She also has a technique for counterattack. Be wary of these and definitely avoid at all cost. She will have an opening when you are able to avoid these attacks.
If A Spark Comes Out From Her Prosthesis, Dodge It By Rolling Diagonally Forward
▲ Please remember that it is easy to be attacked repeatedly.
If sparks come out of Malenia's prosthesis, prepare for a quick continuous strike which can be evaded. Since it can hit you when you roll backwards, dodge it by rolling diagonally forward. Remember: when you see the spark → do not dodge backwards. An opening is available when she's done performing the chain attacks so take this opportunity to strike.
Dodging Malenia's Waterfowl Dance
▼ Dodging Malenia's Waterfowl Dance When her HP reaches 60％, she will start attacking with Waterfowl Dance. It could be very difficult to deal with as she uses it randomly. At close range, she tends to use it as a counterattack so be careful and keep your distance so you can prepare to dodge. She recovers a HP when she successfully lands a hit on you but it is better to block with greatshield than die.
Malenia - Second Phase
Malenia, Goddess Of Rot
| ① | Timing for Scarlet Aeonia |
|---|---|
| ② | Attack cautiously then evade └ Pay attention whenever she counterattacks |
| ③ | Chance to strike after the explosion |
| ④ | Learn to distinguish the difference of jump attacks |
| ⑤ | How to avoid afterimage attacks |
Timing For Scarlet Aeonia
After the cutscene, she uses this as an initial attack. She also uses this when her HP reaches certain percent. Whenever she uses Scarlet Aeonia, she elevates herself then lunges towards you which is followed by an explotion. You can observe her until the moment she speeds up with a thrust. After she reaches the ground, the area around her explodes that can cause your screen to shake slightly. Avoid it at all cost. If you got caught with the petals, you will be affected by Scarlet Rot buildup so wait for the flower to disappear before attempting to attack. In addition, she is vulnerable to range attacks by this moment, giving you the opportunity to make a free hit using range skills & spells, and throwing pots.
Attack Cautiously Then Keep Distance
▲ When Malenia runs towards you, attack her.
During the second phase, she rarely walks or runs and consistently launches for an attack. Similar to first phase, her attack pattern & low poise did not change. Take advantage of this to attack but cautiously then keep your distance by dodging. However, you can likely land a successful hit once or twice.
Pay Attention Whenever She Counterattacks
In her second phase, she performs a counter with a kick when you are evading. Its damage is somewhat strong so be alert because it occurs quickly. There is an opening for attack if you can avoid it.
Chance To Strike After The Explosion
Once the second phase starts, Malenia uses Scarlet Aeonia, an attack where she performs a descending thrust followed by an explotion. She also has three attack techniques: grab/pierce/reserve attack that gives an opening when you dodged successfully. However, the AOE of this attack is wide so observe and wait for a chance to strike.
Learn To Distinguish The Difference Of Jump Attacks
Slash → Thrust
The attack pattern for jump attacks are jumbled. If you are able to avoid the slash, watch out for the immediate thrust. The thrust is difficult to avoid and it takes time to get the proper timing to avoid it. Note that healing from afar will make her use this. If are confident that you can dodge it, make her do it often as it gives an opening for you to counterattack.
Slash → Continuous Strike
The moment Malenia rushes to you with a slash after jumping, she follows it with a continuous strike. Unlike ordinary continuous strikes, it is difficult to predict her next attack by looking at the prosthesis. You can avoid it by rolling diagonally forward before she lands and then keep distance.
How To Avoid Afterimage Attacks
- When Malenia ascends, keep moving or dodging left
- 【1, 2 Strike】You can avoid the afterimages by consistently dodging.
- 【3 Strike】Expect afterimages as long as Malenia stays afloat.
- 【4 Strike】Keep avoiding until the third strike.
- 【5 Strike】You are not going to get hit as long as you keep moving left.
- 【6 Strike】Keep moving left until the fifth strike.
- 【7 Strike】Malenia is going to swiftly lunge towards you.
When Malenia ascends with red aura, it is the signal that she is going to attack with afterimages. The 3rd to 6th strikes are the difficult strikes to avoid. If you can't avoid it, the Ash of War: Bloodhound's Step could be helpful.
Dodging Malenia's Waterfowl Dance
How To Avoid At Close Range
- 【1 Continuous Strike】When Malenia jumps, stay close then move clockwise.
- 【1 Continuous Strike】Dodge backwards the moment she lands so you go out of range.
※ You are likely to get hit if you try to dodge early. - 【2 Continuous Strikes】Dodge diagonally forward the moment she starts the second sequence.
- 【3 Continuous Strikes】Stay in place and Malenia jumps over you then move backwards while she is finishing the third sequence.
Waterfowl Dance is very difficult to avoid at close range. However, the second sequence is easy to avoid & she jumps over you at the third sequence. By observing her movements, you can reduce the damage she can inflict to you. If you are not confident to avoid it, block it instead with a Greatshield.
How To Avoid At Medium Range
- 【1 Continuous Strike】When Malenia jumps, move back and let her chase you.
- 【1 Continuous Strike】Make a jump to make a distance the moment Malenia lands.
※ You are likely to get hit if you try to jump early. - 【2 Continuous Strikes】Approach her then dodge diagonally forward the when she is about to start the second sequence.
- 【3 Continuous Strikes】Stay in place and Malenia jumps over you then move backwards while she is finishing the third sequence.
The jump during the first sequence is important to gain distance in order not to get hit. There might be times when you cannot dodge the attacks so try to reduce the damage you are going to receive.
How To Avoid At Far Range
Avoiding Waterfowl Dance from afar is easy. Run away from Malenia to gain distance and let her do the first & second sequence. The third sequence is similar to avoiding at close & medium range where Malenia jumps over you then move backwards while she is finishing the third sequence.
