Several weeks after its release, Elden Ring continues to break records in copy sales and critical scores. The game intrigues gamers around the world for several reasons. The world design, the possibility to explore an endless open world, even its story contains hours and hours of lore. But if there is something that is the first thing that catches the attention of those who play it, it is its great difficulty.
This game contains some of the most difficult bosses in the history of video games. Although defeating the final boss is very difficult, no one can deny that the most difficult enemies to defeat are the optional bosses. And leading them is Malenia, blade of Miquella, the boss that even appears on the cover of the game.
This guide aims to save you a few hours of losing to her by explaining how to defeat Malenia. But also, we will tell you how to get to her.
Table of Contents
Ordina, the Liturgical City
Remember the snowy area in the north that you went to via Rold’s Great Elevator using the Secret Medallion? In that case, you must teleport to it and locate Ordina, the Liturgical City is shown on the map below. It’s a small place, but there is something you must do; enter the eternal prison to access the ghost version of the city.
Here you have to complete a small puzzle. See those bell towers with statues? Well, it’s your turn to light them up. There are 3 of them and you don’t get too lost, as you just have to locate ladders and jump between the rooftops. The problem is that while you do this, an invisible enemy capable of executing you from behind can appear at any time. The key is to never stop moving; if you don’t stand still you can accomplish your objective without problems. When they are on, the ladder that goes up to the bottom of the city will allow you to access a new location.
Miquella Hieratic Tree
Don’t be scared when you see the size of this place; the path is practically linear for the first few minutes. You have to focus on climbing down the giant roots at all times, watching out for both the giant ants and the white-clad emissaries (they look passive, but throw magic spheres as soon as they see you). As you go down a bit you will find your destination; it is that city with bridges built on the base of the giant tree. As soon as you get there you can activate a Grace in a room with 4 statues.
In the last root (the largest of them all) watch out for the wizard at the bottom in an elevated position. His shots are very powerful. At the bottom, you will step on a white structure where you must descend by a ladder. As soon as you step on solid ground you will see another one going up; go past it and continue straight ahead to go down to the right. Also, pay attention to the werewolves and other enemies hiding in the corners.
Go down the stairs and peek over the balcony. You will see some hand shields, but you should not use them. Instead, jump to the roof opposite and enter that kind of walkway. Do not be confident with the enemy on your back. That is because on the right there is one ready to assault you. After you finish them off, you have an Ancient Dragon Forge Stone right there. Continue across the wooden bridge to a round square from where you must jump forward to the rooftops. From here, repeat the same thing; jump to the next roof, until you finally enter an inner corridor with several enemies.
In this corridor, on the left, there is an exit to another wooden bridge that takes you to a round room where there is a dangerous wizard. When you kill him, notice that just to the left of the bridge there is another one; it leads to an elevator that connects to the first Grace in the area. Go up to it just to rest in the Grace and leave the shortcut open. Go back down and now take the bridge on the left side of the room and go around with the wizard to challenge Loretta, the boss of the area…
After defeating Loretta, activate the Grace and go down the stairs. Be amazed by the look of this new place. But do not relax, because crossing this beautiful city is the last step that separates you from the battle against Malenia, blade of Miquella.
Elphael, Hieratic Tree Guardian
As you enter the city through a bridge, the first thing you see is a declaration of intent. She is a Valkyrie, and although she is a common enemy and not a boss, you must be careful with her. She acts in a similar way to other knights, but she also uses a magic spear. If you defeat her you will be able to activate a Grace and continue.
Ahead you will see a series of balconies with some enemy knights. Although it can be a bit confusing to get your bearings, try to locate some columns that go from your current position to a large bridge on the other side of the wall. Jump to one of them to cross. There is a giant demon that you may not be interested in fighting right now. So, turn left until you reach a corridor. At the bottom, there is a strange levitating enemy. But, your objective is just before, to the left: See the terrace in front? Then jump to sneak through it.
Watch out! There are two Valkyries in this room and it’s really crazy to provoke them. The good thing is that if you crouch down and use stealth you can exit through the right door without being seen. As soon as you exit, jump over the railing to land on a column and look at the next image; drop down to that ledge and from there, drop down all the way. Ignore the multi-armed enemy, run to the bottom and to the left up a ladder.
After climbing up you will see another giant demon and several archers in a square. Don’t even think of starting a fight here; run in, turn left and activate the Grace. As you have the respawn point right here, you can take a chance and get some runes by killing the demon. In any case, continuing straight ahead from the Grace you can climb up a small root and enter through the hole.
You are now inside the Hieratic Tree. As you can see, you can climb down the roots and get right into that lake of putrid liquid. It’s impossible to avoid the red rot, though you’re lucky that the path is short and you’ll soon be safe. Climb down the roots, roll across the puddle (you can’t run here), and ignore the enemies; heal yourself without stopping to deal with the disease and enter the only door to the inside of the area. Go down the ladders and you will be in a flooded room. Activate the Grace to cure the rot and continue along the only possible path.
Once again, as soon as you see the outside turn left and drop down onto the roots. And from them to a column that will allow you to descend to an inner room. There are some of those enemies that look like whitish grasshoppers that cast spells. Whether you kill them or not, drop to the center of the room and enter through the door at the back. Now, get ready for one of the most difficult fights in Elden Ring.
How to defeat Malenia, blade of Miquella
– Malenia heals! That’s right: all the attacks she manages to hit, either on your body or your shield, recover a proportional part of her health. This is a headache because no matter how well you fight, if you are the victim of a combo, she will recover and the fight will take forever. In addition, the fight consists of two phases, and reaching the second with a few health vials is suicide.
– Runaway whenever you can: Malenia doesn’t run towards you when you are far away. Instead, she walks slowly waiting for you to attack first unless you get too close. You have to use this to your advantage; pass close to her and provoke her attacks to run out of the area, and when she finishes her combo, run up to her and attack once. If you insist, she will automatically hunt you down. We repeat again: never hit him more than once.
– Watch out for her jump: the critical moment of the fight is when Malenia rises because she will then shoot towards you to create a storm of sphere-shaped cuts that she will repeat 3 times. It’s practically instakill if she catches you inside, and it will also allow her to recover a lot of health. So you have two options: either you dodge by rolling with extreme precision (first forward, then backward), or you run far away from her as soon as you detect that she jumps. If you bet on the second option she may miss her lunge.
Malenia, Goddess of Putrefaction
This part of the fight is easier than the previous one, as long as you learn how she behaves and which attack you must avoid at all costs. If you see it jump and hover in the air for a couple of seconds, get ready: it will launch itself at you and cause an explosion followed by another one. When she’s about to land on top of you, roll backward and hit the roll button to do it one more time.
Then you will see her stay still for about 5 seconds: Don’t attack! The aura around her will cause red rot, an altered state similar to poison, but much more damaging. It is possible that even taking it into account, you will fall ill and you will have to fight constantly healing yourself. In any case, if you manage to avoid this attack, this new version of Malenia is more affordable than the previous one. Although she still heals herself, it is advisable to block some attacks and take advantage of the window she leaves you to attack, as it is more generous than the first part of the fight.
Rewards and restoration of Malenia’s main rune
In addition to the particularly satisfying Trophy you will receive, you will get the Major Rune of Malenia. It will have to be restored to the isolated divine tower in the middle of the ocean. You have to take the teleporter located south of the capital. If you already lit the World Tree, the only way to get to the location is to use the chest trapped in the Tower of Return, at the southwest end in Necrolimbo. The effects of this rune are similar to Bloodborne’s combat heals: Attacking an enemy after taking damage heals you. In return, it will reduce the effect of your healing vials.
Although this guide will help you a lot in battle, you still need to practice a lot to be able to defeat Malenia, so don’t be complacent!
