From Software have packed their latest open-world RPG Elden Ring with plenty of memorable bosses, but none compare to the brutal challenge that Malenia Blade of Miquella presents. In this guide, we’ll tell you how to find Malenia, how to read her deadly moveset and what strategies work the best against her.

First of all, Malenia Blade of Miquella is actually an optional boss that you can completely miss in an optional area of the game. You’ll first need to unlock the Mountaintop of the Giants area, which requires you to beat Morgott the Omen King in Leyndell Royal Capital.

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How to Beat Malenia Blade of Miquella in Elden Ring

Unlocking Miquella’s Haligtree

To get to Malenia is quite a journey. You’ll first need both halves of the Haligtree Secret Medallion used to operate the Grand Lift of Rold. One can be found in the Village of the Albinaurics in the swamp cave west of Liurnia of the Lakes. The other is found at the top of Castle Sol, north of the Mountaintop of the Giants.

Once both halves have been acquired, you can use the Grand Lift of Rold to access a new part of the map called the Consecrated Snowfield. Heading northwest in this location will lead you to a strange town called Ordina Liturgical Town. Complete the Evergoal puzzle here to unlock the path to Miquella’s Haligtree. Malenia is located at the end of this location as the area boss, found by the Haligtree Roots.

Malenia Fight Breakdown

Like many bosses in Elden Ring, Malenia’s fight is broken up into two phases. However, she has a rather nasty ability to drain players’ health with every hit. She’s also capable of inflicting Scarlet Rot.

During her first phase, she is extremely mobile and relies on quick swipes with her katana that deal a lot of successive damage. However, her most deadly attack is called the Waterfowl Dance, which triggers once you get her below 75% HP. She starts by gliding in the air, then dives at you with a string of three AoE combos. It’s incredibly difficult to tank as it breaks through stamina and destroys your health almost instantly.

Her second phase contains the same moveset, but now she’s succumbed to Scarlet Rot and taken on a new form with new moves too. Her Scarlet Aeonia attack turns her into a giant flower of death that inflicts Scarlet Rot quickly. She can perform the Waterfowl Dance, but mixes it up by throwing scarlet rot butterflies at you (shadow clone no jutsu?).

How to Beat Malenia

It’s important to closely pay attention to her attack pattern, as it’s vital to dodge rather than block as blocking also heals her. That said, here are a few tips to get through her difficult fight:

• She is weak to Frostbite and Bleed damage
• You can safely evade her Waterfowl Dance by moving back during her first slashes, then rolling forward directly under her during her second and third slashes
• Spirit Ashes also give her health back, which may prolong the fight if you choose to summon them
• To get rid of Scarlet Rot, bring a handful of Preserving Boluses (which can also be crafted)
• She has low Poise and one viable option players have found is using Swarm of Flies to lock her into a stagger animation for a couple of seconds, which gives you enough of an opening to deal damage
• The Ash of War Bloodhound Step makes avoiding her Waterfowl Dance extremely easy
• Play it safe, which means evading and attacking for one or two hits. Don’t get greedy as she’ll punish you quickly with fast counterattacks or leap backward to create distance
• Many of her attacks are horizontal, so jumping attacks are viable and helps you avoid getting trapped in her combos. The Claw Talisman will boost your jumping attacks for extra damage and easy staggers
• Bleed damage stacks which means you can use any bleed-based skills and gear to better your chances at erasing her health bar quickly

Most of all, fighting Malenia Blade of Miquella is simply a game of patience and studying her moveset. Thankfully most of her regular melee attacks can be avoided by rolling to the side. Don’t get greedy and attempt to throw in an extra hit as she’s more than capable of destroying you in one go should you give her an opening.

Elden Ring is now available for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

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