What Happens if You Refuse Malenia in Elden Ring?
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Refusing Malenia, Blade of Miquella, in Elden Ring isn’t a direct, dialogue-based choice like refusing Ranni’s offer of service. Instead, “refusing” her translates to simply choosing not to fight her. If you bypass the area where she resides, Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree, and proceed to complete the game, you will miss out on one of the most challenging and iconic boss battles in the game. More specifically, here’s what you miss:
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Her Remembrance: Defeating Malenia grants you the Remembrance of the Rot Goddess. This allows you to either duplicate it at a Walking Mausoleum or trade it with Enia at the Roundtable Hold for her powerful weapons and spells.
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Malenia’s Great Rune: While not as universally powerful as some other Great Runes, Malenia’s Great Rune restores HP after taking damage, if you attack shortly afterward. This can be useful for aggressive builds.
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Completionist Content: If you are aiming for 100% completion, defeating Malenia is necessary.
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An Incredible Challenge: Malenia is notoriously difficult. Overcoming her is a significant achievement and source of bragging rights for many players. You’ll miss out on the sense of accomplishment.
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Lore Implications: Malenia is a crucial figure in the story, tied to Miquella and the Scarlet Rot. Fighting her provides further insight into their backstory and the overall lore of the game.
In short, refusing Malenia, by choosing to not engage in combat with her at all, means you’re foregoing a major boss fight, her associated rewards, a significant challenge, and a chunk of Elden Ring’s lore. The game will still progress, and you can still achieve an ending, but you’ll have missed out on a considerable part of the Elden Ring experience.
Frequently Asked Questions About Malenia
Here are 15 frequently asked questions related to Malenia in Elden Ring:
What happens if I die to Malenia?
Nothing permanent. You simply respawn at the last site of grace you rested at and can attempt the fight again. There’s no penalty beyond the loss of runes you had on your person, which you can retrieve (assuming you don’t die again on the way back). Dying is a very common experience when fighting Malenia.
Where is Malenia located in Elden Ring?
Malenia is located in Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree, which is reached via the Hidden Path to the Haligtree, found in the western part of the Consecrated Snowfield. The Consecrated Snowfield is accessed by using both halves of the Haligtree Secret Medallion at the Grand Lift of Rold.
Is Malenia optional?
Yes, Malenia is an optional boss. You can complete the game and achieve any of the endings without fighting her. However, she provides significant rewards and contributes to the game’s lore.
What level should I be to fight Malenia?
It’s generally recommended to be around level 120-150 with a fully upgraded weapon (+25 normal weapons or +10 somber weapons) before attempting to fight Malenia. Even at these levels, she will provide a great challenge.
What are Malenia’s weaknesses?
Malenia is considered to be weak to Frostbite, Bleed, and Stagger. She has decent resistance to Holy damage. Utilizing weapons and skills that inflict these statuses can significantly aid in the fight. Certain weapon arts, like Bloodhound’s Finesse, can also help you avoid Waterfowl Dance.
What are Malenia’s resistances?
Malenia is highly resistant to Scarlet Rot, Madness, and Sleep. Trying to inflict these status effects will be largely ineffective. She also has solid resistance to Fire and Lightning.
What is Waterfowl Dance?
Waterfowl Dance is Malenia’s infamous multi-hit combo that can easily one-shot players if they aren’t prepared. She leaps into the air and performs a flurry of attacks, healing herself with each hit. Successfully dodging this attack is key to defeating her. There are several ways to avoid it, including running away, using specific Ashes of War, or dodging into the initial flurry.
Can I summon help for the Malenia fight?
Yes, you can summon other players and Spirit Ashes to assist you in the Malenia fight. Using summons can make the fight significantly easier, but also increases Malenia’s HP.
What are the best Spirit Ashes to use against Malenia?
Popular choices for Spirit Ashes against Malenia include Black Knife Tiche, Mimic Tear, and Lhutel the Headless. These ashes are durable, can deal significant damage, and can distract Malenia, providing opportunities for you to attack.
What is the best weapon against Malenia?
There isn’t one definitive “best” weapon, as it depends on your build and playstyle. However, weapons that inflict Bleed or Frostbite are generally effective. Examples include the Rivers of Blood, Eleonora’s Poleblade, Hoarfrost Stomp (on any weapon), or weapons with frost infusions.
Can I respec my character before fighting Malenia?
Yes, you can respec your character by talking to Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon at the Academy of Raya Lucaria after defeating her and giving her a Larval Tear. This allows you to adjust your stats and build to better suit the fight against Malenia.
Does Malenia heal on every hit?
Yes, Malenia heals a percentage of the damage she deals with every hit, regardless of whether she hits you, a summon, or even thin air. This makes the fight exceptionally challenging, as you need to consistently deal more damage than she heals.
How do I stagger Malenia?
Malenia has a poise bar that can be broken. Using heavy attacks, jump attacks, or weapons with high poise damage can stagger her, allowing for critical hits. Weapons like greatswords, hammers, and colossal weapons are effective for staggering her. The Lion’s Claw weapon art is also useful for staggering Malenia.
What are the rewards for defeating Malenia?
Defeating Malenia rewards you with:
- Remembrance of the Rot Goddess: Can be traded for powerful weapons and spells.
- Malenia’s Great Rune: Restores HP after taking damage, if you attack shortly afterward.
- 960,000 Runes
Can Malenia be parried?
Yes, most of Malenia’s attacks can be parried, except for Waterfowl Dance. Parrying her requires precise timing and is a risky strategy, but it can create openings for critical hits. The Buckler shield is often favored for parrying due to its larger parry window.