Conquer Malenia: Choosing the Ultimate Weapon Against the Blade of Miquella

The quest to defeat Malenia, Blade of Miquella, in Elden Ring is notorious for its difficulty. She’s fast, aggressive, heals with every hit, and unleashes the devastating Waterfowl Dance. But fear not, Tarnished! There isn’t a single “best” weapon, but rather a selection of armaments that, when wielded correctly, can turn the tide against this formidable foe. While personal playstyle heavily influences weapon choice, a few stand out due to their inherent advantages against Malenia. For raw potential, I’d recommend Morgott’s Cursed Sword and Bloodhound’s Fang. Morgott’s Cursed Sword got a significant buff via Elden Ring’s 1.09 update which allows it to easily stagger Malenia and Bloodhound’s Fang is strong with bleed. They provide a balance of damage, speed, and status effect application that can exploit Malenia’s weaknesses. These weapons, when combined with the right strategy and build, can allow you to finally claim victory over Malenia.

Understanding Malenia’s Weaknesses

Before diving into specific weapons, it’s crucial to understand Malenia’s vulnerabilities:

• Staggering: Malenia can be staggered, creating openings for critical attacks. Weapons with high poise damage are invaluable.
• Bleed: She is susceptible to Bleed buildup, which deals massive burst damage.
• Frostbite: Applying Frostbite deals a percentage of her health and reduces her damage output.
• Knockdown (Phase One): In Phase One, specific weapons like Greatbows and the Hand Ballista can knock her down, providing valuable breathing room.

Top Weapon Choices and Strategies

Here’s a detailed look at some of the most effective weapon choices, along with strategies for utilizing them:

1. Morgott’s Cursed Sword (Curved Greatsword): This weapon offers a fantastic blend of speed and bleed buildup. Its unique weapon art, Cursed-Blood Slice, deals significant damage and applies bleed with each hit.

• Strategy: Focus on using Cursed-Blood Slice strategically to maximize bleed buildup. Dodge her attacks and punish openings with swift strikes.

2. Bloodhound’s Fang (Curved Greatsword): This weapon is an early game curved greatsword. The weapon art Bloodhound’s Finesse and Bloodhound’s Step are both excellent for damage and dodging.

• Strategy: Use Bloodhound’s Finesse as much as possible. You are granted invincibility for a portion of the attack, and it moves you out of the way of enemy attacks.

3. Greatsword (Colossal Sword): A classic choice for a reason, the Greatsword boasts incredible stagger potential. Its heavy attacks can interrupt Malenia’s animations, preventing her from initiating Waterfowl Dance.

• Strategy: Prioritize staggering her with charged heavy attacks. Equip talismans that boost poise and damage, such as the Axe Talisman and Royal Knight’s Resolve. Time your attacks carefully to interrupt her aggression.

4. Rivers of Blood (Katana): This katana is popular due to its fast attack speed and powerful weapon art, Corpse Piler, which unleashes a flurry of bleed-inducing strikes.

• Strategy: Manage your FP wisely and use Corpse Piler to quickly build up bleed. Be cautious, as the weapon art leaves you vulnerable. Pair it with the White Mask for added attack power.

5. Dual Katanas (Uchigatana, Nagakiba): Wielding two katanas allows for rapid attacks and increased bleed buildup.

• Strategy: Power stance the katanas and focus on jump attacks and quick strikes to maximize bleed application. Use the Bloodflame Blade incantation to further enhance bleed buildup.

6. Black Knife (Dagger): While a dagger might seem unconventional, the Black Knife’s weapon art, Blade of Death, deals percentage-based health damage, bypassing Malenia’s healing ability.

• Strategy: Use Blade of Death strategically to chip away at her health. The Black Knife is best used as a secondary weapon to supplement another build.

7. Hand of Malenia (Katana): Malenia’s own weapon. Its weapon art, Waterfowl Dance, is surprisingly effective in the hands of the player, allowing you to unleash a flurry of attacks that can stagger her.

• Strategy: Master the timing of Waterfowl Dance to ensure you connect with the majority of the strikes. It requires precise positioning and timing, but the damage output is substantial.

8. Spiked Caestus (Fist Weapon): This weapon, when paired with the right build, can effectively stagger Malenia. Its weapon art, Endure, can mitigate damage and allow you to trade blows.

• Strategy: Stack poise and use Endure to weather her attacks while you land heavy blows. The Spiked Caestus excels at staggering opponents, creating openings for critical hits.

9. Greatbow/Hand Ballista (Ranged): In Phase One, these weapons can knock Malenia down, providing valuable openings and interrupting her attacks.

• Strategy: Keep your distance and fire charged shots when she’s vulnerable. Focus on headshots for maximum damage. They are less effective in Phase Two, as she cannot be knocked down.

Beyond the Weapon: Important Considerations

• Build Optimization: Your character’s stats, talismans, and armor play a crucial role. Invest in vigor for survivability, endurance for stamina, and strength or dexterity to scale your chosen weapon effectively.
• Summons: Using a powerful summon like Black Knife Tiche can divert Malenia’s attention and allow you to safely deal damage. Tiche is a perfect counter to Malenia. She will dodge enough so Malenia will not auto-feed health off of her on-hit, and her cursed blade move will do significant DPS and offset a lot of her healing.
• Ashes of War: Experiment with different Ashes of War to find what complements your weapon and playstyle. Bloodhound’s Step is especially useful for dodging Waterfowl Dance.
• Patience and Persistence: Malenia is a challenging boss. Don’t be discouraged by initial failures. Learn her attack patterns, adapt your strategy, and keep practicing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is Malenia weak to?

Malenia is primarily weak to Bleed and Frostbite. She also has a slight weakness to Fire damage, but Bleed and Frostbite are generally more effective. In Phase One, she is also susceptible to being knocked down by heavy weapons like Greatbows and the Hand Ballista.

2. Is a shield good against Malenia?

A shield with 100% physical damage negation can be useful for blocking some of Malenia’s attacks, especially when combined with the Barricade Shield Ash of War. However, relying solely on blocking is not recommended, as it can drain your stamina quickly.

3. What level should I be to fight Malenia?

It is recommended to be at least level 120, ideally closer to level 150, before attempting to fight Malenia. Your weapons should also be upgraded to their maximum level.

4. Can you parry Malenia attacks?

Yes, Malenia’s attacks can be parried, but it requires precise timing and a thorough understanding of her attack patterns. Successfully parrying her attacks can create openings for critical hits.

5. What is the best summon for Malenia?

Black Knife Tiche is widely considered one of the best summons for Malenia. Her ability to dodge attacks and inflict damage with her cursed blade makes her a valuable asset in the fight.

6. What talismans are useful against Malenia?

Several talismans can be beneficial:

• Ritual Shield Talisman: Reduces damage taken when at full health.
• Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman: Increases physical damage negation.
• Axe Talisman: Enhances charged heavy attack damage.
• Green Turtle Talisman: Increases stamina recovery speed.
• Lord of Blood’s Exultation: Increases attack power when bleed occurs in the vicinity.

7. What does killing Malenia give you?

Defeating Malenia rewards you with the Remembrance of the Rot Goddess, Malenia’s Great Rune, and the satisfaction of overcoming one of the game’s most challenging bosses.

8. Is Hand of Malenia a good weapon?

Yes, the Hand of Malenia is a good weapon, especially for Dexterity and Bleed builds. Its weapon art, Waterfowl Dance, can be devastating when used correctly.

9. How do you dodge Waterfowl Dance?

Dodging Waterfowl Dance requires precise timing and positioning. Using the Bloodhound’s Step Ash of War is highly recommended, as it allows you to quickly phase through the attack. Alternatively, you can try to run away from her and then dodge into the final flurry of attacks.

10. Is Malenia the hardest fight in Elden Ring?

Many players consider Malenia to be the hardest boss in Elden Ring due to her aggressive attack patterns, healing ability, and the Waterfowl Dance.

11. What stats should I focus on for a Malenia build?

Focus on stats that scale with your chosen weapon, such as Strength or Dexterity. Additionally, invest in Vigor for survivability, Endurance for stamina, and Mind for FP if you plan to use weapon arts frequently.

12. Can you beat Malenia with a colossal sword?

Yes, you can beat Malenia with a colossal sword. The high stagger potential of these weapons can interrupt her attacks and create openings for critical hits.

13. What is Bloodhound’s Step and why is it good against Malenia?

Bloodhound’s Step is an Ash of War that grants a quick, long-distance dodge with invincibility frames. It’s incredibly useful against Malenia because it allows you to easily evade her Waterfowl Dance and other rapid attacks.

14. Does Malenia have any elemental weaknesses besides Frostbite and Fire?

Malenia primarily is weak to Bleed and Frostbite. She also has a slight weakness to Fire damage, but Bleed and Frostbite are generally more effective.

15. Where can I learn more about Elden Ring strategies and game design?

There are many resources available online, including forums, wikis, and video guides. For a more academic perspective on game design and learning through games, explore the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.