Malenia, Blade of Miquella
Complete walkthrough with step-by-step instructions, tips, and strategies.
Malenia, Blade of Miquella is widely considered the hardest boss in Elden Ring — and one of the hardest in gaming history. She has two phases, a healing mechanic (she heals on every hit, blocked or not), and the infamous Waterfowl Dance attack that can one-shot you from full health.
Recommended Build
| Build Type | Weapon | Ash of War | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bleed | Rivers of Blood +10 | Corpse Piler | Bleed procs stagger her |
| Frost | Dark Moon Greatsword +10 | Moonlight Greatsword | Frost + bleed hybrid |
| Strength | Greatsword +25 (Giant-Crusher) | Lion's Claw | Poise break strategy |
| Mage | Lusat's Glintstone Staff +10 | Adula's Moonblade | Stay at range, dodge Waterfowl |
Recommended Level: 120-150. Vigor should be at least 50 (60 is safer). Equip the Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman for physical defense.
Malenia's Attacks: Complete Breakdown
Phase 1 — Blade of Miquella
| Attack | Description | Counter |
|---|---|---|
| Waterfowl Dance | She leaps, then unleashes a 3-flurry barrage | Run away for first flurry, roll INTO second, roll INTO third |
| Quick Slash | Fast horizontal swipe | Roll into it (i-frames through) |
| Grab Attack | She grabs you, heals, and throws you | Roll left or right — not backward |
| Triple Slash Combo | Three quick slashes in a row | Block first, roll second, punish the third |
| Scarlet Rot Explosion | Dashes and leaves rot flowers behind | Roll away, then avoid the flowers |
How to Survive Waterfowl Dance (The ONLY reliable method)
- Run away as soon as she jumps — this avoids the first flurry entirely
- Roll INTO her for the second flurry (roll forward-right, under the blades)
- Stand still for a split second, then roll INTO her again for the third flurry
- You'll take chip damage at most — not a one-shot
Phase 2 — Goddess of Rot
At 50% HP, Malenia blooms into the Goddess of Rot. She gains new attacks, more speed, and her Waterfowl Dance becomes harder to dodge.
Survive the Bloom Transition
When her HP hits 50%, she's stunned. DON'T attack — run to the edge of the arena. She explodes into a Scarlet Aeonia bloom that covers the center. If you're caught in it, you're dead.
Phase 2 New Attacks
- Scarlet Aeonia (ranged): She summons rot blooms under you — keep moving
- Clone Attack: She creates a phantom clone that attacks a second before she does — roll the clone's attack, then hers
- Spinning Slash: Extended version of Phase 1's combo, with rot buildup
Phase 2 Waterfowl Dance
Same timing as Phase 1, but with rot buildup on every hit. Equip the Mottled Necklace +2 for rot resistance. Use Preserving Boluses immediately if you get rotted.
Recommended Strategy: Bleed Build
Phase 1 Strategy
- Summon Mimic Tear +10 (equip bleed weapons for double bleed procs)
- Use Rivers of Blood weapon art — the bleed build-up staggers her
- Keep medium distance — close enough to punish, far enough to react to Waterfowl
- When she uses Waterfowl at close range, use the Freezing Pot cancel method
Phase 2 Strategy
- Dodge the opening bloom, then immediately re-summon Mimic Tear
- Stay aggressive — the clone attack means you can't just run
- When she does the clone attack, roll the clone, wait, roll her
- Bleed procs are even more valuable in Phase 2 — they interrupt her attacks
Reward & Remembrance
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| 480,000 Runes | Massive rune payout |
| Remembrance of the Rot Goddess | Exchange for Malenia's Hand or Scarlet Aeonia incantation |
| Malenia's Great Rune | HP recovery on damage taken (partial) |