Tips and strategy from Elden Ring Maliketh the Dark Blade

How to prepare for Maliketh the Black Blade

Summoning an ally for Maliketh the Black Blade is almost mandatory. The Mimic Tear Ash summon is a treat here, if you’ve upgraded it multiple times using materials from the back of the round table.

Additionally, the boss is weak to frost damage, so the Hoarfrost Stomp Ash of War is an absolute treat here to decimate his health.

However, since the Hoarfrost Stomp has been effectively nerfed by FromSoftware, you might want to consider picking up a weapon with bleed damage instead. The Hoarfrost Stomp still deals high damage, but now takes longer to cast, meaning you’re a duck sitting longer against the massive boss. Alternatively, you might want to take a strong Sorcery attack – the Blasphemous Blade works an absolute treat here, for example.

Maliketh the Black Blade Cheats: How to Beat Maliketh the Black Blade

Yes, Maliketh the Black Blade actually has a different name during its first phase. Here you will meet the Beast Clergyman, who is sprinting towards you, claws.

This boss phase can be quite quick, and you’ll want to sprint away from it when you enter the arena, position yourself behind a pillar, and then summon an ally like Mimic Tear.

The Beast Clergyman has two ranged attacks to watch out for. Both involve him bringing his left hand back, before bombarding you with a massive rock or lots of debris.

These are relatively easy to dodge though, as rolling to either side as the boss advances his arm can almost always guarantee you safety.

Otherwise, you’ll really want to while your dodge rolls around the outstretched claw of the Ecclesiastical Beast.

Dodging rolling through the boss in this phase is a must, and if he stops with his claw in the ground, be ready to dodge immediately, because he’s about to unleash a strike that sends lines to across the ground towards you in a conical formation.

At about half health, a cutscene plays and surprises! The Beast Clergyman is no longer other than Maliketh the Black Blade.

As soon as the second phase of this fight begins, be ready to dodge, or even sprint, a series of attacks where the boss slashes with his massive sword and sends arcs towards you through the air.

We actually recommend stand behind one of the arena’s many pillars in this phase, as it is a sure way to completely avoid attacks.

Gigantic Slices are essentially Blackblade Maliketh’s only attacks during this phase, but they hit really hard.

The Hoarfrost Stomp will deal significant damage to the boss while it’s down, and don’t be afraid to use the pillars to your advantage during this phase. Some might call it cheese, but FromSoftware put them there for a reason.

Once you’ve chosen a starting class (like samurai) and a starting souvenir item, you first need to figure out how to level up, how to respec, and how to use Ashes of War and Attribute Scaling. Need direction from there? Try to find Golden Seeds, Holy Tears, Crystal Tears, Talismans, and some of our top weapon and armor picks. If you want to improve your prowess, we recommend farming runes – especially before facing Magrit, Godrick the grafted, Crystalian, Leonine Misbegotten, Starscourge Radahn (required as part of the Ranni quest), Red Wolf of Radagon and Renalla Queen of the Full Moon after finding the location of the Glittering Stone Key.

Reward from Maliketh the Black Blade

Maliketh the Blackblade drops 220,000 runes upon defeat, a significant reward for your efforts. He will also give you the Memory of the Black Blade item, which can be exchanged at the round table for powerful items and abilities.

Now is the time to continue the fight through Leyndell, Ash Capital, as the Elden Ring finish line is in sight.

Next on the list of main bosses in order – assuming you follow the critical path – is Sir Gideon Ofnir.