Vlad‘s Malenia Slayer Guide: The Best Armor, Weapons, and Strategy for This Ferocious Foe

As a seasoned Tarnished with countless hours across the Lands Between, I live for the thrill of toppling even the mightiest foes. And they don‘t get much mightier than Malenia, Blade of Miquella. Often considered Elden Ring‘s toughest boss, Malenia has made countless players shatter their keyboards in frustration. Well fret not, friends! In this extensive guide from your intrepid warrior Vlad, I‘ll share the optimal armor, weaponry, spirit ashes, and combat tactics to help you emerge victorious against this deadly demigod.

The Best Armor for Surviving Malenia‘s Onslaught

While Malenia hits hard across all damage types, her rapier combos and war prosthetic deal primarily physical damage, making Bull-Goat Armor the top protective gear for this fight. Boasting the highest physical negation in Elden Ring at over 60%, you can survive about 50% more hits wearing this chunky, poise-stacked set. Just be warned – you‘ll fat roll without at least 30 Endurance!

For those seeking a lighter option, the Tree Sentinel Set offers the next best physical mitigation at 52.5% while only requiring half the Endurance investment. You‘ll still tank those deadly dances better than nearly any other medium armor. I only wish it didn‘t make my Tarnished look so much like a common soldier!

As shown in the table above, the Bull Goat and Tree Sentinel sets vastly outclass other armor choices for physical defense. Maximum defense is the name of the game against Malenia‘s relentless onslaught!

Dealing Devastating Damage to this Deadly Divine

Now let‘s discuss how we can tip the scales and barrage Malenia with some big damage ourselves! Due to her scarlet rot affliction, Malenia is more vulnerable to fire and bleed damage than other status types. Some ideal armaments include:

Blasphemous Blade (Best Greatsword) – One of the mightiest greatswords infused with fire and restoring HP on every hit! Tick damage and self healing work wonders. I used a +10 with 80 Strength and crushed her first phase.

Rivers of Blood – This katana‘s Corpse Piler weapon skill absolutely decimates Malenia, capable of poise breaking her out of Waterfowl Dance! However, expect heavy nerfs soon, my friends.

Swarm of Flies – Spam this virulent sorcery to inflict severe scarlet rot buildup! She may heal it immediately, but the distraction creates openings.

Supporting Spirits for Additional Beatdowns

While I prefer to topple titanic foes alone, some spectral allies can really help harry the Lady of Rot:

Mimic Tear – Summon another Vlad to multiply the pain! Just be sure to unequip your Cerulean Flask if using Rivers of Blood. I don‘t want to enable those bloody bleed spammers!

Lhutel the Headless – This stalwart knight has thick armor and a piledriver slam to withstand Malenia‘s advances. The aggro relief is invaluable!

Greatshield Soldiers – Rotten Stray spirits also work well! Their scarlet sorceries augment your own to wreak havoc.

Slaying Strategies – Dodge, Stagger, and Seize Victory!

Now let‘s break down the actual fight itself. Facing off solo on the foggy precipice, here are the battle-tested tactics I employed across my own countless attempts:

Phase 1:

• Dodge into Waterfowl Dance! This avoids the final flurry completely. Learn the timing through repeated failures!
• R1 spam colossal weapons during her combo windows to repeatedly riposte stagger her.
• With lighter weapons, target her flower prosthetic to stagger her out of long combos.
• Chug your Crimson Flasks during her phase transition windup for free heals!

Phase 2:

• When she leaps away to bloom the Scarlet Aeonia, rush beneath her for 2-3 jump attacks. This will interrupt the explosion!
• Keep circling pillars to avoid long range Aeonia waves whenever she vanishes.
• Continue staggering with heavy attacks until she succumbs to the fatal rot!

If you follow these tips while wearing the Bull Goat Set and wielding the Blasphemous Blade, felling this seemingly unstoppable goddess becomes very achievable, my friends! The sense of triumph when she finally falls is second to none. Now get out there, my fellow warriors – glory and runes await! The Queen of Rot shall rot no more!

About the Author: Vlad is a retired Sentinel Knight turned Elden Lord with over 500 hours across the Lands Between. When not slowly walking menacingly towards malignant Tarnished, he enjoys crafting slayer guides and working alongside Commander O‘Neill. "She failed to best this Vlad with her flashy flurries!"