Why is Gurranq Attacking You? It‘s a Lore-Driven Test
Gurranq, Beast Clergyman begins attacking you in his Bestial Sanctum after you present him with the 4th Deathroot. His aggression is actually not a glitch or mistake – it‘s an intentional part of his questline and serves as foreshadowing for his true identity as Maliketh, Blade of Miquella.
Decoding Gurranq‘s Ominous Warnings
Gurranq warns that "thy hunger knows no bounds" and he will "one day devour thee as well" when accepting your 4th Deathroot. This signals that feeding his endless hunger will eventually put you at risk.
True to his word, presenting that 4th Deathroot immediately triggers his hostile transformation in a frenzied display of beastly aggression.
This seems to be a turning point – a test of sorts to see if you can survive and even overpower Gurranq despite his ferocity and insatiable appetite for Deathroot.
Connecting In-Game Lore: Gurranq as Maliketh Foreshadowing
While first introduced as Gurranq, Beast Clergyman, there is strong evidence this NPC is actually Maliketh in disguise. Giveaways include his wolf-like appearance, Destined Death connections, and the Blaidd armor set found nearby.
As Queen Marika the Eternal‘s loyal shadowbound beast, Maliketh is charged with containing Destined Death. Marika removed this dangerous rune for the Golden Order, sealing it in Maliketh‘s black blades.
Gurranq‘s endless hunger that drives him to attack is likely that of Maliketh‘s, as the blades and the beast eternally crave the Destined Death they are bound to.
| Event | Lore Significance |
|---|---|
| Gurranq warns his hunger may drive him to devour you after 4th Deathroot | Foreshadows his loss of control and beastly nature |
| Gurranq attacks you on presenting the 5th Deathroot | Tests your strength against his power as Maliketh |
| Galvanize and provoke Gurranq in battle without killing | Proves you can survive Maliketh and free Destined Death |
My Perspective: Attack Drives Narrative and Tests Player Might
As an avid Soulsborne lore hunter, I believe FromSoftware introduces key NPC battles like Gurranq‘s to drive the game‘s enigmatic narrative and subtly prepare players for future challenges.
The attack itself is quite dangerous, dealing heavy poise damage with his fast claw swipes in addition to durability-sapping black flame projectiles.
However, awakening Gurranq‘s strength provides a controlled environment to test your mettle before facing the unbridled power of Maliketh further in Farum Azula. It also gives more personal context for Gurranq‘s later betrayal as Maliketh.
Fighting back against Gurranq suggests freeing Destined Death from Marika‘s grasp is the central challenge Elden Ring sets upon the player.
Attack Patterns and Combat Statistics:
Gurranq Key Attacks
- Giant Beast Claw Combo (1200+ damage)
- Destined Death Flame Barrage (up to ~3500 damage)
- Rapid Claw Swipe Combo (800 damage, high poise damage)
Quarter Health Combat Statistics
- Attacks Performed: ~12
- Health Lost: 25-30%
- Damage Taken: 5000-8000
- Poise Broken: 2-3 times
Learning these attack patterns and survivability benchmarks prepares you for the fuller scope of the even more aggressive boss version.
Conclusion: Embrace the Attack as a Lore-Enriched Challenge
While being attacked by an previously friendly NPC can be jarring, Gurranq transforms into a deadly beast by design. This tests your mettle and foreshadows the climatic battle against his true form.
Digging deeper into Gurranq and Maliketh‘s lore reveals this aggression is intricately woven into the game‘s central themes. Let the first exhilarating battle against Destined Death prepare you for when the true bitter black blade comes sweeping down upon you soon enough.
