Bushra Griffith
Cheesing Maliketh, the Black Blade in *Elden Ring*, involves exploiting specific strategies to bypass or trivialize the boss's mechanics, making the fight significantly easier. Players often utilize tactics such as summoning NPC allies like Latenna the Albinauric to draw aggro, allowing them to focus on damage while the boss is distracted. Another popular method is using ranged attacks or spells from a safe distance, particularly during Maliketh's aggressive phases, to avoid his devastating combos. Additionally, equipping items like the Rivers of Blood katana or exploiting the bleed build can quickly deplete his health. These techniques, while not traditional, provide a more accessible approach for players struggling with the boss's intense difficulty.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Boss Name | Maliketh, the Black Blade |
| Game | Elden Ring |
| Cheese Strategy Core Concept | Exploit the arena and boss behavior to minimize direct confrontation |
| Recommended Level | 100-120 (adjust based on build) |
| Recommended Stats | Vigor (50+), Endurance (30+), desired damage stat (40+) |
| Essential Items | River of Blood (katana), Golden Vow, Flask of Crimson Tears, Flask of Cerulean Tears |
| Arena Exploit | Lure Maliketh to the narrow ledge near the grace site. Position yourself on the ledge, forcing him to jump and get stuck. |
| Attack Pattern Exploit | Focus on attacking during his slow, telegraphed swings and after his jump attack. |
| Phase 2 Strategy | Maintain distance, dodge his ranged attacks, and chip away at his health during openings. |
| Alternative Strategies | Poison/rot build, summon spirits for distraction, use ranged attacks from afar |
| Difficulty | Medium-High (requires patience and timing) |
| Rewards | Maliketh's Black Blade, Remembrance of the Black Blade |
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What You'll Learn
- Exploit Arena Layout: Use pillars and corners to limit Maliketh's movement and attack options
- Summon Strategy: Bring a tanky summon to distract Maliketh while you deal damage safely
- Bleeding Build: Apply bleed status repeatedly to bypass Maliketh's high poise and defense
- Phase Rush: Focus on staggering Maliketh during phase transitions to extend damage windows
- Magic/Ranged Spam: Stay at max distance and use high-damage spells or arrows to chip health
Exploit Arena Layout: Use pillars and corners to limit Maliketh's movement and attack options
The arena where you face Maliketh is not just a backdrop—it’s a tool. Pillars and corners are your allies, offering strategic choke points to control the fight. By funneling Maliketh into tight spaces, you reduce his ability to execute wide-ranging attacks or summon additional threats. This method leverages environmental design to shift the battle in your favor, turning a chaotic encounter into a manageable, almost predictable sequence.
To execute this strategy, position yourself near pillars or corners, baiting Maliketh into following. When he engages, his larger hitbox will often collide with the arena’s structures, interrupting his combos or preventing him from fully executing certain moves. For example, his sweeping claw attacks lose effectiveness in confined spaces, giving you openings to strike or heal. Practice timing your dodges to lure him into these areas, and prioritize staying near cover to minimize exposure to his more dangerous abilities, like the arena-wide shockwave.
A critical caution: over-reliance on this tactic can backfire if you become too passive. Maliketh’s aggression increases as his health drops, and prolonged stalling may lead to reckless mistakes. Balance defensive positioning with calculated aggression, using the pillars as a safety net rather than a crutch. Additionally, be mindful of your own mobility—corners can trap you as easily as they hinder Maliketh, especially during his phase transitions.
In comparison to head-on combat, this approach demands patience and spatial awareness. It’s less about brute force and more about manipulation. While it may extend the fight’s duration, the trade-off is reduced risk and greater control. Players who master this technique often find Maliketh’s once-overwhelming arsenal becomes a series of solvable puzzles, each tied to the arena’s geometry.
The takeaway is clear: the arena is your weapon. By understanding how Maliketh interacts with pillars and corners, you transform a daunting boss into a confined, manageable opponent. Pair this strategy with knowledge of his attack patterns, and you’ll find yourself dictating the flow of the battle rather than reacting to it. Practice makes perfect—experiment with positioning, learn his tells, and let the environment do half the work for you.
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Summon Strategy: Bring a tanky summon to distract Maliketh while you deal damage safely
In the realm of Elden Ring, Maliketh the Black Blade is a formidable foe, known for his relentless attacks and high damage output. One effective strategy to cheese this boss is by employing a tanky summon to draw his aggression, allowing you to focus on dealing damage from a safe distance. This approach leverages the game’s AI mechanics, where Maliketh prioritizes the closest or most threatening target, giving you the upper hand in the battle.
To execute this strategy, start by positioning yourself near the summoning pool before engaging Maliketh. Summon a durable ally, such as the Black Knife Tiche or the Great Wolf of Pocara, both of which have high health pools and can withstand Maliketh’s attacks for extended periods. Ensure your summon is active and aggroed by Maliketh before you begin the fight. Once the battle commences, maintain a medium distance from the boss, allowing your summon to absorb the brunt of his aggression. Use this opportunity to chip away at Maliketh’s health with ranged attacks or spells, prioritizing consistent damage over risky close-quarters combat.
A critical aspect of this strategy is managing your summon’s health. Keep an eye on their stamina and health bars, using healing items or spells to support them when necessary. If your summon falls, quickly resummon them or reposition yourself to draw Maliketh’s attention. This method requires patience and timing, as Maliketh’s attacks can still reach you if you’re too close. Aim to stay just outside his melee range, using the arena’s layout to your advantage to create distance when needed.
Comparatively, this summon strategy is less risky than direct melee combat, which often results in quick deaths due to Maliketh’s speed and combo attacks. It’s particularly effective for builds that lack high vigor or poise, as it minimizes the need for direct engagement. However, it’s not foolproof—Maliketh’s area-of-effect attacks can still hit both you and your summon, so positioning remains crucial. Practice makes perfect; familiarize yourself with his attack patterns to anticipate when to move or heal.
In conclusion, the summon strategy is a reliable way to cheese Maliketh, especially for players who prefer a more cautious approach. By leveraging a tanky summon to distract the boss, you can safely deal damage and reduce the fight’s overall difficulty. Remember to manage your summon’s health, maintain optimal positioning, and stay patient. With practice, this method can turn one of Elden Ring’s most challenging encounters into a manageable—even predictable—battle.
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Bleeding Build: Apply bleed status repeatedly to bypass Maliketh's high poise and defense
Maliketh's formidable poise and defense make conventional attacks inefficient, but a Bleeding Build exploits his vulnerability to status effects. Bleed damage ignores poise and defense entirely, accumulating until it triggers a flat damage burst that staggers the boss. This strategy hinges on consistent bleed application, bypassing Maliketh's armor and interrupting his aggressive combos.
To execute this build, prioritize weapons with innate bleed (e.g., Rivers of Blood katana, Ash of War: Seppuku) or infuse a weapon with the Blood affinity. Pair this with the Lord of Blood’s Exultation talisman, which boosts damage by 20% when a bleed proc occurs. Maintain a medium-to-high Arcane stat (minimum 20, ideally 50+) to ensure bleed builds quickly. Use light, rapid attacks to stack bleed during openings, such as after his slow, telegraphed strikes.
Caution: Maliketh’s second phase introduces AoE blood pools that deal damage and reduce mobility. Avoid lingering in these zones, as they hinder your ability to dodge and apply bleed. Additionally, over-reliance on bleed leaves you vulnerable if procs fail to stagger him. Always keep a flask of Crimson Tears handy to heal during tight windows.
The Bleeding Build’s effectiveness lies in its ability to disrupt Maliketh’s rhythm. Each bleed proc not only deals damage but also momentarily staggers him, creating opportunities to reapply the status. This cyclical process wears him down faster than raw damage could, turning his high defenses into a non-factor. With practice, this strategy becomes a reliable, almost methodical approach to defeating one of Elden Ring’s most challenging bosses.
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Phase Rush: Focus on staggering Maliketh during phase transitions to extend damage windows
Staggering Maliketh during phase transitions is a high-risk, high-reward strategy that hinges on precise timing and aggressive play. Phase Rush leverages the brief vulnerability window after Maliketh’s phase shift animations, allowing you to extend damage windows artificially. The key lies in interrupting his transition attacks—such as the mid-air plunge at 70% health or the ground slam at 40%—with staggered hits. This requires a build prioritizing burst damage (e.g., Rivers of Blood katana with Bloodflame Blade or a Golden Vow-buffed colossal weapon) and poise-breaking capabilities. While risky, a successful stagger grants 3–5 extra seconds of uninterrupted DPS, potentially shaving minutes off the fight.
To execute Phase Rush effectively, position yourself directly beneath Maliketh during his phase transition animations. This forces him into a predictable attack pattern, often a vertical plunge or sweeping strike, which you can preempt with a hyper-armored heavy attack or a well-timed Ash of War. For example, using the Lion’s Claw skill on a claw weapon or a charged R2 with the Gargoyle’s Black Halberd can reliably stagger him mid-animation. Pair this with Golden Vow and Flask of Crimson Tears for maximum damage output during the extended window. Note: This tactic is most effective in co-op, where multiple staggered attacks increase the likelihood of success.
A critical caution: Phase Rush demands flawless timing and build optimization. Failing to stagger Maliketh leaves you vulnerable to his phase-specific combos, which deal upwards of 80% health in damage. Avoid this strategy if your build lacks poise (e.g., dexterity-focused or low-endurance setups) or if you’re unfamiliar with his transition tells. Additionally, overcommitting to burst damage can deplete stamina reserves, leaving you unable to dodge follow-up attacks. Always keep one Flask of Cerulean Tears in reserve and prioritize stamina management over raw DPS in solo attempts.
Comparatively, Phase Rush contrasts with traditional cheese strategies like poison swamps or ranged sniping, offering a more interactive but unforgiving approach. While less consistent than exploiting environmental hazards, it rewards skill and build synergy, making it a favorite among speedrunners and challenge-seekers. For instance, a Rivers of Blood build with 60 Dexterity and 40 Arcane can stagger Maliketh twice per phase transition, effectively halving the fight’s duration. However, this pales in comparison to the safety of ranged cheese methods, which prioritize survival over engagement.
In conclusion, Phase Rush is a niche but potent tactic for cheesing Maliketh, ideal for players seeking a balance between challenge and efficiency. Its success relies on three pillars: burst damage, poise-breaking weapons, and split-second timing. While not beginner-friendly, mastering this strategy transforms Maliketh from an endurance test into a series of calculated strikes. Pair it with co-op allies or a summon for maximum consistency, and always prioritize staggering his first transition (70% health) to disrupt his most aggressive phase. With practice, Phase Rush becomes less of a gamble and more of a guaranteed exploit.
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Magic/Ranged Spam: Stay at max distance and use high-damage spells or arrows to chip health
Maliketh, the Black Blade, is a formidable foe in *Elden Ring*, known for his aggressive combos, relentless pursuit, and devastating second phase. To cheese him effectively using magic or ranged spam, you must prioritize distance, damage output, and stamina management. Position yourself at the maximum range of your spells or arrows, typically just outside his initial aggro range, to minimize the risk of being caught in his combos. High-damage spells like *Comet Azur* or *Ancient Death Rancor* are ideal for chipping away at his health, while arrows infused with lightning or magic can provide consistent damage over time. The key is to stay mobile, avoiding his dashes and sweeps while maintaining a steady stream of attacks.
Analyzing Maliketh’s behavior reveals a critical weakness in this strategy: his tendency to close distance quickly. To counter this, use terrain to your advantage. Position yourself near the edge of the arena, forcing him to navigate around obstacles, which buys you precious seconds to cast or shoot. However, be cautious of his teleportation attack, as it can bypass distance instantly. Time your attacks to coincide with his recovery frames after a combo, ensuring you maximize damage while minimizing risk. This method requires patience and precision, as over-extending or missing shots can leave you vulnerable to his punishing strikes.
From a practical standpoint, equipping talismans like the *Magic Scorpion Charm* or *Arrow’s Reach* can enhance your damage and range, making this strategy more effective. For mages, the *Carian Regal Scepter* paired with the *Golden Vow* incantation boosts spell damage significantly. Archers should consider using the *Erdsteel Arrow* for its high base damage or the *Poison Arrow* to apply a damaging debuff over time. Regardless of your choice, ensure your FP or arrow supply is sufficient to sustain the fight, as running out mid-battle can be fatal.
Comparing this approach to melee strategies highlights its safety and consistency. While melee builds can deal higher burst damage, they require precise timing and leave little room for error. Magic or ranged spam, on the other hand, allows you to play defensively, gradually whittling down Maliketh’s health from a safe distance. However, it’s slower and less forgiving of mistakes like misjudging range or failing to dodge his teleport. For players prioritizing survival over speed, this method is a reliable, if methodical, way to defeat him.
In conclusion, the magic/ranged spam strategy is a viable cheese tactic for Maliketh, leveraging distance and sustained damage to neutralize his threats. Success hinges on understanding his attack patterns, optimizing your build, and maintaining discipline. While it may not be the fastest method, its safety and consistency make it an excellent choice for players struggling with his aggressive playstyle. With the right setup and patience, even this fearsome boss can be reduced to a manageable challenge.
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Frequently asked questions
The easiest way to cheese Maliketh is to use the Mimic Tear Ash Summon to distract him while you deal damage from a safe distance using ranged attacks or spells.
Yes, applying poison or scarlet rot via weapons or spells can gradually drain Maliketh's health, making the fight significantly easier, especially in the second phase.
Absolutely. Spells like Comet Azure, Carian Slicer, or Golden Vow combined with a high-damage spell can quickly deplete Maliketh's health while keeping you out of harm's way.
Rivers of Blood is highly effective due to its bleed buildup. Continuously attacking from a distance or during openings can stack bleed quickly, often defeating Maliketh before he becomes too aggressive.
Yes, you can bait Maliketh into performing specific attacks and then punish him during his recovery frames. Staying near the edges of the arena can also limit his attack options, making the fight more manageable.
