Elden Ring Malenia Boss Order Guide

Where Malenia Fits

Malenia is an optional super-hard late-game boss. She is not required for any ending. Players typically search for the right time to fight her relative to other endgame bosses like Mohg, Fire Giant, and Maliketh. The community consensus: fight her after Mohg and some Farum Azula progress, when you are level 120-150+ with a solid build.

1. Finish Main Story to Morgott (Leyndell)

   This is the baseline to access Mountaintops and later areas. Most players have 2+ Great Runes by this point. Complete any unfinished Leyndell business before progressing further.

2. Mohg, Lord of Blood

   Strongly recommended before Malenia. Many players do him right after accessing Consecrated Snowfield. His remembrance gives useful items, and the area prep overlaps with Haligtree access. The extra runes and levels help significantly.

3. Fire Giant (Mandatory for Story)

   Do this before fully committing to Malenia if you want more levels. Lighting the Forge changes Leyndell, so finish any unfinished business there first. Some players do Malenia post-Giant for extra strength.

4. Farum Azula and Maliketh (Mandatory)

   After Fire Giant, progress through Farum Azula. Optional: fight Placidusax if you want extra runes. Some players interleave Haligtree exploration here for back-and-forth leveling between areas.

5. Malenia

   Slot her after Mohg and some Farum Azula progress, often before or around Maliketh for lore and quest reasons (such as Gideon dialogue). Many treat her as near-post-game optional for maximum comfort. Popular sequence: Mohg, then Malenia, then Fire Giant, then Farum Azula rush. Others save her for very late (post-Godfrey) when over-leveled.

• Get both Haligtree Secret Medallion halves: One from Albinauric Village in Liurnia, one from Castle Sol in Mountaintops.
• Use the medallion at Grand Lift of Rold (after defeating Morgott) to access Consecrated Snowfield.
• Solve Ordina Liturgical Town puzzle: Light all candles while watching for invaders.
• Enter Haligtree and push through to Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree.
• Malenia is at the end at the Haligtree Roots grace site.

Phase 1

Stay aggressive but safe. Punish ends of combos with jump attacks. Bait Waterfowl Dance by running away or use Freezing Pots to interrupt it reliably. Do not overcommit after her kick, as it has a follow-up attack.

Phase 2

She heals on phase transition. Pressure her to limit clone attacks and Scarlet Aeonia. Dodge clones in specific patterns (community-tested: left, back, forward, ignore). Block or run the first Waterfowl hit if needed. Keep up pressure with status effects or heavy hits.

• When to fight Malenia: After Mohg and some Farum Azula progress. If struggling in Haligtree, level more first. No story locks prevent returning later.
• Mohg before or after Malenia: Mohg first. His runes and items help, and the area prep overlaps with Haligtree access.
• Use summons or solo: Summons are allowed and very helpful for first wins. Many players use them initially, then solo later for the challenge.
• Gideon dialogue: If you want full Gideon dialogue and rewards related to Malenia, do not kill Maliketh too early. Interleave appropriately.

• Fighting Malenia too early or under-leveled. Haligtree enemies will chew through your flasks before you even reach her.
• Trying to dodge Waterfowl Dance perfectly every time without practicing interrupts (Freezing Pots or specific run and jump patterns).
• Ignoring area exploration for levels and runes before retrying. Level up via other bosses if stuck.
• Killing Maliketh too early if you want full Gideon dialogue and rewards related to Malenia.
• Not bringing Preserving Boluses for the rot areas in Haligtree and Elphael.