Once they are vanquished, most of the terrifying and fantastical bosses in Elden Ring will reward players with the most valuable loot in the game. While some players may find certain foes to be no more difficult than a stroll in the park, other enemies present a genuine threat that can tax even the most experienced players. This is the case with Maliketh, the Black Blade, a creature that can transform between two distinct appearances. After it has been vanquished, players will be rewarded with 220,000 Runes as well as the Remembrance of the Black Blade, which is an item that makes it possible for players to acquire the Black Blade Incantation or Maliketh's sword.

Maliketh is a ruthless and non-optional boss who goes through two distinct phases that couldn't be more different from one another. He is one of the final bosses to face in Elden Ring and also serves as the keeper of Destined Death. The battle against Maliketh is a significant turning point in the game that will prevent players from entering the city and turn Leyndell into ash. Because of this, players should make sure that they have finished all of the quests associated with Leyndell before continuing the battle against Maliketh. Following the destruction of the Erdtree in the third and final act, Maliketh can be found at the Crumbling Farum Azula.

Originally published by Nathan Round on December 29th, 2022:We have modified the content of this guide in order to provide better clarification for the strategies that players can perform in order to help in the defeat of Maliketh, the Black Blade. In addition, we have provided you with images and links to relevant content that will assist you in acquiring important items and completing necessary questlines.

Getting Ready for the Fight
The fact that this battle is so close to the end of the game means that players will naturally have reached a higher level before reaching this point in the game. In any case, you should strive to reach at least level 130, and ideally level 150, with all of your weapons at their maximum levels. It is also essential to keep in mind that Maliketh will continually work to close any distance that exists between himself and the player, rendering ranged weapons useless if the player is engaged in a one-on-one battle.

When going up against Maliketh, we suggested that players use a melee weapon, but they should also make sure to equip a shield. In order to keep Maliketh occupied and distracted, it will be extremely helpful to call upon the assistance of an ash spirit. The Blasphemous Claw is a device that is specifically used to topple Maliketh and should be brought to the battle as it is the most important item to bring with you.

Conquering Maliketh, the Primordial Form of The Black Blade
First, players will engage in combat with Maliketh in her form as the Beast Clergyman. This fight will feel very familiar to players who have previously finished Gurraq's Deathroot Quest. Even though he moves quickly, he takes a significant amount of damage. He will vigorously attack you with his dagger, and while roll-dodging him is a certain way to survive, his attacks are quick and can be unpredictable. He will use his dagger to attack you vigorously. If you pay attention to his moves, you will be able to understand the cues he uses to initiate attacks. Although it is preferable to maintain a close proximity to him in order to narrow the gap between you, there will be times when you will have to flee from him.

The Beast Clergyman, in contrast to the majority of other boss fights, will come at full speed right away and won't waste any time charging towards you if you hide behind something. On the other hand, the majority of his attacks involve him swinging toward a single target all at once. In addition, his attacks are drawn out, which provides players with additional time to avoid them. As a result, the most effective strategy for lowering his health is to maintain your position and attack him from behind.

Watch where you're going! When the Beast Clergyman appears to be getting ready to unleash his power, you should increase the distance between you and him and try to get as far away as you can. He will trample the ground, scattering rocks in all directions. Be wary of areas of the ground that the Beast Clergyman has broken throughout the entirety of the fight to avoid being caught off guard by this.

Rolling: Rolling is extremely important throughout both phases of the process. The best tactic to use if you want to keep your health at an optimal level is to roll underneath the Beast Clergyman just as he begins his attacks. Take note that dodging and rolling to the side are both actions that go against common sense. Try to roll into his attacks rather than avoiding them.

The Conquest of Maliketh, the Final Form of The Black Blade
Once you have decreased the Clergyman's health bar by half, he will transform into Maliketh, the Black Blade, and attack you. Players will quickly notice that in this form, Maliketh is much faster, and he has the ability to easily surprise other players due to his dynamic leaping across the arena. Players will notice this almost immediately. Both the projectiles of Maliketh's dark magic and the energy that hovers around him will gradually deplete your health if you are exposed to them for an extended period of time.

Healing: The black blade that Maliketh wields is extremely lethal, and if you do not take the time to heal, it will be your downfall. Your health will gradually decrease as a result of Maliketh's attacks, so having a quick heal available is important if you find yourself in a difficult situation.

Dodging Maliketh's attacks will require you to do some dodging quite frequently. This is the case when he hops around onto a pillar and fires crimson projectiles at his enemies. You can protect yourself from these attacks by rolling out of the way of their path. At other times, he may attempt to slam his sword onto you or perform a flurry of alternative attacks. He may also try to perform a barrage of attacks. Observe his movements and respond appropriately by dodging them.

The Blasphemous Claw is a weapon that can be acquired at the end of Knight Bernahl's questline. It is a very effective weapon that can be used to defeat Maliketh. This valuable item's purpose is to defend against Maliketh, which will come in handy if you find yourself struggling to keep up with his strength and speed. While Maliketh has the claw equipped, his most devastating and lethal attacks will create a golden aura around his blade. You should now activate the claw in order to defend yourself from these potentially harmful attacks; however, your defense will only be effective if you time it correctly. Before engaging this boss, you should make sure that you have a good deal of experience parrying attacks from regular enemies.