Hello, fellow Tarnished! There I was, casually exploring the Lands Between on preparation for another NG+2, testing builds and checking off my to-do list, when I remembered: Malenia was still waiting. What happened next left my jaw on the floor, and I’ve got to share this story with you.
Before we dive into the fight that had me questioning my knowledge about this boss, let me set the stage. I’d been experimenting with the Banished Knight Greatsword against those pesky DLC Black Knights (you know the ones). My setup? A Black Knight Greatshield with “Barricade Shield” in the left hand, paired with a Banished Knight Greatsword sporting Double-Slash in the right. The strategy was simple but devastating: pop Barricade Shield, tank a hit, unleash a guard counter, then two-hand that bad boy and spam L2 until there’s nothing left but runes and regret – instant delete.
Feeling cocky after turning Black Knights into past tense, I thought, “Hey, why not try this on Malenia?” Spoiler alert: you can block her attacks – yes, even the infamous Waterfowl Dance – but one mistimed shield raise later, and I was saying hello to the “YOU DIED” screen. Still, I’m convinced this strategy has potential if you’ve got better timing than I did.
That’s when inspiration struck. Ditching the shield entirely, I went full unga bunga mode. “What if,” I thought, “I summoned the Mimic Tear and introduced Malenia to the business end of TWO Banished Knight Greatswords?” The result? Pure poetry in motion.
Don’t believe me? I saved the footage because even I couldn’t believe what happened. Despite my fumbling with the controls (we’ve all been there), the Blade of Miquella didn’t stand a chance against our synchronized Double-Slash assault. With proper timing and spacing, you should be able to pull this off without the Mimic Tear.
Build Details
Let me break down the build setup. While some equipment choices were originally selected to accommodate the Black Knight Greatshield’s weight requirements, I kept them even after switching to a pure offense strategy (for actually no reason):
- Main Hand: Banished Knight Greatsword (+25 with Double-Slash in Blood affinity)
- Off Hand: Banished Knight Greatsword (+25 with Flaming Strike in Fire affinity), but it was not really used during the fight
- Optional Shield (in exchange for the second sword): Black Knight Greatshield (+25, with Barricade Shield)
- Armor: Fire Knight Helm, Leda’s Armor, Fire Prelate Greaves and Messmer’s Gauntlets (had to watch the weight)
- Talismans: Shard of Alexander, Two-Headed Turtle Talisman, Rotten Winged Sword Insignia, Erdtree’s Favor+2
- Wondrous Physick: Opaline Hardtear + Thorny Cracked Tear for extra stagger potential (which I completely forgot to use during the fight)
- Buffs: Golden Vow, Flame Grant Me Strength, Bestial Vitality
- Spirit Ash: Mimic Tear
- Strategy: Aggressive dual-wielding with your Mimic for maximum stagger potential
Key Notes
- Bleed Buildup: ~102 bleed/hit (≈408 total per Double Slash combo at 40 Arcane).
- Optimization:
- Replace Erdtree’s Favor+2 with Lord of Blood’s Exultation (+20% damage on bleed proc) or Millicent’s Prosthesis for even more damage.
Where to get the Banished Knight Greatsword
Want to try this setup yourself? The Banished Knight Greatsword can be farmed from the Banished Knights patrolling near the Cathedral of Dragon Communion site of grace in Caelid.
Pro tip: bring some Discovery-boosting items if you’re hunting for this drop – those knights can be stubborn with their loot!
So here’s the bottom line: if you’re stuck on Malenia and aren’t above using spirit ashes, give this setup a shot. Two Banished Knight Greatswords plus Double-Slash equals one very dead demigod. Sometimes the best strategies aren’t the most elegant – they’re just the ones that work!
Found this guide helpful? Check out our other Elden Ring Guides & Tips for more game-changing strategies or spice up your next playthrough with our Weapon Mastery Challenge Generator for a fresh adventure!
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