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Cower. Before Maliketh, Marika’s Black Blade.

- Maliketh, the Black Blade


Maliketh, the Black Blade is a boss in Elden Ring, encountered in Crumbling Farum Azula. This is not an optional boss as Maliketh must be defeated to unlock Leyndell, Ashen Capital and reach the endgame of Elden Ring.

Overview[]

Maliketh is the loyal Shadowbound Beast and half-brother of Queen Marika the Eternal,[1][2] an Empyrean of Numen descent,[3] who would become the vessel of the Elden Ring.[4]

Maliketh fought and defeated the Gloam-Eyed Queen, the leader of the Godskin Apostles.[5] On Marika's orders, Maliketh sealed away the Rune of Death,[1] binding it within his blade,[6] causing the true power of the god-slaying black flame to be lost.[7]

When the Rune of Death was plucked from the Elden Ring,[8] and confined,[9] the Golden Order was created, with Queen Marika as its one true god.[10] Marika's offspring were granted a form of immortality owing to the removal of their fated deaths from the Elden Ring,[11] however there was not one Demigod who did not fear Maliketh and his blade imbued with death.[2] He was a beast of such terrifying ferocity that his name came to mean "Death of the Demigods".[12] He also led the Black Blade Kindred, living gargoyles who wielded weapons held together by blackened corpse wax.[13]

During the Golden Age of the Erdtree, a fragment of the Rune of Death was stolen from Maliketh.[14] The perpetrator was Ranni the Witch, who used it to forge godslaying black knives,[15] which were wielded by the Black Knife Assassins during the assassination of Godwyn the Golden on the Night of Black Knives.[16] Maliketh responded by binding his blade- and the Rune of Death sealed within- into his own flesh, to prevent death from ever being stolen again.[6] Later, the Rune of Death sprouted from Godwyn's corpse and began to spread through the Lands Between in the form of Deathroot. Maliketh, under the name Gurranq, resolved to track down and devour the Deathroot,[17] eventually gaining an insatiable hunger for it.[18]

Maliketh, now Gurranq, eventually came into contact with D, Hunter of the Dead. D entered Gurranq's service and assisted him in weeding Deathroot, the source of Those Who Live in Death.[19] D would later find a Tarnished, who agreed to take his place in weeding Deathroot.[20]

The Tarnished encounters Gurranq in the Bestial Sanctum in Caelid. The beast, dressed in the robes of a clergyman, gives them an eye which trembles in the presence of Deathroot,[21] and instructs them to bring him any Deathroot they find in return for bestial incantations.[22] Despite consuming all the Deathroot the Tarnished could bring him, Gurranq is not sated. Despondent, he realises that he has done all he can for the land and departs, with his hunger as his only companion.[23]

When the Tarnished arrives at the foot of the Erdtree, they find the entrance obstructed by thorns. To remove the thorns, the Tarnished and their companion, Melina, set the Erdtree ablaze at the Giant's Forge.[24] After doing so, the Tarnished finds themselves in Crumbling Farum Azula, an ancient city in the sky, where they seek the Rune of Death.[25] The Tarnished finally comes upon Gurranq, who attempts to stop them from stealing the Rune of Death from him.[26] Despite his best efforts, Gurranq struggles to overcome the Tarnished. As a last resort, he unbinds his death-imbued blade from his flesh and reveals his true identity to the Tarnished.[27] Nevertheless, Maliketh falls to the Tarnished, and with his dying breath cries out to Marika for forgiveness.[28] The Rune of Death is unbound, and enshrouds the Lands Between. However, this allows the impenetrable thorns to finally burn away,[29] allowing the Tarnished to finally gain access to the Erdtree.

Boss Fight[]

Moveset[]

Moveset List  
Leaping Slash Phase 1
Slashes horizontally and leaps backwards.
Earthquake Phase 1
Holds his blade in his mouth and slams both hands into the ground, causing an earthquake around him and sending several chunks of rock into the air, which then fall back down.
Double Slash Phase 1
Slashes in front of himself twice.
Bestial Sling Phase 1
Hurls several stones at the player in a scattered formation. May perform this move while jumping.
Beast Claw Phase 1
Digs his hand into the ground and withdraws, sending shockwaves towards the player.
Gurranq's Beastclaw Phase 1
Digs his hand into the ground and withdraws, sending shockwaves in several directions.
Stone of Gurranq Phase 1
Hurls a large rock at the player.
Backhand Slash Phase 1
Turns his blade around in his hand and slashes away from himself.
Blade Drag Phase 1
Digs his blade into the ground and drags it in an arc.
Stab Phase 1
Draws his blade back and stabs forwards.
Sword Slash Phase 2
Slashes vertically with his sword.
Plunge Phase 2
Leaps into the air and drives his sword into the ground, followed by either an area of effect explosion, or a spinning slash.
Sword Slam Phase 2
Brings his sword down vertically.
Pillar Jump Phase 2
Leaps up and briefly clings to a pillar, before diving towards the player with his sword glowing gold. Follows with an area of effect explosion.
Spin Phase 2
Spins around twice, blade outstretched.
Midair Spin Phase 2
Spins around several times in the air, slashing with his blade.
Black Blade Phase 2
Clings to a pillar and jumps off, releasing a wave of red energy from his blade.
Spinning Black Blade Phase 2
Spins in midair, releasing several waves of red energy from his blade. Finishes with a spinning slash when he lands.
Destined Death Phase 2
Spins around, and then plunges his blade into the ground, creating a flurry of slashes in a circle around him.

Phase 1 - Beast Clergyman[]

Phase 1 is much like combat against Gurranq. During this phase, the Beast Clergyman will make use of his Cinquedea as well as a variety of bestial incantations. His attacks are very fast, leaving few obvious spaces for the player to attack. He may use an earthquake attack, causing area of effect damage in a small circle around him.

Phase 2 - Maliketh, the Black Blade[]

At half health, a cutscene will play and phase 2 will begin. Maliketh now wields his Black Blade, and all of his attacks will cause rapid health loss overtime as well as temporary reduction of maximum health. Maliketh is a fast and acrobatic fighter, relying on quick slashes, spins and leaps. He will sometimes jump up and cling to the pillars around the arena, before either jumping at the player or jumping away and firing a ranged attack.

During this phase, the Blasphemous Claw can be used to deflect Maliketh's Black Blade attack, as well as the spin attack he performs after plunging his sword into the ground. Deflecting his attacks will stun him for a few seconds, creating a window during which to attack.

Environment[]

The arena is a wide, circular room. It is possible to fall off the edges all around the perimeter of the room. There are several pillars around the centre of the room, which Maliketh may jump onto to perform certain attacks. These pillars can also be used to create distance between oneself and Maliketh, or to avoid his ranged attacks.

Gallery[]

Dialogue[]

English Dialogue  
Introduction
Thou, who approacheth Destined Death.
I will not have it stolen from me again.
Introduction (if Gurranq's questline has been completed)
Tarnished, why wouldst thou...
Why...
Tis no matter. I hereby vow,
that Destined Death shall not be stolen again.
If the player is killed (phase 1)
I shall not part with it again.
If the player is killed (phase 1, if Gurranq's questline has been completed)
Stay away from Destined Death.
Phase 2 cutscene
O, Death.
Become my blade, once more.
If the player is killed (phase 2)
Cower. Before Maliketh, the Black Blade.
If the player is killed (phase 2, if Gurranq's questline has been completed)
Cower. Before Maliketh, Marika's Black Blade.
Defeat
Witless Tarnished... Why covet Destined Death?
To kill what?
Defeat (if Gurranq's questline has been completed)
Forgive me, Marika...
The Golden Order... cannot be restored.

Japanese Dialogue  
Introduction
運命の死に近づく者よ
もう二度と、誰にも、盗ませはせぬ
Introduction (if Gurranq's questline has been completed)
褪せ人…まさか、お主が…
なぜ…
…だが、もう二度と、誰にも
運命の死、盗ませはせぬ
If the player is killed (phase 1)
もう二度と、盗ませはせぬ…
Phase 2 cutscene
…死よ
今一度、我が剣に
If the player is killed (phase 2)
…我を恐れよ。黒き剣のマリケスを
Defeat
褪せ人…、運命の死を奪い
何を、殺す?
Defeat (if Gurranq's questline has been completed)
…すまぬ、マリカよ
黄金律は、もう、戻らぬ…

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Remembrance of the Black Blade
  2. 2.0 2.1 Maliketh's Helm
  3. Numen's Rune
  4. Finger Reader Enia: "Queen Marika is the vessel of the Elden Ring, carrier of its vision."
  5. Godslayer's Greatsword
  6. 6.0 6.1 Maliketh's Black Blade
  7. Scouring Black Flame
  8. Finger Reader Enia: "The Rune of Death goes by two names; the other is Destined Death. The forbidden shadow, plucked from the Golden Order upon its creation…"
  9. Mending Rune of the Death-Prince
  10. Brother Corhyn: "The Golden Order is founded on the principle that Marika is the one true god."
  11. Hidetaka Miyazaki: ""But the Demigods' immortality stems from having their fated deaths removed from the Elden Ring. I don't expect that to make much sense right now, but as you play the game, I think you'll gradually come to understand."
  12. Stone of Gurranq
  13. Gargoyle's Black Halberd
  14. Sorcerer Rogier: "It happened during the Golden Age of the Erdtree, long before the shattering of the Elden Ring. Someone stole a fragment of the Rune of Death from Maliketh, the Black Blade."
  15. Ranni the Witch: "Indeed, I am the witch Ranni. I stole a fragment of the Rune of Death, and used it to forge the godslaying black knives through fearsome rite."
  16. Black Knife
  17. Deathroot
  18. Gurranq, Beast Clergyman: "It is... It is all...consumed. Still, I am not sated... Not nearly sated..."
  19. D, Hunter of the Dead: "If you're inclined to hunt more of Those Who Live in Death, and weed their Deathroot, then I'll introduce you to Gurranq, the beast clergyman. I have a matter of my own to attend to. And the beast himself wishes for someone to take my place."
  20. D, Hunter of the Dead: "Very well. Show me your map. ... I've marked the location for you. Of a hidden gateway. It will lead you to Gurranq, the beast clergyman."
  21. Beast Eye
  22. Gurranq, Beast Clergyman: "Tarnished...bring more...Death... I shall grant thee... eye...and claw. Feed me...more."
  23. Gurranq, Beast Clergyman: "It is... It is all...consumed. Still, I am not sated... Not nearly sated... Rrarrgh! Marika... Is this...what it is...to sin? Will things...never be the same...again? ... Tarnished...my thanks...for thy long...labour. But I have done...all I can...in this land... Henceforth, mine appetite shall be my sole companion. Farewell."
  24. Melina: "O Erdtree, you shall burn. Burn, for the sake of the new Lord. Thank you. For guiding me here. The one who walks alongside flame, Shall one day meet the road of Destined Death. Good-bye."
  25. Finger Reader Enia: "The burning of the Erdtree is the first cardinal sin. And you say you seek the power of the Rune of Death, too?"
  26. Maliketh, the Black Blade: "Tarnished, why wouldst thou... Why... Tis no matter. I hereby vow, that Destined Death shall not be stolen again."
  27. Maliketh, the Black Blade: "O, Death. Become my blade, once more."
  28. Maliketh, the Black Blade: "Forgive me, Marika... The Golden Order... cannot be restored."
  29. Finger Reader Enia: "The Rune of Death is unbound. and the Lands Between are shrouded by Death's dark fate. But the flames will also burn the impenetrable thorns. Farewell it is, then. You'll be Elden Lord, yet."


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