How to Defeat the Goddess of Rot: Malenia Solo in Elden Ring
This guide will walk you through everything you need to defeat Malenia solo: from ideal builds and gear to phase-specific strategies, timing, and counter-techniques.
Understanding Malenia’s Fight: Two Deadly Phases
Malenia has two distinct phases:
Phase One – Blade of Miquella: A highly aggressive katana wielder with precise combos and healing on hit. Even blocking doesn't stop her self-healing.
Phase Two – Goddess of Rot: She gains wings, explosive AoE attacks, and the deadly Scarlet Aeonia bloom.
Mastering both phases requires not just raw DPS, but dodging skill, poise, and strategic healing.
Preparation: Build, Gear & Items
Recommended Build Types
Bleed Build (Rivers of Blood / Reduvia / Blood Nagakiba)
Bleed is highly effective since Malenia is vulnerable to Hemorrhage.
Arcane and Dexterity builds are optimal.
Strength Builds (Colossal Weapons like Giant-Crusher or Ruins Greatsword)
Offers poise-breaking and can stagger Malenia, giving you breathing room.
Watch out for her quick retaliation — timing is key.
Intelligence Build (Sorceries: Comet Azur, Night Comet, Glintstone Icecrag)
High risk, high reward. You must time spells carefully and maintain distance.
Use Mimic Tear or Terra Magica for burst phases (if allowed).
Top Gear Choices
Talisman Suggestions:
Green Turtle Talisman – Improves stamina regen for dodging.
Lord of Blood's Exultation – Boosts attack power with bleed.
Radagon's Scarseal/Sourceal – For extra Strength/Dex scaling.
Erdtree's Favor – Increases HP, stamina, and equip load.
Armor Suggestions:
Armor with mid-to-high poise (e.g., Veteran’s Set, Banished Knight Set).
Stay under 70% equip load for max roll speed.
Consumables:
Preserving Boluses – Clears Scarlet Rot in Phase 2.
Flame, Cleanse Me! – Miracle to clear Rot and reduce its buildup.
Buffs: Exalted Flesh, Golden Vow, Flame Grant Me Strength (for Strength builds), Magic-Shrouding Cracked Tear (for INT builds).
Phase One Strategy: Blade of Miquella
Key Mechanics:
Malenia heals every time she hits you — even if blocked.
Her combos are long and deceptive; she can delay swings to bait rolls.
Her Waterfowl Dance is her signature move: a multi-stage flurry of slashes that can one-shot unprepared players.
How to Deal with Her Moves:
Waterfowl Dance:
Run away diagonally or bait her to start it while she’s airborne and far from you.
If up close, roll into her after the first flurry, then again during the second.
Equip light armor to boost mobility and endurance for this.
Basic Combos:
Learn her 2-3 swing patterns and roll at the final hit for safe punishes.
Don’t be greedy — strike once or twice, then back off.
Parrying (Advanced):
Parry windows are tight, but viable with practice and a high Stability shield.
Parry her slower initial swings for an opening.
Tips for Phase One Success:
Stay close enough to bait Waterfowl early and burn it.
Time jump attacks or heavy counters after she whiffs a combo.
Don’t let her heal off Spirit Ashes (if you're using them). Keep the fight one-on-one if going pure solo.
Phase Two Strategy: Goddess of Rot
Transition:
Once Malenia hits 0 HP, she explodes into Scarlet Aeonia — a massive Rot burst. Roll away immediately and heal.
New Moves to Watch For:
Scarlet Aeonia Bloom:
Massive AoE; dodge back as soon as she starts glowing.
Leaves a Rot field — avoid standing in it.
Rot Butterflies:
Swirling spirit projectiles that delay then home in. Wait, then roll just as they approach.
Don't panic-roll too early.
Dive Bomb + Clone Slam:
She vanishes then dive-bombs you, followed by ghost clones.
Start running in one direction; turn and dodge diagonally when she appears.
Best Strategies:
Bleed is still effective — don’t stop applying pressure.
Stay mid-range to bait her into whiffing her new dive slams or wind-up attacks.
Preserve stamina at all costs — especially during the clone dive.
Patience is Key:
Only attack after dodging major abilities.
Wait out Scarlet Aeonia blooms before re-engaging.
Heal in windows where she finishes a combo or after dive-bombs.
Mental Tips: Surviving the Long Fight
Expect to fail multiple times. Memorize her patterns slowly.
Keep calm during Phase 2 — one mistake often snowballs.
If frustrated, switch weapons or builds to reset your mental rhythm.
Use Spirit Ashes in earlier attempts to learn her mechanics, then go full solo for the challenge.
Final Thoughts
Soloing Malenia is one of Elden Ring’s most satisfying challenges. It demands more than just raw damage — it requires mastery of timing, stamina control, and nerves of steel. But once you defeat the Goddess of Rot alone, you’ll join a rare group of Tarnished who truly conquered one of FromSoftware’s finest bosses.
Prepare thoroughly. Learn patiently. Strike precisely. And buy Elden Ring Runes may your will be stronger than the rot.