Uploaded October 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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A hundred or more hours spent studying a boss, embodied into one spectacular fight. A solo endurance fight against my favorite boss of the FromSoft series, Beast Clergyman / Maliketh the Black Blade on level 1 (RL1) NG+7 (max new game cycle) without upgrading weapons, no status effects (bleed, frost, poison/rot etc), no ashes of war/skills or Blasphemous claw parries (since they deal a % of max health in damage on parry, counter-intuitive to an endurance low damage fight).

This is meant to be a "pure" fight condition to showcase as best as possible the most aggressive and latest strategies I've developed since the game release, including the new p2 follow up baits and incorporating throwing knives in the middle of his combo mixups to damage his posture and keep him from doing arbitrary poise resets via the projectile attacks, which is one of the main annoyances in prolonged phase 2 fights where ripostes damage are of important value. The fight being on 125% speed, on top of being a test of reflexes, also help prove these strats are safe and reliable, since they can be successfully pulled off even with much less time to react as long as the correct timing / positioning is respected.

For the sake of making the fight more intense, dynamic and reaction intensive, I used a speedhack contained within Cheat engine to set the game speed to 125%, or x1.25 speed. This affects the game engine itself, causing both the player and the boss to gain speed as well as accordingly increased stamina regeneration. As a result this also sped up the skybox cycle, the trees/grass moving, etc. It does not however speed up the audio files such as Maliketh's opening and death dialogue or his boss theme, which serve as proof of the entire game being in 125% speed and not simply the footage. This can be distinctly heard at the end of the kill where I turn the volume to max for it.

Build : Rune Level 1
Lordsworn's straight sword +0 x2
Miséricorde +0
Talismans : Radagon's soreseal, Red feathered branchsword, Green turtle talisman, Millicent's prosthesis
Bonus items : Godrick's Great Rune, throwing knives, and fashion armor (Fingerprint set and Knight helm)

Background music :
Hollow Knight - Troupe Master Grimm / Nightmare King Grimm themes, by Christopher Larkin

The Grimm audio dub for the intro was taken from here : youtu.be/cw48nntk1AI

Champion's Respite server for Level 1 runs, boss resources and guides : discord.gg/vESQQvm

My other Elden Ring Rune Level 1 kills so far : youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9AUPD_UAv7ev2fuOVx3hCBoooKAwSoVV

If you wish to learn more about Maliketh in detail, here's my Maliketh-specific playlist : youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9AUPD_UAv7dT-yFa44n2TouFp7Ln0yPO

Here is also a written guide going in-depth on Maliketh's attacks, behavior and strategies : docs.google.com/document/d/15Ao3Y9GPs_esC2U9B3LqqT0SgmXVb5I8G5c3ALeRx1E/edit

A fully detailed video guide will follow, hopefully over the next weeks/months.

#EldenRing #Maliketh #fromsoftware #bossfight #cinematic