![Genichiro, Way of Tomoe + Isshin, the Sword Saint [No Upgrades, No Kuros Charm, Demon Bell] @BigDBrian](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FAvaqMMjUmo/maxresdefault.jpg)
Uploaded July 2019 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The ultimate challenge, performed in NG (New Game). It could be made even harder by going to NG+7, or maybe even beyond that, as I've seen no confirmation that difficulty stops scaling like it does in other games. But honestly, I can't be bothered to do it again but even slower. I don't even have a save file at ng+7, let alone one without upgrades. Low damage is punished hard in this game.
I also did all other bosses under almost the same restrictions (no demon bell) just to get here. That includes the Headless Ape duo, as I messed up my routing.
Conditions:
-No Kuro's Charm (additional hardships)
-Demon Bell on (sinister burden)
-Base Vitality (10)
-Base Attack Power (1)
No upgrades of any kind outside of rewards on the critical path, including:
-Prosthetic tools
-Acquiring skills (including Mikiri Counter)
-Combat Arts
-Item buffs
-Healing Gourd upgrades
-Resurrection, gained the first time you die in the game (save scumming was used to preserve this)
-Optional rewards such as the heal when you perform a deathblow gained by killing O'rin of the Water
The ultimate challenge, performed in NG (New Game). It could be made even harder by going to NG+7, or maybe even beyond that, as I've seen no confirmation that difficulty stops scaling like it does in other games. But honestly, I can't be bothered to do it again but even slower. I don't even have a save file at ng+7, let alone one without upgrades. Low damage is punished hard in this game.
I also did all other bosses under almost the same restrictions (no demon bell) just to get here. That includes the Headless Ape duo, as I messed up my routing.
Conditions:
-No Kuro's Charm (additional hardships)
-Demon Bell on (sinister burden)
-Base Vitality (10)
-Base Attack Power (1)
No upgrades of any kind outside of rewards on the critical path, including:
-Prosthetic tools
-Acquiring skills (including Mikiri Counter)
-Combat Arts
-Item buffs
-Healing Gourd upgrades
-Resurrection, gained the first time you die in the game (save scumming was used to preserve this)
-Optional rewards such as the heal when you perform a deathblow gained by killing O'rin of the Water
![Genichiro, Way of Tomoe + Isshin, the Sword Saint [No Upgrades, No Kuros Charm, Demon Bell]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FAvaqMMjUmo/mqdefault.jpg "Genichiro, Way of Tomoe + Isshin, the Sword Saint [No Upgrades, No Kuros Charm, Demon Bell]
The ultimate challenge, performed in NG (New Game). It could be made even harder by going to NG+7, or maybe even beyond that, as Ive seen no confirmation that difficulty stops scaling like it does in other games. But honestly, I cant be bothered to do it again but even slower. I dont even have a save file at ng+7, let alone one without upgrades. Low damage is punished hard in this game.
I also did all other bosses under almost the same restrictions (no demon bell) just to get here. That includes the Headless Ape duo, as I messed up my routing.
Conditions:
-No Kuros Charm (additional hardships)
-Demon Bell on (sinister burden)
-Base Vitality (10)
-Base Attack Power (1)
No upgrades of any kind outside of rewards on the critical path, including:
-Prosthetic tools
-Acquiring skills (including Mikiri Counter)
-Combat Arts
-Item buffs
-Healing Gourd upgrades
-Resurrection, gained the first time you die in the game (save scumming was used to preserve this)
-Optional rewards such as the heal when you perform a deathblow gained by killing Orin of the Water")
![Elden Ring DLC Final Boss PARRY KILL PRE-NERF [level 1, ng+7, no blessing]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GvYnxAtEbe4/mqdefault.jpg "Elden Ring DLC Final Boss PARRY KILL PRE-NERF [level 1, ng+7, no blessing]
Some bugs/features to do with parrying PCR:
1. certain attacks are unparriable for no discernable reason, such as: The two attacks in the middle of his horizontal double swipes combo, the vertical swing before the ground rupture, the last attack in the cross-slash combo.
That last one is extra weird since it looks identical to the standalone X attack which IS parriable
2. When you parry the stab or swipe for the bloodflame attack, the animation plays as if he got parried from his other sword. Additionally, sometimes when you parry that second attack, the bloodflame explosion will still explode.
3. When the last parry before a riposte is his fast one handed swipe, he will often do its follow-up attack after your crit, even though he normally cant do that from neutral.
4. Sometimes the cross-slash is not parriable due to elevation, but still hits you. This is very frustrating as his arena is riddled with hills and dips.
5. You get really bad camera angles sometimes due to staying close to him, especially after his stomp. Its particles will also cover your entire screen momentarily. This isnt the biggest issue but it still contributes.
6. When youre behind him or to the sides, parrying is just a bad idea. Sometimes it will just not work, and whenever youre not perfectly in front of him you have bad visibility on at least one attack.
In general, you have to react extremely fast and be on your toes at all times primarily because of the cross-slash, making it very difficult to consistently parry him. However, I think that difficulty is appropriate for how hard the fight is intended to be. He has a healthy mix of parriable and unparriable attacks from neutral, with different timings and tells, so you always have to be on your toes. Id say parrying is one of the best approaches for RL1, but it is damn hard to keep up your reflexes for a long time.")
![Leonine Misbegotten No Roll/Block/Parry/(Jump)/Skill [+0 weapons]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HYmY3Ppdsrs/mqdefault.jpg "Leonine Misbegotten No Roll/Block/Parry/(Jump)/Skill [+0 weapons]
Previous kill felt a bit too dependent on the high damage output.
Greatsword moveset feels a lot better. In initial testing I thought its r1s didnt stagger, but I guess I mustve only hit during hyperarmor at the time.
r1/l1 from the front is not safe. The double l1 punish requires tight positioning and spacing & about 85% stamina to be safe from all followups.
Honestly, if you had a large, flat arena without obstacles, he could be made 100% consistent with jumps, I think.")
![Elden Ring - Malenia with +0 Curved Great Club [level 1, ng+7, no buffs/skills/bleed/frost/etc]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IBF6T-jKDLE/mqdefault.jpg "Elden Ring - Malenia with +0 Curved Great Club [level 1, ng+7, no buffs/skills/bleed/frost/etc]
For some reason, I couldnt find this kill having been done yet, so here you go. A lot of people (including myself) matched the ng +0 no talismans restriction @GinoMachino originally did instead. This kill is only slightly slower, the main difference is her poise health.
Great Hammers strike a great balance between speed, stagger, damage and range while boasting insanely high poise damage, making ng+7 Malenia almost look like her poise health is ng. Two charged attacks and two light attacks is enough.
Some other good options, that unfortunately lack the same poise damage benefits, are Claymore, Alabaster Lords Sword, Rusted Anchor. Claymore in particular surprised me in its decency, the R2 is very strong, high range. You can even interrupt her regular melee swipes with it for counter damage. Rusted Anchor, despite also dealing thrust damage, lacks the range to get convenient counter damage hits.
Thumbnail image by Anato Finnstark https://www.artstation.com/anto-finnstark/profile")
