In Elden Ring, players face a wealth of hidden bosses. Malenia stands out as one of the game’s most formidable foes. Reaching her and defeating her is a challenge that tests skill, timing, and strategy. This guide explains how to locate Malenia, Mikkela’s Blade, and the steps to bring her down.
How to reach the Sacred Tree of Mikkela in Elden Ring and obtain the secret medallion
To begin, travelers must head to the capital and defeat Morgott, the Omen King. After overcoming this major obstacle, the door to the icy realm of the giants opens, revealing two fragments of the secret medallion. The first fragment lies in Sol Castle in the northeast, while the second rests in the Albinores village to the west.
Once both halves are collected, players travel to Rold’s Elevator and choose the option to raise a Secret Medallion using the weapon switch. Progress leads to the Liturgical City, where a four-statue puzzle awaits solution. Completing the puzzle paves the way back to the circular route, up the grand stairs, and through the arch to a teleport that lands at the Holy Tree of Mikkela.
A robust resource is available to help locate the secret medallion and solve the Liturgical City puzzle.
Where to find Malenia, Mikkela’s Blade in Elden Ring
From the initial place of grace, named Prayer, the route is straightforward with no branching paths. The journey travels along the tree roots, down the stairs, and toward the first grace point.
The path continues along a bridge to the next safe spot. A descent, a circle around the tree, and more stairs lead to an elevator that brings one to the prayer chamber.
After activating the grace, the traveler proceeds in a straight line, using the tree roots to cross to the opposite side. The grand staircase is climbed, and the trek forward becomes almost impossible to lose track of.
The journey continues through a rot-swamp, following a root to a small arch, then down the stairs and outside again.
Next, one must carefully jump into a hall filled with shrines, use the elevator, and activate the mercy point that anchors the boss encounter.
How to defeat the secret boss Malenia, Mikkela’s Blade in Elden Ring
This battle is among the toughest in the game. In the first phase, Malenia uses a variety of sword slashes without magic, delivering sweeping and piercing blows that deal heavy damage. She isn’t overly forgiving with hits, so players have time to dodge. In the second phase she is reborn as a deity and fully restores health.
It is wise not to unleash summons immediately, reserving them for the second phase. Calling in allies via the Finger Maiden’s Calling can help, but preparation is key. The enemy possesses a passive vampiric effect; landing clean hits restores her health, making shield defense ineffective against that restoration. Bleeding and heavy strikes are especially effective against her. The Fang of the Bloodhound is a recommended tool to accelerate the defeat. Once health hits zero, Malenia returns as a deity again.
During the second phase, Malenia will dash toward the hero and trigger rot-based abilities. Dodging before landing and again before the flower attack is essential. Repeated rot bursts are common, so running is not advised. The optimum approach is precise dodges, followed by a brief window of vulnerability after strong combos to inflict damage. After a major hit sequence, she draws a blade and unleashes a flurry of attacks. A short vulnerability window then appears, allowing sustained damage. The completion of the fight yields a memory and the Great Rune of Malenia as a reward.
How to recover the Great Rune of Malenia
Recovering this Great Rune requires reaching a secluded sacred tower. The journey starts at the Divine Bridge grace in the capital region. Exploration of the city guides the way, and a second route uses a chest atop a return tower in the southeastern map area to transport players to the Divine Bridge. The portal to the left of a giant is activated, and a teleport leads to the tower. The elevator is taken to reach the upper levels.
At the tower’s center, the Great Rune of Malenia is activated. When equipped, it grants health restoration on every attack, a boon for melee builds that prefer relentless pressure over dodging. Detailed insights into Great Runes appear in a dedicated guide.
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End note: the material reflects a compilation of widely shared strategies and locations for Malenia and related secrets in Elden Ring.