Why Does Malenia Attack Us?

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[@_ariosto1519]

She attacked us because we’re a stranger breaking into her house looking for Miquela, after killing a dozen of her guards, tree guardians and pests…😂 If only our character could speak…

[@sirith9157]

Well, protagonist clearly speaks because he/she asks npcs about things. It's just FromSoftware things there are no voice lines

[@Hi-Im-Gib]

"I... got lost, and everyone was trying to kill me, I ran into your cleanrot knights all like: Hey do you know where I am? And then they started trying to stab me."

[@cooldog8580]

_Walks into boss room_ "Yo, Malenia, I know where Miq-" _gets stabbed in the chest_

[@gundamdetractor337]

looking for Miquella? i just went there because i found a teleportation device. she spread her menses all over Caelid instead of being the "Blade of Miquella" like she claims, and be 200% sure Miquella was safe before doing anything else in her life. look at Wodan Ymir, hes the "Sword of Magus" he never left her unless totally sure she was safe. the impression is, Mohg outplayed her and she went mad because of the defeat she suffered. who knows what goes through her mind, none of my business anyway, was just passing.

[@taragnor]

I mean, you are a tarnished that killed a bunch of demigods on your search to complete the Elden Ring and Malenia has a great rune. You just hacked your way into one of the heavily guarded areas in the Lands Between. Why wouldn't she think you're out to kill her?

[@Tackitt]

The way you describe Malenia fighting to not lose herself reminds me of Patches telling himself that he's unbreakable.

[@shad03void99]

This is Elden Ring mate, not Elden Feels. Void be damned some ninjas are cutting onions near me.

[@kaztheunbreakable]

Hey thats me

[@Benjamin1986980]

But, in the end. Patches is unbreakable. He lives longer than any other character in dark souls. He outlasts the gods, the Lord's, and even the first flame. He has no need to brag. His goal is to bring down those who are proud. That is why in his infinite years, he took no title. He claimed no lordship. He is simply Patches, and he is the unbreakable.

[@vicentiupredescu7205]

Getting Sundowner "I'M FUCKING INVINCIBLE" vibes

[@viniciussardenberg706]

@@Benjamin1986980 i laughed my ass off when he told me "you're a gulable fellow but one i can trust" right before i shoved a +10 moonveil up his butthole for trying to kill me a zillion times what a clown.

[@lbonn2282]

Cut content basically confirmed that Miquela and Malenia did originally have a quest where you could help them, but it was axed late in development

[@cross-eyedhollow]

I really wanna help the twins. FromSoft would do so much good with adding more interaction to their characters. Bosses included.

[@the010og]

Dude that sucks. I’d totally help the two. I wonder why it got axed. That would be a cool storyline

[@kas8ia]

@@the010og Maybe… future dlc content??? hopefully

[@username-ql8ox]

@@the010og content may be cut if the intended story or themes don't coincide with what they want. Must be the reason here, and they might even want to go in a different direction with the DLC

[@ReardensmolhauzLLargo]

@@username-ql8ox don't worry about it being cut. Given enough time, someone's gonna make a massive mod to reimplement the cut content in a massive mod. It's happened with all the souls games now, and Elden ring seems to be following suit. Pretty cool ngl. The modders of the souls community are nothing, if not dilligent.

[@rollcageuk]

This would have been pretty easy to build into the story :- 1. Find Miquella and mogh first 2. Find and fight malenia but only phase 1 3. When she is down, you tell her about Miquella 4. Go back to the mogwyn palace, and see Malenia distraught over the state of her brother. She finally goes mad, converts into Rot form, then you fight her again.

[@MisterK9739]

Malenia has literally gone mad at the point you meet her. Millicent states that she needs to return sth to Malenia „the will that was once her own, the dignity, the sense of self, that allowed her to resist the scarlet rot“ The moment Malenia allowed herself to bloom against Radahn, she succumbed to the Scarlet Rot, and Millicent, her „sense of self“ was split from her. Since we never manage to return Millicent to Malenia (because she dies mere meters from her location), Malenia never came to her senses again. Maybe Miquella could have saved her, but at the point you meet her, there was nothing you could do. Clearly indicated by the fact she turns into the Goddess of Rot in her second stage: she is no longer the Malenia „blade of Miquella“. That Malenia is gone

[@rollcageuk]

@@MisterK9739 yes. based on the current version of the story, your synopsis is correct, so it would require some changes to fit in with an updated version. But by seeing her brother die and having that send her mad instead could easily be feasible, as everything she has gone through has all been for him. To have it all for nothing would send anyone mad.

[@jamesmoore4856]

@@rollcageuk yeah but it still wouldn’t make sense cause she has been sitting there rotting for a long time she went mad way before we were brought to the lands between what was left was just a faint echo and that got extinguished but yeah you’d have to completely redo her story to fit your narrative 😅

[@rollcageuk]

@@jamesmoore4856 completely redo? not really. Just don't let her go completely mad. We know from her narrative that her only concern, even while mad was her brother. Apologising to him when you kill her means that is all she cares about. so, it would only require some small subtle changes. Ultimately, a story is only cannon if the writers decide it so, game makers can change what they want and how they want, so its no biggie. A As i said in my post, it would require changes, but would also fit into a new narrative, that seeing her brother dead and making all her effort and sacrifice for nothing could easily be the reason she goes completely mental.

[@DarkoTrpevski]

@@rollcageuk That will make the fight against Malenia much easier, and seeing as she is an end game boss (never before have known defeat), and Mohgwyn Palace area is for severely lower level it won't make much sense.

[@theolgd2719]

About Malenia's fighting style: I think you're partly right about her being blind and not being able to pinpoint *exactly* where we are... ... but there are two things that deserve mention in that regard. First, the fact that her arena is filled with ankle-deep water is no coincidence. She definitely can tell our general location by the water noises. But second and most important, we know who her swordmaster was. He was the legendary *blind* swordsman, mentioned on the Prosthesis-wearer Heirloom and the Blue Dancer Charm. Regardless if her eyes were already covered at this point, her technique was always meant to fight blind. She's not just wildly swinging, these are calculated wild swings. The whole sword technique of her master is meant to emulate flowing waters, the antithesis to stagnant waters where rot festers.

[@TheActualMrLink]

Funnily enough, if you do the Spread Out gesture, almost every one of her attacks will go RIGHT over you.

[@thisgoddamusernamestoodamnlong]

Man I hope the Sordsman is featured in the dlc, He seems like SUCH a big deal.

[@lilpullout]

wow really???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????@@TheActualMrLink

[@God-ch8lq]

tbh she might be echolocating using the noise from her sword swings when she uses waterfowl

[@alexdandanalex]

goated comment

[@RosieAnims]

>Trespasses into her secret tree hideout that is very deliberately hidden away. >Murders the majority of her guard without a second thought. >Breaks into her bedroom, armed and dangerous whilst she was taking a nap. >Doesn’t take the hint after she kills you 40 times. “Omg just hear me out you’re being unreasonable!”

[@Zapdos97]

Yeah it's like sneaking into the White House. Like yeah, we obviously don't belong there. Same logic applies to every legacy dungeon really.

[@MadamePianissima]

She was asleep. How would she know how we got there?

[@TheActualMrLink]

@@MadamePianissima you wouldn’t know it, but the Haligtree Medallion REALLY smells like cherries. The scent woke her up.

[@Literally___Me]

So I don’t belong there? Racism Everyone else was allowed but just because I’m tarnished I don’t deserve to be a part of the Haligtree

[@Literally___Me]

I ran past them mfs I’m a pacifist A black knife assassin killed Loretta

[@glorytoukraine5524]

It'd be pretty sad if the outcome of telling her Miquella's location has a similar outcome to Anri being told where Horace is in DS3. There's no question she'd kill Mohg, but after that, what? Do we find a broken Malenia in Mohgwyn Palace, who's submitted herself to the formless mother in a last ditch effort to stay the rot? Or do we find Miquella's cocoon as it is now, only now there is a scarlet bloom right next to it?

[@Hectonkhyres]

Embracing the cocoon, perhaps, the rot merging with the tree in a futile, mad and ultimately destructive attempt at salvation. Unless there is a way to save them ourselves, yeah, all she can offer is to bring them into a shared damnation rather than a separate one.

[@AngriestPeanut]

@@Hectonkhyres Bro think he writing a fan fic 💀

[@linkholder]

@@AngriestPeanut dumbass thinks theorizing about a game's written story based off of character interaction is the same as fanfiction 💀☠️💀

[@losthiveless1970]

@@AngriestPeanut Pretty sad that your first impulse after seeing someone be creative is to shame them. I thought Hectonkhyres comment was interesting and I enjoyed the flowery language.

[@BERKAYWOOD]

@@AngriestPeanut fragile masculinity

[@AlexHyena-dv4mb]

would’ve been so dope to have an npc version of Malenia be a summon for the Mohg fight. It couldve also been that after you defeated Mohg, Malenia’s there weeping for her brother, and then becomes the goddess of rot out of grief

[@cross-eyedhollow]

This is a sick idea. I dig this!

[@yemutherinnit3043]

cool idea, wouldve had to change hella lore though

[@riversideradiation]

that would be incredible

[@nooone1387]

i mean from the lore standpoint she would absolutely annihilate Mohg by herself

[@Space_Ghost_Hunter]

I don't think Miquella is dead, I think his soul is in the Haligtree and its just his weird gestating body in the cacoon that Mohg stole, and that's why Mohg can't getting any kind of response out of him.

[@PerfectTheCircle]

I honestly believe that even without the influence of the Scarlet Rot, Malenia is mentally on the verge of a complete breakdown. By the time we find her the Haligtree has been entirely consumed by Rot and may of the innocent people who sought it for shelter have become rot zombies. In other words, Malenia has unwittingly destroyed her and Miquella's entire life's work just by existing - the Scarlet Rot is pouring out of her even when she's just sitting and doing nothing. The destruction of Caelid and all life within it probably also weighs on her conscience. It's pretty clear that Malenia, even in her weakened state, could probably still beat the remaining shard bearers and fix the Elden Ring... but that might just lead her to become the Goddess of Rot, a fate she wants to avoid at all costs. After all, the stress of battle against the PC does actually trigger her transformation. She's scared to leave her chamber, but unable to suppress the Rot growing inside her... all she can do is sit and hope Miquella somehow returns to her. By the time the PC kills her, I think she's at least somewhat relieved. Her long struggle has finally ended. She is at peace.

[@anthonykuykendall4207]

I’m 99% sure malenia is still alive after your battle with her she’s just in a recovery state

[@elliottcovert3796]

My thoughts exactly. I think Millicent is the manifestation of the part of her psyche she lost when she removed the unalloyed gold needle from her body and nuked Caelid. This was against everything Miquella stood for and it was completely the result of her obsession with never knowing defeat.

[@shagarumedic]

With how blooming works, she’s gonna be stuck with that burden forever. It’s kinda fucked tbh, to constantly be afflicted by the scarlet rot, and not even death can free you of that

[@theawickward2255]

Bad news is, she's not dead. Good news is, if you give her the Unalloyed Gold Needle, then she keeps her sense of self and can probably purge the Scarlet Rot at Farum Azula like you do with the Frenzied Flame.

[@Literally___Me]

@@theawickward2255imagine summoning Melania to fight a boss

[@s8theninjawarrior916]

I long thought of a way to make her not want to kill us, imo it should be; When she's defeated for the 1st time in phase 1, instead of just going through the cutscene instantly, she would just fall on her knees and you can either attack her to transition to phase 2 OR you can stab her with the unalloyed gold needle you got from Millicent. (This choice would only appear the very first time you defeat her 1st phase) She would then totally understand you are trying to help and you could be given the chance to speak to her.

[@marcbello8120]

Thank you

[@lennongarcia9642]

I’d like to disagree. If Melanie’s reason to fight is to not lose and to not lose herself. Being defeated(1st phase) should make her more aggressive(like how she is now). I think the interaction between you and her should be at the end. Before she dies. And only if you carry perhaps the golden needle as a prerequisite. Using the golden needle will prolong her life just enough to carry the interaction. I think this would keep that from soft feeling of not being able to save someone you love. Or believe that she should have the right to live. While also providing closure to her story line even if it’s just for a moment.

[@StickySeker]

MOODERS, TAKE NOTES

[@s8theninjawarrior916]

@@lennongarcia9642 I can agree that the interaction could be at the end of phase 2, but I hardly disagree that the interaction should kill her right after... this could lead to an awesome questline into the dlc and in the dlc she could be a recurring character like Millicent, that at the end of said questline, she thinks you want to betray her and her brother (as the cut questline seemed to be going for, in which she said something along the lines of; -Dear tarnished, you want to take more from my brother than he already gave you? No... I will not allow this... You shall have to kill me first. I dont exactly remember her lines but it went along with that, and I think this could be a fitting end for her, really protecting her brother and the fight could be much more personal now that we got to know her and travel with her)

[@witchdoctorteepo]

@@lennongarcia9642 That would deff work but I feel like the game is already ultra sad. It would be nice if we could actually save someone for once, you know?

[@Dottyy1]

“Cuz she can’t exactly pin point where we are” *Proceeds to oneshot from a mile away as soon as the cutscene ends*

[@ehhg9]

Fun little thought When you talk about Malenia’s reaction to Miquella in the cocoon in Mohgwyn Palace, you neglected her blindness. So to add onto the tragedy of the potential scene, she may not even know Miquella has been altered, she may in fact ignorantly be hopeful and happy with what is basically a malformed corpse Or of course she could touch his hand and feel some difference or something. But either way there’s definitely a lot of way the potential Malenia meeting Miquella in Mohgwyn Palace scene could still be a sad ending

[@VERGILGASM]

Actually Miquella is still alive, but isn't mentally in the palace. The DLC confirmed it (kinda).

[@yuomovaeh3028]

@@VERGILGASM Could be in the past or alternate timeline/dimension. So no it's not completely confirmed Miquella is alive. But quite likely still.

[@FauxRegard]

@@VERGILGASM isn't Malenia technically still alive too? She blooms a 4th time after the fight and you can even interact with the flower (offering it a golden needle for example, if you did that quest line). If that's the case then it's plausible that she could come back on her own, or maybe even by Miquella prematurely yanking her out of her own "cocoon"

[@VERGILGASM]

@@FauxRegard Yes

[@linkholder]

​@@FauxRegard she blooms twice, the others are her Valkyries. Once against Radhan, and the other against the Tarnished Elden Lord.

[@Salty_C.J.]

the rot grows stronger in stagnation, when shes just sitting around waiting it gets worse, when shes defeated it immediately blooms and mutates her, the only way to stop or reverse it is to keep moving, like the flowing blue waters of the warrior who sealed the rot away. physically or metaphorically it doesnt matter as long as something is being done. the reason she attacks you on sight is not because you are a tarnished but because you are an intruder to her and her brothers sacred chamber, it is a place for gods that you have no business being in.

[@TheRisky9]

It almost seems like the rot is deliberately trying to make her stagnant by taking away her legs and arms. When I got injured playing sports, it was easier to just stop training altogether instead of readapting my technique. That's why her prosthesis is so important. They keep her from growing stagnant. I also wonder if the reason there are these prostheses laying around in Shaded Castle for no reason is that Melania intended them for her Valkyries. I couldn't imagine that Melania didn't know at least as much as Gowry when it comes to what her ascension into Godhood would look like and that includes the fracturing of her soul that lead to the birth of her daughters. By ensuring they had access to prostheses, she was ensuring their independence and freedom. They wouldn't have to decay and die in order to be reborn as valkyries and fated to serve her. They would grow up as individuals and die as themselves. Unfortunately, only Millicent followed her mother's wishes, accepted her prostheses, and got to live free. So Malenia is a pretty good mom.

[@TheActualMrLink]

@@TheRisky9in the most absurd, FromSoft, roundabout-ass way…yeah.

[@runningoutofnames6956]

I imagined some possibilities for this: First go to mohg and kill him Then go to malenia and since she doesn’t know us she’ll immediately attack us but after we beat her first phase, she’ll be on her knees and we’ll get the option to either “finish” her off thus starting her second phase or wait a few seconds and then be given the option to talk to her (like we had with patches) and tell her where her brother is Then we’ll head back to mohg’s palace and find her there in distraught at how she found her bother and in a state of anguish and delirium, she’ll bloom and attack anything that moves forcing us to fight her again but in the palace thus giving them the sad ending FromSoft alway has a hard on for. If we don’t go to mohg first however then nothing will change or after her first phase we can tell her that we can help her find him and the rest is the same as the first one or we just fight her like in the normal game and won’t have the miquella quest line available.

[@vyor8837]

Aside from Sellen name a sad ending.

[@MaidenlessScrub]

@@vyor8837 Boggart, Millicent, Irina, D, Fia, Blaidd, Iji, etc.

[@vyor8837]

@@MaidenlessScrub boggart only ends badly if you do the one thing he tells you not to do. Millicent ends fine. Irina isn't even a person past one interaction. D attacks another person. Fia still wins im the end and also dies because you do a stupid thing you don't have to do. Blaidd I'll grant you, but Iji removes his own protection

[@johnw.lennon1366]

@@vyor8837 if we are going by the Boggart logic, how about we just don’t play the game. That way no one suffers

[@vyor8837]

@@johnw.lennon1366 "don't mess with dung eater" -boggart You don't have to let Dung Eater out to play the game (or you can kill him when you open the cell).

[@kalemnir]

Her mind is consumed by rot, she barely remembers who she is, that's why she attacks on sight. I gave this a thought and this looks like the most wholesome explanation. Taking her with you against Mohg is not the best idea (if you want to fix things - yeah, I read some fanfiction and have some ideas myself), even if she's conscious and aware, considering what she's done to Radahn.

[@kaffebrodern2944]

She attacked us because you're after her great rune. She knows we are out to kill her the same way we are out to kill all the other demi gods. After all tarnished all have the same fate. To kill the demi gods and become the elden lord.

[@Zapdos97]

Tarnished wants Great Runes and to take out the competition(just like Godfrey did). Besides, someone invades your home covered in blood while carrying a machete, what do you do?

[@dawarror]

Malenia is the embodiment of "Woke up and chose violence". I am so glad someone made this video cuz i was wondering as well of why we couldnt have a conversation with her especially seeing that(if you followed the questline) we had the golden needle to save her. In my eyes and im sure there are other that agree with me, Malenia is still alive along with Mogh as well because they both were optional fights, hopefully the DLC will piece together all remaining questions and theories we all had up to this point

[@Finaldo_number_1]

No Lets me solo her is the problem

[@Zapdos97]

It's like if someone broke into your home covered in blood while carrying a machete. It's easy to understand why she attacks us, every other boss really.

[@MisterK9739]

Them being optional bosses does not by any way indicate that they are still alive. Malenia attacked us because she is completely delusional, Millicent was the embodiment of her „will, dignity, sense of self, to resist the scarlet rot“ which she split off by blooming against Radahn. And depending on whether you finish Millicents quest or not you either: don‘t return Millicent/her sense of self to her, or Millicent dies (one way or another) before being able to reconnect with Malenia. All of this clearly indicates that Malenia has lost her self and her will to live. I‘m pretty sure that she was glad when we slayed her, her last words didn‘t carry any sentiment against us. Only sadness that she lost Miquella

[@Shizn0id]

@@MisterK9739 she also goes ape on you when you show up because she's been comatose since the war with radahn and doesnt even know her brother is gone from his cocoon. then you show up radiating all that demigod power you've taken and she wakes up to defend an empty cradle from what she would think is one of the other demigods trying to take their great runes.

[@calebolds9609]

To be fair at this point I've carved my way through the entire continent and killed every shardbearer I've found aside from Renalla I have this small theory that Shardbearers can sense if the person they're facing is also a shardbearer.

[@drumo2273]

It'd make sense, both overall and as to why she awakes the moment you arrive

[@TheNapster153]

It definitely holds logic. Beings of power naturally emit influence on all spectrums in these settings. Plus, I don't think we're the first Tarnished to approach her even before the current setting. Tarnished itself is a term that goes all the way back to Godfrey and his armies, so it lends credence that if she doesn't know them by skill than certaonly by lore.

[@crywlf9103]

This isn’t really backed up by game mechanics though, as we can pick and choose which shardbearers we kill, yet all boss interactions are the same. We could go straight to Rykard without taking on another shardbearer and the interaction is the same

[@MunyuShizumi]

​@@crywlf9103You can't get to Malenia without defeating at least one shardbearer: Morgott. The path to the Mountaintops (and the other half of the medallion) is blocked otherwise. You're guaranteed to be a shardbearer when facing Malenia (unless you glitch and content-skip into Consecrated Snowfield or the Haligtree).

[@Zapdos97]

Right? Like imagine some dude covered in blood invading your home carrying a machete, what do you do?

[@MrJomalley123]

I do notice that in Malenias arena its full of water so she can hear every step you take

[@ianco2437]

And all the blood spilled by all the other players

[@Not.Reese777]

I think a malenia based quest line off of what you said probably could work in this game. Say whenever you finish phase one she kinda drops to her knees in exhaustion and there’s some dialogue of her questioning her brother’s whereabouts that eventually gives you the option to tell her where he is. It would be kinda like millicents quest where you meet her in certain locations but you need to re direct her due to the rot influencing and basically eating her brain. Whenever she finally gets to the cocoon she has some sort of sad dialogue about her brother being in that state and then ends up killing herself seppuku style in front of us and it drops the great rune and remembrance but no runes. I’m sure other people could come up with a better quest but just thought it was a cool idea.

[@CheerfuEntropy]

thine editing has engoodened. I commend thee

[@apolloisnotashirt]

I second thy commendation. Also, has thou’st realize that while travelling and battling through the lands between, our manner of speech is influenced?

[@user-hc1bn2ze9f]

@@apolloisnotashirt Thicc thigh I love, ancient speech me do not learn. 👍👍

[@apolloisnotashirt]

@@user-hc1bn2ze9f unga bunga brother

[@IronArmPanda]

Malenia lost herself when she had released the rot against Radahn. She had to abandon her morals and pride to let the rot take control. Millicent's story gave us a "happy ending" of sorts. You essentially do the same for her as Miquella did for Malenia to quell her rot. You allow her the satisfaction of fighting alongside you to regain that which she lost and be herself again. Just some of my observations.

[@rossato2109]

Sad they changed Milicent quest from being Malenia to a new char (Milicent). It would be epic to find her without memory, recover her arm and then have a tragic end fight with her.

[@fyrdup]

I mean, it gave us Millicent so I'm fine with that personally.

[@HighDarkDragon]

Would have been really cool if you could straight up tell her where Miquella is if you went to Mogwyn. It would start a side quest akin to the one with Millicent, where she's gonna meet you in the blood swamp section. You traverse the entire place with her, killing enemies in an amazing tag team until you reach Mogh's room, where Malenia realizes what actually happened to her brother. I picture her just falling on her knees, speechless and motionless. (If you talk to her, only the '''...'' would appear and she doesn't even face you.) Then you can return to the Haligtree, where you find her in her boss room. At this point she would have nothing more to lose, but she asks you one last favor: the possibility to die as Malenia, Blade of Miquella, before the Scarlet Rot takes over her mind completely. He chooses you as her final opponent because she recognizes you as her equal, a friend, a worthy someone to entrust her shard to. I know that Fromsoft doesn't really like to turn bosses into allies, not like this at least, but it would have been really cool, and wouldn't alter the thing too much.

[@farfa2937]

So basically the ebony warrior from skyrim but with extra trauma?

[@luvlols4462]

Melania is just cranky when she wakes up. We should have brought her a coffee.

[@bkorodi1797]

It's fucking Malenia.

[@ranniemanangan5371]

5:55 I don't think that her constantly stating her name and that she's the blade of Miquella is out of pride, it's more on grasping her consciousness as she loosing her sanity... It's like the ramblings done by people who are affected by dementia and Alzheimer's disease.. it's more likely the rot also affects her brain, especially with how she looks like blind with the rot on her eyes..

[@facundovera3227]

"Now do you understand? I'm Malenia, Blade of Miquella". The Cut Content line is sick.

[@stevenneiman1554]

Malenia is arguably the only boss for whom the dodge mechanic actually works. Most bosses you can attack off to one side and have a 50/50 chance they'll dodge right into it, which is weird for most but makes sense for a literal blind woman who just hears you winding up for an attack and guesses it's probably aimed at her.

[@random_something1852]

I mean… who else would it be aimed at?

[@stevenneiman1554]

@@random_something1852 Ten feet to her left so she'll dodge into it.

[@Natesuki]

Malenia is just tired of her sleep being interrupted. Shes cranky

[@cosmicmelon9305]

>Talk to Malenia >Tell her Mogh has been booty clapping Miquella at his creepy blood palace >Malenia leaves to find her brother >Travel to Moghwyn Palace >Find Malenia fully rotted, crazed, and inconsolable as to what has befallen Miquella >Fight a super ROT Goddess Malenia Either way, there'd be no escaping having to put Malenia down. It's bound to happen.

[@RyanCalhan]

So she’s the physical manifestation of “Woke up and chose violence”

[@sneakytaze5336]

I think it relates a lot to the cut content as well. Because she does deliver weird lines which makes it seem like she knows you, and as if she was confused you attacked her.

[@user-dq6xb6gp5j]

IT WELL BE VERY HARD TO TALK TO MIQEULLA AFTER KILLING HIS SISTER

[@facundovera3227]

She's not dead she's surely alive! (opinion)

[@JoeJoe-cj5gn]

I know this is late but I don’t think the demigods we fight actually die with the expectation of Godwyn who was kill with the rune of death (half killed) so it makes sense that they become dormant after there defeat of course this is only speculation

[@user-dq6xb6gp5j]

I CANT BELEIVE ITS BEEN 8 MONTH SINCE MY COMMENT @@facundovera3227

[@user-dq6xb6gp5j]

I CANT BELEIVE ITS BEEN 8 MONTH SINCE MY COMMENT@@JoeJoe-cj5gn

[@Kira-pv4xq]

@@facundovera3227She exploded into dust how is that alive?

[@96WackoXJacko96]

The big reason I would have liked if Malenia went to Mohgwyn Palace is to see if the Rot and Blood outer gods would have had some direct interaction. There's not much reason I can think of other than from trolling the players, but imagine if the gods joined forces and you had to fight some bleed/rot boss. For as many secrets as there are in this games I'm surprised there isn't a super secret boss like this could've been. Either way a lot could been done here and I'm excited to see if there are any changes! This game has so much potential and I think regardless of what we guess, dlc is gonna surprise us!

[@iamthereddemon20]

That sounds so so painful

[@banishedknight5250]

Thanks a lot for making this video, it did answer a lot of questions in my mind, keep up the great work.

[@kenozuna3721]

I think it's a somewhat flawed interpretation, or at least an unnecessary one, in regards to her pride. Malenia doesn't remind us that she's the Blade of Miquella, and I think people read into her boast and miss the most important part of opening monologue, which implies that she's done horrible things in the name of awaiting Miquella's return. When she begins to introduce herself and mentions she's never known defeat, she specifically says "heed my words." It's not a boast - it's a warning. You can easily read this as her telling you that she'd rather not fight if she doesn't have to, but if you insist on it, you are going up against an undefeated, nigh invincible swordswoman who has never known defeat. This is supported as well in the 1.00 prepatch version of the game where her famous kill line has an additional: "Now do you understand... I am Malenia" etc. I don't think she's necessarily losing her mind as much as she is incomplete. Millicent harboring Malenia's sense of self which is something she abandons is the tragedy. She's missing that part of her presumable soul, considering it fractured and manifested into a literal child after her battle with Radahn. You return this part to her after you beat her.

[@jaydimmick8554]

I've always wondered this. Like BITCH I WANNA TELL YOU WHERE MIQUELLA IS

[@eziowayne]

I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of watching Elden Ring lore videos

[@spotry]

I really hope elden ring has a DLC where you can fight Radahn closer to his prime, he's definitely the strongest shard bearer as he managed to take a draw with malenia. Even after he loses himself to the scarlet rot he's still extremely strong, evident by the many, many weapons littered around his arena, and the entire festival itself being dedicated to giving Radahn a warrior's death. If we could fight a prime version of him, I can see it being the hardest fight in the series. If the devs make it that way

[@Tarcon_Vaagh_69]

Beautifully edited video, just got recommended by youtube, have never seen your channel before. Great video topic and discussion :)

[@brandonzadel3465]

The one thing to remember in Elden Ring is that we have almost ZERO agency. Anything and everything that happens does so because it was ordained for us to do so. We're in the lands between specifically because we were meant to be there. The problem with talking to anyone before or after certain events happen, which would cause us to not fight them isn't a choice we'd ever be able to make. Not just because FROMSFOT wants to make us cry, but because in the story, we were never meant to have that choice to begin with.

[@AymenDZA]

I think it's not only "Greed" that drives certain Tarnished to seek more than two great runes, it's also about consolidation of power and the elimination of possible rivals/usurpers.

[@zerozone5848]

Malenia's not herself when she's sleepy, especially when hungry. We shouldve gave her a Snickers so she would calm down, even for but a moment.

[@dw3508]

I like that you included the fact that it took you many attempts into the lore

[@Writh811]

An interesting twist to being able to tell Malenia where Miquella is would be if you return to his cocoon you would find a distress Malenia who loses all hope and surrender herself to the Rot. Driven mad with grief she blooms and we fight her phase 2 in the sight of the cocoon as she has been driven mad with grief.

[@ConnorJara]

People overcomplicate this in Elden Ring. Player character is Tarnished who is there to put the demi-gods to the sword. They have Grace which is discerned from the eyes. All of the demi-gods know the tarnished will come for them to claim their shards and to restore the Elden Ring.

[@Zapdos97]

Thank you.. it's so simple. I don't know why people overcomplicate it. The Tarnished is either there for her Great Rune or to defeat her as a future potential threat to our new order, or both.

[@liendel328]

The loss of her limbs is not from the firght with Radhan or after that, all the unalloyed gold parts of her body were forged thanks to Miquella and are much older than the shattering. We can easily guess it is the same case for her eyes. But they also might have been damaged when she bloomed against Radhan. As for the reason of the fight against the MC, we can guess that she wants to protect her great rune. But it seems to be a clanky reason as she only lives to serve her twin brother. As she always repeats, she is the blade of Miquella, not his champion, *just* a blade. Another interesting reason is also one of the possible reason for her fight against Radhan: she does it for Miquella, because the tarnished (MC) is an empyrean, chosen by the greater will and the two fingers, just the same as Miquella. To ensure her brother could ascend to godhood and free himself of his curse, she has to eliminate competition.

[@BigBadWolframio]

My two cents on why she fights Radhan: At castle Sol we learn that Miquella and his followers were waiting for a foretold eclipse that never came to happen; Radhan is holding the stars and, with them, the fates of the demi-gods. Perhaps Malena was trying to,get Radhan to let the stars go.

[@liendel328]

Yes, this is one of the popular theories because the stars are often a metaphor for fate and destiny. Another reason I like is that she wants her brother back. Miquella had just been kidnapped when Malenia started to march south. It's quite logical to go in this direction, knowing the location of Mogh's palace (south of the Haligtree, but underground). She could have heard her brother had been taken away southwards, and she would have begun her rampage in all the places south of the Haligtree (Goderick's been defeated before her fight against her stepbrother). Amyway, all those are theories, mayne we'll have some answers in the upcoming DLCs.

[@BigBadWolframio]

@@liendel328 Yeah! I wonder what will FromSoftware surprise us with! 🥰

[@StrangerThing369]

These videos bring elden ring and its amazing lore and story to life in a way that makes the game so much more enjoyable idk what I would do w/o videos likes yours and vaatvidya and many others!

[@ViNncentSmith]

The first 3 minutes summed up the Entire idea behind elden ring faster and better than any vaatividya video ever did ❤congratz

[@Tneal78]

The fact that you can't tell her where Miquella is if you have already been to Mohgwyn palace is kind of an oversight.

[@dublk5593]

What would’ve been cool is you fight her phase 1 and after you beat her and she calms down you tell her where her brother is and she leaves to rescue him. But after that you can return to mohg palace and you find her in a state of despair after she finds him and she gives into the rot in which you have to mercy kill her. So no matter what you fight her and kill her but like sif one options is way more depressing but fleshed out.

[@se7enwonders]

Ok no way Jake! I was literally just asking and debating this in co op chat during her fight the other day!! I just started your video and looking forward to your theories! But I had to mention that the question was on my mind as well. I’m surprised tbh that we are attacked by anything in the Halig Tree!!

[@blacknyellow962]

This makes you really wonder how the new upcoming DLC content is going to link back to established lore. Maybe we'll get some new dialogue with her? Or other characters based on our actions in it? Considering person on (what looks to be) Torrent, looks to be Miquella.

[@birdbrain9625]

Maybe FromSoft thought the same way, but changed their minds at the last second. Miquella does wear a ring on his finger in Mohg's Palace we could have took the ring back to Malenia and that would have resulted in a different cutscene or option to fight her or not . I think I heard someone else say it was in the game files that Miquella's ring could have been removed at some point.

[@SirAshford]

I certainly would’ve been very interested in an “Order of Rot” type ending as well. I hope to see this potential applied in DLC. I’ve got a save file where I’ve done pretty much everything except kill Malenia and burn the Erdtree. I’m waiting for Miquella to be reborn and see what can be done.

[@SirAshford]

As something rather unique and unexpected, a bug happened on my file. I haven’t burned the Erdtree (I prefer it’s original appearance+Leyndell). So if it isn’t burned, I shouldn’t have acces to Farum Azula. However, without me knowing how exactly it happened, access was granted to me to the “Dragonlord Placidusax” site of Grace. I went in, directly spawned right by the boss and killed him.

[@SirAshford]

The potential is insane because if I go and kill Malenia now I can bug my file irreparably. (I have the whole Haligtree discovered up to the roots but I’m leaving her alive on purpose for the DLC). If I end her, and go to Placidusax’s now empty arena, which I can freely travel to and from, I can use the Unnalloyed Gold Needle, the complete one, and remove the Flame of Frenzy. This means I would have no means to burn the Erdtree whatsoever. Melina has already abandoned me.

[@nbmoleminer5051]

Not me I want an Ancient Dragon themed ending.

[@SirAshford]

@@nbmoleminer5051 more of a Golden Order Fundamentalist myself but the dragons and gold are friendly so cheers!

[@purplesun6800]

Your editing, extraordinary.

[@pleasenorpgs]

i wish more NPCs had a reaction after our story endings especially when they're related to that specific ending

[@andya4635]

We really can’t wait for DLC Thanks for making another great thought provoking video

[@DRENIC10]

I wonder why we are attacked at all. Like. Tarnished: hey, May i ask thee something? Random: HE IS HERE, ATTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!!

[@skitariimoment9596]

I loved the haligtree because i felt like a villain going through it. Those enemies just straight up look like they’re supposed to be the good guys and theres even a few soldiers who don’t attack unless they see you progressing too far past them. You can literally just sit next to one of them and chill.

[@rst553]

3:26 I love that just a one off side conversation straight up confirms you’re an assassin of the greater will sent to kill the gods and take their place lol. Not super significant in spite of all that happens but it adds another level of badassery to your adventures

[@Win_Condition]

Great video per usual but 1 critique: you stated that the chosen tarnished requires 2 great runes to mend the Elden Ring but, in actuality, that is only the stipulation put forth by the 2 fingers after Vyke’s failed attempt at lordship.

[@tempest8746]

Actually 3 great runes are required to mend the elden ring not 2, its just that you are bound to face Morgott so you only needed to find the other 2 before grabbing his infront of the erdtree which is why gideon states to go after him later and just focus on grabbing the others for now.

[@Seca90]

i always love the dancing trees @2:23

[@yharnamite]

these shots are incredible man, im very limited in the footage i can get on ps5, freecam would be awesome

[@magicoddball1452]

Hewg says about the tarnished that: "you came to challenge the demi gods and their god" so I'm guessing if I'm a demigod and I see a Tarnished, I can deduce why they are here.

[@timsonnenberg6977]

Great video! Only thing I want to add is, that I dont think that Malenia is blind. Its a running theme in Fromsofts games is that enemies dont need eyes to see you. Skeletons are a prime example, even with a crossbow they will hit you. Malenia stares at you during the entire fight, with barely any exceptions. Whenever positions shift, one of the first movements she makes is to look at you. Even during waterfowl she barely looks away. She always knows where you are, how far to dash or fly. I think in a game like Elden Ring, if the intention was a clear depiction as blind, it would have been done differently.

[@altarf2582]

I completely agree. She doesn't react at all to Crepus' Vial which silences all noise by the player, perfectly faces and pursues the player no matter where they go or silently they do it, and most tellingly of all, she dodges regular sorceries but not Night Sorceries. In lore Night Sorceries are invisible, so if she was blind she should be reacting to both the same way.

[@facundovera3227]

I think it's like Toph from Avatar. She's blind, but you _wouldn't_ realize when fighting.

[@amanwithnoplan7648]

Like that one blind boss from demon souls, I forgot his name

[@dynomight3855]

@a man with no plan I think it was Old Hero. Go bare foot, and he aimlessly wanders around to find you unless you make a loud noise. Melania, I believe can still see, but maybe in a different way.

[@heroes8844]

of course she is not blind, except she doesnt have eyes, now we know who else doesnt have eyes.

[@boneblast93]

I’d like to mention that the radahn festival is held to give the great general an honorable death in battle since radahn and the guy that starts the festival(I forgot his name) made a promise that when they die, it would be in battle and honorably. (I’m not 100% sure on that but I remember hearing something like this)

[@cyriell]

Maybe its like the flood in halo, the scarlet rot consumes her mind and the only way to stay somewhat clear of mind is to continuesly remind herself that (Same as the flood where the captain had to continuesly name his callsign and number to keep his thoughts his own)

[@tarasouthwell6132]

The best thing ever would've been 1.) you die to mohg, 2.) you find Malenia and fight her to her phase transition, 3.) you tell her where Miquella is, 4.) you go back to Mohg, summon Malenia as a cooperator, and they have a battle to the death where there's a cut scene in which Malenia transitions to her second form to defeat Mohg and dies in the process. Her heartfelt apology to Miquella would've made SOOOOOO much more sense.

[@beanbeater]

a bit like gael hmm, that could've worked

[@clorkmagnus]

It makes no sense Mogh can even challenge her in god form let alone she dies in that fight. If Mogh was stronger than her he wouldn’t wait for her to go away and steal Miquella then proceeded to hide lol.

[@turtleusa353]

at least malenia has some presicion and poise with her attacks, radahn just swings his swords around wildly lol

[@WesYes]

We probably will get to help them in some capacity in the dlc.

[@killerclown-df9lz]

Thank you fellow tarnish for help me understand more about melania

[@uniguy2126]

Even if they fix her hyper armour inconsistencies, healing from hitting shields, and the various visceral attack bugs, she would still be disappointing because it wouldn’t make sense plotwise. All you would have to do is say “I know where Miquella is” and then you could have the coolest fight imaginable where both you and Malenia team up against Mohg. Obviously he would need his health and poise buffed but damn it could’ve been amazing. They could even bring back the cut attack where he did six nihil’s instead of three to help balance it.

[@luciansullivan8857]

I think Malenia knowing where her brother is and see the state he in will change nothing in the end I believe she will lose all hope and just let the Scarlet Rot consume her

[@ChocolateBadness]

Malenia is even more tragic when you realize 2 things. First, if she was serious about the shattering war, she passed up a perfectly good great rune when she let Godrick go. She picked a fight with Radahn, that she didn't need to fight, lost, blighted a country, and while that was happening, her brother was kidnapped. She already had a great rune. There was no good reason to pass up Godrick's.

[@JakeDeptula]

I hope in a future DLC there is more options with the demi gods so you can help them for new endings and more to the lore

[@kosmorkos]

My interpretation, because the Tarnished has no buisness being at the Haligtree and isn't there to help her or Miquella, the Tarnished is after her great rune. Also we massacred the Albinarics and Misbegotten on our way there.... y'know the races that Miquella wanted to protect... 😅

[@kosmorkos]

As for Millicent's questline, we use Millicent. To obtain Miquella's needle to quell the Flame of Frenzy, or to help Gowry

[@kosmorkos]

Another reason why the Tarnished wouldn't want to help them is because Melania wants Miquella to become Elden Lord. Every friendly NPC we meet either doesn't care about becoming Elden Lord or diverts from that path

[@abydosianchulac2]

She'd have no way of knowing if we killed anyone before she woke up, or if we were led down to her chamber in peace

[@kosmorkos]

@@abydosianchulac2 good point but again there isn't any good reason for a Tarnished to be at the Haligtree to begin with as it was purposefully closed off to the rest of the Lands Between. Since everyone immediately recognizes that we are Tarnished, she must've assumed we were only there for her Great Rune

[@DynoSkrimisher]

They attacked first though. Self Defense is a reasonable choice

[@abydosianchulac2]

Well, you touch upon something that a lot of other people ask about, which is why does the game refer to many demigods that we never see? The answer is that the demigods we go up against are the remaining ones after the Tarnished have swept through trying to become Elden Lord. Otherwise, it doesn't make sense that anyone would have gotten a rune before, let alone two like Vyke did, if the only greatrunes are held by people still living. That's why we are attacked on sight, including by Melania: every demigod knows that if a Tarnished shows up, they're intent on murder.

[@johnme16]

To be fair, we instantly become aggroed to anything that’s not a helpful NPC in this game and even if it’s just chillin

[@JAI_SHREE_RAM12337]

Lets hope that aseo is able to talk to her once he reaches her

[@turnerwhyuneedtoknow8433]

Repectfully, you're wrong. At around 5:00, you tell us that she "wildly swings her sword around herself" which is where you made an error. What she's actually doing is using waterfowl dance, as you said, but this attack is different than you may have initially thought. She's not "wildly swinging her sword," she's beautifully reciting a technique taught to her by a blind swordsman long ago, that was developed to attempt to stop the spread of her scarlet rot. That's why it's called "waterfowl dance," the movements mimic flowing water, a counter to the scarlet rot, which thrives in stagnant water (i.e. lake of rot). With all due respect, she's not "wildly swinging her sword," she's fighting to save herself, as you mentioned.

[@serjacklucern4584]

the fact that Malenia is blind may explain why there's water in the arena: so she can hear better our steps.

[@KA08]

Short answer: like every enemy, she’s programmed to do so

[@agucci]

To know that we are there, Tarnished and all, is very good. ❤

[@Nizzy37]

My take on it is that when wake her from her slumber she immediately senses that miquella is no longer next to her. Remember when Finlay brought her back she was passed out. And I would assume she remained so until we woke her up. Otherwise she would have gone looking for him. That being said she's extremely angry that her brother has been taken from his resting place and assumes we played a part in it.

[@ShinStriderHiryu]

Thats a good theory, when malenia mention she waited miquella to return, maybe because she already know hes not there

[@DataDrain02]

Not completely true about the happy ending thing. Boc, Nepheli, and Rya if you do everything right have happy endings. It's VERY rare, but it happens. That being said.... Yeah. I agree with you. Malenia wouldn't have a happy ending, no matter what. She'd see her brother in that state, or sense it. Have a "I failed...." moment, and likely just snap.

[@thecommentguy9380]

Rya's ending is uncertain since she went on some journey and we know nothing about her after that

[@DataDrain02]

@@thecommentguy9380 Still better than her outright dying in front of you.

[@thecommentguy9380]

@@DataDrain02 that girl cant fight

[@AceAviations2]

Bogart has a good ending as well, however that requires turning Dung Eater into a puppet (probably the best outcome) and then progressing his quest to Altus. This way he never gets killed by Dung Eater and can stick around.

[@DataDrain02]

@@AceAviations2 Oh yeah, that is true. Or you could just do what I always do.... Just kill Dung Eater in his cell. Sure, you don't get the summon. But Mimic Tear or Tiche are better anyway.

[@jameseddleman6944]

There was something in the start of the game that made me feel like the story was semi 4th wall breaking. That WE return to the Lands Between, from "another world" and brought to this world

[@isabellerror]

I AM A SWORDSMAN I AM A SWORDSMAN

[@gabrigoo2731]

Two negative endings for choosing to tell her about miquella could be 1. She loosing to the rot from the desperation when seing him and then attacking us as the goddes of rot because she can't think anymore 2. She deciding that since miquella can't save her and she will one day lose to the rot she wants to challenge us and allow us to kill her if we win

[@feddyb1YT]

Simple actually, you invaded her and her brothers home, kill her men, and the zombified citizens of the haligtree and the other creatures and whatnot staying there and then afterward woke her up, so to sum it all up, never wake up a sleeping girl she'll be very mad

[@FirstLast-yc9lq]

Even simpler than that: You, as the player, went there to collect a great rune. Something she is unwilling to give up. Simple as.

[@AziSlays]

@@FirstLast-yc9lq ... but we don't get a great rune from Malenia?

[@FirstLast-yc9lq]

@@AziSlays Yes you do?

[@Whaccd]

I fully believe situations like this are where From Soft were fighting producers. Things like the cut merchant quest-line prove that idea even further imo.

[@CastAssVip]

if the dlc does center around Miquella i think a possible way to start it would be to either go to Miquella in the egg or to do a certain emote to Malenia to passable possibly get to talk to her to go to Miquella

[@SpottedHares]

Fun fact you can count on one had the number of mobs that can move around their environment and are not insta running right t you to kill you on just one hand. This is mind you across seven games. mindless attacking everything that moves is just the style of game and should be taken as having any deeper meaning.

[@jamescannon4186]

I think if we ever get to interact with Miquella then there should be a specific interaction where Miquella can sense if you have his sisters rune and maybe is more aggressive towards us.

[@Krystalmyth]

Malenia being optional means that will never be. FromSoft rarely makes bosses triggered by events like this if they expect everyone to face them.

[@matiasluukkanen7718]

@@Krystalmyth In DS3 one DLC boss has unique dialogue concerning your optional choices in main game, and main game NPC has some additional dialogue concerning DLC boss. So there is good chance for some dialogue, but probably not anything more than that.

[@ducktes]

HE’S BACK AGAIN WITH THE LORE! Love this content! Can’t wait for dlc

[@siriusmywaifu4043]

Millicent is still my favorite character in Elden Ring. I loved her storyline and I loved her growth.

[@sariabirkin7068]

Because boss fight .

[@BlueBD]

I wouldn't exactly call it a Happy ending. We found Miquilla. yes. Downside, Miquilla isnt exactly in a state of well.... Life. It being a Delayed Bossfight would actually be Very cool and Thematic to every other quest which has you going back to a previous location only to discover mayhem or sadness lol.

[@logeyperogi1805]

I personally just think she hit a point of “Fuck it” Like she just stopped caring altogether, decided she was done giving a shit, she would live for the sake of Miquella, but she wasn’t gonna be peaceful about it and talk things out with the Tarnished She’d lost her brother and inadvertently killed their dream (the Haligtree) so she was done, she embraced the Scarlet Rot, embraced being a monster, and she attacked without hesitation Which really sucks, I wanted to tell her that Miquella could be saved and where she could find him to do so

[@matiasluukkanen7718]

She has not given in, or rot would consume her because of stagnation. She is waiting Miquella´s return as per in game item descriptions of her set. Her brother promised to find a way to return, most likely in a dream, considering he is St. Trina. Only DLC shows if she was correct in trusting her brother.

[@richymancebo8014]

Makes sense why there is water on the floor in the arena u fight malenia since she is blind makes it easier for her to pin point the tarnish by listening to the foot steps