As is the usual in FromSoftware games, Elden Ring has a ton of challenging boss fights for players to experience. This is even more true for Elden Ring due to the fact that the game holds a much larger amount of boss fights than any previous FromSoftware game.
The types of bosses that players could find in past FromSoftware games varied per game. For example, Dark Souls typically features a larger amount of massive or bestial bosses whereas Sekiro features many more humanoid or medium-sized bosses. However, between Elden Ring's overworld bosses as well as its story and dungeon bosses, there is a ton of diversity; a player never knows if they'll be facing a humanoid swordsman, a giant, or a dragon on the other side of fog walls.
Because of this diversity as well as the sheer number of fights, even Elden Ring's mini-bosses can be a huge challenge for players, let alone well-known walls to player progression such as Margit or Radahn. However, for many players, one late-game boss stands out among the rest, with many saying she is one of if not FromSoftware's hardest boss ever. That boss is Malenia, Blade of Miquella, an incredibly nimble swordswoman with fast-twitch attacks and big hitboxes. However, one player recently decided to put Malenia and her boss fight to shame by defeating her as a level 1 wretch without taking a single point of damage.
After 50 hours, it's finally done. The hardest souls-challenge I've ever done. Malenia [Level 1 Wretch, No summons, hitless] 55 consecutive Parries. from Eldenring
Without a video for support, many would assume this statement to be a hoax; after all, Malenia is potentially the hardest boss in the game, with many players being stuck on her fight for a huge amount of time. Without some form of counter to fight against Elden Ring's Malenia, it seems the fight would be impossible. However, Reddit user TheWindMan33 figured out the best ways to fight against the boss, putting on a display of pure skill and strategy.
Speaking of strategy, immediately the video shows TheWindMan33 using the golden parry ash of war on a light shield; the reason for this shield and ash combo is that it is the easiest to execute parries with. Along with the shield, TheWindMan33 has infused their club with frostbite, offering a big damage boost any time they manage to proc it on Malenia. To stop Malenia's waterfowl dance, TheWindMan33 would swap to a better shield, absorbing most of the hits and dodging the rest. Most of the fight is spent utilizing skillful parrying to riposte Malenia; however, the last part of TheWindMan33's strategy reveals itself during phase two: they have equipped the club with the bloodhound's step ash of war, allowing for speedy escapes from Malenia's devastating AoE attacks.
The video was a masterclass not only in defeating Malenia, but also doing it in style. As entertaining as it is to watch Elden Ring's Malenia get destroyed by Elden Beasts, TheWindMan 33 made Malenia look like a starting area enemy in this video.
Elden Ring is out now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.