Elden Ring: How to Get and Use Maliketh's Black Blade
How to Get Maliketh's Black Blade
To acquire Maliketh's Black Blade, players must progress deep into the main storyline and defeat Maliketh, the Black Blade, a mandatory late-game boss. Maliketh is encountered in Crumbling Farum Azula, an endgame legacy dungeon unlocked after completing the events in the Mountaintops of the Giants.
Maliketh is a two-phase boss. His first phase, Beast Clergyman, focuses on bestial incantations and aggressive melee pressure. In the second phase, Maliketh fully embraces Destined Death, unleashing rapid, far-reaching attacks that apply a powerful debuff which drains maximum HP over time. Defeating him requires patience, strong positioning, and careful stamina management.
Upon victory, Maliketh drops the Remembrance of the Black Blade. This Remembrance can be exchanged at Enia, the Finger Reader, located at the Roundtable Hold. In exchange, players may choose Maliketh's Black Blade or the incantation Black Blade. Selecting the weapon grants access to one of the most unique colossal swords in the game.
Weapon Requirements and Scaling
Maliketh's Black Blade is classified as a Colossal Sword and has demanding stat requirements. Players must invest heavily in Strength, Dexterity, and Faith to wield it effectively, making it best suited for hybrid Strength/Faith builds. The weapon primarily scales with Strength and Faith, reinforcing its identity as a holy yet destructive armament.
Because of its high weight and slow attack speed, the weapon favors deliberate, well-timed strikes rather than reckless aggression. When properly built around, however, it delivers exceptional damage and crowd control potential.
Unique Skill: Destined Death
The defining feature of Maliketh's Black Blade is its unique weapon skill, Destined Death. When activated, the player slams the blade into the ground, releasing a wave of black-and-gold energy. This attack deals heavy physical and holy damage while applying the Destined Death debuff, which temporarily reduces the target's maximum HP and continuously drains their health.
This effect is particularly potent against high-health enemies and late-game bosses, as it bypasses traditional survivability advantages. Even enemies resistant to holy damage still suffer from the max HP reduction, making the skill universally valuable in challenging encounters.
How to Use Maliketh's Black Blade Effectively
To maximize the weapon's potential, players should build around poise, survivability, and Faith scaling. Heavy armor helps offset the slow animations of colossal weapons, allowing players to trade hits more safely. Talismans that boost skill damage, reduce FP costs, or enhance Faith further amplify the effectiveness of Destined Death.
In combat, Maliketh's Black Blade excels at punishing openings. Its wide swings can clear groups of enemies, while its skill can be saved for boss openings or phase transitions. Using Destined Death at the start of a boss fight is often optimal, as the max HP reduction provides long-term value throughout the encounter.
However, caution is required. The weapon's slow speed and high stamina consumption make it vulnerable to fast enemies if used carelessly. Timing, spacing, and knowledge of enemy patterns are critical for consistent success.
Conclusion
Maliketh's Black Blade is more than just a powerful endgame weapon-it is a symbol of Elden Ring's darker truths and buy Elden Ring Runes mechanical depth. Acquired through perseverance and mastery of a challenging boss fight, the blade rewards players who embrace its deliberate, high-impact playstyle. For Strength/Faith builds willing to commit to its demands, Maliketh's Black Blade stands as one of the most satisfying and thematically rich weapons in the Lands Between.