How to Beat the Beast Clergyman / Maliketh, the Black Blade in Crumbling Farum Azula

Struggling with Maliketh, the Black Blade in Elden Ring's Crumbling Farum Azula? This guide breaks down his attacks and offers strategies to overcome both phases.

Alright, Tarnished, let's talk about Maliketh, the Black Blade. This guy is a major roadblock in Crumbling Farum Azula, and you'll find him in a big arena southeast of the Beside the Great Bridge site of grace. He's a remembrance boss, meaning you can't skip him if you want to see the end of the story. The fight starts with him as the Beast Clergyman, but once you get him to about half health, he'll reveal his true, much scarier form as Maliketh.

Stats / Weaknesses:

• Beast Clergyman (Phase 1): Relatively agile, uses sword attacks and rock projectiles.
• Maliketh, the Black Blade (Phase 2): Significantly more aggressive, uses a large black flame sword with increased range and power. Vulnerable to Holy damage, but resistant to most other types.

Phases:

1. Phase 1: Beast Clergyman
   This phase is all about learning his basic moveset. He's quick, so you'll need to be ready to dodge his sword swings, spins, and jumps. He also throws rocks at you, both small and fast, and a single large, slower boulder. Watch out for his ground tremor attack when you're close, and especially his 'Conjure Rocks from the Ground' attack, where rocks erupt and then crash down. If you're melee, this can be tough, but ranged players will also find themselves in danger due to his mobility.
2. Phase 2: Maliketh, the Black Blade
   Once you hit him with about half your damage, he transforms. This is where things get serious. Maliketh wields a massive sword imbued with a red-black flame. His attacks are faster, hit harder, and have way more range. Getting clipped by his sword will inflict a 'burn' status, causing your health to decay over time. Lingering flames on the ground will also damage you. Importantly, this 'fire' is actually magic damage, so your fire resistance won't help much here. He also unleashes 'Magic Slashes' that travel from his sword – these are bright red and track you. Sometimes he'll do a big spinning jump, launching these slashes. During this, it's best for melee players to just try and survive by dodging, as getting close is extremely risky.

Strategy:

• Phase 1: Focus on dodging his sword attacks and punishing openings. For the rock throws, learn the timing to roll through them. The 'Conjure Rocks' attack is dangerous; if you get caught in the initial eruption, roll out of the impact zone immediately before the rocks fall. Staying mobile is key.
• Phase 2: This is where you need to be patient. Maliketh is incredibly aggressive. His magic slashes are his most dangerous ranged attack; learn to dodge them. When he jumps and spins, it's a good time to back off and focus purely on evasion. Don't get greedy. Try to get one or two hits in after he finishes a combo, then be ready to dodge again. Using Spirit Ashes can help draw his aggro, giving you breathing room. If you have any Holy damage weapons or spells, they are particularly effective against him.
• General Tips: Always be aware of your surroundings. Maliketh's arena can be a bit tricky. Don't be afraid to use your Flasks liberally, especially in the second phase. If you're struggling, consider respeccing for more survivability or damage, or summoning a friend. This is a tough fight, but with persistence and learning his patterns, you'll eventually overcome the Black Blade.