Malenia is the hardest boss in Elden Ring, and many players default to Mimic Tear to split her aggro. But she's absolutely beatable solo — you just need the right build and patience. These builds exploit her weaknesses without relying on spirit ash distractions.
Recommended Builds
#1: Rivers of Blood
Corpse Piler's range and bleed buildup let you maintain safe distance while chunking Malenia's HP.
Why it works: Bleed is Malenia's biggest weakness. Corpse Piler hits 6+ times per use, each building hemorrhage. When bleed procs, it deals percentage HP damage that she can't heal back faster than you apply it. The weapon's reach lets you stay outside her standard combo range.
#2: Frost Mage
Frost procs reduce Malenia's damage absorption by 20%, directly countering her healing mechanic.
Why it works: Every hit Malenia lands heals her. Frost debuff means she takes 20% more damage from everything, so your DPS outpaces her healing. Adula's Moonblade can stagger her and has great range for avoiding Waterfowl Dance.
#3: Giant Crusher
Colossal weapons stagger Malenia easily, preventing her from attacking and healing entirely.
Why it works: Malenia has very low poise. Two jump attacks with Giant-Crusher stagger her for a critical hit. During the critical animation, she can't heal. The stagger loop (jump R2 > critical > jump R2) can chain indefinitely, never giving her a chance to use Waterfowl Dance.