Elden Ring: YOU DIED on a horse

Anyway I'm at Malenia, and the game is now the Malenia game, and I guess I'll just be fighting Malenia for weeks now. She certainly is unforgiving and lives up to the hype.

I don’t find much functional difference re spirit ashes and co-op summons except spirit ashes are prepared for solo mode

Godskin Duo is def the hardest duo boss in the series, but I personally didn’t find Malenia harder than Artorias, Maliketh harder than Manus or Gael. I found Laurence harder than any of these (and never beat him and never made it to Orphan)

They may have a point that colossal weapons are less viable though!

Re: Malenia, that's wild to me. Artorias was an early example of maybe having to dodge a different direction for one of three attacks, but he didn't heal every time he hit you or have anything as exacting (or punishing) as that waterfowl dance.

What I like, too, about ER's summon/spirit mechanic is that it is n/a in evergaols and certain boss fights. idk I thought there was a great spread of variety in ER. Part of what felt weird about DS1 (I think) was that the number of actual "skill test" boss fights were very few... aside from Artorias, Gwyn and the DLC opening beast, I found the most satisfying battles in the game to be the Black Knights.

https://i.imgur.com/FD9Vhjd.png

Have been exploring Mt Gelmir and just got absolutely shitted on by the Fullgrown Fallingstar Beast.

On the difficulty level, the video that Jordan posted on enemy AI was really interesting. Bloodborne encouraged aggressive attack through its health retrieval, to encourage people to avoid hiding behind a shield, Sekiro went even further by generally (not always) encouraging you to stay tight in on enemies and react according to their attack, which i thought was amazing combat and brilliantly taught by the game.

here i haven’t quite worked it out, and i think the video is right that it’s v dependent on build, which is another aspect of the flexibility of the game.

anyway beat Radahn by rotten breathing him, galloping round on Torrent and summoning NPCs whenever i could. it’s how he would have wanted to go.

Well, I fought Malenia for 3 hrs this morning and only got to phase 2 on the last try. But now I think I feel comfortable with all her moves and how I want to handle them, I just need to do it (a bunch of times).

I had to switch to cold claws w/Bloodhound's step for the waterfowl dance, it was too hard to switch weapons in the moment and dodging it normally was too unreliable. And turn the music off (my #1 boss tip).

Oh also I couldn't believe what a difference it made to go from a medium roll/equip load to light. Attacks that I couldn't dodge before suddenly became easy with some extra iframes & roll distance.

I don't think it matters much for other bosses, but it makes a big difference here if you're primarily trying to dodge all her attacks.

i doubt you need help with malenia, just more time fighting her over and over but raptor of the mists can really help with dodging waterfowl dance or whatever the fuck it's called

I’m not sure I’ve ever had a light load in this game! Only a medium. I’ve always wondered, does it make a difference if you’re on the heavier side of medium, vs the lighter end? Or do they all result in the same speed?

I absolutely loved the Radahn fight, it was like a Souls Wrestlemania match, complete with mood-lightening cameo from Patches, the greatest midcard comedy worker of all time

Also appreciate when From games give you a savepoint with the name of a boss you killed in that area, like yes mate you were the scourge of stars and the greatest demigod general in history and now there's a little glowing hotel I go to to relax and mix potions and it is Named! After! You!

I’ve always wondered, does it make a difference if you’re on the heavier side of medium, vs the lighter end? Or do they all result in the same speed?

no difference, afaict each load level has one distinct animation and set i-frames and that's it (though crucible feather talisman can increase the amount of i-frames for each level)

Finally felled the Fire Giant, burned the Erdtree, and found myself in Farum Azula. I assume I'm in the home stretch, give or take some optional areas?The Banished Knights here are kicking my ass. I wouldn't have it any other way.

bridge of donkeys, interesting tip! That hadn't occurred to me but I will try it out. I've been using Bloodhound's Step to dodge waterfowl, which started working 100x better as soon as I started unlocking once she jumps up in the air. I switched from claws to dual katanas, which have longer hitstun so I can get her with two L1s during her openings (usually after some sort of jump/dive attack, or sometimes after her triplet hit where it looks like she's daintily waving her giant sword as a paintbrush).

Y'all I'm going start experimenting with the mimic tear in phase 2, because it would be nice to move on with my life. I can have a beautiful phase 1 with lots of patient dodging, only to get smoked in phase 2 by one of her many powerful jump attacks.

It might not even work though, since with a melee build it's hard to attack at the same time as the mimic without getting clipped, and she might end up gaining more health than she loses by attacking the mimic?

I'm over 160 hours in now and still progressing at a very gentle pace. Completed Ranni's quest a while ago and just finished Fia's. Only recently got to Volcano Manor and Leyndell etc

to me, you are "the traveler". that is, the "one who has gone so far"

I'm at a point where I've several bosses I'd like to beat and just cant and I'm not sure what to do while I try gittin' gud, as I've already arsed up some quests by getting to bosses too fast.

I've tried Radagan so many times, I can get just past the point where he asteroids back to earth and then no matter what I do, at some point I fuck up my controls/fall off my horse and he just one hits me.

I've got Rennala lined up ready to go as well, and havent tried her yet.

And few minibosses Ive tried and just walked away from in despair: Sir Istvan, commander ONeill, its all so muuuuuch.

Not sure what level you're at Trayce. I took on Renalla and the whole Raya Lucaria area a long time before fighting Commander O'Neill or getting to Volcano Manor, so I would go do that first off if you can. It's also a great level, like all the legacy dungeons, full of little secret passages and rooftops you can go and get lost around for hours

I'm about to go to Mountaintop of the Giants but forging ahead with the main story makes me feel like I'm running through the zoo without looking at the animals a lot of the time. There's still a lot of the lower map I haven't explored yet. I finally managed to find the Masuoleum Compund after a friend said she just happened on it fairly easily, but for me it took a whole lot of dead ends and runebears and assholes shooting me and impossible cliff edges. And then once I'd found it and killed the Erdtree Beast there, I couldn't find my way back out!

Jordan, a good tip for Malenia is to summon Tiche instead of the Tear, if you can FPafford it

I cannot! But I just beat her before work, using Swarm of Flies on phase 2 just before installing the patch that nerfs it, lol.

I don't feel great about it, but I couldn't go on like this. Who knows how long it would have taken to get a near-perfect fight the way I was doing it. And it was satisfying to learn her phase 1 moveset, it felt amazing on a good run when I was reacting to everything without thinking about it.

They patched Patches! Also very happy that carian retaliation has been fixed. And then they buffed...everything, for strength, magic, and faith.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Eldenring/comments/u70oxc/elden_ring_patch_notes_104/

Here's my Malenia fight, equal parts decent enough and shameful:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUMbuei4zQg

AMAZING

I love the blood/freeze combo, very appealing. The moment when you switch to your INVENTORY MENU to activate a rune arc, only for her to respond with Waterfowl? wow

Well done :)

Mimic Tear, man, it's a mixed blessing in that fight, as they tend to attract as many healing-for-Malenia hits as they do land hits against her

Also it was very nice to see good rolling-toward-the-enemy moves at the right spots, you clearly knew what you were doing

can i make a criticism of elden ring?

it is silly to have Ashes in the title of both the thing that you apply to your weapon (Ashes of War) and also the things that you can summon (Skeletal Bandit Ashes, Ancestral Follower Ashes, Glintstone Sorcerer Ashes). it's why I'm 110 hours into the game, i beat a boss and get some Ashes as a prize, and i have no immmediate reaction because i can't remember what it is

Hard agree on that one

I took on Renalla and the whole Raya Lucaria area a long time before fighting Commander O'Neill or getting to Volcano Manor, so I would go do that first off if you can. It's also a great level, like all the legacy dungeons, full of little secret passages and rooftops you can go and get lost around for hours

Oh Ive done all of the actual academy, even the red wolfy guy just not Renalla herself. Ive crawled hither and yon to get runes and ashes and whatever!

She's quite an interesting fight, but not exactly super tough compared to Margit and Godrick

Basically on Radahn - died once & seemed like fun but I thought I'd leave it for a bit and dick around. Exploring, and knocking off a few Caelid/Liurnia dungeons. Also, repeatedly clearing Gatefront with an interesting-looking weapon to see if I like the feel of it. If I do I heavily upgrade it and clear Gatefront again (then sometimes take it out into the world). Relaxing way to burn runes and my god a +12 Great Stars is fun.

On Fringefolk Hero's Grave: I've had many moments of exultation or relief at beating a boss in From games, but nothing so intense as the pure, vengeful joy I took in dropping a pot on that fucking chariot and watching it fall apart.

Basically on Radahn - died once & seemed like fun but I thought I'd leave it for a bit and dick around. Exploring, and knocking off a few Caelid/Liurnia dungeons. Also, repeatedly clearing Gatefront with an interesting-looking weapon to see if I like the feel of it. If I do I heavily upgrade it and clear Gatefront again (then sometimes take it out into the world). Relaxing way to burn runes and my god a +12 Great Stars is fun.

On Fringefolk Hero's Grave: [Hidden text. Tap to view]

ohh yeah I just got there yesterday. I thought I'd leave it for a bit because I had qualms about assassinating my fellow tarnished. Even though I'm not 100% sure what a tarnished is if I'm honest. But it was suggesting I might have qualms, so I thought I should.

Aww thanks fgti! I had already used like 50 rune arcs on the Malenia fight, so I got into a habit of not popping one until I knew it was a decent run. And in phase 1 those long idles give you a lot of time (that was just in time though). I still feel like I only did half the fight but I'm happy to have moved on.

Unfortunately on my first try against Godskin Duo I got a bleed glitch that instantly killed them, something to do with the new patch. I was really looking forward to doing that fight the old-fashioned way too.

Woof, I never figured out how to take out the chariot! I somehow got through a couple of those hero's graves but neither destroyed them nor jumped on top and rode them to victory.

I got fed up with all the moaning and cock-swinging on the FB Elden Ring group I joined, so I've started a new group today just for sharing funny memes and helping each other out with lore, hints, tips etc. It's brand new, but anyone interested can join https://www.facebook.com/groups/tfmf1

I'm never on FB anymore, but I'm down to join in the spirit of jolly cooperation

:-)

ohh yeah I just got there yesterday. I thought I'd leave it for a bit because I had qualms about assassinating my fellow tarnished. Even though I'm not 100% sure what a tarnished is if I'm honest. But it was suggesting I might have qualms, so I thought I should.

Ha, I still don't like playing a big boi colossal weapon + poise style, but some might:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kputDDve75g

seems too clunky but the chunks of health knocked off with each hit are impressive

that first fight in the video is from before they nerfed the colossal weapons - would seemingly do more damage now

i mean, before they buffed the colossals. i'm not used to saying nerfed - i better take a step back here

Yeah, colossal weapons seem to require either 1) totally brain-dead trading, where you just swing and poise/hyperarmor through whatever attack, or 2) really knowing what you're doing because you need to be able to plan your opening in advance, rather than seeing it and reacting with a fast weapon.

Depends on the situation I'm sure. But weapon-blocking rather than rolling looks surprisingly effective. And raptor of the mists + a giant sword looks scary.

Ive had an insanely busy work week (thanks work, for giving half the office the easter week off all at once) so havent touched the ring in a week. I hear the update has buffed magic! Awright!

it’s fine. they love it really. YOU DIED! lmfao me too.

Thought I'd swallow my qualms & try the volcano manor way. Quickly took against the first one they sent me after - constantly hitting me as I tried to heal. I had no compunction about murdering him with scarlet rot (on my seventh attempt, with him ticking over into death after my own 'You Died'. Doesn't matter! He's dead!)

I'm a bit confused about Mt Gelmir and Volcano Manor. I have the inkling I missed a lot of context because Rya teleported me there and I didn't get to smell the flowers on the way so I might do the trek anyway

I've reached the Haligtree, definite "Rivendell after the Elves have left and everything has turned to shit" vibes, and I keep jumping into space. But it's really fun, and great for levelling up, I should have less trouble with that knight in Farum Azula soon.

I think I just got to "that knight".

Now THIS is a Malenia fight, holy shnikes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7EMGrbMDGQ

And here's someone else's rune level 1 version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuC1WH6RBxM