Elden Ring: Beast Clergyman / Maliketh, the Black Blade – Guardians of Crumbling Farum Azula

Elden Ring is an open world action role playing game developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The game features a vast, interconnected world known as the Lands Between, Players can freely explore the world and collect materials, items, and Elden Ring Runes to improve their combat effectiveness and gain a better gaming experience when participating in battles.This world is filled with various environments, including forests, mountains, swamps, and castles, all seamlessly connected and accessible through exploration. The open world design allows players to encounter a wide range of enemies, NPCs, and secrets, offering a rich and immersive experience.

 

In the sprawling world of Elden Ring, few bosses carry the weight of both lore and challenge like Beast Clergyman / Maliketh, the Black Blade. Found in the fragmented, skybound ruins of Crumbling Farum Azula, these encounters represent some of the most memorable and demanding fights in the Lands Between. Combining fast-paced combat, strategic depth, and epic narrative significance, these bosses are a test of both skill and preparation, offering players a pinnacle experience of FromSoftware's masterful design.

 

Crumbling Farum Azula is a floating, fractured region that evokes a sense of ancient grandeur and ruin. To reach Beast Clergyman or Maliketh, players must traverse precarious platforms, crumbling pathways, and areas teeming with dangerous enemies. The environment itself is a challenge: gusting winds, sudden drops, and narrow ledges force players to navigate with precision.

 

The bosses are located in the deeper reaches of this aerial region. Their arenas are carefully designed to emphasize the scale of the foes while allowing for dynamic combat. Before confronting them, players are advised to explore thoroughly, as the region contains critical upgrades, items, and lore tidbits that prepare the Tarnished for the coming trials. The journey through Crumbling Farum Azula also serves to build tension, with glimpses of the bosses hinting at the epic battles ahead.

 

Lore and Background

 

Both Beast Clergyman and Maliketh, the Black Blade, are steeped in Elden Ring's intricate lore. The Beast Clergyman represents the corrupting influence of unchecked power, a figure of religious authority twisted by feral energy. Its design and attacks suggest a being that has merged spiritual devotion with raw, bestial violence, creating a foe that is both tragic and terrifying.

 

Maliketh, the Black Blade, on the other hand, is one of the most iconic dragons in Elden Ring lore, a sentinel tasked with guarding sacred powers and enforcing ancient oaths. Known for wielding the Black Blade, Maliketh is more than a dragon; it is a symbol of unyielding duty, bound to the will of the Elden Ring itself. Its attacks, combining agility, speed, and devastating power, reflect centuries of combat experience and the weight of its sacred mission.

 

The contrast between the two one twisted by corruption, the other disciplined by duty creates a rich narrative interplay, offering players a glimpse into the complexities of the Lands Between and the consequences of power, loyalty, and betrayal.

 

Battle Mechanics and Strategies

 

Beast Clergyman is a fast, aggressive boss. Its attacks combine rapid melee strikes with wide-area sweeps, testing players' reflexes and stamina management. Dodging and timing are critical, as the Clergyman can chain multiple moves into unpredictable combos. Maintaining mid-range distance while striking opportunistically is often the most effective strategy, and Spirit Ashes can provide crucial distraction and support.

 

Maliketh, the Black Blade, is a multi-phase fight that demands adaptability. In the first phase, the dragon employs sweeping attacks with its massive blade, along with swift lunges and powerful charges. Players must learn its tells, using dodges and blocks to avoid massive damage. The second phase introduces devastating elemental attacks, forcing players to manage positioning and timing carefully. The Black Blade's agility and unpredictable aerial movements make patience and observation crucial to survival.

 

Both bosses require players to balance offense and defense. Reckless aggression often leads to fatal mistakes, while overly cautious play risks allowing the bosses to control the pace of combat. Players are encouraged to prepare thoroughly, optimizing gear, talismans, and consumables to counteract fire, physical, and magical damage where appropriate.

 

Weaknesses and Tips

 

1. Gear and Resistance: Equip armor that reduces physical, fire, or magical damage depending on the boss. For Maliketh, high mobility gear is recommended due to its speed.

 

2. Spirit Summons: Both fights are easier when using Spirit Ashes to draw aggro, particularly for the Beast Clergyman.

 

3. Target Weak Points: Maliketh's limbs or the Beast Clergyman's exposed areas can be exploited to create openings for critical damage.

 

4. Observation and Patience: Both bosses rely heavily on pattern recognition. Avoid rushing attacks and wait for cues to strike.

 

5. Consumables: Stocking flasks, buffs, and status ailment cures can be a game-changer, especially during multi-phase encounters.

 

Rewards and Spoils

 

Defeating Beast Clergyman or Maliketh yields significant rewards. Players gain rare materials for weapon and armor upgrades, along with unique items tied to Elden Ring's lore. Maliketh, in particular, provides items that strengthen weapons with mystical or draconic properties, reflecting the dragon's enduring might and sacred purpose.

 

Beyond tangible rewards, these encounters deepen the player's understanding of the narrative. Observing the design of Crumbling Farum Azula, examining dropped items, and interpreting environmental storytelling provide insight into the history of dragons, corrupted clergy, and the forces that shape the Lands Between. For lore enthusiasts, the battles are as narratively rewarding as they are mechanically challenging.

 

Conclusion

 

The encounters with Beast Clergyman and Maliketh, the Black Blade in Crumbling Farum Azula exemplify Elden Ring's genius in blending lore, environment, and combat design. Each fight offers a distinct challenge: the Clergyman's feral aggression tests reflexes and endurance, while Maliketh's disciplined, multi-phase assault demands observation, strategy, and patience.

 

Successfully defeating these bosses is a testament to a player's mastery of Elden Ring's mechanics and preparation. Moreover, the narrative resonance of the encounters one representing corruption, the other duty enriches the game's story, making them not just battles but pivotal moments in the epic journey of the Tarnished.

 

For those exploring Crumbling Farum Azula, facing Beast Clergyman and Maliketh is a defining experience, combining high-stakes combat, breathtaking scenery, and the deep, interwoven lore that makes Elden Ring a landmark in modern gaming. Conquering these formidable foes leaves a lasting sense of achievement and cements their place among the most memorable encounters in the Lands Between.

 

In the Elden Ring game, players can collect various materials, items, and Elden Ring Runes as part of the core mechanics of the game. These materials and items can be used to craft, trade, and upgrade equipment. Gathering resources will be an important part of the gameplay, allowing players to enhance their characters and equipment and promote overall game development.If you want to quickly improve the character's combat power and get a better gaming experience, you can try to buy cheap Elden Ring Items,various materials and Runes.

 

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Oct-11-2025 PST