Doom878

So called out sick this morning. Guess I'll clear out the Bell Bearing Hunters and start advancing toward you know who. I did wipe up a few more dragons including Fia's and one in Consecrated Snowfields in the the ice river. But Jesus this Haligtree level. So fucking hard. Reminds me of a harder Anor Londo from DS1 which was famously tough plus another rot shit pool and tree climbing BS. This level is fucking huge. So I tried a few times against Malenia. Jesus man. Her defense is tough. My Vigor is at 60 and my Strength at 40. I felt like I hit her a ton and she still barely went down to half energy in phase fucking 1. This is going to be fun. If you hear a banging noise from the south you'll know why.

Yumcha

Oh, sorry you are unwell...but, WELL ENOUGH TO ELDEN RING!!

You found Malenia? Congrats, sir. Now, your reward is to...best her.

Yeah, my hint to you is to up your fire damage and use that Blasphemous Sword's alternate attack. I mean, I'm alot more Int/Faith-built so maybe my fire attacks with the weapon did more but I think you can still augment with the right accessories. The issue I found is her replenishment of health as she's slashing you. So, be ready to keep your distance. This fight will put all your skill you have learned to-date, IMO. Good luck!!!

Yumcha

How many tries are you on with Malenia?

Are you getting to her second phase with general ease at least? Depending on how close you are against, her it may be an indicator you need to go level up. So, that Mohgwyn's world where the Albinaurics are congregated is a good place to go farm up a couple levels.

Doom878

I got to her 2nd form on the 5th or 6th try. Learning the moves and timing. Fucking water dance I'm using Ogha who is a tank but I might switch to Mimic.

Yumcha

The developers who made Malenia are evil.

Her intro is just so...boss too. She has never known defeat. Of course not.

Mimic FTW as Ogha will fight too close to her and help her replenish her health. Your Mimic will help you esp. if he starts to use the alternate attack of the Blasphemous Sword...heck, if you have any of the dragon spells, he may use it on her too...so, have it on your arsenal even if your own guy will be unlikely to cast anything, at least your Mimic will. Good luck!

Doom878

Bro I just beat her ass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Video uploading.

Yumcha

Doom878

Here you go. First try with the Mimic. Poise Bros. She didn't stand a chance

Yumcha

Your eyes must've bugged out of their sockets when her health bar was down to about an inch in length...

NICELY DONE. Yeah, looks like your Mimic was the game-changer for you...the times it initiated the fire attack were helpful. Good stuff and congrats! You took out arguably the hardest boss in all of gamedom, sir. Virtual green jacket for you as well!

Doom878

I want to do it solo. Will be significantly harder.

Yumcha

I admittedly have no such desire. I want the challenge but am also dreading the fight...Haligtree will eventually be part of my NG+ playthrough as I continue making my way through the second-playing.

Yumcha

Malenia's katana is a nice weapon but you need to have some high Dex. I sometimes have it with the Moonveil as a double-sword attack.

Doom878

I was wondering how her katana was. Blood build up? I played with some daggers that have bleed build up but it takes so long to go in effect. Maybe I need the right talismans. I also changed to the Maliketh armor while I do some side quests just because it looks so good.

I did all the paintings yesterday. Naturally the one in Caelid was the hardest one where you do the hard drop downs. I even uploaded that plus the fight with the golem.

Yumcha

Oh...the magic golem that is guarding that cliff? You will laugh but I've struggled with that stupid thing...

Hand of Malenia blade is cool because well, you can do her waterfowl move. It's pretty cool. It does have pretty good blood-loss buildup IMO and since you're a strength build already, you'll have plenty to exploit with the weapon. Just have to make sure you have the minimum DEX needed. It's up there with Moonveil for me in regards to base weapon I use for my Samurai. It is only 2nd to Moonveil because I am such a high INT character too AND also, it is so damn hard to attain (gotta beat Malenia) and it is so late in the game.

Doom878

That golem is legit hard man. I read lots of complaints about him.

Even though I was WFH yesterday, I didn't play. Was too tired from doing work and had no energy. Maybe I'll beat the last 2 bosses and then clean up or vice versa.

Yumcha

Yeah, just not enough room to maneuver too...I got slammed off the cliff a couple times too. Well, maybe you're feeling the 'down' from beating Malenia, I think I had the same thing after I beat her.

Anyways, I cleared out most of Volcano Manor yesterday but didn't engage Rykard since I have one more assassination in the snow fields. So, I'll get that area unlocked by clearing out the Capitol next I think. I still have the Deep Roots to go through where Fia is located. Still really enjoying the game.

Doom878

Speaking of VM, what happened to that one dude who was a scrub assassin and wasn't sure he was cut out. I still was able to assassinate someone after beating Rykard in the Mountaintop near the cabin. The dude in the knight armor bailed and I never saw him again.

Yumcha

The Lanya guy! Yes, I forget his name. He's found if I remember correctly, in Jarberg. You find that town full of non-hostile jars? The kid there is nice and he has a quest line tied to Alexander.

Doom878

I just discovered Jarburg over the weekend. I'm going through to see how many Sites of Grace that I've missed and that was one of them apparently. I released Alexander in the beginning and he was at Redmane Castle for the Festival. But I haven't seen him again. After going through the missing Sites, I'll see which NPC quests I can finish.

Yumcha

Alexander should be in a pool of lava near Volcano Manor. Do you remember fighting the giant land-dragon (does not fly) in the lava on Mt. Gelmir? Alexander is literally a few feet behind where the boss appeared.

Doom878

Yes I do. Thanks, I thought it was inside the actual manor.

Yumcha

Outside the manor at the front door that is guarded by that giant troll, on the right side overlooking the vast drop/cliff, Alexander also left a message that he's nearby -- essentially below in the lava you see.

Yeah, lots of these subtle things that you just may blow right by. The game's mini-secrets are everywhere.

I am now routinely getting equipment from enemy as I've upped my Arcane. Killed Rykard yesterday after a couple of tries when I realized I had to pre-equip the spear needed to fight him. Likely will turn my attention to the Deeproots underworld portion to get at Fia's storyline next. Snowfields also has a chunk to do...just got far enough to invade the last kill for Volcano Manor but have a ton of areas to explore to explore there.

Doom878

Dude you're going to beat the twice before I beat it once.

Which spells are you trying to use with the Arcane build?

Yumcha

I am addicted to this damn game. It's too much fun.

Uh...nothing really?

Just upping it north of 40 to get more loot/drops. Though, I did spend a pile of Runes yesterday buying higher-end stones to upgrade more weaponry. I now have dual 25+ Uchigatanas and have infused stuff to them that are non-fire. So, I have now noticed that something like Poison ash-powers do require Arcane and so, yeah...boosting my luck helps. Though, I am also noting some ashes that I have never used like the teleporting dodge which is something I may consider experimenting. So many facets I have yet to try.

Believe it or not, I didn't really play yesterday as I spent it watching some anime. BTW, there's a new Trigun series out!

Doom878

Never got into Trigun but finished White Lotus with my gf. As for anime, I usually watch the kids but my daughters have me watching Young Justice which is great.

I forgot to mention I leveled up some Great Stars to dual wield. Ok it is another big crushing weapon similar to my Executioner's Axe but this is even more bash.

Yumcha

Nice!

So, you aren't using a speed weapon to go with your BFW...?

Started the Deeproot stage yesterday. Generally easy but died a few times because I can't jump...stupid branches.

Doom878

I was practicing parrying and getting pretty good. Maybe I'll throw in a parry shield/dagger and stab fools with it. I don't have the Dex for the high bleed ones but I did use a bleed weapon for a little bit. Took way too many hits to cause the bleed though.

Yumcha

Ahh. Well, now that you know where the farming spots are...you can probably go level up a bit to even out some stats like DEX.

Didn't play last night as I was too tired and started watching Spy X Family anime series (really good!). Maybe back ER tonight...I have the lower part of the Deeproots to tackle where the walking Mausoleum is and the ghost soldiers. Then, head up to fight Fia's god. NG+ is about 60% through I think. Have to finish this stage and underworld is completely done with I think. Snow world, Haligtree, and then Crumbling World...?

I think this game will be the 3-Finger storyline for me...so, burn the world for me, LOL. I am missing 2 trophies for 100% and I think getting that ending will get me the 2 remaining ones I need.

Doom878

That's amazing. So you found all the Ashes and spells. You did the Frenzied one already?

Yumcha

Yeah, it looks like I did find all Ash and spells? The Frenzied ending is still not something I've done so, that'll be my objective this playthrough...Speaking of 3-Fingers...I found a magic wall in that crypt -- same side Hyetta is standing -- that leads to the Deeproot.

So, discovered yet another Site of Grace. This will be something I'll be doing in this playthrough...trying to find all the spots.


Cleared out Deeproot yesterday and took out Fia's dragon. Now, onto the snow realm...a reminder of where I live...

Doom878

I had read about that entrance so I unearthed it. I think it's a roundabout way to get to Mogwyn if you couldn't do Varre's quest. Not sure.

Yumcha

No...just a section of the Deeproots with some loot. When you get there naturally from progressing the game, you end up near the shore and you're greeted by a Tree Avatar. The entry from the 3-Fingers crypt near Hyetta gets you to a Grace that's overlooking the entire Deeproots world from above...so, you have to do platforming -- generally not too difficult from branch to branch until you end up more or less near the same area as the Tree Avatar.

It's just another Grace Site that I did not discover really...the loot on the branches are nothing of note but still, nice to chalk up another area I didn't locate originally.

Doom878

Finally picked up the game over the weekend. Found all the sites of grace using help with a guide. Pat myself on the back as I found like 90% of them on my own. Only glaring ones I missed were 2 divine towers. The Malenia one is a little tougher to find but I totally missed the Mohg/Margot one since it's by the lift that takes you to the Mountaintop of the Giants/Consecrated Snowfields.

Then I decided to find all the Ashes summons and I missed a handful but was able to retrieve all but the Dung Eater puppet due since I passed a certain event. I accidentally found Blaid at Ranni's and sadly took him down.

I also started to use and upgraded the Godskin Peeler as I love using twinblades especially in Dark Souls 2. The one in DS2 had a nice stagger ability while this one doesn't, but at +25 it's still a very formidable weapon. I kind of got sick of the Great Stars dual wield because it was way too slow and the payoff wasn't there. Plus I already did the stagger weapon with the Axe and Blasphemous Blade.

Periodically I farm runes and buy a bunch of stones (200 each) so that I can quickly upgrade other weapons. I will probably hunt down the missing spells and maybe some weapons. I think I'm at 150 hours. I'll probably go fight the last boss too and then escape after to not end the cycle yet.

Yumcha

Godskin Peeler? Ooo...good suggestion. I'll try it out as a max weapon since I have smithing stones to spare.

And congrats, Doomie! Ain't the game grand?

Doom878

Don't congratulate me until I beat it...one day

I think this is my favorite Fromsoft game with Bloodborne. Bloodborne's style is so insanely good including the lore, bosses, and even some of the regular dudes like the Winter Lanterns (big brain scary mofos). This game is the culmination of all the Souls games with open world features and more abilities (jumping, horseback riding, etc). I mean it's a fucking masterpiece!

Are you on NG+2 yet. I'm sure you're humming along.

Yumcha

Oh...wait...you have not finished it off yet? Well, you can at this point...just depends on what ending you want.

And no, just NG+1 still...in the snowfields currently.

Doom878

Are you planning on unlocking all the sites of grace? Going for platinum?

Yumcha

Yessir. From my PS account, I am just missing 2 trophies...frenzied ending and all trophies. So, I just basically have to get the former and should have 100% locked up.

Been unwell the last few days and so, barely played. NG+ still has places to go after the snowfields. Have not unlocked Haligtree and of course, the Crumbling World afterwards. So, at leaset a chunk of hours left to play still. I think NG+ is my last playthrough for awhile and then, time to play Crisis Core? At the rate I'm going, won't be playing the FF game until March.

And also, I see Dead Space is being remade for the PS5...I just may play that.

Doom878

Did you go down the hell yet for the FF ending?

I couldn't sleep this morning. Was tossing and turning at 3:30. Finally a little after 4 I went downstairs to collect all the crystal tears (I missed the Putrid Avatar in the Consecrated Snowfields!) and started collecting all the Cookbooks. I accidentally rolled up on a miniboss in Siofra River and twinbladed him good night. I can't believe how much shit I missed in this game!

I'm hoping GoW:R goes down in price. Would really love to play that next. However, I might play TLOU2 even though I heard it's meh.

Yumcha

4AM gaming on ER!

That's commitment there. Yeah, the Avatar is hard to miss esp. if you walk right by the turn of that tree. I maxed the Godskin Peeler and it's nice...still not sure if it'll overtake my reliance on the katanas and/or Blasphemous Blade. I do have a few maxed weapons but don't use them much really -- including a rotting hammer, the great sword Ranni gave me...I may ugprade a whip next to see how they work.