Maliketh, the Black Blade is one of the last bosses you fight in Elden Ring, and he leaves quite an impression. Wielding a sword infused with death itself, Maliketh's attacks can drain your maximum HP, keeping you on your toes for the entire battle.

However, as mind-blowing as the boss battle against Maliketh might be, it pales in comparison to the beast warrior's lore. That's because Marika's Shadow helped to write the history of the Lands Between both as Maliketh, the Black Blade and as Gurranq, Beast Clergyman .

Updated August 3, 2024, by Andrew Scariati: We've updated this article with further information about Maliketh, his weapons, and the Rune of Death. If you're wondering "Is Gurranq Maliketh?" then we have the answer to that and more for you.

Maliketh And The Rune Of Death

While some historical events in Elden Ring don't have a definitive placement in the timeline, the game tells you straightforwardly that once there was an Empyrean called Gloam-Eyed Queen who wielded the power of the Rune of Death. The Gloam-Eyed Queen wanted to use the Rune of Death, also known as Destined Death, to hunt down Gods with her Godskin followers.

There are further allusions to the Gloam-Eyed Queen in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, but no definitive answers about her identity.

Since the Gloam-Eyed Queen threatened Marika, she sent her Shadow, Maliketh, after the Empyrean. It is unknown if Marika was already a God by then or if she was still an Empyrean competing with the Gloam-Eyed Queen for power.

Whatever the case, Maliketh defeated the Gloam-Eyed Queen, sealing Destined Death inside his sword.

In the world of Elden Ring, Great Runes are more than symbols of power; they can control the universe's workings. So, by sealing away the Rune of Death, Marika rid the Lands Between of natural death. People don't die of old age in the Lands Between, and those killed get absorbed by the roots of the Erdtree to be reborn eventually, or so it is said. That's why Marika is also known as the Eternal.

Maliketh's Black Blade and the Black Blade Incantation are rewards for defeating Maliketh and exchanging his Remembrance with Enia. Both can inflict the Destined Death unique effect that reduces the maximum HP of your foe and continues to drain their HP for a brief period.

However, Destined Death is no longer imbued into either the Incantation or the sword following Maliketh's death, but their effects remain.

Maliketh becomes the deadliest creature in the Lands Between by infusing his sword with the Rune of Death. Since Erdtree rebirth is the desired outcome of death, having a warrior capable of slaying even gods definitively ensured Marika remained unchallenged. It's no wonder that the name “Maliketh” came to mean “Death of the Demigods,” a constant threat to those who dared defy the Golden Order.

Unfortunately, there came a moment when Maliketh failed his duty, and Ranni stole a fragment of the Rune of Death. In possession of this fragment, Ranni armed assassins who slayed Marika's son, Godwyn, in the event known as the Night of the Black Knives.

Ranni wanted the Rune of Death to eliminate her corporeal form. As an Empyrean, Ranni was destined to become a vessel for the Greater Will or other Outer Gods . Thanks to Destined Death, Ranni was able to kill her physical body while murdering Godwyn's soul at the same time.

The Rune of Death claimed a whole life, body, and soul, but Ranni kept her spirit roaming free while leaving Godwyn to rot as a soulless carcass .

The Night of the Black Knives would lead to the shattering of the Elden Ring and the devastating war that followed it, plunging the Lands Between into chaos.

As for Maliketh, he went into hiding using the name he had before becoming Marika's shadow.

Who Is Gurranq, Beast Clergyman?

One of the main consequences of the Night of the Black Knives was the death of Godwyn's soul. As a soulless body, Godwyn was buried in the roots of the Erdtree, where he began to fester and spread like a disease.

Due to Godwyn's soulless state, Deathroot began to show up in the Lands Between. These traces of the Rune of Death can revive dead bodies, granting them a second life outside the process of Erdtree revival. These undead creatures are Those Who Live in Death and are seen as a plague to be exterminated by the Golden Order.

After the Night of the Black Knives, Maliketh took a drastic step to keep the Rune of Death safe. He sealed his sword inside himself, using his body to keep Destined Death safe. That way, as long as he's alive, no one can ever steal a fragment of the Rune of Death again.During the events of Elden Ring, you find Maliketh disguised as Gurranq, the Beast Clergyman of the Bestial Sanctum. As D reveals to you, Gurranq equips warriors with powerful incantations and weapons, so they can hunt Those Who Live in Death.

All Gurranq asks in return is Deathroot.

Even if you kill Maliketh before completing this task, Gurranq will remain alive in-game, although he is Maliketh in-lore.

Every time you deliver Deathroot to Gurranq, he'll devour it, hoping to end Godwyn's curse. As the vessel for the Rune of Death, Gurranq is always hungry for Deathroot, as if he longed for the fragment stolen so long ago.

The problem is that Godwyn's Deathroot is continuously replicating itself, and Gurranq's hunger can never be satiated. Finishing Gurranq's questline by delivering him ten Deathroots makes him realize his mission is pointless and that he'll never be able to rid the world of Destined Death.

As a Beast Clergyman, Gurranq directly connects to the culture that preceded the Erdtree in a prehistoric age where stone dragons ruled the Lands Between. In the distant past, the Greater Will granted beasts intelligence so that they could evolve into beastpeople . These beastpeople became devotees of the dragons , worshipping them and guarding their sacred places, such as Farum Azula.

Since Gurranq is a clergyman of high rank , which you can tell by how he wields a Cinquedea dagger, he may have been alive at the fall of the Age of Dragons before becoming a Shadow for Marika in the Age of the Erdtree.

What Leads To Maliketh's Demise?

Maliketh's inability to destroy Deathroot is not the only thing that makes him a tragic character. In the end, he meets his death at the hands of a Tarnished guided by Grace, which is the mark of Queen Marika.

Elden Ring: Who Is Maliketh, The Black Blade?

Introduction

In the world of Elden Ring, Maliketh, the Black Blade, stands out as one of the final and most formidable bosses. With a sword infused with the power of death itself, his attacks can drain your maximum HP, keeping players on edge throughout the battle. However, the intricacies of Maliketh's lore and his dual identity as Gurranq, Beast Clergyman, offer an even more profound narrative.

Maliketh's Role and Significance

Maliketh is a Shadow, a beast warrior chosen by the Two Fingers to protect an Empyrean. The Two Fingers serve the Greater Will, a cosmic force seeking to maintain its control over the Lands Between. To do so, the Greater Will needs a vessel, or a God, capable of holding its power. Empyreans are those deemed worthy of this role. Shadows are bound to Empyreans, tasked with their protection until their ascension to godhood. However, these Shadows are also programmed to turn against their Empyrean should they renounce the Greater Will.

As Marika's Shadow, Maliketh played a crucial role in ushering in the Age of the Erdtree by sealing the Rune of Death. This action ensured Marika's dominion and the perceived immortality of the inhabitants of the Lands Between, as natural death was eradicated.

The Rune of Death and Maliketh's Power

The Rune of Death, also known as Destined Death, was once wielded by the Gloam-Eyed Queen, an Empyrean who sought to use its power to hunt gods with her Godskin followers. Maliketh defeated her and sealed Destined Death within his sword. This act rid the Lands Between of natural death, making Maliketh an integral part of maintaining Marika's rule.

Maliketh's Black Blade and the Black Blade Incantation, rewards for defeating him, carry the unique effect of reducing maximum HP and draining HP over time. Although Destined Death is no longer imbued in these items after his death, their powerful effects remain.

The Night of the Black Knives and Maliketh's Failure

Despite his power, Maliketh could not prevent a crucial failure: the theft of a fragment of the Rune of Death by Ranni. She used it to arm assassins who killed Marika's son, Godwyn, during the Night of the Black Knives. This event led to the shattering of the Elden Ring and a subsequent war that plunged the Lands Between into chaos.

In response to this failure, Maliketh went into hiding, assuming the identity of Gurranq, Beast Clergyman. As Gurranq, he seeks Deathroot to end Godwyn's curse and stop the proliferation of undead creatures known as Those Who Live in Death.

Gurranq, Beast Clergyman

As Gurranq, Maliketh hides in the Bestial Sanctum, equipping warriors with powerful incantations and weapons to hunt Those Who Live in Death. He consumes Deathroot, hoping to end Godwyn's curse. However, the endless replication of Deathroot makes this task futile, leading Gurranq to realize the hopelessness of his mission.

Gurranq's connection to the prehistoric Age of Dragons and the evolution of beasts into beastpeople devoted to dragons highlights his deep historical significance. His use of a Cinquedea dagger indicates his high rank within the beast clergy.

The Tragic End of Maliketh

Ultimately, Maliketh meets his demise at the hands of a Tarnished guided by Grace, which marks Queen Marika. To complete Elden Ring, players must kill Maliketh, retrieve the Rune of Death, and gain the power to slay a god. These actions are part of Marika's plan to defy the Golden Order, making Maliketh's death a tragic consequence of his loyalty.

Conclusion

Maliketh, the Black Blade, is a character rich in lore and tragedy. His dual identity as Gurranq, Beast Clergyman, and his failure to protect the Rune of Death contribute to the depth of Elden Ring's narrative. To fully understand his story, players should complete the main quest, follow Gurranq's questline, and study the descriptions of key items like Deathroot, Cinquedea, and the Remembrance of the Black Blade.

To beat Elden Ring, you must kill Maliketh, retrieve the Rune of Death, and gain the power to slay a God. These actions are part of Queen Marika's plan to defy the Golden Order. So, in short, Marika leads you to kill Maliketh, her own Shadow, who dedicated his entire life to serving the Queen. It's a heartbreaking ending for such an honorable character. Even more, because Maliketh recognizes Marika's betrayal before the bitter end.

To put all the puzzle pieces together by yourself, you should finish the main story of Elden Ring, complete Gurranq's quest, and read the item description of crucial equipment.

Among the most essential item descriptions about Maliketh are Deathroot , Cinquedea , Stone of Gurranq , Godslayer's Greatsword , Scouring Black Flame , Black Knife , Blasphemous Claw , Remembrance of the Black Blade , Maliketh's Black Blade , Maliketh's Helm , and Mending Rune of the Death-Prince .

In the Elden Ring journey, it is necessary to keep enough Elden Ring Runes and Elden Ring Items. Pay attention to MMOExp and get them now.