ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition Get Malenia Armor Guide

Malenia, Blade of Miquella, stands as one of the most punishing challenges in ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition, but her legendary armor set is arguably just as coveted as the victory itself. If you are searching for elden ring how to get malenia armor, the answer lies in a specific sequence of events that begins deep within the Haligtree and ends at the Roundtable Hold. This guide walks you through every step of acquiring the full set, breaks down its stats, and compares it against other top-tier armor options so you can decide whether the investment is worth the fight. For more detail, see how poise affects your armor choice, covered in our related guide.

The armor is not dropped as loot, nor is it hidden in a chest. Instead, you must defeat Malenia and then spend her Remembrance with Finger Reader Enia, which unlocks the Loyalist's Set for purchase. Because the process involves a mandatory boss kill, understanding the full context of the fight, the stat requirements, and the set's performance metrics matters just as much as knowing where to go. We will cover all of that here, including how the set stacks up for strength builds, mage builds, and everything in between.

The Path to Malenia's Armor: Location and Boss Requirements

Before you can even think about purchasing the armor, you need to reach Malenia herself. She resides at the bottom of Miquella's Haligtree, a secret region that requires a lengthy quest chain to access. The journey starts in the Consecrated Snowfield, which you can only enter after obtaining both halves of the Haligtree Secret Medallion. The first half sits in the Village of the Albinaurics, while the second half is found inside Castle Sol, guarded by Commander Niall.

Malenia Boss Location and Fight Preparation

Once you have both medallion halves, use the Grand Lift of Rold with the secret action to reach the Consecrated Snowfield. From there, follow the glowing trees to the Ordina, Liturgical Town puzzle, which involves lighting four torches while avoiding invisible assassins. After completing that gauntlet, you unlock the teleporter that takes you to the Haligtree. The Haligtree canopy leads you through a series of branches and platforms, past the Drainage Channel, and finally to the boss fog wall for Malenia.

The fight itself is notorious for its difficulty, and community reports consistently highlight Waterfowl Dance as the primary cause of death for most players. This multi-hit flurry can delete a full health bar in seconds, so you need a reliable dodge strategy or a shield with high stability. Players who have beaten her recommend either learning the precise dodge timing or using a greatshield with the Barricade Shield skill to survive the flurry. Frostbite and bleed builds tend to perform well because they can chunk her health during the brief openings between her combos.

Understanding the Remembrance Mechanic

After you defeat Malenia, she drops the Remembrance of the Rot Goddess, a key item that can be exchanged for one of two rewards: her armor set or her signature weapon, the Hand of Malenia. Because the Remembrance can only be spent once per playthrough unless you duplicate it at a Walking Mausoleum, you need to decide which reward matters more to you. If you want both, you can duplicate the Remembrance at one of the non-bell-bearing mausoleums scattered across the Lands Between, then spend both copies at the Roundtable Hold.

The duplication mechanic is worth understanding before you commit. According to the official ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition page on Bandai Namco's site, the armor becomes available for purchase from Enia after you spend the Remembrance. This means you cannot buy individual pieces without first exchanging the Remembrance, so plan your playthrough accordingly. If you are on New Game Plus, you can grab the weapon first and the armor on your second run, but duplicating is the faster path for a single playthrough.

Malenia's Armor Set: Stats, Weight, and Defense Breakdown

The Loyalist's Set, which is the official name for Malenia's armor, consists of four pieces: the Winged Helm, the Loyalist's Armor, the Loyalist's Gauntlets, and the Loyalist's Greaves. Each piece offers solid physical defense with a moderate weight profile, making it a versatile choice for both melee and hybrid builds. The set's signature look, featuring the winged helm and flowing cape, has made it one of the most requested armor sets in the game according to player feedback across community forums.

Armor Piece Stats Comparison

To understand how the set performs, it helps to look at the individual stats for each piece. The table below breaks down the key defensive values and weight for the full set, based on community-verified data: note that the Malenia Gauntlets and Greaves offer the highest Poise-to-weight ratio among all light-armor options, making them a staple for mage builds that need to survive a single hit from a Crucible Knight without breaking stance, while the chest piece's 12.5 weight demands a high Endurance investment if you want to keep a medium roll with a Greatsword—a trade-off that explains why many strength builds pair it with the Bull-Goat Talisman instead of opting for heavier alternatives like the Veteran's Set.

The full set weighs 27.7 units, which puts it in the medium-weight category. This means most builds can wear the full set while maintaining a medium roll, provided they have invested in Endurance. The poise value of 48 is respectable but not exceptional, so you will still get staggered by heavier attacks from large enemies. However, the defense values are strong enough to make the set a reliable choice for most PvE content.

How the Set Compares to Other Late-Game Armor

When you are deciding whether to invest in Malenia's armor, it helps to see how it stacks up against other popular late-game sets. The table below compares the full set against three other commonly used armor sets, using community-reported data for each:

The Bull-Goat Set offers significantly higher physical defense and poise, but its massive weight requires a heavy investment in Endurance. The Raging Wolf Set provides a better poise-to-weight ratio, making it a strong alternative for players who want similar defensive capabilities without the extra weight. The Snow Witch Set is much lighter, which is why it remains a favorite for mage builds, but it offers far less physical protection.

How to Purchase the Set from Enia at the Roundtable Hold

Once you have defeated Malenia and decided to spend her Remembrance on the armor, the next step is straightforward. Travel to the Roundtable Hold and speak with Finger Reader Enia, who stands near the Two Fingers at the far end of the main hall. When you interact with her, select the option to exchange the Remembrance, and the full Loyalist's Set will appear in her shop inventory for purchase.

Step-by-Step Purchase Process

The purchase process itself is simple, but there are a few details worth noting. First, ensure you have the full 20,000 Runes on hand before speaking to Enia at the Roundtable Hold, as her shop menu closes if you back out to farm more mid-transaction. Second, the Unalloyed Gold Needle must be in your inventory—not in your storage chest—or the Malenia's Set option won't even appear. Here is the exact sequence you need to follow: exhaust her dialogue after defeating Malenia, select "Purchase," and grab all four pieces (the helm, armor, gauntlets, and greaves) before leaving the menu.

• Defeat Malenia in Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree, and collect the Remembrance of the Rot Goddess from her arena.

• Travel to the Roundtable Hold using any Site of Grace or the fast travel menu.

• Walk to the far end of the main hall where Enia stands before the Two Fingers.

• Speak with Enia and select the option to exchange the Remembrance for the armor set.

• Purchase each piece individually from her shop, as they become available after the exchange.

The total cost for the full set is approximately 38,000 runes, which is a significant investment on top of the boss fight itself. Make sure you have enough runes saved before you attempt the exchange, because Enia will not let you purchase the pieces if you cannot afford them. If you are short on runes, consider farming the Albinauric enemies near the Palace Approach Ledge-Road Site of Grace, which is one of the most efficient rune farms in the game according to player testing.

What Happens If You Already Spent the Remembrance

If you already exchanged the Remembrance for the Hand of Malenia weapon, you are not locked out of the armor permanently. You have two options: duplicate the Remembrance at a Walking Mausoleum or wait until New Game Plus. The mausoleums that can duplicate non-boss remembrances are the ones without bells underneath them, and there are several scattered across the map. The easiest one to reach is located in the Weeping Peninsula, just south of the Castle Morne rampart.

When you duplicate the Remembrance, you receive a second copy that you can then spend with Enia to unlock the armor. This is the most efficient path if you want both rewards in a single playthrough. However, keep in mind that each mausoleum can only duplicate one Remembrance per playthrough, so choose wisely if you have multiple Remembrances you want to duplicate.

Best Builds for Malenia's Armor: Strength, Dexterity, and Mage Options

The Loyalist's Set is versatile enough to work with several different build archetypes, but it performs best when paired with the right stats and talismans. Because the set offers a balanced mix of defense and weight, it suits builds that prioritize mobility while still maintaining solid protection. Below, we break down how the armor performs for three common build types and recommend complementary talismans for each. For casters, the added poise from this armor can be a lifesaver when channeling spells, so pairing it with talismans that boost survivability—like the Dragoncrest Greatshield—lets you maintain offensive pressure without getting staggered, and if you're still deciding on a starting class, our Elden Ring Best Class For Magic breakdown highlights which origins give you the best stat head start for this kind of hybrid setup.

Strength Builds and the Best Armor for Strength

For strength builds, the Loyalist's Set is a solid mid-game option, but it is not the absolute best armor for strength in the game. The Bull-Goat Set remains the top choice for pure strength builds because its massive poise allows you to trade hits with heavy enemies without flinching. However, the weight requirement is steep, and many strength builds cannot wear the full set without sacrificing their weapon loadout.

If you prefer a lighter approach, the Loyalist's Set works well with strength weapons like the Greatsword or the Giant-Crusher because it allows you to maintain a medium roll. Pair it with the Erdtree's Favor +2 talisman to boost your maximum equip load, and the Great-Jar's Arsenal to further increase your carrying capacity. These two talismans together let you wear the full set while wielding a heavy weapon without fat-rolling.

Mage Builds and the Best Armor for Mage

Mage builds typically prioritize light armor to maintain fast rolls and high mobility, but the Loyalist's Set offers a surprising amount of value for spellcasters who want extra survivability. The Snow Witch Set remains the best armor for mage builds in terms of weight-to-defense ratio, but it offers very little physical protection. If you find yourself getting one-shot by melee enemies, swapping to the Loyalist's Set can give you enough defense to survive a few extra hits.

For mage builds, pair the Loyalist's Set with the Graven-Mass Talisman to boost your sorcery damage, the Radagon Icon to speed up spell casting, and the Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman to further increase your physical damage negation. This combination lets you maintain solid spell damage while wearing armor that keeps you alive in close-quarters combat. The extra weight from the armor means you may need to invest a few more points in Endurance, but the defensive payoff is worth it.

Dexterity and Hybrid Builds

Dexterity builds are where the Loyalist's Set truly shines, because the armor's weight profile complements the fast, agile playstyle that dex weapons encourage. Weapons like the Uchigatana, Moonveil, or Hand of Malenia all pair well with this set, allowing you to maintain medium rolls while dealing rapid damage. The set's moderate poise also helps you avoid being staggered during your attack animations, which is crucial for weapons with longer combos.

For hybrid builds that combine dexterity with faith or intelligence, the Loyalist's Set provides a balanced foundation that works with almost any weapon or spell loadout. Consider pairing it with the Shard of Alexander talisman to boost your weapon skill damage, especially if you rely on ashes of war like Unsheathe or Transient Moonlight. The Carian Filigreed Crest is another strong option because it reduces the FP cost of weapon skills, letting you use them more frequently in extended fights.

Armor Weight Explained: How Endurance and Equip Load Affect Your Build

Understanding how armor weight works is essential for making the most of the Loyalist's Set. The game uses an equip load system that determines your roll speed and stamina regeneration based on the total weight of your equipped items. This system is one of the most misunderstood mechanics in ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition, so it is worth breaking down in detail.

Equip Load Tiers and Roll Speeds

Your equip load is calculated as a percentage of your maximum carrying capacity, which is determined by your Endurance stat and any equip load-boosting talismans. The game divides this percentage into four tiers, each with its own roll speed and stamina recovery rate:

The Loyalist's Set at 27.7 total weight typically puts most builds in the medium roll tier, assuming you have invested at least 20 to 25 points in Endurance. If you want to achieve a light roll with this armor, you would need to keep your total equip load under 30% of your maximum capacity, which usually requires wearing only a few pieces of the set or using talismans like the Great-Jar's Arsenal to boost your carrying capacity.

How to Upgrade Armor and What It Actually Does

A common misconception is that armor can be upgraded like weapons, but that is not the case in ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition. Armor pieces cannot be upgraded at any blacksmith or via any crafting system, which means the stats you see on the armor are the final stats. This is an important distinction because some players waste time looking for upgrade materials that do not exist for armor.

What you can upgrade is your character's defensive capabilities through other means. The Dragoncrest Shield Talisman and its upgraded versions provide percentage-based physical damage negation, which effectively makes your armor stronger. Similarly, the Pearldrake Talisman boosts elemental damage negation, and the Spelldrake Talisman specifically reduces magic damage. These talismans are the closest thing to armor upgrades in the game, so prioritize them if you want to maximize your survivability.

Best Talismans to Pair with Malenia's Armor

Choosing the right talismans can dramatically improve the performance of the Loyalist's Set. Because the armor offers solid but not exceptional defense, talismans that boost damage negation or equip load tend to provide the most value. Below are some of the best talismans to consider, along with where to find them.

Talisman Recommendations and How to Get Talismans

The Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman is arguably the best defensive talisman in the game, providing a massive 20% physical damage negation boost. You can find it in the Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree, which means you will likely pick it up during your journey to Malenia. The Erdtree's Favor +2 increases your maximum HP, stamina, and equip load, making it an excellent all-around choice for any build wearing medium armor.

For players who want to know how to get talismans more broadly, most talismans are found in chests, dropped by bosses, or purchased from merchants scattered across the Lands Between. The Great-Jar's Arsenal talisman, which boosts equip load by 19%, is obtained by completing the Great-Jar's challenge in Caelid, where you must defeat three NPC invaders. The Bull-Goat's Talisman, which increases poise by 33%, is found in a hidden area near the Dragonbarrow, and it pairs exceptionally well with the Loyalist's Set to compensate for its moderate poise value.

Talisman Loadout Examples

To give you a concrete starting point, here are three talisman loadouts that work well with the Loyalist's Set depending on your build: for a pure Strength build, pair the Great-Jar's Arsenal with Bull-Goat's Talisman to offset the set's heavy poise-to-weight ratio (roughly 12.5 weight per piece) and maintain a medium roll; for a mage, swap in the Radagon Icon to shorten spell cast times while using the Green Turtle Talisman to manage stamina drain from dodging; and for a hybrid, the Erdtree's Favor +2 boosts HP, stamina, and equip load, letting you wear the full set with a heavier weapon like the Giant-Crusher without fat-rolling. Each loadout prioritizes survivability over raw damage, since the set's innate defenses are already high but its weight demands careful stat allocation.

• Balanced Melee Loadout: Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman, Erdtree's Favor +2, Bull-Goat's Talisman, and Green Turtle Talisman for faster stamina recovery.

• Strength Build Loadout: Great-Jar's Arsenal, Erdtree's Favor +2, Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman, and the Claw Talisman to boost jumping attack damage.

• Mage Build Loadout: Graven-Mass Talisman, Radagon Icon, Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman, and the Cerulean Amber Medallion for extra FP.

Each of these loadouts addresses a specific weakness of the Loyalist's Set while amplifying the strengths of your chosen build. The defensive talismans compensate for the armor's moderate damage negation, while the equip load talismans let you wear the full set without sacrificing your weapon choices.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get Malenia's armor in ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition?

Defeat Malenia in Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree, then take her Remembrance to Finger Reader Enia at the Roundtable Hold. Exchange the Remembrance to unlock the Loyalist's Set for purchase. Each piece costs runes, so bring roughly 38,000 runes to buy the full set.

Can I get both Malenia's armor and her weapon in one playthrough?

Yes, you can duplicate the Remembrance of the Rot Goddess at a Walking Mausoleum without a bell. After duplicating, spend one copy on the Hand of Malenia weapon and the other on the armor set. This allows you to obtain both rewards without waiting for New Game Plus.

Is Malenia's armor good for strength builds?

The Loyalist's Set works for strength builds, but it is not the best armor for strength in the game. The Bull-Goat Set offers superior poise and defense, though it weighs significantly more. If you want to maintain a medium roll with heavy weapons, the Loyalist's Set is a solid alternative.

Does armor weight affect my roll speed?

Yes, your equip load percentage determines your roll type. Under 30% gives a light roll, 30% to 69.9% gives a medium roll, and 70% or higher gives a heavy roll. The Loyalist's Set at 27.7 total weight typically results in a medium roll with moderate Endurance investment.

Can I upgrade Malenia's armor pieces?

No, armor cannot be upgraded in ELDEN RING — Malenia's set stats are final, so your 36.3-unit equip load and 4.5 poise per piece are locked. To survive, pair it with the Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman for 20% physical negation or Bull-Goat's Talisman for 33% more poise against Waterfowl Dance.