The First Berserker Khazan's Strategy to Defeat Maluca in Veil Knight
What's up, everyone? Today, I’m going to guide you through the process of defeating one of the toughest bosses in the game: Maluca, the final challenge in the Veil Knight mission. This battle is a real test of your skills, but don’t worry—I’ve got all the tips and strategies you need to come out on top. Stick with me through this guide, and at the end, I’ll even show you an unedited fight where I take down Maluca. So, let’s jump right in!
Preparation Before the Battle
Before you march through those large double doors that lead to the final showdown, you need to make sure you're properly prepared. Double-check that your skills are set and your consumables are ready—things like Chaos Cleanse Potions will be crucial for surviving the fight.
For those of you who use a Greatsword (like me), here’s a pro tip that’ll make the first phase of the battle a bit smoother: invest some points into the Phantom Knightsville skill. When you use this skill, you’ll radiate damaging energy that affects nearby enemies. In the first phase of the fight, Maluca is particularly vulnerable to this, and with the right combos, you can even stun-lock him for a decent amount of time. Just be aware that this trick becomes less effective once the second phase begins.
Entering the Fight
Once you open those massive doors, the boss fight begins with a cutscene introducing Maluca, the leader of the Knights Fail. Maluca’s a skilled warrior who wields two giant greatswords, and his backstory is both tragic and brutal. The fight is divided into different phases, and it's going to challenge everything you’ve learned up until now.
Phase One: Slower, but Deadly Attacks
Maluca’s attacks in this phase are slower compared to what you'll face later, but that doesn’t mean you can slack off. He still packs a punch, and you'll need to be quick with your parries and reflections.
Just like Rankas from the previous mission, Maluca’s stamina regenerates actively, so you’ll want to keep up the offensive pressure. He always starts the fight the same way: charging at you with a spinning slash combo. This sequence involves a spin slash, followed by a second delayed spin slash, and then he’ll throw out a delayed thrust with both swords. He then follows this up with a double-hitting slash and finishes with a delayed overhead slam. Expect a jumping front kick right after, which should be dodged to avoid damage.
He also has a projectile attack where he spins backwards and shoots out three projectiles with different timings. The first two are fast, but the third is delayed. Timing your dodges for the first two is relatively easy, but the third is trickier. Watch closely for Maluca to raise his head before launching the projectile—this is your cue to dodge.
Another attack you need to watch out for is his descending slam, where Maluca jumps into the air, spins, and crashes down. This has a surprisingly large range, so it’s best to guard through it rather than risk dodging too early.
Maluca’s AoE Shockwave
One of Maluca’s signature moves is a powerful AoE shockwave. You’ll see him start to glow as he charges up for this attack, and when he slams his swords into the ground, a shockwave will follow. If you're fast enough, you can interrupt this by hitting him with a heavy attack. Alternatively, you can either block it or just keep your distance to avoid taking damage.
The Burst Charge Attack
Maluca also has a burst charge attack that you can counter. He’ll charge at you spinning with a burst of energy. If you attack him during this, he’ll retaliate quickly with a fast burst attack, so either keep your distance and toss javelins at him, or get in close and prepare for a counter. But whatever you do, don’t get greedy and fall for the taunt.
Phase Two: A More Aggressive Maluca
Around 70-75% health, Maluca transitions into the second phase of the fight. In this phase, he becomes much faster, more aggressive, and his attacks now have the ability to inflict the Chaos status, which reduces your max HP.
This phase kicks off with a plunging attack, which he uses immediately after transitioning. I recommend perfect dodging the initial plunge and then getting some distance to avoid the secondary AoE explosion that follows. In my experience, this is usually followed by a lightning-fast quick draw, where Maluca draws his sword and delivers a deadly slash.
The key to dodging this is to listen for the sound cue that indicates he’s about to attack. Wait a second for the sound, then dodge. This move hits hard and can also inflict Chaos status, so be sure to dodge it.
The Unblockable Grab
Maluca has another tricky move in this phase—a grab attack. He leaps forward, trying to grab you with his glowing sword. To dodge this, you need to listen for the sound cue of his leap and then dodge to the sides to avoid the grab.
Phase Two Combo Attacks: Deadly and Complex
Maluca’s combo attacks with his katana in this phase are brutal. They involve up to five hits, including backflips, rapid slashes, and delayed strikes. These combos can be difficult to dodge, but if you time your brink guards well, you can block most of the attacks and even stagger him briefly.
There are also three-hit katana combos that feature vertical slashes, spinning slashes, and delay strikes. If you brink guard the third strike, it’ll briefly stagger Maluca, giving you a chance to go on the offensive.
Teleport Slash: A Fast and Deadly Move
One of Maluca’s most dangerous attacks is his teleport slash. He’ll sheath his katana and then dash forward at lightning speed, slashing multiple times. This move is hard to dodge, but you can avoid it by watching for his katana-sheathing animation. Once it’s fully sheathed, dodge or brink guard to survive this attack.
After the teleport slash, Maluca usually follows up with a 180-degree slash that can be dodged backward or blocked. Be prepared to react quickly, as he’ll often perform this sequence multiple times in a row.
Aerial Slashes and Other Aggressive Attacks
In the second phase, Maluca gains a new move: the airborne slashing attack. He leaps into the air and spins around, slashing several times in mid-air. To avoid this, time your dodge carefully and keep your distance. Once he’s finished, try to get in some attacks of your own.
Throughout this phase, keep an eye on your Chaos status—if you get hit by it, cleanse it as quickly as possible.
Phase Three: Maluca Returns to Greatswords
At about 50% health, Maluca shifts tactics once again, pulling out his dual greatswords for a second time. But this time, he’s a lot faster and far more relentless than he was in the first phase. Here’s the good news: while he’s switching weapons, he’s wide open—this is a perfect chance to get in some free damage before he regains control of the fight.
Once both swords are out, he typically begins with a triple plunge sequence—three heavy downward slams, each with a slight delay between them. The best way to handle these is by trying to perfect dodge every plunge. Stay close so you can respond quickly after the third slam. He’s usually vulnerable right after this combo and has low stamina, so it’s a great time to hit him hard and possibly exhaust him, setting him up for a brutal attack.
Enhanced Projectile Attacks
In this stage, Maluca also ramps up his projectile game. He now fires more projectiles at a faster pace. However, they charge quicker and more consistently, which means they’re a bit easier to predict. You should still be cautious, but if you’ve gotten the timing down in earlier phases, you’ll likely find these a bit more manageable.
Keep your rhythm, stay alert, and keep adjusting your dodges according to his attack speed.
Reflection Opportunities and Exhaustion Strategy
If you’re confident in your ability to perform reflections, there’s a perfect opportunity here. Maluca’s two consecutive spinning slashes with his greatswords are prime targets. Reflecting them successfully will take a chunk out of his stamina—sometimes almost half of it—giving you a major advantage.
After a successful reflection, close in quickly to continue pressure. He can be staggered or exhausted with sustained offensive actions, which opens up chances for heavy damage.
General Tips for Surviving All Phases
While each phase of the fight has its own patterns and dangers, some overall strategies can keep you ahead no matter what:
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Stay aggressive: Maluca doesn’t do well under sustained pressure. As long as you’re not reckless, pushing the attack often leaves him little room to counter.
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Prioritize dodging over blocking when his attacks are faster or when you’re running low on stamina.
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Use Phantom Knightsville strategically early on, but don’t rely on it too much as the fight progresses.
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Cleanse Chaos status ASAP using consumables to avoid getting locked out of max HP.
Practice and Pattern Recognition
Like many high-tier boss battles, this one rewards observation and reaction. Maluca’s patterns are consistent enough to learn, but his delayed strikes and combo chains can throw you off if you get too comfortable. The key is to recognize his wind-ups, listen for sound cues, and memorize the sequencing of his main attacks.
Don’t be discouraged by initial failures. With enough practice, you’ll start seeing openings you couldn’t before, and the timing of your dodges, guards, and counters will start to feel natural.
Conclusion
Taking down Maluca in the Veil Knight mission is no small feat. As the leader of the Knights Fail and one of the most dangerous foes in the game, he challenges your reflexes, timing, and stamina management. But with the right strategies—understanding each phase, reading his attack patterns, and using your skills effectively—you can overcome him.
Whether it’s mastering perfect dodges, keeping your distance during his burst sequences, or hitting him hard when he’s vulnerable, every move you make counts. Stay patient, adapt quickly, and don't hesitate to learn from each attempt. With enough practice and the tactics laid out in this guide, you’ll be able to claim victory as The First Berserker Khazan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the best way to counter Maluca’s projectile attacks?
A: Time your dodges based on visual and audio cues. The third projectile is delayed—wait a moment after he raises his head, then dodge.
Q: How can I avoid the Chaos status in the second phase?
A: Try to perfect dodge the plunge and quick draw attacks. Keep Chaos Cleanse Potions ready to immediately remove the effect if you're hit.
Q: When is the best time to go offensive?
A: After Maluca’s triple plunge in phase three, when his stamina is low. Also, interrupt his AoE shockwave with a heavy attack to create an opening.
Q: Can Maluca be staggered?
A: Yes. Maluca can be staggered during most of his longer combos and after successful reflections. Keep up the pressure when you see him hesitate.
Q: How do I reflect his greatsword spinning slashes?
A: Watch for the spin wind-up. Time your reflection for the second spin in the sequence to do major stamina damage.
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