If you’ve reached Maluca in The First Berserker: Khazan, you’ve faced quite a challenge, and those relentless war drums may have you feeling on edge. Unfortunately, the tough battles you’ve fought before will seem minor compared to what lies ahead. Maluca has two challenging phases, with the second introducing a new status condition called Chaos. This can severely impact your performance if you fail to evade his strikes, and his unpredictable attack patterns will keep you on your toes.
Like all bosses in First Berserker: Khazan, Maluca has certain vulnerabilities that you can exploit if you pay close attention to his moves. One critical skill to hone before facing him is Reflection. While this technique might have worked against earlier bosses like Volbaino, mastering it becomes crucial against Maluca because it not only diminishes his stamina but also opens the door for powerful counterattacks. If you haven’t been practicing your Reflection skills, you will have ample opportunities to do so during your fight with Maluca.
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Where to Find Maluca in First Berserker: Khazan
To face Maluca, you first need to navigate Nadin Quarry, clearing out various enemies along the way. Located in Pell Los Plateau, Nadin Quarry is populated with undead foes, revenants, and spiders. Watch out for the Renowned Spellblade’s Shadow enemies, who wield giant swords and can unleash dangerous lightning attacks from a distance.
As you make your way through Nadin Quarry, you’ll encounter plenty of Knivesveil bandits and soldiers. They can overwhelm you if you’re not careful, and you’ll have to deal with several giant rolling traps that can be manageable if you’ve cleared the enemies beforehand. Ultimately, you will arrive at the Throne of the Veil, where you’ll face Maluca in the arena.
How to Defeat Maluca
Use Reflection in Both Phases to Defeat Maluca
When the battle begins, Maluca will be in his human form and doesn’t apply any status effects. He has some slower attacks that provide you with perfect opportunities to practice your Reflection technique. He will initiate the fight with a heavy swing followed by a follow-up attack that’s easy to reflect if you adjust to the rhythm. If you miss, he’ll follow up with an even slower attack, making that one a perfect candidate for Reflection as well.
Reflections in both phases will drastically deplete his stamina, so mastering the timing of his heavy swings is key. In both encounters, he may pause to beat on his chest, increasing his health—this can be interrupted in the first phase, so keep a spirit charge handy for a javelin throw.
In his first phase, Maluca has a few notable moves, including a charge-up whirlwind strike that can hit up to three times, but these can be blocked or dodged easily. He will also employ unblockable attacks, which can be avoided, that lead into a damaging kick. When he drops to around 75% health, he transitions into his second phase, raising the stakes.
Maluca’s Second Phase Introduces Chaos
Once Maluca shifts into his second phase, you’ll face the new status effect: Chaos. Chaos attacks will gradually chip away at your maximum health, stamina, and spirit if you keep getting hit without clearing the effect. Fortunately, most of Maluca’s Chaos attacks can be evaded or dodged if you anticipate them. The first instance occurs shortly after he enters the second phase—he will jump and slam the ground, creating an explosion, then follow it up with a teleporting attack.
It’s vital to dodge this properly, and if you succeed, you can land a heavy attack right between his ground slam and the explosion, which can also be defended against. If you miss, you’ll start taking significant damage due to his Chaos attacks, possibly even filling up the Chaos gauge depending on your resilience.
He will often return to his chest-beating animation, which now inflicts Chaos damage, so your best strategy is to counter with a charged javelin to limit his health recovery. Watch for the moment he brandishes his greatswords—this is your cue that he will unleash three jump-slam attacks, all of which you’ll need to dodge.
Throughout the fight, he will teleport and slash with his sword. Timing your Reflection during his attacks can drain his stamina, opening a window for a fierce counterattack. His whirlwind move from the first phase returns, but as he becomes weaker, he may unleash up to seven or eight charges instead of three. Be particularly cautious when he crouches down to leap with a glowing blade; it’s crucial to dodge this move or face serious consequences.
Rewards for Beating Maluca
Unlock Khazan’s Phantom Form by Defeating Maluca
Defeating Maluca sets off a cutscene in which Khazan merges with the Blade Phantom, granting him the ability to enter his Phantom Form. This is a powerful mode that becomes available once you fill up the gauge through defeating enemies and landing hits. The Phantom Form is usable anytime you have a full gauge and proves especially valuable during tough battles. It can also be upgraded through the common skills tree, enhancing its various abilities.
Additionally, upon defeating Maluca, you will receive two random pieces from the Chaos-Ridden Set, and potentially the Chaos Fragment for crafting at the Blacksmith in First Berserker: Khazan.
Overall, Maluca presents a formidable challenge that requires you to employ all your skills effectively. Practicing your timing with Reflections is pivotal for overcoming him, and your success will come down to persistence and patience.
