Public Service Announcement: Use Vow of the Indomitable for Malenia

[Xenos]

With Patch 1.06 nerfing both Bloodhound Step and Corpose Piler, a lot of people's go-to strategy to beat Malenia, Blade of Miquella, who has never known defeat, has also been nerfed. Bloodhound Step doesn't even come close to consistently dodging Waterfowl anymore, both because it doesn't have the I-frames, and especially doesn't have the distance.

HOWEVER!

I come to spread the news of a new savior!
Vow of the Indomitable!

It can be put on any shield. Small, Medium, Large, it doesn't matter.
And for the low cost of only 20FP (15 with Carian Filigreed Crest) you can obtain THIRTY frames of 100% invincibility to all forms of damage and status buildup.

That's right. HALF OF A FULL SECOND at 60fps. With only a few frames of startup, and a few frames of recovery, you can stand DIRECTLY in Malenia's dumb rotted face and laugh as she swings at air.

"But she still heals from it!" I hear some of you say.
"NAY!" I reply. MALENIA DOESN'T HEAL A SINGLE SCRAP OF HP DURING THE INVINCIBILITY!

And where is this legendary Ash of War found? Simple; on a random teardrop scarab just east of the Village of the Albinaurics in South Liurnia. No miniboss, no dungeon delving, just a quick jaunt down the lane and you too can start completely invalidating the worst part of Malenia's fight.

Stay strong, fellow Tarnished! All hope is not lost!

[Dollmaker]

Is BHS really not good for Malenia anymore?

I think it would simply require some good timing now, rather than spamming the living hell out of it.

I actually feel like testing it, cause being totally honest, only the first flurry of her Waterfowl is hard to dodge, the other two are quite easy.

[Witcher]

After activating this Ash of War, does the shield need to remain in one hand for the invincibility or can you switch to dual weapons?

[Dollmaker]

Originally posted by Witcher:

After activating this Ash of War, does the shield need to remain in one hand for the invincibility or can you switch to dual weapons?

Pretty sure its an entire animation, you cant do nothing during its duration.

Correct me if im wrong, cause i never used it.

[Xenos]

Originally posted by Dollmaker:

Is BHS really not good for Malenia anymore?

I think it would simply require some good timing now, rather than spamming the living hell out of it.

I actually feel like testing it, cause being totally honest, only the first flurry of her Waterfowl is hard to dodge, the other two are quite easy.

If you know exactly how to time it, it can still work. But the main problem is that the distance nerf, not the I-frame nerf, means it can be situationally impossible to get out of her hitzone and thus risk a stagger into instant death. Vow of the Indomitable completely ignores all hits, damage, and status, thus avoiding the risk entirely.

Originally posted by Witcher:

After activating this Ash of War, does the shield need to remain in one hand for the invincibility or can you switch to dual weapons?

You stand in place for the duration of the Ash of War, and can't attack. But, you're still 100% invincibile, can't be staggered, won't heal Malenia, and it's not like you could really attack Malenia during Waterfowl anyways. You can practically mash the Ash of War button and while you might get hit a few times, as long as you have the 60 Vigor you should have for Malenia anyways, she CAN NOT kill you.

[Witcher]

Originally posted by Dollmaker:

Originally posted by Witcher:

After activating this Ash of War, does the shield need to remain in one hand for the invincibility or can you switch to dual weapons?

Pretty sure its an entire animation, you cant do nothing during its duration.

Correct me if im wrong, cause i never used it.

In that case, I might as well dodge roll. I have been practising when summoned to help hosts and can survive her Waterfowl Dance 8 out of 10 times.

[Xenos]

Originally posted by Witcher:

Originally posted by Dollmaker:

Pretty sure its an entire animation, you cant do nothing during its duration.

Correct me if im wrong, cause i never used it.

In that case, I might as well dodge roll. I have been practising when summoned to help hosts and can survive her Waterfowl Dance 9 out of 10 times.

Do whatever works for you! But Vow of the Indomitable works 10 out of 10 times!

[NightLizard]

Originally posted by Xenos:

Originally posted by Witcher:

In that case, I might as well dodge roll. I have been practising when summoned to help hosts and can survive her Waterfowl Dance 9 out of 10 times.

Do whatever works for you! But Vow of the Indomitable works 10 out of 10 times!

Queen thicc Tilly works 20/10.
But yeah, vow of indomitable is great, i use to solo dragon breath with cool look/radhan.

[nfinite.recursion]

Reject Vow of the Indomitable!

Embrace Git Gud!

[John Titor]

Just a little FYI: a fully charged Ancient Lightning Spear knocks her right the ♥♥♥♥ down.

[Faust Wither]

i take her love with my body.

[Xenos]

Originally posted by nfinite.recursion:

Reject Vow of the Indomitable!

Embrace Git Gud!

Reject community gatekeeping!

Embrace player freedom!

[Crest]

vows of indomitable can be used to avoid NIHIL too. save you from wasting a wondrous physick flask

[Xenos]

Originally posted by Crest:

vows of indomitable can be used to avoid NIHIL too. save you from wasting a wondrous physick flask

Even more reasons to use the best Ash of War!

[Heimdall313]

I have never gotten past foreskin duo but this is an AoW I've never even heard of.
Might try this

[Dollmaker]

Originally posted by Heimdall313:

I have never gotten past foreskin duo but this is an AoW I've never even heard of.
Might try this

Doubt its gonna be that useful against them tbh, since they have pretty lengthy combos