Oh boy, as a die-hard Elden Ring fan who's been dodging death since 2022, I can't help but chuckle at how this game keeps surprising us. Just the other day, I was replaying the Lands Between for the umpteenth time, and guess what? A ridiculously simple strategy involving the 'Balled Up' emote is still saving players from the nightmare that is Malenia, Blade of Miquella. It's like the developers at FromSoftware left this little Easter egg just to mess with us, and in 2025, it's as effective as ever. Who would've thought that curling into a fetal position could be the ultimate defense against one of gaming's toughest bosses? I mean, come on—it's pure comedy gold, and it proves that even after three years, Elden Ring's charm is far from fading.
Now, let's talk about Malenia herself. 😱 She's the stuff of legends, folks—a boss so brutal that she's made grown gamers cry into their controllers. Her attacks? Oh, they're a symphony of pain: sweeping sword slashes that cover half the arena, lightning-fast combos, and that infuriating health-restoration trick where she heals with every hit. I remember my first encounter with her back in the day; I must have died a hundred times before I even scratched her second phase. Fast forward to now, in 2025, and she's still terrorizing newbies and veterans alike. But here's the kicker: players like Reddit user wildstargazer stumbled upon a genius (and utterly silly) way to cheese her. By using the 'Balled Up' gesture, you shrink your hit box so low that most of Malenia's horizontal strikes just whiff right over you. It's like playing hide-and-seek with a demigod—and winning!
So, how does this hilarious strategy work in practice? Let me break it down for you, step by step, based on wildstargazer's viral clip. First, you need to trigger the emote at just the right moment during Malenia's first-phase combo. Here's a quick list of what happens:
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🎮 Step 1: Wait for her to start her signature slash attack—you know, the one where she goes all whirlwind on you.
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🎮 Step 2: Hit that 'Balled Up' emote faster than you can say 'ouch'. Your character curls into a tiny ball, making you practically invisible to her blades.
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🎮 Step 3: Watch in amusement as Malenia swings wildly above you, missing every single hit like she's blindfolded. It lasts almost a full minute of pure, unadulterated futility on her part.
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🎮 Step 4: Eventually, she'll land a jumping downward slash (because, hey, no strategy is perfect), but by then, you've dodged the worst and can counterattack. Wildstargazer discovered this by accident during a co-op session with their boyfriend, who was emoting to 'commit suicide' whenever they died—talk about relationship goals in gaming! 😂 The best part? This trick isn't some glitch; it's a legit feature that's survived all updates, including the massive Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. It's proof that Elden Ring's physics engine has a wicked sense of humor.
But hold your horses—co-op mode isn't always the best way to tackle this. As wildstargazer learned the hard way, bringing a buddy into the fight amps up Malenia's health pool, making her even more of a beast. Plus, her healing gimmick means she can regenerate faster if you're not careful. 😅 I've seen countless players rage-quit over this, thinking teamwork would save them, only to end up with double the frustration. The Reddit community had a field day with this discovery, flooding the comments with jokes like, 'Balled Up? More like balled up in fear after my 50th attempt!' Others pointed out that solo play might be smarter for Malenia, but hey, where's the fun in that? The sheer absurdity of watching a boss flail helplessly while you're curled up like a scared hedgehog is what makes Elden Ring so endlessly replayable in 2025.
Speaking of replayability, let's not forget why this game is still a hit. With the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC dropping last year and the hype around Elden Ring Nightreign (the upcoming multiplayer spin-off), new players are flooding in daily. They're exploring every nook of the Lands Between, creating fan art, and sharing wild strategies like this one. It's a testament to FromSoftware's genius—blending Souls-like challenge with open-world freedom. I mean, even after all this time, stumbling upon tricks like the 'Balled Up' emote feels like uncovering buried treasure. It keeps the game fresh and full of surprises, ensuring that no two playthroughs are ever the same. And let's be real: in an era where games come and go, Elden Ring's staying power is nothing short of legendary.
In the end, whether you're a newbie or a seasoned Tarnished, this emote strategy is a hilarious reminder to embrace the chaos. So next time you face Malenia, give it a shot—curl up, laugh your way through her attacks, and savor the victory. After all, in 2025, Elden Ring is still teaching us that sometimes, the best defense is a good... ball. 🤣