TL;DR
- Freezing Pots instantly cancel Malenia’s devastating Waterfowl Dance attack
- Carry up to 10 pots to counter her entire fight sequence
- Glintstone Craftsman’s Cookbook [6] found in Caria Manor’s southern section
- Ritual Pots available from Isolated Merchant for 3,000 Runes
- Rimed Crystal Buds farmed in Mountaintops of the Giants region
Confronting Malenia, Blade of Miquella presents one of Elden Ring’s most formidable challenges, requiring precise countermeasures against her signature techniques. Her notorious Waterfowl Dance represents a critical threat that demands immediate response strategies.
This devastating aerial assault begins with Malenia hovering briefly before unleashing multiple rapid sword strikes in quick succession. What makes this move particularly dangerous is its dual threat capacity – not only does it inflict massive damage, but it also triggers her health regeneration mechanic with every successful hit. Even surviving the initial barrage often leaves her with significant health recovery, effectively negating your previous damage efforts.
The attack’s three-phase structure creates escalating danger: initial positioning, rapid closing strikes, and final sweeping finish. Understanding these phases is crucial for timing your counter effectively. Many players struggle with dodging the full sequence, making alternative interruption methods essential for success.
Strategic positioning within Caria Manor’s architecture reveals the cookbook location for crafting essential counter items.
The revolutionary counter-strategy discovered by community member toxicBird7 demonstrates how Freezing Pots provide a reliable hard counter to Waterfowl Dance. When thrown during her brief charge-up animation, the freezing projectile instantly interrupts the attack sequence, preventing both damage and health regeneration.
This approach offers exceptional build flexibility since it relies on throwable items rather than specific weapon requirements or stat investments. Whether you’re running a strength-focused build or magic-oriented character, the Freezing Pot remains equally effective. With capacity for ten pots maximum, you can theoretically counter every Waterfowl Dance attempt throughout both fight phases.
Execution timing proves critical – you must throw the pot during the approximately one-second window when she levitates before initiating the attack. Missing this window leaves you vulnerable to the full assault. Practice recognizing her telltale stance shift and audio cues to consistently land the interruption.
For comprehensive combat strategies beyond Malenia, consult our Class Guide for optimal character builds and ability synergies.
Securing the Glintstone Craftsman’s Cookbook [6] represents your first essential step toward crafting Freezing Pots. Located within Caria Manor in Liurnia’s northwestern region, the cookbook requires precise navigation through the manor’s complex architecture.
From the Manor Upper Level Site of Grace, proceed southward and utilize the descending elevator. Continue down the staircase system before executing a calculated drop to the adjacent rooftop structure. From this elevated position, descend to ground level and navigate south until you locate the target chamber containing the cookbook on a deceased scholar.
Common navigation errors include missing the rooftop jump point or overshooting the southern passage. The room features distinctive architectural elements that help identify the correct location. Allow approximately 10-15 minutes for this collection process if unfamiliar with Caria Manor’s layout.
The Isolated Merchant provides essential Ritual Pot access, particularly useful if you’ve progressed to Malenia without collecting sufficient quantities.
Crafting Freezing Pots demands two primary components: Ritual Pots as the reusable container and Rimed Crystal Buds providing the freezing element. Each pot requires one Ritual Pot and two Rimed Crystal Buds to create.
Ritual Pots appear throughout later game regions, but if you’ve reached Malenia without adequate supplies, the Isolated Merchant in Caelid offers them for 3,000 Runes each. This provides a reliable acquisition method regardless of exploration completion.
Rimed Crystal Buds thrive exclusively in frigid environments across the Lands Between. The most efficient farming location identified lies in Mountaintops of the Giants’ western sector, specifically southwest of the Inner Consecrated Snowfield. These crystalline growths typically cluster around the massive white-barked trees distinctive to arctic regions.
For optimal gathering efficiency, equip the Silver Scarab talisman to improve discovery rates and plan routes that maximize bud collection per expedition. A single farming session typically yields 15-20 buds within 30 minutes.
Rimed Crystal Buds exhibit distinctive clustering patterns around specific tree types in frozen biomes, making targeted farming highly efficient.
Understanding weapon mechanics enhances overall combat effectiveness – explore our Weapons Unlock guide for detailed armament strategies.
Action Checklist
- Navigate to Caria Manor’s southern chamber to collect Glintstone Craftsman’s Cookbook [6]
- Purchase Ritual Pots from Isolated Merchant in Caelid (3,000 Runes each)
- Farm 20+ Rimed Crystal Buds in Mountaintops of the Giants
- Craft 10 Freezing Pots at any Site of Grace
- Practice throwing timing against Malenia’s Waterfowl Dance startup animation
No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » Elden Ring: How To Beat Malenia Easily Using The Glintstone Craftsman’s Cookbook Master Malenia's Waterfowl Dance counter with Freezing Pots - complete crafting guide and execution strategy
