A new piece of Malenia has inspired countless Elden Ring cosplays and fan art pieces that lean into her intriguing lore and striking appearance.
Even before Elden Ring was released, Malenia struck a chord with gaming audiences thanks to her unique look; Malenia boasts vibrant red hair, a prosthetic arm, and a golden winged half-helm, setting her apart from many traditional fantasy game icons. Upon Elden Ring's release, Malenia took on a different kind of legacy, as she soon became known as not only one of the hardest bosses in Elden Ring, but as one of the most difficult bosses in any FromSoftware game. Malenia's astoundingly difficult boss fight has proven to unite the fanbase against her, with Elden Ring player Let Me Solo Her becoming famous for assisting other players in the battle against the Goddess of Rot through the game's co-op system.
Although the two share very few similarities, an artist going by the handle AutomaticGiraffe recently shared a piece of fan art depicting Princess Zelda as Malenia. The illustration was shared with the caption "Zelda, Blade of Hylia," a play on Malenia's full title Malenia, Blade of Miquella. Apart from the title, the piece includes a half-helm that is similar to the one worn by Malenia, only with adornments and decorations consistent with other pieces of Zelda iconography. The dress that Zelda wears in the piece is also reminiscent of Malenia's outfit, as it is tattered with a fur collar similar to Malenia's. The drawing even features prosthetic limbs for Zelda.
This character seems to be a popular subject for fan art, as it was only recently that an Elden Ring 2D pixel art piece gained popularity by showing what Malenia might look like in a retro side-scroller. The one-of-a-kind appearance boasted by Malenia, alongside her complex backstory as a child of Radagon and Marika, seem to have made her a character that has stuck with many players, particularly those with artistic inclinations.
Even amidst so many other pieces of Malenia-themed fan art, this Zelda mashup piece certainly stands out. AutomaticGiraffe's ability to take Malenia's iconic look and adapt it to a famous character like Zelda is definitely unique, and is sure to impress both fans of The Legend of Zelda and Elden Ring.
Source: AutomaticGiraffe/Twitter
