The Battle of Radahn and Malenia
The Battle of Starscourge Radahn and Malenia, Blade of Miquella is arguably the most cataclysmic event of the Shattering and the ultimate example of the conflict's mutual destruction. It represents the clash between two of the most powerful demigods and resulted in the complete ruin of an entire landmass.
1. The Pre-Battle Context
The battle took place during the Shattering, the civil war among Queen Marika's demigod offspring over the Great Runes.
Radahn's Stance: General Radahn, the "Conqueror of the Stars," was the mightiest of the demigod warriors, a master of Gravity Magic. He was encamped in Caelid after failing to take the Capital, Leyndell, but was most notably using his power to literally hold the stars in place. This stalled the destiny of several individuals, including his sister, Ranni the Witch, and possibly his half-brother, Miquella.
Malenia's Goal: Malenia, the "Unaltered," was the Empyrean twin sister of Miquella and was fiercely devoted to him. She marched from the Haligtree into Caelid, seemingly to confront Radahn. While the exact motivation is complex (and has been further clarified in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC), the most immediate reasons are believed to be:
To remove Radahn's influence, allowing the stars to move again and Miquella's destiny to proceed.
To fight the greatest warrior in the Lands Between to secure Miquella's safety and ascendancy.
2. The Battle and the Stalemate
The two armies clashed on the massive, arid plains of Caelid, now known as the Wailing Dunes.
The Clash: The battle was an epic, protracted duel between the giant Starscourge Radahn and the human-sized Malenia, who was known as an undefeated warrior. Malenia's immense skill, speed, and mastery of her blade countered Radahn's overwhelming strength, gravitational magic, and sheer size.
The Stalemate: Despite the incredible power of both combatants, the battle reached an unavoidable deadlock. Radahn's strength and resilience prevented Malenia from achieving a decisive victory. Malenia, who was already afflicted with the latent Scarlet Rot curse, found herself at her limit.
3. Malenia's Bloom: The Scarlet Aeonia
Faced with defeat or a perpetual stalemate that would doom her quest for Miquella, Malenia resorted to a desperate, self-destructive final act.
The Choice: In a moment of either ultimate sacrifice or ultimate betrayal of her own pride and her brother's efforts to cure her, Malenia completely gave into the Outer God of Rot sealed within her.
The Result: She unleashed her second of three "blooms," the Scarlet Aeonia. This was not just an attack; it was an apocalyptic biological weapon. It instantly coated all of Caelid in a lethal, crimson blight and put Malenia into a deep coma. The resulting area is where the Swamp of Aeonia now sits.
4. The Aftermath: Mutual Destruction
The immediate aftermath of the Scarlet Aeonia ended the war but created a catastrophic, lasting tragedy for both demigods and the Lands Between.
Radahn's Fate: The Scarlet Rot, an irreversible form of decay, ravaged Radahn's body and mind. It did not kill him, but it drove him utterly insane, crippling his once-brilliant intellect and reducing him to a mindless, feral beast who wanders the battlefield, eating the corpses of his own soldiers. Ironically, even in his madness, a part of him still holds the stars in place.
Malenia's Fate: Malenia was left comatose. She was retrieved from the battlefield by her most loyal Cleanrot Knight, Finlay, who single-handedly carried her all the way back to the distant Haligtree. This arduous journey was Finlay's last act, as the knight died upon reaching their destination. Malenia awoke to find herself in a weakened state, and during her absence, her brother Miquella had been stolen by Mohg, Lord of Blood.
The Final Verdict: The battle is officially considered a draw or a mutual defeat. Both demigods were incapacitated, their forces were decimated, and the region of Caelid was utterly ruined and blighted by the Scarlet Rot.