the-elden-ring-participant-who-fought-its-hardest-boss-time-and-again-till-an-growth-announcement-is-hanging-up-his-sword:-“i-had-been-doing-it-so-lengthy”

The announcement of Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree growth was met with widespread adulation, nevertheless it held a particular that means for JPNB, a instructor by day who had dedicated to preventing Elden Ring megaboss Malenia, Blade of Miquella, time and again till such a reveal. “I used to be on my commute to work listening to an audiobook when my good friend known as me on Discord,” JPNB instructed me of the second he discovered in regards to the announcement. “I felt a large sigh of aid over my physique, but in addition a bittersweet feeling as a result of I had been doing it so lengthy.”

FromSoft followers aren’t any strangers to mad shows of devotion⁠—the video games’ mechanically wealthy, difficult fights and cryptic, open-ended tales invite a sure obsession, sufficient to drive never-ending lore deep dives, datamining, and sure, boss problem runs. 

The Elden Ring Each day update was one such fan ritual that appears to prefigure JPNB’s output. It was, because the identify implies, a YouTube sequence with a brand new video uploaded every single day within the lengthy silence after Elden Ring’s preliminary E3 2019 reveal. “There isn’t any information about Elden Ring at the moment,” many of the movies went, with scattered runtime spikes comparable to breaking information giving strategy to a gentle stream of precise updates because the game approached launch.

One in every of JPNB’s inspirations for his personal Elden Ring ordeal was “a scholar who was at all times making an attempt to chop corners and put in minimal effort however by some means at all times received excessive scores.” JPNB surmised that they’d “in all probability be a Rivers of Blood consumer,” referencing the game’s edgy, blood-themed, and previously fairly overpowered katana. Certainly, JPNB’s first construct all the best way again in Might of 2022 stays a testomony to the unsanitary samurai sword’s former glory, that includes an “Extremely Intuition Melina”-themed construct.

That is one factor that helped JPNB’s output actually stand out: its construct selection. Every MAlenia battle featured a wholly new character type, due to a preserved save file from earlier than the battle with easy accessibility to respec-providing defeated boss Rennala. I am a fan of his day 61 construct, that includes his preliminary character wielding Rivers of Blood and sporting a snazzy Iron Kasa, Fingerprint Armor, and Twinned set ensemble, however I am additionally keen on this pure caster from day 59, in addition to his cosplays of lore characters like St. Trina, Malenia’s blind swordsman instructor, or Morgott.

“I’ve a spreadsheet stuffed with deliberate however by no means accomplished builds,” JPNB instructed me of the plans for future movies he by no means had to attract on. “I used to be going to do a Sister Friede from [Dark Souls 3] construct and a summoner construct where you simply conceal in a nook whereas your summons beat up Malenia.”

JPNB’s dedication to selection and lots of, extra pressing priorities in actual life led to the initially day by day problem morphing right into a weekly one. “I’m slowly dropping an increasing number of private time to my daughter,” JPNB defined. “I am unable to grind out builds anymore and going for no-damage towards Malenia or some other robust boss is no less than a 1-2 hour gaming session.” That is on high of, you understand, molding and tutoring the following technology in his day job.

Nonetheless, JPNB is grateful for the expertise: “I had discovered that I used to be gonna be a father and doing this sequence has truly been therapeutic as a result of I would been going via some self doubt about whether or not or not I would be a great dad⁠—carrying out a troublesome feat each week was one of many issues that helped block out these intrusive ideas.” In order a lot as I am going to miss JPNB’s weekly inventive duels with the Souls sequence’ hardest boss, it is good for issues to return to an finish after they’ve run their course and served their objective. JPNB has children to show and one other to lift. 

There’s one other on the market who stays dedicated to an analogous bit/ritual (it is at all times laborious to inform which) although⁠—YouTuber lellollo continues to throw themselves at Darkish Souls 3 finish boss Slave Knight Gael every day⁠—a better battle than Malenia, however nonetheless no cakewalk, and so they’ve dedicated to doing so till Shadow of the Erdtree launches. So long as there are pending FromSoft reveals or releases of any form, it appears, somebody will undertake one thing a bit of kooky to mark the passage of time.