The Malebranche is an enemy in Final Fantasy XIII-2.
Stats
Battle
Malebranche at plain sight is a stronger version of Wladislaus. It always appears alone. At first, Malebranche's attacks can deal approximately 1000 HP damage to a single member. After falling below 80% HP, Malebranche will switch swords and start using Unrelenting Blade. After falling below 50% HP, it will switch again and start using Peerless Blade, increasing its power even more.
Strategy
With a fairly leveled party, the player should be able to beat it. It is a good idea to start the battle with Cerberus paradigm to establish the chain gauge and then switch to Tri-disaster and start barraging Malebranche with spells to build up his chain gauge.
The party can use a Sentinel along with a Medic or two to recover lost HP from Malebranche's initial attacks. The party should switch between Cerberus and Tri-disaster to keep the attacks going and eventually Malebranche will fall before unleashing any of his powered attacks.
Etymology
The Malebranche were a group of demons that guarded the fifth section of the Eighth Circle of Hell, the Malebolge, in Dante's Inferno. The name translates to "Evil Claws", which is quite fitting for the claw-like Cie'th. Many of the individual Malebranche have been used elsewhere in the series, including Scarmiglione, Cagnazzo, Barbariccia, and Rubicante.