In the unforgiving world of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, one formidable foe stands guard at the gates of Shadow Keep: the Golden Hippopotamus. This gargantuan beast may seem straightforward, but its devastating attacks can quickly turn the tide of battle. Learn how to outmaneuver its crushing blows and exploit its weaknesses to emerge victorious in this epic showdown.
Reward for defeating
Defeating the Golden Hippopotamus in Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC yields several valuable rewards. Upon victory, players receive 200,000 runes, which can be used to upgrade equipment or purchase items. Additionally, they obtain two Scadutree Fragments, crucial for enhancing damage output and reducing damage taken. The fight also rewards the Aspect of the Crucible: Thorns incantation, allowing players to summon a protective barrier of thorns. Furthermore, defeating the Golden Hippopotamus unlocks access to the rest of Shadow Keep, enabling progression to the Ancient Ruins of Ruah.
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For defeating Golden Hippopotamus, you will receive 200,000 runes, 2 Scadutree Fragments and Aspects of the Crucible: Thorns.
Golden Hippopotamus in a nutshell
The Golden Hippopotamus is a formidable boss in Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, located in the central courtyard of Shadow Keep. Despite its straightforward attack pattern, it poses a significant threat due to its massive size and powerful bites. The hippopotamus primarily uses head slams and bites, making it crucial to stay away from its head and attack from the sides or rear. The fight becomes more challenging when it sprouts golden spines at half health, but this also offers opportunities for additional attacks. Utilizing a summoned ally like Mimic Tear and exploiting its weakness to bleed and fire can greatly simplify the battle. Defeating the Golden Hippopotamus rewards players with the Aspect of the Crucible: Thorns incantation and other valuable items.
- Hippopotamus is a large but relatively fast boss.
- Most of its attacks involve swinging its huge head or biting. Because of that, it is best to approach the beast from its side or back.
- The boss can attack in a fairly wide area in front of him.
- It’s not very agile though. Take advantage of this and try to outmaneuver him in the fairly large arena.
- A charge, a body attack, and a series of attacks (usually 3) force the beast to take a few moments to recover. Use this time to counterattack or heal.
- In the second part of the fight, the hippopotamus’s body becomes covered with sharp spikes and the beast gains several ranged attacks. These are preceded by “charging”, which is indicated by the spikes starting to glow yellow.
- In the second phase of the fight, keep moving to avoid being hit by the spikes.
How to defeat the Golden Hippopotamus?
To defeat the Golden Hippopotamus in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, focus on exploiting its weaknesses and mastering its attack patterns. The Hippopotamus is highly susceptible to Bleed and Frost buildup, making these elemental affinities ideal for dealing significant damage. It is also weak to most elemental types except Holy damage. Utilize a Bleed build or apply Messmerfire Grease for enhanced fire damage. During the fight, maintain a safe distance and avoid its head, as its bite attacks can be devastating. Consider summoning allies like Mimic Tear or Redmane Freyja to distract the boss while you attack from the sides. Timing your dodges is crucial, especially for its charging and grab attacks, which can be dodged by rolling diagonally or sprinting to the sides.
Golden Hippopotamus is a four-legged boss of considerable size. Despite its size, it is surprisingly fast. It can easily surprise you with a quick series of head attacks or an unexpected charge. Poor maneuverability is its weakness, which means you will be able to outmaneuver it in the fairly large arena.
Most of the hippo’s attacks involve its head. The beast swings its head in a wide arc in front of itself, opens its mouth trying to bite you, and even tries to crush you. These attacks are preceded by quite distinct swings, so observe the boss’s behavior and be prepared to dodge.
Considering the boss’s poor maneuverability, we recommend that you avoid head attacks by moving to the side or even slightly towards the boss. Standing on its side will give you a good opportunity to counterattack and protect yourself from a sudden forward charge.
Most of the “bigger” attacks of the beast, such as a series of head swings or a charge with an open mouth, usually end with a very short moment of inaction by the boss. Watch out for these moments as opportunities to attack.
After losing about half of its health, the beast will transform and golden spikes will appear on its back. The new form will give the hippo spike-based ranged attacks. Each of them is preceded by a clear light shining from the boss’s back.
During the first ranged attack, the beast will spin around on the ground, sending a wave of needles around itself. If you move away from the boss at the right time, it will be easier to avoid the projectiles from a greater distance. Dodging at the right moment and hiding behind a shield (if you use one) will also help you.
The second ranged attack is more direct and relies on sharp needles falling from the sky. If you notice that the boss is charging a move, be ready to quickly dodge to avoid damage.
What are the best strategies to avoid the Golden Hippopotamus’s deadly head attacks
To avoid the Golden Hippopotamus’s deadly head attacks in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, consider the following strategies:
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Positioning and Dodging:
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Stay Central: Keep yourself in the center of the room to avoid being cornered and slammed into walls.
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Dodge Forward or Sideways: When the Hippopotamus charges with its mouth open, dodge forward or sideways to avoid its bite attack.
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Roll Away from Head Slams: Use double-dodge rolls to the side to avoid head slams, ensuring you don’t roll backward into walls.
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Using Companions:
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Summon Allies: Use Spirit Ash or Mimic Tear to distract the Hippopotamus, allowing you to attack from safer angles.
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Attack from Sides or Rear: While your companion distracts the boss, attack its sides or rear where it’s more vulnerable.
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Timing and Awareness:
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Watch for Attack Cues: Pay attention to the Hippopotamus’s movements, such as raising its head before a slam or opening its mouth for a bite.
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Jump to Avoid Shockwaves: When it slams down, jump to avoid the shockwave and position yourself for a counterattack.
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Exploit Weaknesses:
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Fire Damage: The Golden Hippopotamus is weak to fire, so using fire-based attacks can significantly increase your damage output.
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What are the most common mistakes players make when fighting the Golden Hippopotamus
When fighting the Golden Hippopotamus in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, players often make several common mistakes that can lead to a quick defeat. Here are some of the most frequent errors:
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Underestimating Speed and Aggression:
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Misjudging Attack Speed: Players often underestimate how quickly the Hippopotamus can move and chain attacks, leading to being caught off guard and knocked down.
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Not Reacting to Attack Cues: Failing to recognize and react to the Hippopotamus’s attack cues, such as its open mouth or head raise, can result in taking unnecessary damage.
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Poor Positioning:
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Staying Too Close: Remaining too close to the Hippopotamus’s face during its biting attacks can lead to being knocked back and exposed to follow-up attacks.
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Not Utilizing the Environment: Failing to use the battlefield to your advantage, such as staying central to avoid wall slams, can increase vulnerability.
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Inadequate Preparation:
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Insufficient Weapon Upgrades: Entering the fight with underpowered weapons can make it difficult to deal significant damage, prolonging the battle and increasing risk.
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Lack of Defensive Tools: Not having a shield with high physical damage protection or failing to use Spirit Ash effectively can leave players exposed to massive damage.
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Not Exploiting Weaknesses:
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Ignoring Elemental Weaknesses: Failing to utilize the Hippopotamus’s weakness to fire damage or slashing attacks can reduce damage output significantly.
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Not Breaking Poise: Neglecting to use strong attacks or gravity magic to break the Hippopotamus’s poise can limit opportunities for critical hits.
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Inconsistent Dodging:
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Incorrect Dodging Direction: Dodging sideways when the Hippopotamus charges with its mouth open can put players in danger of being hit by its whipping head.
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Not Timing Dodges Correctly: Failing to dodge forward or backward at the right moment can result in taking full damage from head slams or bites.
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