How do you beat the Golden Hippopotamus in Elden Ring? Imagine it or not, the brand new Land of Shadow has a Tremendous Saiyan hippopotamus to beat, and it’s no simple job. The struggle is lots like taking over a Runebear from the bottom recreation – besides this hippo hits means more durable regardless of how a lot you’ve invested into the vigor stat. Fortunately, we’ve acquired some ideas that can assist you overcome this fearsome beast.
Whereas the Golden Hippopotamus is totally optionally available in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, you’re going to need to slay this titan for its nice loot – it’s one among many Scadutree Fragments areas. Should you’re nonetheless having hassle after studying our information, you may want to check out the most effective Elden Ring builds to make certain you’re giving your self a combating likelihood.
The right way to beat the Elden Ring Golden Hippopotamus
You’ll come throughout the Golden Hippopotamus after using the grand carry into the Shadow Maintain, discovered immediately north of the Highroad Cross grace, behind the Furnace Golem within the distance. Nevertheless, when you head east from the Highroad Cross Web site of Grace and journey by Bonny Village, you possibly can enter the Shadow Maintain by the jap entrance and skip this struggle altogether – or come again later whenever you’re extra ready. By this level, you ought to be round Scadutree degree 8, which is sweet sufficient to take the Golden Hippopotamus on when you’re assured in your dodge-rolling abilities.
There isn’t a lot in the way in which of kit prep for the Golden Hippopotamus; the beast will rapidly break guards so that you’re higher off having a medium to mild equip load to keep away from its assaults altogether.
Outdoors of the fog door, you possibly can summon both Redmane Freyja or Hornsent to help you on this battle when you talked to them beforehand. Their summon indicators are on both facet of the door. Redmane Freyja can tank much more hits; nonetheless, Hornsent can apply bleed and take off massive chunks of well being without delay.
The Hippopotamus solely has a handful of assaults and getting the timing down on tips on how to dodge them will make your life a lot simpler. The primary assault you’ll probably see is its cost, the place it rushes you with its mouth open. We discovered one of the simplest ways to dodge this assault is to attend on the final attainable second, nearly whenever you’re in its mouth, and dodge to the left or proper. In any other case, it’s crucial you keep away from its head as you assault.
At round 60% well being, the Golden Hippopotamus will go Tremendous Saiyan and sprout vivid, needle-like hairs. It’s going to then slam the bottom and shoot hairs out from its left and proper flank; you’ll need to keep behind it or run and dodge backward when it begins this transformation. The beast can even curl right into a ball and roll across the area, taking pictures out golden spikes.
Golden Hippopotamus melee technique
Quick weapon assaults that apply a standing comparable to bleed or heavy staggering weapons work very nicely towards the Golden Hippopotamus, so regardless of your melee technique you need to be capable of deal with it. In actual fact, the one distinction is what number of assaults you need to commit earlier than rolling away: a handful for a quick weapon just like the Backhand Blades however only one for a heavier weapon. Think about using the Stonebarb Cracked Tear in your Wondrous Physick to interrupt its stance simpler when you’re operating a energy construct.
The most effective time to get a couple of whack in is whenever you dodge its open-mouthed cost. It’s going to have a few three second window the place you possibly can hits earlier than it tries to chew you once more. It could take a couple of tries to get the dodge-timing down proper, because the Hippopotamus tends to strike slightly bit after what you’d anticipate, however after getting it you shouldn’t have hassle staggering or bleeding it into submission.
Golden Hippopotamus ranged technique
The ranged technique, whether or not with sorceries, incantations, or bows, works a lot the identical means because the melee technique. You’re going to need to fastidiously keep away from its assaults earlier than getting one shot off – or two after its open-mouthed cost. Nevertheless, the Hippopotamus closes distance surprisingly quick so spells with lengthy windup occasions like Comet Azur aren’t beneficial when you don’t have a drawing aggression. For sorcerries, think about using the tried-and-true Rock Sling to interrupt its stance. For Incantations, we discovered the Lighting Spear secure to make use of from a distance; nonetheless, this route will take a short time to chip away the Hippopotamus’ large well being pool.
If you’re all-in with ranged weaponry, we suggest summoning Redmane Freyja as she’s your tankiest possibility – although don’t low cost a traditional Mimic Tear Spirit Ash relying in your construct.
Golden Hippopotamus cheese technique
The best way to cheese the Golden Hippopotamus is way the identical because the ranged technique: summon Redmane Freyja to tank hits. Dodge the Hippopotamus’ assaults (don’t even attempt to assault) till it aggros on Freyja. From there, use a robust spell or weapon artwork at your disposal: Comet Azur for sorceries, Dying Lightning for religion incantations, and Smarag’s Glintstone Breath or Ekzykes’s Decay for arcane incantations. Solid these spells because the Golden Hippopotamus begins its assault animation on Freyja so that you’ve time to recuperate if it switches aggro when it ends.
Alternatively, we had success utilizing the Moghwyn’s Sacred Spear artwork, Bloodmoon Ritual, to repeatedly proc bleed with the assistance of Hornsent.
With the Golden Hippopotamus defeated, don’t overlook to improve your Scadutree degree with the fragments it dropped as there’s much more bosses in Shadow of the Erdtree. Be sure you take a peek in any respect the Elden Ring bosses you’ll face earlier than you see the DLC by – and good luck as they get far harder from right here. Should you want some motivation, take a look at our Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree assessment.