The Golden Hippopotamus is a boss in Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC with fewer strikes than bosses like Divine Beast Dancing Lion and Rellana, Twin Moon Knight. However easy doesn’t imply innocent. One flawed transfer will land you in serious trouble.
Our Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree information covers find out how to beat the Golden Hippopotamus, together with its weaknesses and the very best methods to arrange your self for the problem.
Golden Hippopotamus location in Elden Ring DLC
The Golden Hippopotamus sits within the central courtyard of Shadow Hold, and it’s the primary enemy you’ll discover within the dungeon in the event you method it from the southern entrance in Scadu Altus. The boss is technically elective, since you can too enter Shadow Hold from the east, however defeating it offers you two Scadutree Fragments to assist improve your fight talents. Taking the Hippo on is value it for that alone.
No NPC allies are right here to assist with the Golden Hippopotamus battle, however you’ll be able to summon your Spirit Ash companion.
Golden Hippopotamus weaknesses and find out how to put together
![The Golden Hippopotamus in Elden Ring’s DLC lunges at the player](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/MZufyKGwE651H5HOCzBsmrgZpJc=/0x0:2560x1440/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:2560x1440):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25499154/elden_ring_golden_hippopotamus_boss_3.jpg)
Picture: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco through Polygon
I wasn’t capable of finding any standing ailment weaknesses with the Golden Hippopotamus, although the monstrosity does appear to be weak in opposition to slashing injury. It additionally has low poise, so a number of casts of gravity magic — Rock Sling is, as ever, a powerful selection for this battle — or 4 or 5 sturdy assaults ought to be sufficient to interrupt its poise. Even in the event you miss the hitbox for touchdown a crucial hit whereas the Golden Hippopotamus’ stance is damaged, attacking its head offers heavy injury.
Swords, greatswords, and daggers are strong choices for this battle. The Backhand Blade won’t have the best scaling, however its swift strikes and distinctive Ash of Battle that allows you to dodge round your goal make it an excellent possibility. The Blackgaol Knight’s sword can also be a wonderful choose, and in the event you’re operating a magic construct, any late-game weapon that scales with religion or intelligence works effectively.
![A Spirit Ash summon attacks the Golden Hippopotamus in Elden Ring’s DLC](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/u3hmf_LIS73TZNkovS5qGPj6PhE=/0x0:2560x1440/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:2560x1440):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25499155/elden_ring_golden_hippopotamus_boss_4.jpg)
Picture: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco through Polygon
If you need an help, it’s value beginning Hornsent’s questline, as they will turn into a summon on this battle. Actually, in the event you progress previous this boss earlier than talking to Hornsent you may get locked out, so be sure you do the aforementioned quest steps if that’s one thing you have an interest in.
Talking of assists — don’t hesitate to let your Spirit Ash summon do the work, particularly when you’ve got a Mimic Tear. A Tear that’s +6 or larger, with a Revered Spirit Ash stage of 4 or larger, can take down the Golden Hippopotamus nearly totally by itself. Black Knife Tiche, the Nightmaiden and Swordmistress Puppets, and Swordmaster Yosh are sturdy alternate options able to holding the Hippo busy whilst you assault it.
Be sure that to improve your weapon as effectively. In the event you’ve run out of Smithing Stones or Glovewort, take a detour again to The Lands Between to choose up some Bell Bearings for the Maiden Husks.
The way to beat Golden Hippopotamus in Elden Ring DLC
The Golden Hippopotamus behaves in a way much like Ulcerated Tree Spirits. Most of its deadliest assaults come from its head and mouth, and it makes use of its lengthy physique and neck to succeed in far and block you from getting round on. On the brilliant aspect, the Hippopotamus’ large measurement and reliance on frontal injury means you’ve got extra secure spots to strike than traditional with main bosses, particularly if a Spirit Ash summon is distracting the Hippo for you.
Golden Hippopotamus boss battle part 1
![The Golden Hippopotamus lunges at the Elden Ring DLC player with a wide open mouth](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tdt-b3087DzPs_FXhavN58CJK5E=/0x0:2560x1440/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:2560x1440):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25499157/elden_ring_golden_hippopotamus_boss_5.jpg)
Picture: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco through Polygon
The Golden Hippopotamus solely has a number of assaults in its preliminary part. Which will sound comparatively easy to take care of, nevertheless it tends to chain them collectively and transfer extra shortly than you would possibly anticipate. It’s straightforward to get caught and flattened earlier than you actually have a likelihood to react.
The Golden Hippopotamus will most likely greet you with a gaping maw, because it rushes towards you with mouth large open. The assault knocks you to the aspect and leaves you weak to its follow-up, the place the Hippo smashes its head and neck into the bottom a couple of times. Getting hit by each assaults is sufficient to finish the battle, even when you’ve got excessive vigor and powerful armor, so dodge ahead or to the aspect while you see it coming.
You will get away from its head slams that means as effectively, although in the event you see it lunge towards you with its mouth open, roll ahead. It tends to whip its head to the aspect after biting, and a sideways dodge would put you at risk.
![The Golden Hippo’s huge open mouth filled with broken teeth in the Elden Ring DLC](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Tqb0AyC-_EprNxGmh9lJwaczQhI=/0x0:2560x1440/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:2560x1440):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25499159/elden_ring_golden_hippopotamus_boss_6.jpg)
Picture: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco through Polygon
That’s just about all of the Golden Hippopotamus does on this opening act. Keep away from its mouth, and assault its aspect and rear to shortly whittle its HP down.
Golden Hippopotamus boss battle part 2
As soon as the Golden Hippopotamus’ HP drops to the midway level, it stops for a second and sprouts golden, branch-like spines all down its again. You may make the most of this temporary lull to land some further hits, however don’t linger too lengthy earlier than retreating a bit of. The newly coiffed Hippo sends a bathe of holy-infused spikes raining down round it to have fun its new model. It’ll sometimes repeat this assault once more in the event you keep near it for an prolonged time frame, and it telegraphs it by shaking its physique throughout.
![Golden glowing spikes shoot out of the golden hippo in Elden Ring](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ob1CSDo20UEZdbZ9naWj880rs68=/0x0:2560x1440/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:2560x1440):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25499160/elden_ring_golden_hippopotamus_boss_7.jpg)
Picture: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco through Polygon
The vary of this assault is roughly two dodge-rolls again from the Hippo, so that you don’t need to retreat too far earlier than shifting in for one more strike.
The Golden Hippopotamus may additionally do some spin and ship spikes out in a circle throughout it. Dodging this assault is generally a matter of luck, because the spike unfold is random with a good bit of house between every spike. Rolling sideways is more likely to put you in hurt’s means, so the easiest way to deal with it’s both dodging ahead towards the Hippo — useful, because you’ll be in vary for a number of assaults afterward whereas the Hippo finishes — or holding up your protect when you’ve got one.
![Golden smoke and spikes disperse from around the hippo in Elden Ring’s DLC](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/n22Wk1D0TsLorSUCG1fXwYZbQpo=/0x0:2560x1440/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:2560x1440):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25499161/elden_ring_golden_hippopotamus_boss_8.jpg)
Picture: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco through Polygon
Probably the most harmful assault occurs when the Hippo leaps into the air. After lingering there for a number of seconds, it crashes down and rolls ahead. This transfer is exceptionally highly effective and may wipe you out in a single hit in case your HP isn’t full. Given the Hippo’s girth, your greatest guess for staying alive is to dodge ahead when it crashes down, or, in the event you’re positioned farther from the purpose of influence, when it rolls at you.
![The Golden Hippo in the air with golden spikes coming off of it](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/aGKyTY9Pz3EIwL40MwN92JWt9j0=/0x0:2560x1440/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:2560x1440):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25499162/elden_ring_golden_hippopotamus_boss_9.jpg)
Picture: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco through Polygon
In my expertise, the Golden Hippopotamus trades its head flops for aggressive bites on this part. It’ll lunge ahead, chunk, and jerk its head to at least one aspect afterward, so be sure to maintain staying away from its face when you’ll be able to. It’ll additionally proceed utilizing the gaping rush assault, which is unchanged.
Each of those assaults offer you an opportunity to get beside or behind the Hippo and use your melee strikes to whittle its well being down shortly. Use sturdy or charged assaults and highly effective weapon expertise to interrupt its poise and deal much more injury.
When you defeat the Hippo, you get the Facet of the Crucible: Thorns incantation, impressed by the Hippo’s spines, and two Scadutree Fragments.
Searching for extra Shadow of the Erdtree guides? Try our guides on new Elden Ring DLC weapons, armor, map fragments, websites of grace, and talismans. We’ve additionally bought location guides on the place to seek out Scadutree Fragments and Revered Spirit Ashes, and an interactive Elden Ring DLC map.