Development preview — content and features are still being refined.
Game data · App / Regulation 1.17
World · Boss
Golden Hippopotamus
The beast blocks Shadow Keep’s front-door plaza and adds golden thorn attacks after the opening physical exchanges.
Location and access
Main Gate Plaza
Golden Hippopotamus
Shadow Keep main entrance
Starting Site of Grace: Shadow Keep Main Gate
Before you go
To enter the Realm of Shadow, defeat Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood, then touch the withered arm in Mohg's arena at Mohgwyn Palace.
From Highroad Cross, follow the road north through Scadu Altus to Shadow Keep's main gate.
Enter the keep through its main entrance and take the lift to the arena. Defeat the Golden Hippopotamus to receive Aspects of the Crucible: Thorns.
The smaller hippopotamuses elsewhere in the expansion do not give this incantation.
HP and damage negation
Values below are for solo play on the first playthrough. HP is maximum health. Temporary protection and other state changes are explained in the notes.
Golden Hippopotamus
Solo, first playthrough
HP is still being verified for this phase or encounter.
Damage type
Damage negation
Standard
0%
Strike
0%
Slash
-10%
Pierce
0%
Magic
0%
Fire
-20%
Lightning
-20%
Holy
0%
Notes
Victory awards Aspects of the Crucible: Thorns and two Scadutree Fragments.
The small field hippopotamuses elsewhere do not award this incantation.
The open-mouth rush is a grab. Move out of its approach rather than relying on a block.
Keep away from the arena wall when possible so the large body does not hide the next movement or trap your dodge.
Once golden thorns appear, watch for area attacks as well as the mouth and head swings.
The Church District is an alternative entrance to Shadow Keep. This fight is necessary for the selected front-door route, rather than every route into the keep.
Activate Main Gate Plaza after victory before continuing into the side passages.