In the vast and perilous world of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, players will face an even greater variety of bosses of varying difficulty, and among them, the Golden Hippopotamus is worth mentioning.

This optional boss guards the Legacy Dungeon of the Shadow Keep and can be problematic for some players during the fight. So in this guide, we'll look at how to easily defeat this boss and everything that can be useful when encountering it.

Golden Hippopotamus

The Golden Hippopotamus is not an ordinary enemy. Despite its name, this creature is a hybrid that seems to be made up of several animals. The boss combines the massiveness and shape of a hippopotamus, the threat, and danger of a rhinoceros, a long cat-like tail, various spots on its fur, and porcupine-like spikes.

Both phases of the fight can be tense, as the Golden Hippopotamus has annoying moves that constantly knock the player off their feet. Then, the golden spikes, which serve as projectiles in its powerful AoE attacks, add more danger to the fight. Overall, this is not the most difficult boss in the new expansion, but it requires its approach.

Location of the Golden Hippopotamus

Finding the Golden Hippopotamus is the first step to defeating it, as you can't defeat it without finding it first. It is located in the central courtyard of Shadow Keep, the first enemy you will encounter if you enter from the southern entrance of Scadu Altus.

Although technically this is an optional boss (as you can enter the Shadow Keep from the east side), fighting the Hippopotamus is worth it. For defeating it, you will receive two Scadutree shards, which are important items for enhancing your combat abilities.

Preparation for the fight

Firstly, you should prepare a little for the fight to make it easier. This boss has no specific weak points to status ailments, but it is noticeably vulnerable to piercing damage and has poor balance. Gravity magic, especially Rock Sling, is very effective in disrupting its balance. Even if you miss the opportunity for a critical hit after breaking its stance, head attacks will still deal significant damage.

As for weapon selection, swords, greatswords, and daggers are quite suitable options. The Backhand Blade, despite its modest parameter multiplier, offers quick strikes and a unique Ash of War status that improves your mobility around the target.

The Blackgaol Knight's sword is also a strong contender and will be useful in your hands, while for players who prefer mages, any late-game weapon that scales with faith or intelligence is suitable.

Summoning for Reinforcements

Although there are no allied NPCs to help in this fight, you can summon your Ashen Spirit companion to level the playing field and simplify the fight. The best option is to summon the Mimic Tear with Revered Spirit Ash at level four or higher, which will significantly ease the confrontation with the Golden Hippopotamus.

This formidable companion can handle most of the fight on its own, allowing you to focus on strategic strikes while the mimic distracts the boss. Other strong Ashen spirit options include Black Knife Tiche, Nightmaiden & Swordmistress Puppets, and Swordmaster Yosh.

Improving your Arsenal

Make sure you've improved your weapons enough before facing the Golden Hippopotamus. If you lack Smithing Stones or Glovewort, make a round trip back to The Lands Between to replenish your supplies. Bell Bearings for Maiden Husks can also help you purchase the necessary materials.

Golden Hippopotamus: First Phase

The first phase of the fight with the Golden Hippopotamus, while seemingly simple, is quite dangerous. After entering the location, the Golden Hippopotamus will greet you with a rush towards you, so be prepared to dodge its attempt to knock you off your feet quickly.

The Hippopotamus mainly uses its massive jaws and head for attacks, often combining sudden movements that can catch you off guard even if you expect them. One of its signature moves is an attack with an open jaw, knocking you to the side and leaving you vulnerable to further hits when it slams its head on the ground.

It's crucial to dodge these strikes as best as you can, as when the Hippopotamus knocks you down, it can deal the most damage to you. When the Hippopotamus charges with an open jaw, rolling forward or to the side can save you from its devastating hit. Watch its movements and use moments of brief downtime to attack its sides and rear, making it harder for the Hippopotamus to hit you.

Golden Hippopotamus: Second Phase

When you reduce the Hippopotamus's health to half, it enters its second, more deadly phase. The beast momentarily stops, transforming into a sort of porcupine, releasing golden, branched spikes along its back. This short pause is an opportunity to land a few extra hits, but don't linger too long or be too greedy. Soon, the Hippopotamus shakes its body, scattering golden spikes, covering a decent area of the arena.

In this phase, the Golden Hippopotamus also starts attacking with a new set of moves. It can perform a spin, scattering spikes randomly around itself. Avoiding this attack is tricky as the spikes spread unpredictably. Rolling forward towards the Hippopotamus can sometimes be the best option, positioning you for a few retaliatory strikes while it recovers.

One of the most dangerous moves in this phase is when the Hippopotamus jumps into the air. After a short pause, it crashes down and rolls forward, dealing massive damage. Rolling forward as it falls can help you avoid the brunt of the attack. Additionally, the Hippopotamus's aggressive bites become more frequent, demanding greater attention from you.

Defeating the Golden Hippopotamus is a test of your endurance and strategy of positioning and successful dodging. Use strong or charged attacks and powerful combat skills to disrupt the Hippopotamus's balance and deal more damage. When your Spirit Ash companion distracts the boss, seize the moment to land a series of strikes or even use magic. When the Hippopotamus switches its attention to you, block and dodge hits, buying time for your companion to regain a favorable position and continue the attack.

Rewards for Victory

After defeating the Golden Hippopotamus, you will receive the spell Aspect of the Crucible: Thorns, based on the Hippopotamus's deadly spikes, as well as two Scadutree shards. These rewards will not only enhance your combat abilities but also serve as a testament to your skill and perseverance in battling the optional boss.

Best Strategy

The key to defeating the Golden Hippopotamus is distraction, and the basis of this strategy is your companion. Summoning an ally like Spirit Ash or Mimic Tear can significantly simplify the fight, as these summoned creatures will take all the attention on themselves, and all you have to do is position yourself correctly and deliver the main blows.

An upgraded Mimic Tear, equipped with your best gear, will fight alongside you, mimicking your attacks, using shields, and duplicating stats to deal significant damage to the Golden Hippopotamus.

In addition to a strong companion, you may need a shield with 100% physical damage protection. The large size of the Hippopotamus and the limited space of the battlefield make it difficult to dodge its AoE attacks, but blocking some of them will help mitigate this drawback while preserving a significant portion of your health.

All you need to do is consistently alternate between drawing the Hippopotamus's attacks towards you and distracting it with your summoned creature until you defeat the boss.

Recommended Equipment and Build

Of course, one of the important conditions for defeating any boss is the right build, which will significantly facilitate your ability to fight and defend against enemy attacks. To succeed in this matter, we recommend taking the Rivers of Blood sword at +10, paired with a shield with Ash of War Golden Parry. The Bleed effect works excellently against most bosses in Shadow of the Erdtree, and additionally, we recommend using them for synergy with Mimic Tear.

It's good if your equipment looks like this:

• Weapon: Rivers of Blood +10

• Shield: Messmer Soldier Shield

• Armor: Diallos Mask, Rellana Armor, Rellana Gauntlets, Alberich Pants

• Talismans: Crimson Seed Talisman, Dragoncrest Shield Talisman +2, Erdtree’s Favor +2, Green Turtle Talisman

• Spirit Ash: Black Knife Tiche +10 or Mimic Tear +10

Rivers of Blood correlates exceptionally well with Mimic Tear, as the AI character has infinite FP and stamina, allowing it to abuse Ash of War Corpse Piler and frequently trigger the Bleed effect.

Conclusion

Defeating the Golden Hippopotamus in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is not the most difficult, but also not an easy task. The fight requires some preparation, strategic combat, and effective use of summons. With the right equipment, careful planning, and your persistence, you will be able to defeat this golden monster and earn your reward.