Behemoth

The Behemoth is an enemy in the Castlevania series. It is a great beast of biblical origins. It is usually portrayed as a half rotting giant bull-like creature.
==Origins==
The Behemoth is a beast mentioned in the Book of Job 40:15-24, where it is referred to as the largest living thing in existence and also implied to be aquatic. Suggested identities range from a mythological creature to an elephant, hippopotamus, rhinoceros or buffalo. Some creationists believe it to be a description of a sauropod, due to its tail being described as like a "cedar tree".
The name "Behemoth" also comes from the same root word as "Bahamut". Metaphorically, the name has come to be used for any extremely large or powerful entity.
==Appearances==
===Castlevania: Rondo of Blood/Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles===
First appearance of the Behemoth in the series. Its introduction is both mysterious as well as a bit ominous, as before it even properly appears, its glowing eyes can barely be seen approaching in the background the moment the player crosses the drawbridge and enters the castle at the end of the first section of the Entrance stage. Shortly afterward, the Behemoth breaks into the building through a wall and starts charging at the player. Since it's more likely that Maria has not been rescued yet (unless replaying the level), this chasing scene can prove to be rather difficult for Richter. If the player cannot kill the Behemoth but manages to make it to the next section of the stage, the creature will ram into a wall and die. It's also possible to the player to get behind the Behemoth by using an Item Crash (whose animation has Richter rising in the air) or a well timed backflip. This will make the section easier to get through, although it will also make killing the Behemoth almost impossible, as its head's hitbox will be too far away to hit without taking damage. If the player continues through the door, the Behemoth position will reset its position and the player will have to dodge it again until it crashes with the wall.
In The Dracula X Chronicles, it could be considered to be a mid-boss who stalks the player until they reach a large wall after passing through the entrance of the castle. It takes a considerable amount of effort to kill it, as it dies in 12 hits. One trick is to gather at least 40 Hearts (most likely carried over from the previous level) and use the Holy Water's item crash, Hydro Storm, to defeat it. Once beaten, the Behemoth will leave behind a Sound Item.
The reanimated carcass of the Behemoth returns as part of Shaft Ghost's fight at the end of the Clock Tower. In this fight, the beast is burrowed under the ground and only attacks along this medium. It telegraphs its attack by first peeking out its head on the left side of the screen and then charging toward the right, digging out its head from underneath and dragging it from one side of the room to the other in a move that covers its entire length. Due to her innate double jumping ability, Maria will have a much easier time avoiding this attack, while Richter will likely have to rely on his somersault move.
Depending on Shaft Ghost's position, carcasses of both the Behemoth and the Wyvern will perform their respective attacks during this fight (Behemoth if he is on the left and Wyvern if he is on the right), although each following its own timing, so at some point the player could be facing both creatures attacking at once. They cannot be hurt by any means and only by defeating Shaft Ghost will they permanently die.
===Castlevania: Bloodlines===
The Behemoth was planned to appear in this game and it can still be fought in the 1993 prototype version. Its size was drastically reduced (now being just a bit taller than the player character) and its horns now point backward, although it still loses skin and flesh as it receives damage, like it did in previous incarnations, and it also charges at the player. It was eventually replaced by the Hellhound in the final version of the game.
===Castlevania: Dracula X===
A graphically enhanced reenactment from its appearance in Rondo of Blood; the Behemoth chases after Richter Belmont in the very first level of the game. Because it doesn't drop anything after being defeated, the best strategy is just to run away and it will die by falling into a chasm at the end of that section of the stage. However, killing the Behemoth will award the player with 5,000 points, while letting him fall and kill itself awards none.
===Castlevania: Symphony of the Night===
A corpse of a Behemoth (speculated to be the same one Richter Belmont encountered in Rondo of Blood) can be seen in the Colosseum, although it only forms part of the background and cannot be interacted with in any way.
===Castlevania (N64)/Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness===
One of the major boss battles in both games. The body of the Mammoth Bull Demon (called simply Bull in Legacy of Darkness) is first found presumably dead in the middle of a large arena located in the Castle Center. Once the player activates the big crystal revealed after destroying the previously sealed wall on the far end of the arena, magical forces will enter the body of the beast and bring it back to life (or more properly, turn it into an undead creature). This appearance was the first time in the series where this creature showed its real power rather than just chasing the player. In addition to running the player over, the Behemoth can fire a blue breath weapon at the player, as well as stand on its hind legs and fire a laser beam from an eye it has inside its mouth, creating a large explosion. It also performs bull-like charges at the player, finishing with a heave that knocks them far away.
Similar to the second fight against the King Skeleton earlier in the game, attacking the Behemoth enough will eventually cause its body to fall apart, with its skin and muscles melting away to reveal the skeleton underneath. Its hind legs, middle and head being treated as three separate parts. Destroying the head will prevent it from using its breath weapons and charging attack. If its hind legs are destroyed, the beast will collapse, making it appear similar to other versions of the Behemoth. However, while it will continue to pursue the player, it is not only very slow, but also can no longer harm the player, who now only has to finish it off. Destroying its mid-section will destroy it immediately, regardless of what state its other parts are in. Attacking its middle section will leave its still beating heart and other organs still remaining inside its thoracic cage, though, and attacking it will cause the rotting entrails to squirt bodily fluids that will poison players who get too close.
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===Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance===
A carcass of a Behemoth can be found in the Skeleton Cave. Similar to the one in Symphony of the Night, it only appears as an ornament to the level.
===Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin===
In Portrait of Ruin, this is an early undead boss the player must first flee from and later come back to fight. The Behemoth resembles a giant bull whose hind quarters have been torn off.
During its introductory scene (and similar to its Rondo of Blood counterpart), the beast first breaks into the room while the heroes are traversing a long hallway at the Entrance and then charges forward, effortlessly destroying any marble columns that are in its path. The heroes must then run ahead of the creature and smash any remaining pillars along the way to finally climb a high ledge at the end of the corridor and escape the charging monster. The beast will then continue on its path, smashing through the walls and leaving a big pile of rubble behind, leaving the heroes no means to give further pursuit.
After obtaining the Acrobat Cube in the City of Haze, Jonathan and Charlotte will have the means necessary to catch up with the beast. The item will allow them to climb a ledge in the Entrance that was previously out of reach and arrive to what looks like a coliseum, where they must fight and defeat the Behemoth. It's a fairly straightforward fight, but since the heroes will most likely not be at a high level and not yet have more powerful weaponry at that point, it may prove to be a challenging battle.
Its attacks include:
*Performs a bull-like charge toward one edge of the screen and exits the arena, returning a short moment later. This is telegraphed by it grinding its hoof twice a short distance and slightly backing away before charging. This attack can be dodged by standing on one of the top platforms and jumping toward the middle of the room just before the Behemoth's back hitbox touches the platform.
*Performs a big leap/pounce forward in an attempt to crush the player. This is telegraphed by it grinding its hoof on the ground once a longer distance.
*Vomits chunks of guts as a manner of boulders that fly in an arcing pattern.
*Sticks out a very large "tongue" straightforward made with its own entrails.
It's not recommended to use the Rush Dual Crush during this encounter, as the player can easily get inside the Behemoth's hitbox, getting hurt after it finishes.
Throughout the fight, the Behemoth will be leaving lots of small maggots along its trail, although these are neither harmful nor can they be interacted with besides them disappearing when the player steps on them.
Attacks/Abilities:
	Bull-like charge
	Performs a bull-like charge toward one edge of the screen and exits the arena, returning a short moment later. This is telegraphed by it grinding its hoof twice a short distance and slightly backing away before charging. This attack can be dodged by standing on one of the top platforms and jumping toward the middle of the room just before the Behemoth's back hitbox touches the platform.
	Big leap
	Performs a big leap/pounce forward in an attempt to crush the player. This is telegraphed by it grinding its hoof on the ground once a longer distance.
	Vomit attack
	Vomits chunks of guts as a manner of boulders that fly in an arcing pattern.
Por Behemoth tongue.gif|Tongue attack
Por Behemoth tongue (1).gif|Tongue attack	Tongue attack
Por Behemoth tongue.gif|Tongue attack
Por Behemoth tongue (1).gif|Tongue attack	Sticks out a very large "tongue" straightforward made with its own entrails.
	Defeated
	Behemoth defeated.
Por Behemoth guide (1).gif
Aside from the more threatening tongue attack, fighting the Behemoth is actually fairly simple and most of its moves can be easily dodged.
As for weapons, Ice Needle and Dart are recommended, as they can do a lot of damage to the Behemoth.
===Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls===
==Item Data==
==Gallery==
===Artworks===
RoB Behemoth.JPG|Behemoth artwork from the Japanese Rondo of Blood instruction booklet.
Behemoth - 02.png|Behemoth artwork from an issue of PC Engine FAN.(July, 1993)
Por 4koma 10.jpg|Behemoth in the official Koma comic strips for Portrait of Ruin.
Eng DXC 4kom 03 edit.jpg|Behemoth in the official Koma comic strips for The Dracula X Chronicles.
Eternal Knights 2 Richter vs Bull.JPG|Possibly a Behemoth in Eternal Knights 2.
===Screenshots===
Rondo of Blood - Hydro Storm - 01.png|Behemoth from Rondo of Blood.
Early hellhound.PNG|The Behemoth in an early prototype of Castlevania: Bloodlines. It was replaced by the Hellhound in the final version of the game.
SNES-DraculaX-Opening06.png|The Behemoth pursuing villagers during the introductory cutscene of Dracula X.
SoN-Behemoth.png|The Behemoth's remains in Symphony of the Night.
Harmony of Dissonance - Behemoth - 01.jpg|The Behemoth's remains in Harmony of Dissonance.
Portrait of Ruin - Entrance - 04.png|Behemoth introductory encounter from Portrait of Ruin.
Portrait of Ruin - Entrance - 13.png|Behemoth boss battle from Portrait of Ruin.
Screen-temp7.jpg|Behemoth introductory cutscene from The Dracula X Chronicles.
Dracula X Chronicles - Hydro Storm - 01.png|Behemoth from The Dracula X Chronicles.
Behemoth GoS.png|Behemoth from Grimoire of Souls.
Behemoth MR Beta Bestiary.JPG|Behemoth beta bestiary entry from Moonlight Rhapsody.
==Trivia==
*In Castlevania 64, the Behemoth has 340 HP, which makes it have the most health out of any boss in the game. Only Dracula surpasses it with the combined HP of his two forms (his first form has 160 HP and his second form has 200 HP for a total of 360 HP).
*The Behemoth is also a recurrent enemy in the Final Fantasy franchise of role-playing games. Interestingly, it has purple skin in most of its appearances, same as the fur of the original Behemoth from Castlevania: Rondo of Blood. However, it's unknown if this is a reference or merely coincidental.
==External links==
*
*Konami of Europe's Mammoth Bull Demon profile (archived: December 11, 2007)
Category:Animal-Type Enemies
Category:Biblical Monsters
Category:Dictionnaire Infernal Demons
Category:Zombies
Category:Castlevania 64 Bosses
Category:The Dracula X Chronicles Bosses
Category:The Dracula X Chronicles Enemies
Category:Dracula X Enemies
Category:Grimoire of Souls Enemies
Category:Legacy of Darkness Bosses
Category:Moonlight Rhapsody Enemies
Category:Portrait of Ruin Bosses
Category:Rondo of Blood Bosses
Category:Rondo of Blood Enemies