Malphas

Malphas, also known as Karasuman or Feather Demon, is an enemy in the Castlevania series. He is a black demon with gold adornments that is accompanied by crows.
==Origins==
Malphas is described in the Ars Goetia as a mighty "Great Prince of Hell", commanding forty legions of demons and being second in command under Satan. He appears as a raven, but if requested, will instead resemble a man with a hoarse voice.
Malphas specializes in the construction of houses, high towers and strongholds, throws down the buildings of enemies, can destroy enemies' desires or thoughts (and/or make them known to the conjurer) and all what they have done, bestows good familiars, and can bring quickly artificers together from all places of the world.
Malphas accepts willingly and kindly any sacrifice offered to him, but then he will allegedly attempt to deceive his conjurer, so he must be treated carefully.
The Castlevania character may also be partially based on the Japanese legendary creatures known as the karasu-tengu (crow tengu). Tengu were in some parts revered as Shinto gods, other times depicted as demons or simply as supernatural beings traditionally portrayed with both human and avian characteristics. The earliest tengu were pictured with beaks –similar to Malphas bird's skull-shaped mask from the games–, but this feature has often been humanized as an unnaturally long nose.
==Description==
Malphas is a crow demon inspired by both Christian and Japanese mythology. He was introduced into the series as a boss in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, and has since appeared in following titles either as a powerful, yet lesser enemy, or retaking his place as a boss.
He tends to flap his wings and ascend in the air, gathering energy as he does so. He then releases an attack which can consist of razor-sharp feathers, a barrage of crows, or dark energy emitted from his body.
==Appearances==
===Castlevania: Symphony of the Night===
Malphas was introduced into the series in this game under the name of Karasuman ("crow man") in the American version, likely to avoid religious controversy (note that Biphron, Ukoback and Legion also had different names, although Beelzebub remained unchanged). He is the boss of the Clock Tower and fights in the same room where Richter Belmont faced Shaft Ghost in Castlevania: Rondo of Blood. Several Malphases appear as regular enemies later in Death Wing's Lair.
Malphas fights in three ways. After unfolding his wings on the ground, he will draw the essences of many demon crows inside him and unleash them in a massive wave. His second attack consists in taking flight and releasing a multitude of razor-sharp feathers in a spreading manner. Malphas can also fire energy spheres, although this attack is not seen as often. However, he is slow to attack and easy to knock off balance.
===Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance===
In Harmony of Dissonance, there is a remarkably similar enemy called the Feather Demon. It does not use Malphas's raven attack, but is obviously the same type of creature, only redone for the sake of the Game Boy Advance's system limitations.
===Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow===
While not physically appearing in the game, Malphas is referenced in Aria of Sorrow in the form of an ability soul contained within a Soul-Keeper found after defeating the Great Armor in the Study, granting Soma Cruz the Double Jump ability.
===Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow===
Malphas makes a proper return as a boss in Dawn of Sorrow in the Dark Chapel, where he guards the Double Jump ability (a nod to Aria of Sorrow).
Malphas is the only boss aside from Menace that does not appear in Boss Rush Mode.
===Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin===
Several Malphases appear as ordinary enemies in the later areas of Portrait of Ruin. As usual, they are initially found standing on the ground and won't attack until approached. A quick cast of 1,000 Blades while in this state is enough to put them out of commission without even giving them a chance to fight back.
===Castlevania Puzzle: Encore of the Night===
===Castlevania: Lords of Shadow===
The Crow Witch Malphas appears in Lords of Shadow as a boss with a backstory.
===Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls===
==Other appearances==
===Castlevania (animated series)===
Malphas appears in the second season in the episode "The River", as one of the monsters that attack the Belmont Treasure Hold. Malphas gives a challenging fight to Trevor before he stabs the creature though the skull with a sharpened stick.
This depiction of Malphas appears to be based on Crow Witch Malphas from Castlevania: Lords of Shadow.
==Item Data==
==Notes==
*In most of Malphas's game appearances, if he sustains enough damage in a short period of time, he'll flinch –canceling his current attack or movement– and be forced to land.
==Gallery==
===Artworks===
DoS 1koma 02.jpg|Malphas in the official Koma comic strips of Dawn of Sorrow.
Malphas Model.jpg|Malphas model from the Castlevania animated series.
Malphas (Karasuman) Model.jpg
Malphas (Winged) Model.jpg
Malphas Head Model.jpg
===Screenshots===
Dxc 088.png|Karasuman enemy list entry from The Dracula X Chronicles version of Symphony of the Night.
HoD 052.png|Feather Demon enemy list entry from Harmony of Dissonance.
DOS-Malphas 01.png|Malphas from Dawn of Sorrow.
Malphas.jpg|Malphas in the Castlevania animated series.
Malphas Netflix.png
Malphas in battle.png
Malphas face.png|Without his mask.
===Animations===
Karasuman Shoots razor-sharp feathers.gif|Karasuman sharp feathers attack from Symphony of the Night.
Karasuman Releases flocks of crows.gif|Karasuman flocks of crows attack from Symphony of the Night.
Karasuman Unleashes electrical spheres.gif|Karasuman electrical spheres attack from Symphony of the Night.
==Trivia==
*Malphas can perform a similar attack to the Holy Lightning spell performed by members of the Belnades Clan. At some point while fighting him, he will hover in the air and slowly build up energy; after enough has been gathered, he'll proceed to release four large electrical spheres which travel in an arcing pattern with slight homing capabilities.
*The name "Karasuman" is a blend of the Japanese word karasu (カラス), meaning "crow", and the English word "man"; roughly translating as "Crowman".
*In Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin, Malphas has 666 HP, referencing the number of the beast.
**In addition, he yields 573 EXP in the same game, which is actually an in-joke Konami uses in many of its games: "5" in Japanese is go, changed to the voiceless form ko; "7" in Japanese is nana, shortened to na; "3" in Japanese is mittsu, shortened to mi; this allows the number to be read as "Konami".
*Within the debug mode of Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance, the creature's name is listed as is Gachaman, a reference to Science Ninja Team Gatchaman.Debug menu of Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance at The Cutting Room Floor Furthermore, the creature's color scheme bears a resemblance to the costume worn by Ken the Eagle.
==See also==
*Crow Witch Malphas
*Raven
==References==
==External links==
*Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin - Bestiary by Darth Nemesis at GameFAQs
*Mr. P's Castlevania Realm
*The Castlevania Dungeon
de:Malphas
es:Malfas
Category:Ars Goetia Demons
Category:Dictionnaire Infernal Demons
Category:Flying Bosses
Category:Flying Enemies
Category:Japanese Monsters
Category:Night Creatures
Category:Dawn of Sorrow Bosses
Category:The Dracula X Chronicles Bosses
Category:The Dracula X Chronicles Enemies
Category:Encore of the Night Bosses
Category:Grimoire of Souls Enemies
Category:Harmony of Dissonance Enemies
Category:Portrait of Ruin Enemies
Category:Symphony of the Night Bosses
Category:Symphony of the Night Enemies