Black Panther

The Black Panther (also known as Black Leopard) is an enemy in the Castlevania series. It is a jet-black predator that has lived in the castle for ages. It runs at great speed and, in some instances, it is referred to as a liquid creature that takes the shape of a panther.
==Description==
The Black Panther is a large shadowy feline that resides in Dracula's castle. This jet-black cat likes to sit and wait for a hapless adventurer to wander by and then dashes at full speed at them. If it lands behind its prey after a jump, it will turn around and dash back for one more attack. Sometimes, it will even stop in the middle of a dash and turn around to charge back at the player.
Some Black Panthers can assume human-form and are thus called Were-Panthers.
When Soma Cruz gets a hold of the Black Panther's soul, he gains the Sonic Dash ability, which allows him to move at an absurdly high speed and create a sonic barrier around him that will instantly kill weaker enemies and damage larger ones.
Black Panthers were replaced by other types of similar carnivores in some sequels, although they have reappeared in recent installments.
==Appearances==
===Castlevania===
First appearance of the Black Leopard in the series, making their only appearance in Stage 1. The first one is encountered near the beginning of the game, lying on a platform of the main hall. When approached, it will quickly pounce forward at Simon and change direction once it lands. It can be easily dispatched with a single strike of the whip (there's no need to crouch). The second leopard is encountered shortly after, on a higher platform. The railing on the background makes it a bit hard to see and thus may take the player by surprise. Another one lies just a bit further.
Black Panthers can also be dispatched with ranged attacks. A well placed Axe will take care of them before they even attack. Alternatively, the player may approach the leopard to a certain distance, jump in place and throw a bottle of Holy Water; if it didn't hit the leopard directly, the bursting flame afterward will provide a brief moment of protection, tricking the leopard to run right into it.
===Vampire Killer===
Black Leopards behave pretty much the same as in Castlevania; however, since in Vampire Killer the player advances through stationary screens instead of a scrolling background, they may get caught unprepared by a leopard ready to attack on the next screen. Fortunately, this factor sometimes makes them a bit easier to be dealt with, as the leopard will frequently reach the edge of the screen and exit without even having to fight it.
===Castlevania Chronicles===
The Black Panther's behavior remains the same as in previous games; however, its sprite is darker this time around and doesn't feature a colored outline, making it more difficult to discern from the background, potentially allowing it to take the player by surprise.
Due to the more advanced technical capabilities of the X68000 computer, this was the first time its roar could be heard.
===Castlevania: Rondo of Blood/Castlevania: Dracula X===
Skeletal panthers appear in both Rondo of Blood and Dracula X, this time called Were-Panther Skeletons. There are two variants, one that stands on its hind legs and has a wider repertoire of attacks, and another which is more beast-like and charges on all fours the same way as a regular black panther.
Similar "Wolf Skeletons" have appeared in later games.
===Castlevania: Symphony of the Night===
In Symphony of the Night, the Black Panther can dissolve into a puddle of black liquid that cannot be attacked but that also cannot attack. This puddle then moves to another location, reforms and charges again. However, it can easily be dispatched with a well timed hit when it reforms or with ranged attacks.
===Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance===
One form of the shapeshifting Shadow boss in Harmony of Dissonance is a black panther. Shadow usually starts the battle in this form, which is arguably the easiest. The panther only makes runs from one side of the room to the other, occasionally performing leaps in an attempt to catch the player in midair if they jump too soon.
===Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow===
Although the Black Panther doesn't make an appearance in Aria of Sorrow, its soul does. If Soma Cruz delivers the last blow to Graham Jones with the Flame Demon, Giant Bat and Succubus souls equipped, he will get to continue to the next room and find a soul-keeper containing the Black Panther guardian soul. This soul grants Soma the Sonic Dash ability, which enables him to run at high speeds and create a shockwave around him as he runs.
===Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow===
Unlike in Aria of Sorrow, the Black Panther does make an appearance in this installment, although very late in the game. Only two appear in the entire game, both in the second section of The Abyss. Its appearance is a throwback to its original incarnation in the first game, just lying there in wait for prey to come by. Likewise, the pitch black of its fur and absence of movement makes it hard to see, with its red eyes being the only easily discernible feature to locate it. When approached, it will launch in a fast dash forward; this time, however, if it hits a wall, it will bounce back in a somersault and continue the race in the opposite direction.
As in Aria of Sorrow, gaining dominance of its soul grants the Sonic Dash ability, although this time the soul must be stolen from the beast itself.
===Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia===
In Order of Ecclesia, the Black Panther is an anthropomorphic female panther. Shanoa can obtain the Arma Felix glyph from it, which allows her to transform into a black panther herself. In this state, she can communicate with several cats found along her journey, which will then share their secrets. Furthermore, all feline enemies will now be oblivious to her and not harm her in any way.
===Castlevania: Harmony of Despair===
It reappears in Origins, in his original Castlevania form. He functions as he did in the original game, as a simple enemy. However, his soul doesn't allow Soma Cruz to multiply his speed or create a shockwave while moving. Instead, it allows to summon an 8-bit black panther.
==Item Data==
==Gallery==
===Artworks===
C1 Black Leopard.JPG|Black Leopard from the Akumajō Dracula Perfect strategy guide.
Black Panther - Vampire Killer - 01.png|Black Leopard from the Vampire Killer user's manual.
===Screenshots===
Black Panther AoS.jpg|Soma using the Black Panther soul, Sonic Dash, in Aria of Sorrow.
Black Panther DoS.jpg|Soma using the Black Panther soul, Sonic Dash, in Dawn of Sorrow.
Dxc 111.png|Black Panther enemy list entry from The Dracula X Chronicles version of Symphony of the Night.
==Trivia==
*Black Panther is also the name of a 1987 Konami game where the player controls a cybernetic panther in a side-scrolling action-platformer. It's unknown if there is an actual connection between this game and the Castlevania enemy.
*Its behavior in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night might be a reference to Lodem from Mitsuteru Yokoyama's Babel II, a shapeshifting creature whose favorite form was that of a black panther.
**This behavior is inherited by the Hellhound in Castlevania: Lament of Innocence, in which the Black Panther itself is absent.
*Its female humanoid appearance in Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia may be a reference to the 1942 American horror film Cat People, where the character Irena Dubrovna can turn into a panther.
==See also==
*Carnivores
*Were-Panther Skeleton
==References==
==External links==
*Mr. P's Castlevania Realm
Category:Animal-Type Enemies
Category:Female Monsters
Category:Film Based Monsters
Category:Literary Monsters
Category:Castlevania Enemies
Category:Chronicles Enemies
Category:Dawn of Sorrow Enemies
Category:The Dracula X Chronicles Enemies
Category:Harmony of Despair Enemies
Category:Harmony of Dissonance Enemies
Category:Order of Ecclesia Enemies
Category:Symphony of the Night Enemies
Category:Vampire Killer Enemies