Astaroth

**Astaroth** (アスタロト, *Asutaroto*) is the main antagonist of the *Ghosts 'n Goblins* series and appears as a boss in Super Smash Bros. For Nintendo Switch. His appearance is based on his design from *Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins*.

## In Super Smash Bros. For Nintendo Switch

### As a stage hazard

Astaroth appears as a stage hazard on Demon Village. He stands in the last area with a small patch of grass, a number of tombstones and rock walls next to a doorway (similarly how he did in *Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds* and it's Ultimate version). Astaroth moves around and periodically shoots out flames from his belly mouth, damaging fighters.

### As a boss

Astaroth appears as a boss in Classic Mode and Story Mode: Universal Collision. He does battle on a stage resembling his final boss stage/room in the original *Ghosts 'n Goblins* game, but with a flat and empty layout that extends to the side blast zones. His boss battle music from *Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts* plays during the fight.
Astaroth can only be damaged at the lower face in his abdomen, akin to how he can be defeated by throwing Shields in the original *Ghosts 'n Goblins* game. Also, the player cannot hit him if he/she's standing on the ground or at the peak of their jump.

If defeated when his health bar is depleted, Astaroth will transform into Dark Astaroth from *Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins* as he summons spikes on left and right sides of the screen. His health is fully restored, and he can use new attacks alongside his previous phase's attacks. He still can be defeated similarly as in the previous phase and can now be attacked at his head as well like in *Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins*, but it takes more hits than usual.

Defeating Astaroth in Classic Mode will unlock the Ending (Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts) music track and in Story Mode: Universal Collision, rewards the player with a trophy of him.

#### Moveset (Phase 1)

* **Fireballs:** Astaroth shoots fireballs from both of his mouths, alternatingly at the player's known location. Based on his method to attack Arthur in the original *Ghosts 'n Goblins* game.
* **Stomp:** If the player gets close to Astaroth, he will attack them by stomping, burying them deep onto the ground. Resembles one of his attacks from *Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts*.
* **Flamethrower:** Astaroth's lower mouth will glow and amass writhing flames before he breathes a long-ranged stream of fire from both of his mouths. Originates from *Ghouls 'n Ghosts*.
* **Laser Beams:** Astaroth shoots a white-hot laser beam from his top mouth, being able to pierce through the player's shield. Based on one of his attacks from *Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts*.

#### Moveset (Phase 2)

* **Flight:** Dark Astaroth flaps his black wings to fly around the stage and to knock the player into spikes on sides of the screen.
* **Meteor Rocks:** Dark Astaroth shoots a meteor rock from his adbomen mouth at a slow speed, while he shoots fireballs from his upper mouth. Originates from one of his attacks in *Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins*.
* **Black Hole:** Dark Astaroth's hand will amass swirling darkness before he creates a black hole similarly how Crazy Hand does in his boss fight. This move is original and possibly based on how he got sucked into a portal in *Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins*.

## Trophy Description

*In progress...*

* Ghosts 'n Goblins (09/1985)
* Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts (10/1991)