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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. 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 over 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, making the leopard to run right into it.

Panther CV1C64cv1-panther
Amigacv-leopardPccv-leopard
(NES/C64/AMI/PC)
Name JPN HP EXP ATK Location
Black Leopard 黒ヒョウ Kuro hyō 1 200 2 Block 1. Main Hall
Description
When you come within a certain distance of this enemy, he charges you.
He's very fast, so make sure you strike your Whip before he strikes you.

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.

Vkill-leopard
Name JPN HP EXP
Black Leopard 19
Location
Block 1. Entrance Halls

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.

X68-leopard-1-
Name JPN HP EXP
Black Panther 2 200
Location
1. Monastery, 8. Dracula's Tower

Castlevania: Rondo of Blood/Castlevania: Dracula X[]

Main article: Were-Panther Skeleton

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.

Panther
No. Name JPN Level HP
109 Black Panther 35 35
Strong Immune Weak Absorb EXP
- - Fire - 600
Location Drop Guard
Anti-Chapel Meal Ticket, Masamune
Description "Liquid creature. Takes black panther shape."

Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance[]

Main article: Shadow

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.

Panther
No. Name JPN HP MP ATK
88 Black Panther ブラックパンサー Burakkupansā 40 60 50
Tolerance Weakness
Bashing Piercing, Slashing, Time Stop (affected)
Location Common Drop Rare Drop Soul EXP
The Abyss - - Sonic Dash (64%) 200
Description "A jet-black beast that runs with great speed."

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.

Blackpanther1
No. Name JPN HP ATK
77 Black Panther 168 63
Tolerance Weakness
Strike, Light Slash, Flame, Poison, Curse, Stone
Location Drop Glyph EXP AP
Castle Entrance, Library - Arma Felix (3%) 152 3
Description "A black, female panther."

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.

Panther CV1
No. Name JPN HP MP
65 R. Black Leopard (Retro Black Leopard) Legends Black Panther ??? ???
Tolerance Weakness
- -
Chapter Drop Bind Soul
Chapter 10 - Origins - - Bullet Soul
Description "A dark predator that has lived in the castle for ages."

Item Data[]

Item Data: Meal Ticket
Image Name - Game
  Type - Users
Description
Attributes / Consume Statistics / Sell Found Notes
Library Card Icon Meal Ticket (jpn) - Symphony of the Night
  Food - Alucard
[edit]
Mystery food ticket [use] Buy: $2,000
Find: Black Marble Gallery, Reverse Caverns, Underground Caverns
Drop: Black Panther, Stone Rose
Effect: Makes a random food item appear, which can be collected
Katana Icon Masamune (jpn) - Symphony of the Night
  2 Handed Weapon (Katana) - Alucard
[edit]
Legendary Masamune katana [2] Attrib: Cut
ATT +90 DEF -30
Drop: Black Panther
Effect: Slash Flurry
Special: ↓↘→ + [Attack] for Warp Forward Sonic Edge (ATT +200)
Blue Soul Black Panther - Sonic Dash - Aria of Sorrow
  Guardian Soul - Soma
[edit]
Generate shock waves while you dash. Attrib: Sword
Consume: 2 MP/sec
8 ATK
Find: Top Floor
Guardian Soul Black Panther - Sonic Dash - Dawn of Sorrow
  Guardian Soul - Soma
[edit]
Move at high speed while creating a shockwave. Attrib: Slashing
Consume: 3 MP/sec
Rarity: *
Drop: Black Panther
Arma Felix Icon Arma Felix (jpn) - Order of Ecclesia
  Back Glyph - Shanoa
[edit]
Grants cat-like abilities. Consume: 80 MP
Drop: Black Panther
Effect: Transforms Shanoa into a werecat. She can attack with claw-swipes and rapid tail-whips, both at the cost of MP.
Special: Shanoa is able to talk to the cats in Wygol Village. Black Panthers and Ladycats become allies.
Bullet Soul HD Icon R. Black Leopard - Harmony of Despair
  Bullet Soul - Soma
[edit]
Summon an 8-bit black leopard. Attrib: Strike
Consume: 12 MP
ATK +8
Steal: R. Black Leopard (5.5 %)
First Obtained: Chapter 10
Effect: Summon Black Leopard

Gallery[]

Artworks[]

Screenshots[]

Trivia[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. As part of the Shadow boss fight.

External links[]

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