Mermen (also frequently called Fish Men) are a common, recurring enemy in the Castlevania series. They have appeared in almost every game. While called Mermen in the games, their appearance is based more on the classic Creature from the Black Lagoon that was popular in the Universal Monsters series of horror movies. Therefore, the more fitting title for the Mermen is "Gill-Men". In some games, Fish Men are distinguished from Mermen with a lack of arms.

OverviewEdit

Mermen have been a thorn in the side of heroes whenever water is involved in their adventures. Mermen like to jump up from the water and begin to march towards the hero. After a while, they stop and fire a fireball towards the hero from their gaping mouths. After a while, they will normally hop back into the water, or sometimes continuing marching around looking for heroes to attack.

Mermen are closely related to the Fishmen that are also sometimes called Mermen as well, but have more fish-like appearances. However, Fishmen act similarly, if not exactly, to Mermen, and this makes things confusing sometimes. In some situations, their names and/or likenesses are interchangeable.

In 3D Castlevania games, and some 2D Castlevania games, Mermen also like to roll up into a ball with their sharp, pointy fins outstretched, and dash into heroes near them for extra damage.

Mermen also like to take their clawed, webbed hands and slash at heroes as well, so it is wise that adventurers keep a good distance between them and the Mermen, but not enough so that the hero can't attack them.

Lastly, Mermen are almost ALWAYS found near water. Wherever there is water, Mermen are usually near. It is best for heroes to be careful as Mermen have a nasty habit of occupying platforms over water and sending a careless hero into a watery grave.

NOTE: Any game where a Fishman appears and is known as, or acts as, a Merman is also credited as a Merman appearance.

TypesEdit

The typical Merman is red and shoots fire from his mouth on occassion. Sometimes the fireballs are replaced with water, but that is usually done by creatures that are variations of the common Merman. Some variations include:

• Fish Head
• Triton

...and on one occassion, Mermen even appeared as a boss!

• Giant Merman

GalleryEdit

Fish Man in Japanese Castlevania manual

Fish Man in Japanese Vampire Killer manual

Fish Man in Japanese Simon's Quest manual

Fish Man in Captain N: The Game Master

Fish Man from Wai Wai World

Fish Man from Nintendo Power's coverage of Dracula's Curse

Fish Man from Wai Wai World 2

Water Creep in Japanese Belmont's Revenge manual

"Merman" (Lizard in Japan) from Belmont's Revenge

Merman from Nintendo Power's coverage of Super Castlevania IV

Merman from All About Akumajo Dracula guide to Super Castlevania IV

Fish Man from Castlevnia Chronicles

Merman from Japanese manual for Dracula X

Concept art for the canceled Castlevania: Resurrection

Merman in Castlevania: Judgment

Official art for Abyssal Tadpole from Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate

Abyssal Creature from Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate

Add a photo to this galleryAdd a photo to this gallery

Enemy DataEdit

Enemy Data: Merman
Image	Name - Game Description	Statistics	Items	Location
(NES/C64/AMI/PC)	Fish Man (jpn)			[ edit ]
	Castlevania (Strategy)
	In the water scene, Fish Man suddenly jumps out of the water and sneaks towards you. When he gets close enough, he'll spit fireballs at you from his mouth.(*)	HP: 1 Exp: 300 Atk: 2/4		1. Main Hall, 4. Catacombs
	Fish Man			[ edit ]
	Vampire Killer (Strategy)
	'	Exp: 200		1. Entrance Halls 4. Catacombs
	Fishman
	Haunted Castle
	'	Exp: 500		2. Cave
	8. The Fish Man
	Simon's Quest
	'	HP: 1/4/16/16	Drop: Small Heart (day),Half Heart (night)	South Bridge, Veros Woods, Dead River, North Bridge, East Bridge
	10. Merman (Fish Beast Man)
	Wai Wai World
	'	HP: 1 Atk: 1		1. Castlevania
	6. Monster Fish
	Simon's Quest LCD
	'	HP: 2 (day) / 4 (night) Exp: 20		1. Forest (day/night), 2. Graveyard (day/night), 3. Castle, 4. Castle Vania
	5. Monster Fish
	Simon's Quest Watch
	'	HP: 1 Exp: 5		Stages 1-2
	17. Fishman
	Dracula's Curse
	'			6. Temple, 6'. Mountains, 6A. Causeway, 9. Villa
	4. Fishman (jpn)
	Wai Wai World 2
	'			9. Castlevania
	6. Water Creep  (Fish Man)
	Belmont's Revenge
	'			Crystal Castle
	15. Merman  (Lizard)
	Belmont's Revenge
	'			Crystal Castle, Cloud Castle, Rock Castle
	18. Merman			[ edit ]
	Super Castlevania IV
	'	HP: 48 Exp: 100 Atk: 3		3. Cavern/Waterfall/Moat
	Fish Man			[ edit ]
	Castlevania Chronicles
	'	HP: 2 Exp: 300		1. Monastary, 2. Underground Aqueducts
	Merman			[ edit ]
	Rondo of Blood (Strategy)
	'	HP: 2 Exp: 120		2. Entrance, 2'. Aqueducts, 4'. River, 5'. Piers
	Fish Man
	Bloodlines
	'			1. Castlevania, 2. Atlantis
	Merman			[ edit ]
	Dracula X (Strategy)
	'	HP: 1		2. Entrance, 3. Hall, 5'. Sunken City
	6. Merman [Lv. 2]			[ edit ]
	Symphony of the Night (Strategy)
	Legendary "creature". Attacks all invaders.	Strong: Water Weak: Fire, Thunder Level: 2 Exp: 12	Drop: Zircon, Monster Vial 1	Entrance
	10. Merman [Lv. 3]			[ edit ]
	Symphony of the Night (Strategy)
	Fireball-spitting Merman. Largest of merman kind.	Strong: Water Weak: Fire, Thunder Level: 3 HP: 10 Exp: 12	Drop: Zircon, Monster Vial 1	Entrance
	Merman
	Legends
	'	HP: 2 Atk: 1		5. Cathedral, Hidden
	Lizard Man [ Gill, Club, Trident]  (Gill Man [Club, Trident])			[ edit ]
	Legacy of Darkness
		HP: 30	Drop: rare, usually Red Jewel or Gold, frequently Attack Item	Foggy Lake, Forest
	Lizard Man [ Gill, Club, Trident, Water spray type]  (Gill Man [Club, Trident, Water spray type])			[ edit ]
	Legacy of Darkness
	''Abil: Shoots a stream of water	HP: 30	Drop: rare, usually Red Jewel or Gold, frequently Attack Item	Foggy Lake
	Merman (jpn)			[ edit ]
	Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (Strategy)
	'	Strong: Ice HP: 60 Exp: 10 Atk: 303 Def: 301	Common Drop: Gauntlet (1%) Rare Drop: Meat (0.15%)	Underground Waterway
	48. Merman			[ edit ]
	Harmony of Dissonance
	'	Strong: Fire Weak: Ice Level: 19 HP: 160 Exp: 102	Common Drop: Potion Rare Drop: Piros Helm	Castle A: Aqueduct of Dragons Castle B: Aqueduct of Dragons
	49. Fishman			[ edit ]
	Harmony of Dissonance
	'	Strong: Fire Weak: Ice Level: 19 HP: 160 Exp: 102	Common Drop: Potion Rare Drop: Parade Armor	Castle A: Aqueduct of Dragons Castle B: Aqueduct of Dragons
	4. Merman			[ edit ]
	Aria of Sorrow
	Lives close to the shore and attacks anything that comes near it.	Strong: Water Weak: Sword, Fire, Curse HP: 20 Exp: 2	Drop: Nothing Soul: Water Spray	Castle Corridor, Underground Reservoir
	38. Fish Man			[ edit ]
	Lament of Innocence
	A blue merman that attacks by spewing ice.	Strong: Fire, Ice Weak: Lightning, Dagger, Axe HP: 84	Drop: Small Meat, Sushi	Dark Palace of Waterfalls
	42. Merman			[ edit ]
	Lament of Innocence
	A red merman that attacks by spewing fire.	Strong: Fire, Ice Weak: Lightning, Dagger, Axe HP: 120	Drop: Small Meat, Sushi	Dark Palace of Waterfalls
	63. Merman			[ edit ]
	Dawn of Sorrow (Strategy)
	An aquatic monster that attacks prey near water.	Strong: Water Weak: Piercing, Slashing, Electric, Curse, Stone HP: 45 MP: 10 Exp: 60 Atk: 36 Timestop: Affected	Soul: Water Spray (32%)	The Lost Village, Wizardry Lab, Subterranean Hell
	4. Merman Lv.4			[ edit ]
	Curse of Darkness (Strategy)
	A pure-blood merman. Attacks by ramming or shooting water from its mouth. Also found on dry land.	Strong: Ice Weak: Fire, Thunder Level: 4 HP: 77 Exp: 5	Steal: $50	Abandoned Castle
	37. Merman Lv.15			[ edit ]
	Curse of Darkness (Strategy)
	A pure-blood merman. Attacks by ramming or shooting water from its mouth. Also found on dry land.	Strong: Ice Weak: Fire, Thunder Level: 15 HP: 170 Exp: 36	Common Drop: Ancient Memory Steal: $50	Mortvia Aqueduct, Tower of Eternity
	38. Fishman Lv.16			[ edit ]
	Curse of Darkness (Strategy)
	A red merman; attacks by spitting fireballs. Especially dangerous when attacking in groups.	Strong: Fire Weak: Ice, Thunder Level: 16 HP: 189 Exp: 43	Common Drop: Ancient Memory Steal: Aquamarine	Mortvia Aqueduct, Tower of Eternity
	89. Merman Lv.35			[ edit ]
	Curse of Darkness (Strategy)
	A pure-blood merman. Attacks by ramming or shooting water from its mouth. Also found on dry land.	Strong: Ice Weak: Fire, Thunder Level: 35 HP: 340 Exp: 208	Common Drop: Ancient Memory Steal: $50	Tower of Evermore
	90. Fishman Lv.35			[ edit ]
	Curse of Darkness (Strategy)
	A red merman; attacks by spitting fireballs. Especially dangerous when attacking in groups.	Strong: Fire Weak: Ice, Thunder Level: 35 HP: 360 Exp: 231	Common Drop: Ancient Memory Steal: Aquamarine	Aiolon Ruins
	133. Fishman Lv.45			[ edit ]
	Curse of Darkness (Strategy)
	A red merman; attacks by spitting fireballs. Especially dangerous when attacking in groups.	Strong: Fire Weak: Ice, Thunder Level: 45 HP: 495 Exp: 576	Common Drop: Ancient Memory Steal: Aquamarine	Mortvia Aqueduct, Tower of Evermore
	11. Merman			[ edit ]
	Portrait of Ruin (Strategy)
	Half fish, half man, and all monster. It hunts prey near the water.	Strong: Ice Weak: Whip, Sword, Fire, Lightning, Curse, Petrify HP: 35 Exp: 13 Skill Pt: 1	Drop: Meuniere	Buried Chamber
	11. Merman			[ edit ]
	Order of Ecclesia (Strategy)
	This aquatic hunter spots prey from the water before leaping.	Strong: Striking, Ice Weak: Slashing, Electric, Poison, Cursing HP: 17 Exp: 6 Skill Pt: 1 Atk: 16	Drop: Meat (5%), Zircon (3%)	Kalidus Channel
	48. Merman			[ edit ]
	Order of Ecclesia (Strategy)
	An aquatic humanoid, known for its violent, territorial ways.	Strong: Ice Weak: Slashing, Electric, Poison, Cursing HP: 80 Exp: 56 Skill Pt: 1 Atk: 37	Drop: Zircon (5%)	Somnus Reef
	Water Creep			[ edit ]
	The Adventure ReBirth
	A horrible fusion of man and fish, who has inherited new powers as well.(*)			1. Castle Bridge (Hard Mode only), 2. Entrance
	Merman
	Encore of the Night
	'	HP: 40 Exp: ~50	Drop: Apple, Cheese; Hide Cuirass, Leather Hat, Alucart Shield Steal: ~10 copper	Entrance
	9. Merman			[ edit ]
	Harmony of Despair (Strategy)
	Half fish, half man, and all monster. It hunts prey near the water.	Strong: Ice Weak: Slash, Pierce, Lightning, Petrify, Poison, Curse	Bind: Splash Needle Soul: Red (2.80%) Shoot a stream of water.	Chapter 1,Chapter9
	75. R. Fish Man  (L. Merman) [alt]			[ edit ]
	Harmony of Despair (Strategy)
	A monster that lives in the waters around the old castle.	Exp: 300	Bind: R. Fireball Soul: Red	Chapter 10
	Merman  [alt]			[ edit ]
	Mirror of Fate
	Somewhere during the evolution between fish and men, these intelligent beings learned to move onto dry land in search of new prey. With a deep survival instinct, the mermen organize search parties and lay ambush for anyone unsuspecting who comes near water.	Weak: Oil Flask Difficulty: 2/5 HP: 65 Exp: 20	Drop: 10 Magic	Forgotten Caves (+ Bestiary), Deadly Waterfalls
	Electric Merman			[ edit ]
	Mirror of Fate
	An elite group of mermen have adapted skin membranes that generate powerful electrical currents. Whilst on land, they can conduct this electricity through the wet ground, thus stunning their adversaries before pouncing to devour them.	Difficulty: 2/5 HP: 85 Exp: 45	Drop: 20 Magic	Abandoned Mine, Kitchen (+ Bestiary)
	Hunter Merman			[ edit ]
	Mirror of Fate
	Some mermen have developed special glands in their mouths which deliver a powerful toxin. This sticky substance is spat on their prey, rendering their enemies completely paralyzed.	Difficulty: 2/5 HP: 125 Exp: 75	Drop: 20 Magic	Cells, Vertical Prison, Abandoned Mine
	Merman Tadpole  [alt]			[ edit ]
	Mirror of Fate
	During hunting forays on the surface, the mermen throw live captives to their offspring awaiting below the surface. Although not yet fully developed, the tadpoles have jaw dimensions similar to that of their parents, which they use to tear apart the bodies of their prey.	HP: Cannot be damaged	Drop: 10 Magic	Forgotten Caves, Abandoned Mine (+ Bestiary), Cells, Vertical Prison,

Soul DataEdit

Item Data: Merman
Image	Name - Game Description	Type / Users	Attributes / Consume	Statistics / Sell	Found	Notes
	Merman - Water Pistol - Aria of Sorrow
	Fires a water pistol.	Red Soul Soma	Consume: 14 MP		Steal: Merman
	Merman - Harmony of Despair
	Shoot a stream of water.	Red Soul Soma	Consume: 15 MP	ATK +4	Rarity: * Steal: Merman (2.8%)
	R. Fish Man - Harmony of Despair
	Summon an 8-bit fish man.	Red Soul Soma	Consume: 12 MP	ATK +6	Rarity: *** Steal: R. Fish Man (5.5%) First Obtained: Chapter 10

Game-Specific InformationEdit

Castlevania II: Simon's QuestEdit

The fish man in Simon's Quest pops out of the water like most mermen and shoots diagonal fireballs at the hero.

Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (LCD Watch)Edit

Monster Fish appear in front of you and shoots fireballs. Take one hit to destroy and worth 5 points.

Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (LCD Handheld)Edit

Monster fish are the only monsters that can be found in day (take two hits to destroy) or night (take four hits), these are present in all stages. They rise up in front of you and shoot fireballs. They block your path forwards and cannot be jumped over. Being rather short creatures, these can only be damaged with low attacks. Worth 20 points.

A variation of the Monster Fish in this game is the Monster Dragon, which has wings.

Castlevania II: Belmont's RevengeEdit

Nintendo Power calls these creatures "Wall Creeps" and describes them as amphibians.

Castlevania: Harmony of DissonanceEdit

Mermen, Fishmen, and a Giant Merman can be found in Harmony of Dissonance. The only difference between Mermen and Fishmen in this game is their appearance.

Castlevania: Order of EcclesiaEdit

In Order of Ecclesia, there are two types of Merman. The first are the red colored ones from Dawn of Sorrow & Portrait of Ruin, and they appear in the Kalidus Channel. The second type are the yellow colored ones from Aria of Sorrow, Symphony of the Night, & Harmony of Dissonance, and they appear in Somnus Reef. While they both jump out of water to attack, the red ones use magical based attacks by spitting fireballs, and the yellow ones use physical based attacks by diving into Shanoa.

Castlevania: JudgmentEdit

Mermen appear in Judgement as normal enemies. All must be defeated to summon the Iron Gladiator.

ReferencesEdit

• Mr. P's Castlevania Realm
• Castlevania Dungeon
• Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin Bestiary by Darth Nemesis at GameFAQs.com
• Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin Walkthrough and FAQ by Zach "Darko" Long at GameFAQs.com

See AlsoEdit

• Mermen in Wikipedia
• Fish-Man in Wikipedia
• Creature from the Black Lagoon in Wikipedia
• Revenge of the Creature in Wikipedia
• The Creature Walks Among Us in Wikipedia
• Eucritta Melanolimnetes in Wikipedia