Golden Hippopotamus in Elden Ring Nightreign: The Boss Duo Ruining Every Victory
There’s nothing quite like Elden Ring: Nightreign’s Golden Hippopotamus crashing your party mid-boss fight. Just when you think you’ve got Crucible Knight on the ropes, the ground shakes, and suddenly, you’re dealing with a rampaging gold-plated hippo with the temperament of a pitbull. This isn’t just another boss—it’s the game’s way of reminding you not to get too comfortable.
- Golden Hippopotamus interrupts boss fights in Nightreign
- He’s infamous for breaking players’ momentum
- Originally appeared in Shadow of the Erdtree DLC
- His attack patterns and cramped arenas make him a true nuisance
- Players compare this duo to other brutal game mechanics
When the Golden Hippopotamus Joins the Fight
Imagine this: you and your friends have just survived two intense waves in Elden Ring: Nightreign. The boss at the end of the second night, Crucible Knight, is nearly at half health. Suddenly, another health bar pops up. It’s the Golden Hippopotamus, and he’s here to make sure your victory isn’t too easy.
This boss is notorious for ruining any momentum you’ve built. With just three attacks—Hippo Bite, Hippo Rush, and Fanged Charge—he keeps everyone on their toes. The Fanged Charge in particular is brutal: get caught, and you’re in for a long, painful animation and serious damage. Morale drops, coordination falls apart, and suddenly the fight is twice as hard. It’s a curveball that feels a bit like the Director mechanic from Left 4 Dead.
Why Players Dread the Golden Hippopotamus
This hippo has a reputation. Since his debut in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, fans have called him a nuisance. In his original appearance, you fight him in a tiny room—far too small for a hippo-sized enemy with massive swings. The camera doesn’t help, often clipping into walls and losing track of the boss. Plus, in Erdtree, he’s got a surprise: he fires golden quills from his back, turning into a spiky menace more akin to a hedgehog or porcupine than a hippo. And yes, there are multiple versions of him throughout the DLC.
As one player said in a
featuring a streamer’s showdown with the Golden Moo Deng: “This is the only boss that doesn’t let you breathe, he always has you cornered.” Another comment sums up the general feeling: “Hated fighting this boss but felt so good finally beating it.”
And the frustration is real: “Yeah, just beat the fat hippo at level 130, so annoying and I’ve seen 3 of them,” vents another player. Clearly, you’re not alone if you’ve ever wanted to throw your controller after another hippo encounter.
The Double Trouble: Crucible Knight and Hippo Combo
In Nightreign, the situation can get even worse. Some players on Reddit have called the Crucible Knight and Golden Hippopotamus pairing “the worst Day 2 boss.” Others have shared their pain after defeating the tough Ancient Dragon, only to be thrown into a fresh multi-boss fight without any revive bars resetting. As one player put it: “After it dies, a NEW multi boss fight starts with Crucible Knight + the hippo?? You don’t get your revive bars reset, so it’s fucking brutal if you lost any on Ancient Dragon (which people will).”
Most encounters with the Golden Hippopotamus in Nightreign happen during Crucible Knight fights, but he can also be found roaming the world. If you ever face the tag-team duo after an Ancient Dragon, you’re not alone if you consider making a tactical retreat back to Roundtable Hold.
