Giant Fishman (Anchor) Bloodborne Wiki » Enemies » Giant Fishman (Anchor)

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Basic Information

Location			Drop	Weaknesses	Race
Fishing Hamlet	6352	4166	Random gem based on area x1 [25%], Blood Vial x5 [20%], Blood Vial x4 [55%]		Neutral
Fishing Hamlet | Well	6352	4514	None

Description These monstrous brutes serve as the token "tank" enemies in the Fishing Hamlet. While encountered in only a few locations, they tend to be positioned in spots where they are either not immediately visible or cannot be engaged in combat at all until you've triggered an ambush. The differences between bare-handed Giant Fishmen and those armed with anchors are significant; the former are generally slow and ponderous enemies with fairly predictable attacks, while the latter have a larger moveset and their actions can be much more difficult to anticipate. Anchor-wielding Giant Fishmen are by far the more dangerous subtype owing to their longer reach, faster attacks and deliberate feints; fortunately, both types can be poisoned with relative ease and are susceptible to standard interrupts and staggers. Do note that while two aesthetic variations of the bare-handed subtype exist, the differences are purely cosmetic and these enemies are in fact identical in every other way. Overview These monstrous fishmen are the most dangerous enemies in the expansion areas, bar none. They have rock-solid defense, more health than some bosses and a repertoire of incredibly devious attacks which put their unarmed counterparts to shame. The anchor-wielding variant's combat behavior differs drastically from the unarmed type owing to the addition of a makeshift weapon; these enemies do not use grab attacks, but their swings have incredibly long reach and powerful stunlock capabilities. They utilize a combination of rapid strikes and delayed feints, and will incorporate both into combos of up to five hits; additionally, many of their individual swings have considerable forward momentum or reach directly behind them. At close range they will perform a quick three-hit melee combo followed by an overhead slam if you are still within reach afterward; they will also use a separate series of up to five slow horizontal swings which alternate between counterclockwise and clockwise, and will punish attempts to hide behind them with a swift backward uppercut. Another of their close to mid-range combos consists of up to three vertical slams at different intervals; they will generally only execute the followup swings if the first hit connects and will occasionally use a horizontal sweep instead of a third vertical blow. At mid to long range they will sometimes run forward for about three seconds and perform a counterclockwise swing with an extremely wide arc; they also use more dangerous version of the unarmed variant's sliding tackle all ranges. For all their ferocity, however, they are still susceptible visceral attacks via ordinary interrupts and staggers, and can be poisoned with a paltry four Poison Knives. They share their species weakness to arcane damage, making weapons like the Holy Moonlight Sword and tools such as the Executioner’s Gloves and A Call Beyond particularly useful for dealing with them. Strategy As these enemies can reach every position in their immediate vicinity with at least one of their attacks, standing close to them for any length of time is not recommended. The safest strategy is to keep them at mid to long range and wait for an opportunity to interrupt one of their more predictable moves, then follow up with a visceral attack. Opportunities to strike them with melee weapons can be exploited during the recovery periods after their combos and heavy individual swings, but remain ever watchful for their swift counter-attacks and be prepared to quickstep through an incoming strike at the moment's notice. Their jump attack, downward slams, running horizontal sweep, uppercut and slower combos offer the best chances to interrupt them; the recovery of their heavier attacks will also occasionally leave enough time to stagger them from behind. Their sliding tackle is only superficially similar to the version used by their unarmed counterparts; it can still be interrupted but the bullet must connect after they hit the ground rather than before. Extremely precise timing is required to interrupt this attack without trading hits however, even if you do trade on a successful interrupt, there will still usually be enough time to recover and initiate the visceral attack. To avoid the tackle, quickstep twice sideways as the enemy hits the ground and begins sliding, or once sideways and then once backward; an additional backward quickstep may be necessary after the initial slide in order to escape the subsequent flailing. Their jump attack can be avoided by quickstepping to either side or forward past them as they jump, or simply interrupted midair; beware that they will immediately perform this move in an attempt to punish the use of Blood Vials or other consumable items if you do so while within its reach. Their five-hit horizontal combo can be avoided by quickstepping backward out of range or sideways in the opposite direction of each swing, but it is NOT safe to stand behind these enemies or remain at close range during this combo as all of the swings strike in a nearly 360-degree radius and will reach directly behind them; either dodge the first swing and immediately back out of range of the rest or simply interrupt one of the following strikes and perform a visceral attack. At mid range it is possible to avoid their downward slam combo with one to two backward quicksteps; in closer proximity it is necessary to quickstep forward counterclockwise past the enemy's left side and continue strafing toward its back. The windup on their forward uppercut is very obvious and provides plenty of warning; if you must dodge rather than interrupt it, quickstep forward counterclockwise past the enemy's left side just before it swings or move in to pointblank range and strafe counterclockwise around its body and the swing will miss. Do NOT-attempt to quickstep clockwise through the swing as its enormous hitbox has a high probability of beating out your invincibility frames. To avoid the faster three-hit melee combo, quickstep forward clockwise toward the enemy's right side underneath the first swing and continue strafing clockwise at pointblank range, staying behind it for the remainder of the combo. If it follows up with the slam, continue to strafe clockwise at pointblank range or quickstep past it in a clockwise direction just before it brings its arms down. Blood Gem Drop Table [common-max] Gem Shape Rating Primary Effect Secondary Effect Warm Damp Blood Gem (6) Circle 17 BLT scaling +14.2 Add blood ATK +6.5 Damp Bloodtinge Gem (6) Circle 17 Blood ATK up +17% Add blood ATK +6.3 Notes Easy strategy for obtaining the Rakuyo in the well in Fishing Hamlet is to use Shaman Bone Blade when second Giant Fishman appears to make them fight each other, providing you with plenty of openings. Alternatively you can "cheese" them from alcove above them which can be accessed further in the Fishing Hamlet, with manually aimed Throwing Knives using Monocular, you can aggro one then another and kill them with preferably longer range weapon such as Threaded Cane and Beast Cutter. [video]

Pungent Blood Cocktails don't attract this enemy, making the item ineffective. Shaman Bone Blades affect this enemy, making it hostile to other enemies.

Attack Patterns

Key Attack	Interrupt	Notes
Dashing Swing	Yes	Extremely long delay; interrupt it or dodge late in the animation by quickstepping through the attack in the opposite direction of the swing.
Rising Anchor	Yes	Interrupt it or quickstep forward counterclockwise past the enemy's left side just before the swing.
Downward Slam	Yes	At mid range, quickstep backward once to twice; if any closer, quickstep forward counterclockwise past the enemy's left side and continue strafing toward its back. Easily interrupted.
Leaping Smash	Yes	Quickstep forward past the attack or interrupt it.
Backward Uppercut	Yes	Strafe or quickstep counterclockwise if standing on the enemy's left side or clockwise through the attack from any other close-range location. Positioning and timing are unfavorable for interrupts.
Sliding Tackle	Yes	Quickstep twice sideways as the enemy hits the ground and begins sliding, or once sideways followed by once backward.

Defenses

Location
Fishing Hamlet	195	90	150	150	114	118	270	200	180	-	-
Fishing Hamlet | Well	195	90	150	150	114	118	270	200	180	-	-

New Game Cycles

	New Game		NG+		NG+2		NG+3		NG+4		NG+5		NG+6
Locations
Fishing Hamlet	6352	4166	9248	12765	9895	14042	10173	15956	10450	19148	10635	25530	11098	31913
Fishing Hamlet | Well	6352	4514	9248	13831	9895	15214	10173	17289	10450	20747	10635	27662	11098	34578