For the Curse of Darkness weapon, see Bat (weapon).

The Bat (sometimes specifically called Vampire Bat) is a recurring enemy in the Castlevania series. It is a bloodsucking bat serving under the control of a vampire that lurks in the dark and has long inhabited the Demon Castle. Some suddenly attack from the ceiling, while others constantly fly in a wavy pattern within the corridors.

Origins

In many cultures, bats are associated with darkness, death, witchcraft, and malevolence. In Western culture, the bat is often a symbol of the night and its foreboding nature. The bat is a primary animal associated with fictional characters of the night, such as villainous vampires like Count Dracula and, before him, Sir Francis Varney.

General description

Bats are generally one of the first enemies encountered in a game (along with Zombies) and almost always take only one hit to kill. They generally enter flying from the edge of the screen (usually where the player is currently facing at) and travel in a relatively straight path, only slightly moving up and down as they go. Depending on the game they appear in, this undulating pattern can be more pronounced and the bat itself may have a larger size. Bats are not nearly as quick and don't maneuver up and down as much as Medusa Heads, but can be quite annoying when in large numbers, or when encountered during tight platforming sections. On rare occasions, they will fly in from an open window.

Sometimes, bats can be initially found hanging down from ceilings and remain dormant until the player comes near. Once close enough, they'll swoop down and fly at them (sometimes returning to hang down from the ceiling preparing for the next attack). Some later variants can spew fireballs or may even carry a long sword as they fly around, making them harder to avoid.

In the Hard Mode of many games (usually accessed in the earlier titles by first completing the game), bats can often be found populating the rooms of many stages, usually the earlier ones and progressively being replaced by Medusa Heads.

A boss version, the Giant Bat, is usually found at some point in most games of the series.

Types

Aside from appearing as common enemies, bats can also come in much larger and fiercer versions as boss enemies, such as:

• Bat Company (Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow)
• Darkwing Bat (Castlevania: Symphony of the Night)
• Phantom Bat
• Zapf Bat (Super Castlevania IV)

...or as man/bat hybrids such as:

• Creatures Bat (Castlevania Legends)
• Death Bat (Castlevania: The Adventure)

Appearances

Castlevania, Vampire Killer

There are two bat variants in these games. Red bats are already flying forward and spawn regularly, lining up with Simon Belmont to try and hit him. Blue bats stay perched on a ceiling until Simon gets close, then they fly at him. Red bats are found in Block 1 and Block 4, while blue bats are exclusive to Block 2.

The Japanese user's manual description for Vampire Killer states that the bats inhabiting Dracula's Castle are loyal to the Old Crone.^[1]

Castlevania II: Simon's Quest

Two varieties of bats appear in this game. Those that live outdoors and those that live in mansions. The outdoor variety moves steadily forward, while the indoor variety flutter about in a circle-like pattern, stop and rest a while, and then move toward Simon again.

Simon's Quest (LCD watch)

They appear in random quantities above, in front and behind Simon in each stage. They take one hit to destroy and are worth 5 points.

Simon's Quest (LCD handheld)

An unlimited amount of bats will flutter above Simon in each stage in the Simon's Quest LCD handheld game. They take a single hit to kill and are worth 10 points. They will only attack when the player is in midair, making it possible to jump into them. They can only be attacked when jumping.

A larger variety of bat, called a Vampire Bat, is also present in this game.

Castlevania: The Arcade

Bats appear in most stages in this game.

Haunted Castle Revisited

Other than standard bats, a type of blue bat will appear when the player reaches certain location. When this happens, a few blue bats will spawn around said location and try to enclose the player.

Other games

• A Bat appears in the puzzle game Pixel Puzzle Collection.

Enemy Data

Main article: Bat/Enemy Data

Drop Item Data

Item Data: Bat
Image	Name - Game   Type - Users Description	Attributes / Consume	Statistics / Sell	Found	Notes
	Potion (jpn) - Symphony of the Night   Recovery Item (Medicine/Health Potion) - Alucard				[edit]
	Restores some HP [use]		HP +50	Buy: $800 Find: Throughout castle (all) Drop: Bat, Corpseweed, Will O' Wisp (Saturn-only) First Obtained: (May start with)
	Monster Vial 2 (Capsule Monster 2) - Symphony of the Night   Projectile - Alucard				[edit]
	Summons bat ally [use]	Attrib: Hit	ATT +25 (listed), ATT +0 (actual)	Drop: Bat	Effect: Summon Bat (despite its listed ATT value, often its actual damage output is equal to Alucard's unarmed ATT, possibly due to a bug, although it occasionally unbugs for a while)
	Wrist Band (jpn) - Circle of the Moon   Arm (Bracelet) - Nathan				[edit]
	Cotton armband.		STR +5	Drop: Will O' Wisp, Ectoplasm, Gremlin, Spirit, Devil Tower, Bat, Medusa Head, Were-Panther
	Heart (Heart Up) - Circle of the Moon   Recovery Item (Medicine/Heart Potion) - Nathan				[edit]
	Recover 10 Hearts.		Heart +10	Drop: Gorgon, Spearfish, Bat, Bone Tower, Bone Head, Man Eater, Coffin, Mummy, Mimic Candle
	$1 - Harmony of Dissonance   Pick-Up (Money) - Juste Belmont				[edit]
	'		Gold + 1	Common Drop: Bat, Tiny Slime, Fleaman, Bone Pillar
	Bat - Echo of Bat - Aria of Sorrow   Bullet Soul - Soma				[edit]
	Attacks using supersonic waves.	Consume: 5 MP	60 ATK	Rarity: 7 Drop: Bat	Effect: Can also be used while in Bat Form.
	Bat - Bat Familiar - Dawn of Sorrow   Guardian Soul - Soma				[edit]
	Summon Bat as familiar.	Attrib: Slashing Consume: 3 MP/sec		Rarity: ** Drop: Bat
	Rahab's Frost (Ice Sword of Rahab) - Portrait of Ruin   Weapon (Sword) - Jonathan				[edit]
	An icy blade made from the fang of the water-dragon Rahab.	Attrib: Slash, Ice Consume: 60 MP (Critical Art)	ATK +40 Sell: $5,500	Drop: Razor Bat	Special: Ice cloud
	Bat - Harmony of Despair   Guardian Soul (Familiar) - Soma				[edit]
	Summon a Bat as a familiar.	Attrib: Slash Consume: 2 MP	ATK +4	Rarity: ** Steal: Bat (2.8%)	Effect: Bat Familiar
	R. Vampire Bat - Harmony of Despair   Guardian Soul (Familiar) - Soma				[edit]
	Summon an 8-bit bat as a familiar.	Attrib: Slash Consume: 2 MP	ATK +1	Steal: R. Vampire Bat (5.5%) First Obtained: Chapter 10	Effect: Bat Familiar

Ally Item Data

Bats can be helpful to protagonists in a variety of ways. They can be used as familiars (see Bat Familiar). Their souls can allow some characters to take their form (see Bat Form). They can also be used as projectile weapons or as distractions (see Bat Swarm and Bat Swarm (Lords of Shadow)).

Item Data: Bat Allies
Image	Name - Game   Type - Users Description	Attributes / Consume	Statistics / Sell	Found	Notes
	Transform into a Bat (jpn) - Dracula's Curse   ' - Alucard				[edit]
	He does have the power to transform into a bat and fly around. (...)	Consume: 1 Heart/sec			Sequence: Down + A
BAT	Bat (jpn) - Kid Dracula (NES)   Magic Power - Kid Dracula				[edit]
	Transform into a bat and fly through the sky for a short time.
BAT	Bat [alt] - Kid Dracula (Game Boy)   Magic Power - Kid Dracula				[edit]
	From the start you can also transform into a bat to overcome obstacles. To return to normal, press the B button or wait for the time (yes, there is a time limit) to expire.			Find: Starts out with
ATT	Bat Attack - Kid Dracula (Game Boy)   Magic Power - Kid Dracula				[edit]
	Patriot bats will zero in on enemies and then whap them with their wings. After destroying the enemy, these bad bats will return to your cape.			Reward: Clear Stage 1 - Kid Dracula's Castle
	Bat Card (Essence of Bat) - Symphony of the Night   Relic (Familiar) - Alucard				[edit]
	Summons "Bat" familiar	Attrib: Hit	ATT +5	Find: Alchemy Laboratory
	Monster Vial 2 (Capsule Monster 2) - Symphony of the Night   Projectile - Alucard				[edit]
	Summons bat ally [use]	Attrib: Hit	ATT +25 (listed), ATT +0 (actual)	Drop: Bat	Effect: Summon Bat (despite its listed ATT value, often its actual damage output is equal to Alucard's unarmed ATT, possibly due to a bug, although it occasionally unbugs for a while)
	Bat Form - Symphony of the Night   Action - Alucard (requires Soul of Bat)				[edit]
	Transform into a bat and fly freely through the air. Gradually consumes MP.				Sequence: Transform into a bat and back: [Bat] Move: directional pad
	Soul of Bat (jpn) - Symphony of the Night   Relic (Form) - Alucard				[edit]
	Transform into Bat			Find: Long Library	Effect: Enables Bat Form ability
	Fire of Bat (jpn) - Symphony of the Night   Relic (Form) - Alucard				[edit]
	Shoot fireballs as Bat	Attrib: Fire Consume: 8 MP	ATT +10	Find: Clock Tower	Effect: Allows the Bat Form to shoot fireballs using the Attack button. Also allows the Bat Familiar to shoot fireballs if it is active
	Wing Smash (jpn) - Symphony of the Night   Spell - Alucard				[edit]
	Powerful attack by Bat	Attrib: Hit Consume: 8 MP	ATT +50	Buy: $2,000 Find: Obtain the Soul of Bat. Then either purchase Magic Scroll 7 (DXC-only) or successfully perform the action (...)	Sequence: While in Bat Form hold [Jump] + ↑↖←↙↓↘→, release [Jump]
	Echo of Bat (jpn) - Symphony of the Night   Relic (Form) - Alucard				[edit]
	Use radar as Bat			Find: Olrox's Quarters	Effect: Allows the Bat Form to use the sonar wave ability. Only useful in a pitch-black room
	Force of Echo (Crazy Echo) - Symphony of the Night   Relic (Form) - Alucard				[edit]
	Attack with radar waves	Attrib: Hit	ATT +10	Find: Reverse Caverns	Effect: Allows the sonar wave attack of the Bat Form to deal slight damage to enemies
	Saturn + Salamander (Bat Familiar) - Circle of the Moon   DSS Effect - Nathan				[edit]
	A bat familiar appears to attack in tandem.	Attrib: Fire Consume: 4 MP/Shot		Create: Saturn + Salamander	Effect: Summons a bat that shoots fireballs when the attack button is held.
	Bat - Bat Familiar - Dawn of Sorrow   Guardian Soul - Soma				[edit]
	Summon Bat as familiar.	Attrib: Slashing Consume: 3 MP/sec		Rarity: ** Drop: Bat
	Bat Swarm (jpn) - Judgment   Sub-Weapon - Maria, Carmilla, Death, Dracula				[edit]
	Summons a bat to attack the opponent.	Consume: 2 (Normal) or 6 (Charged) Hearts			Effect: Normal - Summons bats to slowly drain life from any enemy they touch. Charged - Summons bats that explode when they touch your enemy. Evolve: Can be powered up with a Rapidshot II or III
	Devil Wings - Judgment   Chest Gear				[edit]
	Soar to new heights with this accessory, made to resemble the wings of a bat.			Find: Clear Room 07 in Castle Mode with Dracula.
	Bat - Harmony of Despair   Guardian Soul (Familiar) - Soma				[edit]
	Summon a Bat as a familiar.	Attrib: Slash Consume: 2 MP	ATK +4	Rarity: ** Steal: Bat (2.8%)	Effect: Bat Familiar
	R. Vampire Bat - Harmony of Despair   Guardian Soul (Familiar) - Soma				[edit]
	Summon an 8-bit bat as a familiar.	Attrib: Slash Consume: 2 MP	ATK +1	Steal: R. Vampire Bat (5.5%) First Obtained: Chapter 10	Effect: Bat Familiar
	R. Phantom Bat - Harmony of Despair   Bullet Soul - Soma				[edit]
	Summon an 8-bit Phantom Bat.	Attrib: Strike Consume: 12 MP	ATK +12	Rarity: *** Steal: R. Phantom Bat (3.5%) First Obtained: Chapter 10	Effect: Summon Phantom Bat
	Bat Projectile - Mirror of Fate   Secondary Weapon - Alucard				[edit]
	Vampire Bats will fly from Alucard's hand then flock and attack any nearby prey. (...)	Consume: 1 Ammo Heart		Find: Abandoned Mine	Special: The "Charged" secondary attack gives the charged bats greater power and ferocity to devastate all enemies in their path.
	Bat Swarm - Lords of Shadow 2   ' - Dracula				[edit]
	Dracula never needed the distractive abilities of these creatures, but his new situation forces him to use them to even things up.(...)				Sequence: Select the Bat Swarm with the left button, Press and hold the [Secondary Weapon] and release to launch it. You can cancel the shot by pressing [Use].
	Bat Cloud - Lords of Shadow 2, Revelations (DLC)   ' - Alucard				[edit]
	(...)
	Wing Smash - Grimoire of Souls   Character Skill - Alucard				[edit]
	Transform into a bat and perform a piercing attack.		Max Power: 40%/60% (Lv. 1/Lv. 6)	Conditions: Unlock through Develop Abilities	Sequence: [Character Skill] Special: Direction can be changed upon reaching Lv. 3. Can be used twice in a row at Lv. 3, and three times at Lv. 6.

Gallery

Main article: Bat/Gallery

Trivia

• The English instruction booklet of Castlevania confounded and switched the artworks between the Bat enemy and the Phantom Bat boss as they appear in the original Japanese Famicom Disk System version of the game.

See also

• Bat Cloud - Ability where the user transforms into a colony of bats.
• Bat Form - Ability where the user transforms into a bat.
• Bat Familiar - Bat familiar that follows the player and aids them in combat.
• Bat Swarm and Bat Swarm (Lords of Shadow) - Sub-weapons.
• Giant Bat - Boss version of the common bat.

References

External links

• Bat at Wikipedia
  • Vampire bat
• Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin - Bestiary by Darth Nemesis at GameFAQs
• Castlevania Realm