Mantis Ant

Mantis Ant is a giant preying mantis boss who appears in a few Mana games, and it first appears in Final Fantasy Adventure.

In Final Fantasy Adventure, Mantis Ant is one of the later bosses, and it is fought at the end of the Cave of Ruins. In the mobile remake and Adventures of Mana, when Sumo defeats the Mantis Ant, he is rewarded a Mantis Sickle. Furthermore, in the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita versions of Adventures of Mana, the "Mantis Mangler" achievement is unlocked for defeating the Mantis Ant.

In Secret of Mana, Mantis Ant is instead fought as the first boss. Randi has to fight it in an underground area underneath Potos Village. The boss fight, let alone the area, becomes accessible as a result of a brief earthquake that occurs when Randi talks to the Elder of Potos Village some time after obtaining the Rusty Sword.

In its earlier appearances, Mantis Ant has a light green body and yellow scythes and feet. In Adventures of Mana, both its scythes and feet were changed to orange, and its body was made a darker green color. In the Secret of Mana remake, the Mantis Ant retains its design from Adventures of Mana.

Strategies
Randi will most likely be at level 2 when he visits Potos Village for the first time, but if playing a straight game, the player might not be able to pick up a Bandanna yet. If one is desired, Randi can go back to the forest and kill off a few Rabites—or rather, a couple dozen to get the 50 GP. If he gains another level, all the better. Raising his Sword skill to level 1 will help as well, since it will speed the fight along.

As bosses go, Mantis Ant should be a cakewalk with the Bandanna equipped, and it is even more so in the 3D version. Though the battle is technically impossible to lose (Gemma will help out if Randi gets overwhelmed), it still pays to play smart. Watch out for a Level 0 Gem Missile or Acid Storm; these will knock off a sizable chunk of Randi's HP and may drop his Defense. If it gets an opportunity, Mantis Ant can cause quakes that will knock Randi out. Other than this, the Mantis Ant has a tendency to use its forelimbs as a shield. Wait for these to open, and attack quickly. With some luck, Randi may be able to let loose a charged swing; get a few of these in, and he will save time. The player should allow for the stamina gauge to charge to 100% for best results.

Striking from behind is also possible in the 3D version, but must be done quickly, before the beast reacts to it.

Stats

 * HP: 2800
 * EXP: 199
 * GP: 220