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Mantis Ant
| Mantis Ant | |
|---|---|
 Echoes of Mana screenshot | |
| First appearance | Final Fantasy Adventure (1991) |
| Latest appearance | Visions of Mana (2024) |
| Species | Praying mantis |
| Counterpart(s) | Hegs Ant, Mantis Bee, Metal Mantis |
| Background music | "Pain of the Universe"LoM |
Mantis Ant is a giant praying mantis boss who appears in a few Mana games, and it first appears in Final Fantasy Adventure. 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. It is among the most recurring and most recognizable bosses in the Mana series, along with the Fullmetal Hugger.
The Mantis Ant is usually aligned with the Earth element and is weak against Wind attacks. It usually attacks by swinging its scythes at the player, lunging toward it, or by spewing acid bubbles at their target. It can also defend itself in some installments by crossing its blades in front of it.
Appearances[edit]
Final Fantasy Adventure/Adventures of Mana[edit]
- Main article: Mantis Ant (Adventures of Mana)
The Mantis Ant is fought at the end of the Cave of Ruins and is the last obstacle for Sumo to vanquish before reaching the mechanism that allows the Dime Tower to rise from the Crystal Desert. The area is rigged with electrical barriers that the hero must avoid in addition to the monster's deadly scythes. In the original Game Boy installment, the Mantis Ant initially moves in a W pattern from right to left, then quickly rams the arena in an 8 figure.
In Adventures of Mana, the Mantis Ant follows Sumo around while swiping its scythes at him. The monster uses a lot of moves seen in Secret of Mana. It can jump offscreen then stomp on the hero while crashing down. It can now summon a barrier to defend itself from frontal attacks. If Sumo is behind it, the Mantis Ant will send a boomerang toward it.
In the 2006 and 2016 versions of the game, Sumo receives the Mantis Sickle weapon after defeating the boss. Defeating it will reward the player with the Mantis Mangler achievement.
Secret of Mana[edit]
- Main article: Mantis Ant (Secret of Mana)
The insectoid creature reappears as the first boss of Secret of Mana. Awaken after the hero pulls out the Mana Sword, it triggers an earthquake amidst Potos Village, sending Randi and his bully Elliott down a hole in the ground. With the help of Gemma, the lad manages to defeat the Mantis Ant and is hoisted back to surface. Defeating the Mantis Ant earns the player a Sword Orb.
Gameplay[edit]
In the original SNES game, the Mantis Ant could jump off-screen to avoid attacks, defend itself with its scythes, and send a homing boomerang towards Randi, rendering the boy sleep. It could also use Acid Breath and Gem Missile to deal damage.
In the 2010 mobile version, The Mantis Ant moves slower and doesn't gp off-screen when leaping through the air.
In the HD remake, the Mantis Ant appears to be hunching over compared to its previous depictions. All its movements appear to be slower and smoother in contrast to the 2D versions, including its boomerang attack. This quirk leaves more time for the player to react accordingly to the situation. Defeating the creature will reward the player with the Defeat Mantis Ant achievement.
A similar mechanical creature is fought in a similar fashion at the Imperial Palace.
Legend of Mana[edit]
- Main article: Mantis Ant (Legend of Mana)
The Mantis Ant returns as one of the first bosses in Legend of Mana. In Niccolo's Business Unusual, the Peddler of Smiles asks the protagonist to escort him in Luon Highway and defeat the bandits on the way. There, the party finds two chobin hoods blocking their way and summon the creature in retaliation.
Gameplay[edit]
The Mantis Ant attacks primarily with its overgrown scythes with two attacks called Axe Upswing and Axe Sideswing. They can also be rotated to send a shockwave to its opponents. It can use its Strong Acid to poison an ally. Finally, it can protect itself from incoming phyiscal attacks.
A close relative called the Hegs Ant is battled later on in the White Forest.
Rise of Mana[edit]
- Main article: Mantis Ant (Rise of Mana)
The Mantis Ant appears as a raid battle boss inside the Scion World. It was part of the (Raid Battle) Mantis Ant event held between June 12 to June 18 2014. Top ranked players could receive an SR Wind Spear.
Gameplay[edit]
The Mantis Ant was a wind-elemental boss in Rise of Mana. It could swing its enormous scythes at the player characters, impacting almost half of the arena. Another attack would consist of violently sticking its two blades into the ground. Its last move would see the giant insect lowering its upper body and unleash a green fluid at its opponent.
Echoes of Mana[edit]
- Main article: Mantis Ant (Echoes of Mana)
The creature is encountered in the main story during chapter 2 of season 1. The Harvester, accompanied by Primm and Popoi discover a time distorsion during their search for Randi. The Mantis Ant emerges from a breach an attacks the party, but is eventually defeated.
As with many other legacy bosses, the Mantis Ant can be refought inside Twillwool Tower and Gingham Riftspire. It also appears in the Seamless Synergy Memory Gem. The Mantis Bee could also be encountered during Bravers Arise IV.
Gameplay[edit]
The Mantis Ant was a Gnome-elemental boss and thus was weak to Sylphid attacks. The insect would start battle by throwing its boomerang at the player. It could also send horizontal shockwaves by planting its scythes into the ground. It could also defend by crossing its forelegs before it. It can also use Gem Missile on a single target or use Acid Breath to inflict poison.
Visions of Mana[edit]
- Main article: Mantis Ant (Visions of Mana)
The Mantis Ant is encountered on a snowy plateau in Mt. Gala. Defeating it frees Sylphid the wind spirit who bestows Careena with the Alm of the Wind title.
Gameplay[edit]
The Mantis Ant will start the battle by spewing its toxic breath around it. It can also swing its forelegs at in front of him and defend itself with them. Finally, it may jump and collide into the party members on impact. It could also shoot fireballs of its crystals on its back, sending them on the other side of the arena. After loosing about half of its health, the boss will turn red and its overall speed will be increased.
Gallery[edit]
- For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Mantis Ant.
Legend of Mana
Seiken Densetsu (mobile)
Secret of Mana (mobile)
Etymology[edit]
Mantis Ant is a portmanteau of the words Mantis and Ant, as the creature features both the front legs of praying mantis and the body of an ant.
Names[edit]
| Game | Japanese | Meaning | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Final Fantasy Adventure | マンティスアント | Mantis Ant | Mantis Ant |
| Secret of Mana | マンティスアント | Mantis Ant | Mantis Ant |
| Legend of Mana | マンティスアント | Mantis Ant | Mantis Ant |
| Rise of Mana | マンティスアント | Mantis Ant | N/A |
| Adventures of Mana | マンティスアント | Mantis Ant | Mantis Ant |
| Echoes of Mana | マンティスアント | Mantis Ant | Mantis Ant |
| Visions of Mana | マンティスアント | Mantis Ant | Mantis Ant |
