Forms

Shantae can learn multiple transformations, each of which gives her different abilities and allows her to access new areas and items. She learns them from Guardian Genies and Magic Fountains, both of which are found in the games' labyrinths (with the exception of the Elephant form in Risky's Revenge, which is in the Forest Cave). She can also buy form dances from certain merchants. She cannot transform in Shantae and the Pirate's Curse as she lacks her genie powers throughout the game.

Human

It's Shantae as her regular self. She can use magic attacks as well as her regular hair whip attack. She's also capable of crawling slowly through low spaces and, starting with Risky's Revenge, swimming on the water's surface. Her human form's greatest advantage over the other forms is combat - she has access to more moves and magic powers in this form compared to the others.

Introduced in Shantae

Monkey

The monkey is the first form Shantae learns in Shantae (Dribble Fountain), Shantae: Risky's Revenge (Squid Baron's Labyrinth) and Shantae: Half-Genie Hero (Main Street). It is a small, fast form that allows her to climb walls and perform wall jumps, and move quickly through narrow passages. When the monkey touches a wall while in mid-air, she can be made to climb it by pressing up or down, or wall jump off of it ().

The

Monkey Claw

allows the monkey to attack (). The

Monkey Bullet

allows the monkey to spring off of a wall horizontally like a bullet (holding pressing or and releasing), which functions as both an attack and a way to reach new areas. The dance sequence in Shantae is , and in Risky's Revenge it's dance pose #1.

In the WarioWare: D.I.Y. microgame Shantae NAB!, Shantae is for some reason stuck in her monkey form and can only return to her normal form by catching a gem bouncing on the ground.

Elephant

The Elephant form is the second form she receives in both Shantae (Golem Mine) and Shantae: Risky's Revenge (Tangle Forest Cave). The elephant is large, slow moving, and can barely jump, but her charge can instantly destroy certain rocks, walls, and creatures (such as Stone Golems). It is the only normal form to come with an attack.

The

Elephant Tote

/

Elephant Stomp

allows her to perform the stomp move, a downward attack while in mid-air (+). The dance sequence in Shantae is , and in Risky's Revenge it's dance pose #2.

In Half-Genie Hero it is gained for clearing Tassel Town. This form's large size allows it to withstand sand storms.

Spider

The Spider is the third form she acquires in Shantae (Cackle Mound). It allows for wall-crawling like the Monkey, but on background walls rather than walls in the foreground.

Spider Venom

allows her to attack. The dance sequence is .

In Half-Genie Hero it is an optional form found in Tassel Town, and is changed to having the ability to crawl on the ceiling after doing a double jump or jumping in mid-air. She is also able to spit spider venom like in Shantae. However, the form was originally planned to also climb up webs, fire webbing to wrap up her foes and drain health from the wrapped enemies. Here, she's now bigger and has a humanoid top half, more resembling the "Arachne" than an actual spider, though the form is still called the spider. This transformation is the only one that can duck. It is also the only returning form to go from being a required form to being an optional one.

Harpy

The Harpy is the fourth and final form found in Shantae (Twinkle Palace). She can fly through the air (tap ), allowing access to all remaining areas, but cannot crouch or crawl.

The

Harpy Talon

allows her to attack with claws (). The dance sequence is .

In Half-Genie Hero it is gained for clearing Hypno Baron's Castle. Repeatedly tapping the jump button allows Shantae to fly, and collecting the Harpy Talon allows Shantae to attack with feather projectiles. As a compensating drawback for the freedom of movement, this form has high horizontal inertia and is unable to glide, making it hard to navigate obstacles with precision.

Tinkerbat

The Tinkerbat is an optional 'secret' form in Shantae (Advanced Genies! (500 gems)) in Bandit Town, available only if the game is played on a Game Boy Advance (or through Debug Mode). She can climb on walls and background surfaces, wall jump, and charge with a battering ram (by pressing +), combining the functionality of the Monkey, Spider, and Elephant. She also has a cutlass which swings in a wide arc, attacking enemies above and below. She also has an amusing run animation that suggests insane panic. Because of her variety of abilities, the Tinkerbat is the best general-purpose form and is highly recommended as it reduces the amount of transformation during exploration. The main drawback is that despite her small size, the Tinkerbat cannot crawl through narrow spaces, requiring the player to revert back to Shantae form every so often. The dance sequence is .

In Half-Genie Hero Tinkerbat returns as exclusive DLC for backers who contributed $55 or more to the Kickstarter campaign (but was later made available to all players in the game's Ultimate Edition). This form attacks with a sword and can hover for a short time using the jump button.

Introduced in Risky's Revenge

Mermaid

The Mermaid is the third and final form she acquires in Shantae: Risky's Revenge (Hypno Tower). She can swim () in this form and submerge below the surface, allowing her to discover new areas that she can't even begin to reach from the surface in her normal form.

With the

Mermaid Bubble

she can fire bubble projectiles that can destroy rocks that block her path (). The dance pose is #3. Not surprisingly, the Mermaid form is useless on land, as Shantae can barely move and jump on her fins and hands.

In Half-Genie Hero it is found in Mermaid Falls. Certain enemies won't attack this form, and will help attack other enemies when Shantae uses Mermaid Bubble.

Introduced in Half-Genie Hero

Crab

The Crab is a new form rewarded to Shantae by the Giga Mermaid for clearing Mermaid Falls in Half-Genie Hero. In this form, Shantae gains the ability to freely move along surfaces under water and descend slowly like a parachute in open water. Shantae also gains the ability to tuck into her shell when on a surface and is invulnerable in this state. Because this form is small, it can go through gaps the Mermaid form cannot pass. Gaining the Crab Claw lets this form attack and snip certain obstacles.

It was originally planned to appear in Risky Revolution. Back then, it was supposed to be able to run and drop in the water like a parachute (much like in Half-Genie Hero), allowing Shantae to reach more underwater places. This ability was supposed to become useless further in the game, as it would be outclassed when Shantae gained the Mermaid Form.

Bat

An optional new form introduced in Half-Genie Hero also found in Mermaid Falls. This form only allows Shantae to fly horizontally, but it does not need the repeated pressing of the jump button to fly like the Harpy form, and is more stable to control. It can also fit into small gaps. Gaining the Bat Sonar lets you see in the dark within a short radius.

Mouse

A new form introduced in Half-Genie Hero that Shantae receives for clearing Cape Crustacean. This form allows Shantae to enter very small, maze-like passageways. Gaining the Mouse Bite lets this form attack.

Dryad

An optional new form introduced in Half-Genie Hero and titular form of the Dryad Dance, which is bought from Tuki for 100 gems. This form allows Shantae to produce up to three Oranges at a time in exchange for magic. This form can't move or attack, but is completely invulnerable.

Blobfish

An optional new form introduced in Half-Genie Hero, it is gained from trading the Obliterate Dance with Tuki for free. This form has Shantae continuously bounce around as a blobfish. The bouncing damages enemies but one wrong move and Shantae takes damage instead. It is not considered a water-based form for the purpose of the Waterfall Relic despite being a sea creature.

Gemjug

An optional new form introduced in Half-Genie Hero, it is gained from trading the Warp Dance with Tuki, which is bought from her for 200 gems. This form lets Shantae produce Gems in exchange for magic. Like the Dryad form, it cannot move or attack but is invulnerable.

Sophia III

An optional new form introduced in Half-Genie Hero, it is gained from trading the Super Revive Dance with Tuki for free. It is a reference to the Sophia 3rd vehicle from the Blaster Master series, and also references Shantae's cameo in Blaster Master Zero. This form moves at double speed (like the Monkey) and can fire blasts of energy either forward or upwards at a high rate.

Wayforward:: Remember when Shantae guest-starred in Blaster Master Zero? Well, today the shoe’s on the other foot (err… tire’s on the other axle?). With this new update, Shantae can dance to transform into Sophia III from Blaster Master Zero!

How to get: Once you’ve acquired the Super Revive Dance from the Snake Lady salesman (later known as Tuki) (in any of the main Shantae Modes), you can trade it back to her for the Sophia III Transformation Dance!

A very special thank you to Inticreates and Sunsoft for this adorable crossover!

More in-depth information available on BlasterMaster Zero

Introduced in Seven Sirens

Dash Newt 

Seven Sirens  introduced a new form with abilities similar to the monkey called the Dash Newt. It is used via instant transformation without the use of Shantae's dancing talents. It can scale walls and dash into enemies or objects with a single use of a button.

Gastro Drill

The Gastro Drill in  Seven Sirens  is a new form used via instant transformation without the use of Shantae's dancing talents. Upon finding a soft dirt surface, she can burrow inside and drill into another area of the level.

Bonker Tortoise

The Bonker Tortoise form in Seven Sirens gives Shantae the ability to do a spin attack and a stomp attack.

Sea Frog

In Seven Sirens, the Sea Frog can swim through the water at high or low speeds, similar to the mermaid form.

Jet Octo

Jet Octo is a brand new form in Seven Sirens. It allows Shantae to boost through the air on jets of ink vapor, effectively giving her a double and triple jump.

Fusion Dances

In addition to the Fusion Magic forms mentioned above, Shantae learns a variety of new Fusion Dance abilities during Seven Sirens.

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero concepts

Several transformations were proposed in Shantae: Half-Genie Hero's development period. Contributor-tier Kickstarter backers had the opportunity to vote on these. A few forms used as examples are in the gallery below. The bat and fiddler crab transformations were added to the game, with design changes.

Succubus

One of the proposed forms for Half-Genie Hero introduced in the Kickstarter campaign. This form would have allowed Shantae to hover through the air, command the undead, and stun foes with her stare.

Others

original HGH concept of the Bat form.

original HGH concept of the Crab form when it was a Fiddler Crab form. Back then, this form would have supposedly allowed Shantae to dig up buried items before it was changed.

Tiger form. This form would have allowed Shantae to scurry up trees.

Pill Bug form. This form would have allowed Shantae to roll up into a ball.

Frilled Lizard form. This form would have supposedly allowed Shantae to run across the water like a basilisk lizard.

Naga form. This form would have allowed Shantae to slither and sing.

References

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