Cave Mantis
Cave Mantis is the second boss encounter in Fort Adams, tucked into a cave with a small opening near Albrech the Terrible. The community description hints at lore: it's the only Hollow of its kind still in the area - 'has it eaten all the others?' - and the fight matches that predator role with a cero and a grab in its kit.
The moveset breaks down cleanly. Double Swipe is the basic parryable/blockable/dodgeable m1 with minor posture damage and minor damage. Roar is a large AOE with mediocre posture damage but still parryable. Cero is the payoff move - a quickly charged high-damaging beam with high posture damage that stays parryable. Grab is a yellow-kanji unparryable with low damage but heavy follow-up: if it catches you, expect two swings immediately after, and it refreshes its cooldown on connect.
The drop line is a Mantis Thorax (a Hollow Parts material) plus one Fort Adams chest per kill. As a tip, the community notes to always dodge the Grab - eating it hands the boss a cooldown reset and a free damage window.
Details
Attacks in detail
Tips
Anticipate the Grab and dodge it. Eating the grab lets Cave Mantis reset its cooldown on that move, meaning it can throw another grab almost immediately.
If caught by the Grab, expect two swings to come instantly after - be ready to dodge or parry those follow-ups.
Cero is the biggest single hit - either parry it or make room to dodge; blocking soaks a lot of posture damage.
FAQ
Where is Cave Mantis in VV: Ultimatum?
In Fort Adams - look for a cave with a small opening near Albrech the Terrible.
What does Cave Mantis drop?
Its direct drop is a Mantis Thorax (a Hollow Parts material). Beating it also awards 1 Fort Adams chest.
Can I parry Cave Mantis's Grab?
No - Grab is a yellow-kanji attack, which cannot be parried. Dodge it; eating the grab hands the mantis a cooldown reset and two follow-up swings.
Other bosses
Source-checked
Compiled from community documentation; in-game verification pending. updated · GuideDex staff. Report a correction.