Bear is one of the 31 Playable Characters in the game Castle Crashers. Their magical attacks are Non-Elemental and their starting weapon is the Club.
Bear's specialties are advanced combo locking and ultimate juggling.
Information
Background
Bear is first seen riding on the back of Catfish, the Bear uses a telescope to detect the player(s) to let the submerged Catfish's fist punch them. When defeated, the Bear riding the Catfish sinks with it and dies. It is then seen as the primary enemy in Tall Grass Field. They seem to be the native tribal people of this land. It is seen primarily using wind balls and tornadoes to attack the player. Beating the Bear Boss in this level allows Rammy to be collected. Two Beefy Bears start "windmilling" towards the player(s), this attack can quickly kill anyone that is close to it on both Normal Mode and Insane Mode. After awhile the Bears (1 normal, 1 Beefy) come back as resurrected enemies for the Necromancer in the Necromancer's Room in the level Wizard Castle Interior. Finally, they can be seen at the end of the game, when your character is riding on the crystal, mourning the death of the Catfish, with one of Bears flopping over on the ground.
Involvement
Bears worship the Catfish. They are seen, as mentioned before, mourning the death of the Catfish, when their deity is killed.
Description
A bloodied, white bear with a mark on its forehead, a red tail, and ostensibly appears to not have anything on besides limb armor.
Magic
Splash Attack
"Tornado"Element: Non-Elemental
Max Hits: Based on max mana amount and how long the button is held for (approx. 12-15 seconds)
Damage/Hit: Base Melee Damage
Use 
/ 
to perform. This unique spell isn't really a Splash Attack at all. It would be more accurate to call it an advanced melee attack that drains mana. First, the button must be held down for the effect to continue, it will cost normal mana to start and then continue to drain mana slowly and steadily as long as you are holding the button. Second, it doesn't actually damage enemies in front of you, it turns you into a wind tornado that can be freely steered around, and you must touch enemies to hurt them. Not only that, but it is the only Splash Attack that can be blocked.
This spell initially deals damage using your Magic, then continues dealing damage which depends on your Strength. It will continue to apply hits as long as it is overlapping an enemy. When it connects, it pops enemies up into the air, so it can be used to knock an enemy up and then juggle them repeatedly for as long as you can keep yourself overlapping them. It doesn't move very fast though, so it is best to trap an enemy against a wall if you want to keep hitting them with it.
Despite what some may believe, you are not invincible while in Tornado form.
There's an odd bug with it too: when the Tornado finishes, you cannot use any attack buttons until you come to a complete stop. If you keep running around right after the Tornado ends, you will be locked out of doing any attacks until you stop completely or jump and then land.
Magic Projectile
"Wind Ball"Element: Non-Elemental
Damage: Base Magic Damage
Use 
/ 
to perform. This attack fires a ball of wind.
Air Projectile
"Tornado"Element: Non-Elemental
Max Hits: Based on max mana amount and how long the button is held for (approx. 12-15 seconds)
Damage/Hit: Base Melee Damage
Use 
, / 
, to perform. This unique spell isn't really an Air Projectile at all. It would be more accurate to call it an advanced melee attack that drains mana. First, the button must be held down for the effect to continue, it will cost normal spell mana to start and then continue to drain mana slowly and steadily as long as you are holding the button. Second, it doesn't actually damage enemies in front of you, it turns you into a wind tornado that can be freely steered around, and you must touch enemies to hurt them. Not only that, but it is the only Splash Attack that can be blocked.
This spell initially deals damage using your Magic, then continues dealing damage which depends on your Strength. It will continue to apply hits as long as it is overlapping an enemy. When it connects, it pops enemies up into the air, so it can be used to knock an enemy up and then juggle them repeatedly for as long as you can keep yourself overlapping them. It doesn't move very fast though, so it is best to trap an enemy against a wall if you want to keep hitting them with it.
Despite what some may believe, you are not invincible while in Tornado form.
There's an odd bug with it too: when the Tornado finishes, you cannot use any attack buttons until you come to a complete stop. If you keep running around right after the Tornado ends, you will be locked out of doing any attacks until you stop completely or jump and then land. This bug does not occur if you start the Tornado in mid-air and then land during it.
Weapons' special effects do apply, such as Critical Strike.
An advanced use of Juggling, named Spellweaving, can use this Air Projectile for flashy techniques.
Elemental Infusion
"Armor Pierce"Element: Non-Elemental
Damage: Base Magic Damage^2 + Base Melee Damage^2
Use 
/ 
to perform. This attack pierces armor, and it deals two times normal damage. That means it deals as much damage to a Barbarian or Thief on Normal Mode as it does to a Stove Face or Brute on Insane Mode.
Magic Jump
"Wind Jump"Element: Non-Elemental
Damage: Base Magic Damage
Use / to perform. Leaps up with a windy effect that damages overlapped enemies.
Strategy
Overview
Bear has a purposeful niche that has a high learning curve, very high execution requirements, and is extremely difficult to master. He has a decent time in Insane Mode.
Castle Crashers
Bear is to be attributed to Strength or Magic early on. It is best to use a Strength heavy weapon or a Magic heavy weapon that does not reduce Strength. Animal Orb selection makes a bit of difference. The top 5 Animal Orbs in Snoot, Burly Bear, Hawkster, Piggy, and BiPolar Bear will suffice.
When using the / combo on enemies like the Stove Face, you can alternatively use this input: / .
Late game, Bear is a good Castle Crashers character with a downside that can be worked around.
The best starting weapon character along with Iceskimo.
Tornado Techniques
- Turtlenado:
/ . - Tornado Sliding: Get as close to touching the ground and perform this input, while moving: / .
Arena
Bear is an underrated character in Arena. Bear's Tornado Splash Attack and Air Projectile are good punish tools and catch tools.
Blue Knight
Once Blue Knight has you in a reset, you're done. Be sure to move around a lot to counter act his tools. Difficult match-up.
Iceskimo
Difficult match-up.
Saracen
Restrict Saracen's options, to several 50/50s. but counter with a Shield bash. Watch out for his Magic Projectile because it is unblockable.
Brute/Snakey
Splash Attack comes out quickly. Difficult match-up.
Fire Demon
Splash Attack comes out quickly. Difficult match-up.
Skeleton/Cult Minion
Splash Attack comes out quickly.
Fencer/Industrialist
Splash Attack comes out quickly.
Ninja
Splash Attack comes out quickly.
Pink Knight
Splash Attack has long range and comes out quickly. Air Projectile and Magic Projectile can Critical Strike and can be converted to a reset.
Necromancer
Restrict Necromancer's options to a 50/50. Watch out for his Magic Projectile and Air Projectile because they are the fastest in the game.
Orange Knight
Splash Attack has long range.
Conehead/Royal Guard
Magic Projectile and Air Projectile have the ability to reset, so watch out for them.
Gray Knight
Magic Projectile and Air Projectile have the ability to reset, so watch out for them.
Alien
Punish on whiff.
Blacksmith
His Air Projectile is the same as his Splash Attack, which could lead to a confirm.
Green Knight
Punish on whiff.
Barbarian
Punish on whiff.
Thief/Stove Face/Peasant/Civilian/Open-Faced Gray Knight
Punish on whiff.
Red Knight
Punish on whiff.
Hatty Hattington
Punish on whiff.
King
Doesn't have an offensive Splash Attack, punish on whiff.
Killer Beekeeper
Punish on whiff.Unlock Path
| Start Character | Unlocks | Unlocks |
|---|---|---|
| Red Knight | Skeleton | Bear |
Gallery
Trivia
- It ostensibly appears to be that Catfish is the Bear tribe's pet or god.
- In the end credits, the Bears can be seen mourning over the grave of Catfish with one Bear rolling in front of the grave.
- When you kill Catfish, you can see the Bear who was riding said Catfish floating, face down, in the water.
- Though much of the Bears' society seems to center around the acquisition and accumulation of fish, they are never seen consuming any. If The Catfish is indeed worshipped by them, they could have rules limiting or even forbidding the consumption of fish.
- Seeing as how the Bears are commonly depicted with blood stains on their fur, it is likely the pawprint marks on their foreheads are drawn in blood.
- Bear, Saracen, and Hatty Hattington are the only characters in the game to have a dynamic Air Projectile.
- Bear and Saracen are the only characters that use "Tornado"-type Splash Attacks and Air Projectiles.
- The Bear seems to be the only character besides Red Knight whose Magic Element is associated with storms.
- When the Bear has been poisoned, his tornado turns green until the effect wears off. When the Bear is set on fire, the tornado turns reddish-brown until the effect wears off.
- On the Tall Grass Field level, a Thief can be seen wearing the Bear banner. This could suggest that the Thieves have joined forces with the Bears, or made a deal with them.
- Every hit from Bear's "Tornado" Splash Attack and Air Projectile can only hurt the Evil Wizard in its red shield.
- Bear's "Tornado" Splash Attack and Air Projectile, along with the Saracen's "Sandstorm" Splash Attack and Air Projectile, can be blocked.
- Since Bear's starting weapon is the Club, he, at Level 1, can switch to a different weapon and switch back to the Club.
- Bear's initial weapon is best for tank melee purposes. This is also helpful in NG+ Speedruns of Castle Crashers.
- Defeating the Catfish as Bear will unlock the Traitor achievement.
- The Tornado Splash Attack and Air Projectile has more hits on average than the Sandstorm Splash Attack and Air Projectile.
