Colossus XI

Talk Page

Colossus XI
Thy next foe is... An alter overlooks the lake... A guardian set loose... It keeps the flames alive.
Profile
Height	12 Feet (3.7 Meters)
Length	18 Feet (5.5 Meters)
Location	Flame Chasm
Gameplay
Sigils	Normal/ Hard Mode: 1 Major

Celosia is the eleventh colossus, found in a small but deep canyon underneath the north end of the gigantic bridge at quadrant F1. It and Cenobia are both known for their relatively small size.

Path to the Colossus

See also: Map for this path

Video - The path to Celosia

thumb|300px|left

The canyon where Celosia dwells is at the north end of the enormous bridge. Head north from the Shrine and follow the bridge north until you reach the canyon. The only way to get to the bottom of the canyon (aside from using the Cloth of Desperation in Hard) is a winding slope on the canyon's eastern rim. Once you're at the bottom, head west across (or around) the shallow lake. The temple to the west is your destination; you can enter through a side passage to the right. Once you turn left and enter the temple, climb up some ledges to your right and jump across the gap to begin the battle. If you can, try and jump as close as you can towards either of the walls - you'll find out why very shortly.

Walkthrough

Celosia - Video walkthrough

thumb|300px|left

After ten battles against enormous (and mostly slow) colossi, you now face a colossus with the size and speed of a modern tank. Celosia will charge you right away, so run for cover. There are four braziers set into the wall, with gaps just big enough to dive into. Climb to the top of the brazier and Celosia will ready a heavy charging attack to try and knock you down to where you're vulnerable. This attack, however, will dislodge a burning torch from the fires. Pick it up right away (with R1) as Celosia is extremely aggressive and will attack without hesitation.

Here, Celosia displays a fortunate weakness - it is afraid of fire, and will back away fearfully from the burning torch if Wander carries it towards the colossus. Your goal is to force it off the eastern ledge and into the canyon below. However, it's not as simple as that. To do this correctly, you have to be walking slowly towards the colossus - if you go too fast and get too close, Celosia will attack with a quick swipe of its claws. Additionally, you have a limited amount of time before the torch burns out entirely, and the colossus will immediately charge you again, forcing you to repeat the process of knocking another torch down. A good strategy is to walk slowly toward it, but swipe at it with the burning board a few times before you get too close. You can even strike it on the face with the board.

When you've forced Celosia off the ledge, a cutscene will play - the colossus will fall off the ledge a long way to the canyon floor, shattering its armor on impact. This exposes a patch of fur on its back, and its weakspot. Jump down after it and don't worry about whatever fall damage you might take. If you grab its fur, the colossus will get back on its feet again and run around the canyon wildly, trying to buck you off and making a fully-charged stab all but impossible. Eventually it will run into the temple and leap back up to the original room. Thankfully, you don't have to repeat the earlier process of dislodging a torch and scaring the colossus off the ledge; jump on its back from atop a brazier after it charges.

Time Attack time (both difficulties): 5:30

Weakspots

Location	Percentage of health
	Normal	Hard
On its back	100%

Explanation of the Riddle

Dormin's Riddle: "Thy next foe is... An altar overlooks the lake... A guardian set loose... it keeps the flames alive."

The first part of the riddle refers to Celosia's location. While there is only a small pond there, it can be assumed this was once larger, very likely due to the evidence of erosion in the steep valley. The second part may refer to Celosia being the guardian of the temple, and claiming it has been "set loose" could easily allude to Celosia's incredulous aggression. The last line is meant to make the player ponder over the "bowls" of flame and hint to their use against Celosia.

Origin of given and Latin name

Celosia

• Derived from the Latin word celox, meaning "swift".
• Also from the plant Celosia, derived from the Greek word kelos, meaning 'burned.'

Ignis Excubitor

• Ignis is Latin for fire. Words like ignite and ignition are obvious descendants.
• Excubitor is Latin for guardian or other type of sentinel.
• Ignis Excubitor therefore means "Flame Guardian", alluding to Dormin's earlier hint ("It keeps the flames alive") about the colossus.

Music

• Once Celosia lands on the temple floor and the fight begins, Liberated Guardian starts.
• Whilst holding onto Celosia, A Despair-filled Farewell plays.

Trivia

• Both Celosia and Cenobia are described by Dormin as "a guardian set loose". The song "Liberated guardian" plays during both of these battles, as well as during the fight against Kuromori.
• In the Shadow of the Colossus official artbook and guidebook, Celosia is stated to be a Lion.
• Celosia is the only colossus which the player has to fight with a weapon other than the sword and the bow : the burning torch.
• Celosia is one of only three colossi that are shown to be able to jump, the other two being Cenobia and Dirge. Along with Cenobia, it is also one of only two colossi that are ever seen running.
• Out of all the colossi, Celosia is the only one that shows any sign of fear, as it will back away from the lit torch. This is ironic given that Dormin said "It keeps the flames alive".
• Celosia is about 12 ft/3.7m tall and 18 ft/5.5m long, making it roughly the same size as an adult African elephant.
• Some fans dislike Celosia (and Cenobia) because, after fighting much larger colossi previously, the fight against Celosia seemed less epic, not to mention the fact that it shows fear. A number of players have also complained that if Celosia knocks you down, it is extremely difficult to get back up before Celosia charges and knocks Wander down again, meaning that getting knocked down once can very easily result in Wander being repeatedly knocked down until dead.
• Celosia makes a lot of very deep snorting and bellowing sounds, vaguely similar to the sounds a lion makes.
• Celosia and Cenobia are very similar in most ways. They are the smallest colossi, the most aggressive, fully armoured and cannot be damaged until the armour is broken, both make lion-like sounds, and, obviously, their names are similar. However, Celosia is slightly more aggressive than Cenobia: if Wander is on top of a pillar, Cenobia will only attack once, then circle around or even walk away from the pillar, until provoked, whereas Celosia will attack Wander regardless. Also, Celosia shows fear of fire, but it is unknown if Cenobia fears fire as well.
• Celosia shares something in common with Argus in their descriptions by Dormin; Celosia is referred to as "A guardian set loose...It keeps the flames alive...", while Argus is described as "It acts as a sentry to a destroyed city...". Dormin clarifies in these descriptions specific roles for both Celosia and Argus; namely that they are protectors of their respective environments. The same can also be said of Cenobia, although it is only ever referred to as "A guardian set loose..." like Celosia is; its role is never defined to the same extent as Celosia's or Argus'.
• Celosia is one of the most northerly of the colossi, with its lair being roughly as far north as both Hydrus' and Argus'.
• While most players think that after Celosia falls off the cliff, it will get back up in seconds, it will really stay down for a long time. Wander could walk up behind it and jump onto its back.
• On the other hand, if the player decides not to attack Celosia immediately after it falls, It will get up and slowly walk back up the hill into the room across from the one in which the battle started.  It will jump back to the original battle arena once it reaches this room. Even if the player initially pursues Celosia after it falls, but can get away and hide long enough, Celosia will stop charging and begin walking to the room. It is even possible for Wander to follow it and (possibly) jump onto its back from behind.

Gallery

Wander facing Celosia.

Celosia 4.jpg

Image of Celosia taken from the official artbook.

Another shot of Wander facing Celosia.

Celosia falling off the ledge.

Concept art of the battle.

Development sketch of Celosia taken from the official artbook.

Celosia fearing the fire.

Wander stabbing Celosia's only sigil.

Celosia size chart

Video