Bashmaster

Bashmaster, referred to as Bashmaster, the Unbreakable, is the fifth and penultimate boss in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. He is the boss of Juicy Jungle, and his boss level is Punch Bowl. Bashmaster is first seen on a large ice floe floating in a pool of juice, lying down carefree and licking a popsicle. However, as the Kongs suddenly arrive and crash onto the floe, this causes Bashmaster to accidentally drop the popsicle into the pool where it is eaten by Punch Piranhas. As the Kongs realize their mistake, the infuriated Bashmaster challenges them.

Physical appearance
Bashmaster is a large polar bear. He wears a belt, with the jewel that has the Snowmad insignia in the middle. He also has two wristbands on each arm, around each of his biceps and wrists. Unlike other polar bears, Bashmaster walks on his two hind legs. His head is small in proportion to the rest of his body, and the lower part of his torso is larger than the upper half.

Bashmaster uses a large, wooden mallet for his weapon. The handle of the mallet is long and thin, and the head has a flat end and a more rounded one. The round end is spiked and the flat end is metallic.

Strategy
Bashmaster mainly attacks with his hammer. His most basic attack is a powerful hammer swing when the Kongs draw near. The force of the blow leaves the hammer stuck in the ice, giving the Kongs a chance to use it as a platform from which to jump on Bashmaster's head. The boss can also leap to drop on the Kongs. The Kongs can be sent sliding into the juice pool around the arena if they are on the ground; the pool is infested with Punch Piranhas, which hunt the Kongs. Another attack summons ice blocks that Bashmaster pushes toward the Kongs. The blocks can be shattered with Ground Pounds or Hand Slaps, and some of them contain items such as Bananas, Banana Coins, Watermelon Fuse Bombs, and Hearts. Throwing a Watermelon Fuse Bomb at Bashmaster damages him.

After taking three hits, Bashmaster's fur color changes into a light purple (due to being drenched from falling into the juice), beginning the second phase of the fight. During the second phase, Bashmaster implements a new attack by dropping a certain number of ice blocks to form several pillars on the ice floe. Bashmaster subsequently charges toward the Kongs, breaking through the ice blocks - the Kongs must jump atop a pillar to avoid the charge. During his charge, Bashmaster may sit down and spin, which makes him dizzy and vulnerable to a stomp on the head. On a side note, the jump attacks that Bashmaster performed in the first phase will now create ice waves, which can damage the Kongs if they do not jump over them.

After taking three more hits, Bashmaster's fur becomes an even darker purple, and the fight transitions to its third phase. Bashmaster reverts back to the attacks he used in the first phase, but the ice blocks that he pushes appear in larger stacks, often forcing the Kongs to have to use the smaller stacks to jump over the larger ones - particularly the last stack, which is always a four-block pillar. Additionally, the larger ice stacks make it more difficult for the Kongs to throw a Watermelon Fuse Bomb at Bashmaster. Bashmaster also implements a brand new attack for the third phase, where he summons a single ice block, and hits it with his mallet, creating a spiky projectile that must be jumped over. Bashmaster performs this attack up to five times in a row, but for at least one of the ice blocks, Bashmaster will fake a powerful swing, and then strike the ice block with less force to create a slow-moving projectile, which is usually followed by a faster one. Lastly, Bashmaster's hammer attacks now create ice waves, similar to his jumps in the second phase. If the player hits him with another three stomps or bombs, Bashmaster is defeated.

Trivia

 * Bashmaster has some similarities with Kudgel from Donkey Kong Country 2. Both wield some form of weapon, have a pattern that shakes the ground, and take damage by explosives.

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