Transformations Guide (Locations, Uses)

This guide will provide information on all of the available transformations/dances in the game, along with their locations and uses.

Basic Info

When you press the dance button, there are three "sets" of transformations that will show up. This guide puts each of the sets in their own section.

Fully Formed Achievement

Obtain all magic forms!



Since I'm covering transformations I might as well talk about this achievement. This achievement requires you to obtain the main 8 transformations (the ones in sets 1 and 2). You might have to obtain the dryad, gemjug, and blobfish dances though I don't think you have to. Either way, every transformation is detailed in this guide.

Now onto the actual guide!

Transformations [Set 1]

These four transformations are the first to appear when Shantae first starts dancing.

Monkey Dance

Monkey Dance: "Scale walls and jump higher as a monkey!"

Allows you to move faster, jump higher, climb on walls, and move freely through small areas you'd normally have to crawl through.

Monkey Bullet Upgrade: "While clinging to a wall in monkey form, press away from the wall and attack!"

Allows you to shoot yourself and cling to an opposing wall. Can also be used to hurt enemies.

Locations:

• Monkey Dance: Obtained by clearing the Main Street level.
  
• Monkey Bullet: In the second area of Main Street, climb on top of one of the roofs to find a genie realm which contains the upgrade.

Elephant Dance

Elephant Dance: "Bash into obstacles as a powerful elephant!"

Allows you to break cracked blocks or push big objects. Also allows you to walk through heavy winds.

Elephant Stomp Upgrade: "As an elephant press down while airborne to smash!"

Allows you to break cracked blocks that are below you.

Locations:

• Elephant Dance: Obtained by clearing the Tassle Town level.
  
• Elephant Stomp: Go back to Tassle Town once you first clear it, and talk to the guy standing at the bottom of the tower (second area).

Crab Dance

Crab Dance: "Delve into the depths and hide in your shell as a crab!"

Allows you to move/float underwater. Can't move around freely like the mermaid form, but you can go through small areas.

Crab Claw Upgrade: "Perform rapid attacks and snip objects while in crab form!"

Allows you to snip through seaweed underwater.

Waterfall Relic: "While assuming a water-based form, press up while standing in a waterfall!"

Allows you to climb waterfalls.

Locations:

• Crab Dance: Obtained by clearing the Mermaid Falls level.
  
• Crab Claw: In the factory area of Mermaid Falls to the very right of the ground floor are some blocks, including one that can only be broken using the elephant dance. Break them and go to the right. Talk to the grandma blobfish by using the Monkey bullet on the above wall, and you'll get the upgrade.
  
• Waterfall Relic: Fly up to the very top left of the second part of Main Street.

Bat Dance

Bat Dance: "Hover horizontally as a flapping bat!"

Fly through a straight path by holding left or right. Can be used to go through small areas.

Bat Sonar Upgrade: "Use it to illuminate dark areas while in the form of a bat!"

Lights up the darkness. Used for one room in Caped Crustacean.

Locations:

• Bat Dance: First part of the factory section of Mermaid Falls, at the top left of the area. Use the monkey dance + monkey bullet to climb to the top to find a genie realm which will give you the bat dance.
  
• Bat Sonar: While inside Hypno Baron's mansion, use the Harpy power to fly to the top of the first area to find an opening in the ceiling. Head to the left of the roof to find a genie realm which will have the bat sonar.

Transformations [Set 2]

These four dances are in the second set of transformations shown when Shantae dances.

Mermaid Dance

Mermaid Dance: "Swim anywhere as a mythological mermaid!"

Allows you to swim underwater freely.

Mermaid Bubble Upgrade: "Attack or destroy underwater barriers as a mermaid!"

Allows you to break cracked blocks underwater and attack enemies.

Waterfall Relic: "While assuming a water-based form, press up while standing in a waterfall!"

Allows you to climb waterfalls.

Locations:

• Mermaid Dance: Outside section of Mermaid Falls, second screen. Head all the way to the right, go up the moving platforms, and go right again to find a genie realm. Go in it and use the elephant dance to push a block to the ground. Go through the second genie realm to find a chest that will have the mermaid dance.
  
• Mermaid Bubble: While progressing through the story, grandma Blobfish will eventually be in Scuttle Town. She'll give you the mermaid bubble if you give her the 'foxy grandma hat', which is obtained by giving the azure knight in the item shop the 'vorpal blade' item. You can get the vorpal blade by talking to a guy accessible by using the mermaid power in the third area of water in the first part of the Main Street level.
  
• Waterfall Relic: (See crab dance section).

Spider Dance

Spider Dance: "Double jump to grapple to ceilings as a mythological spider!"

Allows you to climb and move on ceilings.

Spider Venom Upgrade: "Blast you foes with acid while in spider form!"

Gives your spider form a small attack.

Locations:

• Spider Dance: Play through the first area of Tussle Town until you come across a genie realm entrance. Enter it and get through the blowing wind by using your elephant form. You'll then find a chest with the spider dance.
  
• Spider Venom: Near the end of Cape Crustacean inside the last ship is a squared area with spikes at the bottom right and a soldier on a platform. There is an opening in the left wall so enter it and go through the genie realm. To get across the dark room, you'll need to use the bat form's sonar upgrade to see through the darkness. By heading right in the room, you'll eventually come across a chest with the spider venom.

Mouse Dance

Mouse Dance: "Explore impossibly small spaces as a mouse!"

Allows you to travel through tiny areas.

Mouse Bite Upgrade: "Nibble at your foes while in mouse form!"

Gives you a weak bite move. Pretty useless though needed for an achievement.

Locations:

• Mouse Dance: Obtained by clearing the Cape Crustacean level.
  
• Mouse Bite: While climbing the tower in Tussle Town, you will eventually see a genie realm behind a wall to the right. Use the mouse dance on to go through the ground and appear on the other side, then enter the genie realm to get the mouse bite.

Harpy Dance

Harpy Dance: Take to the skies as a mythological harpy!

Allows you to fly freely by tapping the jump button.

Harpy Talon Upgrade: In harpy form, use this to attack opponents!

Gives the harpy form an attack that goes straight in your direction.

Locations:

• Harpy Dance: Obtained by clearing the Hypno Baron's Castle level.
  
• Harpy Talon: Use the waterfall relic on the first waterfall you come across in Mermaid Falls. You'll be taken to a genie realm which will have the talon.

Transformations [Set 3]

The remaining dances are obtained by buying them off of Tuki the snake merchant. She appears throughout numerous levels in a pink pot and will sell you dances for gems. The locations of her shops:

• Mermaid Falls Part 2: Near the end before the slide section, can't be missed.
  
• Tassle Town Part 3: Under a platform towards the end of the level, use the harpy or monkey bullet to reach her.
  
• Hypno Baron's Castle Part 2: Near the end of the level shortly before hopping on one of the moving platforms.

Although these dances aren't required for beating the main game, they are still needed for 100% completion.
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Dryad Dance

Dryad Dance: "Turn into a dryad to harvest fruit!

Allows you to make edible oranges by spending magic.

Price: 100 gems.

Blobfish Dance

Blobfish Dance: "Bounce around as a happy blobfish!"

Can damage enemies but is pretty much a joke transformation.

Price: Purchase the obliterate dance for 300 gems, then trade it back to Tuki for the blobfish dance.

Gemjug Dance

Gemjug Dance: "Transform into a jug of gems and make bank!"

Press buttons in this form to create gems at the cost of magic. By going to the bath house in Scuttle Town, you can use the gemjug to farm gems.

Price: Purchase the warp dance for 200 gems, then trade it back to Tuki for the gemjug dance.

Other Dances

The remaining dances are also obtained through Tuki's shop, though don't transform you:

• Warp Dance: Lets you warp to areas in a completed level (200 gems).
  
• Obliterate: Damages all enemies on-screen by using magic (300 gems).
  
• Revive Dance: Uses magic to restore some health (250 gems).
  
• Super Revive Dance: Uses a lot of magic to restore all of your health (500 gems + must own revive dance).

Credits

Hopefully this guide helps in obtaining all of the transformations. Special thanks Shantae.wikia for providing the transformation pictures, as well as WayForward for making yet another amazing game. If you feel like this guide could be improved, please say so in the comments.

I love making Steam guides to help the community. If you want to keep track of my guides, click here and select the follow option to the right!

[BC]

Seems that link seems to just show the Half-Genie Hero guides (in which case I only have one). Here's my full list of guides:

https://steamcommunity.com/id/CantGetRidofMyCustomURL/myworkshopfiles/?section=guides

(Haven't made that many in recent years though I might try doing some again).

[Mutant Overlord]

@BC oh my bad then because I did click here and it show only one guide https://steamcommunity.com/id/CantGetRidofMyCustomURL/myworkshopfiles/?section=guides&appid=253840

[BC]

@Mutant Overlord
I have 39 guides in total. Idk where you got just one from.

[Mutant Overlord]

>"I love making Steam guides to help the community."
>Ends up making only one guide total
<sad noises>

[Gremlin]

This guide helped a lot!!! Thanks

[BC]

@McGurtis Thank you! Your guide is good was well!

[Bobo]

Nice work, so much neater than my guide!