Beast Within

Beast Within is a series of transformational techniques that Bayonetta can earn or purchase from the Gates of Hell. These abilities allow Bayonetta to transform herself into different animals to enhance her movement abilities as well as offensive potential. Both Umbra Witches and Lumen Sages are shown to be able to possess Beast Within as a magical power.

While Bat Within is still a major mechanic, Beast Within is largely absent from Bayonetta 3, instead replaced by Demon Masquerade for traversal. However, Jeanne still incorporates Beast Within for her stealth segments, and Bayonetta can still use Beast Within for traversal with Scarborough Fair or Love Is Blue equipped.

In-Game Description (Bayonetta)

"Unleashing the Beast Within allows you to transform into an animal form and unlock mysterious magical powers."

Forms

Panther Within

How To Obtain:

Bayonetta: Automatically obtained after completing Chapter 5.

Bayonetta 2: Automatically obtained at the start of Chapter I.

Bayonetta 3: Purchase and equip Scarborough Fair and/or Love Is Blue.

Description: Bayonetta transforms into a black panther, able to run at high speed as well as make far reaching leaps.

How To Activate:

Bayonetta: Double tapping  or while on the ground.

Bayonetta 2: Double tapping ZR while on the ground.

Bayonetta 3: Tilt and double tap .

Attack: In Panther Form, Bayonetta will swipe at an enemy with her claws when the attack button is pressed.

Jeanne's Equivalent: Lynx Within

Rosa's Equivalent: Tiger Within

Balder's Equivalent: Wolf Within

Crow Within

How To Obtain:

Bayonetta: Unlocked after Chapter 5; must be purchased for 20,000 at the Gates of Hell.

Bayonetta 2: Unlocked after Chapter 1; must be purchased for 20,000 at the Gates of Hell.

Bayonetta 3: Purchase and equip Scarborough Fair and/or Love Is Blue.

Description: Bayonetta transforms into a large crow, allowing her to fly for a short period of time,

How To Activate:

Bayonetta: Double tapping  or  in mid-air.

Bayonetta 2: Double tapping ZR in mid-air.

Bayonetta 3: Hold .

Attack: Pressing summons a group of feathers which can launch at enemies by being pressed again. Pressing summon a ring of feathers with a similar effect.

Jeanne's Equivalent: Owl Within

Rosa's Equivalent: Falcon Within

Bat Within

How To Obtain:

Bayonetta: Unlocked after Chapter 5; must be purchased for 20,000 at the Gates of Hell.

Bayonetta 2: Unlocked after Chapter 1; must be purchased for 20,000 at the Gates of Hell. 

Description: Bayonetta transforms into a swarm of bats when she dodges at the last second. This escapes the attack, pushes the enemy away and can activate Witch Time. While the ability is purely defensive, the attacking enemy will be slightly damaged.

How to activate: Dodge at the instant an attack lands.

Jeanne's Equivalent: Moth Within

Rosa's Equivalent: Hornet Within

Snake Within (Bayonetta 2 Only)

Animal: Cobra

How To Obtain: Obtained automatically in Chapter 5.

Description: Bayonetta transforms into a cobra that allows her to swim through underwater locations whenever activated. This form acts as an underwater equivalent to Panther Within.

How to activate: Double-tap ZR underwater.

Jeanne's Equivalent: Centipede Within

Rosa's Equivalent: Cobra Within

Squirrel Form

Loki has an ability similar to Beast Within in which he turns into a Flying Squirrel. While in this form, Loki can glide and move around quickly, though he mainly uses this form to ride along with Bayonetta and keep out of sight.

Gallery

Bayonetta

Panther Within model

Crow Within model

Bat Within model

Lynx Within model

Owl Within model

Moth Within model

Bayonetta 2

Gallery Models

Panther Within model

Crow Within model

Bat Within model

Snake Within model

Lynx Within model

Owl Within model

Moth Within model

Centipede Within model

Tiger Within model

Falcon Within model

Hornet Within model

Cobra Within model

Wolf Within model

Flying Squirrel model

Screenshots

Jeanne holding Loki by the mouth

The Sage speaks to Bayonetta while in Wolf form

Bayonetta using Bat Within to dodge past the Sage to Loki

Snake Bayonetta's Tiara with Love Is Blue's gemstones

Trivia

• The Umbra Witches' and Lumen Sages' forms as felines and canines respectively further symbolize their existence as counterparts as enemies, referencing cats and dogs commonly being depicted as enemies in popular culture.
  • Bayonetta, Jeanne, and Rosa taking the form of different species of cats refers to the myth that witches could transform themselves into cats in order to kill or smother people in their sleep, along with their association with witchcraft and the devil during the medieval European witch trials.
  • Balder taking the form of a wolf may also be a reference to Thiess of Kaltenbrun, a Livonian man who claimed to be a werewolf that acted as a "hound of God" to venture into Hell and fight the Devil and his witches. In spite of his claims of serving God, he was accused of attempting to turn others away from Christianity and was punished by flogging and being exiled from his home for life.
• In a brief scene in Bayonetta 2, Bayonetta and Balder talk to one another as they are in their panther and wolf forms. This suggests that a Witch or Sage can still speak even if they are in animal form.
• Bayonetta's serpentine form is referred to as the "Snake Within" while Rosa's is referred to as the "Cobra Within", even though Bayonetta's serpentine form resembles a cobra and Rosa's resembles a normal snake.
• Director of Bayonetta 3, Yusuke Miyata, explained that the decision to remove Beast Within was made to show an improvement and evolution of Bayonetta's powers since the events of the first two games.

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