Black Panther

Black Panthers, also called Black Leopards on occasion, are large shadowy cats that reside in Dracula's castle in the Castlevania games. Black Panthers were replaced by other types of similar Carnivores in most games, but have reappeared in several games. Some Black Panthers can assume human-form and are called Were-Panthers.

These jet-black cats like to sit and wait for hapless heroes to wander by, and then dash at full speed towards them. If they should jump and land behind a hero, they will turn and dash back towards them in an attempt to come back for one more attack. Sometimes, they will stop mid-dash to turn around and charge back towards a hero.

Skeletal panthers appeared in Castlevania: Rondo of Blood and Castlevania: Dracula X. These simply charged forwards, and crumbled into a pile of bones when destroyed. Similar Wolf Skeletons have appeared in other games.

In Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Black Panthers can dissolve into a puddle of black liquid that cannot be attacked and cannot attack. They then move to another location, reform, and charge again.

Whenever Soma Cruz gets a hold of their souls, he is able to dash at impressive speeds, creating a sonic barrier around him that will instantly kill weaker enemies, and damage stronger ones.

The Black Panther makes a small cameo appearance in Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow as a soul Soma Cruz receives, but only after smashing a special candleabra containing the soul. The Black Panther itself does not make an appearance.

In Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia the Black Panther is an anthropomorphic female panther. Shanoa can obtain the "Arma Felix" Glyph from it, which allows her to transform into a Black Panther.

Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
Although the Black Panther didn't make an actual apearance in Aria of Sorrow, it's soul did. If Soma fights Graham with the Flame Demon, Giant Bat, and Succubus souls equiped throughout the entire battle, he will get to continue to the next room and find dracula's tunic and a candleabra that contains the Black Panther Soul. This soul allows Soma to run at high speeds and create a shockwave when he runs far enough without stopping