User blog comment:Lord Loss/Monster Appreciation Week: Baleful Gigginox/@comment-5020152-20130527174340

Baleful Gigginox looks awesome. I'm disappointed that it didn't get the name "Vermillion Gigginox" like I hoped, but "Baleful" is at least creative. I actually like it a little more than the original Gigginox.

I also really like how it seems to be a throwback to the older generations, where Khezu had the niche of a cave-dwelling, ceiling-climbing, electricity-using leech-like monster. So while Gigginox is already similar to Khezu, the subspecies seems to be a direct Khezu reference. It even shares the same Scatter Thunder Ball attack.

For the record, it would have been great if the G-Rank Baleful Gigginox's Ceiling Spit attack would each split into three just like its regular thunder attacks.

And there's one thing I don't really like about it, which is its official description. A random mutation? Please, such a thing would mean that these things would not be able to be hunted regularly. If it was a legit mutation, it should have appeared in maybe a DLC Quest as an Unstable Environment monster at best. Here's my own theory about the true nature of the Baleful Gigginox, posted on the Theory Blog a while ago.

"I've got another theory, this time concerning the Electric Gigginox. Is it REALLY a mutation like some of you people say?

''Think about this. If it was a mutation, it would have to be pretty darn severe in order to completely change the E.G's abilities (poison into electricity). The more severe it is, the more likely it would have some side effect (e.g. extra limbs or some other birth defect). And it would be ultra-rare for this kind of mutation to occur in nature. That means that E.Gs wouldn't be available to hunt regularly. I think it's a LOT more realistic to consider the E.G a fully-fledged subspecies of Gigginox.''

My idea is that the first E.G started as a mutation, and as it bred, the new subspecies was created after hundreds of years.

''That leads me to form a theory about Gigginox breeding habits. I know that they're hermaphrodites, and I also know that they can spawn endlessly without having the need to find a mate. But is this really the case?''

''I think that Gigginox, despite being able to churn out hundreds of Giggi every day, occasionally seeks a "mate" in order to add some genetic variety to its future young. After all, without sexual reproduction, the Gigginox is basically cloning itself by using the same old genes over and over again (its own). If Gigginox, at least once or twice a year, mated with another Gigginox, there would be much more variety in the genetic structure of its larvae.''

''And if the E.G is a subspecies like I believe, not a simple mutation, it would also do the same thing. However, just because we never see them lay eggs, doesn't mean that they don't. My theory is that, at certain times of the year, an E.G will retreat to a secluded spot to lay a couple of eggs. This is a completely different breeding tactic than the other Gigginox, reinforcing the idea that it is a completely different species.''

''Ordinary Gigginox reproduction strategies are to breed as much as possible, ensuring that at least a few of their thousands of small, helpless (and undoubtedly tasty) young grow to adulthood. The E.G, however, lays only a couple of eggs a year, in very good hiding spots, to reduce the risk of a predator feasting on them. This also explains why Electric Giggi are never seen by humans.''"

Anyway, this thing's weapons look pretty cool. I'm a big fan of the Dual Swords in particular - "Boltgeist" and "Double Deathbolts" have to be the most awesome weapon names in the entire game.

A thumbs-up to Baleful Gigginox, and another one for being a clear reference to one of my old favorites.