Summary
- Hollow Knight boasts some of the hard bosses, pushing players to their limits.
- Certain bosses like Uumuu and Traitor Lord require specific strategies to defeat them effectively.
- The DLC bosses, like Absolute Radiance, take the difficulty of the game to a whole new level for completionist players.
Hollow Knight is one of the best Metroidvania games in a very long time. It took a lot of inspiration from the Souls series while managing to carve its own path in the world of video games. As you venture around Hallownest, you'll encounter many bosses, and very few of them are not punishingly hard.
RelatedThe Best Songs In Hollow Knight, Ranked
Hollow Knight's music is just as gorgeous as everything else about it.
Posts By Abigail LonngiHowever, even as the game teaches you to hone your skills and 'get good' you’ll find that a lot of the bosses will push you for everything that you are worth. Hollow Knight’s hardest bosses will put you to the ultimate test.
Updated November 28, 2024 by Tallis Spalding: As fans wait for Silksong, they return to their roots with Hollow Knight. Some people get better at fighting some of the hardest bosses in the game and others still struggle. Whatever the case, as new strategies are developed, it’s worth periodically revising what the hardest bosses in Hollow Knight are and ranking those bosses. Unlike many other games, the DLC is readily included with the base game of Hollow Knight, free as can be, so it’s worth looking at both the DLC and the base game bosses.
17 Brooding Mawlek
Brooding Mawlek via Hollow Knight WikiLocation
Left side of the Forgotten Crossroads
Charms
Longnail and Mark of Pride
Tips
If you keep your distance, the Mawlek will not use its slash attack. During the Vomit attack, the Brooding Mawlek is at its most vulnerable. Make use of quick dashes and movements to avoid being hit.
Although this boss can swipe at you when you get close, it's not fast enough to stop you from getting in a few quick hits before running away. However, the problem with this strategy is that it is also able to shoot projectiles, meaning that you're never really safe.
It's not the hardest routine to get the hang of, but we feel that as a mini-boss it can get pretty difficult. At the end of it, the main character is rewarded for their bravery with a Mask Shard, making the Brooding Mawlek worth taking on.
16 Uumuu
Uumuu and Quirrel via Hollow Knight WikiLocation
The Teacher's Archives
Charms
Quick Focus Charm, Soul Catcher, Soul Eater, Kingson, and Grubsong
Tips
Don't stand still when the lightning is chasing you. Keep a close eye on Uuumuu's patterns for the vulnerable seconds. Don't let Uumuu get too high on the map.
This infected jellyfish fight is necessary to uncovering the mysteries and lies of the Pale King's rule. Luckily, you should have the ever-loyal Quirrel to break its defenses, allowing you to strike its core. The boss itself isn't the challenge here, but rather avoiding the spasms of electricity that follow you around the arena.
Your biggest opponent will be the arena, but thankfully, you should be half decent at the parkour aspects of Hollow Knight when you get to this point. Uumuu isn't a boss that you can avoid, so you will need to be careful before diving into the fight.
15 Nosk
Nosk via Hollow Knight WikiLocation
Bottom of Deepnest
Charms
Shade Cloak, Sharp Shadow, Longnail, any "Companion" Charm
Tips
If you need to wait out an attack, stay up against the left side or take the high point of the middle platform. Dashing is a great way to nullify Nosk's sudden damage. Don't stay still for too long because his infection can track you.
Deepnest is undeniably the creepiest and most unsettling area of Hallownest, with the sharp violins and heavy breathing acting as background music. As you uncover the secrets of the Pale Kingdom, it's hard to ignore your twin running from you through the shadows. If you follow your mimic, it will lead past previous victims that all dream of the mimicking beast.
Although there’s a lot of unpredictability when you’re going up against Nosk, equipping yourself with the proper charms makes the fight much easier. Be patient and keep a careful eye on Nosk and you will have defeated it in no time.
14 Failed Champion
The Failed Champion via Hollow Knight WikiLocation
Dreamnail the False Knight
Charms
Joni's Blessing, Quickslash, Fragile/Unbreakable Strength, Hiveblood
Tips
Remember that the Failed Champion cannot give you Soul, so having health-oriented charms. Keep an eye on falling debris and stay in clear areas. The Failed Champion has heavily telegraphed moves, so keep an eye out for his attacks.
The False Knight is the first main boss that you will come across, meaning that he's not particularly difficult to take down. However, if you return to the arena and strike the remains of the boss with the Dream Nail, you'll be granted entrance to the Failed Champion fight.
RelatedThe Most Graphically Impressive Nintendo Switch Games, Ranked
Just because it's smaller and portable doesn't mean the games aren't pretty!
PostsThis boss battle is a lot more difficult, forcing you to deal with an enemy that is constantly launching themselves around the arena (while projectiles rain from the sky), not to mention trying to hit the guy at the same time.
13 Enraged Guardian
Enraged Guardian via Hollow Knight WikiLocation
The room above the Crystal Guardian's fight room.
Charms
Shaman Stone, Quick Slash, Spell Twister
Tips
Keep close to the Enraged Guardian and utilize the Shade Cloak when it fires its lasers. When it's picking its next attack, jump high to angle its attack up higher.
The first Crystal Guardian fight isn't too difficult. It taxes you somewhat and tests your skills, but never really pushes them to a level of frustration. When you return to the fight, you'll find that the Crystal Guardian has now become the Enraged Guardian, presumably angry that it ever lost in the first place.
While its attacks don't change that much, it becomes much more aggressive, attacking ferociously. As well as this, every single attack causes two points of damage rather than one, which makes the Enraged Guardian dangerous.
12 Hornet (Sentinel)
Hornet's Spike Attack via Hollow Knight WikiLocation
Entrace to the Cast-Off Shell in Kingdom's Edge.
Charms
Shaman Stone, Quick Focus, Soul Catcher/Soul Eater
Tips
Heal after you have staggered Hornet, rather than attacking. You can nail-bounce on Hornet's spikes when she sends out her spike attack. Patience is key - do not try to assume what she is going to do.
While Hollow Knight's first battle against Hornet is a little challenging, it isn't too hard when compared to the second battle. Her special weapon is capable of pulling off moves with much more range than most enemies. The spiky traps strewn across the arena can also reduce your mobility, throwing you headfirst into a situation where you need to make every move carefully.
Hornet is putting your skills to the test to decide if you're actually worthy enough to proceed forward and into the final steps of the game. If you've done right by the game, your skills should have been slowly built up, and you should know what you're doing at this point.
11 Markoth
Markoth via Hollow Knight WikiLocation
East of Kingdom's Edge - Shade Cloak needed to pass through the Shade Gate
Charms
Shaman Stone, Spell Twister, Shape of Unn
Tips
Be wary of his shield Cyclone - it will spin outwards before retracting. Utilize Nail Arts to maximize your damage output. His Nail Barrage attack will aim directly at you, so stay on your toes.
Markoth may not be the toughest boss in Hollow Knight, but he will still give you a run for your money. His revolving shields and constantly targeting projectiles make him an absolute pain to deal with. Although his health might not be absurdly high, he is tedious and frustrating.
If you move too quickly, or you try to predict without fully understanding his telegraphed moves, that could be the end for you. But, with some proper charms - especially the Shape of Unn, which makes you smaller while you heal - you can get past him and collect your victory prize.
10 Traitor Lord
Location
Upper Left of the Queen's Garden
Charms
Shape of Unn, Sharp Shadow, Dashmaster
Tips
Platforming up to the Traitor Lord is going to be one of your biggest struggles if you rely on dash-based charms, but it's perfectly feasible if you take your time. If you save Cloth in the Ancient Basin, she will join you in this fight and you can let her do some of the heavy lifting. Be quick on your dash.
If you aren’t great at the parkour aspects of Hollow Knight, then you should really learn to get better, because this fight will punish you for it. The Traitor Lord is a big fight in a small area, meaning that it’s really easy to get hit if you’re not quick to dash.
Related10 Toughest Non-Boss Enemies In Hollow Knight
It hurts even more when it's a simple enemy that kills you.
Posts By Marco Vito OddoBeing able to have quick attacks and move quickly is key when you’re going up against this boss. Of course, if you’re also quick with your magic, being able to use the dive attack will benefit you greatly.
9 Great Nailsage Sly
Great Nailsage Sly via Hollow Knight WikiLocation
Pantheon of the Sage, Godhome
Charms
Sharp Shadow, Sprintmaster, Spell Twiter, Quick Focus
Tips
Dash through Sly's ground attacks and follow it up with some Soul spells to maximize your damage. You can Nail Pogo off of Sly's Cyclone Slash attack. There is a brief window to attack Sly in between his own attacks, so be quick.
The Great Nailsage Sly is one of the few bosses you can actually call cute, even if they do have a weapon that is bigger than them and can pack a punch that will shock even the most seasoned players of Hollow Knight.
Nevertheless, Great Nailsage Sly is quick, deadly, and will become incredibly annoying to fight. He's so quick that learning any sort of pattern takes a lot amount of practice and probably (unless you're incredible at the game) a lot of deaths.
8 Soul Tyrant
Soul Tyrant via Hollow Knight WikiLocation
Dreamnail the Soul Master's Corpse
Charms
Soul Catcher, Soul Eater, Shaman Stone, Spell Twister
Tips
The Soul Tyrant moves quickly, so be sure to grab what Soul you can when you can. Heal before you dive down to join the Soul Tyrant for the second phase. Get in what Soul Spell attacks you can, but don't try to predict what the Soul Tyrant might do.
When you've finally managed to take down the Soul Master, you can choose to go back and take on an even more challenging variant of the boss. However, only the truly brave should choose to do so. The Soul Tyrant is equipped with every single attack that the Soul Master boasts, but he performs them even faster.
This leaves you with even less time to dodge and weave before taking a couple of shots for yourself. We wouldn't blame anyone for choosing to leave this optional boss behind, so it's definitely one for the completionist players out there.
