Ranking the Top 10 Toughest Hollow Knight Bosses

Article Key Points

Hollow Knight is a celebrated Metroidvania game with fantastic level design, unique visuals, and challenging gameplay centered around boss fights.

The Lost Kin is a concealed boss encountered in the Ancient Basin. Players must master attack patterns and respond swiftly to the constant appearance of smaller enemies.

Hornet presents an unforgettable boss encounter, featuring rapid attacks and hazardous spawns. It stands as a genuine challenge to the player's abilities.

Hollow Knight has gained immense popularity over the past few years, establishing itself as a standout Metroidvania game and a beloved classic in its genre. Its legacy is further expanded by world-record speed runs and mods that enhance the gameplay experience.

What sets Hollow Knight apart is its exceptional level design, distinctive visual style, and satisfying level of difficulty. Central to the game's mechanics are the boss fights, of which there are a total of 47. These bosses range from straightforward encounters to incredibly challenging battles. Each boss possesses a unique set of moves and attacks that players must master in order to emerge victorious. Moreover, with the introduction of the Godmaster DLC, players can now confront even more formidable versions of these bosses.

10. Lost Kin

Fast attacks, Spawns More Enemies.

The Ancient Basin area of the game is where players can discover Lost Kin, a secret dream boss. This challenging battle serves as an enhanced version of the encounter with Broken Vessel, and players must overcome it before facing Lost Kin.

In Hollow Knight, mastering the timing is crucial when facing challenges like Lost Kin. It entails observing and swiftly responding to the enemy's attacks. Throughout the fight, smaller foes will constantly appear, adding to the pressure and making it challenging to stay composed and attentive. Undoubtedly, Lost Kin presents a tricky battle that ultimately hones the player's skills for future intense encounters. This demanding encounter takes place in the Ancient Basin.

Health: 1200

Reward: 400 Essence

9. Failed Champion

High Damage, Falling Rocks.

Another dream boss waiting to be discovered in Hollow Knight is Failed Champion. You can only challenge this mighty opponent after the defeat of False Knight and obtaining the Dream Nail. Unveiled within the Forgotten Crossroads, tucked away behind a concealed wall within False Knight's arena, this encounter promises a significantly more challenging battle compared to the initial encounter.

The Failed Champion possesses greater aggression than the False Knight, and each of its attacks inflicts more damage. Similarly to the False Knight, there are identifiable instances in which players can find opportunities for healing, ensuring that this encounter should not pose excessive difficulty for players in this stage of the game.

Location: Forgotten Crossroads

Health: 1260

Reward: 300 Essence

8. Hornet (Sentinel)

Fast Attacks, Spawning Hazards.

Hornet, the renowned boss in Hollow Knight and the protagonist of the upcoming game Silksong, presents an unforgettable challenge that puts the player's reflexes to the test. Players first encounter Hornet in the Green Path region, engaging in a demanding battle that serves as a mere warm-up for the ultimate showdown.

Located in Kingdom's Edge, the second encounter with Hornet proves to be a genuine assessment of the player's abilities at this stage of the game. Presenting a swifter pace and incorporating a parrying mechanism and spiked balls, this battle reprises numerous previous attacks.

Health: 700

Reward: Hunter’s Notes

7. Markoth

Teleporting, Projectile Nails.

Markoth, located in various regions of Hallownest, is a formidable adversary known as a Warrior Dream boss. Renowned for his relentless onslaught, he poses a significant challenge to players due to his swift and evasive attacks. Dodging Markoth's maneuvers can prove to be exceedingly difficult.

In the Kingdom's Edge area of the game, players will encounter numerous formidable enemies and challenging platforming sections. Among them, Markoth can prove to be quite challenging for players. With his teleportation ability, spinning dream shield, and relentless firing of nails, players must maintain focus to emerge victorious.

Location: Kingdom's Edge

Health: 705 (With fully upgraded Nail)

Reward: Hunter’s Notes

6. Sisters Of Battle

Multiple Enemies, Fast Attacks, Spinning Boomerang Attacks.

The Mantis Lords provide an unforgettable boss encounter in the early stages of the base game. Engaging in a tough battle against these three enemies in succession is challenging enough. However, with the Godmaster DLC, the Pantheon of Hallownest introduces an additional formidable challenge known as The Sisters Of Battle.

In this iteration of the Mantis Lords encounter, players are faced with the challenge of battling all three adversaries simultaneously. The arena, smaller than usual, poses an additional obstacle, as the Mantis Lords launch lightning-fast attacks. Players must bring their absolute best skills to the table in order to emerge victorious against these formidable bugs.

Location: Pantheon Of Hallownest (15th Boss)

Health: 2750

Rewards: Continue to the next fight.

5. Nightmare King Grimm

High Damage, Complex Attacks, Fast.

Nightmare King Grimm, encountered as the ultimate boss of The Grimm Troupe DLC, is the dream incarnation of Troupe Master Grimm. Exhibiting similar attacks to his previous form, this dream manifestation unleashes an unyielding onslaught of assaults, inflicting twice the amount of damage as before.

Located in Dirtmouth, this immersive and unforgettable battle stands out as one of the most dramatic and memorable encounters in the game. Players will be put to the test, challenging their reactions and patience. To initiate the fight, players must fulfill a series of tasks set by Grimm, ultimately discovering the slumbering Troupe Master inside his tent.

Health: 1500

Rewards: Hunter’s Notes, Grimmchild Charm Fully Upgraded

4. Grey Prince Zote

Relentless Attacks, Difficult To dodge.

Zote, the surly warrior discovered in unexpected locations throughout the main game, emerges as an unexpected contender among the formidable bosses in Hollow Knight.

Grey Prince Zote, the dream warrior believed by Zote, is discovered in his abode in Dirtmouth. This formidable boss exhibits remarkable speed, aggression, and unwavering relentlessness. Engaging in this battle leaves little opportunity for recuperation due to scarce chances to heal. Moreover, the boss employs attacks that demand swift thinking and evasion. It is worth noting that Grey Prince Zote possesses the ability to increase its health with each subsequent challenge, making it an even more tenacious foe.

Location: Dirtmouth

Health: 1200-1500

Rewards: Hunter’s Notes, 300 Essence

3. Great Nailsage Sly

Longer Range, Plunging & Spinning Attacks.

Introduced in the Godmaster DLC, Great Nailsage Sly is a modest inhabitant of Dirtmouth who undergoes a remarkable transformation, evolving into one of the most formidable adversaries in the game. Engaging Sly proves to be challenging due to his colossal nail, requiring players to close the distance for combat. With his agile mobility and rapid, swirling, and diving assaults, this boss demands patience and practice.

Located at the conclusion of the Pantheon Of The Sage, players must overcome nine potential additional boss battles before ultimately facing Sly, amplifying the challenge and requiring them to restart from the beginning after each defeat.

Health: 1050

Rewards: Achievement: Focus, Hunter’s Notes.

2. Pure Vessel

Long Range, AOE Attacks, Fast & Aggressive.

The Pure Vessel boss fight is one of the encounters in the Godmaster DLC. It is an enhanced version of the final boss from the base game, the Hollow Knight. Unlike before, this time the boss remains uncorrupted by the infection that plagues the world of Hallownest.

Players in the Pantheon Of The Knight (Final Boss) will be challenged to the utmost by Pure Vessel's wide array of attacks, including AOE-type strikes, swift blows, and projectile tentacles. To conquer this formidable opponent, players must exhibit quick reflexes and unwavering perseverance.

Health: 1600

Rewards: Achievement: Soul & Shade, Hunter’s Note.

1. Absolute Radiance

Platforming, Fast Attacks, Multiple Projectiles, Spiked Floors, Rising Arena.

Absolute Radiance, the ultimate challenge in Hollow Knight, takes the title for the most formidable boss battle in the gaming world. This version of the encounter pushes the players to their limits, demanding the highest level of skill and precision.

Located at the pinnacle of the Pantheon of Hallownest, conquering Absolute Radiance is no easy task. This formidable opponent awaits only after vanquishing 42 bosses within the Pantheon, making it the ultimate challenge of the game.

Health: 2181

Rewards: Achievement: Embrace the Void. Two Possible Game Endings.

Hollow Knight

Platform(s) PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One, macOS, LinuxReleased February 24, 2017Developer(s) Team CherryGenre(s) Metroidvania

Editor's P/S

As an enthusiastic fan of Hollow Knight, I am thrilled to see the ranking of the top 10 toughest bosses in the game. Hollow Knight is renowned for its challenging and rewarding boss fights, and this list highlights the most formidable adversaries that players must overcome. Each boss brings unique mechanics, attacks, and strategies that test the player's skills and determination.

The inclusion of bosses like the Lost Kin, Failed Champion, and Hornet showcases the game's commitment to providing players with memorable and engaging encounters. These bosses not only pose a significant challenge but also offer opportunities for players to learn, adapt, and improve their combat abilities.

Overall, this ranking serves as a testament to the exceptional boss design in Hollow Knight and highlights the game's ability to provide players with a truly unforgettable and challenging experience.