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In-depth guide to defeating all bosses Hollow Knight, from easiest to hardest
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In Hollow Knight, you may encounter unique Boss enemies at any time. There's no set route you must follow, but it's always best to take on easier bosses before fighting others. Here's the best order to face the bosses in Hollow Knight.

This article contains spoilers for the ending of Hollow Knight.

2

Gruz Mother

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  1. This battle will unlock the remaining half of the exploration area. Gruz Mother will charge at the player and perform zig-zag slams between the floor and ceiling. To avoid the zig-zag slams, move with her.
    • Be sure to kill the swarm of Gruzzers that spawn when Gruz Mother is defeated. The battle won't end until you do so.
3

Vengefly King

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  1. The Vengefly King will charge at players and summon enemies to help. Try to kill these enemies as soon as possible. When the Vengefly King charges, jump off his body to inflict damage.
    • This boss fight is optional, but it is recommended as you'll unlock new achievements and complete more of the Hunter's Journal.
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4

Hornet Protector

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  1. This is the first boss players encounter when entering Greenpath. She must be defeated to unlock the western half of the exploration area. When Hornet Protector lunges, jump over or under her attacks to dodge them, and then strike with the Nail.
    • Defeating the Hornet Protector awards players the Mothwing Cloak, which allows players to dash.
6

Mantis Lords

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  1. There are three Mantis Lords in total. The first will attack alone, and once she's defeated, the remaining two will attack at the same time. The Lords share the same moves: Lance Dash, Lance Drop, and Blade Boomerang. Use the Nail to bounce off the boomerangs if the Mantis Lords move towards you.
    • Be sure to purchase the Lumafly Lantern before you explore Deepnest.
7

Soul Warrior

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  1. One guards the main entrance to the upper level, while the second requires an Elegant Key to access. They will begin the fight with a downward slash from above. Dodge the dash-slashes, and then strike right after the attack while it's recovering.
    • The second Soul Warrior will also spawn 24 Folly enemies to help.
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11

Crystal Guardian/Enraged Guardian

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  1. You can find this boss sitting on the bench in the center of the area. Like the previous boss, keep your distance until it leaps into the air. Then, attack quickly before moving away again. Repeat until the boss is defeated.
    • Once the Crystal Guardian is defeated, it will turn into the Enraged Guardian. This will have similar attacks as the previous incarnation but will be much stronger and quicker.
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14

Traitor Lord

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  1. You must use the Shade Cloak ability to access this boss fight. The Traitor Lord will unleash downward slashes and twin blades. It's recommended to use the Dashmaster and Sprintmaster Charms during this fight to make it easier to maneuver away from the attacks.
    • If you completed the Cloth sidestory, she will aid you in this fight. Otherwise, you can find her in Dirtmouth after the boss is defeated.
17

Oblobbles

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  1. You'll need to fight two of these at the same time, so be sure to avoid getting caught in the middle of them. Keep your distance to avoid the projectiles and use Spells from one end of the arena.
    • When one is defeated, the other will go into Rage, which makes it faster and stronger. Use the same techniques to defeat the last one.
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23

Hollow Knight

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  1. You must defeat all three Dreamers and go to the Temple of the Black Egg to begin this boss fight. Stand between the tendrils to avoid them, then launch a ranged attack at the Hollow Knight. If the Hollow Knight uses ranged attacks, dash toward the farthest wall to create some distance.
    • Defeating the Hollow Knight will give you different endings depending on your choice. You can choose to kill the Hollow Knight or strike them with the Dream Nail. If you don't have the Void Heart, you will only receive one ending.
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24

The Radiance

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  1. If you choose to use Dream Nail on the Hollow Knight in the previous battle, the Hollow Knight will morph into the Radiance. This will be the most difficult boss fight of the game, and you should prioritize dodging hits. There will be many different projectiles and obstacles aimed towards the player. Use your Shade Cloak to dash when you can.
    • Take your time when fighting the Radiance. Take the chance to heal when the Radiance is entangled with vines between phases.
    • When the platforms head upwards, avoid the beams of light without falling to the floor. The fight will end with one last hit against the Radiance. [1]

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  • Question
    There are 47 bosses.
    Zosia
    Community Answer
    This is possibly true, however this article features mostly only the required bosses with only a few exceptions.
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