What's a Dark Souls-like without some good old-fashioned Bosses? Well, Hollow Knight doesn't disappoint in that arena, with a massive variety of them to battle your way through.
Much like its inspiration, these bosses are pretty difficult though, so be prepared to spend a good chunk of time learning their attack patterns, strengths, and weaknesses. But you're going to have to fight a bunch of them if you want to progress through the Hollownest.
In this guide we're going to help you do just that, by compiling a list of every single Boss in the game and even providing you with strategic tips to vanquish them.
Hollow Knight - Broken Vessel Boss Details & Location
Appearance
Description
Location
HP
Reward
Shattered corpse, reanimated by infected parasites
Ancient Basin
525
Monarch Wings
Broken Vessel - Moves List
Slash
Aerial Slash
Leap
Flail
Slam
Headbanger
Balloon
Forward dash while slashing with the Nail
Leap and forward dash while slashing with the Nail
Leap in any direction around the arena
Swings nail overheard left and right four times
Leaps over and slams down on the Knight, generates four infectious blobs that can also perform slam attacks
Infectious blobs fill the arena
Spawns an infectious balloon that will fly straight towards the Knight to deal damage on contact
Hollow Knight - Brooding Mawlek Boss Details & Location
Appearance
Description
Location
HP
Reward
Ferocious but extremely social creature. Becomes aggressive if not able to mingle with its own kind
Forgotten Crossroads / Trial of the Fool
300
Mask Shard
Brooding Mawlek - Moves List
Slash
Spit
Leap
Vomit
Performs a downward slash at the Knight if it gets too close
Spits an infectious blob at the Knight
Leaps and lands at the position the Knight is standing on, then leaps back to the centre of the arena
Shoots a bunch of infectious blobs at the Knight
Hollow Knight - Crystal Guardian Boss Details & Location
Appearance
Description
Location
First Encounter HP
Second Encounter HP
First Reward
Second Reward
Heavyset miner of the Crystal Peak overcome by crystal growth. Can discharge blazing beams of light from its crystallised limbs
Crystal Peak
280
450
385
550
Crystal Guardian - Moves List
Laser Beam
Sky Beam
Shoots a crystal beam from its hand at the Knight
Shoots a multitude of crystal beams at the Knight from above
Hollow Knight - Dung Defender Boss Details & Location
Appearance
Description
Location
HP
Reward
Skilled combatant living at the heart of the waterways. Assails intruders with balls of compacted dung
Royal Waterways
700
Defender's Crest
Dung Defender - Moves List
Toss
Burst
Dive
Zeal
Throws balls of dung at the Knight, which bounce about the arena temporarily
Dives underground and travels back and forth across the arena, damaging the Knight if struck. Bursts out of the ground at the end, firing four dung balls at the Knight
Dives in and out of the ground across the arena
Goes hyper and chains fast Burst attacks from the ground, targeting the Knight
Hollow Knight - False Knight Boss Details & Location
Appearance
Description
Location
Body HP
Head HP
Reward
A maggot driven mad by a strange force. Inhabits a stolen armoured shell
Forgotten Crossroads
65
40
City Crest
False Knight - Moves List
Slam
Leaping Slam
Rage
Slams its mace into the ground, firing a shockwave across the arena
Leaps at the Knight and slams the mace down upon landing
Once you've broken its armour and attacked the Maggot, the False Knight will slam its mace into the ground on the left and right a few times, causing rocks to fall from the ceiling
Hollow Knight - Flukemarm Boss Details & Location
Appearance
Description
Location
HP
Reward
An insatiable breeder. has populated the waterways with its kind. Its insides double as a nest for young Flukefeys
Royal Waterways
350
Flukenest
Flukemarm - Moves List
Spawn
Spawns two Flukefeys periodically that attack the Knight
Hollow Knight - God Tamer Boss Details & Location
Appearance
Description
Location
Rider HP
Mount HP
Reward
Veteran warrior of the Colosseum of Fools. Fights by the side of the creature she has trained
Trial of the Fool
600
450
-
God Tamer - Moves List
Leap
Rolling
Spew
Leaps into the air and swings its lance at the Knight
Curls into a ball and rolls across the arena at the Knight, bouncing off a wall on impact to try and hit the Knight once again upon landing
Spews infectious blobs at the Knight
Hollow Knight - Gruz Mother Boss Details & Location
Appearance
Description
Location
Forgotten Crossroads HP
Colosseum of Fools HP
Forgotten Crossroads Reward
Colosseum of Fools Reward
Mature gruzzer that carries its young in its belly. Attacks by hurling its huge body around
Forgotten Crossroads / Trial of the Warrior
90
120
50 Geos
-
Gruz Mother - Move List
Charge
Zig-Zag Slam
Charges at the Knight
Slams repeatedly between the floor and ceiling
Hollow Knight - The Hollow Knight Boss Details & Locations
Appearance
Description
Location
HP
Fully grown Vessel, carrying the plague's heart within its body
Temple of the Black Egg
1,000
The Hollow Knight - Phase One Move List
Triple Slash
Lunge
Parry
Slashes with its Nail three times at the Knight
Lunges quickly at the Knight
Blocks the Knight's attack and retaliates with a quick counter
The Hollow Knight - Phase Two Move List
Rainbow
Diving Flame Pillar
Launches multiple infectious blobs at the Knight
Dives down at the Knight, releasing flaming pillars across the arena
The Hollow Knight - Phase Three Move List
Explosion
Bouncing Balloon
Hovers in the air and shoots infectious blobs all over the arena
Repeatedly bounces, trying to slam the Knight
The Hollow Knight - Phase Four Move List
Desperate Attack
Swings its Nail and falls to its knees
Hollow Knight - Hornet Boss Details & Locations
Appearance
Description
Location
First Encounter HP
Second Encounter HP
Reward
Skilled protector of Hallownest's ruins. Wields a needle and thread
Greenpath / Cast-Off Shell / City of Tears / The Abyss / Beast's Den / Temple of the Black Egg
225
700
Mothwing Cloak / King's Brand
Hornet - First & Second Encounter Moves List
Lunge
Aerial Lunge
Gossamer Storm
Aerial Gossamer Storm
Throw
Lunges at the Knight with a Needle
Jumps and lunges downward at the Knight
Performs an AoE attack on the area surrounding her
Performs an AoE attack from the air on the area surrounding her
Throws her needle at the Knight and pulls it backHornet
Hornet - Remaining Encounters Moves List
Parry
Spike Ball
Blocks an attack and retaliates with a quick counter
Suspends spiked balls from the air that deal damage when touched
Hollow Knight - Mantis Lords Boss Description & Location
Appearance
Description
Location
First Phase HP
Second Phase HP
Reward
Leaders of the Mantis tribe and its finest warriors. They bear thin nail-lances and attack with blinding speed
Mantis Village
210
160 + 160
Mark of Pride / Hallownest Seal / 620 Geos
Mantis Lords - Moves List
Dash
Drop
Boomerang
Mantis Lords attack from either side of the arena
A Mantis Lord drops from above and attacks the Knight
A Mantis Lord throws a boomerang at the Knight that returns in an arc
Hollow Knight - Nosk Boss Description & Location
Appearance
Description
Location
HP
Reward
Mimics the shape of other creatures to lure prey to its lair
Deepnest
680
Pale Ore
Nosk - Moves List
Charge
Leap
Eruption
Rain
Crawls rapidly towards the Knight
Leaps around the arena and occasionally at the Knight
Shoots infectious blobs all around the arena
Leaps out of the arena and drops infectious blobs on the Knight
Hollow Knight - Soul Master Boss Description & Location
Appearance
Description
Location
First Phase HP
Second Phase HP
Reward
Head of the Soul Sanctum. Hoarded soul hoping to stave off Hallownest's affliction, but eventually became intoxicated by its power
Soul Sanctum
275
110
Desolate Dive
Soul Master - Moves List
Dash
Orb
Clock
Slam
Fake Out Slam
Dashs across the arena from left to right
Fires an infectious orb at the Knight
Conjures four orbs that rotate around the Soul Master as it floats left and right across the arena
Slams into the ground, generating shockwaves that travel across the arena on either side of the landing
Soul Master goes to slam the Knight but halfway through the attack, performs another over the Knight's new position
Hollow Knight - The Collector Boss Description & Location
Appearance
Description
Location
HP
Reward
Dark figure locked inside the Tower of Love. Preserves Hallownest's creature in glass jars, with particular attention given to Grubs
Tower of Love
750
Collector's Map
The Collector - Moves List
Jar
Grab
The Collector jumps onto the ceiling and rains jars down on the Knight. Each jar contains between 1 - 3 enemies
Leaps towards the Knight and tries to grab it
Hollow Knight - The Radiance Boss Description & Location
Appearance
Description
Location
HP
The light, forgotten
Temple of the Black Egg
1,700
The Radiance - Moves List
Beam Burst
Sword Burst
Sword Rain
Sword Wall
Wall of Light
Orb
Spike Floor
Big Beam
Fires multiple beams around The Radiance
Shoots multiple swords in random directions
Rains down groups of swords in columns from the ceiling
Shoots a wall of swords that move across the arena from left to right
Summons a wall of light that crosses the arena from one side to the other
Summons three orbs of homing light that attack the Knight
Covers a setion of the floor in spikes temporarily
Fires a massive beam of light at the Knight
Hollow Knight - Traitor Lord Boss Description & Location
Appearance
Description
Location
HP
Reward
Deposed Lord of the Mantis tribe. Embraced the infection and turned against his sisters
Queen's Gardens
800
White Lady
Traitor Lord - Moves List
Dive
Dash
Dancing Glaive
Radiant Wave
Leaps into the air and dives at the Knight
Dashes towards the Knight and swipes with claws
Shoots two spinning blades at the Knight
Punches the ground, causing shockwaves to rise up on both sides of the arena
Hollow Knight - Uumuu Boss Description & Location
Appearance
Description
Location
HP
Reward
Intelligent being that guards the inner chamber of the Teacher's Archives
Teacher's Archives
300
Monomon the Teacher
Uumuu - Moves List
Burst
Chase
Fills the arena with bursts of lightning
Creates bursts of lighting at the Knight's location for a brief period
Hollow Knight - Watcher Knight Boss Description & Location
Appearance
Description
Location
HP
Reward
Discarded shell of a Watcher Knight, re-animated by a swarm of infected flies
Watcher's Spire
1320
650 Geos / Hallownest Seal / Lurien the Watcher
Watcher Knight - Moves List
Double Slash
Roll
Bouncing Roll
Swings twice at the Knight
Curls into a ball and rolls at the Knight
Curls into a ball and tries to bounce on the Knight twice
Hollow Knight - Elder Hu Boss Description & Location
Appearance
Description
Location
HP
Reward
Lingering dream of a fallen warrior. Travelled the world tending to those affected by the plague
Fungal Wastes
200 - 650
100 Essence
Elder Hu - Moves List
Teleport
Ring Slam
Ring Curtain
Warps around the arena
Summons a row of rings that slam down on the arena
Summons pairs of rings that slam down on the ground
Hollow Knight - Galien Boss Description & Location
Appearance
Description
Location
HP
Reward
Lingering dream of a fallen warrior. Trained in the wilds bordering the kingdom, hoping to become a Knight
Deepnest
200 - 640
200 Essence
Galien - Moves List
Scythe Spin
Scythe Ricochet
Soul Scythes
Commands a scythe to chase the Knight
Commands a scythe to bounce around the arena
Commands smaller scythes to bounce around the arena
Hollow Knight - Gorb Boss Description & Location
Appearance
Description
Location
HP
Reward
Lingering dream of a fallen warrior. A mysterious life-form that claimed to contain all of the world's knowledge inside of its distended brain
Howling Cliffs
200 - 570
100 Essence
Gorb - Moves List
Spear Cast
Teleport
Fires a ring of spears in a circle
Warps around the arena
Hollow Knight - Markoth Boss Description & Location
Appearance
Description
Location
HP
Reward
Lingering dream of a fallen warrior. Only member of his forgotten tribe to take up a weapon
Kingdom's Edge
200 - 705
250 Essence
Markoth - Moves List
Teleport
Nail Summon
Shield Cyclone
Warps around the arena
Summons a Nail that flies at the Knight
Spins its shield in a wide radius
Hollow Knight - Marmu Boss Description & Location
Appearance
Description
Location
HP
Reward
Lingering dream of a fallen warrior. Protector of the Queen's Gardens
Queen's Gardens
200 - 570
150 Essence
Marmu - Moves List
Roll
Curls into a ball and rolls at the Knight
Hollow Knight - No Eyes Boss Description & Location
Appearance
Description
Location
HP
Reward
Lingering dream of a fallen warrior. Disappeared during the plague
Greenpath
200 - 570
200 Essence
No Eyes - Move List
Summon Spirits
Summons spirits while warping around the arena
Hollow Knight - Xero Boss Description & Location
Appearance
Description
Location
HP
Reward
Lingering dream of a fallen warrior. Executed for crimes against the King
Resting Grounds
200 - 570
100 Essence
Xero - Moves List
Nails of Light
Summons between two and four Nails of light that shoot at the Knight
Hollow Knight - Failed Champion Boss Description & Location
Appearance
Location
Body HP
Head HP
Reward
Forgotten Crossroads
360
40
300 Essence
Failed Champion - Moves List
Slam
Leaping Slam
Rage
Slams its mace into the ground, firing a shockwave across the arena
Leaps at the Knight and slams the mace down upon landing
Slams its mace into the ground on the left and right a few times, causing rocks to fall from the ceiling
Hollow Knight - Lost Kin Boss Description & Location
Appearance
Location
HP
Reward
Ancient Basin
1,200
400 Essence
Lost Kin - Moves List
Slash
Aerial Slash
Leap
Flail
Slam
Balloon
Forward dash while slashing with the Nail
Leap and forward dash while slashing with the Nail
Leap in any direction around the arena
Swings nail overheard left and right four times
Leaps over and slams down on the Knight, generates six infectious blobs that can also perform slam attacks
Spawns an infectious balloon that will fly straight towards the Knight to deal damage on contact
Hollow Knight - Soul Tyrant Boss Description & Location
Appearance
Location
First Phase HP
Second Phase HP
Reward
Soul Sanctum
900
350
300 Essence
Soul Tyrant - Moves List
Dash
Orb
Clock
Slam
Fake Out Slam
Dashes across the arena from left to right
Fires an infectious orb at the Knight
Conjures six orbs that rotate around the Soul Tyrant as it floats left and right across the arena
Slams into the ground, generating shockwaves that travel across the arena on either side of the landing
Soul Master goes to slam the Knight but halfway through the attack, performs another over the Knight's new position
Hollow Knight - Grey Prince Zote Boss Description & Location
Appearance
Description
Location
HP
Reward
Figment of an obsessed mind. Lacks grace but becomes stronger with every defeat
Dirtmouth
1,200 - 1,500
300 Essence
Grey Prince Zote - Moves List
Frantic Swings
Summon Zoteling
Shadow Slam
Leap Bash
Failed Slash
Backwards Slam
Summon Volatile Zoteling
Follows the Knight swinging his Nail then slams it down causing shockwaves
Spits out two Zotelings
Vanishes then reappears above the Knight, slamming down and creating a shockwave in both directions
Leaps and slams his Nail, creating shockwaves ahead and behind
Slashes then falls to the ground, creating two shockwaves
Jumps back, creating two shockwaves
Summons three Zotelings
Hollow Knight - White Defender Boss Description & Location
Appearance
Description
Location
HP
Reward
Figure from a fondly remembered past. Reacts gallantly to defeat by becoming stronger
Royal Waterways
1,600
300 Essence
White Defender - Moves List
Dung Toss
Bouncing Beetle
Dung Eruption
Dung Quake
Dung Leap
Dung Slam
Zeal
Throws two or three balls of dung that bounce around the arena
Curls into a ball and bounces around the arena, along with two balls of dung
Tunnels into the ground and moves across the arena, throwing five balls of dung on either side
Dives into the ground, releasing pillars of dung on either side then reemerges and throws five balls of dung on either side
Dives up and down underground across the arena
Slams the ground, causing two pillars to emerge either side of him
Performs a battle cry and pulls of Dung Eruption five times in a row
Hollow Knight - Grimm Boss Description & Location
Appearance
Description
Location
HP
Reward
Master of the Grimm Troupe
Dirtmouth
800 - 1,000
Notch / Grimmchild Level 3
Grimm - Moves List
Firebats
Dive Dash
Dash Uppercut
Cloak Spikes
Flame Spawner
Evade
Stagger
Summons firebats that fly at the Knight
Flies into the air, turns into a screw, and dashes towards the Knight
Dashes at the Knight and performs an uppercut, leaving flames in its wake
Throws its cloak to the ground, creating spikes out of it
Turns into a red sphere and floats to the centre of the arena, spawning flames
Evades and counters
Turns into a horde of firebats
Hollow Knight - Nightmare King Boss Description & Location
Appearance
Description
Location
HP
Reward
Twisted spectre of scarlet flame
Dirtmouth
1,500
Grimmchild Level 4
Nightmare King - Moves List
Firebats
Firebat Teleport
Dive Dash
Dash Uppercut
Cloak Spikes
Flame Pillar
Flame Spawner
Evade
Stagger
Fires four firebats in various directions, which each spawn a fire pillar
If you get into melee range before the third firebat has been summoned, the Nightmare King will warp to the other side of the arena and fire the remaining bats at once
Dashes at the Knight and performs an uppercut, leaving flames in its wake that last for a few seconds
Dashes at the Knight and performs an uppercut, leaving flames in its wake
Throws its cloak to the ground, creating spikes out of it
Floats above the ground and spawns fire pillars below the Knight, each leaves flames for a few seconds
Turns into a red sphere and floats to the centre of the arena, spawning flames
Evades and counters
Turns into a horde of firebats
Hollow Knight - Hive Knight Boss Description & Location
Appearance
Description
Location
HP
Reward
Loyal protector of the Hive's Queen. Flightless but ferocious in battle
The Hive
800
Hiveblood
Hive Knight - Moves List
Bee Cannon
Lunge
Teleport
Leap
Beenades
Opens its mouth and fires out Hivelings at the ceiling, which then fly down at the Knight
Lunges along the ground with its spear
Warps behind the Knight and slashes with its spear
Curls into a ball and leaps to the top of the arena
Glen joined Nintendo Life in 2018 as Guides Editor, assembling walkthroughs, tips, and tricks for some of Switch's biggest games. He went on to work as Editor for Pocket Tactics and Senior SEO Strategist for Metro.
Comments 2
thats alot of bosses
The Radiance and Nightmare King are giving me nightmares (pun intended). I get killed astonishingly fast.
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