Hollow Knight Boss Locations & Moves List

Like a boss

by Glen Fox Thu 30th Dec 2021

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	Summons three yellow spiked spheres that explode

This guide is part of our Hollow Knight walkthrough series to help you complete the game 100%. It includes Hollow Knight guides with all Mask Shard Locations, every Vessel Fragment Location, all Spells Locations, every Ability Location, and all Nail Upgrades & Arts Locations. We've also got guides featuring Boss Locations & a Full Moves List and all Notch Upgrades & Charm Locations.