Team Cherry's 2017 Metroidvania, Hollow Knight, became a hit for its captivating art style, intriguing mechanics, and notoriously difficult boss fights. While Hollow Knight is home to 47 different bosses, only a few of these are mandatory battles. This includes but isn't necessarily limited to Hornet, Uumuu, and The Water Knights.
Regardless, while there are many hard boss fights in Hollow Knight, a tier list of these enemies shouldn't be solely based on how strenuous they are. As such, this list will also acknowledge the richness of the game's world, where boss fights are not just tests of skill but encounters woven into the lore and mechanics. With this in mind, key considerations for these bosses range between the elegance of the boss mechanics, the depth of their connection to the game's narrative, and their potential for repeated attempts.
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Hollow Knight Bosses — S-Tier
- Greenpath Hornet and King’s Pass Hornet
- Soul Master and Soul Tyrant
- Troupe Master Grimm and Nightmare King Grimm
- Pure Vessel and Broken Vessel
- The Hollow Knight
Though there are several interesting bosses scattered throughout Hollow Knight, only a handful of these can be considered S-Tier. For instance, Hornet is initially introduced as a rival to The Knight, and while her past is mysterious, it's clear that the princess-protector is important to the game's narrative. With two intricate boss fights dedicated to her, she's a clear pick for this category.
While Hornet's two fights are quite different in terms of mechanics and necessary skill, both are being considered for S-Tier quality.
Furthermore, boss fights against characters such as the Soul Master, The Hollow Knight, and Hollow Knight's Broken Vessel are incredibly rewarding. Not only do players collect crucial information and new abilities upon their defeat, but these first-class enemies are a large part of the reason that Hallownest's lore is so diverse and engaging.
Hollow Knight Bosses — A-Tier
- The Radiance and Absolute Radiance
- Mantis Lords
- Dung Defender and White Defender
- Traitor Lord
- The Collector
- The Watcher Knights
- Paintmaster Sheo
- Great Nailsage Shy
A-Tier bosses impress with their well-designed mechanics and memorable fights, though they don't quite reach the heights of S-Tier. For instance, the Mantis Lords, also known as the Sisters of Battle, isn't a particularly challenging encounter for veteran players, but their fight is still an important learning curve in the early stages of the game. More a dance than a fight, the Mantis Lords are respected bosses with high replayability.
On the other hand, extremely challenging interactions such as Hollow Knight's Radiance or The Watcher Knights can be more of a headache to deal with. Regardless, their masterful design, from visuals and sound to the triumphant feeling of victory, solidifies their place in A-Tier. Moreover, everyone in this category emotionally resonates with The Knight in some manner.
Hollow Knight Bosses — B-Tier
- Hive Knight
- Brooding Mawlek
- Crystal Guardian and Enraged Guardian
- Gorb
- Xero
- God Tamer
- Lost Kin
B-Tier bosses offer a satisfying experience without necessarily tying deeply into Hollow Knight's lore and story. Characters like the Hive Knight, God Tamer, and Brooding Mawlek can be frustrating, but they also serve to test each player's mechanical prowess. An unfortunate downside is that these bosses can be difficult to get to. Whether it be an enemy-infested hive, floors riddled with stalagmites, or an entire colosseum of trials, it's no simple task to get into these fights.
Further, Hollow Knight boasts a world brimming with diverse and captivating environments. For example, breathtaking locales like the shimmering mines and rocky map of Crystal Peak house some B-Tier encounters. While not deeply tied to the story, these bosses, like Crystal Guardian and Lost Kin, provide a satisfying challenge while complementing the beauty of their surroundings.
Hollow Knight Bosses — C-Tier
- Marmu
- No Eyes
- Nosk
- Elder Hu
- Markoth
- Galien
- Oblobble
- Uumuu
C-Tier is reserved for bosses that players often find to be less engaging both personality and gameplay-wise. For instance, not only are characters like the blinded No Eyes and the shape-shifting Nosk disconcerting to look at, but the surrounding narrative designed for them is unsettling. As such, these encounters offer little reason to revisit them.
C-Tier figures like Markoth and Galien lack the unsettling atmosphere of No Eyes and Nosk but also fail to leave a lasting impression. Others, like Uumuu, suffer from unpopularity due to their simplicity. The fight hinges entirely on weakening the boss while waiting for Quirrel's assistance, creating a dull experience for players.
Hollow Knight Bosses — D-Tier
- False Knight and Failed Champion
- Flukemarm
- Grey Prince Zote
- Soul Warrior
- Gruz Mother
- Moss Charger
Hollow Knight's D-Tier bosses are usually less than favored for their repetitive game style and lack of personality. Though Hollow Knight's False Knight may stand out as an outlier among the D-Tier enemies, he can be one of the most forgettable due to his stance as the first boss fight of the game. Found in the Forgotten Crossroads, he seems to be mostly meant as a character who helps players with their pattern recognition before venturing further.
Other lower-ranked personalities are solidly D-Tier for being more annoying than anything else. Bosses like Grey Prince Zote test patience more than skill. Zote's inflated ego translates to high damage output, making the fight feel tedious. Flukemarm, found in a hidden cave in the Royal Waterways, falls into a similar category. Players simply spam attacks on its immobile form while it spawns Flukefeys. Due to their spam-heavy nature, these encounters may feel out of place in Hollow Knight's typically meticulously crafted combat system.
Hollow Knight
- Released
- February 24, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
Forge your own path in Hollow Knight! An epic action adventure through a vast, ruined kingdom of insects and heroes. Hollow Knight is a classically styled 2D action adventure across a vast interconnected world. Explore twisting caverns, ancient cities and deadly wastes; battle tainted creatures and befriend bizarre bugs; and solve ancient mysteries at the kingdom's heart.
Forge your own path! The world of Hallownest is expansive and open. Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face and find your own way forward. Evolve with powerful new skills and abilities! Gain spells, strength and speed. Leap to new heights on ethereal wings. Dash forward in a blazing flash. Blast foes with fiery Soul!
Equip Charms! Ancient relics that offer bizarre new powers and abilities. Choose your favourites and make your journey unique! An enormous cast of cute and creepy characters all brought to life with traditional 2D frame-by-frame animation.
Over 140 enemies! 30 epic bosses! Face ferocious beasts and vanquish ancient knights on your quest through the kingdom.Chart your journey with extensive mapping tools. Buy compasses, quills, maps and pins to enhance your understanding of Hollow Knight’s many twisting landscapes.
A haunting, intimate score accompanies the player on their journey, composed by Christopher Larkin.
- ESRB
- E10+ for Everyone 10+: Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood
- Developer(s)
- Team Cherry
- Publisher(s)
- Team Cherry
- Franchise
- Hollow Knight
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, macOS, Linux
- Genre(s)
- Metroidvania
- How Long To Beat
- 27 Hours
- File Size Xbox Series
- 7 GB (November 2023)
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
