Summary
- Bethesda's unique boss battles, like Ebony Warrior and Mehrunes Dagon, add depth and challenge to their RPG games.
- Players can use dialogue and reasoning to avoid boss fights, like with Ulysses in Fallout: New Vegas.
- Human-controlled boss fights, such as Julianna Blake in Deathloop, provide a thrilling and unique challenge for players.
Bethesda is a video game company that needs no introduction. They're the studio behind some of the greatest video games ever made, RPGs or otherwise. Many of these games have distinguished themselves through the enemies that players have to fight, particularly the games' bosses.
Without Bethesda, players would have been robbed of some of the greatest video game experiences they've enjoyed. A bulk of their games have a focus on action, giving players the opportunity to deal with some unique bosses who will stand out in their respective games. These are some of the most memorable boss fights in Bethesda's catalog, thanks to one-of-a-kind enemies.
8 The Ebony Warrior (Skyrim)
A Powerful Warrior Who Seeks A Worthy Challenge
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Released
- November 11, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol
The Elder Scrolls 5: Dragonborn is an excellent piece of DLC that adds even more content for players to enjoy in Skyrim. This includes a mysterious Ebony Warrior who has the chance to appear in any of Skyrim's major cities after the Dragonborn reaches level 80.
He implores the Dragonborn to engage him in a duel at the Last Vigil, hoping to move on to Sovngarde after a worthy battle. This honorable boss is a blast to fight, pushing players to the very limit as they strive to secure victory and get their hands on his tantalizing armor set.
7 Ulysses (Fallout: New Vegas)
Players Can Avoid A Courier Versus Courier Battle With The Right Choices
Fallout: New Vegas
- Released
- October 19, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Genre(s)
- RPG
While Fallout: New Vegas was praised for the quality of its DLC, some people felt that Lonesome Road was a bit too linear for its own good. Thankfully, it gave players the challenge they wanted as Ulysses' hypnotic voice entertained them with deep monologues throughout the tale.
If players reach the end of this DLC, they'll engage in a conversation with this former Courier. Based on their speech skills, faction reputation, and their actions, Ulysses can be talked down, and players can avoid this boss fight altogether.
6 Mehrunes Dagon (Oblivion)
A Massive Daedric Prince
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
- Released
- March 20, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
At the end of Oblivion, the Imperial City is besieged by dark forces as Mehrunes Dagon himself, the Daedric Prince behind the Oblivion Crisis, appears in the city. This massive foe is as scary as they come and can't be killed by regular means.
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Instead, the protagonist must lead Martin Septim to the Temple of the One, where he sacrifices himself and transforms into an avatar of Akatosh to eliminate this Daedric Prince's threat once and for all. The fact that players can't kill this boss with their attacks like every other enemy in the game is enough to qualify Mehrunes Dagon as a unique encounter.
5 Legate Lanius (Fallout: New Vegas)
The Courier Can Talk Some Sense Into The Game's Final Boss
Avoiding a conflict with Ulysses may be neat, but it loses its impact somewhat, given that the main story features a similar instance at the end that is quite similar. Unless players ally with Caesar, they will always face off against his champion, Legate Lanius, at the end.
However, if players have invested in certain skills, they can use logic and reasoning to talk Lanius down and make it clear that Caesar's Legion is in over their heads even if they gain control of Hoover Dam and New Vegas. The sublime writing ensures that these arguments are sound, leading to Legate Lanius standing down without even putting up a fight.
4 Julianna Blake (Deathloop)
Hunts Colt Down At Regular Intervals
Deathloop
- Released
- September 14, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
Julianna Blake is a Visionary that players will grow to fear as they go through Deathloop. A near-perfect run can be derailed by her invasion as she strives to hunt Colt down, especially if she's controlled by another player.
Soulsborne fans are well aware of the danger an invading player poses, turning this boss fight into a nightmarish test of skill where players do everything in their power to survive. This human-controlled opponent is easily one of the most unique boss fights in a Bethesda and Arkane game because of this gimmick.
3 Prototype Robot (Wolfenstein: The New Order)
B.J.'s Choice Governs The Brain Inhabiting This Twisted Mech
Wolfenstein: The New Order
- Released
- May 20, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs
Wolfenstein: The New Order will wow players with its story-driven approach, instantly forcing players to make a tough decision after Deathshead captures them and their allies. B.J. Must choose either Fergus or Wyatt to be dissected by this mad scientist, who stores the victim's brain in a jar.
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This decision rears its ugly head at the end of the game when Deathshead implants this brain into a robot who strives to kill B.J. By any means necessary. Hearing the character's cries of anguish as he begs the protagonist to kill him is heartbreaking and adds a personal touch to this tough-as-nails boss fight.
2 Miraak (Skyrim)
The Enemy Dragonborn Boasts Some Powerful Moves
The Elder Scrolls 5: Dragonborn addressed the many complaints fans had when it came to the lack of challenge in Skyrim at higher levels. The fight against Karstaag is a great example, although this boss fight isn't exactly unique and is just a tough battle against the specter of a frost giant.
The same can't be said for Miraak, Hermaeus Mora's chosen Dragonborn and the antagonist of this DLC. He's a force to be reckoned with, who uses powerful shouts and spells to debilitate the player. Even when he's on the brink of defeat, Miraak will summon a dragon and steal their soul to heal himself, making this battle more cinematic and engaging than any other boss fight in Skyrim.
1 Gaenor (Morrowind)
A Weak-Looking Bosmer Who Comes Back To Get His Revenge
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
- Released
- May 1, 2002
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Blood, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Morrowind is one of the greatest RPGs ever made. It wasn't afraid to challenge players, and this can be seen in the Tribunal expansion. While exploring the city of Mournhold, players will find a weak-looking Bosmer who requests some gold. It's easy to entertain him at first, only for his requests to become more ridiculous and eventually force the Nerevarine to turn him down.
He swears revenge and comes back in three days in a suit of Ebony Armor with some of the highest stats in the game. Most people surmise that this character was a response to how the Bosmer race and the Luck stat were ridiculed by Morrowind players, since this elf boasts immense strength and a ridiculous 770 points in Luck. This makes him nigh impossible to hit for all but the highest-level adventurers around.
- Date Founded
- June 28, 1986
- Headquarters
- Rockville, Maryland, United States
- CEO
- Todd Howard
- Parent Company
- Microsoft
- Subsidiaries
- Bethesda Game Studios
- Known For
- The Elder Scrolls, Dishonored, DOOM