The best DLC bosses in hollow knight

Summary

• DLC for Hollow Knight introduced more lore-bound bosses, with varying levels of difficulty and excitement.

• Certain bosses like the clear ships and Nightmare King Grimm stand out for their challenging gameplay.

• Absolute Radiance is considered to be the best DLC boss and provides an exciting and difficult battle for players to overcome.

Hollow Knight is well known for the many bosses it has to offer players. While the base game has a ton of notable boss fights, the four DLCs that were introduced over the years introduced thirteen bosses that were either completely new or variations of existing boss fights.

These bosses usually tie into the lore of the game in one way or another, bringing a new perspective to the story of Hallownest and its downfall. This theme ranks all DLC bosses introduced in Hidden Dreams, Lifeblood, Grimm Troupe, and Godhome DLC.

12

Winged nose

Eldritch Horror

• Location: Godhome (Pantheon of Hallownest)

The Winged Nose is easily the worst DLC boss introduced in the Hollow Knight. She's the only boss that's a clear downgrade from her version in the base game, as she simply doesn't have the threatening aura or move to instill the fear in players that the original Nosk does in her arena in the deepest depths.

Crossed Nosk moves are pretty boring and hardly dangerous for most players with decent movement. This boss fight is just inferior compared to the other bosses introduced in the game's various DLCs.

11

Brothers Oro and Mato

The Nailmasters have reunited

• Location: Godhome (Pantheon Master)

Oro and Mato, two of the three nailmasters in Hallownest, team up to face the knights in Godhome. The first half of this fight is against Oro, who is not a tough opponent at all. However, Mato soon joins the rift once Oro has a certain health threshold.

The arrival of Mata makes this a battle filled with chaos, where players constantly have to move around the arena while dealing damage to both opponents. Nailmasters often release their signature nail art, which makes the fight that much more exciting. While not a bad boss fight by any means, there are simply better or harder fights on this list.

10

Paintmaster Sheo

A passion fulfilled

• Location: Godhome (artist pantheon)

Paintmaster Sheo is the final boss in the Artist's Pantheon, and unlike his brothers Oro and Mato, he appears as a solo opponent. Sheo has very different attacks as he uses his brush to unleash powerful attacks from different colors.

This is another fun fight that isn't too hard. Sheo has a nice mix of unique attacks, but doesn't have a defining factor that makes him stand out compared to other DLC bosses.

9

Gray Prince Zote

Fantasy becomes reality

• Location: Dirtmouth (requires saving Zote twice and defeating him in the Coliseum of Fools)

Gray Prince Zote is one of the most infamous bosses Hollow Knight. He is known for being notoriously difficult while moving around the arena like a complete buffoon without a proper understanding of combat.

This angers many players, as Zote is usually portrayed as a snarky but cowardly warrior. In this dream fight, Zote becomes the mighty warrior he always wanted to be. While the combat can be a bit too hard at times, it's undeniable that the concept and overall theme is top notch.

8

Knight's Hive

Hive keeper

Hive Knight is a fan favorite boss Hollow Knight commonwealth. Introduced as part of the Lifeblood DLC, the Knight character can be found at the end of the hive guarding the corpse of Queen Vespa.

The coolest part about this fight is that it's a full melee fight because the Hive Knight, despite being a bee, doesn't have wings and doesn't fly. Accompanied by a majestic soundtrack and funky moves, this boss is an absolute treat to fight, unfortunately too easy to defeat in the late game when most players usually find it.

7

White defender

Prime The Houng Defender

• Location: Royal Waterways (requires all three Dreamies to be defeated)

The white defender is the main form of dung defender found in the royal waterways. Dressed in the typical white armor instead of purple, the white defender moves significantly faster and his attacks come out faster.

This is a fair increase in difficulty where the combat is challenging but not overwhelming or unpleasant. It's a fun ride with an amazing soundtrack. Players can really feel the power of the dung defender in his glory in his famous fight.

6

Troupe Master Grimm

The mysterious leader

• Location: Dirtmouth (requires progression through Grimm Troupe DLC)

Troupe Master Grimm is one of the few boss fights Hollow Knight This feels more like a dance than a fight. His movements are visually impressive and the whole atmosphere of the battle gives off an ominous yet charming feel.

Introduced in the namesake DLC, the Grimm Troupe Side Quest is one of the best quests in the game and allows the knight to embark on a unique journey that has ramifications not only for Hallownest, but also for other kingdoms in the world. Fighting Grimm is one of the best experiences Hollow Knightand he is only surpassed by a few other DLC bosses, including his stronger version.

5

Great nail Sly

Sage of the Nail Arts

• Location: Godhome (Pantheon of Sages)

Great Nailsage Sly is a fantastic combination of brothers Oro, Mato and Paintmaster Sheo. As the biggest nail art user aside from the knight, Sly is an incredibly strong and fast opponent who can be dizzying to keep up at times.

That's why it's a lot of fun fighting with a small mistake and getting thrown into a tough fight. It's a superbly designed boss with the perfect amount of difficulty and excitement to get the adrenaline pumping for any player.

4

Battle of the Sisters

Protectors of Mantis Village

• Location: Godhome (Pantheon of Hallownest)

If players felt like they were fighting two Mantis Lords, they were tough, the sisters of the battle boss fight in the Hallownest pantheon, who at the same time will take on the Knights against all three Mantis Lords. This is an incredibly fast fight where healing is almost impossible.

Sisters of Battle is one of the best fights for players who are honing their combat prowess and reflexes. The high octane, energetic and great feel of the battle makes this a very enjoyable fight that also feels very fair to beat with the right technique.

3

Clean ship

Chosen

• Location: Godhome (Pantheon Knight)

The clean ship is the first entry in the Trifecta of the best DLC bosses, and frankly, the best boss fights in the game. This is an improved version of the Hollow Knight fight at the end of the game, with the caveat being that it was when the Hollow Knight was on its main element as a pure ship.

True to its name, its attacks are fast and deal double damage. He also gets a bunch of new attacks that can punish players immensely if they're not careful. Ultimately, this is a very well designed boss that rewards patience and intervenes at the right moment. Completing the knight pantheon is a very satisfying achievement in this game, and a clean ship makes every player work for it.

2

Nightmare King Grimm

Twisted Specter of Scarlet Flame

• Location: Dirtmouth (requires progression through Grimm Troupe DLC)

An upgraded version of the regular Grimm, Nightmare King Grimm, or simply known as NKG, is widely considered to be one of the most popular bosses in Hollow Knight. Everything NKG does is faster and stronger compared to regular Grimm.

This fight is all about muscle memory and being accurate with dodges. Defeating this boss will take a lot of tries, as a single combo attack from NKG can end the fight quickly. It's easily one of the hardest bosses in the Metroidvania games, but it's also one that's exceptional in design, execution, and aesthetics, making it a fan favorite among Hollow Knight's commonwealth.

1

Absolute brilliance

The Forgotten God

• Location: Godhome (Pantheon of Hallownest)

Hardest boss Hollow Knight, And one of the hardest bosses in gaming in general, Absolute Radiance takes the cake as the best DLC boss and the best bosses in the entire game. This boss is a clear improvement over the regular boss Radiance fought as part of the actual ending.

Absolute Radiance has more health, an additional phase that can grab players out of sight, significantly faster attack speed, and new moves. They are an absolute nightmare to oppose and can only be encountered at the very end of the Hallownest Pantheon after defeating countless other bosses.

However, the satisfaction of defeating her is unmatched and the fight itself is a thriller. Every move the player makes decides the outcome of the battle and every tick of damage is important in reducing the Goddess of Light. Absolute Radiance is one of the best designed bosses in the game and fully deserves the number one spot on this list.