Boss Overview
Hollow Knight: Silksong features 43 unique bosses (47 counting repeated encounters). These are spread across three acts, with each act introducing progressively harder and more mechanically complex fights. Some bosses are mandatory for story progression, while others are entirely optional but reward you with powerful Tools, abilities, or lore.
This guide provides a complete boss list organized by act, a recommended fight order, and universal combat strategies that will help you through every encounter.
Act 1 Bosses (13 Bosses)
Act 1 covers your initial journey through Pharloom, from the Moss Grotto tutorial area through to the Blasted Steps where you face the Last Judge. These bosses teach you the core mechanics of Silksong's combat system.
Moss Mother — Moss Grotto
- Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆
- Type: Mandatory (first encounter)
- Reward: Progression to Deep Docks area
Your very first boss fight. Moss Mother is a tutorial encounter designed to teach you basic attack timing and the Bind healing mechanic. She has slow, telegraphed attacks and a small health pool. Strike between her vine slams and you'll defeat her easily.
Tip: This is a great fight to practice Binding (healing) in mid-air, since she leaves long windows between attacks.
Moss Mother (Weavenest Atla) — Weavenest Atla
- Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Access to Eva's upgrade services
A rematch with a slightly enhanced Moss Mother in the hidden Weavenest Atla area. She has a few new vine patterns but otherwise fights similarly to the first encounter.
Lace (First Encounter) — Deep Docks
- Difficulty: ★★★☆☆
- Type: Mandatory
- Reward: Progression, Lace's Hunter Journal entry
Your first real challenge. Lace is fast, aggressive, and punishes button-mashing. Key attacks to learn: Downward Dive, Needle Thrust Charge, and her Combo Strings. Dodge sideways during her dive and jump over her charge to find punish windows.
Phantom — Exhaust Organ (Bilewater)
- Difficulty: ★★★☆☆
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Cross Stitch Silk Skill (parry/deflect ability)
Defeating the Phantom unlocks one of the most useful Silk Skills in the game. Cross Stitch lets you deflect enemy attacks and instantly counter-strike. This fight is well worth seeking out early.
Sister Splinter
- Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Tool or progression item
A smaller boss that tests your platforming during combat. Keep mobile and strike during her recovery animations.
Moorwing — Greymoor
- Difficulty: ★★★★☆
- Type: Optional (can be skipped)
- Reward: Area progression shortcut
Moorwing is one of the first bosses that can genuinely wall players. This flying insect has erratic movement patterns and powerful swooping attacks. Note: This boss can actually be skipped entirely, but if you want the Hunter's Journal entry and the shortcut, you'll need to learn her patterns. In Act 3, a skipped Moorwing becomes black-threaded (harder).
Skull Tyrant — The Marrow
- Difficulty: ★★★☆☆
- Type: Mandatory
- Reward: Progression through The Marrow
A heavy-hitting boss that guards a critical passage. His attacks are slow but devastating. Use the arena's width to create distance and look for openings after his ground slams.
Bell Beast — The Marrow
- Difficulty: ★★★☆☆
- Type: Mandatory
- Reward: Unlocks fast travel in The Marrow
This is a critical fight because defeating Bell Beast unlocks the Bellway fast travel system. Phase 2 introduces falling bells that create additional hazards. Stay mobile and use the falling bells as pogo platforms to reach Bell Beast's weak point.
Savage Beastfly — Hunter's March
- Difficulty: ★★★☆☆
- Type: Mandatory
- Reward: Beast Crest progression
An aggressive flying boss encountered during the Hunter's March gauntlet. You'll need your pogo skills here — much of the arena involves aerial combat.
Fourth Chorus — Far Fields
- Difficulty: ★★★☆☆
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Drifter's Cloak, optional boulder finisher
A multi-phase boss with attack patterns that sync to the music. There's an optional boulder finisher that provides a unique death animation and Hunter's Journal note.
Great Conchflies
- Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Area access
A pair of large Conchflies fought together. They're individually simple but can overwhelm you with combined attacks. Focus one down first.
Widow
- Difficulty: ★★★☆☆
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Tool unlock
A spider-type boss with web-based attacks. Destroy her webs to prevent being trapped.
Last Judge — Blasted Steps
- Difficulty: ★★★★☆
- Type: Mandatory (Act 1 final boss)
- Reward: Progression to Act 2 / The Citadel
The Last Judge is the gatekeeper to Act 2. This is a multi-phase fight that tests everything you've learned. Prepare by stocking up on Tools and upgrading your Silk Spool. The fight has three phases with escalating speed and attack variety.
Act 2 Bosses (17 Bosses)
Act 2 begins when you enter The Citadel and gain access to new abilities like Clawline and the Faydown Cloak (double jump). These new movement options open up previously inaccessible areas and their guardians.
Lace (Second Encounter) — The Cradle
- Difficulty: ★★★★☆
- Type: Mandatory
- Reward: Story progression
Lace returns with an upgraded moveset and three phases. She's significantly faster and more aggressive than your Deep Docks encounter. Her new combo strings are longer and she has aerial attacks that can catch you off guard.
Second Sentinel
- Difficulty: ★★★☆☆
- Type: Mandatory
- Reward: Progression within the Citadel
A guardian of the Citadel's inner chambers. Relies on projectile attacks and area denial.
Broodmother — The Slab
- Difficulty: ★★★★☆
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Powerful Tool, Wailing Mother quest completion
Found in The Slab prison area. The Broodmother has multiple phases and summons smaller enemies. Managing the adds while dealing damage to the boss is the main challenge.
Cogwork Dancers — Cogwork Core
- Difficulty: ★★★★☆
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Unique Tool
A duo boss fight where two automaton dancers attack in patterns synced to the music. This is one of the most unique fights in the game. Learning the musical rhythm makes it much easier. Cheese strategy: Wall-cling on the arena's edges to avoid many of their ground attacks.
Trobbio — Whispering Vaults
- Difficulty: ★★★☆☆
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Claw Mirror Blue Tool
Trobbio is a fun fight with telegraphed but tricky attacks. Defeating him grants the Claw Mirror, which emits damaging light when you Bind.
Disgraced Chef Lugoli
- Difficulty: ★★★☆☆
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Tool/quest reward
A culinary-themed boss with area-of-effect attacks. Can become black-threaded in Act 3 if not defeated.
Shakra
- Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆
- Type: Mandatory
- Reward: Story progression, map vendor unlocks
Yes, the beloved map seller becomes a boss in Act 2. This fight is bittersweet but relatively straightforward. Note: Cannot be fought in Act 3.
Voltvyrm
- Difficulty: ★★★★☆
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Powerful Tool
An electric dragon-type boss with lightning-based attacks. Requires good pattern recognition and punish timing.
First Sinner — The Slab
- Difficulty: ★★★★★
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Rune Rage Silk Skill
One of the hardest optional bosses. Requires the Key of the Apostate, Key of the Indolent, and Key of the Heretic to access. The Rune Rage Silk Skill you earn is extremely powerful — it sews rending runes on enemies.
Father of the Flame
- Difficulty: ★★★★☆
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Tool/progression
A fire-based boss with area-denial attacks. Keep moving and watch for the fire trail patterns.
Forebrothers Signis & Gron
- Difficulty: ★★★★☆
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Tool, lore
A duo boss where two brothers summon minions. In Act 3, the summoned enemies become black-threaded though the brothers themselves don't.
Garmond and Zaza
- Difficulty: ★★★☆☆
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Quest completion
A humorous duo fight. Note: Cannot be fought in Act 3 — they leave the area.
Summoned Saviour
- Difficulty: ★★★★☆
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Lore, Tool
A mysterious summoned entity with powerful attacks.
The Unravelled
- Difficulty: ★★★★☆
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Significant lore item
A tragic boss whose story ties into the wider narrative of Pharloom's decline.
Groal the Great
- Difficulty: ★★★★☆
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Tool
A large, powerful boss with wide-reaching attacks. Use the arena's vertical space.
Raging Conchfly
- Difficulty: ★★★☆☆
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Area progression
An enhanced version of the earlier Conchfly encounters.
Grand Mother Silk — The Cradle (Top of Citadel)
- Difficulty: ★★★★★
- Type: Mandatory (Act 2 final boss)
- Reward: Endings 1, 2, or 3 depending on game state
The climactic boss of Act 2. Grand Mother Silk is a massive, multi-phase encounter that tests your mastery of all combat mechanics. She weaves Silk-based attacks, summons minions, and has devastating area-of-effect abilities. The fight changes depending on which ending path you're on.
Act 3 Bosses (15 Bosses)
Act 3 is accessed after the Snared Silk ending. The world changes significantly — some previously defeated bosses may now be black-threaded (enhanced, Void-corrupted versions). These are new fights even if you fought the originals.
Crawfather
- Difficulty: ★★★★☆
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Memento, Tool
A massive crustacean boss with powerful claw attacks.
Clover Dancers
- Difficulty: ★★★☆☆
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Heart Memento
A dance-themed boss similar in concept to the Cogwork Dancers but with nature-based attacks.
Crust King Khann — Coral Tower
- Difficulty: ★★★★★
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Unique Tool, Coral Tower completion
A Kickstarter backer-created boss who rules the Coral Tower dungeon. One of the most challenging optional fights in the game.
Pinstress
- Difficulty: ★★★★☆
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Tool
A needle-based boss that mirrors some of Hornet's own fighting style.
Nyleth
- Difficulty: ★★★★☆
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Lore, Tool
A mysterious boss tied to the deeper lore of Pharloom.
Bell Eater
- Difficulty: ★★★★☆
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Tool
A corrupted version related to the Bell Beast, found in Act 3's altered Marrow area.
Shrine Guardian Seth
- Difficulty: ★★★★☆
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Guardian's Memento
Guards a sacred shrine. Defeating Seth is required for one of the Mementos.
Palestag
- Difficulty: ★★★★☆
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Tool
A pale, ghostly stag boss with phasing abilities.
Gurr the Outcast
- Difficulty: ★★★★☆
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Tool, lore
An outcast warrior with unpredictable fighting patterns.
Skarrsinger Karmelita
- Difficulty: ★★★★★
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Unique Tool
Another Kickstarter backer-created boss. Karmelita is a singer whose attacks are tied to musical patterns. One of the most memorable fights in Act 3.
Watcher at the Edge
- Difficulty: ★★★★☆
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Lore, achievement
Guards the edge of the known world. Defeating the Watcher reveals hidden lore.
Lost Garmond
- Difficulty: ★★★☆☆
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Quest closure
The Void-corrupted form of Garmond, seeking his lost companion Zaza.
Plasmified Zango
- Difficulty: ★★★★☆
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Tool
Notable for being the only boss without a battle theme. Fights in eerie silence.
Tormented Trobbio
- Difficulty: ★★★★☆
- Type: Optional
- Reward: Enhanced Claw Mirror
The black-threaded version of Trobbio from Act 2.
Lost Lace — The Abyss
- Difficulty: ★★★★★
- Type: Mandatory (Act 3 final boss / True final boss)
- Reward: Sister of the Void ending, Lace's pin on main menu
Lost Lace is the Void-possessed form of Lace and the true final boss of Hollow Knight: Silksong. This is the hardest fight in the game — she combines Lace's incredible speed with Void-enhanced abilities. Three full phases, each more punishing than the last. You'll need mastery of every combat mechanic, a well-optimized tool loadout, and plenty of patience.
Recommended Boss Order
While Silksong is non-linear, here's an optimized order for your first playthrough:
Act 1 Recommended Route
- Moss Mother (tutorial — mandatory)
- Lace (Deep Docks — mandatory)
- Phantom (Exhaust Organ — get Cross Stitch early!)
- Bell Beast (unlock fast travel ASAP)
- Savage Beastfly / Fourth Chorus (for the Crests)
- Skull Tyrant → Last Judge (Act 1 finale)
Act 2 Recommended Route
- Second Sentinel (Citadel progression)
- Trobbio (get Claw Mirror)
- Cogwork Dancers (unique experience)
- First Sinner (if you have all three keys — Rune Rage is worth it)
- Grand Mother Silk (when ready for endings)
Act 3 Recommended Route
- Clear black-threaded bosses for enhanced rewards
- Crust King Khann / Skarrsinger Karmelita (hardest optional fights)
- Lost Lace (true final boss — save for last)
Universal Combat Tips
These strategies work against virtually every boss in Silksong:
Master Mid-Air Binding
Unlike Hollow Knight's Focus (which locks you in place), Hornet can Bind (heal) in mid-air. This is almost always safer than healing on the ground. Jump, Bind, and resume attacking.
Pogo for Damage and Safety
Hornet's downward attack (Pogo) bounces her off enemies, keeping her airborne and dealing damage simultaneously. Against large bosses, this is your safest damage source.
Use the Arena
Most boss arenas have walls you can cling to and platforms for verticality. Don't just fight on the ground — use the full arena space.
Match Your Tools to the Boss
- Aggressive bosses (Lace, First Sinner): Equip defensive Blue Tools like Fractured Mask and Warding Bell
- Slow bosses (Bell Beast, Broodmother): Go offensive with Red Tools like Tacks and Cogwork Wheel
- Flying bosses (Moorwing, Beastfly): Bring ranged Red Tools like Conchcutter or Straight Pin
Learn the Tells
Every boss has a wind-up animation before each attack. Watch for them, dodge, then punish. Button-mashing will get you killed against anything past Act 1.
Don't Neglect Your Silk Spool
Before major boss fights, make sure you've been collecting Spool Fragments to increase your Silk capacity. More Silk = more heals = more survivability.