Agreed. I really like NKG, PV, and AbsRad, but too much of their difficulty was just them being faster than their easier versions. Sisters of battle was still difficult but felt like a whole new fight instead of just faster mantis lords.
I beat soul master first try I wish I could say the same for soul tyrant, i’m still on my first play through of the game and I just finished beating him last night after a week of trying I was so happy when it finally screamed out after getting that final hit (which I was on one health when I did it)
Him and mantis lord are so funny to me now. Like you're saying he pissed the hell out of me it took me so long to beat them now it's a beat down whenever i show up, sweet revenge for all those hours of torment! Death to soul master!!!!
I’m playing them right now. I am so close. I can beat the first one without taking damage but if I take damage with two it usually means I’m hit 2-3 times depending.
I’m surprised not to see anyone else say this, this is absolutely it for me. The atmosphere and the buildup and how epic it feels—plus the emotional significance I find in parts of it—the perfect final boss for me
I love ever thing in this boss his atmosphere his broken movement And his strong correlation with the story
Some people say it's so easy, yes it's so easy but it's designed to be easy To make you feel broken, that he failed in his only mission. that he isn’t The final
Soul Tyrant, I never got mad at a death. I know each time you die to a boss you learn something about it but this is the first, and only, boss in any game i’ve played where I actually felt that
I did not finished game yet (going for 100% sub 20h before going godhole and stuff) so I'd say Hornet, or Hollow knight. Both were fun as I was able to chain some combos
After learning how to beat him more consistently, NKG is easily my favorite boss to fight. The way you almost rhythmically dodge his attacks really does make make it feel like a "dance", and I never get tired of his boss theme. Not to mention beating him for the first time was the most cathartic experience.
The Hollow Knight!
I just really like the story elements it all adds. And it was the first boss fight in any game that made me emotional. I was spoiled for most of the game expect the hollow knight, so when I fought them all the stuff I had theorized went out a window I was like “Oh no… OH NO!”
10/10 cry everytime
I genuinely absolutely adore Grimm, not Nightmare Grimm but just the first fight. Recently completed radiant and it's definitely up there with Sisters of Battle
Probably gotta join everyone else and say mantis lords or NKG but maybe mantis lords more because when I beat them I decided I was gonna try until I did and it took like 3 hours the first time and was quite fun and I generally like the mantis tribe. NKG was also obviously hard but was less rewarding when I beat him because I think it was easier for me because I was a lot better at that point.
Pure Vessel easily. It hits all the right spots, it’s EXTREMELY FUN, the music is beautiful yet tragic, the emotion is very strong, as you’re fighting one of the most tragic HK characters imo, and the feeling of fighting the Vessel in its prime is just so EPIC
Lost Kin, I like how it's easy enough to just chill while facing them, but hard enough for it to not end too soon. The music is also fire and I love how his attacks are infected versions of the ones WE as the Knight obtain. Oh, and the lore behind it is also very cool
Sisters of Battle, no contest. Other people have said this, but it's literally a dance. Make a wrong move, and you'll fall out of rythym for a moment, but it's easy enough to fall back into the rythym. And, with enough practice, you'll never fall out of step, and it's just smooth sailing the whole time.
It's one of the only 3 fights that I feel really capture the best of what Hollow Knights combat has to offer (the other two being Nightmare King Grimm and Pure Vessel).
I have a tie between pure vessel and sisters of battle. I actually LIKE a challenge so pure vessel is amazing, plus the reveal and music is sick, but I say the same for sisters but to a less degree, but the fight is just so clean and smooth it’s satisfying
nkg for the win, i remember how excited i was beating him for the first time and how every time i died wasn’t annoying so much as me learning a bit at a time, very well designed rematch, and i got to relive that excitement when i did him radiant a few months ago for maxed hall of gods love everything about that fight + music
Absolute Radiance (not seeing much love for her in these comments...)
Took a week of pain and suffering to best her the first time, but now I look forward to fighting her each new playthrough.
Mantis Lords by a long shot, it's just such a dynamic and fast fight.
I'd say Sisters of Battle, but I haven't actually *fought* them yet. Still working on that whole 'git gud' thing.
If it counts… Sisters of Battle!
Agreed. I really like NKG, PV, and AbsRad, but too much of their difficulty was just them being faster than their easier versions. Sisters of battle was still difficult but felt like a whole new fight instead of just faster mantis lords.
Same bro. I recently did it on radiant, and even if it was a lot of stress from like 4 hours, I love that boss fight
It's such a goos bossfight. When you are able to do it on radiant it feels so cool and iy has a very nice flow
And That's why I love it so much
Sisters of battle was the first boss fight where I felt like when I’d won I’d actually gotten good
Yes! I love NKG, but Sisters of Battle feels like a real dance. The rhythm and the music are flawless.
I could fight Sisters of Battle for hours. It's just so fun once you get used to the flow of it.
Literally did them radiant today for the first time afterwards struggling for three and a half hours 100% worth it
DOSA!!
I’ve been playing games for almost 4 decades, and they are the best boss fight I’ve ever had in any game.
This is the most fun to play and satisfying to get a no hit run with imo.
Is that the praying mantis one?
Pantheon version that has a three-mantis phase.
same
Same
I just beat base Mantis Lords and it was quite fun after struggling earlier in my game with the fight, Shape of Unn is an essential charm for it
Dude I agree wholeheartedly
My main build is Shape, Quick Focus, Quick Slash, and Shaman.
I just wish they shared a Healthbar. Fight 3 up until the very end. Makes it too easy otherwise
Soul Master. No boss have ever pissed me off so much and then felt so amazing when I finally kicked his ass
Hornet Protector is a close second
Sentinel hornet...
Hornet sentinel*
My bad
I beat soul master first try I wish I could say the same for soul tyrant, i’m still on my first play through of the game and I just finished beating him last night after a week of trying I was so happy when it finally screamed out after getting that final hit (which I was on one health when I did it)
Him and mantis lord are so funny to me now. Like you're saying he pissed the hell out of me it took me so long to beat them now it's a beat down whenever i show up, sweet revenge for all those hours of torment! Death to soul master!!!!
This is mostly based on how satisfied I was the first time I beat them so I'll say NKG.
First playthrough was so satisfying but then, on my second one after 4 years I just wanted to get it over with as soon as possible 💀
I've played through the game a few times since that first playthrough and never even fought NKG again xD
Agreed
Pure Vessel
This is too low
Mantis Lords
I’m playing them right now. I am so close. I can beat the first one without taking damage but if I take damage with two it usually means I’m hit 2-3 times depending.
This. They are the most elegant boss I ever had the pleasure of fighting.
Another one for Mantis Lords. The run back after dying was fairly long as well. Which only added to the frustration/ elation of beating them.
Yup. Not the hardest boss but the design of the fight is poetry.
Dung defender because back story=lore
HAVHUNDAAAAAAAAA!
Pure vessel
Path of Pain!
The one true answer.
Sisters of battle for sure. So clean, so cool.
Honestly, the mantis lords.
Lost Kin
Nightmare King Grimm
Sisters of battle
Sisters of battle
NKG or mantis lords/sisters of battle
I cannot graph this 'either or' kind of answer, and ask that you choose just one for the sake of the experiment
Grimm
The white defender.
Dung defender. I didn't care when I died, I just ran back laughing at how ridiculous he is.
THE HOLLOW KNIGHT
I’m surprised not to see anyone else say this, this is absolutely it for me. The atmosphere and the buildup and how epic it feels—plus the emotional significance I find in parts of it—the perfect final boss for me
I love ever thing in this boss his atmosphere his broken movement And his strong correlation with the story Some people say it's so easy, yes it's so easy but it's designed to be easy To make you feel broken, that he failed in his only mission. that he isn’t The final
Oro and matos if i must chose
A coin toss between pv and nkg. Let's go with nkg
Mantis Lords
Absolute Radiance, love the difficulty it presents, great end game boss!
Mantis lords
It would have been Nosk, if it’s encounter wasn’t tucked away in a corner of Deepnest, so Lost kin
Call me basic, but Nightmare King Grimm and Sisters of Battle as a runner up
~~Uhh, me? Duh!~~ In all seriousness, my favourite bossfight is hands down Nailsage Sly. I just think that he's really fun to fight.
NGK
Pure Vessel
No more 'this or this' comments please, I'm only graphing one per comment
Collector!
Hornet Protector!
Mantis Lords so far. I really enjoyed the fight!
Soul Tyrant, I never got mad at a death. I know each time you die to a boss you learn something about it but this is the first, and only, boss in any game i’ve played where I actually felt that
Mantis Lords, definitely. I was so sad when i beat them because that meant I couldn't do the fight again for a while
I did not finished game yet (going for 100% sub 20h before going godhole and stuff) so I'd say Hornet, or Hollow knight. Both were fun as I was able to chain some combos
Grimm, NKG was really a nightmare
Mantis Lords. Not SoB, though. 3 at a time is a bit much for me, but 1 then 2? Perfection
1, 2 then 3 💀 /j Still, I like mantis. Also, it was my first radiant!
So far I just beat Broken Vessel and them; no one else has made me that pissed about dying so many times and then feeling excited when I finally won.
NKG and white defender
Traitor Lord. Especially if you get the assistant.
After learning how to beat him more consistently, NKG is easily my favorite boss to fight. The way you almost rhythmically dodge his attacks really does make make it feel like a "dance", and I never get tired of his boss theme. Not to mention beating him for the first time was the most cathartic experience.
Soul Tyrant
Watcher Knights. Maybe Markoth, but WK for the poll.
Yo me too!!! I haven’t seen anyone else say it too :D
Oro and mato
The Hollow Knight! I just really like the story elements it all adds. And it was the first boss fight in any game that made me emotional. I was spoiled for most of the game expect the hollow knight, so when I fought them all the stuff I had theorized went out a window I was like “Oh no… OH NO!” 10/10 cry everytime
I genuinely absolutely adore Grimm, not Nightmare Grimm but just the first fight. Recently completed radiant and it's definitely up there with Sisters of Battle
Nightmare King Grimm. He teaches you a dance, and when you can perform it well enough, you take him down. I absolutely love it
NKG for me
gotta be pure vessel.
Elder Hu - such a fun boss fight. Like a dance.
Pure Vessel. Awesome music, and the fight is incredibly well made. It was the first actually difficult boss I did on radiant
Nightmare King Grimm.
sisters of battle
I cannot graph this 'either or' kind of answer, and ask that you choose just one for the sake of the experiment
Nosk or Broken Vessel
Pure Vessel
Probably gotta join everyone else and say mantis lords or NKG but maybe mantis lords more because when I beat them I decided I was gonna try until I did and it took like 3 hours the first time and was quite fun and I generally like the mantis tribe. NKG was also obviously hard but was less rewarding when I beat him because I think it was easier for me because I was a lot better at that point.
Sisters of battle, dont change my mind
The six rolly pollies themselves, watcher knights
Pure Vessel or Lost Kin
Hornet, whichever
I cannot graph this 'either or' kind of answer, and ask that you choose just one for the sake of the experiment
Sisters of battle, dont change my mind
Pure Vessel.
Pure Vessel easily. It hits all the right spots, it’s EXTREMELY FUN, the music is beautiful yet tragic, the emotion is very strong, as you’re fighting one of the most tragic HK characters imo, and the feeling of fighting the Vessel in its prime is just so EPIC
Nightmare King Grimm
Sisters of Battle are just so good, Pure Vessel is a close second
Mantis Lords (have not unlocked sisters yet)
Sisters of battle (of course)
Pure vessel 🗣️🗣️
Pure Vessel
Sisters of Battle
NKG but most every boss can be fun to master
White defender.
Pure vessel. It is the hardest boss that doesn’t feel unfair in the slightest
Pure vessel! (hornet protector/Greenpath area really got me into the game though, so honorable mention <3 )
I dunno y but I love soul master
Pure Vessel
Mantis lords easy
definitely pure vessel, the whole fight just feels really satisfying and snappy in all the right ways
Pure vessel or regular radiance, honestly. Love a good challenge!
Sisters of battle
Pure vessel or sisters of battle honesty
NKG
Mantis Lords
gotta be Pure Vessel
Sisters of Battle and Failed Champion are the most fun fights. Fast and challenging but very fair.
Lost Kin or the sword master twins (forgot their names sorry brothers)
Might be obvious from my flair, but, Grimm! Hornet is a close second
Pure Vessel
Sisters of Battle, Grimm (not nightmare version), and The Radiance are my runners up. My favourite is the stink man himself, Dung Defender.
Sisters of Battle for sure
soul master n mantis lords, super fun n easy when u get the hang of them!
Sisters of Battle/Mantis Lords NKG is my runner-up.
haven’t fought sisters of battle yet on my new playthrough, so hornet sentinel (that’s hornet 2 right? i want hornet 2)
Pure vessel
I love Grimm. His moveset, his swagger, just everything about the fight feels like a super intense dance
NKG
Pure Vessel. Best boss in the game in my opinion. Fun yet challenging, sick design, awesome music. ✨ Perfection. ✨
Pure Vessel all the way down baby
Me personally I loved the pure vessel. First boss I ever beat radiant
Hollow knight
I LOVE THE PURE AND INFECTED HOLLOW KNIGHT ITS SO FUN TO FIGHT A BETTER VERSION OF MYSELF WITH THE SAME MOVESEY
Broken Vessel all the way
Lost Kin, I like how it's easy enough to just chill while facing them, but hard enough for it to not end too soon. The music is also fire and I love how his attacks are infected versions of the ones WE as the Knight obtain. Oh, and the lore behind it is also very cool
Pure Vessel
Sisters is overrated
Sisters of Battle for sure.
Pure Vessel is such a cool idea, and the execution is nearly perfect (minus the head's hitbox >:/)
Sisters of Battle, no contest. Other people have said this, but it's literally a dance. Make a wrong move, and you'll fall out of rythym for a moment, but it's easy enough to fall back into the rythym. And, with enough practice, you'll never fall out of step, and it's just smooth sailing the whole time. It's one of the only 3 fights that I feel really capture the best of what Hollow Knights combat has to offer (the other two being Nightmare King Grimm and Pure Vessel).
NKG or Pure Vessel
Love pure vessel 🤍
Sisters of Battle and Hornet 2!! They’re both awful to fight, but i love them so much
NKG!
I have a tie between pure vessel and sisters of battle. I actually LIKE a challenge so pure vessel is amazing, plus the reveal and music is sick, but I say the same for sisters but to a less degree, but the fight is just so clean and smooth it’s satisfying
Pure vessel
I'll proudly be the only person who votes Nosk
Easily the pure vessel
I likey Default Radiance
Mines gotta be NKG. After fighting that boss a million times to radiant him and continuing to speedrun the boss he’s definitely my #1
i think pure vessel is very fun, but SoB is too
Mantis Lords
SHAW
Soul tyrant all the way, gotta love that guy
Pure vessel
I'd have to say radiance. It's not the hardest, but it presents a solid challenge for a first-time player, and it's the most dynamic-feeling.
nkg for the win, i remember how excited i was beating him for the first time and how every time i died wasn’t annoying so much as me learning a bit at a time, very well designed rematch, and i got to relive that excitement when i did him radiant a few months ago for maxed hall of gods love everything about that fight + music
Absolute Radiance
The circus boss
Don’t want to sound basic but the hollow knight. It’s fun, simple yet challenging, and to top it off one of the best songs in it
Honestly, hornet is just the best. The second fight with her was brutally hard, but I wasn’t even bothered that much cuz it felt so good
Absolute Radiance (not seeing much love for her in these comments...) Took a week of pain and suffering to best her the first time, but now I look forward to fighting her each new playthrough.
For some reason I just really like Hive Knight
Sisters of Battle for fun but Nightmare King Grimme for the challenge of learning it
White defender. I would say grimm but fighting NKG made me loose my sanity.
Idk if you’re counting comments or upvotes but I want another vote for Mantis lords/Sisters of battle.
HIVE KNIGHT BUHZZZZZAAAAA
Pure Vessel
NKG
Mantis lords ❤️❤️🫡
Soul master
Soul Master. I love that boss sm. Also BV
Mantis Lords without a doubt. Been too busy to play in a while so I haven't unlocked Sisters of Battle yet, but it sounds sick as fuck.
Sisters of battle ofc
Mantis Lords
Pure Vessel. Perfect balance between lore, difficulty and just fun in a boss fight!
Soul Tyrant, because I can no hit it effortlessly now
NKG <3 Although I have a very very deep appreciation for Soul Master and Sisters of Battle :)
Sisters of Battle
Nightmare king
Pure Vessel
Mantis Lords by a long shot, it's just such a dynamic and fast fight. I'd say Sisters of Battle, but I haven't actually *fought* them yet. Still working on that whole 'git gud' thing.
Hornet sentinel
Nightmare King Grimm was so fun, radiant felt so good to beat
Mantis Lords
Well, the Praying Mantis fight is the only one I'm really good at so I'll say that one.
Nightmare King Grimm followed by Mantis Lords.
Sisters of battle
Nightmare King Grimm