6 Hardest Metroidvania Boss Fights, Ranked

Metroidvanias often feature some of the hardest boss fights players can experience. While some of them can be gimmicky and require gamers to try unconventional tactics, other difficult bosses make players rely on their raw skill and expertise in the mechanics of the game. These boss fights are also typically featured at the end of most games, making these encounters that much more meaningful to the overall journey

Therefore, completing boss fights in metroidvanias often serve as the hallmark of skill expression for gamers of the genre. Successfully bringing down the most difficult boss fights listed below should surely make players feel satisfied and rightfully allow them to flex their achievements.

6 Galamoth (Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night)

The Demon Lord Keep His Weak Spot Out Of Reach

Galamoth is one of the toughest bosses in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night — and the entire franchise as well. The seeker of the Netherworld’s throne appears in Symphony of the Night as a huge monster that blasts Alucard with powerful thunder attacks.

Galamoth’s enormous height helps him mask his weak spot, which is his head. This adds to the overall difficulty of the fight, as his attacks are incredibly difficult to circumnavigate unless players have the right equipment, such as the Beryl Circlet or the Shield Rod and Alucard Shield as a combination. Galamoth’s mammoth presence in the arena and his powerful attacks will surely catch most players off guard unless they are well-prepared ahead of this tough boss fight.

5 Eviterno (Blasphemous 2)

The First Of The Penitents

Eviterno is the penultimate boss of Blasphemous 2 and easily the most difficult in the game. The First of the Penitents has two phases to get past. The first phase is quite simple and should pose little problems for players. The second phase, however, is where the difficulty cranks up a lot.

Eviterno gets access to Crisanta’s sword in the second phase, which turns him into a teleporting monstrosity. His attacks are very quick and require precise reactions to parry and dodge. This phase is one of the rare occasions where Veredicto is not viable.

Getting caught in any one of Eviterno’s flurry of attacks in this phase can lead to instant failure. There is also very little room to use flasks in this phase. Toward the end of the second phase, Eviterno will summon the Archconfraternity, leading to all the previous Penitents in the game unleashing their signature attacks. Eviterno is one of the most exciting yet difficult boss fights in the entire franchise.

4 Nightmare King Grimm (Hollow Knight)

The Leader Of The Grimm Troupe

Nightmare King Grimm is one of the hardest bosses in Hollow Knight. He is a stronger version of Troupe Master Grimm and deals double the damage. His attacks are also much more rapid, leaving very little room to maneuver, with some of his attacks leaving flaming trails that can also deal double damage.

He also gains access to a new ability where he can summon flame pillars from the ground. This is one of the few opportunities to damage him quite a lot. Healing in this boss fight is completely out of the window, considering the intense pace of the entire fight. Nightmare King Grimm always forces players to play at his own tempo, which is what makes him one of the toughest yet most enjoyable bosses in the game.

3 Absolute Radiance (Hollow Knight)

Pantheon Of Hallownest’s Final Boss

Absolute Radiance is the 43rd and final boss in the gruesome Pantheon of Hallownest. She is the pinnacle of difficulty when it comes to combat in Hollow Knight. Absolute Radiance is an enhanced version of the regular Radiance fought as part of the true ending.

If players wish to get the Godhome endings, they will have to defeat the Absolute Radiance and 42 other bosses in the Pantheon of Hallownest to achieve it. The finale of this Pantheon is a nightmare that is bound to make players rage.

Her attacks appear at a much faster pace, and she also has a larger health pool. She also has an extra phase compared to the regular fight, which can definitely catch players off-guard. The sheer number of abilities that gamers need to dodge, along with the double damage and ludicrous health pool, makes Absolute Radiance one of the hardest bosses in gaming.

2 Eigong (Nine Sols)

The Leader Of The Ten Sols

Eigong is the final boss of Nine Sols. She is one of the most difficult metroidvania bosses, rivaling the likes of Absolute Radiance. Eigong has three challenging phases that should test the mettle of the very best. In every phase, she gains new attacks that can throw the momentum of players.

The most important element that makes this boss fight so gruelingly difficult is the excruciating amount of time that players will have to spend dodging and finding the perfect opportunity to strike Eigong. Therefore, a lot of the challenge comes from the player being able to keep focus and remain calm in this hectic fight. Combined with her deadly attacks, Eigong definitely deserves a spot on this list as the Big Bad of Nine Sols.

1 The Emperor (Aeterna Noctis)

The God Slayer Shows How He Earned The Title

If players manage to defeat The Emperor in Aeterna Noctis, they are worthy of calling themselves hardened veterans of the metroidvania genre. This is the amount of difficulty anyone can expect coming into this insanity of a boss fight. From the first phase, players will be able to realize the predicament they are in.

Most of The Emperor’s attacks take up half of the screen and deal immense damage, leaving little room to maneuver. There is almost no room to breath in this boss fight, and it only continues to get harder with every phase.

The third phase is the zenith of absurdity as The Emperor keeps teleporting every other second while unleashing a barrage of attacks that players must dodge to stay healthy. The Emperor is a true challenge for even the best players out there, which is quite fitting considering Aeterna Noctis is regarded as one of the hardest metroidvanias to complete.