You’re standing in the Forgotten Crossroads, clutching a chipped nail and wondering where the hell to go next. Honestly, that’s the Hollow Knight experience in a nutshell. The game doesn't hold your hand. It barely even points. Because it’s a Metroidvania, the hollow knight bosses order is notoriously fluid, but trying to fight the wrong thing too early is a one-way ticket to losing 2,000 Geo in a dark pit.
Most people think there’s a "correct" way to play. There isn't. But there is a way that makes sense so you don’t end up smashing your controller against the wall.
The Early Game Scramble
Your first few hours are basically a tutorial disguised as a nightmare. You’ve got to hit the big milestones to actually unlock the map.
False Knight is usually the first "real" boss people find. He’s clunky, he’s loud, and he’s actually optional if you know the secret wall skip, but just kill him. You need that City Crest. After him, you’ll likely stumble into Gruz Mother. She’s basically a giant fly that bounces around like a DVD screensaver. Easy Geo.
Then things get real. You head to Greenpath. You meet Hornet Protector.
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This is the skill check. Hornet is the boss that teaches you how to actually play Hollow Knight. You can’t just mash the attack button anymore. You have to learn her "shaw!" and her "adilo!" cues. Beating her gives you the Mothwing Cloak (the dash), which is basically the moment the game actually begins.
Fungal Wastes and the Choice
Once you can dash, the world opens up. You’ll hit the Fungal Wastes. Here, you have a choice that defines your mid-game:
- Mantis Lords: You can fight these three legends. It’s one of the best fights in the game. It’s rhythmic, fast, and fair. If you win, you get the Mark of Pride charm and access to Deepnest.
- Skip them: Honestly? If you’re struggling, just leave. Come back later with a stronger nail.
Most veterans recommend heading straight to the City of Tears to find the Nailsmith. Upgrading your damage is way more important than proving you can dodge three mantises at once with a toothpick.
Mapping the Hollow Knight Bosses Order
Once you get into the City of Tears, the "linear" part of the game is dead and buried. You can go almost anywhere. However, if you want to keep your sanity, there’s a natural progression of power you should probably follow.
The Soul Sanctum Pivot
Soul Master is usually the next big hurdle. He teleports. He shoots homing balls of light. He fakes a ground pound that will absolutely catch you off guard. Beating him gives you Desolate Dive, which lets you break through shaky floors.
Suddenly, the map doubles in size. You can go down into the Crystal Peak or even deeper into the Royal Waterways.
The Mid-Game Boss Buffet
At this point, you're looking for the three Dreamers to break the seal on the Temple of the Black Egg. This is where your hollow knight bosses order will vary wildly from your friend's.
- Dung Defender: Go to the Royal Waterways. He’s a "hero" who throws... well, dung. He’s actually a very fun, high-energy fight. Plus, he gives you the Defender’s Crest, which is great for certain passive builds.
- Broken Vessel: This is in the Ancient Basin. You need this fight for the Monarch Wings (double jump). Without double jump, you’re basically playing the game on hard mode.
- Watcher Knights: These guys are the gatekeepers to one of the Dreamers (Lurien). There are six of them. They roll. They bounce. They are the "boss wall" for about 80% of players. Pro tip: look for a breakable ceiling before the arena to drop a chandelier on one of them. It makes the fight 5/6ths as hard.
Late Game and the Optional Nightmares
You’ve reached the point where you can technically finish the game. But if you stop after killing The Hollow Knight, you’re missing the real meat.
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The late-game bosses are where Team Cherry stopped being nice. Hornet Sentinel in Kingdom’s Edge is significantly faster and covers the arena in spikes. Traitor Lord requires the Shade Cloak (the dark dash) to survive his screen-filling waves.
And then there's the DLC content.
The Grimm Troupe and Godhome
If you want to talk about true boss order, you have to mention the Nightmare King. Nightmare King Grimm is a dance. It’s 100% muscle memory. You will die fifty times. You will learn his every frame. Then, you will win, and you will feel like a god.
Then there is Godhome. This is the ultimate "boss rush" mode. It introduces Pure Vessel and Absolute Radiance. If you’re doing a 112% completion run, these are your final stops. They aren't part of the main world; they are tests of absolute perfection.
Why Speedrunners Do It Differently
If you watch a world record run, their hollow knight bosses order looks insane. They skip False Knight. They bypass Hornet for as long as possible. They use "pogo" jumps on background objects to reach areas they shouldn't be in yet.
For a normal human being, don't do this. The game is designed around a "difficulty curve" for a reason. If you sequence break and end up at the Watcher Knights with zero nail upgrades and no spells, you aren't going to have a good time. You’re going to have a miserable four hours of chip damage until you give up.
Real Advice for Your Route
Don't get obsessed with a checklist. Hollow Knight is about getting lost. If you find a boss that feels impossible, it’s probably because you’re missing an upgrade.
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Go find a Mask Shard. Find a Pale Ore. Visit the Seer to upgrade your Dream Nail.
The most common mistake? Ignoring the Dream Warriors. Bosses like Gorb or Xero are scattered around the map. They are relatively easy and give you Essence. Essence is the currency for the "true" ending. If you ignore them until the very end, you’ll have a boring two-hour grind of flying around the map just to collect points.
Your Final Checklist
When you feel ready to end it, make sure you've handled these:
- The Three Dreamers: Herrah (Deepnest), Monomon (Fog Canyon), and Lurien (City of Tears).
- The Shadow Dash: Found in the Abyss. It makes you invincible during a dash. Essential for late-game.
- The Nail Upgrades: If your nail isn't "Pure" or at least "Coiled," the final boss will feel like a sponge.
The beauty of the hollow knight bosses order is that it's your story. Maybe you beat the Mantis Lords first try. Maybe you spent three days on the Soul Master. It doesn't matter. Just keep swinging.
To actually master the endgame, your next step should be hunting down all the Pale Ore locations. You’ll need at least two pieces for the "Channeled Nail" upgrade, which is the bare minimum for surviving the Watcher Knights without a mental breakdown. Check the top of Crystal Peak and the reward from the Seer for 300 Essence to get started.