Hardest Boss Fights With Multiple Bosses Ranked (2024)

There are many instances where two are better than one. Two tasty burgers are better than just one. Two dollars are more valuable than one, and two free hours to play a new game are better than one.

But, when we apply this logic to boss battles, things change pretty drastically, as two bosses on the screen at once is an absolute nightmare, and usually leads to a brutal and intense fight.

These bosses usually have gimmicks that complement each other. They usually provide two unique approaches that players need to understand, and often when one is taken down, the other becomes more powerful to compensate for their partner's death.

In short, these multiple-boss battles are a nightmare, and we aim to prove that by ranking the most brutal examples.

10 Four Kings

Dark Souls

Action RPG

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews

Top Critic Rating:84/100 Critics Recommend:88%

Franchise

Dark Souls

Platform(s)

PS3 , PS4 , Xbox 360 , Xbox One , Switch , PC

Released

September 22, 2011

Developer(s)

From Software

Publisher(s)

Namco Bandai

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

Engine

Havok

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Violence

How Long To Beat

100 hours

X|S Enhanced

no

Steam Deck Compatibility

yes

Cross Save

Dark Souls always save your game data using steam cloud

Cross-Platform Play

No, Dark Souls 3 is not cross-platform between PS4 and PC

Let's kick things off with one of the Lord vessel bosses in Dark Souls, and more specifically, the one you find in The Abyss.

The Four Kings is a boss where the difficulty is really dictated by your DPS, as this fight will start with you fighting a single boss. However, every forty-five seconds or so, another one of the Four Kings will enter the fray, and if you don't put them down fast, you'll surely get overwhelmed.

These bosses have strong magic attacks, powerful homing projectiles, and annoying grab attacks to avoid. Plus, due to the black void that is the abyss, it's very hard to judge how far away you are from the Wraiths, which can lead to missed attacks.

Combine this with the fact that this boss has one of the most annoying boss runs in the game, and you have a boss fight that more than earns its spot here.

9 Man Eater

RPG

See Also

Elden Ring: best progression route for each areaComplete Guide to Ranni the Witch Questline in Elden Ring. | FinalBossElden Ring Quiz - General Knowledge11 of the Hardest Shadow of the Erdtree's Bosses Ranked

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews

Top Critic Rating:92/100 Critics Recommend:99%

Franchise

Dark Souls

Platform(s)

PlayStation 5

Released

November 12, 2020

Developer(s)

Bluepoint Games

Publisher(s)

Sony

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

Engine

Proprietary Engine

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Violence

How Long To Beat

23 Hours

Metascore

92

Number of Players

1-6

PS Plus Availability

Extra & Premium

See at Playstation Store

Next up we have a boss from the grandfather of Souls games, Demon's Souls. Man-eater is a boss that players will fight in the Upper Latria area and sees you initially fight on a narrow bridge area against a tough Gargoyle enemy.

This alone makes for a pretty rough encounter as this enemy has strong attacks and takes flight, often limiting your opportunities to attack yourself. But when you take them down to 50% health, the fight truly begins.

This cues the arrival of the second Man-eater, and it should go without saying that two of these powerful and dynamic foes makes that bridge seem all the more narrow. This boss can be cheesed if you equip the Thief's Ring and run from one end of the boss area to the other to de-aggro one of the Man-eaters.

But even still, the sheer panic that the arrival of the second enemy will cause you more than justifies this duos spot on this list.

8 Theseus and Asterius

Hades

Action RPG

Roguelite

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews

Top Critic Rating:94/100 Critics Recommend:99%

Franchise

Hades

Platform(s)

PS4 , PS5 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Switch , PC

Released

September 17, 2020

Developer(s)

Supergiant Games

Publisher(s)

Supergiant Games

Engine

Proprietary Engine

ESRB

T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence

How Long To Beat

23 Hours

Metascore

93

PS Plus Availability

N/A

Steam Deck Compatibility

Verified

We head to the Underworld for our next entry, as we take the time to highlight a tricky dual boss fight that exists in the indie darling, Hades.

This beloved Roguelike pins you against a series of tough bosses on your way to the surface, but arguably, aside from Hades himself, none are as tough as Theseus and his minotaur companion, Asterius.

This battle plays out with Asterius relentlessly pursuing the player and performing powerful melee attacks. While, usually out of view and off-screen, Theseus will be firing projectiles from range and casting strong AOE attacks on your position.

The pair complement each other wonderfully, which makes for a nightmare scenario of Zagreus and, by extension, you. But, to reach Olympus, you'll need to show them who's boss.

7 Valiant Gargoyle Duo

Elden Ring

9/ 10

RPG

Action

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews

Top Critic Rating:95/100 Critics Recommend:98%

Platform(s)

PS5 , Xbox One , PS4 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , PC

Released

February 25, 2022

Developer(s)

From Software

Publisher(s)

Bandai Namco Entertainment , From Software

Multiplayer

Online Co-Op , Online Multiplayer

Engine

Proprietary

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence

How Long To Beat

58 Hours

X|S Enhanced

yes

Metascore

96

Platforms That Support Crossplay

PS4 &PS5 and Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S

PS Plus Availability

N/A

Steam Deck Compatibility

yes

Cross Save

no

Cross-Platform Play

PS4 & PS5 and Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S

If you're a Souls fan, you'll know that the series is one that loves to provide a double boss fight featuring Gargoyle enemies. The aforementioned Man-eater fight, and Dark Souls' Bell Gargoyles are another. However, we would argue that the hardest of the bunch are the Valiant Gargoyle & Valiant Gargoyle (Twinblade) found in the Soifra Aqueduct in Elden Ring.

This fight plays out much like the others mentioned, where you will face off against a strong boss on their own initially, and when you get them down to half health, that's when their twin shows up to make things infinitely harder.

Oh, and you also have to deal with poison build-up throughout this fight as well, which is a real pain. Gargoyles usually means double trouble, and these guys are more trouble than most.

6 Agni and Rudra

Devil May Cry 3

Hack and Slash

Action-Adventure

Beat 'Em Up

Systems

Platform(s)

PS2 , PS3 , PS4 , PC , Xbox One , Xbox 360

Released

February 17, 2005

Developer(s)

Capcom

Publisher(s)

Capcom , Ubisoft

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

Engine

mt framework

ESRB

m

How Long To Beat

12 hours

If you're someone that is familiar with Capcom's critically acclaimed series Devil May Cry, you'll know that the game is pretty keen on rewarding blistering combos and all-action strategies. However, when you come up against the lovable demons Agni and Rudra, you'll need to adapt your usual gung-ho approach quite a bit.

This boss fight will place you up against two strong demons that require revolver parties to keep at bay, alongside some dynamic movement to leap behind them and get some combos going.

However, you'll be up against it, as they hit hard, and the camera angle is so poor that it practically acts like a third boss fighting against you in this cramped battle arena. Just remember, shoot and parry until you disarm them, and then spill some blood.

5 Cannoneer and Blade Bearer

Code Vein

7/ 10

Action RPG

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews

Top Critic Rating:75/100 Critics Recommend:58%

Platform(s)

PS4 , Xbox One , PC

Released

September 27, 2019

Developer(s)

Bandai Namco Studios

Publisher(s)

Bandai Namco Entertainment

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer , Online Co-Op

Engine

Unreal Engine 4

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood, Partial Nudity, Violence

How Long To Beat

26 Hours

PS Plus Availability

N/A

Would you rather freeze to death, or be burned to a cinder? It's a question that would normally be a morbid hypothetical, but in Code Vein, the Cannoneer and Blade Bearer fight makes this an all too real scenario.

You'll face off against a super aggressive and agile frost-based enemy that hits like a tonne of bricks, and just when you think the worst is over, you'll need to take on the fiery Cannoneer who has a ridiculously inflated health bar.

Add in the fact that these enemies will break aggro on a whim to catch you off guard when you've committed to attacks, and the fact that Cannoneer's AOE attacks are insanely tough to avoid with Blade Bearer breathing down your neck, and you have a duo fight that is easily one of the most frustrating and difficult you will find in all of gaming.

4 Godskin Duo

Elden Ring

If you thought the Valiant Gargoyles were tough when it comes to Elden Ring duo fights, then you won't like what awaits you in the Crumbling Farum Azula .

You'll have likely faced either of the Godskin Noble (Volcano Manor) and the Godskin Apostle (Divine Tower of Caelid) on their own, and you'll likely have beaten them without too much hassle. However, they make one hell of a team when these two come together.

One will come after you with aggressive slams and rolling attacks, putting you on the back foot, and then the other will try to disrupt your flow with ranged projectiles. These enemies can be killed, allowing you to focus on the other, but the duo will reunite before you know it, as each one respawns ten seconds later.

It's a very tough boss, but it does find itself a little lower down the list as you can use sleep items like Sleep Pot or Sleepbone Arrow to cheese this fight. But even with this strategy, it's no walk in the park.

3 Sisters of Battle

Hollow Knight

Metroidvania

Fighting

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews

Top Critic Rating:90/100 Critics Recommend:99%

Franchise

Hollow Knight

Platform(s)

Nintendo Switch , PlayStation 4 , macOS , Xbox

Released

February 24, 2017

Developer(s)

Team Cherry

Publisher(s)

Team Cherry

Engine

Unity

ESRB

e

Hollow Knight has some excellent and very tough multiple boss fights, with the Mantis Lords and the Watcher Knight being the standouts. However, these feel like a cakewalk compared to the challenges present within the Pantheons found in Godhome.

This is a revamped version of the Mantis Lords fight, but instead of fighting one, then two Mantis Lords, you instead fight all three at once, which leads to a seemingly endless flurry of attacks, a need for precision movement to survive, and a keen understanding of their attack patterns and windows of opportunity.

It's a common run-ender in Pantheon runs, and when you watch the sheer volume of attacks in the blink of an eye, you can instantly understand why.

2 Black Rabbit Brotherhood

Lies of P

Lies of P

8.5/ 10

Lies of P is a Soulslike set in a twisted Steampunk version of the Pinocchio fairytale. The game features challenging enemies to face, bosses to defeat, and a unique lying system that alters the course of the game.

Soulslike

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews

Top Critic Rating:82/100 Critics Recommend:88%

Platform(s)

PC , PS5 , PS4 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Xbox One

Released

September 19, 2023

Developer(s)

Round8 Studio , Neowiz

Publisher(s)

Neowiz

Engine

Unreal Engine 4

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Violence

How Long To Beat

20 Hours

X|S Enhanced

Yes

File Size Xbox Series

35 GB (November 2023)

Metascore

84

PS Plus Availability

N/A

As someone that played Lies of P in full before the patch that made the game a lot easier, maybe my view is a little skewed, but even still, I feel that the Black Rabbit Brotherhood are easily one of the hardest multiple boss battles ever.

This one plays out a little like the Four Kings fight, but unlike that fight, each brotherhood member you face off against has a unique moveset and approach, not to mention their own individual health bars.

This leads to a fight where you need to deal with each member fast, to avoid getting overwhelmed by the next that enters the fray, and as a finale of sorts, you'll then need to face off against the Eldest of the Black Rabbit Brotherhood, which is a brutal test in its own right.

Without a Specter this fight can feel damn near impossible, and that's no mistake as Lies of P pulls no punches, making it one of the best non-FromSoft Souls games ever.

1 Ornstein and Smough

Dark Souls

When you think of boss fights with multiple bosses, it's only natural that your mind immediately goes to Ornstein and Smough, the infamous duo found in the original Dark Souls.

It's the classic little and large combo that serves as a real proving ground for Souls players trying to earn their stripes, as they hold the keys to Anor Londo.

It's a fight where there's no room to breathe as one casts powerful ranged attacks, while the other pursues and flattens you with their huge hammer. Dodging attacks can often lead to you rolling straight into the path of another.

Plus, if you want all the best loot, you'll need to kill Smough first, which makes the fight infinitely harder when Ornstein becomes super-charged. It's the most notorious double battle in all of gaming, and that's a reputation that is earned, making this our pick for the toughest multiple-boss fight in gaming.