Bosses

The first great wall of BLACK SOULS — and a boss you will meet more than once. Helkaiser is the most-defeated boss in the game, and his Rotting and Undead forms return at later points of the story as harder rematches.

The burbling terror of Carroll's poem, lurking at the far edge of the first game — and a deliberate signpost toward BLACK SOULS II's Wonderland. Only 17.5% of players have slain it.

A frumious mid-game beast in BLACK SOULS — and a returning teacher in BLACK SOULS II, where it teaches you the Devour Corpse technique.

The Blood Countess herself, one of the hardest-to-reach fights in BLACK SOULS, tied to Elisabeth's character ending — and remembered in BLACK SOULS II as the Folk Tale [Elizabeth Bathory].

The fairest of them all, twisted by the mist of the Lost Empire. A signature mid-game encounter that shows exactly what BLACK SOULS does to the stories you grew up with.

The second-rarest boss kill in BLACK SOULS. The saint transformed into a holy beast is one of the game's ultimate challenges, woven into Jeanne's character route.

The first major boss most players meet in BLACK SOULS II. The achievement's advice is literal: aim at the neck and chop.

Victorian literature's ugliest secret, fought at the bottom of BLACK SOULS II's rarity table. Only 18.1% of players have put Hyde down.

The rarest tracked boss kill in BLACK SOULS II. His achievement — "Relish in my hundred and fifty plays" — reads like a curtain call, and reaching him is one.

The great fish that swallowed a wooden boy. Defeating the Whale Beast unlocks "Here Comes Pinocchio" — and the Fairy Tale [Pinocchio] waits nearby.

The second wall of BLACK SOULS' opening run, defeated by 53.8% of players. Where Helkaiser teaches you the loop, the Iron King teaches you that defense is a stat you must answer.

An early predator of the mist, defeated by 51.7% of players. The first boss whose theme — appetite — announces what the Lost Empire does to living things.

Silent Donkey, Murderous Dog and their bandmates — the Grimm animals who dreamed of Bremen, twisted into the game's first multi-target fight. Defeated by 51.7% of players.

Hamelin's debt collector, re-armed with an elixir instead of a flute. Just under half of all players (49.6%) have put him down.

A courteous blade in the mist — the series' take on Puss in Boots, fought by 49.1% of players. The sequel confirms the identity with a wink: its Fairy Tale [Knight in Armor] achievement reads 'I'm at your command. Meow.'

The breadcrumb siblings, fought together in the opening act (49%) — and again, separately and changed, in one of the deepest threads of the game (15.2% / 14.1%).

The faithful cart-dog of Flanders, starved by the mist into a Devourer. Defeated by 47.8% of players — and mourned by the sequel's Fairy Tale [Dog of Flanders].

The legendary sea-terror, reduced to lord of the refuse. Defeated by 46.6% of players at the tail of the opening run.

Andersen's story of becoming beautiful, told by a world where nothing is allowed to. Defeated by 46.4% of players — and laid to rest by the sequel's Fairy Tale [The Ugly Duckling], 'Eternal Peace'.

The land-titan of scripture, closing out the opening act at 46.1%. The first fight that's purely about surviving scale.

The boy who climbed, robbed a giant and was called a hero for it — the last boss of the opening run at 45.5%, and the game's first question about what 'hero' means.

Andersen's frozen child, found only by 13.7% of players in the deepest reaches of the route structure. One of the saddest fights in the game — and the series knows it.

The legendary Scottish cave-cannibal, seated in Wonderland's town-killer band. Defeated by 41.2% of players; his achievement is a sentence eaten mid-word.

The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, giving Wonderland haircuts. Defeated by 36.2% of players; his achievement — 'This is my SALVATION!!' — says everything about his state of mind.

The killer clown himself, painted into Wonderland's gallery at 34.1%. The achievement's greeting — 'Hi, Geogre!' — is exactly as wrong as it should be.

The most feared pirate of the age, collecting debts in Wonderland at 29.4%. His achievement states his terms: no money? Pay with blood.