Summary
In the challenging world of video games, DLC bosses in games likeCupheadorElden Ringhave boosted difficulty to new heights, testing players' skills, patience, and strategy.These epic encounters offer intense challengesand add depth and excitement to the beloved titles they enhance.
Many games hinge their appeal on difficulty, challenging players who relish the opportunity to run a gauntlet and learn from their mistakes. By their nature, however, DLC expansions often end up the most challenging sagas in such titles, like theexcellentElden Ring: Shadow of the ErdtreeorCuphead’sDelicious Last Course. Players have already overcome the most difficult bosses in the base game, so additional content understandably has an obligation to introduce new hardships. DLC bosses are often technically demanding in their gameplay, reaching new heights in difficulty over their base-game counterparts.
It was a pleasant surprise to discover that Cuphead would receive DLC five years after its release. However, players needed to prepare themselves to face the challenge ofan intense battle against Chef Saltbaker in four brutal phasesas part ofThe Delicious Last Course.
Chad Moldenhauer, Jared Moldenhauer, & Eli Cymet Interview: Cuphead DLC
Studio MDHR Founders Chad and Jared Moldenhauer alongside Producer Eli Cymet discuss creating Cuphead’s upcoming DLC The Delicious Last Course.
The first two phases fill the screen with hazards that need to be dodged, including sugar cubes, lime slices, peppercorns, and fireballs. After breaking the opponent’s body apart,players still have to deal with the large amount of saltthat acts as his insides. The final phase, where salty tornadoes close in while the player is forced into platforming, can be quite stressful.
Before Geralt can settle down in his vineyard at theend ofBlood and Wine, he has to contend with one seriously powerful vampire. Dettlaff is no ordinary bloodsucker, which becomes very clear as soon as the fight starts. In his first phase,he consistently uses his sharp clawsand teleportation to back Geralt into a corner.
Then comes his second phase: after transforming,Dettlaff uses the distance provided by his wings to summon a horde of bats that can attack alarmingly fastand makes the ground unsafe with shockwaves and traps. The whole encounter is a white-knuckle lesson in tension and is one of the toughest challenges Geralt has ever faced.
God of War Ragnarök
In the free expansion ofGod of War Ragnarok,Valhalla,Kratos fights the Norse god of war, Tyr, several times, with the fourth and final encounter being the toughest. He begins with a katana, but can also swap between any weapons he’s used in previous fights, resulting in various attacks to watch out for, most of which can easily catch the player off guard if they aren’t careful.
He can also inflict elemental damageand summon annoying minions to swarm Kratos once he’s at half health. The DLC’s roguelike elements mean that this fight could start as an uphill battle if previous sections drained too much of Kratos’s health or rage.
Fatalis is one of the most notorious recurring enemies in theMonster Hunterseries. When Capcom introduced this formidable dragon intoMonster Hunter Worldvia thebrutalIceborneDLC,it came with a heightened difficulty level. Players need to use every bit of tactical thinking they have, as Fatalis cannot be stunned and must be knocked over with cannons.
Its attacks are extremely powerful, especially during each phase transition. If players fail to destroy its horns in time, they’ll definitely regret it during Fatalis’s final phase. Its health pool is massive, and it is not recommended taking it on solo.The time limit of 30 minutes adds even more pressureto the fight.
When it comes to tackling bosses in FromSoftware’s DLC, there’s no denying thatDarkeater Midir from theRinged Citystands out as a formidable challenge. With four imposing wings and a crystallized body that grants him exceptional durability, he certainly commands respect.
Chipping away at Midir’s health pool can be discouraging due to the limited safe spaces in the arena.The dragon boasts a variety of ranged moves and a devastating AoE attackthat can shatter any hopes of victory. Engaging him at close range is also dangerous; his bite attack inflicts high critical damage, testing players' willpower to the limit.
In the second piece ofFinal Fantasy 16DLC, the battle with Leviathan presents peak frustration, whereClive must defeat the creature in four challenging phases. Despite restarting from the current phase upon dying, it remains a considerable challenge.
How To Beat Leviathan In Final Fantasy 16: The Rising Tide
The Leviathan Eikon is a massive sea serpent boss that can be difficult to beat in Final Fantasy 16’s Rising Tide DLC across five distinct phases.
The first two phases demand extreme patience, as the only way to deal damage is to dodge Leviathan’s relentless attacks and look for an opening.Remaining calm during the third phase is crucial, where Leviathan charges up for an attack that, if not stopped by dealing enough damage, will put an end to poor Clive. The final phase showcases Leviathan at its most enraged, making dodging its attacks intimidating.
The Radiance, the secret final boss ofHollow Knight, is already a huge obstacle to overcome, but her souped-up version from theGodmasterDLC is truly unholy.This upgraded form, known as Absolute Radiance, retains the same attacks as her original fight, but they come much quicker, giving players only a minuscule window to react. To make it worse, Absolute Radiance gains a new and problematic barrage of orbs in her sixth phase.
Facing Absolute Radiance is not just a test of skill but also of endurance. The arena is filled with hazards, andfinding safe spotsbecomes increasingly difficult as the fight progresses. It helps to stay vigilant, dodging various attacks, including beams of light, deadly spikes, and the orb barrage. The relentless onslaught of attacks, combined with her towering presence, turns the encounter into a true David versus Goliath battle.
The Orphan of Kos isThe Old HuntersDLC’s final boss, a content pack filled with enemies that can easily tear the player apart.Despite having only two phases, he will make the fight feel like an eternitydue to the sheer difficulty. There is no distance he cannot close with his deadly lunges and heavy slams, not to mention a few projectile attacks that can easily catch the player off guard.
His flurry attack is extremely devastating and can deplete a health bar within seconds.The second phase intensifies all the challenges from the first phaseand introduces additional, irritating attacks to an already formidable arsenal. Confronting the Orphan of Kos is a genuine trial of skill and stamina, leaving players with a lasting feeling of dread even after the battle has ended.
Yozora is a mysterious figure in the base game ofKingdom Hearts 3, pulling at players' curiosity. However, upon facing him in theRe MindDLC,it becomes clear whyhe is considered one of the toughest opponents. His fight only unlocks after beating a gauntlet of 13 other bosses, which hints at how challenging he is.
Yozora is much more durable and hard-hitting than any other boss in the game, andsurpasses many otherKingdom Heartsbosses in difficulty. He is frighteningly fast, capable of teleporting and striking before his opponent even sees him coming. Adding to the challenge, Yozora has a variety of attacks and the ability to steal health and items, making him an incredibly frustrating rival.
Promised Consort Radahn is an absolute monster of afinal boss inElden Ring’sShadow of the ErdtreeDLC, making the journey to the end a true challenge.Radahn’s recovery and ability to quickly deliver heavy attacks turn him into a nightmare to face, with any of his attacks likely to drain all the Tarnished’s health immediately.
Radahn can switch between blood flame and gravity elements, making anticipating and countering his attacks difficult. In the second phase, he becomes even more formidable,gaining increased speed and unleashing new attacksinfused with divine power. This battle truly tests players' abilities and perseverance, pushing them to their limits.
