Black Knight, first boss encountered in Treasure Trove.
Bosses are the strongest enemies the protagonists encounter in Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove, Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon, and Shovel Knight Dig.
In Treasure Trove, each boss fills the boss health meter on the right side of the HUD upon meeting them. In the Showdown campaign in particular, each playable character is paired with another playable character as their "Rival". During the course of each of the mini story modes, said Rivals are met two times under various condition, the second of which being always a boss encounter just before the final boss.
In Pocket Dungeon, their health is displayed, similarly to the played character, underneath their sprite. Just like a regular stage, during the boss encounter hazards will rain down from the top of the screen, forcing the playable character to juggle between fighting his adversary and not being overwhelmed or crushed by the obstacles. Once defeated, some bosses will join Shovel Knight and become playable characters.
In Shovel Knight Dig, the boss health meter only appears at the bottom of the screen when the player is actually fighting a boss as opposed to having the meter always be present on the screen. Like the rest of the stage, the boss arena does not have a constant layout, instead it has several preset formations, chosen randomly upon entering the stage.
Classification[]
In general, there are broadly six types of bosses:
- Mini-bosses - Unique enemies encountered in the middle of a stage that are more powerful than any normal enemy but not quite as strong as a regular boss. Defeating them is usually required to continue to the next part of the stage. Sometimes, they are re-classified as Major Enemies.
- Stage Bosses - Bosses fought at the end of the stage. These bosses can be fought again if the stage is replayed, with the exception of Shield Knight in Specter of Torment. Defeating them is required to beat the campaign.
- Encounter Bosses - Bosses seen on the maps of Shovel of Hope, Plague of Shadows, and King of Cards campaigns. They are fought if the player runs into them on the map. Once they're defeated, they disappear from the map and the boss fight can't be replayed. With the exception of Black Knight's second encounter in Plague of Shadows and Specter Knight's second encounter in King of Cards, these bosses aren't required to defeat in order to beat the campaign.
- Hub/Special Area Bosses - Bosses usually fought in the non-stage areas and hubs, which would normally be safe zones. They are fought only when certain conditions are met. Usually, after being defeated, they either disappear from the game or become NPCs. With the exception of Dark Reize in Specter of Torment, these bosses aren't required to defeat in order to beat the campaign.
- Joustus Bosses - Exclusive to King of Cards. In this campaign, a card minigame named Joustus is introduced. While technically various characters, including certain bosses after being defeated, can be subsequently challenged to a Joustus match, Joustus bosses take the matches a level further. Each area of the Valley has one champion, which can be battled only after beating other Joustus players inside the area. These champions have specific boss powers, thus making them the bosses of the areas. All champions must be beaten in order to challenge a final opponent, which in turn has all the boss powers. Since Joustus in entirely optional, these bosses aren't required to beat in order to progress in the game.
- Final Bosses - Bosses fought in the last stage of a campaign. Defeating them results in the game being completed, allowing to see the campaign's ending cutscene and credit roll. Like stage bosses, final bosses can be fought again by replaying their stage.
Treasure Trove[]
Minibosses[]
Stage Bosses[]
Encounter Bosses[]
| Boss | Games | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Reize | Shovel of Hope/Plague of Shadows | - |
| Baz | Shovel of Hope/Plague of Shadows/King of Cards | - |
| Black Knight | Shovel of Hope/Plague of Shadows, second encounter | - |
| Phantom Striker | Shovel of Hope/Plague of Shadows/King of Cards | - |
| Kratos | Shovel of Hope, Sony versions | First, one must have found the Curious Map in the Hall of Champions to make Kratos appear on the map. |
| Percy and Plague Knight | King of Cards | Percy isn't seen on the map, only Plague Knight is. Once Percy is defeated, Plague Knight will attack supported by him. |
| Treasure Knight | King of Cards | Unlike the other encounter bosses, Treasure Knight here is initially represented by a gem instead of a character sprite (although said sprite appears on the map either after dying in the stage and being forced back on the map or defeating the boss, in the latter case it being only seen briefly before disappearing due to stage being completed). |
| Mole Knight | King of Cards | - |
| Tinker Knight | King of Cards | - |
| Polar Knight | King of Cards | - |
| Specter Knight | King of Cards, second encounter | - |
Hub/Special Area Bosses[]
- Mr. Hat (Shovel of Hope/Plague of Shadows) - Give 3000 gold in his shop to customers to make them leave; can give up to 3000 extra gold if spoken to three times before leaving the area. (Shovel of Hope) / Enter the area, repair the catapult by using 50 Cipher Coins, defeat the attacking knights and enter his shop. (Plague of Shadows)
- The Big Creep (Shovel of Hope) - Pay 5000 gold to the Ticketer, enter the building, defeat every Invisishade inside, and go into the one of the two middle rooms.
- Battletoads (Shovel of Hope, Xbox One, and PC versions) - In the Hall of Champions, find a Curious Map and leave the area to spawn a new area near the Explodatorium. Enter the new area and accept the challenge.
- Dark Reize (Specter of Torment) - After completing Plains and three other stages, pick a fifth stage.
- The Big Creep (King of Cards) - Complete The Lich Yard - Ectoplasm Chasm to unlock this area. Enter it and reach its end.
- Propeller Knight (King of Cards) - Complete Flying Machine - Aerial Brigade to unlock Gold Chest - Lover's Vista. There, find the True Love's Rose inside the chest. Then return to Glidewing to find it under attack. Follow Cooper to the helm of the airship to start the fight.
- Mr. Hat (King of Cards) - Enter the area and reach his shop. Try buying something and then try to leave the area. After the battle, the area later transforms into the Void Crater.
- Giga Cardia (King of Cards) - Defeat all Joustus champions, then talk to her on the Glidewing and defeat her in Joustus.
Final Bosses[]
Joustus Bosses (King of Cards Only)[]
| Boss | Location |
|---|---|
| Black Knight | House of Joustus |
| Mona | Cavern of Joustus |
| 3 Spinwulves | Crag of Joustus |
| Horace | Tower of Joustus |
| Cardia | Event Horizon |
Rival Pairings (Showdown Only)[]
| Boss | Encounter 1 | Encounter 2 | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shield Knight | Boss | Boss | Shovel Knight |
| Mona | Tag | Plague Knight | |
| Phantom Striker | Boss | Specter Knight | |
| Specter Knight | Boss | King Knight | |
| Liquid Samurai | Boss | Mona | |
| The Enchantress | Boss | Shield Knight | |
| Baz | Tag | Reize | |
| King Knight | Tag | Goldarmor | |
| Polar Knight | Boss | Black Knight | |
| Mr. Hat | Boss | Baz | |
| Treasure Knight | Tag | Mole Knight | |
| Propeller Knight | Tag | Treasure Knight | |
| Shovel Knight | Boss | Polar Knight | |
| Goldarmor | Boss | Mr. Hat | |
| Mole Knight | Boss | Tinker Knight | |
| Dark Reize | Boss | Phantom Striker | |
| Tinker Knight | Tag | Propeller Knight | |
| Reize | Boss | Dark Reize | |
| Black Knight | Tag | The Enchantress | |
| Plague Knight | Boss | Liquid Samurai |
Pocket Dungeon[]
Stage Bosses[]
With the exception of the Shrinemaster, who is not treated as a proper boss but rather a Major Enemy, each boss has its own personal splash screen, completed with a personalized title/battle cry. The only characters that can face a clone of themselves in a pseudo-mirror match, are Puzzle Knight and The Enchantress; as such, certain bosses will never appear during a dungeon run, Quandary, or Venture Endlessly loop, depending on who is the current playable knight.
While the arena in which the battle takes place is themed after the boss (Pridemoor Keep for King Knight for example), in truth, during a standard run without modifiers, only selected stages can host a regular boss battle, with a few possible knights for each one:
- King Knight, Specter Knight, and Plague Knight can all be found at random at the Lich Yard, the third stage in a normal playthrough.
- Mole Knight, Treasure Knight, Tinker Knight, and Scrap Knight can all be found at random at the Chromatic Caverns, the sixth stage in a normal playthrough.
- Polar Knight, Propeller Knight, and Prism Knight can all be found at random at the Flying Machine, the ninth stage in a normal playthrough.
Both the Scholar's Sanctum and the Tower of Fate are exceptions to this rule, as they are the locations where an ending can be achieved (normal ending for the Scholar's Sanctum, true ending for the Tower of Fate) and as such, they are always the site of fixed boss battles. The use of the Boneclang Skull Hat causes all stages to have boss encounters; in this case, either Black Knight or Shovel Knight will appear as bosses for the Plains.
Another exception is Throwback, the Character Quest Quandary run for Shovel Knight, where not only it is treated as if the Boneclang Skull is equipped by default, but also, since it takes inspiration from the Shovel of Hope campaign, the boss met at end of each stage is themed after the corresponding stage (Plains - Black Knight, Pridemoor Keep - King Knight, and so on). Due to this, it was impossible to encounter Plague Knight and Mole Knight, since their stages weren't full stages like the others, up until the release of the Paradox Pack DLC which reintroduced the Explodatorium and the Lost City. The Quester's Hat, likewise introduced in the Paradox Pack, make it possible to experience the stages as if during the selected character's Quandary Quest, which includes Throwback for Shovel Knight.
Additionally, the Super Skeleton Hat causes bosses to appear as a dual encounter, with the exceptions for the fight against Tinker Knight's second form and The Master Mind. When a dual encounter happens, the arena will be themed depending on who is the primary boss; as such, the stage hazard will reflect the arena's theme, while the minor enemies spawned during the encounter will be a mixture of the ones specific for each boss, with each type stopping to appear as soon as their corresponding boss is defeated. Furthermore, the splash screen will likewise receive an appropriate team name depending on the order of the bosses, with the second of these titles indicating who is the primary boss. So, for example, the boss combination of Mole Knight + Treasure Knight will be called Clawed Profiteers, while Treasure Knight + Mole Knight will be called instead Greedy Pilferers, and so on. Since The Enchantress and Puzzle Knight are always treated as the primary bosses of their stages, and cannot appear more than once in each dungeon run, Quandary, or Venture Endlessly loop, they only possess their dominant titles.
| Boss | Location | Introductory Text | Dual Encounter Adjective | Dual Encounter Noun | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Knight | Plains | Steel Thy Shovel! | Defiant | Defenders | Puzzler's Pack onwards |
| Shovel Knight | Plains | Strike the Earth! | Stalwart | Adventurers | Puzzler's Pack onwards |
| King Knight | Pridemoor Keep | Gold and Glory | Regal | Rulers | - |
| Specter Knight | The Lich Yard | From the Shadows | Tormented | Wraiths | - |
| Plague Knight | Explodatorium | Time for Research | Explosive | Saboteurs | Theme and stage (Paradox Pack DLC) |
| Scrap Knight | Magic Landfill | Scrounge and Scavenge | Scrappy | Scavengers | - |
| Treasure Knight | Iron Whale | Everything Has a Price | Greedy | Profiteers | - |
| Mole Knight | Lost City | Toil and Trouble | Clawed | Pilferers | Theme and stage (Paradox Pack DLC) |
| Prism Knight | Chromatic Caverns | Prepare to be Dazzled | Luminous | Crusaders | - |
| Tinker Knight | Clockwork Tower | Time for Tools / Mechanical Monstrosity | Clever | Engineers | - |
| Polar Knight | Stranded Ship | Power Overwhelming | Icy | Sentinels | - |
| Propeller Knight | Flying Machine | The Spin Controller | Dashing | Corsairs | - |
| Puzzle Knight | Scholar's Sanctum | Fall into Place | - | Strategists | - |
| The Enchantress | Tower of Fate | Dance into the Abyss | - | Conjurors | - |
Hub/Special Area Bosses[]
Random Sideroom portal
- Mr. Hat - Paramount of Luxury - After equipping 1 Hat, each additional Hat stacked on increases by 5% the odds of Mr. Hat showing up in a side-room for an optional boss battle, with a Relic as reward. Only one encounter can happen for each dungeon run.
- Reize - Hero In Training - In a seemingly empty sideroom, a single Relic can be seen, only for Reize to show up when attempting to pick it up, challenging the playable knight in an optional boss battle to determine ownership of the Relic.
- Baz - The storm is coming... - In a seemingly empty sideroom, a single Relic can be seen, only for Baz to show up when attempting to pick it up, challenging the playable knight in an optional boss battle to determine ownership of the Relic.
- Phantom Striker - Piercing Through Darkness - In a seemingly empty sideroom, a single Relic can be seen, only for Phantom Striker to show up when attempting to pick it up, challenging the playable knight in an optional boss battle to determine ownership of the Relic.
- Chester - Merchant of Mayhem - As part of his unlock condition, Chester can be found in a sideroom portal, and fought in a one-time boss battle: two random Relics have been found by Chester, who offers to split them between himself and the playable knight; should both of them be picked up, the boss battle will ensue, unlocking Chester as a playable knight if successfully beaten.
- Shrinemaster - Reach the fourth Shrine through the portal in Flying Machine (played normally) or in ninth stage (stages picked randomly), and bump into the gate. The other three Shrines must have had their conditions satisfied before attempting this, otherwise the next condition in line will take the place of the correct one, skipping the boss battle for that particular Pocket Dungeon run. In Venture Endlessly, the encounter with Shrinemaster can only happen once, as the Key Fragments are treated as already collected in each subsequent loop.
Final Bosses[]
| Boss | Location | Introductory Text | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puzzle Knight | Scholar's Sanctum | Fall into Place | Normal ending |
| The Enchantress | Tower of Fate | Dance into the Abyss | True ending |
| The Master Mind | - |
Dig[]
Stage Bosses[]
In Dig, the Boss encounter happens at the end of the third stage of each sections of the Well.
| Boss | Location |
|---|---|
| Spore Knight | Mushroom Mines |
| Tinker Knight | Smeltworks |
| Mole Knight | Secret Fountain |
| Hive Knight and Fleck | The Grub Pit |
| Scrap Knight | Magic Landfill |
Final Bosses[]
| Boss | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drill Knight | Drill Knight's Castle | Normal ending/Secret ending |
| Giga Drill Knight | Crystal Core | True ending |
| Black Knight | - | Appears as a boss just after the end of a run in Knightmare 10 (Fate and Fortune DLC) |