TheDarkest Dungeonwas always revered for its difficult encounters, countless scenarios for which the player must carefully plan and prepare or risk having to improvise and sacrifice their precious heroes and trinkets. The game can be quite brutal at times, and many players felt like the RNG system was more punishing than it should have been.
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However, with a solid plan and enough game knowledge to be ready for the game’s challenges, any Area and any boss can be overcome. The rich lore, beautiful animations, andimmensely satisfying tactical battlesof the game make it stand out to this day.
10The Shrieker
The Shrieker is a difficult enemy for multiple reasons, starting with the unique timer on the battle. In order to actually defeat it and take the loot, the player must kill it in 4 turns. Secondly, the Shrieker’s high dodge rate and speed make it challenging to hit and slow down, especially if you’re relying on slow, heavy-hitting heroes.
Additionally, its moveset includes a lot of powerful attacks that can quickly down the entire party, especially since it gets 3 actions per turn. With all of that in mind, the Shriekermight not be the hardest boss to survive, but truly beating it requires a good plan ahead of time.
9Brigand Vvulf
This is another optional boss, but skipping his quest will lead to losing building upgrades. First and foremost, he has a high amount of health and armor, making him difficult to take down quickly. Additionally, he is able to summon reinforcements every few turns, adding more enemies to the fight and making it harder to focus on Vvulf himself.
Furthermore, his attacks hit hard and have a high chance of inflicting bleed or stun on heroes,as well as building up Stress.He also has a move that inflicts a bomb on one of the heroes, which will explode at the end of a turn unless dealt with, which adds another level of complexity.
8Thing From The Stars
This alien eldritch horror randomly haunts different areas, marking its current location on the map. Engaging with A Thing From Stars requires careful planning and strategy, as the enemy is highly resistant to many types of damage and can quickly build up enough stress to cause mass heart attacks.
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Blight and Bleeds work well on it, even though it frequently cleanses them with Return To The Stars. Dealing with Crystalline Aberrations that it spawns is also a priority, as leaving them unattended allows them to explode, dealing massive damage and stress. For a miniboss, it packs a serious punch and can easily wipe a party.
7Fanatic
This relentless zealot will pursue thoseafflicted with the Crimson Curseuntil every last blood sucker is vanquished or he himself perishes. The chances of him appearing in a quest rise with every afflicted hero in the roster, though he never visits during a Boss mission or in the Courtyard.
With a lot of damage, stuns, and stress, he can quickly dispose of heroes, especially with the Sentence Rendered, which hoists one of the heroes up on a burning stake. Luckily, he doesn’t have the biggest health pool or resistance and can be taken down with enough focus damage and sustain.
6Baron
Being the first boss of the Courtyard, even getting to him can prove challenging for the unprepared players. His appearance, with his twisted and grotesque features, is both unsettling and horrifying. What makes the Baron particularly deadly are his unique Insect Pod mechanics, allowing him to conceal himself and summon more enemies.
With many devastating attacks that apply bleed, stress, and heal himself, the Baron can prove to be a daunting enemy.A tactical approach to podsis one of the keys to defeating him, as ignoring them for too long will result in a wave of powerful enemies that can overwhelm the party.
5Viscount
This particular battle is as challenging as it is disturbing. He has a range of attacks that can hit multiple party members and cause devastating Bleed damage, which can quickly stack up and become overwhelming. He also has 3 cocoons that he can devour to heal and buff himself; destroying them first is a viable option when facing him.
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To defeat the Viscount, one needs to bring a party with high damage output,reliable healing, and a way to deal with bleedingand stress. Players can either attempt to quickly burst him down, or get rid of hismeals, leaving him much more vulnerable.
4Sleeper
This is one of the toughest enemies inDarkest Dungeondue to its unique set of abilities and formidable stats. This monstrous boss possesses a staggering amount of health and resistance to various debuffs and status effects. It has only two attacks, but each of them targets the entire party with a ton of damage, and either Blight or Stress
Its attacks and abilities require careful planning and strategy to overcome, and even with a well-prepared party, the Sleeper remains a formidable challenge. Players will need to bring their A-game if they are to defeat this slumbering behemoth.
3Shambler
The Shambler is one of the most challenging fights in the game. It’s a special boss that can only be encountered by using a torch on one of the altar-like objects found in the dungeons. Once summoned, the Shambler is a monstrous foe with a vast HP pool, high-damage attacks, and the ability to summon Eldritch enemies to fight alongside it.
Its attacks can hit multiple party members, causing significant damage and potentially leaving them debuffed or stunned. What makes this fight even more dangerous is the constant shuffling of the party, constantly moving and misplacing the heroes. Only thebravest and most skilled adventurerscan hope to defeat this formidable foe.
2Countess
The Countess lives up to her grim lore as the source of the Crimson Curse. She’s the most powerful vampire, residing at the very end of the Crimson Courtyard, and her abilities are nothing short of devastating. Her three separate forms each have unique attacks that can hitmultiple party members, deal high damage, and infest heroes with Parasite Eggs. The Countess also has a powerful healing ability that can restore her health and cure her of any negative effects.
On top of that, with shuffles, stuns, and stress applications, she is argued to be the hardest boss in the game by many players. The Countess is a true test of the player’s abilities, requiring strategic planning, careful management of resources, and a bit of luck to emerge victorious.
1The Heart Of Darkness
The Heart of Darkness is the embodiment of all the darkness and horror that the game represents. This eldritch monstrosity has a vast HP pool and possesses the most powerful ability in the game: Come Unto Your Maker, which forces the player to choose which of his characters will instantly die.
This battle is the game’s final test of the player’s resolve and determination. It’s a fight that will push the party to the very limits of its endurance, with the fate of the entire campaign hanging in the balance. This is a powerful culmination of the last boss fight and the game at large.
Darkest Dungeonis available now on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, iOS, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One.
