After successfully acquiring all five citadel bells in Hollow Knight: Silksong, players might feel like they’re nearing the end of their journey. However, the adventure is far from over. Upon reaching the peak of Shellwood, a new challenge awaits within the vast Blasted Steps.
The Blasted Steps serve as a critical prelude to the impending boss fight. If you’re struggling against the enemies here, it may be wise to backtrack and strengthen your character. At this stage, numerous preparations can be made, so it’s beneficial to ensure you are fully equipped.
Prior to engaging in this level, it’s recommended to visit the forge to upgrade your weapons, secure an additional mask, obtain a silk spool upgrade, polish your pin, and gather any useful resources. While it’s feasible to charge in without these enhancements, be prepared for a relentless battle.
Once you reach the top right corner of the Blasted Steps and are set to play the citadel’s song, the formidable Last Judge will emerge. I’ll guide you through the tactics for successfully overcoming this challenging foe, focusing on each of its distinct phases.
Essential Gear Loadout
In preparing for the encounter, my chosen loadout allowed me to adopt a patient playstyle, which proved beneficial in advancing to phase two in multiple attempts, ultimately leading to victory. A critical component of this setup is the Sting Shards, which provide considerable assistance during the fight.
I opted for the standard Hunter crest, as its speed and range are vital for dealing with the Last Judge. The boss has similarities to a Godmaster enemy, prompting me to approach this encounter as one would against an Ascended Markoth.
Incorporating the Warding Bell into my loadout is advantageous, as it can absorb a hit even after you’ve healed completely. While The Druid’s Eye isn’t essential, it can occasionally aid in securing additional heals during the fight.
The use of knives is a matter of personal preference; I favor them for their ranged capabilities, although Flea Brew can be used for a more aggressive damage approach. Given this boss’s traps, I highly recommend bringing along two toolkits if you have the opportunity.
Ascending Challenges: The Climb
Every attempt against the Last Judge necessitates a climb through a substantial portion of the Blasted Steps. It is advisable to rest at the bench near the Bell Beast before your ascent, as it is the most conveniently located.
To navigate this section efficiently, start by running right, leaping past obstacles, and transitioning to the left platform. Avoid conflicts with the enemies and execute a dash jump to cross the bells, bypassing another foe to reach a small cove on the left.
When the flying enemy has ceased its harassment, perform dive attacks on the bells to elevate your position. This should allow you to glide forward until you encounter a red spot, prompting a quick drop to engage more bells and execute a wall jump upwards.
From this point, it’s straightforward: jump across another bell, wall jump higher, and successfully reach the platform leading to the citadel and the imminent boss fight.
Confronting the Last Judge: Initial Strategies
Initial Encounter
The moment the Last Judge ambushes you, it will aggressively target your character, attempting to land a blow. Utilize your dash extensively; dash toward it if it’s close or retreat if it’s far away.
When it starts to whip around, dash backward to avoid serious damage. Spending too long within this whip’s radius can deplete your health rapidly, making patience crucial.
As it leaps into the air, preparing a ground slam with its whip, you’ll find this attack slow and limited in horizontal reach, presenting a perfect opportunity to unleash ranged attacks or heal.
Be cautious of getting cornered. If you must endure a hit to escape, ensure you dash out promptly. Dash attacks are effective, allowing you to land two hits before retreating.
While the throw attack may not seem daunting, its timing can be deceptive. If you observe it gearing up from the ground, prepare for a circle attack or a throw attack, and maintain your distance.
Engaging the Fire Phase
Upon dealing sufficient damage, the Last Judge’s whip will ignite, causing it to explode with every strike. Be vigilant about the whip’s end, as proximity can lead to severe damage.
The standard whip attack remains largely unchanged except for the added AoE explosion. However, all other attacks undergo notable transformations; when it spins the whip, avoid the fire particles by slipping between the fiery lines.
The ground slam now generates a shockwave, which calls for a timely jump to evade. Additionally, the fire pillars require you to jump over them as the Judge charges, then quickly reposition between the pillars.
Feel free to utilize your Sting Shards generously, as they deliver substantial damage when employed at opportune moments. With a blend of patience and adept dodging, successfully navigating this phase is achievable.
Finale of the Fire Phase
As the fight progresses, the Last Judge will initiate a rapid spinning whip attack, producing massive waves of fire that you’ll need to weave between. This serves as an extended version of the previous fire circle mechanics, requiring you to maintain a similar strategy. Capitalize on any openings to inflict damage post-attack.
Once it transitions back to standard attacks, continue to maneuver in and out, maintain range, and apply your dive kick for added safety. Finally, when it lets out a loud scream, retreat quickly, as an explosive aftermath is imminent.
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