The Last Judge Boss Fight Guide – Hollow Knight Silksong’s Ultimate Gatekeeper Challenge

The Last Judge stands as one of Hollow Knight: Silksong’s most formidable gatekeepers – literally and figuratively. This towering sentinel blocks your path to the Citadel and Act 2, serving as both a story milestone and a serious skill check for players. If you’ve been struggling with this intimidating boss, you’re definitely not alone.

What makes the Last Judge particularly challenging isn’t just its devastating attack patterns, but also the grueling runback from the nearest bench. Nothing’s more frustrating than finally learning the boss’s moveset, only to die and face that lengthy journey back. Fortunately, there are strategies to make both the approach and the actual fight much more manageable.

Finding the Last Judge: Your Gateway to the Citadel

The Last Judge lurks at the very top of Blasted Steps, one of Silksong’s most treacherous zones. This wind-swept wasteland connects to Shellwood (left of Bellhart) and serves as the final barrier before the Citadel proper.

Getting here requires navigating through some seriously dangerous terrain, including those notorious leech pits that deal a punishing two masks of damage. The environmental hazards in Blasted Steps are almost as dangerous as the boss itself, which is why having a solid runback strategy is crucial.

Key landmark: You’ll know you’re close when you reach the Bellway Station in the middle of Blasted Steps. From there, the real challenge begins as you navigate the massive, hazard-filled room to the right of the bench.

Essential Runback Strategy: Save Your Sanity

Before we dive into the actual boss fight, let’s address the elephant in the room – the runback. The Last Judge runback is potentially one of the most frustrating aspects of this fight, but there’s a crucial shortcut that many players miss.

Unlocking the Critical Shortcut

In the wide-open room leading to the Citadel entrance, look for a breakable wall on the left side of the bell jump, just before you reach the safe middle section. This wall is easy to miss if you’re focused on avoiding enemies, but breaking it opens up a shortcut that bypasses most of the enemy-filled sections.

Pro tip: Take the time to find and break this wall on your first attempt, even if you’re confident about beating the boss. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself later if you need multiple attempts.

Optimal Runback Route from Blasted Steps Bellway

Once you’ve unlocked the shortcut, here’s the most efficient path back to the Last Judge:

1. Start from the Blasted Steps Bellway Bench and immediately activate Swift Step
2. Sprint right and jump the gap – momentum is key here
3. Enter the wide room and execute this sequence:
   • Jump at the first ledge edge, then immediately jump again upon landing
   • Use your dodge in mid-air to clear the pit
   • Use the golden floating platform to navigate between ledges
4. Access your shortcut by sprinting and dodging left onto the wall above the Judge enemy
5. Bell-hop across the gap and reactivate Swift Step upon landing
6. Navigate the final section using Drifter’s Cloak to float to the far-right bell, avoiding the flying enemy
7. Make the final approach with a well-timed dodge to reach the bell between the wall and Citadel entrance

This route, when executed properly, allows you to reach the Last Judge without encountering a single enemy – a game-changer for maintaining your focus and silk resources.

Understanding the Last Judge: A Two-Phase Nightmare

The Last Judge fight is structured around two distinct phases, with the second phase significantly ramping up the difficulty. Understanding the transition and each phase’s unique characteristics is crucial for success.

Phase One: Learning the Fundamentals

Phase One serves as your introduction to the Last Judge’s core moveset. While dangerous, these attacks are more forgiving and give you opportunities to learn the timing and positioning required for success.

Flail Throw:

The boss raises its arm without spinning, then launches its weapon in an arc about half a screen away. The real danger comes from the retraction – the flail deals damage on its way back to the boss. Your best bet is either dodging left (if you’re confident about spacing) or dodging toward the boss for a few quick hits, then jumping over the returning flail.

Downward Slam:

A classic telegraphed attack where the Judge jumps above Hornet and slams down. This is actually one of your best damage opportunities – simply walk to either side and unleash your attacks while the boss recovers.

Flail Spin:

The Judge spins its weapon rapidly in a close-range area attack. There’s no attack opportunity here – just get out of the way by dodging in the opposite direction before the swing begins.

Phase Transition: Your Golden Opportunity

When the Last Judge’s health drops sufficiently, it will stand tall, roar, and summon flame within its flail. This intermission lasts 4-5 seconds and represents your best damage window in the entire fight. With the Wanderer Crest equipped, you can land about a dozen hits during this transition.

Phase Two: Fire and Fury

Phase Two takes every attack from Phase One and adds fire-based area denial effects. The difficulty spike is significant, and this is where most players struggle.

Exploding Flail Throw:

Similar to the basic throw, but the flail explodes in a massive area about a second after impact. Dodge away and stay clear until the explosion occurs. If you’re trapped in a corner, wall jump upward and dodge away to escape the blast radius.

Exploding Slam:

The downward slam now creates a ground fire wave that covers the entire arena. Jump up when the boss lands and use Drifter’s Cloak to stay airborne until the flames dissipate. Skilled players can still attack during the jump, but prioritize safety.

Flaming Flail Spin:

The spin attack now sends fire waves radiating outward. Watch the smoke patterns to predict where each wave will spawn, then position yourself in the safe spaces between them. Late in the fight, the boss performs this attack four times consecutively – stay calm and keep repositioning.

Charge & Fire Pillars:

The Judge charges across the entire arena, then summons up to three flame pillars in its wake. Jump over the boss, float with your cloak, and look for safe landing spots between pillars. If no pillars spawn near the boss, you have about two seconds to attack.

Simple Leap:

A basic positioning attack where the Judge jumps to the middle of the room. Dodge underneath as it jumps – this is often your cue that a more dangerous attack is coming next.

Critical Combat Tips for Success

Equipment Recommendations

Before facing the Last Judge, make sure you’ve completed the Chapel of the Wanderer in Greymoor to obtain the Wanderer Crest. This crest provides a faster attack speed and includes a downward pogo attack reminiscent of the original Hollow Knight. The increased attack speed is invaluable for maximizing damage during the boss’s brief vulnerability windows.

Tool Usage Strategy

While tools can theoretically help maintain damage output, most of the Last Judge’s attacks will instantly destroy them. Avoid using tools during the flail spin attacks – they’ll be completely negated. Instead, focus on Silk Skills like Silkspear for additional damage between your regular attacks.

Healing Opportunities

Healing chances are extremely limited in this fight, so make them count:

• During Phase Two charges: Jump over the boss and Bind in mid-air for a few seconds of safety (just avoid fire pillar locations)
• During Flail Spin attacks: The boss stands still for about two seconds while you safely position to the side

The Death Explosion Trap

Here’s a crucial detail that catches many players off-guard: immediately run away from the Last Judge after delivering the killing blow. After a few seconds, the boss will roar and explode in an enormous area that can easily kill Hornet and reset the entire fight. This post-death explosion has ended more victory runs than most players care to admit.

Advanced Strategies for Consistent Victory

Positioning Philosophy

The key to beating the Last Judge consistently is understanding that this fight is more about positioning and patience than aggressive offense. Focus on safe damage opportunities rather than trying to maximize damage output. The boss’s attack windows are brief but predictable once you learn the patterns.

Phase Two Survival Tactics

Phase Two requires a different mindset. The fire effects create significant area denial, so prioritize mobility and spacing over pure damage output. Use your dash ability and wall jumping skills to stay mobile and avoid getting trapped by fire effects.

Managing Frustration

This boss can be genuinely frustrating, especially with the lengthy runback. If you find yourself getting tilted, take a break and come back with fresh eyes. The Last Judge punishes impatience and rewards measured, careful play.

What Happens After Victory?

Defeating the Last Judge officially opens the gates to Act 2: “Citadel of Song” – the upper half of Pharloom that includes numerous new areas and challenges. Don’t worry about being locked out of Act 1 content; you’ll discover the Grand Bellway in the Choral Chambers area, where the Bell Beast can transport you back to previously discovered Bellways.

The Citadel represents a significant shift in Silksong’s progression, introducing new mechanics, enemies, and quest types that will keep you busy for hours. The Last Judge truly serves as a skill gate – if you can master this fight, you’re ready for what the Citadel has to offer.

Ready to take on this challenging boss fight? You can experience the Last Judge in Hollow Knight: Silksong on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, or Xbox. Good luck, and remember – patience and positioning will serve you better than pure aggression in this epic confrontation!