Video Game Bosses With Weird Weaknesses

In most video games, winning often comes down to figuring out what makes your enemy tick. Every enemy has its own set of strengths and weaknesses, and sometimes these are pretty obvious. But other times, figuring out how to take down an enemy requires a little more creativity.

Some games throw in challenges where the best strategy isn’t obvious, and you need to use something other than brute force… from taking advantage of the environment to messing with the game mechanics. These kinds of fights are the ones that really stick with you, because they make you look at the game from a whole new angle.

Beware Spoilers Ahead

8

D’Astragar ‘D’Astragaaar’ D’Astragar Has Achilles Buttocks

Starship Titanic

The tragic story of the Titanic has inspired countless media, from documentaries to inspired fiction. One of the most unusual renditions comes from Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. In Starship Titanic, a graphic adventure game, you are the only human passenger aboard an intergalactic cruise ship that could not possibly go wrong. Brought aboard mysteriously, your mission is to restore the ship’s central intelligence system, which has been lobotomized, with its parts hidden throughout the vessel.

Though primarily a puzzle-focused graphic adventure, Starship Titanic features its own quirky form of boss fights. One of the most iconic encounters involves D’Astragar ‘D’Astragaaar’ D’Astragar, the ship’s eccentric chef. After an upgrade to first-class, you’ll face a series of puzzles, including a challenge in the ship’s restaurant. To proceed, you’ll need to get past the Maitre d’Bot, who stubbornly refuses to let you through. Fortunately, he has a rather convenient weak point: his posterior. By persistently poking him in the butt, he cries out about his ‘Achilles buttock’ before finally surrendering, clearing your way forward.

7

Overboss Colter Is Weak To A Squirt Gun

Fallout 4: Nuka-World

In Fallout 4, you return to a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by nuclear fallout. As the Sole Survivor, you emerge from cryogenic stasis to search for your missing child, Shaun. With the success of Fallout 4, Bethesda introduced an expansion called Nuka-World, which thrusts you into a decaying theme park overrun by gangs of raiders.

The first major boss you encounter in Nuka-World is Overboss Colter, a formidable raider leader with high stats and powerful attacks. However, there’s a clever trick to defeating him. On your way to face Colter, take a detour to the locker room and call Gage. He’ll guide you to the Thirst Zapper, a Nuka-themed squirt gun. Use the Thirst Zapper at close range to weaken Colter’s shields, then quickly switch to your stronger weapons to deal damage. Rinse and repeat.

6

The Big Big Guy (The Boiler) Has Sensitive Brass Spheres

Conker’s Bad Fur Day

Conker’s Bad Fur Day is a platformer with mature audiences in mind. It follows the misadventures of Conker, a foul-mouthed, alcoholic squirrel. After a night of heavy drinking, Conker must navigate a series of absurd and dangerous scenarios on his way home to his girlfriend. Along the way, he becomes entangled in the Panther King’s scheme to use him as a makeshift replacement for a missing table leg.

As can be expected of a game with that premise, Conker’s boss battles are far from normal. One such enemy is the Big Big Guy, a massive sentient boiler operated by two mischievous Fire Imps. The battle takes a hilariously crude turn as The Boiler’s weak spot is revealed to be a pair of polished brass spheres dangling beneath his body. To exploit this vulnerability, you must stun The Boiler with vile liquid, giving you the opportunity to pummel his family jewels.

After defeating The Boiler, don’t forget to pocket his brass balls to use in later puzzles.

5

Asgore Has A Weak Spot For Butterscotch Pie

Undertale

In Undertale, you play as Frisk, a child who falls into the realm of monsters. As you progress, your choices, whether to kill or spare your enemies, shape the ending and influence events in subsequent playthroughs. One of the climatic challenges in the game is the fight against Asgore Dreemurr, the ruler of the Underground. Driven by a desperate hope to break the barrier trapping his people, Asgore seeks to collect the souls of seven humans.

At the beginning of the game, you can find a Butterscotch Pie in Toriel’s Home. If you save the pie for your battle with Asgore, eating it will lower his attack and defense, offering a strategic advantage. Similarly, during the Lost Soul fight, eating the pie helps restore Toriel and Asgore’s memories more quickly and effectively than ACTing alone.

When used by itself, the Butterscotch Pie will fully heal Frisk’s HP in an encounter.

4

Hooktail Is Scared Of Frogs

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door takes you on a colorful journey through various worlds, all accessible from the hub town of Rogueport. In the first chapter, you’ll venture into the lair of the menacing dragon, Hooktail, who has been terrorizing the Koopa village of Petalburg. Hooktail is a formidable foe, but she has one unexpected weakness: frogs.

As you make your way through the castle, you gain the ability to turn sideways, allowing you to slip through narrow gaps. This lets you sneak into the dungeon, where you find the Attack FX G badge. When equipped, this badge changes the sound effect of Mario’s hammer to sound like a frog. Using this, you can continuously attack Hooktail’s nose and foot, triggering nausea and reducing her stats, making her easier to defeat.

3

King K. Rool Has Ticklish Toes

Donkey Kong 64

The Donkey Kong series has never been one to take itself too seriously. In Donkey Kong 64, this spirit continues as you take on the role of Donkey Kong, working to rescue his kidnapped family members and recover their stolen bananas from the dastardly King K. Rool, who plans to destroy their island home.

The adventure culminates in a climactic face-off with King K. Rool in a boxing arena. However, there’s a twist: you’ve been shrunk to a diminutive size, making the odds seem stacked against you. But your small stature provides a surprising advantage. King K. Rool’s shoes has a noticeable hole, leaving his toes exposed. Using your tiny size to your benefit, you sneak in to tickle his toes, leaving him momentarily vulnerable and open to your attacks.

2

Ganondorf Is Fascinated By Link’s Fishing Pole

The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is an epic tale where you play as Link, tasked with saving Hyrule from being consumed by the Twilight Realm. Along the way, Link faces countless enemies, solves intricate puzzles, and braves deep dungeons, all leading to the final confrontation with Ganondorf.

This climactic battle is intense and unfolds in multiple stages. Ganondorf throws everything at you, from possessing Princess Zelda to transforming into a massive, fearsome beast. Finally, you face him one-on-one, and you’d expect Link to rely on the Master Sword to land the decisive blows. However, what if, rather than wielding his legendary blade, you pulled out a fishing pole instead?

If you cast the fishing pole during the fight, Ganondorf will drop his guard, becoming fixated on the lure as if he’s forgotten he’s in the middle of a duel to the death. This distraction creates the perfect opening for Link to strike, allowing you to wail on Ganondorf, pull back, and cast your line again for an unexpected edge in battle.

1

Psycho Mantis Is Weak To Your Real-World Inputs

Metal Gear Solid

In Metal Gear Solid, you step into the shoes (or cardboard box) of Solid Snake, a highly skilled special operations soldier. Snake’s mission is to infiltrate Shadow Moses Island and neutralize FOXHOUND, a rogue special forces unit. Along the way, Snake faces formidable enemies, forcing you to rely on both wits and combat prowess.

One of the most unique battles in the Metal Gear series is against Psycho Mantis. As a psychic with the power to read minds, Mantis not only predicts Snake’s movements but also breaks the fourth wall, speaking directly to you, the player. To counter his abilities and land a hit, you’ll need to take action in the real world, depending on your version of the game:

• PlayStation: Move your controller from port one to port two.
• PSN: Switch to player two.
• PC with a Gamepad: Switch to keyboard controls.

To date, Psycho Mantis remains one of the best examples of breaking the fourth wall in video games, making you feel as much a part of the story as Snake himself.