What are some of the toughest bosses in Hollow Knight?

The hardest bosses players commonly single out are Absolute Radiance (the Godmaster/Pantheon final boss), Pure Vessel (the Knight’s perfected form in Godhome), Nightmare King Grimm (Grimm Troupe endgame), and the Radiance from the main game’s true ending. These encounters are repeatedly listed as the most demanding due to long multi-phase patterns, high damage, and very little recovery opportunity. See a recent difficulty roundup for a consolidated ranking. (e.g., High Ground Gaming's boss ranking).

For quick context and what makes them brutal, here are concise notes and tips: - Absolute Radiance — extreme speed, extra phases and very high HP; practice in the Pantheon and focus on timing and spells. (Godhome/Pantheon overview) - Pure Vessel — lightning-fast combos and precise spacing; patience and learning stagger windows matter. (Pantheon boss list) - Nightmare King Grimm — relentless, rhythm-based barrage that punishes hesitancy; muscle memory helps a lot. (Grimm Troupe boss discussion) - The Radiance — the campaign’s hardest non-DLC boss with varied telegraphed attacks; mastering platforming plus dodges is key. (see boss analyses).

If you want, I can give specific charm/loadout suggestions or short strategies for any one of these fights.