Top 10 Hard Bosses With Easy Exploits

“Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater” (2004)

The bosses of the third game in the venerable Metal Gear Solid franchise are all members of an elite superhuman combat team known as The Cobra Unit, and they’re no pushovers. However, when facing the team’s stealthiest member, you can claim victory using an unlikely weapon: a simple torch. By using a special pill that causes Snake to appear dead, this otherwise deadly enemy can be lured in. Then, simply whip out your trusty torch, an item that most enemies will recoil from if used to attack them. For whatever reason, The Fear will never jump back to avoid the flames coming from the torch, as he’ll obligingly stand there and burn to death.

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (1989)

When the evil Shredder recruited a pair of hapless street punks to turn into deadly mutant enforcers, he probably knew he wasn’t recruiting the brightest pair. But still, he can’t have expected his new lackeys to be quite this ineffective. When facing down the half man/half rhino baddie in the 1998 Ninja Turtles NES game, Shredder’s horn-headed goon can be taken down by playing as the staff-wielding Donatello and attacking downwards while perched on top of some nearby crates. It’s clear the attack shouldn’t register as a hit, but the boss will still eventually go down like a mutated ton of bricks. Not exactly dignified, but still effective.

“Dark Souls III” (2016)

When it comes to From Software’s epic and punishing “Souls” series of games, we’re more than happy to take any advantage we can get to avoid seeing that “You Died” screen for the hundredth time in a row. And when it came time to face down this boss in the third installment, you better believe we used this handy exploit. When the boss enters his second phase, make sure he’s as close to one of the outer walls as you can get him, and the fiery foe will be trapped inside the wall geometry, making for an easy kill. Sorry, your highness, no hard feelings.

“Just Cause 3” (2015)

Appropriately enough for a game based around creating as much over the top mayhem and havoc as possible, the finale to the third entry in the “Just Cause” series is a fiery showdown inside an active volcano. The fight could be a massive, epic showdown full of explosions and action, as you square off against a heavily armored attack helicopter….or it could be a hilarious anti climax in which you tether said helicopter to the molten lava, retract the line and kaboom. It turns out helicopters don’t do so well when yanked into hot lava… who knew?

“Nioh” (2017)

When we see a centipede, giant or otherwise, our first instinct is usually to dispatch it as quickly as possible. But in the case of this massive creepy crawly from Team Ninja's latest hack and slash, that’s easier said than done. But thankfully, there’s an easy way. Just position the boss so that it’s partially wrapped around a nearby column. Get out of the range of its fangs and head around the pillar to attack its other end. The boss will continue to try and move forwards towards you but will be unable to do so. Either that or find a really big can of bug spray!

“Mega Man” (1987)

Given that Doctor Wily apparently created this notoriously difficult boss, we can’t help but wonder why his nefarious schemes often fail spectacularly to get off the ground! An army of these nasty customers and he’d have the whole global domination thing sewn up. Thankfully for the Blue Bomber, there’s a simple if incredibly cheap trick to take down Wily’s creation. Just hit the big yellow blob with a blast from the Thunder Beam and then spam the pause button when it hits. Each time you pause, it will register as a new hit, allowing you to reduce the otherwise challenging boss to rubble in seconds.

“Mass Effect 2” (2010)

In the “Mass Effect” series, The Krogan are a proud, fearsome warrior race renowned for their prowess in battle and indomitable spirit. Before fully entering the Krogan fighting force, all young warriors must go through a rite of passage in which they and their allies must fight wave after wave of enemies, and finally a massive creature known as the Thresher Maw. However, as demonstrated by YouTube user Panopticon, there’s a spot in the arena which completely shields you from attacks, making the Thresher Maw easy pickings. This can be exploited to make the boss fight an absolute cakewalk.

“The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” (2011)

The ancient and revered power of the Dragonborn is not one to be used lightly, or so we’re told. Personally, the minute we unlocked the full power of the Fus Ro Dah ability in the fifth “Elder Scrolls” game, we spent most of our time sending everything and everyone that wasn’t bolted to the ground sailing through the air. This included one of the main bosses of the game’s “Dawnguard” DLC, who can easily be sent plummeting to his doom with a quick Dragon Shout if you don’t have the time or patience for a proper boss fight. After all, the life of the Dragonborn is a busy one.

“Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link” (1987)

The Buddha once said that it’s better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles, but he may not have had this in mind. When Link comes face to shadowy face in the second “Zelda” game, it’s a proper climactic fight if you do it the correct way. But if you’re like us and do things the cheap way, it’s not quite as thrilling. To beat this boss, just hunker down in the corner of the screen, where the boss actually can’t hit you no matter how hard he tries. Then slash mercilessly at his shins until victory is yours. Buddha wouldn’t be proud, but Buddha also never saved a princess.

“Bloodborne” (2015)

Much like the “Souls” series, this gothic slash-fest by From Software isn’t exactly forgiving, so we’re no strangers to cheesing out the occasional boss when the fight isn’t going our way. When it comes to this boss fight with an aged and blood-crazed hunter, that means getting him to trap himself on the banister of a nearby staircase. Just lead him up the stairs and then do a quick dodge roll in the right direction and the boss will continue to try and move towards you instead of going around the railing. From there, just swing or shoot away with your weapon of choice. Judge not lest ye be judged, Father.