Last Judge Boss Guide — Phases, Magma Bell Counter & Runback

The Last Judge is Silksong’s first real skill check — a hulking, incense-burning arbiter that slams the Grand Gate shut on Act 1. Screen Rant called it “the hardest challenge up to that point,” Steam is littered with “feels unwinnable” threads, and the cruel part isn’t even the fight — it’s the runback.

How does the Last Judge fight work?

Two phases, one health bar of 720. Phase 1 is a brawler’s toolkit: leaping Slams, a thrown thurible that arcs back like a boomerang, and a wrist-twirled Thurible Spin that batts away your red-tool projectiles. The Slam’s hitbox is narrow — dash toward the Judge as it hovers and punish the landing.

At 540 HP the thurible ignites and Phase 2 starts with Blazing Rings — concentric fire rings rolling outward you have to walk between, not panic-dash through. New toys: an exploding thurible throw, a Searing Slam that sends shockwaves down the floor, and a Pillar Charge that plants three columns of flame.

At 216 HP, once per fight, it roars and commits to Judgement — a five-second extended Blazing Rings with offset waves. When it ends, the Judge is exhausted and defenseless for several seconds. That’s your kill window.

What kills most players?

• Trying to out-range the rings. Blazing Rings demand slow, precise inside-the-gap walking; sprinting clips the trailing edge every time.
• Greed during Thurible Spin. It’s short-ranged and hard to punish — take the heal window instead.
• The Retributive Explosion. When the Judge falls, its thurible detonates across a huge area. Do not stand there taking screenshots. Run. (Patch 5 reduced it from 3 damage to 2 — still not worth testing.)

What do I get for beating it?

The Grand Gate opens into the Citadel — Act 2 proper — plus a Hunter’s Journal entry. Winning also lets the Flea Caravan move on to the Blasted Steps at its 12-flea milestone. If you’re routing toward the true ending, note the Silk and Soul chain wants Quest Points farmed via wishes; and the related Savage Beastfly and Grand Mother Silk fights wait further down the path.

Hollow Knight: Silksong — Reveal Trailer (Team Cherry) — YouTube

Hollow Knight: Silksong — Reveal Trailer (Team Cherry)