Hive Knight

The protector of Hive Queen Vespa, bound to guard her even after her death. Hive Knight does not seem to be aware of Vespa's death, instead believing that she will wake up eventually. When The Knight defeats him, Vespa will mention that Hive Knight is freed at last.

Behaviour and Tactics
Hive Knight has a variety of attacks: Not exactly an attack but Hive Knight will sometimes leap around the arena, doing somersaults as they go. This leap does not track The Knight.


 * Infinite Bees: Hive Knight spews 12 Hivelings into the air from their mouth. These Hivelings disappear beyond the top of the arena but then only 7 fly down one after another in shallow arcs from random positions in the ceiling and slowly track The Knight's movement. This attack won't happen until Hive Knight is at about 70% health. This health requirement is not applicable to the Ascended or Radiant versions of Hive Knight. The Knight can hit the Hivelings off course with their Nail (granting The Knight SOUL) and they can be destroyed with spells. While the Hivelings are assaulting The Knight, Hive Knight will do a Lunge, then a Leap, and then one more Leap or attack. One huge note about this attack: if Hive Knight dies after the first Hiveling starts their assault, the Hivelings will continue their assault while Hive Knight is dying. The battle is always started with 7 Hivelings descending with The Hive Knight not actually on-screen (However this is not the case when met in  Godhome).
 * Lunge: Hive Knight lunges along the ground with their Needle. This lunge covers about 65% of the arena.
 * Surprise Slash: Hive Knight teleports near The Knight and slashes their Needle. Hive Knight can appear on either side of The Knight. The slash covers a wide range and shifts Hive Knight forward a little bit. Hive Knight can do this attack in the air as well because they track The Knight with this attack. The slash covers about 35% of the arena (and a little more if they do this attack in the air).
 * Honey Spikes: Hive Knight creates three orbs of spike-filled honey. This attack won't happen until Hive Knight is at about 96% health. This health requirement is not applicable to the Ascended or Radiant versions of Hive Knight. These orbs can appear anywhere within the top two thirds of the arena. Each orb contains 8 spikes and the spikes travel in the direction in which they point. The orbs form rapidly one after another. No two orbs will ever occupy the same row or column and they will vibrate in their positions. The Knight can move the orbs when they strike them with their Nail but the orbs can't be destroyed. The orbs explode in the order in which they formed, every half second after the third and final orbs' spikes appear. The orbs are dangerous as soon as the spikes show up. Hive Knight will leap while these spike-filled honey orbs persist.

It is highly recommended to obtain Shade Cloak before the fight, as this makes it possible to dash through Hive Knight's teleport and lunge attack.

Quick Focus makes it easier to heal, Mark of Pride makes it much easier to reach Hive Knight, and Quick Slash makes the fight much easier as Hive Knight can be continuously attacked while he is performing the Swarm Release attack, dealing massive damage.

Trivia

 * Hive Knight is the only DLC boss that is required on a complete base-game playthrough, therefore permanently raising the completion by 1% to 101% if the player decides to complete the entire game (excluding The Grimm Troupe and  Godmaster DLC content).
 * In the background of Hive Knight's arena the giant corpse of Hive Queen Vespa can be seen.

Рыцарь Улья