Video game bosses with harder item restrictions

Malenia is widely recognized as one of FromSoftware's most challenging bosses, and her difficulty skyrockets in self-imposed challenges like not using summons or healing. Her life steal makes her an unparalleled test of skill and patience.

This boss from the new Elden Ring DLC is a cutting-edge challenge, featuring high health and elemental resistance. Its difficulty is greatly magnified when faced without summons or with item restrictions, making it a pure test of skill.

Isshin is Sekiro's final boss and is infamous for his multiple phases and the extreme precision he demands in deflections. His difficulty increases exponentially in challenges like 'no Kuro's Charm' or 'no healing items'.

Laxasia is a boss with great speed and devastating electrical attacks, especially in her second phase. She is a key point in 'no throwables' challenges, where the absence of throwable items drastically increases the difficulty.

As the final boss of Lies of P, Simon Manus features area attacks and a very aggressive second phase. His difficulty is accentuated in 'no throwables runs,' where the lack of throwable items makes the combat much more demanding.

Dr. Kahl's Robot is a difficulty peak in Cuphead, with multiple phases and constant 'bullet hell.' Completing it without taking damage or without using certain 'charms' is a recurring challenge that restricts player aids.

Gná is the optional Valkyrie Queen and the most powerful enemy in God of War Ragnarök. Facing her without specific runes or with restrictions on Kratos's equipment or abilities exponentially increases the difficulty, making it the ultimate challenge.

Emerald Weapon is an iconic super-boss with massive health and devastating attacks. Defeating it in 'no item runs' or 'no materia runs' in the original Final Fantasy VII or its remasters remains one of the toughest tests of strategy.

Nemesis is a relentless pursuer with multiple forms and devastating attacks. 'Knife only runs' in Resident Evil 3 Remake are a popular and extremely difficult challenge, where weapon restrictions turn encounters with Nemesis into pure survival battles.

Sisyphus Prime is an extremely fast and aggressive boss that pressures relentlessly. On difficulties like 'Brutal,' self-imposed restrictions such as 'no healing' or 'only certain weapons' make him even more overwhelming, demanding perfect reflexes.

Sans is a boss that breaks the rules of the game, with unpredictable attacks and interface manipulation. Facing him without healing items or with equipment restrictions in the 'genocide route' is a test of memorization and mental endurance.

Raven Beak is the final boss of Metroid Dread, with multiple phases and fast attacks. His difficulty increases in 'no damage runs' or 'low percentage runs,' demanding absolute mastery of Samus's movement and combat mechanics.

This final boss of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty constantly sticks to the player, with suffocating attacks. His difficulty is accentuated in challenges where healing items or spells are restricted, forcing mastery of the deflection system.

The Heir is a two-phase boss who unleashes their full power in the second phase, in a dreamlike setting. Facing them with item restrictions or without certain upgrades is a challenge for lovers of action-adventure games with puzzles.

This Armored Core VI boss reappears with new technology and weaponry, being more powerful than before. Facing it with equipment restrictions or without certain AC components is a challenge that tests the pilot's customization and skill.

This boss from AI Limit, a recent 'Soulslike', demands precise dodges and blocks, with a 'sync rate' system that can be lethal. It is an ideal candidate for 'no items' or 'no healing' challenges, where managing the 'sync rate' is crucial.

This boss from Mandragora, a Lovecraftian horror Metroidvania, is an imposing werewolf that uses its blood to create clones. Its challenge intensifies without healing items or specific abilities, forcing players to deal with multiple threats.