History Main / BossVulnerability

{{Boss Battle}}s in video games can require a wide variety of strategies and tactics to defeat. However, how vulnerable they are to the player characters' attacks tends to vary from game to game. There are generally four types of boss vulnerability:

'''Always Vulnerable'''
The boss is susceptible to damage at all times, and usually attacks relentlessly. This type can be difficult due to the fact that the player must concentrate on both avoiding the boss' attacks and hurting the boss at the same time.

'''Wait Them Out'''
The boss cannot be harmed by any means until a certain amount of time has passed or a certain action is performed, at which point they will become vulnerable for a short period of time. This type can be easier due to the fact that you only have to concentrate on survival, and not have to balance offense and defense. However, it can be annoying if you miss the window of opportunity, since you will have to go through the attack pattern again before getting a chance at another shot.

'''Mixed'''
A mix of the above. The boss is technically vulnerable at all times, but can become stunned or otherwise more susceptible to the player character's attacks. This may happen after a certain time has elapsed, or a special action or actions may be required.

'''Miscellaneous'''
Any boss that doesn't fit into any of the above categories. These are likely to be SheatheYourSword battles, {{Puzzle Boss}}es, or some other type of atypical battle.

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!!Examples:
[[AC:Always Vulnerable]]
* Most bosses in the ''{{Castlevania}}'' games.
* Most [[RolePlayingGame Role-Playing Games]] use this type by their very nature, though other types do crop up sometimes.
* ''VideoGame/DistortedTravesty''.
* Every boss in ''VideoGame/{{Iji}}'', except the final one which is mixed, and [[spoiler:Iosa]]'s second form, which must be waited out.
* Most bosses in the ''KingdomHearts'' series are either this or mixed.
* Most bosses in ''HeroCore''.
* Ridley and Mother Brain in the ''{{Metroid}}'' games.
* ''DevilMayCry''.
* Every boss in ''EternalDaughter'' except for the final one, which must be waited out.
** The FinalBoss requires you to go through a short but difficult series of actions in order to make him vulnerable, at which point you can hit him once before having to make him vulnerable again. [[MarathonBoss It's a long fight]].
* Most bosses in ''VideoGame/{{La-Mulana}}''.
* Most bosses in ''VideoGame/CaveStory''.

[[AC:Wait Them Out]]
* Most bosses in the ''{{Mario}}'' games.
* ''AnUntitledStory''.
* The Liquid Metal Processor and the final form of the [[FinalBoss Cruiser Tetron]] in ''HeroCore''.
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'' has a few bosses (and regular enemies) that are practically invulnerable until they are [[BreakMeter staggered]].
** Lots of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'' bosses, though after you max out the crystarium, many of the [[BonusBoss mission marks]] go down faster if you just go all out instead of trying to work out a stagger.
* Most bosses in the ''{{Metroid}}'' games.
* The Cloud Child in ''TheSpiritEngine2'' has a separate life bar that acts as a shield. Once you reduce it to zero, the cloud child will be stunned until the shield regenerates to full, during which you can attack its main life bar.
** The first form of the FinalBoss is also invincible until a certain amount of time has passed. Its second and third forms are also difficult to damage until you destroy at least one of its [[FlunkyBoss flunkies]], since they'll block your hits otherwise.
* Every boss in ''LyleInCubeSector'', except for the semifinal one, which is always vulnerable.
* The FinalBoss of ''EternalDaughter''.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'', Shadow Rise cannot be damaged, but halfway through the fight, she leaves and you end up fighting Shadow Teddie instead.
* Most bosses in the ''SonicTheHedgehog'' games, though there are a few bosses that subvert it.
* Most in ''IWannaBeTheGuy'', although some sections and bosses are Type 1. Thankfully, their vulnerable sections tend to be frequent.

[[AC:Mixed]]
* Most bosses in the ''KingdomHearts'' series are either this or always vulnerable.
* The FinalBoss of ''VideoGame/{{Iji}}'' is ''technically'' vulnerable to most of your weapons, though even the [[InfinityMinusOneSword MPFB Devastator]] is not going to get you very far. The most effective way to injure him is to wait out his attacks until he uses a powerful ChargedAttack, then [[TennisBoss reflect it back at him]].

[[AC:Miscellaneous]]
* [[spoiler:[=GLaDOS=]]] in ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}'', who is also a PuzzleBoss.
* [[spoiler:Dark Cecil]] from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV''. Kind of a given, since it's the TropeNamer for SheatheYourSword.

* The FinalBoss of ''{{Iji}}'' is ''technically'' vulnerable to most of your weapons, though even the [[InfinityMinusOneSword MPFB Devastator]] is not going to get you very far. The most effective way to injure him is to wait out his attacks until he uses a powerful ChargedAttack, then [[TennisBoss reflect it back at him]].

* Every boss in ''{{Iji}}'', except the final one which is mixed, and [[spoiler:Iosa]]'s second form, which must be waited out.

* A few bosses in ''Mega Man'' fall into this category, notably ones that can fly out of your reach such as Gyro Man in 5 (unless you have Gravity Hold).

* Most bosses in the ''[[TheLegendOfZelda Zelda]]'' series are this, with most of the exceptions being in the first two games (and the aforementioned Skeldritch round 2), which are always vulnerable. Typically, you have to use the item you just got in the current dungeon to make the boss vulnerable to your sword.

* The Grand Mother from ''HeroCore'' is a bit of an odd example. It's completely invincible until you destroy its flunkies a few times, at which point it [[TurnsRed goes berserk]] and loses its invincibility entirely.

* A rather odd variation in the second ''VideoGame/DarkCloud'' game: The TrueFinalBoss, [[spoiler:Dark Element]], changes its color between red and blue every so often during your fight. When it's red, only Max can hurt it. When it's blue, only Monica can hurt it. Unfortunately, it's never vulnerable to the Ridepod or its [[GameBreaker Nova Cannon]].

* A rather odd variation in the second ''VideoGame/DarkCloud'' game: The TrueFinalBoss, [[spoiler:Dark Element]], changes its color between Red and Blue every so often during your fight. When it's Red, only Max can hurt it. When it's blue, only Monica can hurt it. Unfortunately, it's never vulnerable to the Ridepod or his [[GameBreaker Nova Cannon]].

* A rather odd variation in the second ''DarkCloud'' game: The TrueFinalBoss, [[spoiler:Dark Element]], changes its color between Red and Blue every so often during your fight. When it's Red, only Max can hurt it. When it's blue, only Monica can hurt it. Unfortunately, it's never vulnerable to the Ridepod or his [[GameBreaker Nova Cannon]].

* ''ViewtifulJoe''.

The boss cannot be harmed by any means until a certain amount of time has passed or a certain action is performed, at which point they will become vulnerable for a short period of time. This type can be easier than type 1 due to the fact that you only have to concentrate on survival, and not have to balance offense and defense. However, it can be annoying if you miss the window of opportunity, since you will have to go through the attack pattern again before getting a chance at another shot.

A mix of the above. The boss is technically vulnerable at all times, but can become stunned or otherwise more susceptible to the player character's attacks. Like in type 2, this may happen after a certain time has elapsed, or a special action or actions may be required.

* The most common boss-type in the ''Game/MegaMan'' series. Almost every boss falls into this, and the ones that don't usually need to be waited out.
* The second phase of the fight with Skeldritch in TheLegendOfZeldaSpiritTracks.

* [[spoiler:[=GLaDOS=]]] in ''{{Portal}}'', who is also a PuzzleBoss.

'''Type 1: Always Vulnerable'''

'''Type 2: Wait Them Out'''

'''Type 3: Mixed'''

'''Type 4: Unwinnable'''

{{Hopeless Boss Fight}}s. These bosses are always invulnerable.

'''Type 5: Miscellaneous'''

A SubTrope of BossBattle. AttackItsWeakPoint and TacticalSuicideBoss are common tropes for type 2s. DamageSpongeBoss is a possibility for a type 1.

[[AC:Type 1]]

* Every boss in ''{{Iji}}'', except the final one which is a type 3, and [[spoiler:Iosa]]'s second form, which is a type 2.
* Most bosses in the ''KingdomHearts'' series are either this or type 3.

* Every boss in ''EternalDaughter'' except for the final one, which is a type 2.

* The most common boss-type in the ''Game/MegaMan'' series. Almost every boss falls into this, and the ones that don't are usually Type 2.

[[AC:Type 2]]

** Lots of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'' bosses fit into type 3 as well. After you max out the crystarium, many of the [[BonusBoss mission marks]] go down faster if you just go all out instead of trying to work out a stagger.

* Every boss in ''LyleInCubeSector'', except for the semifinal one, which is a type 1.

* Most bosses in the ''SonicTheHedgehog'' games, though there are a few bosses that subvert this and are more type 3s.

* Most bosses in the ''[[TheLegendOfZelda Zelda]]'' series are this, with most of the exceptions being in the first two games (and the aforementioned Skeldritch round 2), which are type 1s. Typically, you have to use the item you just got in the current dungeon to make the boss vulnerable to your sword.

[[AC:Type 3]]
* Most bosses in the ''KingdomHearts'' series are either this or type 1.

* The Grand Mother from ''HeroCore'' is a bit of an odd example. It's completely invincible until you destroy its flunkies a few times, at which point it [[TurnsRed goes berserk]] and loses its invincibility, turning into a type 1.

[[AC:Type 5]]

* Every Phase [[spoiler:except Corbenik, which is Type 3 instead]] in Project DotHack. The bosses take damage just fine -- their HP count is just glitched up, making them undefeatable. Data Draining them fixes this and also causes them to lose a lot of their special attacks, including their own Data Drain.

* Every Phase [[spoiler:except Corbenik, which is Type 3 instead]] in Project DotHack. The bosses take damage just fine - their HP count is just glitched up, making them undefeatable. Data Draining them fixes this and also causes them to lose a lot of their special attacks, including their own Data Drain.
* A rather odd variation in the second ''DarkCloud'' game: The TrueFinalBoss [[spoiler:Dark Element]] changes it's color between Red and Blue every so often during your fight. When it's Red, only Max can hurt it. When it's blue, only Monica can hurt it. Unfortunately, it's never vulnerable to the Ridepod or his [[GameBreaker Nova Cannon]].

* Most bosses in ''LaMulana''.

* ''FinalFantasyXIII'' has a few bosses (and regular enemies) that are practically invulnerable until they are [[BreakMeter staggered]].
** Lots of ''FinalFantasyXIII'' bosses fit into type 3 as well. After you max out the crystarium, many of the [[BonusBoss mission marks]] go down faster if you just go all out instead of trying to work out a stagger.

* In {{Persona 4}}, Shadow Rise cannot be damaged, but halfway through the fight, she leaves and you end up fighting Shadow Teddie instead.

* [[spoiler:Dark Cecil]] from ''FinalFantasyIV''. Kind of a given, since it's the TropeNamer for SheatheYourSword.

* A rather odd variation in the second ''DarkCloud'' game: The TrueFinalBoss [[spoiiler: Dark Element]] changes it's color between Red and Blue every so often during your fight. When it's Red, only Max can hurt it. When it's blue, only Monica can hurt it. Unfortunately, it's never vulnerable to the Ridepod or his [[GameBreaker Nova Cannon]].

* Every Phase [[spoiler:except Corbenik, which is Type 3 instead]] in Project DotHack. The bosses take damage just fine - their HP count is just glitched up, making them undefeatable. Data Draining them fixes this and also causes them to lose a lot of their special attacks, including their own Data Drain.

* ''DistortedTravesty''.

* Most bosses in ''CaveStory''.

* The most common boss-type in the ''Mega Man'' series. Almost every boss falls into this, and the ones that don't are usually Type 2.

* Most {{RolePlayingGame}}s use this type by their very nature, though other types do crop up sometimes.

* Most {{RPGs}} use this type by their very nature, though other types do crop up sometimes.

* The tentacles in ''HalfLife''. They are a PuzzleBoss immune to weapons that takes some running and turning on fuel and electricity to defeat.

* Pinstripe Potoro in ''CrashBandicoot'' is a mix. He's vulnerable at any point when not firing his gun (and technically vulnerable before then but you'd get torn to pieces trying), but only for the first three six. For the last three, he becomes invincible, and you have to wait for his gun to jam.

* Every boss in ''{{Iji}}'', except the final one which is a type 3, and Iosa's second part which is a type 2.

* Every boss in ''{{Iji}}'', except the final one, which is a type 3.

* ''IWannaBeTheGuy''.