History Fridge / ShovelKnight

** ''Showdown'' reveals another reason: [[spoiler:being out of shape from eating the food from the parties no one attends and sitting on the throne all the time. So by the time Shovel Knight faces him, King Knight's largely an out of shape, rather dis-motivated man. However not quite enough that he wouldn't try to fight with what he had left.]]

* When Plague Knight defeats the Enchantress, she doesn't [[spoiler:revert to Shield Knight.]] Since the game implies that Shovel Knight and Plague Knight's stories take place concurrently, with only a few possible, player controlled deviations (Plague Knight hiring Baz, him bothering to pick up the paper he finds worthless for Percy, etc.) it stands to reason she decided to quit while she was ahead with Plague Knight and just give him her essence and end the fight rather then risk [[spoiler:her amulet being damaged.]] She's thus still in fighting shape for Shovel Knight's battle. (Although this does imply she's going to end up going through her own boss gauntlet as each of the playable members of the Order pick fights with her.)

** Plague Knight and Mona's cards, while they can be acquired winning against the respective character, can also be acquired from the other. It represents the two are not only partners [[spoiler:but have feelings for each other they cannot seem to admit to each other.]]

** By ''Shovel of Hope'', it's possible he learned how to exploit this outward defeatism to his advantage. By starting the fight off with this relatively weaker battle style, he's granting Shovel Knight one accessible step closer to the Tower of Fate. ''This'' could be the Specter's revenge as Red implied after collecting every red skull.

** By ''Shovel of Hope'', it's possible he exploits this outward defeatism to his advantage, using this comparatively half-assed fighting style right out the gate as his revenge against the Enchantress. He may not be able to defy the tyrant himself, but going easy on Shovel Knight gives the hero one accessible step closer to the Tower of Fate.

** By ''Shovel of Hope'', he doesn't even try putting forth any effort right out the gate. He either sees no point in doing so or his comparatively half-assed fighting was his revenge against the Enchantress, going easy on Shovel Knight to make that one step closer very quickly.

* Specter Knight seems to lengthen his cloak (and therefore granting himself his ''Shovel of Hope'' moveset) when he gives in to his defeatism. This happens during two instances before the main game: in ''Specter of Torment's'' ending after lamenting about being forced into the Order, and before that, during his final bout with King Knight in ''King of Cards''. For the latter, it seems he TurnsRed only because he realizes the strength of the usurper's convictions is too great. He's still obligated to continue fighting, but phase two indicates that Specter knows he's running out of options. By ''Shovel of Hope'', he doesn't even try putting forth any effort right out the gate. He either sees no point in doing so or his comparatively half-assed fighting was his revenge against the Enchantress, going easy on Shovel Knight to make that one step closer very quickly.

* Specter Knight seems to lengthen his cloak (and therefore granting himself his ''Shovel of Hope'' moveset) when he gives in to his defeatism. This happens during two instances before the main game: in ''Specter of Torment's'' ending after lamenting about being forced into the Order, and before that, during his final bout with King Knight in ''King of Cards''. For the latter, it seems he TurnsRed only because he realizes the strength of the usurper's convictions is too great. He's still obligated to continue fighting, but phase two indicates that Specter knows he's running out of options. By ''Shovel of Hope'', he doesn't even try putting forth any effort right out the gate, either because he sees no point in doing so or doesn't want the Enchantress to succeed.

* Specter Knight seems to lengthen his cloak (and therefore granting himself his ''Shovel of Hope'' moveset) when he gives in to his defeatism. This happens during two instances before the main game: in ''Specter of Torment's'' ending after lamenting about being forced into the Order, and before that, during his final bout with King Knight in ''King of Cards''. For the latter, it seems he TurnsRed only because he realizes the strength of the usurper's convictions is too great. He's still obligated to continue fighting, but phase two indicates that Specter knows he's running out of options. By ''Shovel of Hope'', he doesn't even try putting forth any effort right out the gate, because he doesn't want the Enchantress to succeed.

* Specter Knight seems to lengthen his cloak (and therefore granting himself his *Shovel of Hope* moveset) when he gives in to his defeatism. This happens during two instances before the main game: in ''Specter of Torment's'' ending after lamenting about being forced into the Order, and before that, during his final bout with King Knight in ''King of Cards''. For the latter, it seems he TurnsRed only because he realizes the strength of the usurper's convictions is too great. He's still obligated to continue fighting, but phase two indicates that Specter knows he's running out of options. By ''Shovel of Hope'', he doesn't even try putting forth any effort right out the gate, because he doesn't want the Enchantress to succeed.

** King Knight doesn't break the floor anymore either because it's sturdier now and he can't, or he was already behind on renovations before and doesn't want to.

** King Knight's at first seems to fit with his desire to be king, except only one of the 3 components is a king; the Birder explicitly says he is no king beforehand, and it is the Troupple Acolyte, not the Troupple King that becomes a part of it. Because it's implied King Knight truly sought the love, admiration and loyalty that came with being a King, and thus faces a corrupted amalgam of his own biggest supporters. The boss' ClippedWingAngel form being without a crown and exposing its true face could reflect how King Knight ultimately abandons the friends he made during his journey for the superficial title of king, leaving him with nothing in the end.

* Another point about ''King of Cards'' is how [[spoiler:King Knight turns on his allies on knocks them all into a pit.]] While it serves as a nice contrast to when [[spoiler:him and the rest of the Order are put in the same situation after the BossRush]], there is also a gameplay related reason as well. Note how Shovel Knight’s main attack is a swing of his shovel, [[spoiler:which could be inferred as using the blade to turn the winch holding everyone]]. King Knight’s main form of attack, however, is a FoeTossingCharge. [[spoiler:Given how the winch breaks apart in this instance, it provides subtle foreshadowing in King Knight’s [[FaceHeelTurn fate]].

* 'Showdown's' character selection having both [[spoiler:Shield Knight and Reize and their corrupted/possessed selves makes sense when the mirror's breaking causes a splitting up of the two sides]].

* King Knight not only usurped King Pridemoor's castle, but also stole his battle-style -- Though, from a meta perspective, it's the other way around. Pridemoor's boss-fight uses a variant of King Knight's more suited for his titanic battle armor. The key similarities include an immobilizing ground-pound followed by swiping the opponent with his scepter, pausing then charging quickly across the room, and calling upon an outside force to rain projectiles to provide pressure. Regarding the latter, King Pridemoor's variant summons Plume and Beaky, while King Knight's summons the Horns of Heralding.

* Most of the bosses in Specter of Torment have an extra tactic that they don't use in Shovel of Hope or Plague of Shadows. It's odd that they would just ditch something that makes them better in a fight, but there are explanations for a few of them:

* In ''Specter of Torment'', we clearly see Plague Knight use the Tracer and Cascade Powders, as well as the Impact Fuse (all which need to be purchased from Mona). Yet why does he start ''Plague of Shadows'' with only the basic bombs? Plague Knight makes a comment concerning Percy once launching from a catapult him straight into the ocean, outright stating he can't afford another set of waterlogged bombs. Likely, those waterlogged bombs included the ones he uses in his boss battle, and he likely didn't have any funds to spare to replace them from working on the Ultimate Potion. Hence why Plague Knight has only sub-par equipment at the start the campaign and why he has to pay Mona for the rest of the bomb components and bursts.

* Had King Knight been a better person, he could have very easily become a real, legitimate king. [[spoiler:In the course of his adventure he gained plenty of wealth and power, had the support of the people, and his mother and King Pridemoor were building a romantic relationship which might have led to his becoming heir to the throne, [[ParentalSexualitySquick despite King Knight's anger on his mother being flirted by the king]].]]

* Had King Knight been a better person, he could have very easily become a real, legitimate king. [[spoiler:In the course of his adventure he gained plenty of wealth and power, had the support of the people, and his mother and King Pridemoor were building a romantic relationship which might have led to his becoming heir to the throne.]]

* Why King Knight is a WarmUpBoss after ''King of Cards'' showed how capable and how powerful he can actually be? The answer lies in the end... [[spoiler:Either King Knight feels empty and broken about losing his friends, and ''especially'' the affection of his mother, he's basically lost all motivation for fighting. Or he simply got so lazy he barely cares about putting up a good fight anymore and feels even if he fails his "subjects", the rest of the Order of No Quarter, should finish the job, after all a King should command, not fight. [[TakeAThirdOption Or both]].]]

* Why King Knight is a WarmUpBoss after ''King of Cards'' showed how capable and how powerful he can actually be? The answer lies in the end... [[spoiler:Either King Knight feels empty and broken about losing his friends, and ''especially'' the affection of his mother, he's basically lost all motivation for fighting. Or he simply got so lazy he barely cares about putting up a good fight anymore and feels even if he fails his "subjects", the rest of the Order of No Quarter, should finish the job, after all a King should command, not fight.]]

* Why is [[spoiler: Shovel Knight]] so smart, unpredictable and reacts to your attacks? Because [[spoiler: Shovel Knight]]'s battle style is based on [[spoiler: how a '''player''' would react to a boss' attack]]. Remember that [[spoiler: '''Shovel Knight''' is the default and original player character, so naturally he'd fight like one too]].
** Also, why does he [[spoiler: use Relics he shouldn't have on him at that point of the game save a NewGamePlus]]? There's always the fact [[UnreliableNarrator Plague Knight's not being completely honest about what happened during the fight, or just forgot he didn't have them yet]], which can also be an explanation for [[spoiler:Shovel Knight's behavior]].
** If you're like most players, you very likely beat ''Shovel of Hope'' on at least one file before starting ''Plague of Shadows''. [[spoiler: Plague Knight's story is Shovel Knight's NewGamePlus.]] Which provides an alternative explanation for his behavior: [[spoiler: A player that took the moral high road in his first playthrough will be inclined to take the JerkAss low road in at least one subsequent replay.]] Plague Knight being the perspective character at the time gives the player a handy excuse to assume [[spoiler: Shovel Knight's JerkAss moments are non-canon, rather than what the player themselves would've done in that particular replay.]]

* During the fight with the Enchantress, she can damage the floor you are on, but can also restore it. [[spoiler: Could Shield Knight be trying to help Shovel Knight even when possessed?]]
** This does not seem to apply with ''Plague of Shadows'', until you either finish the battle or just think of it a little more: [[spoiler: She's holding back because she still sees a chance to be stopped or saved by Plague Knight.]]
** When battling her with Specter Knight, it's part of her gambit [[spoiler: to snuff out Specter Knight's free will and secure him as her eighth and final knight.]]

* In [=PoS=], there's something odd with the room where the Phase Locket is found. [[spoiler: All the other rooms have no enemies in the area immediately around the chest where the relics are found. The Phase Locket had three Boneclangs right before the chest. Those were guards Specter Knight had assigned to guard the Phase Locket.]]

** Black Knight obviously wouldn't want Terrorpin fighting for a while [[spoiler: after his injuries.]]

** King Knights at first seems to fit with his desire to be king, except only one of the 3 components is a king; the Birder explicitly says he is no king beforehand, and it is the Troupple Acolyte, not the Troupple King that becomes a part of it. Because it's implied King Knight truly sought the love, admiration and loyalty that came with being a King, and thus faces a corrupted amalgam of his own biggest supporters. The boss' ClippedWingAngel form being without a crown and exposing its true face could reflect how King Knight ultimately abandons the friends he made during his journey for the superficial title of king, leaving him with nothing in the end.
* 'Showdown's' character selection having both [[spoiler:Shield Knight and Reize and their corrupted/possessed selves makes sense when the mirror's breaking causes a splitting up of the two sides]]

** Actually, it was '''confirmed''' that it used to be a village. One of the [=NPC=]s mentioned she lived in her village before Specter Knight attacked, and that she narrowly escaped it. The epilogue for ''Specter of Torment'' actually shows the attack. [[spoiler: At least it's a fair bit more merciful than the Enchantress' treatment of the Armor Outpost, and the Phantom Striker ensures that most of the inhabitants get out safely...]]

* [[spoiler: Does Reize know his father died by his "uncle's" hand? Does he know his dad is dead, period?]]
** [[spoiler: It seems that he knows his father is gone, but not that it was because of Donovan... and he seems to recognize him after the final battle.]]
* [[spoiler: Specter Knight is entirely reliant on the Enchantress' magic to continue his Undeath after he sacrifices the locket to save Reize. With her taken down by Shovel Knight, what happens to him then? Shovel Knight's ending acts like maybe he'll be self-sufficient, but whose to say his magic won't run out? Or worse, if the fact that he's still alive means the Enchantress may not be entirely destroyed...]]
** [[spoiler: There might be some FridgeBrilliance connected with this, if with a bit of WMG. When making Donovan into her Specter Knight, the Enchantress says "When Eight Knights kneel before me, it will gain the power to restore life". You can get the Phase Locket pretty early on in both Shovel Knight's campaign, the only one besides Specter to have the Phase Locket long enough in the story. The locket regained it's full power when Specter Knight said he'd be the Eighth Knight, meaning that potentially a case of ExactWords could be in play. Think about it: What does Shovel Knight do before he faces the Enchantress? Defeat Eight Knights, whether in their home territories or in the BossRush right before her room. Technically speaking, the "make eight knights kneel before me" could be read as "defeat eight knights before you return to me". For all we know, Shovel Knight might've fulfilled the Locket's conditions once more and Specter Knight still might have a chance of being fully restored.]]

* Considering that Donovan and Luan lived in the Lich Yard prior to [[spoiler:Donovan's death, Specter Knight is essentially stationed in his former home that he himself helped raze to the ground.]]

* If one pays close attention to Mona's dance after beating King and Specter Knight and knows a little about dancing, there's something odd about it. For those who don't know [[spoiler:the dance she's doing is very similar to a waltz. However, the normal position for the waltz has the woman's left hand at or slightly below the man's shoulder. Mona however has her hand to about her waist]]. In truth, Mona is doing the position correctly:[[spoiler: the reason it looks off is because she's performing the dance as if the much shorter Plague Knight (who is roughly half her height) was dancing with her]].

** Plague Knight sought to improve himself because he didn't feel adequate enough for Mona to love him, going on his journey to create a potion that could grant that desire. His final boss is a corrupted, monstrous reflection of himself, indicating that his greatest obstacle to what he wanted was himself. One of the boss's attacks uses explosives in the shape of Mona, reflecting how Plague Knight in his attempts to make himself worthy of her in his eyes, hurts her in the process.
** Specter Knight sought to return to life, at first seemingly for selfish reasons, but actually to fulfill a promise he made to Luan to protect Reize in his place. He fights a corrupted Reize under the Enchantress' control. He ultimately gives up a chance to return to life to save Reize from remaining the Enchantress' puppet, fulfilling his promise, but dooming himself under the Enchantress' rule.
** King Knights at first seems to fit with his desire to be king, except only one of the 3 components is a king; the Birder explicitly says he is no king beforehand, and it is the Troupple Acolyte, not the Troupple King that becomes a part of it. Because it's implied King Knight truly sought the love, admiration and loyalty that came with being a King, and thus faces a corrupted amalgam of his own biggest supporters. The boss' ClippedWingAngel form being without a crown and exposing its true face could reflect how King Knight may be mistaking what he actually wants and loses the friends for the superficial title of king.

** King Knights at first seems to fit with his desire to be king, except only one of the 3 components is a king; the Birder explicitly says he is no king beforehand, and it is the Troupple Acolyte, not the Troupple King that becomes a part of it. Because it's implied King Knight truly sought the love, admiration and loyalty that came with being a King, and thus faces a corrupted amalgam of his own biggest supporters. The boss' ClippedWingAngel form could be an indication of how King Knight, trying to pursue the title of King, ultimately loses everything he actually wanted.

** Despite the implication [[spoiler:that both the final bosses of ''Plague of Shadows'' are not actually real, but are a mental manifestation of Plague Knight created by the Serum Supernus]], it doesn't take away any of the horror of the situation since [[spoiler:if Plague Knight failed to defeat the boss (aka remains unconscious), that means he isn't able to complete the final distillation to stabilize the potion. Said potion is unstable and dangerous meaning both have a high chance of actually dying from it]].

** Plague Knight doesn't use his clone technique because Shovel Knight dropped by the Explodatorium ''completely'' unexpectedly and he had no time to set it up. The same applies to Shovel Knight's version of the boss rush.

* All four characters final boss is a corruption of the thing they wanted, Shovel Knight missed Shield knight, so he fights the Possessed Shield Knight, Plague Knight sought to improve himself to makeup for his perceived inadequacy, so he faces a corrupted reflection of himself, Specter Knight sought to be with Reize again and had to fight him infused with The Enchantresses magic, King Knights at first seems to fit with his desire to be king, except only one of the 3 components is a king, the Birder explicitly says he is no king beforehand, and it is the Trouple Acolyte not the Trouple King that becomes a part of it,because King Knight dident really want to be a King rather King Knight truly sought the love admiration and loyalty that came with being King, and thus faced a corrupted amalgam of his own biggest supporters
* 'Showdown's' character selection having both [[spoiler: Shield Knight and Reize and their corrupted/possessed selves makes sense when the mirror's breaking causes a splitting up of the two sides]]