History Main / BossArenaRecovery

*** From the same game, the Final Boss arena seems to avert this. Until you figure out you can [[spoiler:
use your Hookshot on Princess Zelda to strip hearts from her to heal yourself!]]

*** From the same game, the Final Boss arena seems to avert this. Until you figure out you can [[spoiler: use your hookshoot on Princess Zelda to strip hearts from her to heal yourself!]]

*** Ganon can also end up doing this to the rubble of his castle, and it should be noted that this is the only way to get heart/magic refills during the fight.

*** King Boo does the same thing in the remake

* In ''StarWars: TheForceUnleashed'', the final battle with [[spoiler:Emperor Palpatine]] would be much harder if it weren't for the health you get from killing his guards, who are occasionally sent into the arena as [[spoiler:Palpatine]] levitates up and watches.

* In ''VideoGame/ChimeraBeast'', you can use your ''eat'' move on bosses, damaging them while restoring your health after a few bites.

* The ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' series has some bosses that drop HP orbs under certain conditions and objects that drop HP orbs or (in the first game) even items if you're lucky. ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'' has an Megara supply HP and MP orbs during the second Olympus Coliseum boss fight.

* The Ork Warboss in ''[[Warhammer40000SpaceMarine Space Marine]]'' periodically summoned swarms of grunts for you to Execute and regain health and Fury from.

*** The [[MightyGlacier Iron]] [[LightningBruiser Knuckles]] of the Spirit Temple can be lured into helping you out. Their axes are capable of destroying the pillars and throne usually decorating their arenas. Often, this yields the player three much needed hearts.

* The final area of the Wending Wood questline in ''DragonAge: Origins - Awakening'' pits your player party against two tactics-aware dragons with WonderTwinPowers. Yes, that's as bad as it sounds. Fortunately, every now and then, they would simultaneously take off and leave the room for a couple of seconds, which counts as the end of the encounter in gameplay terms, allowing your [[ShootTheMedicFirst party healer]] to recover from the NonLethalKO.

*** From the same game, the Final Boss arena seems to avert this. Until you figure out you can [[spoiler: [[NightmareFuel use your hookshoot on Princess Zelda to strip hearts from her]] to heal yourself!]]

* ''MetalGearSolid'' spawns ammo during boss fights (for example, Stinger missiles during the boss fight against the helicopter because they are the only effective weapon against it).

* The boss arenas of the latter two ''TimeSplitters'' games.
* ''{{Gauntlet}} Legends'' console games always had a small amount of recovery items hidden in the boss level.

* This is present on the bosses of ''ShadowOfTheColossus'', where there are usually convenient places to rest for stamina recovery on the boss.
* In the new ''NinjaGaiden II'' for the Xbox 360, you can only hold 30 arrows at a time. Whenever you're at a flying boss (or somewhere else that where you'd need arrows), there's a dead guy lying in the ground with an unlimited number of arrows stuck in him that you can scavenge.
* Many of the boss areas and very difficult areas of ''ResidentEvil4'' contained ammo and healing items (but then again, so did the less difficult areas).

* Strangely enough, [[BigBad Malefor]] ''himself'' acts as this in ''[[SpyroTheDragon The Legend Of Spyro: Dawn Of The Dragon]]''. His boss fight would be a lot harder, if he didn't keep releasing [[HitPoints health]] and {{Mana}} crystals ''[[WhatAnIdiot every single time he was physically hit]]''.

** Averted in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheMinishCap'': the final boss has nothing around his arena that you can milk for health or ammo.
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'' subverts this in the harder difficulty as far as hearts are concerned, unless you have the heart medal. And for the BossRush, even that doesn't work. The final two bosses don't have anything in the area that can provide health or ammo (but ammo isn't required either).

* In ''{{Overlord}}'', most significant boss battles feature spawning pits from whence the player can call forth more minions, the goblin-like creatures that do the player's fighting/dying/pillaging/heavy lifting for him. This isn't exactly the same as a health pickup because the number of minions the player has is always limited (though this limit is largely theoretical), and can't be replenished during a boss battle -- but the number of minions following the player at any one time is much more limited, meaning the spawning pits are used to replace casualties and function essentially like the trope.

* ''SmashTV'' is one of the earliest games to do this. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in that most bosses are invulnerable or highly resistant to your regular peashooter gun, and special weapons all have limited ammo.

*** The [[MightyGlacier Iron]] [[LightningBruiser Knuckles]] of the Spirit Temple can be lured into helping you out. Their axes are capable of destroying the pillars and throne usually decorating their arenas. Often, this yields the player three much needed hearts.

* The ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' series has this, although again mostly in the 3-D games.

** ''VideoGame/SuperMario64''

*** Chief Chilly drops coins when punched.

* The boss arenas of the latter two ''{{TimeSplitters}}'' games.

* Even ''GrandTheftAuto'' got into this, providing suspiciously out-of-universe health packs in areas of key difficulty.

* Many of the boss areas and very difficult areas of ''ResidentEvil 4'' contained ammo and healing items (but then again, so did the less difficult areas).

** Most games in the ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'' subseries have at least one boss whose shots you can shoot out of the air for ammo and health. Almost every single major boss in ''2'' and ''3'' have these. (Those that don't are pretty much guaranteed ThatOneBoss). In ''2'', it's due to the DarkWorld which steadily takes away health, meaning that sometimes you have to fight the battle with no safe zones. In ''3'', it's because you need health to activate Hyper Mode, which is required to kill most bosses.

* While it doesn't have normal boss fights, the ''MedalOfHonor'' series provides its inexplicable health restoration in the form of medkits that drop from dead enemy soldiers.
* In ''{{Overlord}}'', most significant boss battles feature spawning pits from whence the player can call forth more minions, the goblin-like creatures that do the player's fighting/dying/pillaging/heavy lifting for him. This isn't exactly the same as a health pickup because the number of minions the player has is always limited (though this limit is largely theoretical), and can't be replenished during a boss battle -- but the number of minions following the player at any one time is much more limited, meaning the spawning pits are used to replace casualties and function essentially like the trope.
* Berial, the first boss in ''DevilMayCry 4'', leaves behind health-restoring orbs when he smashes buildings. At least, until you get to the higher difficulties -- which turns him into a sort of WakeUpCallBoss if you were still expecting them.

* In the Black Temple dungeon in ''{{World of Warcraft}}'', there is a boss called Reliquary of Souls that attacks in [[SequentialBoss phases]]. Between phases, swarms of {{Mooks}} show up that refill the group's health and mana when killed. From a mechanical standpoint, this is justified as the boss prevents all healing in its first phase, and drains mana in the second, but it still seems like a kind of chivalry from a creature that's supposed to be trying to kill you.

* In every single ''SpongebobSquarepants'' game made from Heavy Iron Studios's boss arena. Except for battle for bikini's bottom final bosses FINAL form. Its first form still has recovery items.

** It's PlayedWith in Viewtiful Joe 2. MadScientist cyborg Dr. Kranken fires at you from the background while his creation Cameo Leon assaults you with his OverlyLongTongue. The Doctor throws cheeseburgers and Molotov Cocktails at Leon that he can use to recover. You can whack him to prevent him from consuming them, or take a cheeseburger for yourself.

** The final battle of ''{{Half-Life}} 2: Episode Two'' against a horde of Striders and Hunters is fought within easy access to several shacks that continuously restock themselves with [[HealThyself Medkits]] and ammunition for all weapons. Though some can easily be destroyed by the Striders there are some that always remain.
** ''Half-Life'' 1 has small healing pools scattered around the final Boss area, in addition to the usual MedKits lying next to dead explorers.

* In the ''Warriors'' game, some of the bosses can only be hurt with ranged attacks. In this case, there will always be a beer carton on the ground that provides infinite glass bottles for throwing.

* ''Turok 2'' has it's final boss retreat, and send robot minions after you, which can be slaughtered for health, as well as the respawning pickups scattered around the arena.

* ''ChaosLegion'' often had {{Mooks}} and {{Mook Maker}}s in the boss arenas.

* ''Turok 2'' has it's final boss retreat, and send robot minions after you, which can be slaughtered for health.

* The ''SuperMarioBros'' series, again mostly in the 3-D games. ''Super Mario Galaxy'' actually has small plants and lights to shoot at for coins in the boss arenas for just this reason.
** In ''Super Mario 64'', Bowser's fire breath left behind health-restoring coins when it burnt out. King Boo does the same thing in the remake, and Chief Chilly drops coins when punched.
** Not to forget ''Super Mario World'', where in the fight against Bowser the Princess throws you a mushroom between attack waves.

* It could be argued this is present on the bosses of ''ShadowOfTheColossus'', where there are usually convenient places to rest for stamina recovery on the boss.

* Most games in the ''{{Metroid}} Prime'' subseries have at least one boss whose shots you can shoot out of the air for ammo and health. Almost every single major boss in ''2'' and ''3'' have these. (Those that don't are pretty much guaranteed ThatOneBoss). In ''2'', it's due to the DarkWorld which steadily takes away health, meaning that sometimes you have to fight the battle with no safe zones. In ''3'', it's because you need health to activate Hyper Mode, which is required to kill most bosses.
** Some of the 2D games have it as well. The easiest to remember are the nails Kraid shoots in ''Super Metroid''.
*** In ''Super Metroid'' that was probably a necessity to keep the player from running out of Missiles, since otherwise only charged shots would have any effect on the boss and the Charge Beam wasn't a required powerup.
*** Don't forget what happens as you shoot up Core-X and Hard Core-X in Metroid fusion. The boss fight is pretty much all said and done once the X mimic transforms into its true form because you could rapidfire the darn things and squirt out almost obscene numbers of green and yellow X parasites to heal and restock from.

* ''{{Kirby}}'' boss battles are ''made'' of this trope. Since you're theoretically supposed to be able to defeat bosses without any of your [[PowerCopying copy abilities]], your only offensive option may be slurping up CirclingBirdies or MookMaker offspring and launching them back at your opponent.

* In ''{{Overlord}}'', most significant boss battles feature spawning pits from whence the player can call forth more minions, the goblin-like creatures that do the player's fighting/dying/pillaging/heavy lifting for him. This isn't exactly the same as a health pickup because the number of minions the player has is always limited, and can't be replenished during a boss battle -- but the number of minions following the player at any one time is much more limited, meaning the spawning pits are used to replace casualties and function essentially like the trope.
** The number of minions you possess (not the ones you command) is a ''very'' theoretical limit. If you grind for about half an hour, you're unlikely to run out even if you're playing [[WeHaveReserves true to form]].

* Early bosses in ''FinalFantasyCrystalChronicles Ring of Fates'' had this. Players are advised to enjoy it while they can.
** The sequel Echoes of Time also generously stocks the first few boss areas with chests full of recovery items. It also includes a couple of boss rush minigames where all the boss arenas include 2 respawning minions that always drop food, but this goes straight past Suspicious Videogame Generosity and into Malevolent Videogame Generosity, since the extra mooks mean more attacks to avoid and can stun-lock you together with the boss.

* During the final boss of ''{{Okami}}'', there are a few chests littered around the battlefield you can open for inventory items. [[SequentialBoss One of the boss's forms]] even mimics a slot machine, and one combination makes it give up a load of recovery power-ups. Not that you necessarily need such instant-use rejuvenation when you probably have an inventory stuffed with cheap and effective healing.
** Not to mention that using your slow-time-down power, occasionally one of the characters from earlier in the game will drop health for you.

* The final battle of ''{{Half-Life}} 2: Episode Two'' against a horde of Striders and Hunters is fought within easy access to several shacks that continuously restock themselves with [[HealThyself Medkits]] and ammunition for all weapons. Though some can easily be destroyed by the Striders there are some that always remain.

* Most boss arenas in the ''{{Viewtiful Joe}}'' series have a box or two with items that can recover your Life or VFX. They're often in the background, meaning you'll have to hit the boss with your Mach Speed power, creating after images to break them open for you.

** In ''Double Trouble'' Joe often teams up with his sister Jasmine against a boss. By tapping on her she tosses you fast food!

* ''Zelda'' series loves this one, especially in 3-D games. Here, every single boss and even many {{Mini Boss}}es have convenient pots, skulls, or tufts of grass to collect hearts, magic pots, and item refills from during the battle. If a boss required a certain type of ammunition to defeat, you would almost certainly be able to find that type of ammunition somewhere in the arena, even if it was from the boss itself.
** However, this is averted with Ganondorf, from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime''. If you don't have enough magic to make more light arrows, you've already lost.
*** Actually... not so much.
** On one particular boss in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'' (the Third Dungeons'), it's actually justified [[spoiler: by the fact that this boss is only there to test Link.]] This boss will down right GIVE you Arrow and Bomb Refills (which you need to defeat it) if you are low on them.
*** .......It deposits them ''from its nose''.
*** From the same game, the Final Boss arena seems to avert this. Until you figure out you can [[spoiler: [[NightmareFuel use your hookshoot on Princess Zelda to strip hearts from her]] to heal yourself!]] Played straight with ''Twilight Princess'', however.
** From the Ocarina of Time, the [[MightyGlacier Iron]] [[LightningBruiser Knuckles]] of the Spirit Temple can be lured into helping you out. Their axes are capable of destroying the pillars and throne usually decorating their arenas. Often, this yields the player three much needed hearts.

* ''OdinSphere'' has a fairly bizarre example of this; during every boss fight (if you had the foresight to bring seeds) you can kill the {{Mooks}} that the boss summons/appear with the boss, then use the released Phozons to grow fruit, which can then be used to heal.

* In ''{{Iji}}'', the first three bosses have enough health items scattered about their arenas to fill you to full multiple times, and the latter three bosses drop one or two roughly every time you "deal damage" (or at least every time you hit them with the thing you were intended to beat them with, or in the case of the final boss every time he reaches that point in his attack cycle]]

* ''TheLegendOfZelda'' series loves this one, especially in 3-D games. Here, every single boss and even many {{Mini Boss}}es have convenient pots, skulls, or tufts of grass to collect hearts, magic pots, and item refills from during the battle. If a boss required a certain type of ammunition to defeat, you would almost certainly be able to find that type of ammunition somewhere in the arena, even if it was from the boss itself.
** However, this is averted with Ganondorf, from Ocarina of Time. If you don't have enough magic to make more light arrows, you've already lost.

** On one particular boss in The Wind Waker (the Third Dungeons'), it's actually justified [[spoiler: by the fact that this boss is only there to test Link.]] This boss will down right GIVE you Arrow and Bomb Refills (which you need to defeat it) if you are low on them.

** Averted in ''Minish Cap'': the final boss has nothing around his arena that you can milk for health or ammo.
** ''Skyward Sword'' subverts this in the harder difficulty as far as hearts are concerned, unless you have the heart medal. And for the BossRush, even that doesn't work. The final two bosses don't have anything in the area that can provide health or ammo (but ammo isn't required either).

* Some of the (non-tank) bosses in ''DragonQuestHeroesRocketSlime'' will drop medicinal herbs in battle.