Top 10 Best Multi-Phase Boss Fights In Video Games

10. Isshin, the Sword Saint (Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice) – 4 phases

If Sekiro taught players anything, it’s that FromSoftware really loves multi-phase bosses – but Isshin is in a league of his own. This duel is a true gauntlet: first, you think you’re done after defeating Genichiro, only for Isshin to rise from the grave. Then it’s one phase of disciplined swordplay, another with a spear, then gunfire, and finally a lightning-infused storm of chaos. By the fourth phase you’re sweating bullets, because every victory only unlocks a fresh nightmare. The fight is beautifully designed, punishing, and exhilarating, a perfect example of how multi-phase bosses test skill, endurance, and emotional stability all at once. | © Activision / FromSoftware

9 Ludwig, The Holy Blade (Bloodborne) – 4 phases

There’s nothing quite like being mauled by a screaming half-horse, half-man beast only to have him suddenly regain a sense of knightly composure halfway through the fight. Ludwig starts out as a feral nightmare, slamming players with erratic swipes and terrifying lunges. Just when you’ve adjusted to his chaos, he pulls out the Holy Moonlight Sword and fights with a strange mix of grace and brutality, almost like two entirely different bosses in one. Technically, it’s a two-phase battle, but fans often argue about how many "shifts" he really has, since his attack patterns evolve within those halves. It’s a great example of how phase-counting is more about perception than hard math, and that’s part of what makes him so unforgettable. | © FromSoftware

8. Ultimecia (Final Fantasy VIII) – 4 phases

Few final bosses embrace the "let’s keep going" mentality like Ultimecia. She doesn’t just settle for one showdown; instead, you fight through a whole sequence of escalating nightmares. First, she stands alone as a sorceress. Then she summons Griever, the ultimate Guardian Force. After that, she literally merges with her own creation for an even nastier third form. Finally, she goes full cosmic horror as her body twists into an existence-devouring monstrosity. By the end, you’re not just fighting a boss – you’re battling a philosophical concept about time itself. Depending on how picky you are with definitions, some players say three forms, some four, but everyone agrees she makes you work for that ending. | © Square / Squaresoft

7. Kefka (Final Fantasy VI) – 4 phases

Ah, Kefka – the clown who actually won, burned the world, and then made you climb a literal tower of gods to slap him down. His final battle feels like a bizarre opera, with multiple layers that fans often divide into phases. Each tier of the fight introduces new threats, from hulking statues to angelic monstrosities, until you reach Kefka himself in all his godhood. The spectacle is grand, the music iconic, and the fight itself a marathon that demands patience and strategy. Whether you count it as four phases or just "a really long fight with moving parts," there’s no denying this is one of the most memorable finales in RPG history. | © Square / Squaresoft

Cropped Sasuke Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 4

6. Sasuke (Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4) – 5 phases

Anime boss fights are rarely content with just one form, and Sasuke’s climactic duel in UNS4 is no exception. Here, you face him through a series of transformations and health bar resets that fans often tally as five separate phases. Depending on how you count, you’ll see base Sasuke, his Sharingan-enhanced techniques, Susanoo manifestations, and a couple of powered-up states that keep the fight evolving. It’s less about exact numbers and more about capturing the wild escalation of an anime finale. By the end, you’ve gone through enough spectacle to fill an entire season of the show, which makes sense – this is Naruto we’re talking about. | © Bandai Namco

5. Agent Smith (The Matrix: Path of Neo) – 5 phases

It’s hard to top Neo’s final showdown with Agent Smith in Path of Neo when it comes to sheer spectacle. The fight throws you into a cinematic brawl that feels like it lasts forever, with Smith multiplying endlessly into an army of clones before the real duel begins. Players often break the sequence into multiple phases – some say five, since you go from fighting hordes of identical Smiths to more focused one-on-ones, and finally to a rain-soaked, superpowered climax that mirrors the movie. Each phase isn’t just a difficulty bump; it’s a shift in tone, making you feel like you’re fighting a symbol of inevitability rather than just one smug guy in sunglasses. It’s chaotic, over-the-top, and exactly what fans wanted from a Matrix game. | © Shiny Entertainment

4. Calamity Ganon (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild) – 6 phases

When you finally reach the top of Hyrule Castle and face Calamity Ganon, the fight feels like a culmination of everything the game has thrown at you. First, he unleashes an arsenal of attacks that mimic the Blight bosses you fought before, forcing you to adapt to a mix of strategies. Then, once you’ve carved through his health, he shifts into a second phase, cloaked in malice and resistant to normal strikes until you find clever ways to break his defenses. And just when you think you’re done, Breath of the Wild throws in Dark Beast Ganon as a colossal, cinematic finale. Some fans lump all of this together as two phases, while others count every shift separately and end up closer to six. Either way, it’s a showdown worthy of Zelda’s long history of unforgettable bosses. | © Nintendo

3. Xemnas (Kingdom Hearts II) – 9 phases

Only Kingdom Hearts would give you a boss fight so long and layered that fans joke it’s basically its own game. Xemnas doesn’t go down quietly – he drags you through wave after wave of transformations, duels, and cinematic encounters. Depending on how you slice it, players often count nine distinct phases, from his armored dragon form to the surreal duels where Sora and Riku team up. Every time you think you’ve reached the end, Xemnas reappears with another trick, another arena, and another round of dramatic dialogue about hearts, darkness, and light. It’s excessive, yes, but that excess is exactly what makes Kingdom Hearts boss fights so iconic. Beating Xemnas feels like running a marathon through anime cutscenes and rollercoaster rides at the same time. | © Square Enix

2. Lavos (Chrono Trigger) – 12 phases

If any boss deserves the title of "longest night of your life," it’s Lavos. The final battle in Chrono Trigger isn’t just one fight – it’s a gauntlet. First you deal with the outer shell, then a string of forms that revisit attacks from earlier bosses, as if Lavos is flexing everything you’ve already endured. Finally, you reach the Lavos Core, which itself can trick you with shifting priorities and deadly attacks. Players sometimes say 12 phases, though others argue it’s more like three or four big steps, depending on how granular you want to be. Regardless of the math, the sheer scope of the fight makes it feel monumental, the perfect payoff for one of the greatest RPGs ever made. | © Square / Squaresoft

1. Nyx Avatar (Persona 3) – 14 phases

And here we have the undisputed heavyweight champion of multi-phase bosses: Nyx Avatar. This colossal fight takes you through 14 different stages, each one tied to a different Arcana of the Major Arcana tarot. Every phase feels unique, bringing new spells, strategies, and a rising sense of dread as you inch closer to the finale. By the time you reach the Death Arcana, you’re exhausted but exhilarated, having survived a fight that feels as much about endurance as skill. The brilliance of Nyx Avatar is that it doesn’t just wear you down mechanically – it’s thematically perfect, symbolizing the inevitability of death itself while still letting you defy it. Few boss fights capture that mix of narrative and challenge quite so well, which is why fans still talk about it as one of the greatest final battles in gaming. | © Atlus