Boss Battle: Thanatos, God of Death

The addition of an “h” in his name isn’t the only improvement the death god has received. Thanatos is a wily opponent, able to shift between multiple forms freely depending on the situation ... or his mood. Each form has its own attacks, strengths, and weaknesses.

In his basic form, Thanatos casts ranged magic attacks at Pit. The faster barrages don’t home in, but the larger shot he fires does. It travels slowly enough that you can outrun it, but it can pursue you for quite some time. In this form, hammer Thanatos with your best ranged attacks, but if your weapon is good in melee combat, Thanatos’s standard form is not as threatening as his others.

Thanatos can turn himself into a sword surrounded by floating spears. He is only vulnerable at the hilt of the weapon, and while you can sit from afar and shoot, there’s a better method: Wait until the spears stick themselves into the ground while trying to stab Pit, then draw Thanatos close to you. Dodge his ensuing swings. If he clips one of the spears, he damages himself, and can even be stunned, allowing you a few free hits.

The urn form of Thanatos increases his defenses significantly. While it is possible to wear him down with regular attacks, it takes a long time. The skulls he constantly pours out of his body can be knocked back at him for more damage. Beware the red skulls, as those explode if you hit them.

In his bat form, Thanatos can shift into a swarm of bats that can be quite harmful on the offensive and also serves as a means of teleporting to evade your attacks. If you’re lucky enough to get close to him before he shifts, he can be beaten out of his bat form rather quickly.

His doll form is quite harmless from a distance and defeating it is like a simple puzzle. Each time you hit the correct doll (marked by an orange light on its back), it splits into another pair of dolls. Keep locating and shooting the correct doll until a mini-Thanatos reveals himself, then give it a good smack. As long as you stay at a safe distance, you should be able to get through this encounter unscathed.

One form you may not have a chance to see at lower Intensities is his foot form. Transforming into a gigantic foot, Thanatos will chase you around the room, trying to step on you. Don’t be anywhere near it when it lands. It’s strong enough to knock Pit over with each step.

Eventually, Thanatos will return to his original form. He will be more aggressive with his spell blasts, but at this point, he’s on the ropes. After Thanatos is defeated, he leaves behind his Underworld Key. The final battle with Medusa is close at hand!