Last updated: 30 October 2026

How to Beat the Last Judge in Silksong

Beat the Last Judge by dodging its thurible in Phase 1, punishing its Leap and Slam, then reading the incense smoke that shows where each Phase 2 fire attack will ignite. It has two phases, not three. What catches players out comes after the kill: the Judge kneels, its thurible smokes, and a ring of explosions follows that can still finish Hornet off.

01Where to Find the Last Judge

The Last Judge waits at the top of the Blasted Steps, in front of the Grand Gate into the Citadel. It appears once you have rung all five Bellshrines of Act 1 and try to open the gate with the Needolin.

• It is one of two ways into the Citadel: beating the Phantom in the Exhaust Organ also grants access, so the Last Judge is the main-path option rather than the only one.
• Rest at the nearest Bench first to set your loadout and refill Red Tool charges.
• Go in with at least 9 Silk, the cost of one Bind (three masks).
• Its very first attack in the first encounter is always a Thurible Throw aimed at Hornet, so be ready to dodge the moment the fight starts.

02Phase 1: Thurible Attacks and Punish Windows

Every attack and contact hit in this phase costs 2 masks. The phase lasts until you have taken a quarter of its health (720 down to 540 HP).

• Slam: it leaps, hovers for a moment, then drives the thurible into the ground where Hornet stands. The hitbox is narrow: a short step aside avoids it and leaves you room for a few Needle hits.
• Leap: a repositioning jump, often to the middle of the arena when it is near a wall. Like Slam, it is a good opening to attack.
• Thurible Throw: it winds back and lobs the thurible forward in an arc, then yanks it back. Swift Step toward or away from it; if you dashed toward the Judge, jump right after to clear the ball on its way back.
• Thurible Spin: a quick twirl at the wrist warns you, then it swings the thurible around itself. The range is short, so step out and use the time to heal. Red Tool projectiles are deflected during the spin, but Silk Skills still hit.
• Adjust: quick low hops forward or back that change the spacing; it keeps this move in Phase 2.

03Phase 2: Fire and Incense (from 540 HP)

At 540 HP the ball of the thurible ignites and every attack except Adjust is replaced by a fire version. Clouds of smoky incense appear shortly before each fire attack ignites, showing you exactly where the damage will be.

• Blazing Rings: the spin now sends concentric rings of fire slowly outward. It always opens Phase 2 with this. Move slowly and stay in the gaps between rings.
• Exploding Thurible Throw: the same arc throw, but the ball explodes shortly after landing before it is pulled back. Dodge it the same way as in Phase 1.
• Searing Slam: after the slam lands, two small burning shockwaves run across the floor in both directions. Jump them; the punish window is shorter than in Phase 1.
• Pillar Charge: it crouches and charges toward Hornet, leaving three evenly spaced fire pillars behind. Jump over the Judge and land between pillars.
• Judgement: once per fight, at 216 HP, a loud shout starts about five seconds of Blazing Rings that keep shifting to an offset pattern. Afterwards the Judge is exhausted for a few seconds, which is your best damage window of the fight.

Fire attacks deal 2 masks of fire damage. With the Magma Bell (Blue Tool) equipped they deal 1, which makes Phase 2 far more forgiving.

04After the Kill: the Retributive Explosion

When its health runs out the Last Judge drops to its knees and the thurible starts to smoke. After a short pause, a series of explosions goes off across a large area centred on the Judge, each dealing 2 masks of fire damage.

• Get away immediately. Head for the far edge of the arena as soon as it kneels.
• Dying here costs you the fight. If Hornet is defeated by the explosion, the Last Judge has to be beaten again.
• Patch 5 made it fairer. Version 1.0.30000 (March 16, 2026) fixed the explosion dealing 3 damage instead of 2 and ignoring the Magma Bell, so on current versions it hits for 2, or 1 with the Bell.

05General Strategy & Tips

A repeatable approach to the whole fight:

1. Stay mobile and dodge with Swift Step instead of trying to trade hits; every hit costs 2 masks.
2. Attack after Leap and Slam, the two moves with the narrowest hitboxes and the clearest openings.
3. Heal at range during Thurible Spin or after a dodge, never while it is winding up. A hit during Bind cancels the heal and empties your whole Silk spool.
4. Equip the Injector Band (Blue Tool) if you keep getting interrupted: it makes Bind 40% faster.
5. Equip the Magma Bell for Phase 2 and the death explosion if you have it.
6. Save a big burst for after Judgement, when the Judge is exhausted.
7. When it kneels, run. The fight is only over once the explosions have ended.