Nemesis bosses are the rarest and toughest enemies in Grim Dawn. Each one belongs to a faction, and it can only show up after you have built up enough infamy with that faction to reach Nemesis status. They come from the base game and all three expansions, and they are meant as a late-game test of your character.
Expansion
Base Game
Benn'Jahr, the Colossal
A Nemesis linked to Ch'thonians; its attacks combine physical and chaos damage with bleeding.
- Nemesis Faction
- Ch'thonians
- Added In
- Base Game
- Spawn Condition
- Reach Nemesis rank with Ch'thonians (−20,000 Infamy), then kill enough members of that faction to trigger a nearby spawn.
- Notable Drops
- Benn’Jahr’s Pauldrons; Benn’Jahr’s Shoulderguards
Fabius “the Unseen” Gonzar
A Nemesis linked to Cronley's Gang; he uses physical, cold and piercing attacks.
- Nemesis Faction
- Cronley's Gang
- Added In
- Base Game
- Spawn Condition
- Reach Nemesis rank with Cronley's Gang (−20,000 Infamy), then kill enough members of that faction to trigger a nearby spawn.
- Notable Drops
- Fabius’ Pauldron; Fabius’ Shoulderguard
The Iron Maiden
A Nemesis of Kymon's Chosen whose attacks cause bleeding and physical damage.
- Nemesis Faction
- Kymon's Chosen
- Added In
- Base Game
- Spawn Condition
- Only when Kymon's Chosen is hostile to the character: reach Nemesis rank with Kymon's Chosen (−20,000 Infamy), then kill enough of its members to trigger a nearby spawn.
- Notable Drops
- Iron Maiden’s Mantle; Iron Maiden’s Shoulderguard
Moosilauke, the Chillwind
A Nemesis linked to Arkovian Undead with cold, lightning, physical and piercing attacks.
- Nemesis Faction
- Arkovian Undead
- Added In
- Base Game
- Spawn Condition
- Reach Nemesis rank with Arkovian Undead (−20,000 Infamy), then kill enough members of that faction to trigger a nearby spawn.
- Notable Drops
- Moosilauke’s Pauldrons; Moosilauke’s Shoulderguards
Valdaran, the Storm Scourge
The Nemesis linked to Aetherials uses lightning, aether and electrocute damage.
- Nemesis Faction
- Aetherials
- Added In
- Base Game
- Spawn Condition
- Reach Nemesis rank with Aetherials (−20,000 Infamy), then kill enough members of that faction to trigger a nearby spawn.
- Notable Drops
- Valdaran’s Mantle; Valdaran’s Shoulderguard
Zantarin, the Immortal
A Nemesis linked to Order of Death's Vigil whose attacks deal acid and vitality damage.
- Nemesis Faction
- Order of Death's Vigil
- Added In
- Base Game
- Spawn Condition
- Reach Nemesis rank with Order of Death's Vigil (−20,000 Infamy), then kill enough members of that faction to trigger a nearby spawn.
- Notable Drops
- Zantarin’s Mantle; Zantarin’s Shoulderguard
Expansion
Ashes of Malmouth
Archmage Aleksander
A Nemesis linked to Aetherial Vanguard that attacks with fire and aether.
- Nemesis Faction
- Aetherial Vanguard
- Added In
- Ashes of Malmouth
- Spawn Condition
- Reach Nemesis rank with Aetherial Vanguard (−20,000 Infamy), then kill enough members of that faction to trigger a nearby spawn.
- Notable Drops
- Aleksander’s Chausses; Aleksander’s Legguards
Grava’Thul, the Voiddrinker
A Nemesis linked to Ch'thonians with physical, fire and chaos attacks.
- Nemesis Faction
- Ch'thonians
- Added In
- Ashes of Malmouth
- Spawn Condition
- Reach Nemesis rank with Ch'thonians (−20,000 Infamy), then kill enough members of that faction to trigger a nearby spawn.
- Notable Drops
- Grava’Thul’s Leggings; Grava’Thul’s Legguards
Kubacabra, the Endless Menace
A Nemesis linked to Beasts that uses bleeding, vitality and physical damage.
- Nemesis Faction
- Beasts
- Added In
- Ashes of Malmouth
- Spawn Condition
- Reach Nemesis rank with Beasts (−20,000 Infamy), then kill enough members of that faction to trigger a nearby spawn.
- Notable Drops
- Kubacabra’s Legguards; Kubacabra’s Chausses
Reaper of the Lost
A Nemesis linked to Barrowholm that deals piercing, vitality and bleeding damage.
- Nemesis Faction
- Barrowholm
- Added In
- Ashes of Malmouth
- Spawn Condition
- Reach Nemesis rank with Barrowholm (−20,000 Infamy), then kill enough members of that faction to trigger a nearby spawn.
- Notable Drops
- Reaper’s Leggings; Reaper’s Legguards
Expansion
Forgotten Gods
Kaisan, the Eldritch Scion
A Nemesis linked to Eldritch Horrors with lightning, cold and acid attacks.
- Nemesis Faction
- Eldritch Horrors
- Added In
- Forgotten Gods
- Spawn Condition
- Reach Nemesis rank with Eldritch Horrors (−20,000 Infamy), then kill enough members of that faction to trigger a nearby spawn.
- Notable Drops
- Kaisan’s Burning Eye; Kaisan’s Eldritch Eye
Expansion
Fangs of Asterkarn
Curate Ignus
A Nemesis linked to Kymon's Chosen that attacks with fire, chaos and burn damage.
- Nemesis Faction
- Kymon's Chosen
- Added In
- Fangs of Asterkarn
- Spawn Condition
- Reach Nemesis rank with Kymon's Chosen (−20,000 Infamy), then kill enough members of that faction to trigger a nearby spawn.
- Notable Drops
- Ignus’ Mantle; Ignus’ Shoulderguards
Ixall, Phantom of the Korvan Wastes
A Nemesis linked to Eldritch Horrors that uses acid, poison and elemental attacks.
- Nemesis Faction
- Eldritch Horrors
- Added In
- Fangs of Asterkarn
- Spawn Condition
- Reach Nemesis rank with Eldritch Horrors (−20,000 Infamy), then kill enough members of that faction to trigger a nearby spawn.
- Notable Drops
- Ixall’s Dominion; Ixall’s Blaze
Nyarlathon, Herald of Annihilation
A Nemesis linked to Bloodbound whose attacks deal chaos and vitality damage.
- Nemesis Faction
- Bloodbound
- Added In
- Fangs of Asterkarn
- Spawn Condition
- Reach Nemesis rank with Bloodbound (−20,000 Infamy), then kill enough members of that faction to trigger a nearby spawn.
- Notable Drops
- Nyarlathon’s Eye; Nyarlathon’s Gaze
Raddoth, Lord Hierophant
A Nemesis linked to Arkovian Undead with physical, piercing, bleeding and vitality attacks.
- Nemesis Faction
- Arkovian Undead
- Added In
- Fangs of Asterkarn
- Spawn Condition
- Reach Nemesis rank with Arkovian Undead (−20,000 Infamy), then kill enough members of that faction to trigger a nearby spawn.
- Notable Drops
- Raddoth’s Pauldrons; Raddoth’s Shoulderguards
Reaper of Rot
A Nemesis linked to Barrowholm that uses physical, vitality and acid damage.
- Nemesis Faction
- Barrowholm
- Added In
- Fangs of Asterkarn
- Spawn Condition
- Reach Nemesis rank with Barrowholm (−20,000 Infamy), then kill enough members of that faction to trigger a nearby spawn.
- Notable Drops
- Reaper of Rot’s Chausses; Reaper of Rot’s Legwraps
Shriek
A Nemesis linked to Order of Death's Vigil that uses cold and frostburn alongside physical attacks.
- Nemesis Faction
- Order of Death's Vigil
- Added In
- Fangs of Asterkarn
- Spawn Condition
- Reach Nemesis rank with Order of Death's Vigil (−20,000 Infamy), then kill enough members of that faction to trigger a nearby spawn.
- Notable Drops
- Shriek’s Mantle; Shriek’s Shoulderguards
The Underking
A Nemesis linked to Beasts with poison, acid and physical attacks.
- Nemesis Faction
- Beasts
- Added In
- Fangs of Asterkarn
- Spawn Condition
- Reach Nemesis rank with Beasts (−20,000 Infamy), then kill enough members of that faction to trigger a nearby spawn.
- Notable Drops
- Underking’s Chausses; Underking’s Legplates
Vinn “the Giant” Ozmald
A Nemesis linked to Cronley's Gang with physical and aether attacks.
- Nemesis Faction
- Cronley's Gang
- Added In
- Fangs of Asterkarn
- Spawn Condition
- Reach Nemesis rank with Cronley's Gang (−20,000 Infamy), then kill enough members of that faction to trigger a nearby spawn.
- Notable Drops
- Vinn’s Pauldrons; Vinn’s Shoulderguards
What Are Nemesis Bosses in Grim Dawn?
A Nemesis is the most dangerous boss a faction can send after you. Factions are the monster groups in Grim Dawn, such as the Aetherials and the Chthonians, and each one tracks how you stand with it. Every hostile faction has at least one Nemesis, and that boss is built to hunt you down.
They sit at the top of the faction system, so they are what you work toward when you push a faction as far as it goes. Because they are ultra-rare, they are not something you stumble into during normal play.
How to Unlock Nemesis Bosses
Nemesis bosses are tied to infamy, and infamy builds as you kill a faction's monsters. Each kill of a monster that grants experience or infamy adds to your infamy with that faction. As it rises, the faction sends more monsters and tougher hero enemies your way, and reaching Nemesis status is what unlocks the boss itself.
Bosses push the climb harder than ordinary monsters do. Killing one moves you further along than a regular kill, which makes bosses the faster route to Nemesis status.
Where and When Nemesis Bosses Spawn
Nemesis bosses no longer have fixed spawn points. They now appear at random spots near you after you kill faction monsters that grant experience or infamy. There is no single spot to wait at, so the best way to find one is to keep clearing that faction's monsters in its areas.
How Hard Are Nemesis Bosses to Beat?
Nemesis bosses are meant to be the hardest fights the faction system has to offer, and each one comes with powerful abilities. Before one finds you, it helps to know how strong your character really is, because once a Nemesis has found you, running away rarely works.
What Nemesis Bosses Drop
The rewards are a big part of why players hunt these bosses. Defeating one gives a very high chance of an Epic item.
You also get a higher chance at crafting blueprints and Legendary items, including rare blueprints. That makes Nemesis bosses a useful stop if you are chasing a specific blueprint or Legendary item.
Nemesis Bosses in Fangs of Asterkarn
Fangs of Asterkarn, the third expansion, brought more new Nemesis bosses than any earlier expansion. It gave many of the existing hostile factions a second Nemesis, so most hostile factions now have two.
The expansion also brought Ascendant mode, a harder way to play the campaign. It changes how Nemesis bosses return, and the details matter if you plan to fight the same boss more than once.
FAQ
Can you fight the same Nemesis boss again in Grim Dawn?
Yes, but only in Ascendant mode. You need a character on Ultimate difficulty who has reached level 100, and you can switch the mode on from the main menu at any time.
Do Nemesis bosses appear on every difficulty?
Yes, and the number of kills needed to trigger one depends on the difficulty.
Do Nemesis bosses drop Soul Fragments?
Sometimes. Soul Fragments are the material used to ascend gear in Ascendant mode, and they come only from The Dread and, now and then, from Nemesis bosses. Ascending gear gives items unique affixes, so these are worth keeping an eye out for.
Is The Dread a Nemesis boss?
No. The Dread is a separate, powerful foe added with Ascendant mode, and it is not one of the Nemesis bosses. It can be drawn to you as you kill enemies, and in Ascendant mode you can turn off its spawns by visiting its Remnant in Devil's Crossing or Kurnhold.