Shogun Showdown is a turn-based pixel-art game with roguelike and deck-building parts, set in a Japanese-inspired world. A run moves through a series of regions, and every region ends with a boss, a far tougher enemy you have to beat before you can move on. Knowing how these fights are set up, how to read their attacks and which bosses are the toughest will help you plan each run.
Region
Bamboo Grove
Daisuke the Dasher
A fast swordsman who mixes short melee strikes with sudden charges.
- Region
- Bamboo Grove
- Boss Stage
- Boss level, Level 3 of 3.
- HP
- 15 (Days 1–4); 20 (Day 5+)
- Skull Reward
- Days 1–7: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Skulls
Rei the Ruthless
A close-range fighter who uses punches and pushes to control spacing.
- Region
- Bamboo Grove
- Boss Stage
- Boss level, Level 3 of 3; may replace Daisuke after the first Shogun victory.
- HP
- 13 (Days 1–4); 18 (Day 5+)
- Skull Reward
- Days 1–7: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Skulls
Region
Whispering Caves
Iwao the Impaler
A spear fighter whose attacks can cover several spaces.
- Region
- Whispering Caves
- Boss Stage
- Boss level, Level 3 of 3.
- HP
- 25 (Days 1–4); 28 (Day 5+)
- Skull Reward
- Days 1–7: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Skulls
Region
Hibiku Wastelands
Baru the Barricader
A ranged fighter who hides behind a barricade and fires volleys.
- Region
- Hibiku Wastelands
- Boss Stage
- Boss level, Level 3 of 3.
- HP
- 20 (Days 1–4); 25 (Day 5+)
- Skull Reward
- Days 1–7: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Skulls
Region
Moonlit Port
The Twins
Two fighters share one health pool and attack from opposite sides.
- Region
- Moonlit Port
- Boss Stage
- Boss level, Level 4 of 4.
- HP
- 35 (Days 1–4); 43 (Day 5+), shared by both Twins
- Skull Reward
- Days 1–7: 4, 4, 6, 6, 8, 8, 10 Skulls
Region
Spirit Gateway
The Statue
An immovable boss builds a multi-tile attack while a summoner calls in enemies.
- Region
- Spirit Gateway
- Boss Stage
- Boss level, Level 4 of 4.
- HP
- 30 (Days 1–4); 40 (Day 5+)
- Skull Reward
- Days 1–7: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Skulls
Region
Hot Springs
Kowa the Coward
He retreats, shields himself and uses Smoke Bomb to keep distance.
- Region
- Hot Springs
- Boss Stage
- Boss level, Level 4 of 4.
- HP
- 30 (Days 1–4); 40 (Day 5+)
- Skull Reward
- Days 1–7: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Skulls
Region
Forsaken Grounds
Fumiko the Fallen
A fast fighter who dashes, curses the player and summons chargers.
- Region
- Forsaken Grounds
- Boss Stage
- Boss level, Level 4 of 4.
- HP
- 28 (Days 1–4); 35 (Day 5+)
- Skull Reward
- Days 1–7: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Skulls
Region
Theatre of Illusions
Sato the Stagemaster
He copies player tiles and moves through several acts during the fight.
- Region
- Theatre of Illusions
- Boss Stage
- Boss level, Level 4 of 4.
- HP
- 38 (Days 1–4); 45 (Day 5+)
- Skull Reward
- Days 1–7: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Skulls
Region
Hideyoshi's Keep
Hideyoshi the Cunning
He chains movement and attack tiles into shifting multi-step patterns.
- Region
- Hideyoshi's Keep
- Boss Stage
- Boss level, Level 4 of 4.
- HP
- 45 (Days 1–4); 55 (Day 5+)
- Skull Reward
- Days 1–7: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Skulls
Region
Nobunaga's Fortress
Nobunaga the Wicked
His damage window depends on whether he is standing beneath a spotlight.
- Region
- Nobunaga's Fortress
- Boss Stage
- Boss level, Level 2 of 2.
- HP
- 40 (Days 1–4); 50 (Day 5+)
- Skull Reward
- Days 1–7: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Skulls
Region
Ieyasu's Garden
Ieyasu the Patient
He charges up Blade of Patience before dashing in for a heavy strike.
- Region
- Ieyasu's Garden
- Boss Stage
- Boss level, Level 2 of 2.
- HP
- 40 (Days 1–4); 50 (Day 5+)
- Skull Reward
- Days 1–7: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Skulls
Region
The Shogun's Castle
The Shogun (Form 1)
The castle boss uses quick attacks and can reposition.
- Region
- The Shogun's Castle
- Boss Stage
- Phase 1 of the boss level, Level 2 of 2.
- HP
- 40 (Days 1–4); 50 (Day 5+), for the whole fight
- Skull Reward
- Paid once, after Form 2
The Shogun (Form 2)
The second phase of the castle fight, mixing movement tiles with ranged strikes and a barrage.
- Region
- The Shogun's Castle
- Boss Stage
- Phase 2 of the same boss level, after Form 1.
- HP
- Same fight as Form 1
- Skull Reward
- Days 1–7: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Skulls for the whole fight
Region
Crimson Shrine
Corrupted Soul
An opponent with a large health pool and a changing attack pattern.
- Region
- Crimson Shrine
- Boss Stage
- Boss level, Level 1 of 1; appears after the Shogun's second phase on Day 7.
- HP
- 70 (Day 7 only)
- Skull Reward
- 11 Skulls (Day 7)
What Are the Bosses in Shogun Showdown?
Bosses are the strongest enemies in the game, and every region ends with one. Defeating a boss is what moves you on to the next region, and the Shogun waits at the end of the road in his castle. Reaching and beating him is the goal of a run.
Not every run meets the same bosses, because the map branches and you pick your path between regions. Even the first boss can change: after you've beaten the Shogun once, you may meet Rei the Ruthless in Bamboo Grove instead of Daisuke the Dasher.
How Shogun Showdown Boss Fights Are Set Up
Boss fights play differently from the rest of the game. A normal level brings enemies in waves, but a boss level has no waves, so the fight centers on one main enemy and whatever it summons. You and the boss start a few cells apart on a narrow strip.
Bosses also line up their attacks ahead of time, and you can see that lineup. That gives you room to plan a response instead of guessing. Two traits are worth knowing. Quick means a boss declares its attacks faster than most enemies, so you have less time to react. Unfreezable means freeze effects don't work on it, so freezing it isn't a plan.
How to Dodge and Damage Bosses
Dodging starts with the boss's lineup. Most attacks can be avoided by stepping out of their reach, so when a spear or swirl is coming, check where it lands and move.
Damage is the other half. Some bosses reward steady chip damage, which means small hits that wear them down over several turns. Others need burst damage, one big hit that lands in a single turn. Watch how a boss moves before you choose. Ranged attacks are often the better pick against bosses that move quickly or stay far from you, because you can hit them without walking into their reach.
Boss Helpers and Summons
Many bosses call in helpers during a fight. Spike Chargers, Yari Masters and Twin Tachi are some of the common ones. Most of the time it's worth killing them quickly, since leftover helpers make the boss's attacks harder to dodge. When the field gets crowded, clear them first.
Helpers can also help you. They can block an attack that was aimed at you, so some are worth leaving alive for a moment, especially when one is standing in the way of a boss's attack.
What Are Corrupted Bosses?
From Day 4 on, regional bosses can show up in a corrupted form, which is a harder version with new attacks and summons. Corrupted bosses often pick up the Quick trait or the Aggro trait. Aggro makes a boss chase you after every attack, which can pull it out of position.
Which Shogun Showdown Bosses Matter Most
The Shogun matters most, since beating him is the goal of the run. In the middle of a run, Hideyoshi the Cunning and Nobunaga the Wicked are the ones to plan for. Hideyoshi rarely stays in one spot, which makes him hard to pin down, and Nobunaga's fight turns on where he stands.
Spoiler: on Day 7, beating the Shogun isn't the end. A hidden fight against the Corrupted Soul follows straight after, and it's one of the hardest battles in the game.
FAQ
How do you beat the Shogun in Shogun Showdown?
In his first phase, the Shogun closes in to attack and backs off, and he sometimes charges with a spear. When the field is clear, staying about two cells away lets you dodge the spear and react to his charge. When he moves into his second phase, any enemies left on the field are removed, and he opens with a corrupted barrage.
How do you reach the Corrupted Soul in Shogun Showdown?
Spoiler: the Corrupted Soul is the true final boss, and it can only be fought on Day 7. It waits in the shrine room beneath the Shogun's castle and the fight starts right after you beat the Shogun. It fights on a nine-cell strip and can only be hit while it's on the ground. At half health it rises into the air, where it takes no damage. Defeating it shows the end credits.
Do bosses get harder as the days go on?
Yes, in two ways. Corrupted versions can start appearing on Day 4, and from Day 5 the regional bosses and the Shogun gain health.
How does Nobunaga the Wicked's spotlight work?
Three random tiles are lit when the fight starts, and Nobunaga can only be hurt while he's standing on one. After a turn in which you hit him while he's in a light, the spotlights shuffle to new tiles. As his health drops, fewer lights appear: two once he's at 67% and one at 33%, which makes the last stretch the hardest. Tiles that move him or you, such as Dragon Punch, Grappling Hook, Smoke Bomb or Mirror, can help get him into a light.