Players pushing through Hollow Knight: Silksong know that the Citadel is a gauntlet of hostile creatures, but the Cogwork Dancers stand out as the first major boss you’ll face after entering its gilded halls. These mechanical performers may look like a elegant duo, but let’s be real — they’ll stomp you flat if you rush in without a plan. The good news? Their attack pattern is surprisingly simple once you learn to read the dance. The bad news? Patience is the name of the game, and the arena itself seems to hold its breath before every charge.

Where To Find The Cogwork Dancers

To reach the Cogwork Dancers, you first need to defeat the Last Judge in Blasted Steps and enter the Citadel. That’s no small feat, and the game won’t give you a breather — you’re immediately forced into the Underworks, where a swarm of enemies wants to ruin your day. Once you claw your way through and reach Coral Chambers again, head to the top right edge until you hit Songclave. Activate the dormant shrine there, then take the top-left exit from Songclave’s bench. A corridor filled with elite guards awaits; defeat three of them, and the boss room is yours. It’s a bit of a trek, but the bench is close enough that you won’t be walking back from the middle of nowhere.

Cogwork Dancers Phase One Guide

These two are not your typical boss. Instead of a dozen different attacks, each dancer shines a ray of light in a direction and then charges along it. If the charge happens in the air, they simply stop at the destination. If it hits the ground, they add a small stomp AoE. There are four phases, and each one starts with the dancers returning to their slots — like they’re taking a bow before the next act.

In phase one, both dancers charge at the same time, and their directions depend on their starting positions. Here are the main combinations:

Dancer Positions	Target Locations
One in top middle, other in top right or top left	Middle dancer moves down, then right/left, then up. Corner dancer moves top middle, down, left/right. The second dancer’s final move is always opposite the first dancer’s second move.
Diagonally opposite	They complement each other: first both go to upper and lower middle, then they reach each other’s original spots. Sometimes they move horizontally or vertically across the field — jump and glide for horizontal, stand in the middle for vertical edge charges.
Both in the air	Criss-cross downward attacks. If in upper corners, beams don’t meet in the middle; they charge to the center. If both upper middle, beams cross and they fall to the ground corners. Sometimes one follows the other for three attacks and then reverses the last move.
Both on one side on the ground	Rare. Corner dancer charges horizontally while the other bows at its partner. Usually followed by both going to upper middle.
Both beside each other midair	Rare. If neither is on a corner, they dash on the ground beside each other and then go opposite ways. If one is in a corner, they dash slightly slanted but still side by side.

Apart from those patterns, the dancers sometimes meet in the middle for a big AoE slash that covers the center, or they leave the screen and spawn lasers that deal double damage after a second. There’s plenty of free space to dodge the lasers, so don’t panic. Phase one attacks are slow — you can usually land two or three hits after each charge. Position yourself near the dancer who will
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