After a turbulent run with Star Wars games, EA published a solid game from the start under the IP thanks to Respawn Entertainment's strong blend of gameplay genres. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order mixes lightsaber-focused action-adventure with FromSoftware's Souls-like genre to good effect.
Combining those elements with the rich, vast world that this franchise offers made for some inventive enemy designs and variety. While it doesn't have FromSoftware's brand of punishing difficulty, Fallen Order has its fair share of challenging bosses. Especially so with the game allowing players to set the difficulty at their own pace.
Oggdo Bogdo
After players are introduced to Fallen Order's protagonist Cal Kestis, the game takes players to the "tutorial" planet Bogano. They can then encounter the Oggdo Bogdo as the game's technical first boss. It isn't required to beat the toad-like creature here but serves as a Dark Souls-like intro boss.
It's designed to give players a sudden beating while testing how good their early grasp on mechanics is. The Oggdo Bogdo can make for a rough introduction with its naturally high defenses and hard-hitting attacks. Once players level up Cal's skills and learn the fundamentals well, it's a great excuse to come back to Bogano to test their abilities.
AT-ST Walkers
The first time players are introduced to the AT-ST Walkers is on the first "main" planet Zeffo. A single AT-ST will arrive back at the landing spot attempting to destroy the Stinger Mantis and prevent Cal Kestis from escaping. It's a fairly straightforward fight, but it can quickly cut away at Cal's health if players aren't mindful of his explosives.
Where the fight against these gets more complex is on the snow-covered dwarf planet Ilum. Here, the player will have to fight two AT-ST Walkers simultaneously to escape Ilum and the Empire. The fight takes place in an arena-like zone with various rock pillars. Taking advantage of the terrain will be key to taking cover, but players should be careful not to get cornered.
Rabid Jotaz
The Rabid Jotaz is another Legendary Beast like the Oggdo Bogdo. Along with it, it's one of four optional Legendary Beasts that serve as boss fights. This one is slow like its smaller, more common variant species, but players will need to be careful not to take that for granted. While slow, its attacks deal a great amount of damage if they connect.
Similarly, if the player isn't monitoring and managing their guard meter, they can see their block broken in the middle of the Rabid Jotaz's attacks. Cal will then be open for a potential death blow. Knowing to not become greedy with attacks is important.
Haxion Brood Bounty Hunter
Towards the latter end of Fallen Order, Cal will have to deal with the Haxion Brood chasing after him. The Brood's Bounty Hunters have a few different tools that can easily frustrate players. They come equipped with a flamethrower, missiles, and a power shot. The latter of which can be especially devastating to Cal's health but is generally predictable.
While individually they're not a major hassle they often come in teams to give players a hard time. Deflecting their power shots to tear down their health quickly and making sure both enemies are in the lines of sight is ideal in these encounters. Seeing their arsenals in a fight arguably makes a case for bounty hunter-focused Star Wars games to finally return.
Haxion Brood Commando
The Commando variants are one of the harder enemies that can team up with a Bounty Hunter. The charge attacks they can use are a big part of what makes them tougher than the Hunters. Though, both simultaneously can make the latter more difficult to handle as well.
Commandos' charge attacks are hard to out-maneuver since they are homing projectiles, making timing and positioning crucial. There are different Commandos with their respective combat intricacies -- Pango and Flataak -- making things even deadlier when they swarm Cal. The Brood's Bounty Droids can also team up with a Commando.
Haxion Brood Bounty Droid
Rounding out the Haxion Brood bosses is the Bounty Droid. They're perhaps the most formidable of the group and also have the charge attack that Commandos do. Bounty Droids also come with a combo of unblockable attacks, but they should be simple to recognize and dodge.
The major issue is when the Bounty Droids come in a two-man team with a Commando. Assuring that both foes are in the line of sight becomes all the more vital to survival, namely because of the difficult-to-dodge charge attacks. These two are challenging enough as is, but things get more intense depending on the selected difficulty level.
Nydak Alpha
Most players will likely find that the Nydak Alpha is the hardest of the four Legendary Beasts. This Alpha variant is hyperaggressive like its Lesser variant and can string together heavy damage-dealing combos. It's another boss fight in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order where the player will need time dodges well while closely managing their guard meter.
On top of all this, the Nydak Alpha can strike with an unblockable attack from long-distance. This move leaves little room to heal, making it easy to be lulled into a false sense of security. Given the level of difficulty and aggressive nature, it's fitting the Nydak Alpha lives on Maul's home planet of Dathomir.
Ninth Sister
While the Ninth Sister isn't the strongest of the five Sith Inquisitors fans see in the game, her powerhouse fighting style makes for a worthy boss fight. Raising the difficulty for this fight would make things more daunting since she relies heavily on aggression and brute force.
However, it's the focus on brute force that doesn't make this the most tactically challenging of fights. The Ninth Sister will hit hard if players get anxious, but having a firm grasp on timing dodges and parries will help assure victory. Similarly, players will need to recognize which of the Ninth Sister's attacks are blockable and unblockable. Thankfully, her aerial dive and close-quarter moves are telegraphed clearly.
Darth Vader
Darth Vader is somewhat of a technicality in terms of being a boss in Fallen Order. Cal's encounter with the Dark Lord of the Sith isn't so much direct combat as it is desperately trying to escape. It's thematically fitting, as Darth Vader's known displays of daunting power would make it unrealistic for a Padawan like Cal to even be on par with the man feared across the galaxy as the "Emperor's Hand."
The encounter begins with a brief exchange of lightsaber clashes before the player realizes whatever they try on him after is futile. Evading him, while also making sure to succeed all quick-time-events, are what needs to be done rather than trying to slow Vader down. If nothing else, this fight is a thrilling cinematic boss encounter.
Second Sister
The Second Sister of the Empire's Inquisitors is both a challenge a narratively important. She essentially serves as Cal's main antagonist, having chased him around the galaxy. Trilla Suduri -- the Second Sister's real name -- was once a Jedi Knight before becoming a Dark Jedi aligned with the Empire.
Seeing how she was before her fall from grace makes this an emotionally resonant fight, which is why she is one of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order's best characters. Gameplay-wise, she's incredibly agile, moving swiftly across the boss stage and adapting as the fight progresses. Keeping distance from her and exploiting the brief windows to attack are the most important lessons to learn during this encounter.