Part 17

Learn how to defeat Plague Knight in Shovel Knight Dig! This guide covers his attacks, weaknesses, and the best strategies to take him down.

Alright, you've made it to Part 17! We're about to face off against Plague Knight. He's a super mobile boss, always jumping and throwing stuff, so you'll want to keep moving. The Phase Locket is your best friend here for dodging those unavoidable hits. Also, keep an Ichor of Renewal handy for the end of the fight, just in case. His arena is full of breakable rocks, but don't sweat it – there's solid ground underneath. Let's break down his moves and get this infestation cleared out!

Plague Knight's Attacks:

1. Vial Shots: This is his main move. Like the Chemist enemy, his vials explode on impact, dealing damage. Plus, they can release green waves that travel along the ground and walls. Super annoying!
2. Gattling Vial: Sometimes, Plague Knight will stand still to unleash a rapid-fire barrage of vials. He tries to cover the area opposite him, so you'll often be in danger. This is a prime opportunity to use your Phase Locket and get some hits in.
3. Test Tubes: Once he's taken some damage, he'll start summoning test tubes that appear randomly. They don't hurt you on their own, but if Plague Knight hits them with a vial, the explosion will be much larger and more dangerous.
4. Chemist Fire: When his health drops below half, he'll start creating chemist fires in random spots. These are single-block wide but still pack a punch. Avoid them and keep up the pressure – they're a sign you're close to victory!

After the Fight:

Once you defeat Plague Knight, his lock will break, and you'll return to your campfire. No dream sequence this time! Just dig it up and get ready to face the Mole Knight next. BWAHAHA!

Lost City - 'An Underlying Problem'

Whoa, check out the Flame Slime! Looks like we're in for some lava. Quick tip: don't use a downward strike on these guys, it'll hurt you instead! On this first screen, you can go DOWN or RIGHT. Head right first and jump over to that chest in the distance. The music here is pretty great, right? Now, drop down, grab the items to your right, and then it's time to fish at that sparkle! You'll find a Troupple Fish, so use it if you can!

You can now head back left and dig up the upper layer of dirt for some gems, and take out those flame slimes. Just make sure you leave yourself a path or staircase back up to the left so you don't get stuck. Return to the previous screen, destroy the dirt, and head downwards.

Down here, you'll fight another fire slime. Notice the lava drips – they can turn a regular slime into a fire slime! Keep an eye out for a new enemy with a horse face racing back and forth. Seriously, I can't make this stuff up. It's immune to downward strikes, but you can use that to get behind it and take it out. Continue to the right, being careful of lava drips and pits before heading down again. Destroy the walls to the left for gems and a platter. Below are some of those blue wisps we saw earlier. They take a good few hits to defeat, so having a Phase Locket ready isn't a bad idea. I recommend using downward strikes on them. Defeat the two wisps and the horse-face enemy, but be sure to grab the floor and wall deposits before continuing downward.

You'll end up on a huge beetle! Time for a ride! This thing is walking over lava, so be super careful not to fall in! Remember, your Phase Locket won't protect you from lava! On the beetle, the green section will launch you up, while the front doesn't, giving you different jumping options! Avoid the lava at the start and jump up for the gems.

Jump onto the ledge ahead. If you don't need the magic, you can skip the enemy. Up ahead are pillars of dirt. Break them quickly for gems and use them as platforms when the lava drips. Coming up, you can bounce up and destroy the dirt leading to a gem deposit. If you can't do it fast enough...