Tenebris Somnia has four named bosses, two finale bosses, one chase and one elite enemy, and each one is won by a different rule:

  • Obscuratus — invisible while any candle burns. Put them all out, attack in the dark, and pull back before it relights.
  • Fumus — her red floor circles punish whatever weapon you are holding. Unequip before you cross one.
  • Carnitos — fragile minions that die to a single blow. Let them clump, then sweep them in one swing.
  • Vitria — protected while the red symbol is showing. Use the mirror to locate the tentacle, then shoot the stun.
  • Lacuna — tentacle reach and a swarm from her mouth. Stay at range, move when she vanishes.
  • Hermes — hands erupt from marked points in the floor. Read the symbol, find the gap, attack between waves.
  • Sanguis — a chase, not a duel. Bait his charge into the mannequins and then onto the blade.
  • Sulfur statue waves — enemies converge on Julia's statue. Intercept them or the statue dies with you.
  • Vorax — an elite, not a boss. Shoot it until it glows red and charges, then step through a doorway before it detonates.

Some of these can one-shot Julia, so position first and swing second.

The named bosses

Obscuratus is the candle-headed figure in the candle arena on Floor 2, reached through the window beside Sanguis's bed after you use the Mop Handle to close the blinds. The full method is on the first boss page.

Fumus is the tall faceless woman with a void in the middle of her face, fought in the arena on Floor 1 that the Cow Skull opens. She can reach Julia with extended arms, so keep moving while the red protection symbol is under her and attack during the window after it vanishes. As the fight wears on, damaging red circles spread across the floor, and each circle punishes the weapon you are holding: with a loaded firearm Julia shoots herself, with a melee weapon she hurts herself, and an unloaded firearm triggers a long animation. Unequip everything before crossing a circle on purpose, then re-equip for the vulnerable window. Beating her with only the iron pipe unlocks an achievement, and she drops the Red Pentacle Stone that opens two late-game doors.

Carnitos is a wave fight behind the Cold Chisel door. She spits out fragile minions that die to a single blow from anything in your arsenal. Two challenges sit on top of it: kill three minions with one hit, and defeat her without being hit at all. The no-damage route is much easier than it looks — camp in the bottom-right corner and fire away, then step out just an inch to pull the minions into a straight line toward your safe pocket before timing the swing.

Vitria is the tentacle boss on the film school's second floor, fought after the Hexagonal Stone opens the sealed door at the top of the film-school staircase. Its three phases are covered on the Vitria page.

The two ending finales

Both finale bosses wait in Séptimo Arte, a theater and gallery, and which one you fight depends on the branch you earned. Lacuna is the boss of SOLVE ET COAGULA and attacks with tentacles; Hermes is the boss of MAGNUM OPUS and summons hands out of the floor. The phase-by-phase tactics for both are on the final boss page, and the branch that decides which one you meet is described in the endings guide.

A third finale fight waits in the church on the street, behind three Iron Crosses, and it is the route to VIVUS EX MORTIBUS.

Chases, elites and other Tenebris Somnia bosses

Sanguis is a chase rather than a duel. Bait his charge into the upright mannequins so he crushes them, then lure him onto the large retracting blade at the end of the corridor so it impales him. Red mannequins survive the charge, so steer around them and watch the spike sections. Because breaking every mannequin is one of the hidden achievements, and because the fight is the point of no return after which unopened star lockers stay unopened, sweep the floors before you trigger it — the save points page lists every flame and the locker deadline.

The sulfur statue fights are three defensive waves on Floor 1 and upstairs, where enemies converge on Julia's statue and its destruction kills you. Intercept the small attackers with the Pipe, which kills them in one hit, and strike the bright studio lights around the arena to burn nearby enemies instantly. Use a firearm when several reach the statue at once.

Vorax is an elite enemy rather than a boss. Shoot it until it glows bright red and charges, then step through the nearest doorway before it detonates — the blast happens in the room you left.

Relicta ghosts appear after the Aurifer is forged, and only the Aurifer can kill them. Kill one and the endgame forks to MAGNUM OPUS; spare every one and it forks to SOLVE ET COAGULA. They also grab Julia and drain her health, so do not stand next to them.