This guide discusses boss attacks, enemy behavior and unlock conditions. Boss-specific drop rates and some encounter-selection rules are not documented reliably in the public sources reviewed.
Fast answer
The answer before the background
The reliable Bounty of One bosses list is Rex, Cupcake and Brutus, Crazy Denzel, Simple Tom, Ruthless Ruth and The Undertaker. In the standard run, bosses appear as section-ending encounters, while The Undertaker is the final boss. Bosses reward chest-based loot, and defeating a sheriff can also affect the next run's starting chest through the Lost and Found Goods progression. For every boss, prioritize movement, attack during safe openings, and save at least one dash for the attack most likely to trap you. Denzel with Nigel is an achievement requirement, not a special boss-spawn rule; if Denzel does not appear, replaying runs is the only dependable approach supported by the available public
Roster
Which Bounty of One bosses can you fight?
The current public evidence identifies five named boss encounters in the main game: Rex, Cupcake and Brutus; Crazy Denzel; Simple Tom; Ruthless Ruth; and The Undertaker. Steam's achievement list separately records kills for all of these names, including the Denzel, Simple Tom and Undertaker achievements. (steamcommunity.com )
The Undertaker is the standard finale. The developer's Undertaker update changed the run to three parts and made him the final boss of every standard run. Earlier section bosses are selected during the run, so you should not assume that a particular character will appear on a particular attempt. (steamdb.info )
Ruthless Ruth was introduced as a boss during the game's later development and was included in the full-release content update. Crazy Denzel is an older boss who remains important for achievements, including Dark Revenge and Untouchable. (steamdb.info )
- Rex, Cupcake and Brutus: the three-headed boss encounter, associated with the Pack Master and Doglover achievements.
- Crazy Denzel: a burrowing, explosive boss; the target for Dark Revenge when playing Nigel.
- Simple Tom: a named boss with a dedicated kill achievement.
- Ruthless Ruth: added with the full-release boss content.
- The Undertaker: the standard final boss of a normal run.
| Boss | Encounter condition | Practical counter |
|---|---|---|
| Rex, Cupcake and Brutus | Selected as a run boss; exact selection odds are not publicly documented. | Keep moving around the arena edge and avoid standing between overlapping attack patterns. |
| Crazy Denzel | Selected as a run boss; no reliable public rule guarantees Denzel on a chosen character or infamy level. | Watch for the burrow-and-emerge cycle, reposition after explosives appear, and use short firing stops. |
| Simple Tom | Selected as a run boss; exact selection rules are unverified. | Treat the arena as a rotation: move first, then stop briefly to fire when the immediate lane is clear. |
| Ruthless Ruth | Added in the full-release roster; the exact encounter pool is not documented in the sources reviewed. | Prioritize predictable spacing and do not spend every dash on damage. |
| The Undertaker | Final boss of the standard run. | Reserve a dash for projectile pressure, maintain a wide loop, and keep damage consistent rather than greedy. |
The public sources reviewed do not provide a dependable current table of boss health, attack damage, spawn percentages, or unique boss-only item drops. Do not treat community claims about fixed boss order, guaranteed legendary rewards or exact drop rates as confirmed facts.
Threats
Bounty of One enemies and what to remove first
Regular enemies are dangerous mainly because they compress the space needed to dodge a boss. A useful practical classification is direct chasers, chargers, ranged attackers and stronger Deputy variants. A contemporary review describes the basic threats as enemies that run directly at you, chargers that leap into a small damaging area, and enemies that fire projectiles; it also notes that Deputies are stronger versions that appear during runs. (keengamer.com )
The Undertaker update also redistributed enemy families across the three-part run: Goblins, Mages and Golems occupy the first half, while Batmen, Orcs and Ilithids appear later. The exact composition can change with the mode and current content, so use the run's visual attack cues rather than memorizing a rigid wave list. (steamdb.info )
- Kill ranged enemies when they create crossfire. A single projectile is manageable; several overlapping lanes are not.
- Move away from chargers before they enter leap range. Do not stop to finish a low-health target if its attack marker is active.
- Thin direct chasers near the side of the arena so you retain a clear escape route.
- Treat Deputies as priority targets when they threaten to stay on screen. Their extra durability can turn a safe loop into a wall of enemies.
- Area damage, piercing, bounce and effects that trigger while moving are especially useful for clearing space, but they should support—not replace—your own dodging.
| Enemy pressure | Counter | Why it matters against bosses |
|---|---|---|
| Direct chasers | Circle rather than retreat in a straight line. | Prevents the pack from cutting off the arena. |
| Chargers | Change direction before the leap marker resolves. | Preserves health and avoids forced dash use. |
| Ranged attackers | Break line-of-sight or remove them first. | Stops projectile lanes from overlapping boss attacks. |
| Deputies | Focus fire during a safe opening. | Their durability makes them persistent hazards. |
Build for the encounter you are actually losing to. If you die while surrounded, favor area and movement tools; if the boss survives too long, add damage or attack-speed upgrades without sacrificing a reliable escape option.
Rewards
Boss drops, sheriff chests and the Onion objective
Bounty of One describes boss and elite victories as a source of valuable loot, and the full-release progression notes specifically connect defeated sheriffs with the Lost and Found Goods starting-chest system. At level two of that progression, the reward is described as a sheriff's chest at the start of the next game. (store.steampowered.com )
That is the strongest verified statement about boss-related rewards: expect chest-based loot, but do not rely on an unverified fixed item for a particular boss. The sources reviewed do not establish that Rex, Denzel, Tom, Ruth or the Undertaker each has a unique guaranteed equipment drop.
Onion is separate from boss loot. The object deals damage to nearby enemies, and Steam's achievement list confirms cumulative milestones for killing 300 and 500 enemies with Onion. The 500 requirement is therefore an enemy-kill objective across play, not a condition to spawn or defeat a boss. (steamcommunity.com )
- For the Onion objective, select Onion whenever it appears and stay close enough for its area effect to connect.
- Do not abandon a winning run just to chase Onion kills; the achievement is cumulative and can be completed over multiple runs.
- If you are farming chests, prioritize surviving and clearing sheriffs rather than taking unnecessary boss damage for a supposed exclusive drop.
- In co-op, agree who benefits from a chest or upgrade before opening it; the game's store description emphasizes shared loot decisions. (store.steampowered.com )
| Goal | Verified requirement | Best approach |
|---|---|---|
| Beat Denzel with Nigel | Kill Crazy Denzel while using Nigel; Steam lists this as Dark Revenge. | Play normal runs repeatedly and improve survival rather than searching for a confirmed hidden spawn rule. |
| Kill 500 enemies with Onion | Cumulative Onion kills; Steam lists the Foul Indigestion achievement. | Take Onion early and keep enemies within its area when safe. |
| Improve next-run chest rewards | Defeat a sheriff, then use the relevant Lost and Found Goods progression. | Treat this as meta-progression, not a guaranteed unique boss drop. |
The phrase 'bounty of one kill 500 enemies with onion' refers to the cumulative achievement wording. It does not mean Onion must kill 500 enemies in one run, and no source reviewed says that bosses count differently for this objective.
Execution
A safe boss routine for new runs
Before the boss gate, collect nearby coins and chests only if doing so does not pull you through an unsafe lane. The game is built around standing still to shoot and moving to survive, so use a repeatable rhythm: move into a clear arc, stop briefly to fire, then move before the next attack marker forces you out. (keengamer.com )
For Denzel, do not chase the boss underground or walk toward an explosive marker. For Rex, Cupcake and Brutus, avoid the center if multiple bodies or attacks can converge there. For the Undertaker, treat every surviving enemy as a possible future obstruction and clear space before committing to a damage window.
If you are attempting a challenge such as bounty of one beat Denzel with Nigel, use the lowest practical infamy level unless the achievement specifies otherwise. The achievement page confirms the character-and-boss pairing but does not state a special difficulty requirement. (steamcommunity.com )
- Enter the boss with at least one dash available.
- Keep your movement loop wide enough that you can reverse direction.
- Stop firing sooner than feels necessary; surviving the next attack is worth more than one extra shot.
- Clear ranged enemies and Deputies before they form a second hazard layer.
- After victory, collect the reward only when the arena is safe and the boss's final effects have ended.
| If you struggle with… | Change your next build toward… | Avoid… |
|---|---|---|
| Getting surrounded | Area damage, movement speed and dash recovery. | Slow single-target damage with no escape tool. |
| Boss attacks lasting too long | Damage, attack speed, crit or projectile coverage. | Taking every defensive option while ignoring damage. |
| Denzel's explosives | Movement, dash timing and projectile or area clearing. | Standing near the last safe spot after an attack resolves. |
| The Undertaker finale | Consistent damage plus a clear arena. | Greedy pickups and unnecessary close-range risks. |
Modes and DLC can alter enemy pools, timing and progression. If your encounter differs from this guide, check the run mode and whether Panic in the Mines is active before assuming the game is bugged.
FAQ
Common questions
How many bosses are in Bounty of One?
The verified named roster covered here has five boss encounters: Rex, Cupcake and Brutus; Crazy Denzel; Simple Tom; Ruthless Ruth; and The Undertaker. The Undertaker is the standard final boss. Steam's achievement list confirms kills for each of these names. (steamcommunity.com )
How do I make Denzel appear for the Nigel achievement?
There is no reliable public source confirming a character, infamy level or code that forces Denzel to spawn. Start repeated standard runs with Nigel and defeat him when the random boss selection presents Denzel. The achievement itself confirms the required pairing: Nigel versus Denzel. (steamcommunity.com )
What do Bounty of One bosses drop?
Bosses provide chest-based loot, but the public sources reviewed do not verify a current boss-by-boss item table or drop rate. Defeated sheriffs can also improve a later starting chest through Lost and Found Goods progression. (store.steampowered.com )
Is the Onion 500-kill objective completed in one run?
No. Steam labels the 500-enemy milestone as a cumulative achievement, 'in total.' Use Onion whenever it appears and let its nearby damage accumulate across multiple runs. (steamcommunity.com )
What is the best general counter to bosses?
Movement is the universal counter. Keep a dash for emergencies, fire during short safe stops, clear ranged enemies before they create crossfire, and avoid spending all your mobility on damage. Build-specific counters are recommendations rather than officially documented boss weaknesses.
Sources
What we checked
Official listings establish current availability and product facts. Community pages are used for mechanics and build history, then labeled separately.
- OfficialBounty of One on Steam — official store page
- OfficialBounty of One achievements — Steam Community
- ReferenceBounty of One Full Release patch notes — Ruthless Ruth and progression changes
- ReferenceMajor Update Version 0.14: The Undertaker — developer patch notes mirror
- ReferenceBounty of One review — enemy archetypes and movement basics