---
key: mechanic/boss-fight-atlas--boss-returning-projectile
type: mechanic
id: boss-fight-atlas--boss-returning-projectile
lang: en
title: Returning projectile
summary: >-
A projectile returns after travelling outward, threatening previously crossed
space again.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: >-
https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/boss-fight-atlas--boss-returning-projectile/
jsonUrl: >-
https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/boss-fight-atlas--boss-returning-projectile.json
markdownUrl: >-
https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/boss-fight-atlas--boss-returning-projectile.md
aliases: []
tags:
- Boss fights
- Projectiles
sourceIds:
- source-0fe02d373b522c25
- source-8f4f90feb0d54cd0
- source-fa8c1da3e7b691b7
- source-85167734c23487dd
- source-a50449d64f528579
- source-baf38070a8989361
- source-945019fe5d82d809
- source-9d68d22f192b8621
sources:
- id: source-0fe02d373b522c25
title: 'Boss Fight Atlas: Returning projectile (RU)'
url: >-
https://polyakovin.github.io/boss-fight-atlas/ru/mechanics/returning-projectile/
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-8f4f90feb0d54cd0
title: 'Boss Fight Atlas: Returning projectile (EN)'
url: >-
https://polyakovin.github.io/boss-fight-atlas/en/mechanics/returning-projectile/
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-fa8c1da3e7b691b7
title: Hornet Protector · Hollow Knight
url: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwZmf4u366o&t=276s'
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-85167734c23487dd
title: Theseus and Asterius · Hades
url: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTV6y_0GBfg&t=22s'
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-a50449d64f528579
title: Thor · God of War Ragnarök
url: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFlBtaORn5E&t=70s'
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-baf38070a8989361
title: Enemy Attacks and Telegraphing · Mike Stout
url: 'https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/enemy-attacks-and-telegraphing'
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-945019fe5d82d809
title: 'Boss Up: Boss Battle Design · GDC Vault'
url: 'https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1024921/Boss-Up-Boss-Battle-Design'
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-9d68d22f192b8621
title: Hollow Knight
url: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG3h6uVtWyY&t=130s'
verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
- catalogId: boss-fight-atlas
id: boss-returning-projectile
title: Boss fights
url: >-
https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/boss-fight-atlas/#boss-returning-projectile
categoryIds:
- catalog-part-2
supersededBy: []
attributes:
preview:
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
title: Returning projectile
description: >-
A projectile returns after travelling outward, threatening previously
crossed space again.
image:
src: images/mechanics/boss-frame-vg3h6uvtwyy-130.webp
width: 640
height: 360
game: Hollow Knight
sourceUrl: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG3h6uVtWyY&t=130s'
originalUrl: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG3h6uVtWyY'
sourceFrameSeconds: 130
credit: Team Cherry; gameplay capture by FeelTheDango
rights: >-
Game graphics © Team Cherry. Gameplay recording by FeelTheDango. Visible
source markings preserved. All rights reserved; excluded from MIT and CC
BY 4.0.
caption: 'Hollow Knight: the Mantis Lords’ returning blades'
alt: 'Hollow Knight: the Mantis Lords’ returning blades'
markers:
- x: 10
'y': 62
label: The blade travels out and back; the return path is dangerous too
tips:
- Show the turnaround and include the return path in the safe response.
examples:
- title: Hollow Knight
url: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG3h6uVtWyY&t=130s'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
Editorial reference index based on the 124 public Boss Fight Atlas mechanic
pages checked on 2026-10-20. Original concise RU/EN definitions by
gamemechanics.pro; source categories, game/boss associations and reference
URLs retained from the atlas. Linked materials retain their original rights;
references are upstream attributions, not independent verification.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/boss-fight-atlas
---
# Returning projectile
id: boss-fight-atlas--boss-returning-projectile
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/boss-fight-atlas--boss-returning-projectile
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/boss-fight-atlas--boss-returning-projectile/
A projectile returns after travelling outward, threatening previously crossed space again.
## At a glance
[Hollow Knight](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG3h6uVtWyY&t=130s) · Game graphics © Team Cherry. Gameplay recording by FeelTheDango. Visible source markings preserved. All rights reserved; excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.
[Source recording](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG3h6uVtWyY), 130 s
1. The blade travels out and back; the return path is dangerous too
- Show the turnaround and include the return path in the safe response.
- [Hollow Knight](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG3h6uVtWyY&t=130s)
## How it works
A projectile returns after travelling outward, threatening previously crossed space again.
## Variants
### How the technique works
- A projectile returns after travelling outward, threatening previously crossed space again.
## Context and limits
A concise reference to all 124 Boss Fight Atlas mechanics across its 14 source sections. Each entry includes a definition, full RU/EN lesson links, game references and further reading retained from the source. Animations and detailed rules remain in the atlas.
## Connected materials
## Sources and provenance
Editorial reference index based on the 124 public Boss Fight Atlas mechanic pages checked on 2026-10-20. Original concise RU/EN definitions by gamemechanics.pro; source categories, game/boss associations and reference URLs retained from the atlas. Linked materials retain their original rights; references are upstream attributions, not independent verification.
- [Boss Fight Atlas: Returning projectile (RU)](https://polyakovin.github.io/boss-fight-atlas/ru/mechanics/returning-projectile/) (id: source-0fe02d373b522c25)
- [Boss Fight Atlas: Returning projectile (EN)](https://polyakovin.github.io/boss-fight-atlas/en/mechanics/returning-projectile/) (id: source-8f4f90feb0d54cd0)
- [Hornet Protector · Hollow Knight](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwZmf4u366o&t=276s) (id: source-fa8c1da3e7b691b7)
- [Theseus and Asterius · Hades](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTV6y_0GBfg&t=22s) (id: source-85167734c23487dd)
- [Thor · God of War Ragnarök](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFlBtaORn5E&t=70s) (id: source-a50449d64f528579)
- [Enemy Attacks and Telegraphing · Mike Stout](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/enemy-attacks-and-telegraphing) (id: source-baf38070a8989361)
- [Boss Up: Boss Battle Design · GDC Vault](https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1024921/Boss-Up-Boss-Battle-Design) (id: source-945019fe5d82d809)
- [Hollow Knight](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG3h6uVtWyY&t=130s) (id: source-9d68d22f192b8621)
CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors