---
key: mechanic/boss-fight-atlas--boss-straight-beam
type: mechanic
id: boss-fight-atlas--boss-straight-beam
lang: en
title: Straight beam
summary: An extended straight beam blocks a line from its source to its endpoint.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/boss-fight-atlas--boss-straight-beam/
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/boss-fight-atlas--boss-straight-beam.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/boss-fight-atlas--boss-straight-beam.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Boss fights
  - Beams
sourceIds:
  - source-36efb4bc0345bb85
  - source-37a96331d74cc0a9
  - source-3d98aa5b859ad11b
  - source-d88e73d9030adb59
  - source-8257284e3816dc3e
  - source-baf38070a8989361
  - source-945019fe5d82d809
  - source-1bbfc9b15eb7848d
sources:
  - id: source-36efb4bc0345bb85
    title: 'Boss Fight Atlas: Straight beam (RU)'
    url: 'https://polyakovin.github.io/boss-fight-atlas/ru/mechanics/straight-beam/'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-37a96331d74cc0a9
    title: 'Boss Fight Atlas: Straight beam (EN)'
    url: 'https://polyakovin.github.io/boss-fight-atlas/en/mechanics/straight-beam/'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-3d98aa5b859ad11b
    title: Absolute Radiance · Hollow Knight
    url: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgh04-wCRyk&t=20s'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-d88e73d9030adb59
    title: Phrike · Returnal
    url: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdBbTMFLFIo&t=32s'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-8257284e3816dc3e
    title: Ziva the Engineer · V Rising
    url: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FaqtlB36V8&t=24s'
    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-1bbfc9b15eb7848d
    title: Cuphead
    url: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6anMOwVo7tc&t=14s'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: boss-fight-atlas
    id: boss-straight-beam
    title: Boss fights
    url: >-
      https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/boss-fight-atlas/#boss-straight-beam
    categoryIds:
      - catalog-part-3
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Straight beam
    description: An extended straight beam blocks a line from its source to its endpoint.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/boss-frame-6anmowvo7tc-14.webp
      width: 854
      height: 480
      game: Cuphead
      sourceUrl: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6anMOwVo7tc&t=14s'
      originalUrl: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6anMOwVo7tc'
      sourceFrameSeconds: 14
      credit: Studio MDHR; gameplay capture by Boss Fight Database
      rights: >-
        Game graphics © Studio MDHR. Gameplay recording by Boss Fight Database.
        Visible source markings preserved. All rights reserved; excluded from
        MIT and CC BY 4.0.
      caption: The powerful beam keeps a straight attack geometry
      alt: The powerful beam keeps a straight attack geometry
      markers:
        - x: 45
          'y': 43
          label: The beam lane connects its emitter to the dangerous area
    tips:
      - Align visible beam width with its damage area along the entire length.
    examples:
      - title: Cuphead
        url: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6anMOwVo7tc&t=14s'
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
---
# Straight beam

id: boss-fight-atlas--boss-straight-beam
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/boss-fight-atlas--boss-straight-beam
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/boss-fight-atlas--boss-straight-beam/

An extended straight beam blocks a line from its source to its endpoint.

## At a glance

![The powerful beam keeps a straight attack geometry](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/boss-frame-6anmowvo7tc-14.webp)

[Cuphead](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6anMOwVo7tc&t=14s) · Game graphics © Studio MDHR. Gameplay recording by Boss Fight Database. Visible source markings preserved. All rights reserved; excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.

[Source recording](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6anMOwVo7tc), 14 s

1. The beam lane connects its emitter to the dangerous area

- Align visible beam width with its damage area along the entire length.

- [Cuphead](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6anMOwVo7tc&t=14s)

## How it works

An extended straight beam blocks a line from its source to its endpoint.

## Variants

### How the technique works

<a id="boss-straight-beam-rule"></a>

- An extended straight beam blocks a line from its source to its endpoint. <a id="boss-straight-beam-definition"></a>

## 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: Straight beam (RU)](https://polyakovin.github.io/boss-fight-atlas/ru/mechanics/straight-beam/) (id: source-36efb4bc0345bb85)
- [Boss Fight Atlas: Straight beam (EN)](https://polyakovin.github.io/boss-fight-atlas/en/mechanics/straight-beam/) (id: source-37a96331d74cc0a9)
- [Absolute Radiance · Hollow Knight](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgh04-wCRyk&t=20s) (id: source-3d98aa5b859ad11b)
- [Phrike · Returnal](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdBbTMFLFIo&t=32s) (id: source-d88e73d9030adb59)
- [Ziva the Engineer · V Rising](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FaqtlB36V8&t=24s) (id: source-8257284e3816dc3e)
- [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)
- [Cuphead](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6anMOwVo7tc&t=14s) (id: source-1bbfc9b15eb7848d)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors
