---
key: mechanic/boss-fight-atlas--boss-wind-up
type: mechanic
id: boss-fight-atlas--boss-wind-up
lang: en
title: Wind-up
summary: A preparatory action separates attack commitment from its damaging stage.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: >-
https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/boss-fight-atlas--boss-wind-up/
jsonUrl: >-
https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/boss-fight-atlas--boss-wind-up.json
markdownUrl: >-
https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/boss-fight-atlas--boss-wind-up.md
aliases: []
tags:
- Boss fights
- Structure and readability
sourceIds:
- source-77518364e7413d63
- source-4e78af36e7d262ac
- source-b8b3642c9d7ab75c
- source-7360c1deba7d486c
- source-66de608faedfd362
- source-baf38070a8989361
- source-b6c950a986876b85
- source-9afad7c96fda6ea2
- source-d17265a65b2a1b84
sources:
- id: source-77518364e7413d63
title: 'Boss Fight Atlas: Wind-up (RU)'
url: 'https://polyakovin.github.io/boss-fight-atlas/ru/mechanics/wind-up/'
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-4e78af36e7d262ac
title: 'Boss Fight Atlas: Wind-up (EN)'
url: 'https://polyakovin.github.io/boss-fight-atlas/en/mechanics/wind-up/'
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-b8b3642c9d7ab75c
title: Mantis Lords · Hollow Knight
url: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG3h6uVtWyY&t=19s'
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-7360c1deba7d486c
title: 'Margit, the Fell Omen · Elden Ring'
url: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m60ucpQggJ0&t=131s'
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-66de608faedfd362
title: 'Corrupted Monk · Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice'
url: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSI6RWT8WUw&t=5s'
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-baf38070a8989361
title: Designer article · Mike Stout — enemy attacks and telegraphing
url: 'https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/enemy-attacks-and-telegraphing'
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-b6c950a986876b85
title: 'Combat designer article · Mike Birkhead — anticipation, timing, and holds'
url: >-
https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/opinion-boss-design---tips-from-a-combat-designer
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-9afad7c96fda6ea2
title: Developer talk · Rebecca Vessal — modular boss maneuvers in Psychonauts 2
url: 'https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1028927/AI-Summit-Crafting-Epic-Boss'
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-d17265a65b2a1b84
title: Hollow Knight
url: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG3h6uVtWyY&t=26s'
verifiedAt: null
relations:
- type: explains
direction: incoming
label: Understand the principle
key: lesson/state-machines
title: States and transitions
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/lessons/state-machines/'
jsonUrl: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/lesson/state-machines.json'
markdownUrl: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/lesson/state-machines.md'
placements:
- catalogId: boss-fight-atlas
id: boss-wind-up
title: Boss fights
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/boss-fight-atlas/#boss-wind-up'
categoryIds:
- catalog-part-9
supersededBy: []
attributes:
preview:
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
title: Wind-up
description: A preparatory action separates attack commitment from its damaging stage.
image:
src: images/mechanics/boss-frame-vg3h6uvtwyy-26.webp
width: 640
height: 360
game: Hollow Knight
sourceUrl: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG3h6uVtWyY&t=26s'
originalUrl: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG3h6uVtWyY'
sourceFrameSeconds: 26
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: A Mantis Lord prepares to attack from the wall
alt: A Mantis Lord prepares to attack from the wall
markers:
- x: 91
'y': 53
label: The boss’s wall stance precedes a lunge
tips:
- >-
Give preparation a distinct pose and enough time for the intended
response.
examples:
- title: Hollow Knight
url: 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG3h6uVtWyY&t=26s'
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
---
# Wind-up
id: boss-fight-atlas--boss-wind-up
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/boss-fight-atlas--boss-wind-up
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/boss-fight-atlas--boss-wind-up/
A preparatory action separates attack commitment from its damaging stage.
## At a glance
[Hollow Knight](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG3h6uVtWyY&t=26s) · 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), 26 s
1. The boss’s wall stance precedes a lunge
- Give preparation a distinct pose and enough time for the intended response.
- [Hollow Knight](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG3h6uVtWyY&t=26s)
## How it works
A preparatory action separates attack commitment from its damaging stage.
## Variants
### How the technique works
- A preparatory action separates attack commitment from its damaging stage.
## 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
- Understand the principle: [States and transitions](https://gamemechanics.pro/en/lessons/state-machines/) (key: lesson/state-machines)
## 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: Wind-up (RU)](https://polyakovin.github.io/boss-fight-atlas/ru/mechanics/wind-up/) (id: source-77518364e7413d63)
- [Boss Fight Atlas: Wind-up (EN)](https://polyakovin.github.io/boss-fight-atlas/en/mechanics/wind-up/) (id: source-4e78af36e7d262ac)
- [Mantis Lords · Hollow Knight](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG3h6uVtWyY&t=19s) (id: source-b8b3642c9d7ab75c)
- [Margit, the Fell Omen · Elden Ring](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m60ucpQggJ0&t=131s) (id: source-7360c1deba7d486c)
- [Corrupted Monk · Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSI6RWT8WUw&t=5s) (id: source-66de608faedfd362)
- [Designer article · Mike Stout — enemy attacks and telegraphing](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/enemy-attacks-and-telegraphing) (id: source-baf38070a8989361)
- [Combat designer article · Mike Birkhead — anticipation, timing, and holds](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/opinion-boss-design---tips-from-a-combat-designer) (id: source-b6c950a986876b85)
- [Developer talk · Rebecca Vessal — modular boss maneuvers in Psychonauts 2](https://www.gdcvault.com/play/1028927/AI-Summit-Crafting-Epic-Boss) (id: source-9afad7c96fda6ea2)
- [Hollow Knight](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG3h6uVtWyY&t=26s) (id: source-d17265a65b2a1b84)
CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors