MGS Delta: Snake Eater Bosses Ranked Easiest to Hardest

Patrick.Yu

Metal Gear Solid Delta brings back one of gaming’s most iconic boss lineups, from Ocelot’s flashy revolver duel to the legendary showdown with The Boss in the flower field. This guide ranks every boss fight in the remake from easiest to hardest, explaining what makes each encounter stand out and how they compare to the original Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. Whether you’re looking for strategy tips, non-lethal rewards, or simply want to see where your favorite fight lands, this breakdown covers all nine bosses in Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. 

A faithful remake of a Hideo Kojima classic 

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a ground-up remake of the 2004 classic Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, originally directed by Hideo Kojima. Although Kojima himself had no involvement in this 2025 remake, Konami made a deliberate choice to honor his work by keeping the game nearly identical to the original. Every boss fight, cutscene, and Codec conversation plays out as fans remember, with the main difference being a complete visual overhaul powered by Unreal Engine 5. 

This approach makes Delta feel more like a preservation project than a reimagining. It keeps the Cold War setting, the quirky Cobra Unit villains, and the legendary relationship between Snake and The Boss intact. While the photorealistic graphics sometimes highlight the campier elements of the original, the upgraded environments from dense jungles to snowy mountaintops bring Snake Eater’s world to life in a way the PS2 never could. 

For newcomers, this means they get to experience one of the best stories in the Metal Gear series without losing the original spirit. For veterans, Delta offers nostalgia wrapped in modern presentation, complete with optional “Legacy” settings that mimic the old controls and camera style. 

All bosses in order and their non-lethal rewards 

Every major boss appears during Operation Snake Eater, following the same order as in the original Metal Gear Solid 3. Players can choose to defeat each boss lethally or non-lethally. Opting for the non-lethal route often requires patience and creativity, but the reward is a unique camouflage pattern or item that cannot be obtained otherwise. 

Here is the full boss order along with their non-lethal rewards: 

1. Ocelot – Animals Camo 
2. The Pain – Hornet Stripes Camo 
3. The Fear – Spider Camo 
4. The End – Moss Camo (if you hold him at gun point) and Mosin Nagant sniper rifle 
5. The Fury – Fire Camo 
6. The Sorrow – Spirit Camo 
7. Colonel Volgin – Cold War Camo 
8. The Shagohod – No non-lethal reward available 
9. The Boss – Snake Camo 

Not only do these items encourage replayability, they also serve as a mark of skill for players who take on the added challenge of pacifist strategies. Choosing the non-lethal approach can also make The Sorrow fight easier, since it shortens the river of ghosts that Snake must walk through. 

Ranking the bosses in Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater 

Every boss offers something unique, from flashy duels to surreal psychological encounters. Some fights are brutal tests of endurance, while others are more about spectacle or clever tricks. Here is my personal ranking of all nine bosses in the game, listed from easiest to hardest based on both mechanics and overall challenge. 

9. The End

• Non-lethal reward: Mosin Nagant sniper rifle (tranquilizer) 
• Hold-up reward: Moss Camo (photosynthesis stamina recovery)

The End is both the easiest and one of the hardest bosses, depending entirely on how you approach him. If you take advantage of the game’s tricks, you can beat him without ever actually fighting. Sniping him early in Ponizovje West while he sits in a wheelchair, or saving mid-battle and fast-forwarding your system clock to make him die of old age, instantly removes the encounter. In other words, The End can literally be defeated by not playing at all. 

However, if you choose to face him head-on, the fight becomes one of the toughest tests in the entire series. The sniper duel spans three large forest zones where The End uses jungle camouflage, relocates silently, and fires tranquilizer darts that drain Snake’s stamina until he passes out. Finding him requires patience, awareness, and the smart use of tools like the Thermal Goggles, Directional Mic, or by tracking his footprints. Played fairly, this is easily one of the hardest battles in Metal Gear Solid Delta, rivaling The Boss herself. 

If you do decide to fight him the “manly” way, you can also be rewarded for your efforts. A non-lethal takedown grants the Mosin Nagant sniper rifle, which fires tranquilizer rounds, while holding him up at gunpoint long enough earns the coveted Moss Camo, one of the best camouflage patterns in the game thanks to its stamina-regenerating effect in sunlight. 

The End is legendary for a reason. He can be the easiest boss in the game if you exploit his weaknesses, but if you take him on the hard way, he becomes one of Snake’s greatest challenges. 

8. The Sorrow

• Non-lethal reward: Spirit Camo (earned automatically after the encounter) 

The Sorrow is one of the most unique encounters in the game, but in terms of difficulty he barely qualifies as a boss fight. Instead of combat, Snake is forced to walk down a long river while being haunted by the ghosts of every soldier he has killed up to that point. If you have played a non-lethal run, the river will be short and almost empty. If you killed many enemies, it becomes much longer and filled with hostile spirits that can knock Snake down. 

The only real danger comes from The Sorrow’s ghostly projectiles, which can be avoided by diving underwater. At the end of the river, Snake collapses, and the only way to proceed is to use the Revival Pill hidden in his inventory. Without it, the game appears to end, which can trick first-time players. 

The Sorrow is conceptually brilliant, turning your previous actions into the fight itself, but he is never difficult. At most, he acts as a punishment for players who relied too heavily on lethal tactics. Because of its minimal challenge, The Sorrow ranks near the bottom of the list, even if it remains one of the most memorable sequences in the entire series. 

7. The Shagohod

• Non-lethal reward: None 

The Shagohod is an intimidating piece of Cold War machinery, but the fight itself is surprisingly straightforward. It begins with a lengthy chase sequence where EVA drives and Snake mans the turret. During this phase, you mostly focus on clearing out soldiers while EVA handles the escape, so there is little real danger. 

The real battle comes in the final arena, but even here the strategy is simple. Using the RPG with its unlimited ammo supply, you just need to disable the Shagohod’s treads, then fire into the exposed core. Repeat this process while avoiding its missiles and machine gun fire, and the massive tank will eventually break down. Volgin emerges for a short rematch, but the fight still follows the same pattern until the machine is destroyed for good. 

Despite the scale of the encounter, the Shagohod is more of a spectacle than a challenge. Its sheer size and dramatic presentation make it memorable, but the lack of complexity or serious threat keeps it from ranking higher. 

6. Ocelot

• Non-lethal reward: Animals Camo 

Ocelot is the first major boss you face, and his duel sets the tone for the rivalry that runs through the entire series. The fight takes place across a chasm, with Ocelot darting between cover and unloading with his revolvers. The key is to wait for him to reload, which leaves him wide open. Beehives in the arena can also be shot down to flush him out, and grenades or captured animals can force him into the open as well. 

While flashy, the fight is mechanically simple. Ocelot’s revolvers give him limited firing windows, and once you learn his rhythm he becomes predictable. His inexperience compared to Snake is part of the story, and it reflects in the gameplay: this is more about setting up his character than testing the player’s skills. Ocelot is fun, memorable, and iconic, but as a boss challenge he’s on the easier side. 

5. The Pain

• Non-lethal reward: Hornet Stripes Camo 

The Pain is more annoying than difficult. He commands swarms of hornets that form both his armor and his weapons, allowing him to create a buzzing shield or fire volleys like a living machine gun. The fight takes place in a water-filled cave, and the easiest way to deal with him is to dive underwater so he loses track of you, then surface behind him for clean shots. 

His hornet armor can be broken with sustained gunfire, but there is a faster method. Throwing a gas grenade will immediately disperse the swarm, leaving him wide open. The hornets eventually regroup, but this tactic is much easier than whittling down his shield with bullets. Bug Juice also reduces the effectiveness of his attacks, and while he sometimes creates decoys, they are easy to spot once you recognize the patterns. 

The Pain earns his name because of how drawn out and clumsy the encounter feels, not because of its difficulty. With the right tools, he quickly becomes one of the more forgettable members of the Cobra Unit. 

4. Colonel Volgin

• Non-lethal reward: Cold War Camo 

Volgin is a powerhouse who relies on brute force and electricity to dominate the battlefield. The fight takes place in a confined room with a strict time limit, since the facility is rigged with explosives. His electrical aura blocks most frontal attacks, forcing you to outmaneuver him. The best strategy is to bait him into a big attack, then circle behind him or use CQC throws to leave him vulnerable. 

He occasionally recharges his powers at an electrical panel, which creates a perfect opening to strike. Equipping the Raikov mask can also confuse him for a short time, giving you a window to land extra damage. While his punches and electric blasts are devastating, going prone or rolling to the side lets you avoid most of his moves. 

What makes Volgin tricky is the combination of his raw aggression and the countdown timer that pressures you to finish the fight quickly. Even so, once you learn his patterns and use positioning to your advantage, the fight becomes manageable. 

3. The Fear

• Non-lethal reward: Spider Camo 

The Fear is fast, unpredictable, and one of the more frustrating members of the Cobra Unit. He leaps from tree to tree with inhuman agility, using an optical camouflage that makes him nearly invisible — almost like the Predator from the Predator movies. All the while, he peppers you with poisoned crossbow bolts that drain stamina and force you to stop and heal. 

He also sets traps around the battlefield and has the unnerving ability to heal himself back to full by eating food he finds in the forest. The best counter is to use Thermal Goggles, which completely nullify his stealth, and to litter the arena with rotten or poisonous food so that he poisons himself when he gets hungry. Staying aggressive is the key, since giving him time to reset makes the fight drag on. 

2. The Fury

• Non-lethal reward: Fire Camo 

The Fury is one of the most dangerous Cobra fights, thanks to his flamethrower, blast-proof suit, and jetpack. The battle takes place in narrow, dimly lit corridors, which makes avoiding his fire attacks even more stressful. He patrols the aisles, igniting everything in his path, and if he spots you, it only takes seconds before the flames engulf the area. 

The safest tactic is to stay low, roll through gaps in the walls to change lanes, and shoot the water pipes overhead to put out the fires he creates. Damaging the fuel tanks on his back or tearing his suit with a knife slash will make him far more vulnerable. Even with these tricks, his raw damage output is punishing, and the confined space gives you very little room for mistakes. 

The Fury’s intensity comes from both his attacks and the suffocating environment. He’s relentless, overwhelming, and one of the hardest bosses to take down without taking heavy damage. 

1. The Boss

• Non-lethal reward: Snake Camo 

The Boss is the ultimate test of everything you’ve learned. The fight takes place in the white flower field, a setting as beautiful as it is symbolic. She uses expert CQC, closing the gap instantly and countering most of your attacks. If she catches you with a weapon equipped, she’ll disarm you and scatter your ammo, forcing you to recover it under pressure. 

Her camouflage blends seamlessly with the field, making her hard to track if you aren’t careful. When she spots you, she rushes with ruthless precision, and the only way to avoid taking damage is to perfectly time your CQC counters. Staying mobile and using cover helps, but this fight is about skill and reaction speed more than gadgets or tricks. 

What makes the battle so difficult isn’t just her mechanics, but the emotional weight behind it. Facing your mentor after everything Snake has endured is a brutal climax, and the ten-minute timer amplifies the pressure. The Boss is both the hardest encounter and the most unforgettable moment of the game, a fight that lingers long after the credits roll. 

Conclusion 

The bosses in Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater are a huge part of what makes the game so memorable. Some encounters are cinematic showpieces, others test your patience or your mastery of stealth mechanics, and a few are easier than their reputation suggests. Whether you cheese The End, struggle through The Fury, or face your mentor in the flower field, each battle leaves a lasting impression that has helped cement Snake Eater as one of the most iconic entries in the series. 

If you enjoyed this ranking, be sure to check out my upcoming guide on the Best Weapons to Use in Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, which will cover the most effective tools for every situation. 

FAQ 

How many bosses are in Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater? 
There are nine main bosses in total: Ocelot, The Pain, The Fear, The End, The Fury, The Sorrow, Colonel Volgin, The Shagohod, and The Boss. 

Can you defeat every boss non-lethally? 
Yes, all bosses except the Shagohod have a non-lethal path. Doing so usually rewards Snake with unique camouflage patterns or special gear. 

What is a non-lethal takedown? 
A non-lethal takedown means defeating a boss without killing them. This is usually done with tranquilizer weapons, stamina depletion, or special methods unique to each fight. The reward is often exclusive camo gear that cannot be earned through lethal victories. 

What is the hardest boss fight in the game? 
The Boss is generally considered the hardest due to her aggressive CQC and the emotional weight of the encounter. However, The End is just as tough if fought without using shortcuts. 

What is the easiest boss fight in the game? 
The Sorrow is mechanically the easiest since it’s more of an interactive sequence than a fight. If you use the in-game tricks to bypass The End, he can also be considered the easiest. 

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