Pumpking

Pumpking is a Hardmode, post-Plantera boss that spawns during the Pumpkin Moon event. It is the event's most difficult boss, and the only one whose main body consistently travels through blocks. Up to seven of them (more in multiplayer) can attack simultaneously during the event's final wave (wave 15).

Pumpking has two arms, each possessing a large scythe that periodically fires erratic projectiles. The hands otherwise act much like Skeletron's hands, swiping at the player to inflict melee damage.

Like Mourning Wood, the later the wave Pumpking is killed in, the more likely it is to drop items. Pumpkings defeated during Wave 15 are guaranteed to produce one Pumpking Trophy along with one of its other items.

Attacks
Pumpking repeatedly switches between three different attack patterns at random. Its current attack mode is indicated by its facial expression. When transitioning to its next mode, its head rotates to reveal a different expression.


 * Mode 1: The face resembles a typical jack-o-lantern, with a sinister-looking grin. It attempts to remain directly on the player, and performs aggressive melee swipes with its scythe arms.


 * Mode 2: Pumpking's mouth is partially open. Its scythe arms fire large yellow scythe-shaped projectiles. Similar to the Demon Scythe, the projectiles are motionless for a few seconds, then gradually begin to spin and fly towards the player with increasing speed.


 * Mode 3: The face looks angry, with its mouth agape in an 'O' shape. Pumpking follows from a longer distance and spits "Greek Flame" projectile that are easily dodged, as they merely fall with little force. They remain on the ground for a short while and inflict damage on contact.

Trivia

 * Pumpking's changing faces might be a reference to Demonhead Mobster Kingpin from Problem Sleuth, The Mayor of Halloween Town from The Nightmare Before Christmas, the Dodecahedron from The Phantom Tollbooth, or the Quintessons from the 1980's-era Transformers.
 * The Greek Flame attack is a reference to "Greek fire", an early flamethrower device used by the Byzantine Empire's Navy.
 * Strangely, the Horseman's Blade drops from Pumpking and not from the Headless Horseman.