Shadow of the Colossus guide: The 15th colossus

Each of the 16 colossi you fight during Shadow of the Colossus is a puzzle to solve. You have to find where it’s hiding in the world. Then you have to figure out how to get close to it. And finally you have to figure out how to reach its magic sigil weak points and kill it.

This guide will take you from the Shrine of Worship through defeating the 15th colossus. We’ll also point out any shrines, lizards or fruit trees along the way.

How to find the 15th colossus

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• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment

1. You’re heading as far to the northeast as the terrain will let you go this time. That basically means you’re going mostly north, with a little bit of northeast at the end.
2. Head across the north-south natural bridge and follow the tall bridge supports like you did for the 11th colossus. Keeping heading that way all the way up to the shrine.
3. At (or just past) the shrine, turn to the northeast and keep riding across the desert.
4. In the far northeast corner of the map, you’ll pass a shrine just before you arrive at a large ruin.
5. Approach the front of the ruin from the south (right) side to find a gap where you can enter.
6. Take the first right you can, then run around the pillar.
7. Use the ledge on the left or the right to climb around the fallen pillar ahead of you, then go through the door.
8. Run left or right to go around the wall ahead of you, then run up the stairs and all the way to the far end of the courtyard to (finally) find the colossus.

Collectibles along the way

There are two shining lizard tails, one shrine and no fruit trees on the way from the Shrine of Worship to the 15th colossus. These are all optional things to do, but they’ll each help you out a little. Lizards will increase your stamina, fruit will increase your health and shrines will restore your health and act as a quick save point.

Shrine and shining lizard lizards

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• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment

Immediately before the ruins where you encounter the colossus, you’ll find a shrine. Pray there and look on it and nearby for a lizard. The second lizard is close to the entrance to the ruins. Before you head inside, look all around the outside wall and the rocks along the west face of the ruins.

Approaching the 15th colossus

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• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment

1. As soon as you can, run to one of the sides. Run along the side back toward the middle of the arena.
2. Watch the wall above you. You’re looking for a low ledge that’s just out of your reach. When you find one, stop running.
3. The colossus will approach and stomp its foot down on the slab you’re standing on. Try not to be there when he does (but you won’t take too much damage if you don’t get out of the way in time). Just run a little way to the side to avoid damage, but don’t go too far because you have to get right back.
4. The colossus will keep its foot down for a few seconds — long enough for you to run over and use the ramp it created to climb up to the ledge above.
5. Run up the stairs and into the hallway with the columns.
6. Your goal here is just to get the colossus to take a swing at you. Shoot some arrows at its face and just generally taunt it by standing where it can see you.
7. When you see it wind up, get toward the back of the hallway and roll to (try to) avoid damage.
8. Climb onto the stones that the colossus knocked down, then jump up to the handhold above.
9. Climb up until you’re on the next level up. Look to your left and right. There will be stairs nearby. Jump across and climb the stairs as high as you can.
10. Run out onto the bridge that spans the arena. The colossus is going to take another swing at you and knock down the bridge. Try to be on one of the ends when he does so you don’t get knocked back to the ground (where you’ll have to start over).
11. Once the bridge is down and you’re standing above the colossus, wait for it to come over to you. Shoot it with arrows if you need to get its attention.
12. Jump from what’s left of the bridge down onto the colossus’ head.

Defeating the 15th colossus

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• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
• Bluepoint Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment

1. Since you’re already right there, start with the magic sigil on top of the colossus’ head. It’ll swing you around some, but you should have time to get in a few fully charged stabs.
2. Once the sigil disappears, it’s time to move on. Your next destination is the back of its right arm (the one holding a sword).
3. Climb down the back of its arm carefully — it’s easy to get thrown off here, and then you have to go through all the steps to get back above it.
4. When you finally get to the back of its arm, stab the weak point to make it drop its sword.
5. Drop to the ground, then start running away from the colossus. You want it to follow you, so try not to run behind it.
6. The colossus will slam its fist down near (or on) you. Run around to its palm.
7. The second magic sigil is right on its palm. Grab onto its palm fur when its fingers uncurl.
8. It should only take one or two more stabs to drop the colossus.