ESO Witches Festival 2026 Bosses Explained
The Witches Festival runs from October 21 to November 4, 2026.
During the event, players can obtain bonus rewards from eligible bosses throughout Tamriel.
However, Lord Hollowjack and the Crowborne Horror work differently from normal world bosses.
Both are connected to repeatable festival quests.
Crowborne Horror
The Crowborne Horror is accessed through the Plucking the Crow quest.
The encounter takes place in a special area connected to Evergloam, a realm associated with Nocturnal.
Players must gather Cursed Feathers and complete a ritual to open the way to the boss.
The fight is designed for a small group of approximately two to four players.
It includes dangerous attacks, summoned enemies, and mechanics that reward positioning and awareness.
Lord Hollowjack
Lord Hollowjack is accessed through The Lord of Fear.
The encounter takes place in the Seat of Detritus, his mysterious realm.
This boss is considerably more demanding because it includes dangerous resource-draining mechanics and special hunting phases.
The encounter is designed around a larger group of approximately six to twelve players.
Although experienced players may experiment with smaller groups, bringing enough adventurers makes the encounter more manageable.
What Makes These Bosses Special?
Unlike regular Witches Festival enemies, these bosses provide specific legendary reward opportunities.
Completing their associated quests can award:
Dremora Plunder Skull, Crowborne Horror. A special legendary container awarded for completing Plucking the Crow.
Dremora Plunder Skull, Lord Hollowjack. Another legendary container awarded for completing The Lord of Fear.
Both reward containers have an extremely rare chance to contain a jackpot featuring a complete collection of Zhekleg or Dremora outfit style pages.
Lord Hollowjack also offers additional achievement and housing collectible rewards.
These are excellent incentives for players who enjoy challenging event content.
However, remember that rare rewards aren't guaranteed.
How to Unlock the Crowborne Horror Boss
The Crowborne Horror is generally the more approachable of the two event bosses.
Its encounter is designed for a smaller group, and the introductory objectives fit naturally into regular Witches Festival activities.
Step 1: Start Plucking the Crow
To begin, find Witchmother Taerma.
You can speak with her at Olyve's Brewery or at participating Impresario tents.
Olyve's Brewery can be accessed from event locations in:
Auridon. A convenient option if you're exploring Aldmeri Dominion territory.
Glenumbra. Useful for players visiting Daggerfall Covenant areas.
Stonefalls. Another accessible option in Ebonheart Pact territory.
Talk to Witchmother Taerma and accept the quest called Plucking the Crow.
The quest introduces the ritual required to summon the Crowborne Horror.
Step 2: Collect 30 Cursed Feathers
After accepting the quest, you must gather 30 Cursed Feathers.
These are special quest materials found inside Plunder Skulls during the Witches Festival.
You can obtain Plunder Skulls by defeating qualifying bosses throughout Tamriel.
Eligible encounters include delve bosses, public dungeon bosses, world bosses, group dungeon bosses, and other qualifying festival activities.
Once you obtain a Plunder Skull, open the container and collect the feathers.
You don't need to complete a particular dungeon or defeat one specific world boss for the feathers.
That makes the quest relatively flexible.
If you're already participating in boss activities, you can work toward the 30-feather requirement at the same time.
What Is the Easiest Way to Collect Cursed Feathers?
For most players, defeating accessible delve bosses is a straightforward option.
Choose a delve that your character can complete comfortably.
Defeat its boss, collect the available Plunder Skull, and open the container.
Continue collecting feathers until you reach the required amount.
Public dungeons are another option because they contain multiple named boss encounters.
However, don't assume every rapidly repeated boss kill will provide another skull immediately.
Normal loot eligibility rules and potential reward cooldown behavior can affect repeated farming.
The best feather farming method is one that consistently provides eligible Plunder Skulls without requiring difficult encounters.
Step 3: Return to Olyve's Brewery
Once you've collected the required feathers, return to the quest location.
Follow the objectives to prepare an effigy using the nearby crafting table.
The ritual involves presenting the effigy to Witchmother Taerma and completing the associated steps.
These interactions are part of the quest, so follow the objective markers carefully.
If you haven't completed a ritual objective, the portal to the boss may not become available.
Step 4: Enter the Crowborne Horror Encounter
After completing the ritual, a portal opens to the boss's special area in Evergloam.
The encounter is associated with the Garden of Shadows.
Before entering, make sure your group is ready.
Check your equipment, restore your resources, and confirm that everyone understands the basic mechanics.
If you're playing alone, this is a good opportunity to look for other players attempting the same boss.
You don't need a fully optimized Trial group, but bringing a few capable players makes the encounter significantly easier.
Crowborne Horror Boss Fight Mechanics
The Crowborne Horror is an intimidating enemy, but the encounter is manageable when you understand its attacks.
Most difficulties come from dangerous area attacks and summoned enemies rather than complicated puzzle mechanics.
Watch for the Crowborne Horror's Dive Attack
One of the boss's dangerous attacks involves diving from above.
The boss can move into the air before striking an area.
Players who remain in the targeted location risk taking unnecessary damage.
When the boss begins a dive attack, pay attention to the attack indicator and move away from the dangerous area.
Don't stand still simply because the boss temporarily leaves the ground.
Keep enough Stamina available for movement and defensive actions.
Avoid Large Frontal Attacks
The Crowborne Horror can use dangerous cleaving attacks.
These are especially threatening when several players stand directly in front of the boss.
If someone in your group is controlling the boss's attention, avoid positioning yourself next to that player.
Damage dealers should generally attack from safer angles when possible.
A healer or ranged character should maintain enough distance to react to incoming attacks.
Good positioning is one of the easiest ways to reduce unnecessary damage during this encounter.
Deal With the Spider Adds
Later in the fight, the Crowborne Horror can summon a cauldron that produces spider enemies.
These enemies create additional pressure on the group.
The spiders can also produce dangerous area effects, meaning players who ignore them may find themselves surrounded by overlapping attacks.
When they appear:
Identify the new enemies. Don't continue attacking the boss without checking what has entered the arena. The additional enemies can quickly make the fight harder.
Avoid their area attacks. Move away from dangerous ground indicators instead of standing inside them while focusing on damage.
Use area-of-effect abilities. Skills that damage several enemies can help your group control spiders without sacrificing too much boss damage.
Protect vulnerable teammates. If a healer or less experienced player is overwhelmed, help clear the enemies rather than leaving that player to survive alone.
Experienced groups may be able to defeat the boss quickly without concentrating heavily on every summon.
For less experienced players, however, controlling the adds usually provides a safer experience.
Watch for Gravestones and Skeletons
The encounter can also introduce gravestones that summon skeleton enemies.
These adds create additional distractions during the fight.
If your group has high damage and the boss is nearly defeated, you may be able to finish the encounter before the skeletons become a major issue.
However, don't automatically ignore them.
If your group is struggling, clearing some of the additional enemies can reduce incoming damage and help your healer maintain control.
The correct approach depends on how quickly your group can defeat the boss.
Best Strategy for Defeating Crowborne Horror
A reliable approach is to keep the encounter under control instead of rushing.
Maintain damage on the boss when it's safe.
Move out of dangerous area attacks.
Defeat summoned enemies when they begin overwhelming your group.
Avoid stacking directly in front of the boss.
Most importantly, pay attention when the encounter introduces new mechanics.
If you're playing with newer characters, don't hesitate to slow down and prioritize survival.
A slightly longer successful attempt is better than repeatedly restarting the encounter.
How to Unlock Lord Hollowjack in ESO
Lord Hollowjack is the more mechanically demanding encounter.
Unlike the Crowborne Horror, his quest involves investigating haunted victims before entering the boss arena.
The initial quest is longer, but later attempts are easier to access.
Step 1: Find Priest Maxien Roudille
Travel to Olyve's Brewery in Auridon, Glenumbra, or Stonefalls.
Look for Priest Maxien Roudille.
Speak with him to accept the event quest called The Lord of Fear.
This quest introduces Lord Hollowjack and the strange disturbances associated with his realm.
You can enter the event location without needing to complete an unrelated DLC storyline.
Step 2: Rescue Three Haunted People
During your first completion on a character, Priest Maxien sends you to investigate three haunted individuals.
They are located in:
Grahtwood. Follow the quest markers to investigate the haunted person and complete the associated objective.
Deshaan. Another haunted individual requires assistance. Follow the quest instructions and interact with the relevant objects.
Stormhaven. Complete the remaining investigation to progress toward confronting Lord Hollowjack.
These objectives involve exploring strange haunted areas and interacting with quest-related objects.
The quest includes unsettling imagery and jump scares, so players who dislike horror effects should be prepared.
You don't need to defeat three separate major world bosses to complete these objectives.
Instead, focus on the marked quest interactions.
Step 3: Return to Priest Maxien
Once you've rescued the three haunted people, return to Priest Maxien Roudille.
Continue the quest to open the way toward Lord Hollowjack's realm.
The encounter takes place in the Seat of Detritus.
Before entering, it's strongly recommended that you join a group.
Do You Need to Rescue the Haunted People Every Time?
No.
After you've completed the full introductory quest on a character, subsequent repeatable attempts can skip the three rescue objectives.
You can proceed more directly toward challenging Lord Hollowjack.
This is particularly convenient for returning players who already completed the quest in a previous festival.
However, that progress is character-specific.
A different character attempting The Lord of Fear for the first time may still need to complete the introduction.
Lord Hollowjack Boss Fight Guide
Lord Hollowjack is one of the Witches Festival's most distinctive encounters.
His fight combines normal combat with dangerous hunting phases that require players to change their behavior completely.
Trying to defeat him through damage alone won't reliably bypass his mechanics.
The encounter is designed to scale certain mechanics according to group size.
That means larger groups can encounter more simultaneous threats.
However, more players also provide additional damage, healing, and opportunities to recover from mistakes.
Understanding Lord Hollowjack's Normal Combat Phase
At the beginning of the fight, players can damage Lord Hollowjack normally.
During this portion of the encounter, the boss uses several attacks and summons additional enemies.
His regular attacks are generally more manageable than his special hunting mechanics.
However, the encounter can become difficult if your group ignores resource-draining effects.
Pumpkin Bombs
Lord Hollowjack can throw Pumpkin Bombs that create damaging areas and root effects.
These attacks can also introduce Patch Wraith enemies.
Watch where the bombs land and move away from dangerous ground indicators.
If additional enemies appear, help your group control them.
Don't remain inside a dangerous area simply because you're trying to finish a damage rotation.
Spirits of Fear
Another mechanic involves Spirits of Fear.
Lord Hollowjack can create area attacks beneath players that cause stuns.
If you see an attack indicator beneath your character, move away when possible.
If you're stunned, recover quickly and reposition.
These effects can be especially frustrating when they overlap with additional enemies or resource-draining mechanics.
Chains
In larger groups, Lord Hollowjack can chain a player and begin pulling them toward himself.
This attack requires an interrupt.
If the group fails to stop it, the targeted player can be killed.
Players should be ready to interrupt the boss when this mechanic appears.
Don't assume someone else will always handle the interrupt.
If you're close enough and capable of interrupting safely, respond immediately.
Lord Hollowjack's Sapping Scarecrow Mechanic
One of the most important mechanics during normal combat involves Sapping Scarecrows.
Lord Hollowjack summons scarecrow totems that drain player resources.
This can affect your ability to maintain damage, healing, defensive skills, and movement.
Why Sapping Scarecrows Are Dangerous
These totems apply resource pressure while they remain active.
If ignored for too long, they can make the encounter increasingly uncomfortable.
Players may find themselves without enough resources to cast important abilities.
This is especially problematic for inexperienced groups that already struggle with sustain.
Should You Destroy Every Scarecrow?
Not necessarily.
There are two reasonable approaches.
If your group has sufficient damage and is close to triggering the next hunting phase, focusing on Lord Hollowjack may be more efficient.
When a hunting phase begins, the active normal-phase adds and scarecrow totems disappear.
However, if your group has lower damage or is struggling with resource sustain, destroying the scarecrows is a safer option.
The correct choice depends on how quickly your group can progress the encounter.
Don't waste excessive time clearing every summon if the boss is about to transition.
But don't ignore resource-draining enemies when they're preventing your group from functioning.
Lord Hollowjack Hunting Phase: The Most Dangerous Mechanic
This is the part of the encounter that causes the most difficulty.
Lord Hollowjack enters special hunting phases at approximately 70% and 40% health.
During these phases, your priorities change completely.
Instead of concentrating on damage, you must survive while the boss searches for players.
What Happens When the Hunting Phase Begins?
Lord Hollowjack signals the transition with a loud yell.
Players are briefly stunned, and the normal enemies and scarecrow totems disappear.
The boss begins hunting players throughout the arena.
His Aura of Dread becomes extremely dangerous.
Players caught by the hunting attack can be killed instantly.
Trying to stand still and continue dealing damage is a common mistake.
How to Survive the Hunting Phase
The recommended strategy is to crouch and remain aware of the boss's position.
Move carefully while avoiding dangerous detection areas.
Keep enough distance from other players so one mistake doesn't endanger several teammates.
The encounter checks whether you're crouching, rather than requiring the same complete stealth state used by some other ESO activities.
This distinction is useful because certain abilities that interfere with ordinary stealth may still be usable while crouched.
However, you must remain careful.
If you stop crouching at the wrong moment, Lord Hollowjack can detect and attack you.
Avoid the Aura of Dread
Both Lord Hollowjack and the associated lantern effects can create dangerous areas during the hunting phase.
These are not ordinary attacks you should try to survive through healing alone.
Avoid contact with their lethal detection areas.
If you notice Lord Hollowjack moving toward another player, don't follow directly behind him.
Stay away from the danger and maintain awareness of your surroundings.
Why Spreading Out Helps
When several players stand close together, one detected player can endanger nearby teammates.
Spreading out reduces the chance of multiple deaths from the same charge.
However, you still need to remain within a manageable area for your own movement and awareness.
Don't run around the arena without paying attention to the boss.
During the hunting phase, survival matters more than damage.
How to Handle the Crow Resource Drain Mechanic
The hunting phase includes another important challenge.
Crows can appear on the ground and apply resource-draining effects to players.
As more crows remain active, maintaining enough Stamina to stay crouched becomes increasingly difficult.
Why the Crows Matter
The resource drain during the hunting phase is connected to the number of crows remaining on the ground.
If too many are active, your Stamina may become difficult to maintain.
Running out of Stamina can prevent you from remaining crouched.
That creates an opportunity for Lord Hollowjack to detect and attack you.
How to Remove the Crows
Look for crows on the ground that can be interacted with.
Use the Scare Crow synergy to drive them away.
Removing crows reduces the resource-draining pressure on your group.
The objective isn't simply to defeat enemies through normal weapon attacks.
You need to interact with the appropriate mechanic.
Should Everyone Help With the Crows?
Yes, when it's safe.
If your group has several capable players managing crow interactions, the resource drain becomes easier to handle.
However, don't leave a safe position and run directly into Lord Hollowjack's danger area just to activate a synergy.
Maintain awareness of the boss's location.
The best approach is to remove nearby crows while continuing to crouch and avoid lethal effects.
What Happens if Players Die?
The hunting phase doesn't automatically fail because one player dies.
The group can continue as long as the encounter remains active and at least one player survives the phase.
Fallen players can use available resurrection options according to the encounter rules.
However, don't rely on repeated deaths as your primary strategy.
Understanding the crow mechanic and maintaining Stamina is a much more reliable way to complete the fight.
Lord Hollowjack's Final Phase
After surviving the second hunting phase, the encounter moves toward its conclusion.
Lord Hollowjack introduces additional dangerous effects, including a large Jack-o'-lantern that projects fiery beams toward the ground.
Players should continue attacking while avoiding clearly dangerous areas.
For experienced groups, this phase may be relatively straightforward compared with the hunting mechanics.
However, newer groups should still pay attention to their positioning and health.
Don't assume the fight is finished simply because the boss has entered his final phase.
Maintain healing, control dangerous enemies when necessary, and continue dealing damage until Lord Hollowjack is defeated.
If you can consistently survive both hunting phases, you're already much closer to completing the encounter.
Best Group Setup for Both Witches Festival Bosses
You don't need a perfect endgame Trial setup to participate, but group preparation makes a noticeable difference.
Recommended Crowborne Horror Group
The encounter is designed for approximately two to four players.
A balanced group might include:
One durable front-line player. Someone capable of surviving the boss's attacks and helping maintain controlled positioning.
One player with reliable healing. Healing is particularly helpful when additional enemies or area attacks pressure the group.
Damage dealers with area-of-effect abilities. These players can damage the boss while helping clear spiders and skeletons.
Experienced players may adjust this composition based on their builds.
For example, characters with strong self-healing may not require a dedicated healer.
However, newer groups generally benefit from a balanced setup.
Recommended Lord Hollowjack Group
Lord Hollowjack is designed for approximately six to twelve players.
A larger group can provide more consistent healing and damage.
Useful roles include:
Players with strong sustain. Maintaining resources is particularly important during the boss's hunting mechanics.
Reliable healers. Healers help stabilize the group during normal combat and support recovery after dangerous attacks.
Damage dealers who understand mechanics. High damage is useful, but it doesn't replace crouching, avoiding lethal effects, or interacting with crows.
Players ready to interrupt. Larger groups may encounter the chain mechanic, so someone must react quickly when interruptions are required.
The most important preparation is communication.
A group that understands the hunting mechanics can perform better than a stronger group that ignores them.
Best Preparation Before Entering Either Boss Fight
A few simple preparations can prevent unnecessary failures.
Repair Your Equipment
Damaged equipment can reduce your combat effectiveness.
Repairing your gear before entering a challenging encounter is an easy precaution.
Use Suitable Food or Drinks
Choose consumables that support your build's Health, Magicka, or Stamina needs.
For Lord Hollowjack, Stamina sustain deserves special attention because crouching is important during the hunting phases.
However, don't sacrifice so much survivability that you become vulnerable during regular combat.
Bring Potions
Potions that restore your important resources can help you recover during difficult moments.
Stamina recovery is especially valuable for players struggling with Lord Hollowjack's hunting phases.
Don't wait until you're completely out of resources before paying attention to sustain.
Equip Defensive Abilities
A damage-focused build can still benefit from a reliable self-heal or defensive skill.
This is particularly useful if your healer is occupied or you're separated from the group.
Understand the Encounter Before Pulling
Explain the most important mechanics to anyone who hasn't completed the fight before.
For Crowborne Horror, mention the dive attack and summoned enemies.
For Lord Hollowjack, explain the hunting phases, crouching, and crow synergies.
A short explanation can prevent several unnecessary failures.
ESO Witches Festival 2026 Boss Rewards
Both special boss quests award legendary Dremora Plunder Skulls.
These are separate reward opportunities from the regular boss-category skulls earned throughout the festival.
However, there are important differences between the two encounters.
Crowborne Horror Rewards
Completing Plucking the Crow awards a special Dremora Plunder Skull, Crowborne Horror.
The reward container can include normal legendary festival rewards.
It also has an extremely rare chance to provide a special jackpot containing all the outfit style pages from the Zhekleg or Dremora collection.
Don't confuse this with a guaranteed full style book.
The jackpot is an exceptional possibility rather than a normal reward.
Another important detail is that the Crowborne Horror's special event reward comes from the completed quest, not from expecting the legendary container to drop directly from the boss.
Return to Witchmother Taerma and complete the quest after your victory.
Lord Hollowjack Rewards
Completing The Lord of Fear awards Dremora Plunder Skull, Lord Hollowjack.
Like the Crowborne Horror's reward, this container has an extremely rare chance to provide a full Zhekleg or Dremora outfit style jackpot.
Lord Hollowjack also offers additional rewards.
Pumpkin Plunderer Achievement
Defeating Lord Hollowjack and completing the associated quest can unlock the Pumpkin Plunderer achievement.
This is particularly interesting for players collecting Witches Festival accomplishments.
Trophy: Lord Hollowjack
The encounter can also award the Trophy: Lord Hollowjack housing collectible through its associated achievement and quest completion.
This is a commemorative furnishing for players who enjoy decorating their homes with rewards from difficult encounters.
Bust: Lord Hollowjack
Lord Hollowjack can also drop a matching collectible bust.
Unlike the quest's legendary skull, this collectible is associated with the boss's loot.
Players can potentially obtain the bust while participating in the encounter with a group, even if they haven't personally picked up The Lord of Fear, provided the group has access to the fight.
However, that doesn't mean the bust is guaranteed.
It's a chance-based reward.
Can You Repeat Lord Hollowjack and Crowborne Horror?
Yes.
Both special event quests are repeatable.
The quests can be completed once per day per character.
However, the legendary Dremora Plunder Skull rewards follow the event's account-wide reward restrictions.
Don't assume completing the same quest repeatedly on several characters will provide unlimited legendary skulls.
The 2026 festival allows up to 10 legendary Dremora Plunder Skulls per day when counting all eligible categories and the two special quest rewards.
Crowborne Horror and Lord Hollowjack account for two of those opportunities.
This distinction is especially important for players who have several characters.
You can enjoy the encounters again, but the special legendary reward availability isn't unlimited.
Which Witches Festival Boss Should You Fight First?
If you're new to both encounters, we recommend starting with the Crowborne Horror.
Its smaller group requirements and relatively straightforward combat mechanics make it a good introduction to the festival's special bosses.
You can collect the necessary feathers while earning ordinary Plunder Skulls, then complete the ritual and challenge the boss.
Once you're comfortable with that encounter, move on to Lord Hollowjack.
Lord Hollowjack requires greater attention to mechanics, particularly during the hunting phases.
Even highly experienced damage dealers can be defeated if they ignore the crouching and resource-drain requirements.
However, once your group understands the mechanics, the encounter becomes much more manageable.
Crowborne Horror is generally the easier introduction, while Lord Hollowjack provides the more mechanically demanding challenge.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Forgetting to Pick Up the Quest
Both encounters are connected to specific festival quests.
Make sure you accept Plucking the Crow or The Lord of Fear before expecting the associated quest reward.
Not Opening Plunder Skulls for Feathers
Cursed Feathers are found inside Plunder Skulls.
If you're holding unopened containers, remember to open them and collect the quest materials.
Attempting Lord Hollowjack Without Understanding the Hunting Phase
This is one of the biggest causes of unnecessary deaths.
When Lord Hollowjack enters his hunting phase, stop treating the encounter like a normal damage race.
Crouch, avoid dangerous areas, and manage the crows.
Ignoring Sapping Scarecrows
These can drain resources during normal combat.
If your group isn't close to a phase transition, removing the totems may make the fight much easier.
Forgetting to Interrupt Chains
In larger groups, Lord Hollowjack can pull a player toward himself.
Interrupting the attack prevents a dangerous outcome.
Standing Together During the Hunt
One detected player can endanger nearby teammates.
Maintain reasonable spacing to reduce the risk of multiple deaths.
Ignoring Spider Adds During Crowborne Horror
The spiders can create dangerous area attacks.
If they begin overwhelming the group, prioritize controlling them before returning to boss damage.
Forgetting to Turn In the Quest
This is especially important.
The special legendary reward comes from completing the associated event quest.
After defeating the boss, return to the correct quest giver and finish the objective.
Expecting Guaranteed Rare Rewards
The Zhekleg and Dremora style jackpots are extremely rare.
Don't assume several successful boss kills will guarantee a full collection.
ESO Witches Festival Boss Guide FAQ
How Do I Unlock Lord Hollowjack in ESO?
Speak with Priest Maxien Roudille at Olyve's Brewery and accept The Lord of Fear.
Complete the introductory objectives involving haunted people in Grahtwood, Deshaan, and Stormhaven, then follow the quest to confront Lord Hollowjack.
Where Is Lord Hollowjack Located?
Lord Hollowjack is encountered in the Seat of Detritus.
You access the encounter through The Lord of Fear quest.
How Do I Unlock Crowborne Horror?
Speak with Witchmother Taerma and accept Plucking the Crow.
Collect 30 Cursed Feathers from Plunder Skulls, complete the ritual, and enter the portal to the special boss encounter.
Where Do I Get Cursed Feathers?
Cursed Feathers are found inside Witches Festival Plunder Skulls.
Defeat eligible bosses, open the containers, and collect the required quest materials.
How Many Cursed Feathers Do I Need?
You need 30 Cursed Feathers to complete the ritual for Plucking the Crow.
Can I Solo the Crowborne Horror?
Experienced players may attempt it solo, but the encounter is designed for a small group of two to four players.
Grouping is recommended, particularly if you're unfamiliar with the mechanics.
Can I Solo Lord Hollowjack?
Lord Hollowjack is designed for larger groups of approximately six to twelve players.
Although experienced players may experiment with smaller groups, a full solo attempt is significantly more demanding and isn't recommended for beginners.
How Do I Survive Lord Hollowjack's Hunting Phase?
Crouch when the hunting phase begins, avoid the boss's lethal danger areas, maintain Stamina, and interact with crows to reduce the resource drain.
The hunting phases occur around 70% and 40% boss health.
Why Does Lord Hollowjack Keep Killing Me Instantly?
You're likely being caught by the dangerous Aura of Dread during a hunting phase.
This mechanic can instantly kill players who enter its affected area.
Avoid detection and remain crouched when appropriate.
What Do Sapping Scarecrows Do?
They apply resource-draining effects during normal combat.
Destroying them can reduce the pressure on your group's resources.
How Do I Get the Lord Hollowjack Bust?
The Bust: Lord Hollowjack has a chance to drop from Lord Hollowjack himself.
It isn't guaranteed after one kill.
How Do I Get the Pumpkin Plunderer Achievement?
Defeat Lord Hollowjack and complete the associated The Lord of Fear quest requirements.
The achievement is connected to the event encounter.
Do Both Bosses Drop Zhekleg Pages?
Their special legendary Dremora Plunder Skulls can contain Zhekleg outfit style rewards.
Both also have an extremely rare chance to provide a complete Zhekleg or Dremora style jackpot.
Can I Repeat the Boss Quests?
Yes.
Plucking the Crow and The Lord of Fear are repeatable once per day per character.
The special legendary skull rewards remain subject to the event's account-wide restrictions.
Are Lord Hollowjack and Crowborne Horror Available After the Event?
Their special festival quests and encounters are associated with the Witches Festival.
They aren't ordinary permanent world bosses that you can challenge freely throughout the year.
Which Boss Is Easier?
Crowborne Horror is generally more approachable because it's designed for a small group and has less demanding encounter mechanics.
Lord Hollowjack is more challenging because of his hunting phases, resource drain, and lethal detection areas.
Conclusion
The ESO Witches Festival 2026 boss encounters offer two memorable Halloween challenges that reward players for more than simply dealing damage.
The Crowborne Horror introduces a mysterious ritual, a journey into Evergloam, and a fight filled with dangerous attacks and summoned enemies.
Lord Hollowjack takes things further with resource-draining scarecrows, sudden stuns, and hunting phases where positioning and Stamina management become more important than raw damage.
Both encounters reward players with special legendary Dremora Plunder Skulls, including extremely rare opportunities to obtain complete Zhekleg or Dremora style collections.
Lord Hollowjack also offers achievements and unique housing collectibles for players who want additional rewards.
However, the most important part of completing these bosses is understanding their mechanics.
For Crowborne Horror, collect your 30 Cursed Feathers, perform the ritual, avoid dangerous attacks, and control the summoned enemies.
For Lord Hollowjack, prepare a suitable group, manage your resources, crouch during hunting phases, and use the crow synergies to reduce resource drain.
Learning these mechanics is more valuable than simply entering the encounter with the highest possible damage.
And once you've defeated either boss, remember to complete its associated quest so you don't miss the special reward.
If you're looking for additional help with ESO progression and challenging content, you can also explore BoostRoom for gaming services.
Whether you're confronting the Crowborne Horror for the first time or returning to Lord Hollowjack's terrifying realm, these encounters are among the most memorable activities of the Witches Festival.
Prepare your character, gather your group, and get ready to face Tamriel's Halloween nightmares.
Good luck, and may your Plunder Skulls contain something worth celebrating!
