Spiral Knights has announced the Shadow Lairs, a series of perilous new boss-monster battle zones. Players who recover and open Iron Lockboxes from the depths of Cradle now have a chance of finding “Shadow Keys” inside. These unique keys, when brought to the deepest Clockwork Terminal in the Clockworks, can be used to unlock one of several elevators that will carry brave knights directly into the dark and dangerous hearts of the Shadow Lairs.

These Shadow Lairs feature some of the most terrifying monsters found in the Clockworks, now twisted and imbued with strange, dark powers. These trickier, tougher boss fights will challenge even the bravest, boldest, and best-equipped knights, presenting the greatest challenges the game has seen so far.