How to Beat Toriel in Undertale

Last Updated: October 21, 2021

Have you gotten to the Toriel boss fight, but don't know how to beat her? Well, this is the article for you! Just follow these simple parts to learn how to get past Toriel, whether you're on the Pacifist or Genocide route.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:
Pacifist

1
Start by pressing the "Act" button when Toriel blocks the way. Once you press the "Act" button, select "Talk", or whatever you have to use. If you have played the game before, and started by killing Toriel, you will need to select "Act", then "Talk." If you have played the game before 11 times, she will not hurt you at all, sending out a completely harmless attack. If you've played 12, and spared her all 12 times, she will not attack at all.
- You do not have to heal yourself, because the fight with Toriel does not kill you. You will get to one or 2 HP, and an attack where fire balls drop from the top of the box will start, and you cannot hit them even if you try to. Save the Butterscotch Pie for the fight with Asgore (It helps a lot, put it in a box and don't use it.)
2
Select the "Mercy" button, then select "Spare".

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3
Keep repeating this process until she gives up. You will need to do this 24 times. It seems like a lot, but you will not die in this battle. She will have dialogue inbetween them, give up, hug you, and run away after a piece of short dialogue.
4
Proceed through the door. You have spared Toriel, and you are now in 'Snowdin' Forest!
- These images are from "Hard Mode" in Undertale. If you name the character "Frisk" at the onset of the game, you will enter Hard Mode, where the characters and enemies are much harder. You will encounter entirely different characters, but the route ends after the Battle with Toriel.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:
Genocide

1
Select "Fight" once in battle. When the white bar swings across the screen after you press "Fight", press Z or (enter depending on your computer) when it's in the center on the screen.
2
Keep doing this until Toriel looks different. She will say a few things and turn into dust.
3
Go through the door into Snowdin Forest.

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Community Q&A

Question

How will I know when acting doesn't work anymore?

Akitagem

Community Answer

The dialouge will begin to repeat itself. After this happens, you can move to sparring.
Question

If I am a pacifist and I live with Toriel, what will happen?

Bawana 451

Community Answer

Nothing really. You will not progress until you finish the fight with Toriel and leave the Ruins.
Question

What happens when Toriel meets Sans and Papyrus?

Akitagem

Community Answer

They are all very happy until Sans and Toriel begin making bad puns and Papyrus gets annoyed.
Question

Why do I have to kill her?

Mia Hutchison

Community Answer

You only need to kill her in Genocide. If you don't want to kill her, you don't have to.
Question

How do I go the pacifist route in Undertale?

Akitagem

Community Answer

You need to complete a no-kill neutral route and spare Flowey, then go back after Sans calls you. Flowey and eventually Undyne will guide you.
Question

Is there a way to beat Toriel in neutral too?

Fall down house

Community Answer

Yes. The neutral route is basically the pacifist route in the way that you don't kill anything. The difference is that in the pacifist ending, you don't have to kill Asgore. In neutral, you can't spare him. Just follow the steps from the Pacifist guide.
Question

How do I get farther if I'm in demo?

Community Answer

In the Undertale, the demo ends right after you beat Toriel and leave the old ruins, so you cannot go further without buying the whole game.
Question

Why is the annoying dog in the ruins after you spare/kill Toriel?

Community Answer

The annoying dog appears because these images were taken from "Hard Mode" from naming the fallen human "Frisk", causing the Annoying Dog to appear and end Hard Mode.
Question

What happens if I spare Sans?

Community Answer

You will get dunked on. You die but there is a nice little Easter egg at the death screen that you might enjoy.
Question

Why can't you die when fighting Toriel?

Matthew

Community Answer

You can't die while fighting Toriel because she is a peaceful person and does not want to kill anyone.