Hollow Knight: The Ultimate Guide to Mastering Every Secret

Released in 2017 for PC, Hollow Knight is a metroidvania action-adventure game that takes players on a journey through a decaying underground kingdom. In this vast interconnected world, players will navigate through challenges, engage in battles, and uncover long-lost secrets.

Following its initial release, Hollow Knight received four free DLC updates, all of which are included in the Voidheart Edition for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Originally intended as a fifth DLC centered around the character Hornet, it eventually grew in scope and transformed into a full-fledged sequel.

Here’s the ultimate resource for players seeking guidance on locations, discovering essential items, and overcoming challenging bosses within the game. Stay tuned as this page will continuously provide updated tips and the latest news about Hollow Knight.

Hallownest

Within the heart of a desolate expanse lies Hallownest, the realm of Hollow Knight. Jointly governed by the Pale King, this majestic land flourished with its dwellers reaping the benefits. Commerce soared as the City of Tears and adjacent hamlets teemed with vitality, imparting an atmosphere of tranquility upon the entire world. Nonetheless, this serenity proved ephemeral.

Players will embark on a journey through the decaying remains of the once-magnificent kingdom, now a mere reflection of its former grandeur. They will navigate through eerie pathways and winding roads, delving into the depths of Hallownest's tragic tale. By venturing into various locales and conversing with the remaining inhabitants, players will gradually uncover the intricate web of politics between clans and unravel the kingdom's storied history.

Throughout their expedition, players will gradually assemble the puzzle pieces to satiate their burning curiosity: what caused the downfall of Hallownest, and what compelled the Knight to venture into this desolate realm?

Hollow Knight: Tips for Beginners

The World and History of Hollow Knight

Essential Hollow Knight Lore

Hollow Knight's Infection Explained

Who is the Pale King?

The Five Great Knights, Explained

The Five Great Knights, Explained

The Void, Explained

What Are Relics For?

All Merchant Locations

How to Unlock All Endings

Traversal

Hollow Knight, being a metroidvania game, offers a plethora of interconnected routes connecting its major areas. While players will eventually unlock various means of traversal throughout the vast kingdom of Hallownest, initially they will solely rely on their own two feet.

Where to Find Every Map

All Bench Locations

All Stag Station Locations

The Best Spells and Abilities

How to Get the Tram Pass

Area Guides

How to Enter the City of Tears

The King's Brand and Entering the Abyss

Kingdom's Edge Facts and Lore

Combat

Hallownest is fraught with peril for travelers, but survival does not solely rest on their wit alone. Throughout the Hollow Knight adventure, players can acquire potent offensive skills that decimate adversaries in combat, such as magic and extraordinary close-range strikes. Additionally, they have the option to equip formidable charms that augment the Knight's abilities both during and outside confrontations.

How to Get Every Spell

Hollow Knight: All Charm Locations

↳ The Best Charm Combos

How to Unlock All Nail Arts

Surviving

Here are some essential guidelines for all the necessities a miniature Knight requires in order to endure and continue battling. Players will have the opportunity to enhance their equipment and overall health gradually. However, numerous upgrades necessitate the discovery of specific materials, a significant amount of Geo, or the possession of a certain quantity of something in order to unlock the subsequent tier.

Pro Tips for Hollow Knight.

Beginner Mistakes to Avoid Making

Geo Farming Locations

Where to Find Every Mask Shard

Where to Find Every Vessel Fragment

Where to Find All the Charm Notches

How to Get Pale Ore

Rancid Eggs: What They Do and Where to Find Them

Hollow Knight's Unwritten Rules

Hollow Knight's Unwritten Rules

Quests and Challenges

Hollow Knight is not heavy on quests and specific challenges, but there are a handful to take on. Here are the guides we have to the game's few quests and challenges. 

Delicate Flower Quest Walkthrough (and Tips)

How to Open the Lifeblood Door (All Lifeblood Cocoon Locations)

Trial of the Warrior Guide

Trial of the Conqueror Guide

Trial of the Fool Guide

Should You Spare or Kill the Nailsmith?

How to Find and Complete the Hunter's Journal

This Incredible Hollow Knight Mod Adds Tons of New Content

This Incredible Hollow Knight Mod Adds Tons of New Content

Collectibles and the Dream Nail

Throughout Hallownest are various items of interest that can lead to treasures, unlock certain doors, and even be traded for specific services.

Furthermore, upon reaching a specific milestone in the narrative, players will gain access to the Dream Nail—an influential tool enabling the Knight to penetrate the boundary dividing the realms of reality and dreams. This exceptional artifact not only permits the player to eavesdrop on the musings of amicable non-player characters and adversaries amidst combat but also serves as an essential prerequisite for accumulating Essence—a vital resource indispensable for awakening the divine potential of this weapon.

Procedure for Obtaining the Collector's Map

How to Find and Use Every Simple Key

Where to Find All the Warrior Dreams

All Whispering Root Locations

Boss Guides

Each area of Hallownest is guarded by powerful foes that players must overcome to earn the rewards or passages that they defend.

Boss Guide: The Radiance

Boss Guide: Nosk

Boss Guide: The Hollow Knight

Boss Guide: The Watcher Knights

Boss Guide: Uumuu

Boss Guide: The Broken Vessel

Boss Guide: Dung Defender

Boss Guide: Soul Master

Boss Guide: Mantis Lords

Boss Guide: Hornet

Boss Guide: False Knight

Characters

In Hallownest, amidst all the perils, encountering friendly faces brings a sense of relief. Within Hollow Knight, players have the opportunity to engage with various non-playable characters (NPCs), each possessing their own unique narratives that can unveil extraordinary results.

Should You Save Zote?

How to Complete Cloth's Quest Line

How to Complete Quirrel's Quest Line

How to Save Bretta

Silksong: What We Know So Far

First announced in 2019, Hollow Knight: Silksong initially started as a DLC for Hollow Knight but eventually evolved into a complete sequel. The developers, Team Cherry, have been intermittently sharing updates about the game's development, which have led fans to speculate and piece together information. Here's the current information we have on Silksong.

Latest News

Every Hornet Ability in Hollow Knight: Silksong's Xbox/Bethesda Showcase Trailer

Hollow Knight: Silksong's Game Pass Reveal is Great, but Still Needs a Date

A Short History of Hollow Knight: Silksong Development Updates

Hollow Knight: Silksong is Now a Day One Xbox Game Pass Game

Every Hollow Knight: Silksong Environment Seen So Far

Everything Known About Hornet Before Hollow Knight: Silksong's Release

Hollow Knight: Silksong Confirmed for PlayStation Consoles

Theories

Every Fan Theory About Hollow Knight: Silksong So Far

How Silksong is Improving on Hollow Knight

Predicting Hollow Knight: Silksong's Main Antagonist

How Hollow Knight: Silksong's Hallownest May Relate to Pharloom

Rumors

Silksong Could Explore an Official Multiplayer Mode

Hollow Knight Fans Might Know More About Silksong Than They Realize