The Ultimate Charm Synergy Guide for Maximum Power in Hollow Knight

In its vast world, Hollow Knight offers players numerous opportunities for discovery. Every corner holds secrets about the enigmatic world and its well-crafted characters. Additionally, it poses a challenge, as the player, embodied by 'the Knight,' must face formidable creatures much larger in size. The Knight's arsenal consists of a simple dodge, a Nail resembling an old-fashioned nail, and a selection of magical Charms.

Luckily, Hollow Knight offers significant flexibility in character customization, particularly through the use of Charms. By manipulating abilities and effects, Charms allow players to express themselves and can prove formidable when utilized effectively.

Updated June 26th, 2023: Hollow Knight enthusiasts have endured a period of disappointment recently for several reasons. Firstly, the announcement of Hollow Knight: Silksong came far too early in its development phase. Secondly, Silksong's release date was postponed from its originally scheduled timeframe in the first half of 2023. Lastly, the developers at Team Cherry have provided minimal updates on the game's progress. As a result, many individuals are turning to replaying the original game and similar titles for nostalgic purposes. In doing so, they seek knowledge on the most effective Charm Combos overall.

13 Hiveblood & Joni's Blessing: Sweeter Than Honey

The inclusion of the Path of Pain and Hiveblood is essential in any comprehensive Hollow Knight Charm list. The DLC's exceptional quality serves as evidence for its status as one of the most cherished Kickstarter games of all time. Introduced discreetly as a hidden section within the free Grimm Troupe DLC, the Path of Pain presents an immensely challenging platforming experience that surpasses the difficulty level of the base game. On the other hand, Hiveblood is an invaluable Charm that gradually replenishes one 'mask's worth' of health within a span of 10 seconds, provided that the Knight manages to avoid sustaining further damage during this brief timeframe. As the Path of Pain features a particularly limited number of enemies to engage with, accumulating Soul in order to heal becomes an implausible endeavor in most areas. This is precisely where the assistance rendered by Hiveblood becomes exceptionally valuable.

But, this is a Charm combo list, so here are a few builds to help enhance the Path's appeal. One noteworthy synergy exists between Hiveblood and Joni's Blessing. This combination increases the Knight's masks (also known as his HP) by 40 percent and converts them all into Lifeblood Masks instead. However, there is a trade-off: these Masks cannot be replenished using Soul. Ordinarily, Lifeblood cannot be restored and disappears when resting at a bench or sustaining enough damage. Nevertheless, the Hiveblood Charm effectively renews the Lifeblood Masks produced by Joni's Blessing, albeit at half the normal speed (20 seconds).

12 Spore Shroom, Grubsong, Thorns of Agony, & Quick Focus: The 'In For The Long Haul' Build

This next recommendation is a rare combination that successfully incorporates 4+ Charms while avoiding the excessive consumption of Charm Notches all at once. It is important to note that this combo is not the most effective for dealing raw damage. Instead, it is designed for players who anticipate frequent hits and prefer to withstand attacks, prolonging the battle (as if the game weren't already long enough), in order to secure victory rather than risking a quick defeat and subsequent retries.

Basically, it's a combination that simplifies the Knight's ability to regenerate and use Soul, while also retaliating against those who attack him by harvesting the Soul. Spore Shroom and Thorns of Agony ensure that anyone who strikes the Knight is likely to suffer damage in return. Additionally, Quick Focus and Grubsong enable the Knight to heal through the majority of the inflicted injuries.

11 Quick Slash, Unbreakable Strength, Shaman Stone, & Sharp Shadow: The 'Truly Basic' Setup

Among the numerous Charm combinations in Hollow Knight, this particular one stands out for its abundant practicality. With an extensive selection of 40+ Charms, many of which enhance the Knight's abilities and tools, it's intriguing to see players consistently gravitate towards this combination that essentially equates to across-the-board statistical enhancements. The prevailing reason behind its popularity is simply that it encompasses all necessary aspects in a build.

10 Quick Focus, Shape Of Unn, Baldur Shell: The Safest Way To Heal

Equipped with Quick Slash for increased attack speed, Unbreakable Strength for enhanced attack damage, Shaman Stone for amplified spell damage, and Sharp Shadow for additional damage while dashing through enemies, the Knight becomes a formidable force capable of inflicting greater overall damage. However, despite these enhancements, the Knight's gameplay and visual appeal fail to match the captivating and visually stunning experiences offered by some recent Metroidvanias.

In contrast to the 'In For The Long Haul' combo mentioned earlier, this particular combination of Charms prioritizes the Knight's safety by minimizing any potential damage rather than retaliating against adversaries who manage to strike. By equipping these three Charms, the Knight gains the ability to both move and heal simultaneously using Shape of Unn, accelerate their healing process by channeling Soul more swiftly through Quick Focus, and acquire a protective shield from Baldur Shell while concentrating on Soul restoration.

9 Carefree Melody, Dreamshield, Baldur Shell: The Actual Tank Build

This combination is ideal for players who struggle to find the opportune moment to heal amidst a chaotic boss battle. However, it lacks any offensive stat enhancements, placing a greater emphasis on the player's skill compared to alternate builds.

For tank enthusiasts, the combination of Carefree Melody, Dreamshield, and Baldur Shell is an ideal choice. This build revolves around the protective abilities of Carefree Melody and its increasing 'block chance' as the Knight takes hits. Normally, when the Knight is hit once, Carefree Melody has a 10 percent chance of blocking the next hit. With each subsequent hit, this percentage increases by 10-20 percent, reaching a maximum of 90 percent after 7 hits.

8 Longnail, Mark of Pride, & Quick Slash: The 'Classics'

However, Baldur's Shell does not function as one might expect, as it does not prevent the percentage from increasing. Surprisingly, the hits received by the shell, even though they cause zero damage, contribute to this percentage. As a result, after the shell breaks, the Knight can often block an additional hit. Moreover, the Dreamshield serves as an effective barrier against projectiles that would otherwise chip away at the Baldur Shell. By utilizing this combination, players can confidently stand their ground and relentlessly attack with their Nail, leaving opponents powerless and unable to mount a significant offense, at least temporarily.

If you've spent even a few hours immersed in the world of Hollow Knight, chances are you've employed this particular combo at some stage, and it's particularly favored by skilled players. This powerful combination utilizes two Charms: Longnail and Mark of Pride. When used together, these Charms enhance the reach of The Nail, and the effects even stack.

7 Grubsong, Quick Focus, & Deep Focus: The Masochist

The nail's increased range and the Quick Slash Charm make pogo bouncing off enemies, like in Shovel Knight, much easier to master. Additionally, this combination allows the Knight to fight faster and from a safer distance during boss battles. What makes it even better is that players can obtain this powerful combination early on in their playthrough.

Getting hit is inevitable in Hollow Knight, regardless of skill level. With the high time-to-kill of most enemies, it's only a matter of time before our protagonist, the Knight, takes a few hits as well. However, this doesn't have to be solely negative. Engaging in combat rewards us with Soul, which serves as our energy gauge for casting spells and healing. Additionally, equipping the Grubsong Charm allows us to gain Soul even when taking damage. Of course, avoiding damage altogether is ideal, but Grubsong provides a valuable safety net that synergizes well with other Charms. As a result, it is almost always worthwhile to have it equipped.

By combining Quick Focus and Deep Focus, the Knight is able to restore two Masks (also known as HP pips) simultaneously instead of just one. Deep Focus magnifies the healing ability but reduces the casting speed by half; however, this drawback is nullified by Quick Focus, which restores the original casting speed, effectively eliminating the downsides. Moreover, when Grubsong is added to the mix, skilled gameplay allows for the potential loss of one Mask while quickly replenishing two Masks using the Soul generated from that loss.

6 Soul Catcher, Soul Eater, & Spell Twister: The Archmage

In Hollow Knight, spells serve as the primary means of attacking enemies from a distance, since the Knight does not wield any firearms or similar weapons. Amongst the various spell options available, the default Vengeful Spirit spell is considered the most effective choice for early-stage players. As players become more proficient in spellcasting, they can then venture into testing alternatives such as Desolate Dive or Howling Wraiths.

To optimize a spellcaster-focused build as an Archmage in Hollow Knight, players must prioritize increasing their Soul capacity and generation. To achieve this, they should acquire the Soul Catcher charm, followed by its more potent counterpart, Soul Eater. These charms synergize to amplify the amount of Soul gained with each successful strike against enemies. Additionally, obtaining Spell Twister allows the Knight to harness their surplus of Soul, empowering them to cast a greater number of spells than they could have otherwise achieved.

5 Nailmaster's Glory & Spell-Centric Charms: Practitioner Of Martial & Arcane Arts

Hidden within the vast realm of Hallownest lie the enigmatic Nailmasters, benevolent insects eager to impart their profound mastery of Nail Arts onto the valiant Knight. These devastating techniques, though potent, require a degree of finesse and strategic integration unlike the straightforward slashes. They demand the player to accumulate and maintain a charged attack, momentarily preventing them from launching immediate assaults. Nail Arts introduce a time-sensitive aspect into the swift-paced game, rewarding players with immense damage potential at the expense of reduced attack speed. However, to mitigate the vulnerability associated with standing idle, there exists a remarkable charm known as the Nailmaster's Glory.

Nailmaster's Glory significantly reduces the charge time for Nail Arts to less than a second, allowing for seamless integration of Cyclone Slash, Dash Slash, or Great Slash into combos. However, what truly matters here are the combos themselves. When paired with almost any other charm, Nailmaster's Glory proves to be quite effective. It is important to note, though, that Nail Arts do not receive a boost from Nail Damage Charms such as Unbreakable Strength. This is precisely why it is recommended for players who frequently use these Nail Arts to equip spell and Soul-focused charms on the Knight.

4 Weaversong, Grubsong, & Sprintmaster: The Summoner

How about delegating some of the heavy lifting to your buddies? Hollow Knight offers various Charms such as Weaversong, Grubsong, and Glowing Womb, which summon creatures to aid the Knight in combat. With the Weaversong and Glowing Womb Charms, the Knight will have tiny bug companions scuttling around, independently damaging enemies. Although they may not individually inflict substantial harm, their contributions accumulate when combined with the Knight's attacks. Moreover, these creatures can be particularly useful in clearing out groups of enemies that may otherwise pose a considerable challenge.

The ideal combination is Weaversong, Grubsong, and Sprintmaster Charms. Grubsong boosts the Knight's Soul with every hit from the Weaverling spiders summoned by Weaversong, while Sprintmaster enhances their attack speed. These Charms enable the Knight to continuously chip away at the health of larger targets, while tiny bugs incessantly assail their feet. It's important to note that Glowing Womb could be used in place of Sprintmaster, as it produces even more minions. However, the constant drain on Soul makes this option typically not worthwhile. Fortunately, as long as there are targets to strike, Weaversong and Grubsong can theoretically sustain the power of Glowing Womb indefinitely, resulting in both advantages and drawbacks on each side.

3 Grimmchild, Sprintmaster, & Dashmaster: Permanent Autoturret Build

The Grimmchild Charm, obtained in the free Grimm Troupe DLC and rewarded from its toughest boss, operates differently compared to the typical spiderlings produced by Weaversong. It is a special present bestowed upon the player by the enigmatic Grimm. Upon completing certain quests, the Grimmchild undergoes a remarkable transformation and matures. It evolves from being a useless yet endearing companion to a genuinely formidable source of damage, launching projectiles from behind the Knight's shoulder.

2 Dashmaster, Sprintmaster, & Gathering Swarm: The Speedrunner

The Weaversong spiders may only inflict a measly 3 damage with each strike, but the Grimmchild, on the other hand, has the potential to unleash a powerful 11 damage per shot. By equipping both the Sprintmaster and Dashmaster charms, The Knight can focus primarily on agility and evading attacks, strategically striking at bosses only when it is truly safe. This arrangement allows for smarter decision-making overall, as the Grimmchild passively deals damage in the intervals between attacks.

Exploration lies at the heart of every Metroidvania game, and Hollow Knight embraces it wholeheartedly. However, this immersive journey is not without its challenges, as the Knight encounters hordes of relentless bugs and other formidable creatures eager to end their quest. Nevertheless, with dedication and perseverance, players can push through these obstacles. Ultimately, the only factor determining the duration of their progress is their own swiftness.

As mentioned multiple times in this list, Dashmaster and Sprintmaster are exceptional for effortlessly navigating the extensive map in search of hidden secrets. While Sprintmaster may not appear as powerful as Dashmaster, the slight increase in movement speed is a valuable passive effect that keeps the Knight on the move. It's important to note that Dashmaster also allows players to dash downward, an additional effect that can lead to accidental deaths if forgotten. However, equipping Dashmaster, Sprintmaster, and Gathering Swarm sets players up for attempting speed runs. Moreover, since Silksong seems to be a long way off, there is ample time to achieve a Personal Best time as low as possible.

1 Shape Of Unn, Spore Shroom, & Defender's Crest: The AoE Nightmare

This particular combination may not be suitable for all players due to its specificity, but it offers an immensely enjoyable experience. To begin with, the Shape of Unn Charm, known as the Slugboy Charm, allows the Knight to transform into a nimble Slug capable of moving horizontally while charging Soul. Complementing this, the next component of the combo is the Spore Shroom Charm, which grants the Knight the ability to inflict damage in a limited area-of-effect while focusing Soul (although the damage inflicted is minimal). Lastly, the Defender's Crest, another Charm in this combo, releases clouds of damaging area-of-effect attacks and harmonizes exceptionally well with the Spore Shroom.

When both of these Charms are equipped simultaneously, the visual appearance of Spore Shroom's clouds changes, resulting in increased damage and longer duration. Hollow Knight can be played on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.