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Unlocking Power: A Comprehensive Guide to Hollow Knight Charms

Hollow Knight, the critically acclaimed Metroidvania from Team Cherry, is renowned for its challenging gameplay, intricate world design, and deep lore. Central to the gameplay experience are the Hollow Knight charms, collectible items that bestow a variety of passive abilities and augment the Knight’s combat prowess. Understanding and strategically equipping these Hollow Knight charms is crucial for navigating the treacherous paths of Hallownest and overcoming its formidable bosses. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of all Hollow Knight charms, their effects, and how to acquire them, enabling players to optimize their builds and conquer the game.

What are Hollow Knight Charms?

Hollow Knight charms are equippable items that grant the Knight special abilities. These abilities range from increasing attack power and defense to providing utility benefits such as improved healing or movement. The Knight can equip a limited number of Hollow Knight charms at any given time, determined by their Charm Notches. Each Hollow Knight charm requires a specific number of notches to equip, forcing players to make strategic choices about which Hollow Knight charms best suit their playstyle and the challenges they face.

Acquiring Hollow Knight Charms

Hollow Knight charms are scattered throughout Hallownest, hidden in secret areas, sold by merchants, or rewarded for completing quests. Discovering and collecting all Hollow Knight charms is a significant undertaking, encouraging exploration and rewarding players for their curiosity. Some Hollow Knight charms are relatively easy to find, while others require solving intricate puzzles or defeating challenging enemies.

Charm Locations and Acquisition Methods

Wayward Compass: Sold by Iselda in Dirtmouth. A must-have for new players, revealing the Knight’s location on the map.
Gathering Swarm: Found in Dirtmouth, inside the house. Automatically collects Geo dropped by enemies.
Stalwart Shell: Sold by Sly in Dirtmouth. Grants invincibility frames and increases knockback resistance while focusing.
Soul Catcher: Found in Forgotten Crossroads. Increases the amount of SOUL gained from hitting enemies.
Shaman Stone: Sold by Salubra in Forgotten Crossroads. Increases the damage and size of spells.
Soul Eater: Found in Resting Grounds. Greatly increases the amount of SOUL gained from hitting enemies.
Spell Twister: Found in City of Tears. Reduces the SOUL cost of spells.
Steady Body: Found in Forgotten Crossroads. Prevents knockback when hitting enemies with the nail.
Heavy Blow: Found in Forgotten Crossroads. Increases the knockback inflicted on enemies.
Quick Focus: Sold by Salubra in Forgotten Crossroads. Decreases the time it takes to focus SOUL for healing or spells.
Deep Focus: Found in Crystal Peak. Doubles the amount of SOUL used when focusing but heals two health masks.
Lifeblood Heart: Found in Abyss. Increases the number of Lifeblood masks at the start of the game.
Lifeblood Core: Found in Abyss. Further increases the number of Lifeblood masks at the start of the game.
Jonis Blessing: Found in Ancient Basin. Converts all health masks into Lifeblood masks.
Spore Shroom: Found in Fungal Wastes. Releases a cloud of poisonous spores when focusing SOUL.
Sharp Shadow: Found in Deepnest. Deals damage to enemies when dashing through them.
Shape of Unn: Found in Greenpath. Allows the Knight to move while focusing SOUL.
Fury of the Fallen: Found in Abyss. Greatly increases nail damage when the Knight is at one health mask.
Quick Slash: Found in Kingdom’s Edge. Increases the attack speed of the nail.
Longnail: Sold by Sly in Dirtmouth. Increases the range of the nail.
Mark of Pride: Found in Mantis Village. Further increases the range of the nail.
Baldur Shell: Found in Howling Cliffs. Provides a protective shell while focusing SOUL.
Thorns of Agony: Found in Greenpath. Deals damage to enemies when the Knight takes damage.
Glowing Womb: Sold by Confessor Jiji in Dirtmouth. Summons hatchlings that attack enemies, consuming SOUL.
Defender’s Crest: Rewarded by the Dung Defender in Royal Waterways. Emits a foul odour that damages enemies.
Flukenest: Found in Royal Waterways. Modifies the Vengeful Spirit/Shade Soul spell to fire a swarm of flukes.
Wielder of Flame: Found in Forgotten Crossroads. Adds fire damage to the nail.
Dream Wielder: Sold by Eternal Emilitia in Resting Grounds. Increases the amount of SOUL gained from hitting enemies with the Dream Nail and decreases the charge time.
Sprintmaster: Found in Forgotten Crossroads. Increases the Knight’s movement speed.
Dreamshield: Found in Resting Grounds. Summons a shield that orbits the Knight, blocking projectiles.
Grubsong: Rewarded by the Grubfather in Forgotten Crossroads. Grants SOUL when the Knight takes damage.
Grubberfly’s Elegy: Rewarded by the Grubfather in Forgotten Crossroads after rescuing all grubs. Fires a projectile when the Knight is at full health.
Kingsoul: Obtained by acquiring both halves of the White Fragment. Slowly generates SOUL and is required to access the true ending.
Void Heart: Transforms the Kingsoul charm after completing a specific sequence of events in the Abyss. Required to access the true ending.

Strategic Charm Combinations

The effectiveness of Hollow Knight charms is greatly enhanced by combining them synergistically. Experimenting with different combinations is key to finding builds that suit your playstyle and the challenges you face. Here are a few popular and effective charm combinations:

Nail Build

This build focuses on maximizing nail damage and attack speed. Key Hollow Knight charms include:

Quick Slash: Significantly increases nail attack speed.
Strength: Increases nail damage.
Longnail/Mark of Pride: Increases nail range.
Steady Body: Prevents knockback, allowing for continuous attacks.

Spell Build

This build focuses on utilizing spells for damage and utility. Essential Hollow Knight charms include:

Shaman Stone: Increases spell damage and size.
Spell Twister: Reduces the SOUL cost of spells.
Soul Catcher/Soul Eater: Increases SOUL gain.
Quick Focus: Allows for faster healing and spellcasting.

Survival Build

This build prioritizes survivability and healing. Important Hollow Knight charms include:

Quick Focus: Allows for faster healing.
Deep Focus: Heals two health masks but consumes more SOUL.
Shape of Unn: Allows movement while focusing.
Stalwart Shell: Grants invincibility frames while focusing.

Charm Notches: Expanding Your Options

As mentioned, the number of Hollow Knight charms you can equip is limited by your Charm Notches. You start with a few notches, but more can be found throughout Hallownest. Finding these additional notches is crucial for maximizing your build potential and experimenting with different charm combinations. Look for them hidden in various locations or purchase them from specific vendors. Consider checking a detailed guide on Charm Notch locations to ensure you don’t miss any.

Conclusion: Mastering the Art of Charm Selection

The Hollow Knight charms system is a deep and rewarding aspect of the game, allowing players to customize their builds and adapt to different challenges. By understanding the effects of each charm, experimenting with different combinations, and strategically managing your Charm Notches, you can unlock the Knight’s full potential and conquer the depths of Hallownest. Whether you prefer a nail-focused build, a spell-slinging approach, or a survival-oriented strategy, the right Hollow Knight charms can make all the difference. Happy hunting!

[See also: Hollow Knight Boss Guide]

[See also: Hollow Knight Exploration Tips]