Hollow Knight

112% Completion Route

By: wataniyob, Mister UPS Man, and Wanderer042

Overview:
The following sections detail a route through the game which gets you all of the things that count
towards 112% completion. Note that since this game is a metroidvania, there are plenty of route
variations that one can take. This particular route tries to take a balance between getting upgrades
(to ease boss battles/difficult platforming) and reducing backtracking.

Google Doc Version Link:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vPzmQkr2GvNJoEBt_PoHeY_IErCzPK83h_hP69a6opc/edit?
usp=sharing

Notes:
● It is generally a good idea to rest at benches you pass near to if the detour is not
significant, even if the route doesn't tell you to explicitly sit at them. The only exceptions
are when you want to take advantage of reloading your save to strategically skip some
backtracking.
● Underlined items within each step are required pickups/actions for completion percentage
(either directly or indirectly) or route progression.
● Be sure to read through each step completely. Just because a step starts with an optional
encounter doesn't mean the entire step is optional; in fact, in several cases optional
encounters are listed in the same step as required pickups.
● This route does not cover geo cache pickups due to the fact that it would add many more
steps to the guide and they aren't strictly necessary for 112%. This means you may find
yourself short on geo for some of the purchases along the route if you don't manage to
find the geo caches hidden along the route, but you shouldn't need to farm if you're
thorough in your exploration and you kill a decent fraction of the enemies along the route
(as long as you don't lose your geo by dying a second time before retrieving your shade).
Furthermore, the route now explicitly includes relics which will give large amounts of geo
when you sell them to Relic Seeker Lemm. If you're really strapped for geo, check out the
Hollow Knight Interactive Map for locations of geo caches for some quick geo.
● This route was planned out without any usage of dream gates prior to the Grimm Troupe
Ritual, however several legs of the route can be shortened if you make use of that ability.
The essence from fixed sources along the route give you an excess of 2 essence to use
on 2 dream gates once you've acquired the ability (i.e. you will have a guaranteed total of
 1802 essence when you go to collect the Awoken Dream Nail), but additional essence for
more dream gates can be acquired via random enemy drops or getting the Whispering
Roots/dream bosses that are listed as optional in the route.
● The collection of all the Grimm Troupe quest flames is put near the end of the 112% route .
While this definitely is inefficient time-wise because many of these flames could be
collected earlier during your exploration, we chose not to incorporate flame-collection
earlier because it requires equipping the Grimmchild charm. We feel that losing 2 notches
for a significant portion of the game is a worse option than waiting until end-game and
doing all the flame-collection at that point.
● With the addition of the Grimm Troupe, Lifeblood, and Godmaster content, there is now a
maximum completion percentage of 112%. Most completion achievements only require
100%, so getting everything that contributes to completion percentage is only required to
get the "Pure Completion" achievement. If you only care about getting 100%, then the
recommended items to skip which contribute completion percentage are:
○ 4 Mask Shards [1%] (includes Delicate Flower mask shard, 1500 Essence mask
shard from Seer, and Crystal Guardian v2 boss fight)
○ 3 Vessel Fragments [1%] (includes Deepnest Garpede challenge and Ancient
Basin 3000 Geo Fountain)
○ Traitor Lord [1%] (half of Kingsoul charm [0.5%])
○ Trial of the Fool [1%]
○ White Palace (half of Kingsoul charm [0.5%], 1800 Essence requirement for
Awoken Dream Nail [1%]) - Note: Not obtaining the Kingsoul charm prevents
you from getting the alternate endings
○ Ascension [1%] (2400 Essence)
○ Nightmare King boss [1%] (Grimm Troupe Ritual with 9 flames collected)
○ 4 Godhome Pantheons [4%]
● If you skip the items above the only Essence requirement is 700 Essence to collect a Soul
Vessel Fragment from the Seer, which means you do not have to fight any dream versions
of bosses or complete any Whispering Roots since Warrior's Graves alone give you 1100
Essence.

Key to Drawn Routes:

● Each individual map will cover approximately 5 steps of each area.
● The color order of the steps is red (#1) -> yellow (#2) -> green (#3) -> purple (#4) -> blue
(#5), with the cycle repeating as necessary (i.e. red = #6, yellow = #7, and so on).
● Diamonds indicate points of interest along each step and are numbered according to their
step.
● Dotted lines indicate paths to optional things listed in the route
Leg 01 - King's Pass:
1. Spike pogo for Fury of the Fallen charm [1/40]
2. Fall into Dirtmouth (Optional: talk to Elderbug) -> enter the Crossroads via the well

Leg 02 - Forgotten Crossroads:

1. (Optional: Quirrel encounter in Black Egg Temple)
2. Buy map from Cornifer [30 Geo]
3. Grub [1/46] in acid room
4. Aspid Hunter enemy gauntlet
5. Open Forgotten Crossroads stag station [50 Geo]
6. Collect Grub [2/46] behind breakable wall -> (Optional: Myla encounter in mines section) ->
collect 2 Grubs [4/46] (behind Husk Guard, spike pogo)
7. Gruz Mother boss [1/17] -> talk to Sly in hut
8. False Knight boss [2/17], collect City Crest and Geo chest -> Ancestral Mound -> Vengeful
Spirit spell [1/6] & Soul Catcher charm [2/40] after Elder Baldur mini-boss
9. Grubfather visit for Geo
10. Return to Dirtmouth and buy Wayward Compass charm [3/40], Quill, and Bench Pin [440
Geo] from Iselda's shop
11. Beat Elder Baldur mini-boss for Greenpath entrance
Leg 03 - Greenpath:
1. Buy map from Cornifer [60 Geo]; get Grub [5/46] by cutting down hidden platform
2. (Optional: Hunter's Journal); Grub [6/46] in room next to Hunter
3. Bench [50 Geo]
4. Moss Knight mini-boss
5. Save Zote from Vengefly King

(Alternate path: Don't save Zote and get the "Neglect" achievement by coming back at any
point after getting Mantis Claw and hitting Zote's skull. Note that not saving Zote locks you
out of optional Grey Prince Zote boss)

6. Grub [7/46] guarded by Moss Knight

7. Open Greenpath stag station [140 Geo], sit at bench -> collect Wanderer’s Journal relic
behind breakable wall from flower trap -> Hornet boss [3/17] -> Mothwing Cloak ability [1/9]
8. (Optional: Head left to Lake of Unn for Quirrel encounter in building)
9. Backtrack for Thorns of Agony charm [4/40]
Leg 04 - Fog Canyon:
1. Drop straight through two rooms without exploring side passages.
Leg 05 - Fungal Wastes:
1. Queen's Station (Quirrel encounter) -> open Queen’s Station stag station [120 Geo]
2. (Optional: Take stag to Dirtmouth for Zote encounter if Zote saved in Greenpath)
3. Buy map from Cornifer [75 Geo]
4. Hallownest Seal relic -> Two Shrumal Ogre mini-boss for charm notch [1/8]
5. Cloth encounter -> Grub [8/46] in bouncy mushroom room -> open shortcut

6. Bench in lower right -> Mantis Village -> Mantis Claw ability [2/9]
7. Pick up Wanderer’s Journal relic in room above Mantis Village after climbing a vertical shaft
with wall jump -> take right path and use City Crest on statue
Leg 06 - City of Tears:
1. Bench (Quirrel encounter)
2. Nailsmith for Sharpened Nail upgrade [250 geo, 1/4]
3. Collect Hallownest Seal relic on scaffolding -> Relic Seeker Lemm visit for Geo
4. Grub [9/46] guarded by Winged Sentry -> Bench [150 Geo] & buy map from Cornifer [90
Geo]
5. Head left into City Storerooms (If Zote saved in Greenpath: Zote encounter) -> open shortcut
-> pick up Wanderer’s Journal relic -> open City Storerooms stag station [200 Geo] -> take
stag to Dirtmouth

Leg 07 - Forgotten Crossroads:

1. Buy Mask Shard [150 Geo, 1/16], Gathering Swarm charm [300 Geo, 5/40] from Sly;
(Optional: Tiso encounter next to well)
2. After dropping down into the well, pick up the Hallownest Seal relic from wall jumping up the
well -> Grub [10/46] in middle passage using dash
3. Grubfather visit for Geo, Mask Shard [2/16], Grubsong charm [6/40]
 4. Use wall jump to get to Brooding Mawlek boss [4/17] -> rewards a Mask Shard [3/16]
5. Get Mask Shard [4/16, +1 HP] from Goam challenge under hot spring room
6. (Optional: New Myla dialogue) -> Take stag to City Storerooms (Tiso encounter if Tiso talked
to in Dirtmouth)

Leg 08 - City of Tears:

1. Enter Soul Sanctum after Soul Twister mini-boss
2. Open breakable wall shortcut back to bench -> Soul Warrior mini-boss at top of first room
3. Collect Spell Twister charm [7/40] from top of area -> Soul Master boss [5/17] for Desolate
Dive spell [2/6]
4. Collect Geo chest, Hallownest Seal relic, and the Grub [11/46] along the way out of Soul
Sanctum
5. Take stag to Dirtmouth
Leg 09 - Forgotten Crossroads:
1. Buy Lumafly Lantern [1800 Geo] from Sly
2. Take stag to Crossroads (Tiso encounter) -> Buy charm notch [120 Geo, 2/8] from Salubra
3. (Optional: New Myla dialogue) -> Use dive spell on crumbling floor
Leg 10 - Crystal Peak:
1. (Optional: enter dark room and pay gate fee [50 Geo] for exit back to Crossroads) -> Get
bench to bottom right
2. Climb up left vertical passage -> Grub [12/46] in conveyer challenge
3. Buy map from Cornifer [112 Geo]
4. Crystal Guardian boss, gives bench
5. Go back to previous room -> find Shopkeeper's Key

6. Climb up further (Quirrel encounter), go right, then drop down -> collect Wanderer’s Journal
relic -> Crystal Heart ability [3/9]
7. Collect 2 Grubs [14/46] (Crystal Heart room, central crusher room)
8. Deep Focus charm [8/40] after laser challenge room
9. Grub [15/46] in shortcut passage back to Dirtmouth (behind mimic and breakable wall) ->
unlock elevator back to Dirtmouth
10. Head back to bench (or reload save to skip some backtracking if you sat at the bench) and
go down past crusher room to get Grub [16/46]
11. Pass through dark room in bottom right of area and drop into big pit
Leg 11 - Resting Grounds:
1. Pick up Dream Nail ability [4/9]
2. Whispering Root for 20 Essence [20/2400]
3. Pick up Dreamshield charm [9/40] behind fake wall
4. Hit lever to unlock Resting Grounds stag station
5. Take stag to City Storerooms

Leg 12 - City of Tears:

1. Whispering Root for 28 Essence [48/2400]; get Simple Key
2. Relic Seeker Lemm visit for Geo
3. Drop to manhole -> use Simple Key
Leg 13 - Royal Waterways:
1. (Optional: Open breakable wall to find Tuk for Rancid Eggs)
2. Use dive spell on crumbling floor -> sit at bench
3. Head up and left -> buy map from Cornifer [75 Geo] after Hwurmp enemy gauntlet and open
Fungal Wastes shortcut
4. Short trip to Fungal Wastes for Dashmaster charm [10/40], rescue Bretta after wall jump
challenge behind fake wall
5. Drop into water and go all the way left -> Mask Shard [5/16]
 6. Collect Grub [17/46] in hidden alcove
7. Head right -> Dung Defender boss [6/17] drops Defender's Crest charm [11/40] -> hit pump
switch -> Use dive spell under pump switch for secret room with King’s Idol relic -> open
shortcut into broken elevator shaft
8. Head back and go down right -> super dash -> collect Isma's Tear ability [5/9] after Sentry
enemy gauntlet
9. Get Grub [18/46] behind Isma -> take shortcut past Eternal Emilitia

Leg 14 - City of Tears:

1. Open shortcut to left side of city; fountain cutscene, Hornet encounter
2. Head right -> Gorgeous Husk for 420 Geo in building with several husk enemies (behind
fake wall that’s slightly above ground on right) -> King's Station stag station [300 geo], sit at
bench
3. Collect Grub [19/46] guarded by Great Husk Sentry in building (quit and load after freeing the
Grub to avoid killing the Sentry)
4. Take stag to Queen’s Station
Leg 15 - Fungal Wastes:
1. Collect Mask Shard [6/16] after wall jump challenge
2. Collect Wanderer’s Journal relic -> head down left for Grub [20/46] and Spore Shroom charm
[12/40] after bouncy mushroom challenge
3. (Optional: Moss Prophet encounter)
4. Fall into Deepnest for brief visit, collect Grub [21/46] from mimic room behind breakable wall
(real one is 3rd from left)
5. Unlock rest of Mantis Village by hitting lever -> bench in bottom right of area
 6. Mantis Lords boss [7/17] -> Mark of Pride charm [13/40], Hallownest Seal relic, Geo chest,
and bench in unlocked room
7. Enter Deepnest past Mantis Lords

Leg 16 - Deepnest:
1. Buy map from Cornifer [38 Geo]
2. Collect Hallownest Seal relic -> Circle around and fall down to hot spring, bench
3. Super dash -> breakable wall for Grub [22/46] -> Nosk boss [8/17] -> collect Pale Ore [1/6]
4. Circle up/left -> collect Grub [23/46] using super dash -> Failed Tramway bench (Cloth
encounter)
5. Open shortcut back to first part of Deepnest; get Tram Pass from far left of Failed Tramway
 6. Corpse Creeper enemy gauntlet -> King’s Idol relic pickup (If Zote saved in Greenpath:
rescue Zote)
7. Go back down past hot spring (Quirrel encounter) -> Take tram to Ancient Basin

Leg 17 - Ancient Basin:

1. Left tramway room -> collect Grub [24/46] using dive spell
2. (Optional: rescue Cloth by killing all enemies in top left of room) -> collect Pale Ore [2/6] after
Lesser Mawlek enemy gauntlet
3. Go back to room with tram, fall down lit hole -> buy map from Cornifer [112 Geo]
4. Bench [150 Geo] -> super dash, collect Simple Key
5. Open shortcut, Broken Vessel boss [9/17] -> collect Monarch Wings ability [6/9]

6. Collect Grub [25/46] in passage leading to Broken Vessel requiring double jump
7. Double jump up to Palace Grounds, and open up Hidden Station stag station [300 Geo] ->
take stag to Dirtmouth
Leg 18 - Upgrades:
1. Buy Elegant Key [800 Geo] from Sly (automatically turn in Shopkeeper's Key) -> collect
Mask Shard [7/16] from Bretta's hut
2. Take stag to King’s Station; (Optional: collect Hallownest Seal relic using nail pogo on stag
station roof spikes) -> Relic Seeker Lemm visit for Geo -> buy Channeled Nail upgrade [800
Geo, 2/4]
3. Head back up to Soul Sanctum and use Elegant Key -> get Shade Soul spell upgrade [3/6]
after Soul Warrior mini-boss
4. Go to City Storerooms and take stag to Hidden Station -> take tram further right to
Kingdom's Edge
Leg 19 - Hive:
1. Open breakable wall for entrance to Hive -> get bench
2. Whispering Root for 20 Essence [68/2400]
3. Collect Grub [26/46] using super dash & double jump
4. Use Hive Guardian (big bouncing bee) to open wall to Mask Shard [8/16, +1 HP] -> open
shortcut
5. Hive Knight boss [10/17] (Optional: Hive Queen Vespa spirit) -> Hiveblood charm [14/40]
 6. Exit Hive and head up into passage back to Waterways, collect Grub [27/46] with double
jump -> (Optional: Open breakable shortcut back to Waterways at end of passage)
7. Use dive spell before breakable wall shortcut for Grub [28/46] in Hive sub-section

Leg 20 - Kingdom's Edge:

1. Open shortcut to rest of Kingdom's Edge -> after short climb buy map from Cornifer [112
Geo]
2. Head right until you reach Nailmaster Oro's hut for Dash Slash nail art [800 Geo, 1/3]
3. Dive spell to access bottom right room of area, Grub [29/46] after Great Hopper spike room
4. (Optional: Several dive spells to reach 420 Geo rock)
5. Head left and up to collect Quick Slash charm [15/40]
6. Use dive spell to collect Wanderer’s Journal relic -> collect Grub [30/46] on way to bench
behind breakable ceiling -> Wanderer’s Journal relic next to bench
7. (Optional: In center vertical passage, use double jump to reach Bardoon encounter)
8. Whispering Root for 51 Essence [119/2400]
9. Open shortcut back to City near Colosseum of Fools and grab Colosseum bench
10. King’s Idol relic behind breakable wall with Giant Hopper -> Enter Tower of Love and open
shortcut
11. Collect Grub [31/46] in watery passage, head left back to King's Station
12. Take stag to Greenpath
Leg 21 - Greenpath:
1. Hallownest Seal relic pickup -> Complete super dash/nail pogo challenge for Nailmaster
Sheo's hut -> Great Slash nail art [2/3]
2. Go past Hornet boss room for Lake of Unn, enter secret passage on left side for Shape of
Unn charm [16/40]
3. Head up past Vengefly King room (If you didn't save Zote in Greenpath, hit skull for
achievement) to right, hit open chest and jump into it for 2 Elder Baldurs mini-boss -> collect
Baldur Shell charm [17/40]
4. Wall jump up vertical passage, collect Grub [32/46] before entering Howling Cliffs

Leg 22 - Howling Cliffs:

1. Collect King’s Idol relic -> Whispering Root for 46 Essence [165/2400] -> collect Wanderer’s
Journal relic -> Dream Nail corpse -> activate the Nightmare Lantern
2. Buy map from Cornifer [75 Geo]
3. Continue past Cornifer into dark room for Joni's Blessing charm [18/40] (Joni spirit)
4. Find Nailmaster Mato's hut for Cyclone Slash nail art [3/3]
5. Super dash off cliff to return to Dirtmouth
Leg 23 - Dirtmouth:
1. Enter large tent and get Grimmchild charm [19/40] from Grimm
2. Get Nailmaster's Glory charm [20/40] from Sly in basement
3. (Optional: Gravedigger spirit right of well); Grubfather visit for Geo, Rancid Egg, Hallownest
Seal relic, Pale Ore [3/6]
4. Buy Resting Grounds map [75 Geo], Stagway & Vendor pins [200 Geo] from Iselda
5. Take stag to King's Station
Leg 24 - City of Tears:
1. (Optional: Use Simple Key to open Pleasure House; Wanderer’s Journal relic, Poggy
Thorax/Marissa spirits, open shortcut)
2. Relic Seeker Lemm visit for Geo
3. Upgrade nail to Coiled Nail [2000 Geo, 3/4]
4. Unlock elevator back to Crossroads [150 Geo] and take it up to Crossroads

Leg 25 - Infected Crossroads:

1. Collect Vessel Fragment [1/9]
2. Head to Salubra's Shop to buy the Lifeblood Heart, Longnail, Steady Body, Shaman Stone,
and Quick Focus charms [1690 Geo, 25/40]; buy 3 charm notches [2800 Geo, 5/8]
3. (Optional: Check up on Myla) -> go to Crossroads stag station and take stag back to
Dirtmouth and buy 3 Mask Shards [2800 Geo, 11/16], 2 Vessel Fragments [1450 Geo, 3/9,
+1 Soul Vessel], Stalwart Shell, Sprintmaster, and Heavy Blow charms [950 Geo, 28/40]
from Sly
4. Enter well -> breakable ceiling in platform room gives Whispering Root for 29 Essence
[194/2400]
5. Use double jump in Ancestral Mound near lifeblood cocoon to get Whispering Root for 42
Essence [236/2400]
6. (Optional: Use dive spell for Fossilized Goam for Hunter's Journal)
7. Visit Leg Eater in Fungal Wastes, pay 86 Geo to see his stuff, and buy the Fragile Heart,
Fragile Greed, and Fragile Strength charms [960 Geo, 31/40] with Defender's Crest
equipped for the Geo discount

(BUG: If you have Defender’s Crest equipped when you first talk to Leg Eater and you pay
the 86 Geo for him to sell you stuff, prices will be at original level even though he claims he’s
giving a discount. You must exit the room and re-enter to actually get the discount.)

8. Whispering Root in the connector leading to Fog Canyon gives 20 Essence [256/2400]
Leg 26 - Fog Canyon:
1. Collect Hallownest Seal relic -> charm notch [6/8] in exploding egg challenge room
2. Explore left passage under challenge room -> buy map from Cornifer [150 Geo]
3. Backtrack, drop to bottom and take last left passage -> super dash from elevated ledge on
right side of Teacher's Archive room for Grub [33/46]
4. Enter Teacher's Archive (Quirrel encounter outside Archive) and fight Uumuu boss [11/17] ->
(Optional: Charged Lumaflys entry for Hunter's Journal) -> put Monomon the Teacher
dreamer [1/3] to rest after Quirrel encounter
5. Open shortcut back to rest of Fog Canyon, take upper left passage -> Hallownest Seal relic
pickup -> complete Squit enemy gauntlet in Overgrown Mound for Howling Wraiths spell
[4/6]
6. Climb back up to Greenpath
Leg 27 - Greenpath:
1. Collect Wanderer’s Journal relic -> Head left; Massive Moss Charger mini-boss
2. Collect Geo chest, Grub [34/46], cut down platform, and collect Vessel Fragment [4/9]
3. Head right to Stone Sanctuary -> first collect Mask Shard in top right [12/16, +1 HP] ->
challenge No Eyes warrior's grave [1/7] for 200 Essence [456/2400]
4. Drop back down through Fog Canyon to Queen's Station; collect Hallownest Seal relic by
double-jumping next to Willoh -> Take stag to King's Station
Leg 28 - City of Tears:
1. Collect Wanderer’s Journal relic -> Collect Vessel Fragment [5/9] after Sentry enemy
gauntlet room above King's Station
2. Climb up elevator shaft to Colosseum
Leg 29 - Kingdom's Edge:
1. Complete Trial of the Warrior (If Zote saved in Greenpath & Deepnest: fight Zote as final
boss - "Rivalry" achievement) & Trial of the Conqueror [550 Geo, 2/3] for a charm notch [7/8]
and Pale Ore [4/6] respectively
2. Descend to bench in tent, head right for Hornet boss [12/17] -> collect King's Brand ability
[7/9]
3. Wanderer’s Journal relic above breakable planks -> Use King's Station shortcut to go back to
City and enter broken elevator shaft
Leg 30 - Royal Waterways:
1. Pass through Dung Defender's room (Dung Defender encounter) -> use dive spell in room
under bench to enter sub-area of Waterways -> beat Flukemarm boss for Flukenest charm
[32/40]
2. Return to broken elevator shaft to fall down into Ancient Basin; (Optional: Whispering Root
for 35 Essence) -> Collect Wanderer’s Journal relic
Leg 31 - Ancient Basin:
1. Bench and equip Fragile Heart & Joni's Blessing & Lifeblood Heart (1 Lifeblood mask safety
margin) -> head down and unlock the Abyss
2. Go past Lifeblood door (15 Lifeblood masks to open) to acquire Lifeblood Core charm
[33/40]

(Note: At fork, take left path for permanently missable Arcane Egg relic [not required for
completion]; door cannot be re-opened after charm pick-up)

3. At bottom of Abyss, head left until dead-end room -> use Howling Wraiths to receive Abyss
Shriek spell upgrade [5/6]
4. Head right and climb up to top of lighthouse to turn light on
5. Continue right and acquire Shade Cloak ability [8/9] -> Arcane Egg relic pickup using Shade
Cloak -> (Optional: Void Tendrils entry for Hunter's Journal behind fake ceiling and black
barrier)
6. Climb back up to top of Abyss (Hornet encounter), call tram (re-equip regular charm set) and
go to Deepnest

Leg 32 - Deepnest:
1. Head down to get Sharp Shadow charm [34/40] after shade dash i-frame challenge room;
(Optional: Garpede entry for Hunter's journal behind fake wall)
 2. Head up for garpede nail pogo challenge room to get a Vessel Fragment [6/9, +1 Soul
Vessel]
3. Take tram back to Ancient Basin -> take stag from Hidden Station to Dirtmouth -> use
elevator to get up to Crystal Peak

Leg 33 - Crystal Peak:

1. Collect King’s Idol relic -> Double jump up passage in upper room with bench for Crystal
Guardian boss round 2, collect Mask Shard [13/16] as reward
2. Head to upper right of area and follow ground level of room to Grub [35/46]
3. Return to previous room and hit Whispering Root for 21 Essence [477/2400]
4. Climb up to reach Hallownest's Crown and collect Pale Ore [5/6]
5. Drop all the way down to bottom right and super dash across to Crystallised Mound
6. Dive spell to enter mound, collect Grub [36/46] and Descending Dark spell upgrade [6/6]
7. Fall into Resting Grounds
Leg 34 - Resting Grounds:
1. Challenge Xero warrior's grave [2/7] and collect 100 Essence [577/2400]
2. Visit Seer to collect a Hallownest Seal relic, unlock the Glade of Hope, collect Pale Ore [6/6]
and collect the Dream Wielder charm [35/40]
3. Whispering Root in top right of Glade of Hope behind fake wall gives 34 Essence [611/2400];
King’s Idol relic in hidden room at top of waterfall; (Optional: 19 spirits in Glade of Hope
[Warning: Revek will attack you if you Dream Nail them])
4. Use dive spell to open up crypts from broken coffin -> collect Soul Eater charm [36/40],
Wanderer’s Journal relic, Grub [37/46], and Hallownest Seal relic
5. Take elevator down to City
Leg 35 - City of Tears:
1. Relic Seeker Lemm encounter next to fountain -> Relic Seeker Lemm visit for Geo
2. Nailsmith for final nail upgrade to Pure Nail [4000 Geo, 4/4]
3. Kill the Nailsmith ("Purity" achievement)

(Alternate path: Spare the Nailsmith -> visit Nailmaster Sheo's hut in Greenpath, see Leg 21
step #1 to get "Happy Couple" achievement)

4. Head up middle building under Dreamer using double jump, grab bench,
5. Complete Lance Sentry/Great Husk sentry room to unlock doors; head up and open shortcut
in left passageway to Soul Sanctum building
6. Continue up and grab the Grub [38/46] guarded by the Great Husk Sentry and Lance Sentry
7. Fight the Watcher Knight boss [13/17]
8. Collect Hallownest Seal relic & Geo chest -> put Lurien the Watcher dreamer [2/3] to rest
9. Take stag from King's Station to Queen's Station
Leg 36 - Queen's Gardens:
1. (Optional: If you have more than 3400 Geo and you used a Simple Key to open the Pleasure
House in the City of Tears, use 100 Geo to open account with Millebelle & put in at least
2550 Geo -> sit at Queen’s Station bench -> return and knock down cardboard bank) ->
enter Queen's Gardens; (If Cloth saved in Ancient Basin: Cloth encounter) -> buy map from
Cornifer [150 Geo] and take bench after Mantis Petra enemy gauntlet (Optional: Caelif &
Fera Orthop spirit)
2. Collect Love Key and open shortcut back to Fungal Wastes; (Optional: Inspect Moss
Prophet)
3. Backtrack and get Whispering Root for 29 Essence [640/2400]
4. Get bench [150 Geo] -> (Optional: side-trip to Deepnest for Mask Maker encounter, dive
spell on Mask Maker for extra dialogue) -> Mantis Traitor/Mantis Petra/Spiny Husk enemy
gauntlet -> collect Grub [39/46] behind fake wall
5. After room with jumping bugs, head up through hidden passage with many booby-trap plants
for Grub [40/46]

6. Hallownest Seal relic pickup -> unlock Queen’s Gardens stag station [200 Geo], hit lever to
open shortcut, and use bench
7. Challenge Marmu warrior's grave [3/7] for 150 Essence [790/2400]
8. Continue up in area -> open shortcut -> get Grub [41/46] after super dash challenge room
9. Take a quick side-trip to collect the Whispering Root in Greenpath for 44 Essence [834/2400]
10. Backtrack and head left to fight Traitor Lord boss [14/17] (If Cloth saved in Ancient Basin:
Cloth joins fight) -> White Lady gives White Fragment [36.5/40]
11. Take stag from Queen's Garden to Queen's Station
Leg 37 - Fungal Wastes:
1. Challenge Elder Hu warrior's grave [4/7] on the right side of the area for 100 Essence
[934/2400]
2. Get the Whispering Root in the room above Mantis Village for 18 Essence [952/2400]
3. Use double jump to access Fungal Core, fall all the way down to collect the Mask Shard
[14/16] at the entrance to Deepnest
Leg 38 - Deepnest:
1. Walk to the Failed Tramway bench
2. Challenge Galien warrior's grave [5/7] for 200 Essence [1152/2400]
3. Head down left to enter big room on the left side of Deepnest -> (Optional: Whispering Root
for 45 Essence) -> get the Grub [42/46] -> pick up Weaversong charm [37.5/40] in Weaver's
Den (entrance is behind a breakable wall and Stalking Devout)
4. Continue left into Distant Village (Optional: side-trip for Mid-Wife encounter) -> complete the
Beast's Den for Grub [43/46] and to put Herrah the Beast dreamer [3/3] to rest (Hornet
encounter)

(Note: Must get trapped to access permanently missable Hallownest Seal relic [not required
for completion])
 5. Unlock the Distant Village stag station [250 Geo] and travel to the newly unlocked Stag Nest

Leg 39 - Howling Cliffs:

1. Collect the Vessel Fragment [7/9]; (Optional: inspect the broken egg shell in top left of Stag
Nest)
2. Fall down outside Stag Nest and challenge Gorb warrior's grave [6/7] for 100 Essence
[1252/2400]
3. Super dash to Dirtmouth and take stag to King's Station

Leg 40 - Kingdom's Edge:

1. (Optional: If Geo was given to Millebelle, climb up to the Pleasure House’s hot spring and
whack your nail on her to get what you deposited x 1.5 Geo back) -> enter the Tower of Love
using the Love Key and fight The Collector boss [15/17] for last 3 Grubs [46/46] and
Collector's Map (check overall map to see if there are any missing grubs)
 2. Head right into Kingdom's Edge -> go past a shadow barrier to challenge Markoth warrior's
grave [7/7] for 250 Essence [1502/2400]
3. Head left back to the City and take the King's Station stagway to Dirtmouth to collect King's
Idol relic and Grubberfly's Elegy charm [38.5/40] from the Grubfather
4. Take stag to Resting Grounds

Leg 41 - Resting Grounds & Delicate Flower Quest:

1. Visit to Seer gives you a Vessel Fragment [8/9], the Dream Gate ability, an Arcane Egg relic,
and a Mask Shard [15/16]
2. Open breakable ceiling above Geo chest -> Grey Mourner
3. Start Delicate Flower quest; 2 suggested routes mapped below - dotted path has fewer
environment hazards, but slightly longer (Optional: clear path of enemies without using
benches before starting quest to make journey safer) -> (Quirrel encounter at Blue Lake -
"Witness" achievement; Tiso encounter at Blue Lake if Tiso talked to at both previous
encounters; Optional: give flower to Elderbug, but must restart quest) -> place flower at
Traitor Lord's child's grave in Queen's Garden and take stag back to Grey Mourner (or reload
save if no benches were used during quest) for final Mask Shard [16/16, +1 HP] - "Solace"
achievement
4. Use stag to go to Crossroads
Leg 42 - Infected Crossroads:
1. In passage to False Knight boss room, use super dash in passage behind breakable wall
and beat Aspid Hunter/Aspid Mother enemy gauntlet for Glowing Womb charm [39.5/40]
2. Open breakable wall above False Knight boss room and fight Failed Champion dream boss
for 300 Essence [1802/2400]
3. Take stag to Resting Grounds and visit Seer to get Awoken Dream Nail ability [9/9] -> take
stag to King's Station
Leg 43 - Ancient Basin:
1. Go down broken elevator shaft to Dung Defender room -> fight White Defender dream boss
for 300 Essence [2102/2400] (Optional: Refight multiple times for extra dialogue)
2. Continue down broken elevator shaft -> (If Cloth not already saved, optional: Save Cloth in
left tramway room now -> ends up in Dirtmouth) -> pay 3000 Geo to Fountain for Vessel
Fragment [9/9, +1 Soul Vessel]
3. Ancient Basin bench -> Fight Lost Kin dream boss for 400 Essence [2502/2400]
4. Use Awoken Dream Nail to access White Palace from dead Kingsmould in Palace Grounds -
> complete White Palace for other White Fragment to complete Kingsoul charm [40/40]
5. (Optional: head into Abyss after equipping Kingsoul to unlock a hidden sub-area; Arcane
Egg relic in bottom left of sub-area; use Dream Nail on the cracked black egg at the end of
the sub-area to transform Kingsoul into Void Heart for alternate endings; Note: Locks you out
of the "normal" ending achievement [The Hollow Knight])
6. Go to Hidden Station and take stag to Resting Grounds -> talk to Seer for Ascension after
collecting 2400 Essence; (Optional: Super dash across Blue Lake to Salubra's shop for
Salubra's Blessing [800 Geo] and go to Crossroads stag station) -> take stag to Dirtmouth
Leg 44 - Grimm Troupe Ritual:
1. (Optional: Equip 3 Fragile charms and talk to Divine in smaller tent to convert them to
Unbreakable versions [12,000, 9,000, and 15,000 geo for Heart, Greed, and Strength
respectively]; sell extra relics at Relic Seeker Lemm for lots of quick Geo)
2. Equip Grimmchild charm and set Dream Gate next to bench
 3. Collect first set of 3 flames (using Dream Gate to get back to Dirtmouth after each one) and
talk to Grimm
4. Collect second set of 3 flames (using Dream Gate to get back to Dirtmouth after each one)
and fight Grimm boss [16/17] for charm notch [8/8]
5. Collect final set of 3 flames (using Dream Gate to get back to Dirtmouth after each one) and
fight Nightmare King boss [17/17] - "Ritual" achievement

(Alternate path: Visiting the flame (carried by Brumm) in Deepnest and then going to the
Nightmare Lantern in Howling Cliffs allows you to banish the Grimm Troupe [17/17] -> talk to
new bug in Dirtmouth (Nymm) who gives you Carefree Melody charm [40/40] to replace the
Grimmchild charm you lose by banishing the Troupe - "Banishment" achievement)

Note (Fragile charms): Divine disappears if you choose to banish the Grimm Troupe, but you
can pick up any Fragile charm she still had from the ground where her tent used to be.

6. If Zote saved in Greenpath/Deepnest and Zote fought in Colosseum: fight Grey Prince
Zote dream boss at least once in Bretta's hut's basement ["Dark Romance" achievement].

Leg 45 - End-Game:
1. Take stag to King's Station -> climb up elevator to reach Colosseum (Tiso encounter if Tiso
talked to at all 3 previous encounters), complete Trial of the Fool [800 Geo, 3/3]
2. (Optional: If you used a Simple Key to open the Pleasure House, collect King’s Idol relic ->
defeat Pale Lurker for Simple Key)
3. Go to King’s Station -> take stag to City Storerooms; Soul Tyrant dream boss in Soul
Sanctum
4. Drop down to Royal Waterways -> use Simple Key on coffin in Junk Pit, pick up Godtuner ->
Dream nail to enter Godhome and defeat Pantheon of the Master, Pantheon of the Artist,
Pantheon of the Sage, and Pantheon of the Knight; (Optional: if have Void Heart, complete
Pantheon of Hallownest for Embrace the Void ending)
5. Go to City Storerooms -> take stag to Dirtmouth; (Optional: Extra fights against Grey Prince
Zote dream boss; multiple fights gradually change Bretta's impression of Zote)
6. Enter Black Egg Temple (If have Void Heart: Hornet encounter) -> final boss(es)