Bosses | Hollow Knight Wiki

Hollow Knight Boss Fights Beginner's Guide

Hollow Knight can be a tough game, especially when you're just starting out. The sheer number of Bosses, combined with their difficulty and unique attack patterns, can be overwhelming. But don't worry! With the right approach, even the toughest battles will become manageable. Here you will learn some of the best general tips and strategies that will help you improve your performance in boss fights, whether you're facing early-game or late-game challenges.

Dodging and Positioning

One of the most important skills to develop in Hollow Knight is dodging. Many bosses in the game have multiple attacks that require precise movement and positioning. 

• Keep moving: Constant movement is key. Standing still for too long leaves you vulnerable. Always keep your momentum going, and when in doubt, jump or dash to avoid attacks.
• Look for safe zones: Bosses often have patterns, and if you’re observant, you’ll notice areas where they don’t reach or attack you. Use these safe zones to rest and heal if you need to.
• Don’t get greedy: While attacking bosses is indispensable, sometimes it’s best to wait for the right moment. Trying to hit too much, can leave you exposed to counterattacks.

Be Smart about Healing

Healing is a crucial part of surviving boss fights, and knowing when to heal can make or break a fight. Here’s how to heal effectively:

• Find the right moment: Healing takes time, so you need to find safe moments during the fight when you’re not under pressure from the boss. Look for phases where the boss is either far away or recovering from an attack, then take the chance to heal.
• Use the environment: Some boss arenas have platforms or corners that can give you some space to heal. Learn where you can hide or position yourself during an attack cycle.
• Be patient: If you’re going for a healing attempt, don’t rush it. Don’t immediately go back in for an attack after healing. Take a step back, reassess, and wait for your next opening.

Charm Suggestions for Beginners

Charms are one of Hollow Knight's most exciting features, allowing you to customize your playstyle and make boss fights easier. As a beginner, choosing the right charms can make a huge difference in your survivability and effectiveness in combat.

Some good Combinations for Beginners:

• Quick Focus + Shape of Unn: Healing is one of the most important aspects of boss fights, and this combination is a great way to ensure you can heal quickly and safely. Quick Focus speeds up your healing time, while Shape of Unn increases your mobility while healing, making you harder to hit.
• Grubsong + Fragile Heart: Grubsong gives you extra Soul every time you take damage, allowing you to heal more frequently. Pair it with Fragile Heart for increased health, helping you survive longer fights. Just make sure to play cautiously with Fragile Heart, as it breaks when you die!
• Dashmaster + Sprintmaster: These two charms improve your movement speed and dash capabilities. If you’re having trouble with dodging fast-moving enemies or tight arenas, this combo can make a huge difference by allowing you to react quicker and maneuver more efficiently.
• Shaman Stone + Vengeful Spirit: Spells are powerful tools that can be used to deal significant damage while staying out of the boss’s range. With Shaman Stone, your Vengeful Spirit (and other spells) get an added damage boost, making them much more effective in chip damage and larger bosses.

Charm Suggestions for Late Game

Good combinations for tackling endgame content such as The Pantheon:

• Unbreakable Strength + Quick Slash + Mark of Pride + Longnail: This charm combo focuses completely on the strength of your primary attacks with the Nail. Unbreakable Strength will boost your nail damage, Quick Slash will make its attack speed very fast, and Mark of Pride + Longnail both extend the reach of the nail to give you a huge range. 
• Sharp Shadow + Sprintmaster + Dashmaster: These charms will focus on empowering your dash similar to the beginner charm combo, except now with Sharp Shadow which introduces damage capability. You can also slot in Unbreakable Strength to boost the damage of Sharp Shadow 

Broken Vessel

"..."

Brooding Mawlek

"...Alone...Alone..."

The Collector

"A safe space, for you! And you! And you!"

Crystal Guardian

"...Die...Leave...Die..."

Dung Defender (Boss)

"...For the honour of Hallownest!"

False Knight

"This great shell...It belongs to me!"

Flukemarm

"...Breed..."

God Tamer

"I'll kill you!"

Gruz Mother

"...Danger...Tired...Kill..."

Hollow Knight

"...No mind, the usurper...Only strength..."

Hornet (Boss)

"Come no closer, ghost."

Mantis Lords

"...At last a true challenger..."

Massive Moss Charger

"...Hungry...Hungry..eat..knight"

Nosk

"..."

Oblobble

"...Hurt...Kill...Hurt...Kill..."

The Radiance

"...I DO NOT FEAR YOU..."

Soul Master

"Long live the king"

Soul Tyrant

"Did their souls bring me closer to the light?"

Soul Warrior

"...This power...What did it cost?"

Traitor Lord

"...Intruder...Destroy..."

Uumuu

"...DO NOT DESPAIR..."

Vengefly King

"...Defend...Kill..."

Watcher Knight

"Defend...Seal..."

Zote the Mighty (Boss)

“Begone! Lest I draw my nail…”

Grey Prince Zote

“My Queen… I do it all for you!’

Failed Champion

“I’m braver than all of you!”

White Defender

"Your Majesty... Have faith in me!"

Lost Kin

 Brothers Oro and Mato

"Brothers always fight together!"

 Great Nailsage Sly

"Point your nail at the thing you seek!"

 Paintmaster Sheo

"What is a god, if not an artist?"

 Troupe Master Grimm (Boss)

"Well met, my friend. Well met. I am Grimm, master of this troupe."

 Hive Knight

"When you wake... the Hive..."

Nightmare King Grimm 

Winged Nosk

Elder Hu

"Beware dreams of glory, child. Turn back, and do not return."

Galien

"So then... shall we do battle? Let us test our strength in joyful combat!"

Gorb

"Bow! Bow bow bow bow to Gorb!"

Markoth

"You have come a long way, just to die here at the edge of the world."

Marmu

"Shall we wait together, stranger? Shall we play together?"

No Eyes

"My child... can you still see? Please, don't hurt me!"

Xero

"Cursed are those who turn against the King."