Hollow Knight Charms: A Comprehensive Guide to Every Charm and Their Synergies

Introduction

Charms are, without a doubt, the beating heart of Hollow Knight’s remarkably intricate build diversity. They’re the tiny artifacts that, when equipped, grant The Knight a plethora of abilities, shifting the gameplay experience from challenging platforming and intense combat to a deeply customizable adventure. Hollow Knight allows players to fine-tune their style and overcome the game’s most formidable obstacles through these potent enhancements.

Throughout Hallownest, The Knight will discover, purchase, and receive charms as rewards for tackling challenging feats. Each charm offers a unique effect, ranging from simple defensive boosts to game-changing offensive abilities, utility improvements, and even the summoning of allies. This wealth of options can seem overwhelming at first, but mastering the charm system is crucial to mastering Hollow Knight itself.

This guide serves as your comprehensive roadmap to every charm in the game. We will explore each charm’s individual effect, location, synergies, and weaknesses. We will also showcase effective charm builds that will help players to tackle different challenges in the game. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each charm will let players prepare for different areas or even boss fights. So, gear up, explore the possibilities, and get ready to dive deep into the world of Hollow Knight Charms.

Offensive Enhancements

These charms enhance The Knight’s ability to deal damage, empowering the silent protagonist with greater offensive capabilities.

Fury of the Fallen

Description: Greatly strengthens attacks when the bearer is close to death. Increases Nail damage by approximately 75% when at one mask of health.

Notches: Two

Location: Kingdom’s Edge (requires Mantis Claw and Monarch Wings).

Synergies: Works remarkably well with Quick Slash for rapid, high-damage attacks, but only when you can manage being at very low health.

Weaknesses: Extremely risky. One wrong move can lead to death. Requires exceptional skill and knowledge of enemy attack patterns.

Is It Worth It?: Highly situational. Powerful in the right hands but can be detrimental for players who struggle with avoiding damage.

Quick Slash

Description: Allows the bearer to slash much more rapidly with the nail.

Notches: Three

Location: Kingdom’s Edge (requires defeating the God Tamer in the Colosseum of Fools).

Synergies: Amplifies damage output with almost any Nail-based charm like Mark of Pride and Shaman Stone. Works extremely well with Strength to further increase each strike damage.

Weaknesses: Can consume soul more quickly if paired with Soul Catcher or Soul Eater and used ineffectively, leaving the player with no soul to cast spells.

Is It Worth It?: Absolutely! One of the best offensive charms in the game.

Shaman Stone

Description: Increases the power of spells.

Notches: Two

Location: Forgotten Crossroads (bought from Salubra).

Synergies: Greatly increases the damage and area of effect of spells like Vengeful Spirit/Shade Soul and Descending Dark. Works well with charms that provide additional soul, like Soul Catcher and Soul Eater.

Weaknesses: Doesn’t affect nail attacks, so players who focus more on nail combat may not find it as useful.

Is It Worth It?: A must-have for spell-focused builds.

Strength

Description: Increases damage dealt with the nail.

Notches: Three

Location: City of Tears (behind a breakable wall after defeating a mini-boss).

Synergies: Works incredibly well with Quick Slash to increase the effectiveness of a barrage of attacks. Combines with Mark of Pride to allow the Knight to strike earlier.

Weaknesses: Costs three notches, which can limit the use of other powerful charms.

Is It Worth It?: A top-tier charm for nail masters.

Defensive Options

These charms improve The Knight’s resilience, offering enhanced protection and improved survivability.

Baldur Shell

Description: While focusing Soul to heal, creates a sturdy shell that protects from a single hit.

Notches: Two

Location: Howling Cliffs (near Nailmaster Mato).

Synergies: Can be paired with Quick Focus for faster healing, enabling more opportunities to utilize the shell.

Weaknesses: The shield only blocks one hit, leaving The Knight vulnerable after that.

Is It Worth It?: Useful in early game, less useful in later stages when facing faster attacks.

Stalwart Shell

Description: Makes it easier to avoid damage after being hit.

Notches: Two

Location: Dirtmouth (bought from Sly after obtaining the Shopkeeper’s Key).

Synergies: Provides a longer period of invincibility, which allows the player to reposition after being hit.

Weaknesses: Does not prevent damage, only mitigates it.

Is It Worth It?: Great for players who have trouble with positioning during boss fights.

Thorns of Agony

Description: When damaged, retaliates with a burst of thorns.

Notches: One

Location: Forgotten Crossroads (near False Knight).

Synergies: Can deal minor damage to enemies that are close, works in tandem with defensive and health regeneration.

Weaknesses: Offers no inherent damage reduction, making it less effective than other defensive charms.

Is It Worth It?: Niche charm, not as great as others for survivability.

Soul and Healing

These charms influence soul acquisition and healing speed.

Deep Focus

Description: Makes focusing take longer, but doubles the amount of health restored.

Notches: Four

Location: Deepnest (requires Crystal Heart).

Synergies: Provides a cost-effective way to heal in safe situations.

Weaknesses: Takes four notches and longer to heal, making it less viable during intense combat.

Is It Worth It?: High notch cost makes it a situational charm for drawn out boss fights that provide safe openings.

Quick Focus

Description: Increases the speed of focusing soul to heal.

Notches: Three

Location: Forgotten Crossroads (bought from Salubra).

Synergies: Allows you to heal quicker. Can be paired with charms that protect you when healing, like Baldur Shell.

Weaknesses: Consumes notches and does not provide any extra health.

Is It Worth It?: Makes healing in combat significantly easier.

Soul Catcher

Description: Gain more soul when striking enemies with the nail.

Notches: Two

Location: Forgotten Crossroads (bought from Sly).

Synergies: Boosts the soul acquired to replenish spells and keep the Knight alive.

Weaknesses: Limited to nail combat.

Is It Worth It?: It is a great pickup for offensive builds.

Soul Eater

Description: Gain even more soul when striking enemies with the nail, but takes up additional notches.

Notches: Four

Location: Resting Grounds (accessed via Seer after collecting 700 Essence).

Synergies: A staple for Soul and Spell focused builds, synergizes with the Shaman Stone.

Weaknesses: Four notches makes it a costly commitment.

Is It Worth It?: A powerful charm but requires dedicated builds.

Movement and Utility

These charms improve The Knight’s maneuverability and provide useful passive abilities.

Dashmaster

Description: Allows dashing more often as well as dashing downwards.

Notches: Two

Location: Forgotten Crossroads (beneath the arena of the False Knight).

Synergies: Great mobility and works wonders for movement.

Weaknesses: Dashing sometimes has a cooldown when overused.

Is It Worth It?: Overall a solid pickup for traversing difficult areas.

Longnail

Description: Increases the range of the nail.

Notches: Two

Location: Forgotten Crossroads (bought from Sly).

Synergies: Can be combined with Strength to maximize nail damage.

Weaknesses: Increases the range of the nail, does not affect any other aspect of combat.

Is It Worth It?: Can be useful, but Mark of Pride is often better.

Mark of Pride

Description: Greatly increases the range of the nail.

Notches: Three

Location: Queen’s Gardens (obtained by defeating the Mantis Lords).

Synergies: Improves the range of nail strikes.

Weaknesses: Does not provide increased damage.

Is It Worth It?: An excellent addition for many different builds.

Sharp Shadow

Description: When Shadow Dashing, The Knight’s shade deals damage to enemies.

Notches: Two

Location: Deepnest (obtained by defeating the Shadow Lurker).

Synergies: Greatly adds to offense while dashing.

Weaknesses: Does not increase movement.

Is It Worth It?: Another situational charm, depends on fighting style.

Minion Enhancements

These charms call upon companions to assist The Knight in battle.

Glowing Womb

Description: Gives birth to hatchlings that consume The Knight’s Soul.

Notches: Two

Location: Forgotten Crossroads (near the Gruz Mother).

Synergies: Generates hatchlings to fight.

Weaknesses: Consumes a large amount of Soul.

Is It Worth It?: A cool charm, but rarely effective compared to other damage options.

Special Charms

These charms are unique and provide distinctive effects.

Grimmchild

Description: Summons a Grimmchild to The Knight’s side. The Grimmchild attacks foes with fireballs.

Notches: Two

Location: Obtained by starting the Grimm Troupe questline.

Synergies: Offers a minor amount of DPS to The Knight.

Weaknesses: Does not do a substantial amount of damage.

Is It Worth It?: Required for progression in the Grimm Troupe questline.

Charm Builds and Synergies

Crafting effective charm builds is the key to conquering Hollow Knight’s toughest challenges. Mixing and matching charms to create powerful synergies can drastically change the difficulty of encounters. Here are a few example builds to get you started:

Spell Weaver Build

This build focuses on maximizing spell damage and soul generation for powerful spellcasting. Combine Shaman Stone, Soul Eater, Spell Twister, and Soul Catcher. With this combination, you’ll gain significant advantage in boss fights and will be able to dish out tons of damage.

Nail Master Build

This build focuses on maximizing nail damage and speed for constant offensive pressure. Combine Strength, Quick Slash, Mark of Pride, and Longnail. This deadly combination allows the player to strike foes from a distance while using quick attacks.

Survivor Build

This build is designed for survivability, allowing you to withstand heavy damage and heal quickly. Combine Quick Focus, Shape of Unn, Stalwart Shell, and Baldur Shell. This combination allows the user to quickly recover after being struck.

Experimentation is key. Do not be afraid to explore different charm combinations to find what works best for your individual playstyle. The beauty of the Hollow Knight charm system is its flexibility and the sheer number of possibilities it offers.

Tips and Tricks for Charm Usage

Managing your notches is crucial. Prioritize the charms that best suit your current situation. Sometimes, removing a single charm to accommodate a specific need can be more effective than trying to cram everything in. The freedom to swap charms at benches is also an important aspect of gameplay. Tailor your charm setup to each boss fight and area you explore. Adjusting to the encounter’s style can dramatically increase your success.

Be mindful of the enemies you are facing. Different enemies have different vulnerabilities. Using certain charms during an encounter can dramatically increase your chances of success. Always be mindful of your surroundings. Lastly, overcharming is another element of the game that is often overlooked. When overcharmed, the Knight takes double damage but has more charm slots available. Use this to your advantage, but do so carefully.

Conclusion

Charms are the driving force behind Hollow Knight’s incredible depth and replayability. From boosting offensive capabilities to bolstering defensive strategies, charms provide countless ways to tailor your experience and overcome obstacles. The system is an integral aspect of the game and should not be ignored.

So, dive in, experiment with different combinations, and discover your favorite Hollow Knight charm builds. Don’t hesitate to share your discoveries and insights in the comments below. What are your preferred charm combinations? What are your favorite builds?

Ultimately, Hollow Knight’s charm system is a testament to the game’s brilliance and its commitment to providing players with a truly unique and personalized adventure. The amount of versatility ensures that you are always prepared for whatever challenge lies ahead. So, go out there and start experimenting with all the charm combinations this game has to offer!