Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about the map, charms, grubs, bosses, and gameplay mechanics of Hallownest.
Yes, HollowKnightMap.org provides a full interactive map of Hallownest with markers for all key locations including charms, grubs, bosses, and items across every region. The map allows you to filter by marker type and click on markers for detailed information.
This is an independent fan-made interactive map guide for Hollow Knight. It is not affiliated with Team Cherry, the developers of Hollow Knight. All game content belongs to Team Cherry.
Use the filters to show or hide different marker types (charms, grubs, bosses, NPCs, save points). Click on any marker to see details about that location. On desktop, use your mouse to zoom and pan. On mobile, pinch to zoom and drag to pan.
HollowKnightMap.org covers all content from the base game and the four major DLCs: Hidden Dreams, The Grimm Troupe, Lifeblood, and Godmaster. The map includes all boss dream variants and the Path of Pain area.
Our interactive map marks every charm location in Hollow Knight. You can also visit our complete charm locations guide with detailed descriptions and instructions for obtaining each of the 45 charms.
You can have a maximum of 11 charm notch slots in Hollow Knight. The base charm notch slots start at 3. Collect Pale Ore and give it to the Nailsmith to upgrade your nail, which unlocks additional notches along the way.
For beginners, we recommend: Gathering Swarm (1 notch), Soul Catcher (1 notch), and Fragile Heart (2 notches, repairable). This gives you good soul generation and extra health without a high notch cost. As you progress, experiment with other charms to find a build that suits your playstyle.
Fragile charms (Heart, Shell, Greed, Strength) are worth it because they provide powerful bonuses that their non-fragile counterparts don't. You can repair them at any bench for free, so they're essentially risk-free to use.
Yes, all 45 charms can be obtained in a single playthrough. Some charms require defeating bosses or completing quests, but none are locked behind post-game content. You can find everything in one save file.
There are 46 grubs total in Hollow Knight (including the Grub Mimic). Our map marks the location of every grub in every region, from the Forgotten Crossroads to the depths of Deepnest.
Rescuing all 46 grubs is one of the main completionist goals in Hollow Knight. The Grubfather in Dirtmouth will give you rewards as you rescue more grubs, including the Grubberfly's Elegy charm for rescuing the final grubs. Achievements also unlock at various milestones.
The Grub Mimic is a special grub in Deepnest that transforms into a small enemy when approached. Defeat it and it still counts toward your total. It drops the Grubmimic charm when defeated.
Hollow Knight has over 28 bosses including main story bosses, optional bosses, dream variants, and colosseum opponents. Five of these are required to complete the main story: False Knight, Mantis Lords, Hornet (Greenpath), Watcher Knights, and The Hollow Knight.
Dream bosses are harder variants of existing bosses found by using the Dream Nail on their corpses or specific dream gates. They reward Essence when defeated. There are 7 dream bosses in total, including variants of False Knight, Hornet, and the Mantis Lords.
The Dreamers are three ancient beings (Lurien, Monomon, and Herrah) who sealed themselves to keep the Hollow Knight contained. To progress the main story, you must defeat each Dreamer: Herrah in Deepnest, Monomon in the Teacher's Archives, and Lurien in the Watcher's Spire.
The Mantis Claw is found in Mantis Village within the Fungal Wastes. This ability allows you to cling to walls and perform wall jumps — essential for reaching many areas and collectibles throughout Hallownest.
The White Palace is accessed by using the Dream Nail on the corpse of the Pale King at the top of the Ancient Basin. You'll need the Monarch Wings (double jump) and the Crystal Heart to reach the entrance.
The Radiance — the true final boss — is generally considered the hardest. She appears as the final phase of the Hollow Knight fight (with specific conditions met) and uses a variety of challenging attack patterns including light beams, sword rain, and platform destruction. The Godhome Pantheons also present some of the game's toughest challenges.
The Dream Nail is obtained from the Seer in the Resting Grounds. You first encounter the Seer by collecting Whispering Roots scattered across Hallownest. The Dream Nail allows you to enter the dreams of certain characters and access dream boss fights, revealing more of Hallownest's lore.
Yes, you can fast travel using Stag Stations. Once you interact with a Stag at any station, it becomes activated and you can use it to travel to any other previously activated Stag Station. This makes backtracking through Hallownest much faster.