Hollow Knight Beginner's Guide | Gameplay Tips & Tricks

Hollow Knight is a Metroidvania game that requires patience and a comprehensive knowledge of the weapons, items, environment, and gameplay mechanics. This guide will walk you through the major mechanics, tactics, and techniques you need to learn to complete Hollow Knight. 

Starting in Dirtmouth

You'll notice some benches around the area as you enter Dirtmouth. These are your primary save points and resting sites in Hollow Knight. Resting on a bench will restore all of your Masks (health points), but note that it will also return all the enemies you have already defeated. 

You'll find that some of the doors and passageways that you'll find at the beginning of the game will be blocked off until you've travelled deeper into the game, so don't get too worried if you can't access something immediately.

Finding Your Way: Maps and Navigation

One of the most highly significant things about travelling within Hollow Knight is finding maps for each region. Go to the bottom of Forgotten Crossroads early in your campaign and listen carefully for a peculiar humming noise. 

The humming will guide you to Cornifer, the significant NPC cartographer, throughout your campaign in Hollow Knight. Cornifer will sell you area maps for 30 Geo (the game's currency, which resembles fossilised rocks). 

You can collect Geo by defeating enemies throughout the world. Always prioritise purchasing maps when you encounter Cornifer in new areas, as having a map is invaluable for navigation and exploration.

If you explore too much of an area before finding Cornifer, or if you return to a location after he's moved on, you'll find his card instead of the NPC himself. Reading this card will make the map available for purchase back in Dirtmouth.

The Map Shop and Essential Items

After your first encounter with Cornifer, a shop will open in Dirtmouth. Inside, you'll meet Iselda, who sells various map-related items and accessories. If you missed Cornifer and only found his card, the area map will be available for purchase here.

The Quill from Iselda's store is a must-buy, as it will fill in your map and mark areas you have already been to. It would also be a good idea to purchase the Wayward Compass early on, as it will anchor your location on the map, making travel a lot simpler.

Maintaining Your Equipment and Charms

To get Charms (special items that boost your skills), you need to sit down on a bench and open your inventory. You have three Charm Notches at the beginning, which decide how many charms you can equip at a time. 

The Soul Catcher charm is helpful in the early stages because it amplifies the amount of Soul you receive when you strike monsters with your Nail. The Wayward Compass occupies one notch but is worth the navigation help in Hollow Knight.

Combat and Healing System

Your Soul meter resides in the top-left portion of the screen and is your HP that restores you and casts spells. When you are damaged, you lose a Mask (health point). To freeze yourself, press and hold down the focus button when you have enough Soul. 

You can only acquire Soul by attacking with your Nail. Three hits from your Nail are generally required to purchase enough Soul for one restoration session.

Health and Mask Shards

Throughout your time playing through, you will find Mask Shards spread everywhere throughout Hallownest. 

Getting four Mask Shards rewards you with a bonus Mask, effectively giving you more maximum health. Always make sure to grab these functional upgrades whenever you come across them.

Fast Travel and Stag Stations

Stag Stations are unique locations that enable fast travel between discovered areas. Although you do have to pay Geo to switch them on, they're handy for quick exploration. 

Not all areas have a Stag Station, but all areas do have a Cornifer to buy maps. Stag Stations are the second most critical discovery in any new location, second only to map purchase.

Secrets and Collectables

Listen for unique cooing noises while exploring, as they show where there are concealed Grubs in walls that can be broken. Rescuing them earns you unique rewards in the game afterwards. 

Always venture and pick up items on the ground, as some can be sold at the City of Tears or used to fulfill specific purposes throughout your journey.

Don't miss opening treasure chests, which hold essential Geo.

Combat Styles and Spells

There are two styles of basic combat in Hollow Knight: melee combat with your Nail and ranged combat with spells. Although spells are significantly more lethal than nail attacks, they might be harder to master and utilize the Soul to cast. 

Note that you can only refill your Soul by striking enemies with your Nail, which introduces a fascinating balance between the two combat styles in Hollow Knight.

Nail Upgrades

Once at the City of Tears, go down to the lower level and search for a tiny sign. Keep moving left from there until you come across the Nail Master, who will allow you to upgrade your Nail to deliver more damage. 

With an upgraded nail, you can instantly kill weak enemies and hence explore much better.

Death and Shade Mechanics

When your health reaches zero, you'll die and leave behind a Shade Soul at your death location. You'll respawn at the last bench you used, and your Soul meter will be cracked, reducing your maximum Soul capacity by roughly half. 

Additionally, you'll lose all your Geo until you retrieve your Shade Soul in Hollow Knight. Be very cautious when pulling in your Shade Soul, because not making it again will destroy the shade forever and all the Geo within. 

This mechanism has ruined many players' thousands of Geo, so be patient and careful when pulling shades.

Higher Movement: Pogo and Bouncing Mechanisms

You can bounce off the purple mushrooms anywhere throughout Hallownest. Although standard jumping will push you comparatively little, bouncing on a downward strike will send you much higher up. 

This is possible on spikes as well, and on other ground when you need to climb higher levels or cross perilous areas safely.

Essential Tips for Success

Always attack in all directions when possible – you can strike up, down, left, and right with your Nail. The downward strike is exceptionally versatile and can be used on various surfaces and enemies.

If you find yourself with only one Mask remaining, prioritise healing immediately or reaching a bench, as another hit will result in death.

Remember that Hollow Knight follows traditional Metroidvania design principles: if you encounter an area you cannot access, return later with new abilities.

Don't get frustrated by inaccessible regions early in the game, as progression will naturally provide you with the tools needed to explore every corner of Hallownest.

Also, check our Hollow Knight Review and other guides below:

• Hollow Knight Guide | Best Charm Builds