Hollow Knight Guide | Best Charm Builds

Hollow Knight is a Metroidvania game that requires a good knowledge of different types of Charms. This guide shows the top 3 Charm configurations that you can use in your builds to get the best possible result when it comes to defence and offence.

Build #1 The Snail Shaman Sorcerer

Your core needs Shaman Stone and Spell Twister as required. Shaman Stone greatly increases your spell damage, and Spell Twister offers two things: low Soul costs and, more importantly, the capacity to maintain a four-spell spellcasting chain without Soul regeneration. These two make up the basis of a spellcasting playstyle. 

To achieve maximum magical protection, you'll need to possess Baldur's Shell, which you use some Soul to generate a shield of protection that negates attacking spells in Hollow Knight.

This spell is complementary to Shape of Unn since it allows you to move around and cure while your Baldur's Shell shield is up. This snail form is an excellent indication of the Snail Shaman theme.

Picking up these four Charms, nine Notches, you have two free slots. Soul Catcher is your top pick, giving the Soul generation the needed support for your magic-dense playstyle. 

Although using Soul Eater and Grubsong maximises Soul generation, having regular Charm capacity is more survivable for normal gameplay.

This build revolves around switching back and forth between spellcasting and nail strikes to farm Soul while doing damage, and defending with that Soul via Baldur's Shell. 

The outcome is like casting a high-power wizard, balancing offensive magic with defensive enchantments.

Build #2 The Mantis Longblade

Mark of Pride, discovered within Mantis Village, provides thematic resonance while extending your nail range by twenty-five per cent. While this increase alone might seem modest, combining it with Longnail for an additional fifteen per cent creates a substantial forty per cent range extension that improves your combat effectiveness in Hollow Knight.

You should maximise this range advantage by adding Grubberfly's Elegy with your remaining three Notches. This Charm fires additional beams when you're at full health, and the extended range makes avoiding damage easier. Unlike spell builds, Grubberfly's Elegy doesn't conflict with your strategy since the beams don't generate Soul on impact in Hollow Knight.

The synergy between these Charms creates good results. Mark of Pride increases Grubberfly's Elegy projectile size, while Unbreakable Strength boosts beam damage from fifty per cent to seventy-seven per cent of your nail damage. 

At close range, enemies suffer both normal nail damage and beam damage simultaneously, creating exceptional damage output on Mantis spinning blade attacks in Hollow Knight.

Build #3 The Grimm Troupe Dancer

This build prioritises melee fighting with the focus on increased mobility, where you can dodge your enemies while staying aggressive. Quick Slash and Steady Body are perfect for this playstyle. 

Quick Slash speeds up all your attacks to keep up with your increased mobility, and Steady Body suppresses knockback on attacks, allowing for precise positioning control.

Steady Body deserves particular attention as an underrated Charm that allows continuous pressure without losing ground. Combined with Quick Slash, you maintain absolute control over movement and positioning during combat encounters.

Alternatively, if you kept Grimmchild, it transforms your solo performance into a duet, with Grimmchild providing ranged support while you kill your opponents.

Your remaining notch allows customisation with Grubsong, Nailmaster's Glory, or Wayward Compass. 

Consider replacing Steady Body with Sharp Shadow to add damage to your movement, especially since Dashmaster increases Sharp Shadow damage to 1.5x nail damage instead of the standard 1x in Hollow Knight.

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

• Hollow Knight Beginner's Guide | Gameplay Tips & Tricks