Hollow Knight: How To Find All The Charms (Complete Guide) | Game Gear Plus (2024)

• Last Updated onSeptember 23, 2023

Hollow Knight is quite an extensive Metroidvania game since, contrary to its appearance, you can run quite a few separate builds regardless of the game having no items. This is implemented in the game through charms. So, without further ado, let’s get into this Hollow Knight Charms Guide.

There are a total of 40 charms in the game that you can have on your person; however, there are 5 charms that are binary, meaning you can only have one or the other. These charms include:

• Kingsoul / Voidheart
• Fragile Greed / Unbreakable Greed
• Fragile Heart / Unbreakable Heart
• Fragile Strength / Unbreakable Strength
• Carefree Melody / Grimmchild

There are also other concepts, such as Overcharmed, Charm interactions, etc., that we will cover later on in this guide.

Key Takeaways:

• There are a total of 45 charms, 5 of which are binary.
• There are a total of 11 charm notches. You start with 3 and can find 8 more.
• There are 3 achievements for collecting charms. One is for acquiring your first charm, the second for acquiring half of the charms (20), and the third for acquiring all the charms (40).
• The Nail Damage Combo uses the charms: Sharp Shadow, Quick Slash, Unbreakable Strength, Mark Of Pride
• The Spell Damage Combo uses the charms: Soul Eater, Shaman Stone, Spell Twister, Soul Catcher
• The Exploration Combo uses the charms: Wayward Compass, Gathering Storm, Dashmaster, Sprintmaster, Sharp Shadow, Unbreakable Greed, Longnail
• The Summons Combo uses the charms: Grimmchild, Weaversong, Glowing Womb, Defender’s Crest, Spore Shroom, Sharp Shadow, Dream Wielder

How To Use Charms

The way to use charms is actually pretty simple. It can be made into a three-step process:

1. You find the charm.
2. You find a bench to sit down on.
3. You equip the charm to your character with the select button (the middle left button on mist controllers or Tab on keyboards).

Now, to use charms, you need Hollow Knight Charms notches, which can be found throughout the game and used to increase your charm usage. Think of notches as your maximum carry weight for charms, and each charm has a different weight. You can not equip charms that exceed your maximum weight capacity.

This is why most charms you find will have an average notch requirement of 3 or 4. You start the game off with three notches, and you find eight more along the game. Those eight notches can be found in the locations shown below.

When you go here, you will be able to enter Salubra’s shop. Here, you can buy many different items, but for all intents and purposes, we are only here for the charm notches. You can buy four Hollow Knight Charms notches from her, and each of them has requirements as follows:

• Charm Notch => 5 Charms Collected + 120 Geo
• Charm Notch => 10 Charms Collected + 500 Geo
• Charm Notch => 18 Charms Collected + 900 Geo
• Charm Notch => 25 Charms Collected + 1400 Geo

To get to this charm, you need to have unlocked Monarch Wings or Isma’s Tear since you will need them and some real parkour skills to get through the amount of jellyfish that are ready to kamikaze themselves into you. We recommend you go in with a full soul meter so you can heal if the need ever arises.

This charm notch will be one you get from simply following the main story, as in this area, you will fight two large mushrooms that are pretty strong when you are at that point in the game. After defeating these minibosses, you will receive a charm notch from one of them.

This area is the Kingdom’s Edge, an important story area, but instead of going down, you will want to go up to the right and enter the Colosseum Of Fools and beat the first two trials. Upon completing the second trial, you will be awarded with a bunch of Geo and a charm notch for your efforts.

If you find yourself struggling to keep up with the enemies, then simply come back once you have progressed further into the game. However, keep in mind that you will need more than just upgrades, and skill will be required.

Finally, to get the last charm notch, you will need to complete the Grimm Troupe questline, and after defeating Grimm’s final form, you will be given the charm notch as your reward alongside a fully upgraded Grimmchild charm.

This boss is quite difficult, considered the top 3 most challenging fights in the game is no easy title to earn from the Hollow Knight community. So be prepared for a tough fight with strict timings and air-tight healing windows.

Hollow Knight Charms

There are a total of 45 Hollow Knight Charms, and their location, effect, and notch requirements are shown in the table below. This will help you look for all the charms but while only giving you a sense of where you can find them and retaining the game’s innate feature of self-discovery.

Overcharmed Explained

So, in Hollow Knight Charms, there is a thing that some people figure out through simply spamming. Others figure out through curiosity, and that is becoming “overcharmed.” This term refers to equipping charms that you do not have the capacity for but still equip due to sheer determination of will.

There are some advantages and obvious drawbacks to this, and we will explain the few rules that come with being overcharmed.

Being overcharmed causes you to take double damage, so a hit that you take one mask is going to now take two masks, and so on.

Secondly, you can not overcharm infinitely. In the image above, we are trying to apply the Joni’s Blessing Charm with only one free charm slot. Hence, there are three purple charm slot symbols since we are exceeding the maximum requirement by three since Joni’s Blessing requires four notches.

Hence, you can no longer attach any additional charms since you have no more valid free charm slots available.

The only reason to use overcharming is to get the maximum utility out of your charms. If you are someone who has confidence in their ability to not get hit by bosses or enemies, then this is for you. But to anyone else, use this mechanic with extreme caution since you don’t want to lose all that Geo you grinded.

Also Read: Hollow Knight Hornet

Charm Combinations

Now you can play different types of builds in Hollow Knight, and this is how. Your charms change your playstyle significantly, and for that reason, we have compiled four useful charm combinations for any type of playstyle with a joke build thrown in there if you feel like messing around.

Nail Damage

The combination of Sharp Shadow, Quick Slash, Unbreakable Strength, and Mark of Pride in this Hollow Knight Charms combination offers a potent and versatile setup that significantly enhances your combat abilities and overall gameplay experience.

Each of these charms provides distinct advantages that, when used together, can make your journey through Hallownest more enjoyable and victorious, and here is how.

Firstly, Sharp Shadow grants you an offensive edge by turning your dash into a damaging attack. This is particularly effective against enemies and bosses that require precise timing and positioning. It allows you to both evade incoming attacks and deal damage simultaneously, making it a valuable tool for aggressive playstyles.

Quick Slash is another valuable addition, greatly increasing your attack speed. The faster attack rate not only boosts your overall DPS (damage per second) but also allows you to respond more rapidly to enemy movements and attacks. This can be a game-changer, especially in intense boss battles.

Unbreakable Strength, as the name implies, bolsters your damage output significantly. With this charm equipped, your nail strikes become much more potent, enabling you to dispatch foes more quickly and efficiently. This charm is a cornerstone of many powerful combat-focused builds.

Mark of Pride further complements this setup by extending your nail’s reach. This added range allows you to engage enemies from a safer distance, reducing the risk of taking damage. It’s especially beneficial against foes with long-range attacks or those that are challenging to approach.

In summary, your combination of Sharp Shadow, Quick Slash, Unbreakable Strength, and Mark of Pride creates a well-rounded build that excels in combat scenarios.

It empowers you to deal more damage, attack faster, and maintain greater control over the battlefield. While this build leans heavily toward offense, it offers enough mobility and range to keep you relatively safe during encounters.

However, keep in mind that individual playstyle preferences may affect the perceived utility of this build, but for those who enjoy a more aggressive approach to Hollow Knight, this charm setup is undeniably valuable.

Spell Damage

The combination of Soul Eater, Shaman Stone, Spell Twister, and Soul Catcher in your Hollow Knight Charms combination focuses on enhancing your spell-casting abilities, greatly increasing your magical prowess and overall utility in the game. This setup is particularly effective for players who rely on spells as their primary source of damage and want to make the most out of their Soul resource.

Soul Eater is a fundamental charm in this build, as it boosts your Soul generation rate. This means you can accumulate Soul faster during combat, allowing you to cast spells more frequently. With more Soul at your disposal, you have a larger pool of magic to draw from, making it easier to unleash powerful spells in critical moments.

Shaman Stone is an excellent addition to this build, as it amplifies the damage output of your spells. This charm increases the potency of your spells significantly, turning them into devastating weapons against both regular enemies and formidable bosses. It effectively maximizes your offensive capabilities, making short work of even the toughest adversaries.

Spell Twister further complements this setup by reducing the cost of casting spells. With this charm, you can cast spells more often without depleting your Soul reserve entirely. This is especially valuable in prolonged engagements, as it allows you to maintain consistent magical attacks throughout battles.

Soul Catcher provides the final touch by increasing the amount of Soul gained from hitting enemies. This charm ensures that your Soul meter remains well-stocked, allowing you to cast spells whenever needed without worrying about running out of resources. It’s particularly useful in situations where you need to rely on your spells for damage or healing.

In summary, your combination of Soul Eater, Shaman Stone, Spell Twister, and Soul Catcher creates a spellcasting-focused build that excels in dealing magical damage and offers sustained utility in combat. With increased Soul generation, boosted spell damage, reduced casting costs, and improved resource management.

This build allows you to harness the full potential of your spell abilities. It’s an excellent choice for players who prefer a mage-like playstyle and want to make their journey through Hallownest a magical adventure.

Exploration

The charms Wayward Compass, Gathering Swarm, Dashmaster, Sprintmaster, Sharp Shadow, Unbreakable Greed, and Longnail, form a unique combination tailored for an exploration-focused playstyle in Hollow Knight. This Hollow Knight Charms combination is all about making your journey through the intricate and labyrinthine world of Hallownest more efficient and enjoyable.

Wayward Compass is your guiding light in this exploration-focused build. It marks your position on the map, ensuring you never lose your way in the vast and intricate world of Hallownest. This invaluable charm allows you to navigate through the game’s complex maze of tunnels, rooms, and areas with ease, preventing you from getting lost in the darkness.

Gathering Swarm and Unbreakable Greed serve to simplify the resource management aspect of your exploration. Gathering Swarm automatically collects Geo, the in-game currency, from fallen foes without requiring you to manually pick it up. Unbreakable Greed increases the Geo dropped by enemies, ensuring you accumulate wealth more quickly as you venture deeper into the world.

Dashmaster and Sprintmaster enhance your mobility and agility, making exploration more fluid and engaging. Dashmaster increases the speed and distance of your dash, allowing you to traverse gaps and obstacles effortlessly. Sprintmaster boosts your running speed, reducing the time spent traveling between locations. Together, these charms make your exploration more efficient and enjoyable.

Longnail extends the reach of your nail, granting you an advantage in combat situations but also proving useful during exploration. It allows you to engage enemies and interact with objects from a safer distance, reducing the risk of taking damage or falling into traps.

Sharp Shadow complements your mobility-focused build by turning your dash into a damaging attack. This charm can aid both in exploration and combat, providing an additional layer of versatility to your playstyle.

In summary, your combination of charms caters to an exploration-centric playstyle in Hollow Knight. With enhanced navigation, resource gathering, mobility, and reach, you’ll find that your journey through the enigmatic world of Hallownest becomes more efficient and enjoyable.

This build allows you to uncover the game’s secrets, discover hidden areas, and unravel its mysteries with ease.

Summoned Creatures

The combination of charms, include Grimmchild, Weaversong, Glowing Womb, Defender’s Crest, Spore Shroom, Sharp Shadow, and Dream Wielder, creates a whimsical and unconventional playstyle in Hollow Knight.

This setup revolves around the summoning of various creatures and their unique interactions with enemies and the environment. It not only adds an element of fun but also a touch of mischief to your gameplay experience.

At the heart of this build is Grimmchild, your loyal companion, which grows stronger as you collect Flames. Its presence in the game adds an extra layer of charm and character to your journey, making it feel like you have a faithful friend by your side.

Weaversong and Glowing Womb further enhance your entourage, summoning weaverlings and hatchlings that autonomously attack enemies. This swarm of minions adds chaos and unpredictability to battles, making encounters both entertaining and challenging.

Defender’s Crest and Spore Shroom introduce a mischievous twist to your build. Defender’s Crest releases a noxious odor that damages enemies over time, while Spore Shroom unleashes a cloud of toxic spores upon taking damage.

These effects not only deal passive damage but also contribute to the humorous and troll-like aspect of your playstyle. Watching enemies succumb to these unconventional attacks can be quite amusing.

Sharp Shadow and Dream Wielder add versatility and utility to your build. Sharp Shadow turns your dash into a damaging attack, providing both defense and offense. This can be particularly effective when maneuvering through swarms of enemies.

Dream Wielder accelerates the healing process in the Dream Nail’s Dream Realm, allowing you to recover health and Soul more efficiently. It’s a practical addition to your trollish arsenal.

In summary, your combination of charms creates a playful and troll-inspired playstyle in Hollow Knight. With a cast of summoned creatures, noxious effects, and unique utility charms, you’ll find joy in experimenting with unconventional strategies.

While this build may not be the most conventional or efficient, it promises an entertaining and lighthearted journey through the mysterious and challenging world of Hallownest.