Hollow Knight boasts a robust combat system, complete with special moves, mobility unlocks, and upgrades to make the Knight stronger. A special type of item that players can collect throughout Hallownest are Charms; a type of accessory that provides extra survivability. Charms can only be equipped while the player is sitting at a bench and if the Knight has enough Charm Notches.
There are a total of 45 Charms that can be obtained in Hollow Knight. There are many spread out across the map that can be collected, others are rewarded to the player for completing fights, and the rest are bought from various vendors. Here is where players can find all the Charms.
Updated May 11, 2023 by Erik Petrovich: All charms Hollow Knight players can find are useful in one way or another, but to reap the benefits of the game's best Charms, players have to find them first. Before, this Hollow Knight Charms list listed all Charms in the game, but now it has been updated to more clearly explain locations, as well as provide a visual of what players can expect the Charms to look like. Now, directions to all Charm locations Hollow Knight players can find are easier to follow, and the explanations for some of these Charms have been updated, too.
Wayward Compass
The Wayward Compass will show the location of the Knight on the map, an incredibly useful skill for navigating the world effectively. As a plus, it only requires a single Charm Notch to equip.
How To Get The Wayward Compass Charm
This Charm can be purchased from Iselda at the map shop in Dirtmouth for 220 Geo. The shop will open after the player encounters Cornifer for the first time, who will sell incomplete maps to the Knight that they can fill in as they journey around Hallownest. Iselda also sells other goods that are helpful for navigating the world, as players uncover hidden passages and interconnected routes.
Gathering Swarm
Predominantly used as a means to grind Geo, Gathering Swarm is a Charm that spawns a swarm to collect any scattered Geo and bring them back to the Knight. This includes Geo that has fallen into spikes or hard-to-reach areas, but the swarm cannot retrieve Geo from acid pools, water, or if the player leaves the area before they have collected any pieces of stray Geo.
How To Get The Gathering Swarm Charm
The Charm can be purchased from Sly’s shop in Dirtmouth for 300 Geo, and requires one Charm Notch to equip. Sly will return to Dirtmouth once the player has rescued him in the abandoned village, which can be found below the Gruz Mother’s location and directly left of Salubra in the Forgotten Crossroads.
Stalwart Shell
This Charm increases the recovery time and reduces the recoil the Knight suffers after being hit by enemies. Players can take advantage of the extra invincibility frames (or I-frames) during combat to overwhelm enemies or use the larger window to heal. The Stalwart Shell requires two Charm Notches to equip.
How To Get The Stalwart Shell Charm
The Stalwart Shell is available to purchase from Sly’s shop for 200 Geo after he returns to Dirtmouth.
Soul Catcher
This Charm increases the amount of Soul that the Knight generates when hitting enemies with the Nail, a must-have for certain playstyles that use a lot of Soul. However, the drawback is that it does cost two Notches to equip.
How To Get The Soul Catcher Charm
Once players gain access to the Ancestral Mound after defeating the False Knight, they will need to navigate through the area by jumping to platforms and defeating enemies along the way. At the end, players must defeat an Elder Baldur, and to the left of the arena will be the Soul Catcher.
Soul Eater
This Charm is the older brother of Soul Catcher. It greatly increases the amount of Soul that the Knight gains from hitting enemies with the nail, but its flexibility of use is limited by its four Notch cost.
How To Get The Soul Eater Charm
Players must use the Desolate Dive/Descending Dark spell to reach the Charm. In the Resting Grounds, players can find a grave directly below the Seer’s location and the Stag Station, and the surface of it will rumble when stepped on. Using Desolate Dive/Descending Dark on the grave will open a secret passage underground, and players will need to travel to the right until finding a sarcophagus where Soul Eater is tucked away.
Dashmaster
Dashmaster is at its best when used to quickly traverse Hallownest as it decreases the cooldown of the Mothwing Cloak and allows players to dash downwards. This two-Notch cost Charm is perfect for when making quick runs from place to place and can be helpful during platforming sections.
How To Get The Dashmaster Charm
The Charm can be found at the base of a statue in the Fungal Wastes to the left of the bench that can be found outside the Mantis Village, near the entrance of the Royal Waterways. Bretta can also be found in the same area.
Sprintmaster
This Charm increases the Knight’s run speed and costs one Notch slot to equip. It's a noticeable, if small, difference, but if a player needs to traverse large sections of the map, Sprintmaster can make the journey much faster.
How To Get The Sprintmaster Charm
After players find the Shopkeeper’s Key in Crystal Peak, it can be returned to Sly and his shop stock will increase. Sprintmaster can be purchased from Sly for 400 Geo after the key has been given to him.
Heavy Blow
Contrastingly to Steady Body, Heavy Blow increases enemy knockback after being hit by Nail attacks and reduces the number of hits needed to stagger a boss by one. This is helpful when trying to gain distance between the Knight and enemies to give better openings for healing or casting Spells. The Charm needs two Notches to equip.
How To Get The Heavy Blow Charm
After returning the Shopkeeper’s Key to Sly, players will be able to purchase Heavy Blow from his shop in Dirtmouth for 350 Geo.
Grubsong/Grubberfly's Elegy
It costs one Charm Notch to equip and will generate Soul when the Knight takes damage. On the other hand, the Grubberfly's Elegy Charm will create a projectile from the Nail and deal 50% Nail damage, but only when the Knight is at full health. This gives a rare new ranged attack option for players.
How To Get The Grubsong and Grubberfly's Elegy Charms
The Grubfather, located in the Forgotten Crossroads, will reward the players with the Grubsong Charm after they have saved 10 Grubs. After freeing all Grubs that are hidden across Hallownest, players can obtain the Grubberfly's Elegy charm by returning to the Grubfather in the Forgotten Crossroads.
Shaman Stone
The Charm increases the damage output of Spells, which is a simple but effective way to make ranged attacks much more effective. It's a big boost, and it requires three Charm Notches to equip.
How To Get The Shaman Stone Charm
The Shaman Stone can be bought from Salubra in the Forgotten Crossroads for 220 Geo. Players can reach her shop by either using the Mantis Claw or Mothwing Cloak, or by traveling across the Blue Lake from the Resting Grounds.
Steady Body
The Charm will negate any knockback that the Knight suffers from Nail hits, but only when dealt in a horizontal direction. However, it does prevent the Knight from being knocked to the side when jumping on purple mushrooms in the Fungal Wastes but does not negate pogoing. It only requires one notch to equip, too.
How To Get The Steady Body Charm
Players can purchase this Charm from Salubra in the Forgotten Crossroads for 120 Geo.
Longnail
Requiring two Notches to equip, Longail is one of the most self-explanatory Charms in Hollow Knight. Players will be able to increase the range of their Nail by 15% when this Charm is equipped, but it does not affect the range of Nail Arts or Grubberfly’s Elegy. It is most effective when used to strike from slightly safer distances or to execute pogo maneuvers safely.
How To Get The Longnail Charm
This Charm can be purchased from Salubra for 300 Geo in the Forgotten Crossroads.
Fragile/Unbreakable Heart
The Fragile and Unbreakable Heart Charms increase the player’s health by two Masks and each costs two Notches to equip. However, the Fragile Heart will break upon death, while the Unbreakable version won't.
How To Get The Fragile Heart
Leg Eater can be found in the Fungal Wastes, near the path leading up to the Forgotten Crossroads, and will charge players 86 Geo upon their first meeting to show them “something nice”. Paying Leg Eater will open his Charm shop where he sells these unique Fragile Charms that break upon death. It can be purchased from Leg Eater for 350 Geo, but if players have the Defender’s Crest Charm equipped, he will give players a 20% discount for his wares and repair services.
How To Upgrade The Unbreakable Heart
Fragile Charms can be repaired by Leg Eater, but different charges will be applied depending on which Charm has been broken. However, they will not break if they are used in Dream battles and can be turned into Unbreakable Charms by bringing them to Divine after the Grimm Troupe arrive in Dirtmouth. To upgrade it to Unbreakable, Divine will consume the Charm and ask for 12,000 Geo to return it.
Fragile/Unbreakable Greed
The Fragile and Unbreakable Greed Charms increase the amount of Geo that is dropped by enemies. It requires two Notches to equip, but the increase in Geo intake is pretty absurd.
How To Get Fragile and Unbreakable Greed
Leg Eater will sell Fragile Greed to the player for 250 Geo (200 when wearing the Defender’s Crest). If the player wants to give the Charm to Divine to create its Unbreakable variant, she will charge players 9,000 Geo for her services.
Fragile/Unbreakable Strength
The strength of the player’s Nail will be increased by 50% when the Fragile or Unbreakable Strength Charms are equipped, though they do require three Notches. The effect of the Charm does not stack with the damage output from Nail Arts, unfortunately.
How To Get Fragile and Unbreakable Strength Charms
Fragile Strength can be bought from Leg Eater for 600 Geo (480 Geo when wearing the Defender’s Crest), and Divine will upgrade it to Unbreakable Strength for 15,000 Geo after consuming it.
Spell Twister
Perfect for players that lean into Spells, this Charm will reduce the Soul cost for casting spells. This can be more useful than a straight-up spell damage enhancer, and costs two Notches to equip.
How To Get The Spell Twister Charm
Spell Twister can be found in a secret room at the very top of the Soul Sanctum, before reaching the arena where the Soul Master can be fought. In the room, Mistakes and Follies will spawn that players can fight to generate Soul and cast Spells to deal damage against multiple enemies. The Charm can be found attached to a machine to the far right.
Quick Slash
This Charm increases the speed at which players can attack with the Nail, improving the rate at which the Knight can deal damage and regenerate Soul in the process. It costs three Charm Notches to equip.
How To Get The Quick Slash Charm
Quick Slash can be found at the far east of Kingdom’s Edge, past Oro’s hut. In the adjacent room is a training dummy, where players will also be able to destroy a breakable wall. Players will then need to travel down and to the left where there is a tunnel housing the Charm, in front of a giant corpse.
Mark of Pride
The Mark of Pride increases the range of the Nail by 25% and requires three Notches to equip. As with Longnail, the range of Nail Arts and Grubberfly’s Elegy remain unaffected by the Charm.
How To Get The Mark of Pride Charm
Players can obtain this Charm after defeating the Mantis Lords in the Fungal Wastes. A room will become available in the Mantis Village after the battle is completed and inside is a chest that players can access to collect their reward.
Fury of the Fallen
The Fury of the Fallen Charm costs two Notches to equip and increases the player’s Nail damage by 75% when they are at one Mask. It's a useful, if risky, Charm that has the potential to massively increase damage output for the most skilled players.
How To Get The Fury of the Fallen Charm
This Charm can be obtained at the very start of the game as it is found in the King’s Pass. In the bottom right of the room with spikes on the ground, there is a hidden passage shrouded in shadow that players can access. There will be more spikes that are too wide to jump over and can be passed by pogoing or dashing across once the player has acquired the Mothwing Cloak. Players will then need to drop down where a lore tablet resides and to the left is a chest that holds Fury of the Fallen.
Thorns of Agony
When equipped, the Knight will briefly eject thorny tendrils after taking damage to attack enemies in their immediate vicinity. It costs one Notch to equip and can be helpful when overwhelmed by numerous enemies.
How To Get The Thorns of Agony Charm
Players will need the Mothwing Cloak to reach the Charm. It can be found in Greenpath through a maze filled with Charged Lumaflies that players must time correctly to pass without taking damage.
Baldur Shell
This Charm costs two Notches to equip and will create a protective shell around the player as they heal, blocking up to four hits before breaking. Players must rest on a bench to repair the shell after it has been damaged.
How To Get The Baldur Shell Charm
Although the Baldur Shell is found in the Howling Cliffs, it is easier to reach the correct room from Greenpath. Players should travel to a room filled with small platforms and spikes and make their way to the top right where there is a chest. However, hitting the chest will only reward players with one Geo, and players must jump into the chest to reveal a room with two Elder Baldurs. Defeating them will reveal a path to the right where the Baldur Shell is.
Flukenest
It costs three Notches to equip and will change the Knight’s Vengeful Spirit/Shade Soul spell with a swarm of flukes. This is a visually impressive Charm and one every player should try, but in terms of raw gameplay, it's a little bit underwhelming for three notches.
How To Get The Flukenest Charm
The Flukenest is rewarded to the player after defeating the hidden Flukemarm boss in the Royal Waterways.
Defender's Crest
A damaging cloud will emit from the Knight when the Charm is equipped and requires one Notch. A fun perk of the Defender’s Crest is that it will not only damage enemies but also unlock additional dialogue with other characters when players have it equipped. Most notably, Relic Seeker Lemm will turn the Knight away if they attempt to trade, Leg Eater will provide a 20% discount on his wares and repair services, and Tuk will give away a free Rancid Egg.
How To Get The Defender's Crest Charm
Players will receive the Defender’s Crest after defeating Dung Defender in the Royal Waterways.
Glowing Womb
At a cost of two Charm Notches, Glowing Womb will use the Knight’s Soul to spawn hatchlings that will damage enemies. This can be useful situationally, but let's be honest, players are not choosing the hatchling and other summoning spells because they're good, they're choosing these spells because they look cool.
How To Get The Glowing Womb Charm
In the Forgotten Crossroads, there is a hidden entrance to the right of the False Knight’s arena and immediately left of the Husk Guard. After opening this entrance, players need to travel up until they find an area with a spiky tunnel and use the Crystal Heart to launch the Knight through safely. Players will need to defeat Aspid Hunters and Mothers before being able to reach the Charm, which is sitting in front of a large corpse.
Quick Focus/Deep Focus
This Charm speeds up the time it takes to cast Focus Soul by a third. It costs three Charm Notches to equip. In contrast to Quick Focus, the Deep Focus Charm will double the Masks that are recovered when healing but increases the amount of time it takes to Focus Soul. Additionally, it costs four Charm Notches to equip.
How To Get The Quick Focus and Deep Focus Charms
Below Cornifer’s position in the Crystal Peak, players will find a hidden cavern that is covered in Crystals that contains Quick Focus. There is a breakable wall by the Husk Miner, and players must use the Crystal Heart to reach Deep Focus.
Lifeblood Heart/Core
This Charm adds two Lifeblood Masks to the player’s total health and costs just two notches. Lifeblood Core adds four Lifeblood Masks to the Knight’s health, which can be reapplied by resting on a bench, and costs three Notches to equip. After losing these Masks, they can be reapplied by resting on a bench.
How To Get The Lifeblood Heart and Lifeblood Core Charms
Salubra sells Lifeblood Heart in her shop for 250 Geo, while the Lifeblood Core is located in the Abyss. In this area, players will find a sealed door on the left wall of the main chamber. This door can only be opened when the player has 14 or more Lifeblood Masks in total, which can be achieved by using Lifeblood Heart, Joni’s Blessing, and killing Lifeseeds that come from Lifeblood Cocoons.
Inside will be the Lifeblood Core Charm, as well as an Arcane Egg, which is recommended to be picked up first as the door cannot be opened again once the Charm has been collected.
Joni's Blessing
This Charm converts all the player’s masks to Lifeblood Masks and increases the number of Masks that the Knight has by an additional 40%, but players will not be able to heal using Soul. It costs four Charm Notches to equip.
How To Get The Joni's Blessing Charm
Players can find Joni’s Blessing in the Howling Cliffs at the resting place of Blue Child Joni. Continuing to the right from Cornifer’s position, players will find a darkened area filled with spikes and enemies. It is advised to have purchased the Lumafly Lantern from Sly to make navigating this area easier. As players progress, they will eventually find numerous blue butterflies, indicative of a source of Lifeblood, which will lead them to Joni’s grave where the Charm will be glowing.
Hiveblood
Requiring a huge four notches to equip, the Hiveblood Charm effect is that the last Mask that was lost after taking damage will gradually regenerate without the player needing to use Soul to heal. An added bonus to this Charm is that it will also make enemies within the Hive ignore the Knight’s presence.
How To Get The Hiveblood Charm
Players can obtain this Charm after defeating the Hive Knight in the Hive area.
Spore Shroom
While healing, the Knight will expel a cloud of damaging spores, ignoring any shields that enemies may have. The Charm costs one Notch to equip and can be found in the Fungal Wastes.
How To Get The Spore Shroom Charm
Close to the entrance to the Queen’s Gardens, players will find a room with acid pools that must be navigated by bouncing on purple mushrooms. If players descend to the lower level using the Mantis Claw, the Spore Shroom Charm can be found to the far right in a small nook of this room.
Sharp Shadow
The Sharp Shadow Charm costs two Notches to equip and will damage enemies when the Knight dashes through them as well as increase the length of their dash.
How To Get The Sharp Shadow Charm
To reach this Charm, players will need to have the Shade Cloak upgrade. To the southeast of Deepnest, players can find a Shade Gate that is blocking the way to the Sharp Shadow Charm. Just use the Shade Clock ability to get through.
Shape of Unn
The Shape of Unn Charm requires two Charm Notches to equip and allows the player to move while healing. This is a seriously underrated skill, as it allows the player to keep dodging attacks.
How To Get the Shape of Unn Charm
Players require Isma’s Tear to reach this Charm since the Lake of Unn is acidic. After traveling across the Lake of Unn, players must head down and towards the southwest section of the secret area, where they will meet Unn. She will then gift the Knight with the Charm.
Nailmaster's Glory
The Nailmaster's Glory Charm reduces the amount of time needed to charge Nail Arts and it only costs one Notch to equip. However, it can't be earned until a set of requirements are complete.
How To Get The Nailmaster's Glory Charm
Once players have received all Nail Arts from the three Nailmasters, they will then need to visit Sly in Dirtmouth who has opened a secret room inside his shop. Head down and speak to Sly, who will gift the Knight with the Nailmaster’s Glory.
Weaversong
Costing two Notches, this Charm summons three Weaverlings that attack enemies. If the player speaks to Midwife while wearing Weaversong, she will have additional dialogue.
How To Get The Weaversong Charm
This Charm is located in Deepnest, south of the entrance to Queen’s Gardens. There is a secret area past a Stalking Devout, leading the player to the Weaver’s Den, which has been long abandoned by the spider clan. Players will require the Crystal Heart to navigate the Weaver’s Den, where there is a breakable wall that hides the Weaversong.
Dream Wielder
This Charm reduces the amount of time needed to attack with the Dream Nail, increases the likelihood of earning Essence from enemies, and increases the amount of Soul generated from hitting enemies with the Dream Nail. Dream Wielder costs one Notch to equip.
How To Get The Dream Wielder Charm
After the player has unlocked the Dream Nail, they will be able to start collecting Essence. This is used to power up the Dream Nail and can be collected from multiple sources, such as random drops from enemies, Whispering Roots, and defeating the Warrior Dreams and Dream Bosses. When the player has collected 500 Essence, the Seer in the Resting Grounds will reward the player with the Dream Wielder.
Dreamshield
This Charm, which requires three Notches to equip, creates a rotating shield around the Knight that can block projectiles and deals slightly more damage to enemies when using the Nail.
How To Get the Dreamshield Charm
In the room below the Seer in the Resting Grounds, players will be able to pick up the Dreamshield.
Grimmchild/Carefree Melody
This Charm requires two Notches to equip and will summon the Grimmchild, which deals damage to enemies. When the Grimmchild is equipped, Flames will appear scattered across the map of Hallownest, indicating different Grimmkins that must be absorbed by the Grimmchild to strengthen it.
Carefree Melody, on the other hand, requires three Notches to equip and gives the player the chance to block incoming attacks. Both cannot be equipped at once.
How To Get The Grimmchild Charm
To obtain these Charms, players must first summon the Grimm Troupe to Dirtmouth. In the Howling Cliffs, players can find a hidden room with a lantern inside that must be lit, after which the Troupe will appear in the town. Players will receive the first form of the Grimmchild after speaking to Troupe Master Grimm for the first time. After collecting the second batch of Flames, players must defeat Grimm to upgrade the Charm to its third form.
To fully upgrade Grimmchild, players must collect the final set of Grimmkin Flames and return to Grimm’s tent. He will be asleep at the very back and can be Dream Nailed, where players will face one of the toughest bosses of the game: Nightmare King Grimm. Defeating him will grant players with the final and strongest form of Grimmchild.
How To Convert The Grimmchild Charm Into Carefree Melody
Alternatively, players can opt to banish the Grimm Troupe and transform Grimmchild into Carefree Melody. To banish them, players must speak to Brumm, a member of the Troupe who plays an accordion, after they have defeated Grimm once. Brumm will have moved from his usual spot and can be found in the Distant Village in Deepnest, where he will offer to help the Knight complete the deed.
Upon accepting his offer, players must travel to the Howling Cliffs once more to witness Brumm complete the banishment. Brumm will then disappear, but another bug that resembles him named Nymm will take up residence in Dirtmouth. It is Nymm who will gift the player with Carefree Melody after speaking to them.
Kingsoul/Void Heart
The Kingsoul Charm costs five Notches and will generate Soul automatically every two seconds. Although it has the highest Charm Notch cost, the most important aspect of Kingsoul is that it can be permanently transformed into Void Heart, so long as the player has the Awoken Dream Nail and both halves of the Kingsoul.
The Void Heart will become permanently equipped and no longer has a Notch cost. As a result, Siblings, Void Tendrils, and the Knight’s Shade will become passive, and its acquisition will also grant the player access to the Pantheon of Hallownest in Godhome. But, most importantly, players will have unlocked four possible endings by obtaining the Void Heart.
How To Get The Kingsoul Charm Halves
To obtain Kingsoul, players must collect both halves and combine them. The left half can be found by speaking to the White Lady in the Queen’s Gardens, past the Traitor Lord’s arena. The right half is hidden in the White Palace, which can be accessed in the Ancient Basin, to the left of the Hidden Station, where players can Dream Nail the corpse of a Kingsmould.
How To Get The Void Heart
After both halves of Kingsoul have been combined, a new area in the Abyss will open that players can descend. They must use the Awoken Dream Nail on the egg that can be found at the end of the maze, and after the cutscene plays out, they will be rewarded with the Void Heart.
Hollow Knight is available on PC, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.