Vessel Fragments are another set of items the player must collect to maximize their potential in Hollow Knight. As most people know, the challenge that comes with the game can be particularly harrowing. Utilizing everything they can and being as powerful as they can be in the game are great ways to overcome the game's challenges with more ease.
Collecting Vessel Fragments will allow the player to increase their Soul Vessel capacity. In this game, Souls are needed to perform spells like Shade Soul and Abyss Shriek. This is also needed for healing. It goes without saying that the more Souls the player have, the more powerful they are. Collecting three Vessel Fragments will form one Soul Vessel. There are a total of nine Fragments in the game, allowing the player to have three more Soul Vessels. Here are all nine Vessel Fragments they can find and collect in the game.
Buy Two From Sly
The most uncomplicated way of getting Vessel Fragments is by purchasing them from Sly. The player will first need to rescue Sly in the Forgotten Crossroads before they can purchase items from him in Dirtmouth.
The player can immediately purchase one from him for 500 Geos when he returns to his shop in Dirtmouth. For the second one, the player will need to give him the Shopkeeper's Key first. This item can be found in Crystal Peak, left of the Bench room where the player fights the Crystal Guardian. Once the key is given to sly, they can purchase the second Vessel Fragment from him for 900 Geos.
Forgotten Crossroads
Left of the massive elevator in the Forgotten Crossroads is a hidden Vessel Fragment. The elevator first needs to be unlocked for the player to gain access to this small area.
To unlock make this elevator functional, the player will first need to head to the City of Tears. There is a Stag Station and bench north of the City of Tears that is very close to the elevator the player can travel to. Once unlocked, take the lift to go up, head left, and continue on the area to find the Vessel Fragment.
Greenpath
The Vessel Fragment in Greenpath is found in the most bottom room of the level. Getting to this area is made easier with Isma's Tear, so it is advisable that the player obtain that ability first.
Once the player arrives at the most bottom room of Greenpath, they'll need to make their way through about halfway through the area, before the path that leads to Queen's Garden. The Vessel Fragment is on a platform above the level, next to a Grub.
Deepnest
The Vessel Fragment in Deepnest requires precision and timing to acquire. It is located above the area where three Garpedes crawl through narrow corridors right of the bench with the Hot Spring. The player must navigate their way through this area without being hit by the Garpedes and reach the area above.
Once there, they will then need to do a bit of platforming to get to the other side without being damaged by spikes. They can also Nail-bounce off of the Garpedes roaming here to reach the other side much easier. Otherwise, they can also use Crystal Dash. Once they make it across, they must Nail-bounce off a Garpede to reach a narrow room above that area. The Vessel Fragment is located on the left of this section.
King's Station
To start off, the player must travel to the King's Station by using the Stag. From there, the player must simply climb up to the top of the level. As they traverse upwards in this area, the player will need to face a myriad of enemies.
The room where the Vessel Fragment is located itself is protected by a handful of opponents the player must defeat first to open the door the houses the Fragment. It is located on the top right corner of the level, to the right of the lift that leads to the Resting Grounds.
Collect 700 Essence
After the player receives the Dream Nail, they'll also be able to start collecting Essence. There are multiple ways to gain Essence in the game. They can collect them from Whispering Roots by Dream Nailing them, spawning Essence Orbs around the area they can gather.
They can also earn Essence by defeating Warrior Dreams and Dream Bosses, which rewards around 100 to 400 Essence, depending on the enemy. Once they collect 700 Essence, return to the Seer to receive another Vessel Fragment.
Open All Stag Stations
There are a total of 11 Stag Stations all around Hallownest. Once the player unlocks 10 of them, the Last Stag will reveal that he has found his birthplace, the Stag Nest, offering to take you there.
Once the Stag and the Knight arrive at Stag Nest, head right and the player should be able to spot the Vessel Fragment immediately.
Drop 3,000 Geo Into The Fountain
There's a fountain with a statue of the Pale King in the Ancient Basin that will ask for the player's Geo. This room can be easily spotted as it glows a white hue that's visible from the outside. This room is directly above where Conifer stays in the area.
The fountain will ask for all of the Knight's Geo, but it will only take a maximum of 3,000. Drop 3,000 Geo on this fountain to receive a Vessel Fragment.