Of all the NPCs that the Knight will encounter during their quest in Hollow Knight, the Seer is one of the most important. After interacting with the statues in the Resting Grounds, players will be granted the Dream Nail; a special item that allows players to cut through the veil and enter the realm of dreams.
The Dream Nail is used to interact with a variety of things throughout the game, including NPCs to read their innermost thoughts and fight the Dream Warriors. However, something that players may have seen around Hallownest are the odd tree-like growths. These are known as Whispering Roots, and, when struck with the Dream Nail, they expel Essence that can be collected and leave cryptic messages for players to decipher. Essence is used to power up the Dream Nail, and, depending on how much the player has accumulated, earns rewards from the Seer.
There are a total of 15 Whispering Roots that can be found in the game. Players can either buy a pin from Iselda to mark their locations on the map after the Dream Nail has been unlocked, or read on to find out exactly where they are.
Ancestral Mound
The Ancestral Mound is the area that players will be led to after defeating the False Knight. Players will remember that the Shaman Snail locked them inside this area after obtaining the Vengeful Spirit spell, which is used to defeat the Elder Baldur.
There is a side path in the left section of the Ancestral Mound where players can find a large Soul Totem and above this is a Lifeblood Cocoon that grants temporary masks for the Knight. Players will need the Monarch Wings to reach the Whispering Root, which is located in the section above the Lifeblood Cocoon.
This Whispering Root tree expels 42 Essence that players will need to collect to complete it. When the player uses the Dream Nail again, they will receive the message:
...Soul attuned...
...Spiral focus...
...Shunned Power...
City of Tears
The City of Tears Whispering Root can be found below the City Storerooms Stag Station.
In the large room with multiple suspended platforms, players will find three paths off to the right-hand side of the chamber. The Whispering Root will be found in the bottom-most of these paths, and, after it is struck with the Dream Nail, 28 Essence will scatter into the chamber.
It is advisable to take out all of the enemies before collecting the Essence, especially the Lance and Winged Sentries that are patrolling the area, to make the platforming in this area easier. After using the Dream Nail again on the Whispering Root, players will receive the following message:
...Promised plenty...
...Souls to serve...
...Soul twisted...
Crystal Peak
Players will need to have unlocked the Monarch Wings to access the Crystal Peak Whispering Root.
Past the bench where the Crystal Guardian is first encountered, players can travel further up and to the right and make their way to Hallownest’s Crown to the northeast of the Crystal Peak; an important area for the history of the kingdom.
Before making the ascent to Hallownest’s Crown, there is a section that is guarded by Crystallized Husks where players can find the Whispering Root, which will expel 21 Essence for collection. The message that will be revealed after Dream Nailing the tree again will say:
...Light refracted...
...Energy contained...
Deepnest
It is easiest to reach the Deepnest Whispering Root from the Queen’s Gardens and dropping down into Deepnest, or by traveling to the Distant Village Stag Station.
Located to the right of the Distant Village, players can find the Whispering Root nestled into a corner behind a Deepling. Players can gain 45 Essence from this tree. When struck with the Dream Nail again, this Whispering Root informs the player:
...Nest alive...
...Sleeping Queen...
...Beast...
Forgotten Crossroads
The Mantis Claw is required to reach this Whispering Root, and the Monarch Wings will make things easier on the player but is not necessary.
Directly opposite the Grubfather’s location, keen-eyed players may spot a crack in the ceiling and a glow emitting from the same area. Using the nail, the Knight can break this section of the wall to open up a secret area. Using the Mantis Claw to scramble up, players will find three Geo deposits in the immediate area, and off to the left is the Whispering Root.
After interacting with it, the tree will release 29 Essence that will spread throughout the chamber with the suspended platforms. Players will need to be careful of the enemies that are scattered throughout this area, and, depending on when they return, the Forgotten Crossroads may look different than they remember. If players decide to use the Dream Nail again, they will be met with this message:
...Twisting paths...
...Travelling masses...
...Vessel Sealed...
Fungal Wastes (near Fog Canyon shortcut)
To reach the first Fungal Wastes Whispering Root, players will need to have unlocked Isma’s Tear.
Opposite the path that leads to Leg Eater, players will find a small pool of acid that they'll need to swim through to reach the shortcut to Fog Canyon through the Fungal Waste. The Whispering Root will be found in this area and players can obtain 20 Essence from it. Dream Nailing this Whispering Root again will present players with the following message:
...Misted caverns...
...Noxious spores...
...Teacher...
Fungal Wastes (north of the Mantis Village)
After players obtain the Mantis Claw from the outskirts of the Mantis Village, they will be able to reach the Whispering Root that is hidden away above. This Whispering Root will grant 18 Essence and the following message when Dream Nailed again:
...Proud warriors...
...Honour bound...
Greenpath
Players will need to have unlocked the path between the Queen’s Gardens and Greenpath to reach this Whispering Root.
If they are traveling through Greenpath to reach this Whispering Root, the Mothwing/Shade Cloak, Isma’s Tear, and Monarch Wings will make the journey much easier as it will require traveling across a large acid pool and pogoing off the back of Durandoos. Pogoing will also be easier to execute if players have Long Nail or the Mark of Pride charms equipped.
Players can earn 44 Essence from this Whispering Root and this message:
...Greenkin lost...
...Paths overgrown...
...Dream forgotten...
The Hive
Players will need the Monarch Wings to enter the Hive.
The fastest way to reach the Hive is to get the tram from either Deepnest or the Ancient Basin and to travel to Kingdom’s Edge. Once the player has arrived in Kingdom’s Edge, they must continue to the right, avoiding the spiky pits, until they reach an area with two small Hivelings buzzing around. These enemies are indicating a secret entrance to the Hive, which can be opened by either attacking with the nail or using a spell to destroy the breakable wall.
To the far right of where the bench is located within the Hive, players can find the Whispering Root that provides ten Essence. Players should beware of the Hive Soldiers that inhabit the area as their drill attacks are fast and allow them to travel long distances quickly. The strange message that can be received from this Whispering Root reads as:
...Hardened tribe...
...Light familiar...
Howling Cliffs
The Mantis Claw is required to reach the Howling Cliffs, and, although players may not necessarily need the Monarch Wings, they may help for the platforming sections.
Players should return to the area where the Knight first drops down at the start of the game by using the Mantis Claw to climb back up the large wall to the far left of Dirtmouth. If they take a left in this first chamber, they will find a secret area that they can continue to climb up. Following this path will lead to the Howling Cliffs.
Cornifer can be found at around the halfway point down the cliffs, and the Whispering Root can be found a little further down from his location. Once players use the Dream Nail on it, the Whispering Root will expel 46 Essence and will reveal a message:
...Wasteland...
...Bugs Reduced...
Kingdom's Edge
Kingdom’s Edge is an important area in Hollow Knight for players that are trying to piece together the lore. To reach the Whispering Root in th map, the Monarch Wings will make the platforming here easier to execute, and, potentially, the Primal Aspids easier to dodge.
There are numerous ways for the player to enter the Kingdom’s Edge to get to this Whispering Root. Players can descend from the Colosseum of Fools, located to the very north of Kingdom’s Edge, or by going through the secret passage in the King’s Station. This passage can be found by going to the very bottom platform with the two Vengeflies to the far right. If players enter the water and continue swimming to the right, they will find a new area that leads to the Kingdom’s Edge.
For players that have unlocked the Tower of Love, which can also be reached through this passage, there is another exit to Kingdom’s Edge through there that will open up directly opposite their destination. Players will be rewarded with 51 Essence for completing this Whispering Root, and using the Dream Nail again will reveal a message:
...Sacred grave...
...Ashen ground...
...Kingdom's birth...
Queen's Gardens
This Whispering Root is located to the far southeast of Queen’s Gardens, directly right from the bench with a viewing window. There are several hazards throughout the Queen’s Gardens, and players are likely to encounter spikes, Mantis Traitors, and temporary platforms as they navigate around the space.
The area with the Whispering Root will require careful platforming, making any mobility upgrades that the Knight can obtain helpful when collecting the 29 Essence from it. This Whispering Root will leave the player with another cryptic message when Dream Nailed again:
...Leaves in splendor...
...Pale root...
Resting Grounds
This will likely be the first Whispering Root that players will complete as they will be directed to it after unlocking the Dream Nail. The Seer will inform the Knight that there is a tree that they can collect Essence from (specifically, 20) and that it is located just outside of her chamber. The message from this Whispering Root directly references the Seer:
...Dead remembered...
...Penitent Moth...
...Dreams revered...
Royal Waterways
Although it is considered part of the Royal Waterways, this Whispering Root can be found in an area between the Royal Waterways and the Ancient Basin.
Players can travel up to the Royal Waterways from the Ancient Basin either by going to the Hidden Station via the Stagways, or by unlocking the tram that travels between Deepnest, the Ancient Basin, and Kingdom’s Edge.
Past the tram station are some platforms that lead up to the Royal Waterways. Players should then go right and travel across the broken pillars (avoiding enemies along the way) until they reach the chamber with the broken elevator. In the far-right corner, players can find a small room with a Whispering Root tucked away that will give them 35 Essence and the following message when Dream Nailed again:
...Kingdom above...
...Palace below...
...Servants' path...
Spirits' Glade
Hollow Knight was partially funded by a Kickstarter campaign that had raised over $57,000 (AUD) by the end of 2014. To thank all of the fans who had stuck by them and kindly donated money to their project, Team Cherry created the Spirits’ Glade where backers’ messages have been immortalized within the game.
The Spirits’ Glade is found in the Resting Grounds, but it is initially locked behind a door. Players will need to collect 200 Essence and return to the Seer, who will congratulate them on their hard work and unlock the door for them. Inside, players will be greeted by a spirit named Revek who warns players that harming the spirits inside will have severe consequences.
If players would prefer to collect Essence in a safer manner, they will find the Whispering Root at the very top right of the Glade where they can earn 34 Essence. The message from this Whispering Root is as follows:
...Sacred memories...
...Honoured souls...
Hollow Knight is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.