The Hollow Knight is one of the main bosses in Hollow Knight. They are central to the Knight's journey and the story of Hallownest. The Pure Vessel is their stronger, uninfected form.
This dropdown contains the synopsis of The Hollow Knight’s story. Read at your own risk as you may be spoiled otherwise!
Lore
The Hollow Knight is the Vessel chosen by the Pale King to seal away the Radiance and save Hallownest from the Infection. Like their siblings, they are the child of the King and Queen of Hallownest, birthed in the Abyss to be infused with the power of the Void. As such, they are genderless. This birth condition was also supposed to leave them without a mind, will, and voice, to prevent the Radiance from influencing them. However, their purity was misjudged, tarnished by an idea instilled, a bond with the Pale King who raised them.
Regardless of their impurity, the Hollow Knight was trained and raised, eventually becoming a fully grown Vessel. The Radiance was sealed within them, and they were chained within the Temple of the Black Egg where they were expected to contain the Infection for eternity. However, because of the aforementioned impurities, the Radiance could still exert influence. It ultimately resulted in the resurgence of the Infection and the Kingdom falling into ruin.
Over time, the Hollow Knight disappeared from the fallen Kingdom's memory. Only the Memorial in the middle of the City of Tears testifies of their sacrifice to save Hallownest.
After some time, the Radiance's power broke out of the Hollow Knight, cracking their shell and fully Infecting them. This event was the catalyst that brought the Knight back to Hallownest. The Knight can free and fight the Hollow Knight after killing the three Dreamers who sealed the Black Egg's entrance.
In-game events
The fate of the Hollow Knight is linked to the end of the Knight's journey. By killing the Hollow Knight, the Knight takes their place in sealing the Radiance. By instead entering their mind with the help of Hornet, the Knight can kill the Radiance. At the end of this fight, the Hollow Knight's Shade appears and opens up a weak point on her head, allowing the Knight to land the finishing blows. The two siblings then return to the Void together.
Godmaster Content
The Hollow Knight is also inherently part of the Godseeker's ritual. She seeks to attune the Radiance to Godhome through the Hollow Knight. In doing so, she summons the Pure Vessel instead, their uninfected form. Once the Knight defeats the Pure Vessel in the Pantheon of the Knight, the Radiance reaches Godhome.
After the Knight defeats Absolute Radiance at the peak of the Pantheon of Hallownest, the Infection vanishes from Hallownest. The Hollow Knight can then be seen walking out of the Black Egg, freed from the Infection. They are met outside by a startled Hornet.
The Pure Vessel is a quest boss in Hollow Knight introduced in Godmaster. They are the prime version of the Hollow Knight, unaffected by the Infection. They sit at the top of the Pantheon of the Knight.
General Information
Name: Pure Vessel (Vessels are born without names), The Hollow Knight
Alignment:Lawful Neutral (The Pure Vessel was only born to train its body in order to seal The Radiance so it stops the infection from targeting everyone, sacrificing itself) | Lawful Neutral | Lawful Evil (The Hollow Knight became infected by The Radiance and causes it to spread around Hallownest, generally being seen to kill whatever it seems)
Codex Statistics
Key:Pure Vessel | Dream Realm | Infected
Tier: At least 9-B, likely Far Higher | At least 9-B, likely Far Higher | At least 9-B, likely Far Higher
Durability: At least Wall level, likely Far Higher (Can fight and survive hits from The Knight after gaining the Void Heart) | At least Wall level, likely Far Higher | At least Wall level, likely Far Higher
Striking Strength: At least Wall Class, likely Far Higher | At least Wall Class, likely Far Higher | At least Wall Class, likely Far Higher
Stamina:Limitless (The Pure Vessel's true form is that of a shade, which is a spirit given form) | Limitless | Limitless
Range:Below Standard Melee Range, Higher with its weapon & abilities | Below Standard Melee Range, Higher with its weapon & abilities | Below Standard Melee Range, Higher with its weapon & abilities
Intelligence:Gifted (The Pure Vessel was trained to be a skilled fighter and claimed to be a vessel that's been trained to be in its prime. Can fight against other skilled warriors such as The Knight)
Soul Daggers: Pure Vessel moves to either side of the arena, faces the Knight, and raises their hand. The hand glows white while they summon seven daggers that shoot towards the Knight in straight lines along an arc. The daggers are summoned sequentially: the first one firing at an angle towards the floor, and the last one firing straight up.
Triple Slash: Pure Vessel slashes with their nail three times. Each slash of their nail moves them forward, covering about 1/3 of the arena in total. The slashes cover enough space that they can damage the Knight even if they are not directly in front of Pure Vessel.
Soul Pillars: Pure Vessel either leaps or teleports into the air above where the Knight was and then slams into the ground, causing pillars of Soul to jut up from the floor of the arena. These pillars are equally spaced, allowing some safety between them, and they span the entire arena.
Lunge: Pure Vessel draws their nail up and lunges along the ground towards the Knight. This lunge covers about 50% of the arena.
Parry: Pure Vessel takes up a defensive stance with their nail. If the Knight damages them after their nail shines, they take no damage from the hit and instead respond by shifting forward slightly and slashing with their nail. The parry lasts 0.5 seconds.
Focus: Pure Vessel begins focusing Soul in a fashion similar to the Knight. However, unlike the Knight, Pure Vessel surrounds themself with a circular aura that eventually explodes. Shortly after, six smaller auras appear randomly throughout the arena. Then these smaller auras explode in rapid succession in the order in which they appeared. Pure Vessel begins another attack as the final small explosion occurs. They start using this attack when they reach 66% of max HP.
Void Tendrils: Pure Vessel opens their cloak, revealing several flailing void tendrils, including two larger ones. About three quarters of a second later, the two larger tendrils lash out across about 60% of the arena. The lashing continues for about three quarters of a second. They start using this attack when they reach 33% of max HP.
Jump: When the Knight remains off the ground for too long, Pure Vessel launches themself at the Knight's location, dealing contact damage.
Teleport: Pure Vessel teleports within the arena to prepare for an attack or dodge the Knight.
Backstep: Pure Vessel quickly backsteps away from the Knight if they get too close; they then perform another attack.
Triple Slash: The Hollow Knight swings their nail 3 times. This attack is only used in Phases 1 through 3. Each swing of their nail moves the Hollow Knight forward, covering about 25% of the arena in total. The swings are so wide that they can damage the Knight even if they are behind the Hollow Knight.
Lunge: The Hollow Knight lunges along the ground with their nail pointed towards the Knight. This attack is only used in Phases 1 through 3. This lunge covers about 50% of the arena.
Parry: The Hollow Knight take up a defensive stance with their nail. If the Knight damages them after their nail shines, they take no damage from the hit and instead respond with a riposte. This attack is only used in Phases 1 through 3. The riposte has a huge arc and sizeable range because the Hollow Knight slides forward rapidly when they swing. The parry lasts 0.75 seconds.
Diving Flame Pillar: The Hollow Knight either jumps or teleports into the air and then slams straight down with their nail, causing columns of Infected fire to shoot up from the ground. No matter which method they choose, the Hollow Knight attempts to slam down where the Knight was at the beginning of the attack. This attack is only used in Phases 2 and 3. This attack deals two Masks of damage.
Barrage: The Hollow Knight launches multiple blobs of Infection towards the Knight from beneath their cloak. This attack is only used in Phases 2 and 3. The blobs are fired in arcs at multiple angles, starting low and working up. This attack covers about 75% of the arena. The Hollow Knight launches 9 or 10 blobs in total. This attack does not track the Knight; the blobs always follow the same arcs.
Outbreak: The Hollow Knight hovers in the air and shoots blobs of Infection everywhere. This attack is only used in Phase 3. The Hollow Knight is always in the centre of the arena for this attack. They remain in the air for about 6.5 seconds. The blobs travel along three primary paths: an arc going left, an arc going right, and a third going down. Blobs burst from the Hollow Knight for 5-6 seconds.
Bouncing Balloon: The Hollow Knight floats around the arena and bounces up and down 2-5 times. This attack is only used in Phases 3 and 4. This attack tracks the Knight's position and always aims for the Knight, specifically during the slam.
Self Stab: The Hollow Knight stands in place and stabs their nail through their chest multiple times. During this move, all damage dealt to the Hollow Knight is reduced to 1, regardless of Nail level.
Deterioration: The Hollow Knight attempts to swing their nail once and then falls to their knees. This attack is only used in Phase 4. Essentially, the Hollow Knight is attempting a Triple Slash attack but as soon as the first slash happens, they fall over without moving forward at all.
Other
Standard Tactics: The Pure Vessel will use its nail and SOUL energy to attack an enemy with. | The Hollow Knight will generally do the same, but also cause infection to its enemy.
Weaknesses: None notable.
References
↑Defensive charm once wielded by a tribe that could shape dreams
↑Official manual: A plane beyond the physical world, difficult to enter and even more difficult to escape.
↑Defensive charm once wielded by a tribe that could shape dreams
