An enigmatic wanderer who descends into Hallownest carrying only a broken nail to fend off foes.
„
~ Manual
“
Again we meet little ghost. I'm normally quite perceptive. You I underestimated, though I've since guessed the truth. You've seen beyond this kingdom's bounds. Yours is resilience born of two voids. It's no surprise then you've managed to reach the heart of this world. In so doing, you shall know the sacrifice that keeps it standing. If, knowing that truth, you'd still attempt a role in Hallownest's perpetuation, seek the Grave in Ash and the mark it would grant to one like you.
„
~ Hornet to The Knight
“
Each of us leaves an imprint of something when we die. A stain on the world. I don't know how much longer this kingdom can bear the weight of so many past lives...
„
~ The Hunter's journal
“
You shall seal the blinding light that plagues their dreams. You are the Vessel. You are the Hollow Knight.
„
~ Text appearing once obtaining the Void Heart
“
Its endless power shall attune Us to the one greater still, a God of Gods! Foolishly we feared thee, yet only by thine providence shall We find the one We seek. The God sleeping within...
The Knight is the protagonist and only playable character of Hollow Knight.
Lore
The Knight is a discarded Vessel. They are the child of the Pale King and the White Lady, born in the Abyss with Void inside their shell. Hornet is the Knight's sister through their shared father. Like the rest of their Vessel siblings, the Knight is sexless.
After climbing out of their birthplace in the Abyss, the Knight witnessed their sibling, the Hollow Knight] being taken out of the Abyss by the Pale King. The entrance to the Abyss was sealed, causing the Knight to fall back down. Sometime after this, despite the entrance being sealed, the Knight and some of their siblings managed to escape the Abyss.
Eventually, the Knight ended up wandering outside of Hallownest for unknown reasons. Spending time in this area caused the Knight to lose their memories, but being there did give them a certain resilience. They returned to Hallownest after a call went out from either the Radiance or the Hollow Knight.
In-game events
At the beginning of the game, the Knight is equipped with only their Old Nail and the ability to heal themself using SOUL. Throughout the game, the Knight gains access to new powers, Items, and Charms to help them through their journey.
After encountering the Dreamers in the Resting Grounds, the Knight acquires the Dream Nail. With this weapon, they can break the Seals in the Temple of the Black Egg by killing each of the three Dreamers. This allows them to enter the Black Egg, where they can fight the Hollow Knight. If the Hollow Knight is faced before obtaining Void Heart Charm, the Knight kills their sibling and takes their place in sealing the Radiance.
If the Knight has fought Hornet twice and has the King's Brand and the Shade Cloak, they have access to both halves of the Kingsoul. When the complete Kingsoul is equipped, the Knight can transform this Charm into Void Heart by going to their birthplace at the bottom of the Abyss and remembering their past.
With Void Heart, the Knight can use the Dream Nail on the Hollow Knight after Hornet holds them down. If the Dream Nail is not used, the Knight has to kill the Hollow Knight. This gives a similar ending as the ending without having Void Heart, but instead, Hornet becomes a Dreamer, her face appearing on the entrance to Black Egg.
Using the Dream Nail initiates the fight with the Radiance. At the end of this fight, the Knight breaks their own shell and lands the finishing blows on the Radiance in their Shade form, with the help of the Shade of the Hollow Knight. Both siblings and all the other Shades in the Abyss then return to the Void.
Classification: Vessel (Its body is that of a shell), Shade, Lord of Shades, God of Gods
Status:Unknown (The true ending of Hollow Knight displays The Knight is either stuck within the dream world after defeating Radiance, or its been destroyed with the dream world after the Godseeker has died)
Alignment:Chaotic Neutral (The Knight's purpose was to become the next Hollow Knight and stop the plague. The Knight will not stop and kill those in its way that try to stop it, although it will befriend anyone not attempting to harm it such as the grubs or the people within Dirtmouth)
Attack Potency: At least Room level+ (Defeated False Knight, who broke partof a bridge in its battle. The Knight's power should be far superior to False Knight by the end of the game due to defeating stronger enemies. Comparable to The Pale King, who's viewed as omnipotent in comparison to other bugs) | At least Room level+, likely Higher (Grew more powerful after collecting the Void Heart, which allowed The Knight to defeat Radiance in a weaker form. It can become even stronger in its final form, Shade Lord, being noted to have endless power)
Durability: At least Room level+ (Can take strikes from False Knight and its superior dream version, Failed Champion) | At least Room level+ (Grew more powerful), likely Higher
Striking Strength: At least Room Class+ | At least Room Class+, likely Higher
Stamina:Limitless (The Knight's true form is that of a shade, which is a spirit given form) | Limitless
Range:Below Standard Melee, Higher with Spells and Shade forms. Cross-Universal with the Dream Nail
Intelligence:Gifted (The Knight is a skilled warrior who's able to quickly learn new techniques in just a short time frame. It's also skilled enough to battle against many skilled warriors, being able to fight hoards of enemies at an arena. Its skill is praised by others such as Hornet and Dream Warriors. The Knight was able to gain the status of the God of Gods)
A traditional weapon of Hallownest. Its blade is blunt with age and wear.
Default weapon
5
Sharpened Nail
A traditional weapon of Hallownest, restored to lethal form.
250
9
Channelled Nail
A cleft weapon of Hallownest. The blade is exquisitely balanced.
800 + 1 Pale Ore
13
Coiled Nail
A powerful weapon of Hallownest, refined beyond all others.
2000 + 2 Pale Ore
17
Pure Nail
The ultimate weapon of Hallownest. Crafted to perfection, this ancient nail reveals its true form.
4000 + 3 Pale Ore
21
Charms:
Item
Description
Notches
Wayward Compass
Whispers its location to the bearer whenever a map is open, allowing wanderers to pinpoint their current location.
Gathering Swarm
A swarm will follow the bearer and gather up any loose Geo.
Useful for those who can't bear to leave anything behind, no matter how insignificant.
Stalwart Shell
Builds resilience. When recovering from damage, the bearer will remain invulnerable for longer.
Makes it easier to escape from dangerous situations.
Soul Catcher
Used by shamans to draw more SOUL from the world around them.
Increases the amount of SOUL gained when striking an enemy with the nail.
Shaman Stone
Said to contain the knowledge of past generations of shaman.
Increases the power of spells, dealing more damage to foes.
Soul Eater
Forgotten shaman artifact, used to draw SOUL from still-living creatures.
Greatly increases the amount of SOUL gained when striking an enemy with the nail.
Dashmaster
Bears the likeness of an eccentric bug known only as 'The Dashmaster'.
The bearer will be able to dash more often as well as dash downwards. Perfect for those who want to move around as quickly as possible.
Sprintmaster
Bears the likeness of a strange bug known only as 'The Sprintmaster'.
Increases the running speed of the bearer, allowing them to avoid danger or overtake rivals.
Grubsong
Contains the gratitude of freed grubs.
Gain SOUL when taking damage.
Grubberfly's Elegy
Contains the gratitude of grubs who will move to the next stage of their lives. Imbues weapons with a holy strength.
When the bearer is at full health, they will fire beams of white-hot energy from their nail.
Fragile Heart
Increases the health of the bearer, allowing them to take more damage.
This charm is fragile, and will break if its bearer is killed.
Unbreakable Heart
Increases the health of the bearer, allowing them to take more damage.
This charm is unbreakable.
Fragile Greed
Causes the bearer to find more Geo when defeating enemies.
This charm is fragile, and will break if its bearer is killed.
Unbreakable Greed
Causes the bearer to find more Geo when defeating enemies.
This charm is unbreakable.
Fragile Strength
Strengthens the bearer, increasing the damage they deal to enemies with their nail.
This charm is fragile, and will break if its bearer is killed.
Unbreakable Strength
Strengthens the bearer, increasing the damage they deal to enemies with their nail.
This charm is unbreakable.
Spell Twister
Reflecting the desires of the Soul Sanctum for mastery over SOUL, it improves the bearer's ability to cast spells.
Reduces the SOUL cost of casting spells.
Steady Body
Keeps its bearer from recoiling backwards when they strike an enemy with a nail.
Allows one to stay steady and keep attacking.
Heavy Blow
Formed from the nails of fallen warriors.
Increases the force of the bearer's nail, causing enemies to recoil further when hit.
Quick Slash
Born from imperfect, discarded nails that have fused together. The nails still long to be wielded.
Allows the bearer to slash much more rapidly with their nail.
Longnail
Increases the range of the bearer's nail, allowing them to strike foes from further away.
Mark of Pride
Freely given by the Mantis Tribe to those they respect.
Greatly increases the range of the bearer's nail, allowing them to strike foes from further away.
Fury of the Fallen
Embodies the fury and heroism that comes upon those who are about to die.
When close to death, the bearer's strength will increase.
Thorns of Agony
Senses the pain of its bearer and lashes out at the world around them.
When taking damage, sprout thorny vines that damage nearby foes.
Baldur Shell
Protects its bearer with a hard shell while focusing SOUL.
The shell is not indestructible and will shatter if it absorbs too much damage.
Flukenest
Living charm born in the gut of a Flukemarm.
Transforms the Vengeful Spirit spell into a horde of volatile baby flukes.
Defender's Crest
Unique charm bestowed by the King of Hallownest to his most loyal knight. Scratched and dirty, but still cared for.
Causes the bearer to emit a heroic odour.
Glowing Womb
Drains the SOUL of its bearer and uses it to birth hatchlings.
The hatchlings have no desire to eat or live, and will sacrifice themselves to protect their parent.
Quick Focus
A charm containing a crystal lens.
Increases the speed of focusing SOUL, allowing the bearer to heal damage faster.
Deep Focus
Naturally formed within a crystal over a long period. Draws in SOUL from the surrounding air.
The bearer will focus SOUL at a slower rate, but the healing effect will double.
Lifeblood Heart
Contains a living core that seeps precious lifeblood.
When resting, the bearer will gain a coating of lifeblood that protects from a modest amount of damage.
Lifeblood Core
Contains a living core that bleeds precious lifeblood.
When resting, the bearer will gain a coating of lifeblood that protects from a large amount of damage.
Joni's Blessing
Blessed by Joni, the kindly heretic. Transfigures vital fluids into blue lifeblood.
The bearer will have a healthier shell and can take more damage, but they will not be able to heal themselves by focusing SOUL.
Hiveblood
Golden nugget of the Hive's precious hardened nectar.
Heals the bearer's wounds over time, allowing them to regain health without focusing SOUL.
Spore Shroom
Composed of living fungal matter. Scatters spores when exposed to SOUL.
When focusing SOUL, emit a spore cloud that slowly damages enemies
Sharp Shadow
Contains a forbidden spell that transforms shadows into deadly weapons.
When using Shadow Dash, the bearer's body will sharpen and damage enemies.
Shape of Unn
Reveals the form of Unn within the bearer.
While focusing SOUL, the bearer will take on a new shape and can move freely to avoid enemies.
Nailmaster's Glory
Contains the passion, skill and regrets of a Nailmaster.
Increases the bearer's mastery of Nail Arts, allowing them to focus their power faster and unleash arts sooner.
Weaversong
Silken charm containing a song of farewell, left by the Weavers who departed Hallownest for their old home.
Summons weaverlings to give the lonely bearer some companionship and protection.
Dream Wielder
Transient charm created for those who wield the Dream Nail and collect Essence.
Allows the bearer to charge the Dream Nail faster and collect more SOUL when striking foes.
Dreamshield
Defensive charm once wielded by a tribe that could shape dreams.
Conjures a shield that follows the bearer and attempts to protect them.
Grimmchild
Worn by those who take part in the Grimm Troupe's Ritual.
The bearer must seek the Grimmkin and collect their flames. Uncollected flames will appear on the bearer's map.
Carefree Melody
Token commemorating the start of a friendship.
Contains a song of protection that may defend the bearer from damage.
Kingsoul
Holy charm symbolising a union between higher beings. The bearer will slowly absorb the limitless SOUL contained within.
Opens the way to a birthplace.
Void Heart
An emptiness that was hidden within, now unconstrained. Unifies the void under the bearer's will.
This charm is a part of its bearer and can not be unequipped.
-
Notable Techniques
Spells:
Focus
Focus collected SOUL to repair your shell and heal damage.
Strike enemies to gather SOUL.
Vengeful Spirit
Conjure a spirit that will fly forward and burn foes in its path.
The spirit requires SOUL to be conjured. Strike enemies to gather SOUL.
Desolate Dive
Strike the ground with a concentrated force of SOUL. This force can destroy foes or break through fragile structures.
The force requires SOUL to be conjured. Strike enemies to gather SOUL.
Howling Wraiths
Blast foes with screaming SOUL.
The Wraiths requires SOUL to be conjured. Strike enemies to gather SOUL.
Shade Soul
Conjure a shadow that will fly forward and burn foes in its path.
The shadow requires SOUL to be conjured. Strike enemies to gather SOUL.
Descending Dark
Strike the ground with a concentrated force of SOUL and Shadow. This force can destroy foes or break through fragile structures.
The force requires SOUL to be conjured. Strike enemies to gather SOUL.
Abyss Shriek
Blast foes with screaming SOUL and Shadow.
The Wraiths requires SOUL to be conjured. Strike enemies to gather SOUL.
Item Abilities:
Mothwing Cloak
Cloak threaded with mothwing strands. Allows the wearer to dash forwards along the ground or through the air.
Mantis Claw
Claw carved from bone. Allows the wearer to cling to walls and leap off of them.
Crystal Heart
The energy core of an old mining golem, fashioned around a potent crystal. The crystal's energy can be channeled to launch the bearer forward at dangerous speeds.
Monarch Wings
Wings of ethereal matter that shimmer in the darkness. Allows one to jump again in mid-air.
Isma's Tear
Fruit formed from a single hardened tear. Once ingested it provides protection from the searing, acidic pools found in certain parts of Hallownest.
Shade Cloak
Cloak formed from the substance of the Abyss. Allows the wearer to dash through enemies and their attacks without taking damage.
Dream Nail
Allows the wielder to cut through the veil between dreams and waking. Can be used to reveal hidden dreams or open gateways.
The Dream Nail can collect Essence, remnants of wishes and dreams.
Awoken Dream Nail
Allows the wielder to cut through the veil between dreams and waking. Can be used to reveal hidden dreams or open gateways.
The power of the Dream Nail has fully awoken, allowing entry into certain protected memories.
Dreamgate
Allows the wielder to travel instantly through dream.
Hold DOWN while using the Dream Nail to set a Dreamgate. Hold UP while using the Dream Nail to spend 1 Essence and travel to the placed Dreamgate.
Some areas may lack a strong connection to any dream, disallowing use of the Dreamgate.
World Sense
Completion percentage viewable in inventory.
Nail Arts:
Cyclone Slash
The signature Nail Art of Nailmaster Mato. A spinning attack that rapidly strikes foes on all sides.
Dash Slash
The signature Nail Art of Nailmaster Oro. Strike ahead quickly after dashing forward.
Great Slash
The signature Nail Art of Nailmaster Sheo. Unleashes a huge slash directly in front of you which deals extra damage to foes.
Other
Standard Tactics: The Knight will typically use its nail or spells to attack an enemy. In its shade forms, it'll use its longer limbs to attack.
Weaknesses: Has a limited amount of SOUL, though certain items can restore it. The vessel is weaker without its shade.
