Hollow Knight Steam Achievements Guide – 100% Completion

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QUICK STATS

• Total Achievements: 63
• Estimated Completion Time: 45–60 hours
• Overall Difficulty: Very Hard
• Missable Achievements: Yes (10 total)
  • Peace
  • Solace
  • Neglect
  • Banishment
  • Passing of the Age
  • Happy Couple
  • Memory (if missed White Defender area)
  • Obsession (requires saving Zote)
  • Rivalry (requires saving Zote)
  • Inspiration (requires all Nail Arts)
• Minimum Playthroughs: 2 (1 Normal + 1 Steel Soul)
• Unobtainable Achievements: None

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ACHIEVEMENT LIST BY CATEGORY

STORY ACHIEVEMENTS (Unmissable)

• Falsehood
• Test of Resolve
• Illumination
• Respect
• Honour
• Release
• Beast
• Teacher
• Watcher
• The Hollow Knight
• Dream No More
• Sealed Siblings
• Completion
• Pure Completion

COMBAT/SKILL ACHIEVEMENTS

• Warrior
• Conqueror
• Fool
• Execution
• Rivalry
• Strength
• Witness
• Soul & Shade
• Focus
• Embrace the Void
• Proof of Resolve
• Brotherhood
• Ritual
• Purity

COLLECTIBLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• Charmed
• Protected
• Soulful
• Enchanted
• Grubfriend
• Attunement
• Cartographer
• Metamorphosis
• Worldsoul
• Masked
• Ascension
• Blessed
• Keen Hunter
• True Hunter
• Connection
• Hope
• Awakening
• Void

MISSABLE ACHIEVEMENTS ⚠️ CRITICAL

• Peace
• Solace
• Neglect
• Banishment
• Passing of the Age
• Happy Couple
• Obsession
• Rivalry
• Inspiration
• Memory

DIFFICULT/GRINDY ACHIEVEMENTS

• Speedrun 1
• Speed Completion
• Speedrun 2
• Steel Soul
• Steel Heart
• Embrace the Void
• Focus

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Detailed Walkthrough of Hollow Knight Achievement Guide

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1. Charmed – 77.1% (% of Total Userbase that have achieved it)

Description: Acquire your first Charm

Rarity: Common

How to Unlock:

1. Progress through Forgotten Crossroads
2. Buy Wayward Compass from Iselda in Dirtmouth (220 Geo) OR find Fury of the Fallen in King’s Pass

Tips:

• Wayward Compass is best first charm for navigation
• Check back with Iselda after finding Cornifer

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2. Falsehood – 71.6%

Description: Defeat the False Knight

Rarity: Common

How to Unlock:

1. Reach False Knight arena in Forgotten Crossroads
2. Attack his head when he’s staggered
3. Repeat until defeated

Tips:

• Jump over shockwaves
• Heal only when he’s staggered and falls out of armor
• Hit the armor to stagger faster

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3. Test of Resolve – 63.0%

Description: Defeat Hornet in Greenpath

Rarity: Common

How to Unlock:

1. Progress through Greenpath
2. Defeat Hornet to unlock Mothwing Cloak (dash ability)

Tips:

• Learn her three attack patterns before healing
• Dash through her needle throw
• Don’t get greedy—one hit, back off

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4. Connection – 49.1%

Description: Open half of Hallownest’s Stag Stations

Rarity: Uncommon

How to Unlock:

1. Find and unlock 5 of the 10 Stag Stations
2. Pay Geo to open each station

Stag Station Locations:

• Dirtmouth, Forgotten Crossroads, Greenpath, Queen’s Station, City Storerooms, King’s Station, Resting Grounds, Distant Village, Hidden Station, Stag Nest

Tips:

• Prioritize Queen’s Station and King’s Station for shortcuts
• Listen for Stag bells to find hidden stations

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5. Protected – 47.8%

Description: Acquire 4 Mask Shards

Rarity: Uncommon

How to Unlock:

1. Collect 4 Mask Shards (gives +1 mask/health)
2. Found throughout Hallownest or purchased

Easy Mask Shards:

• Sly’s shop (150 Geo)
• Forgotten Crossroads (near Brooding Mawlek)
• Grubfather (rescue 5 grubs)
• Queen’s Station (breakable ceiling)

Tips:

• 4 shards = 1 full mask
• 16 total shards in the game

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6. Illumination – 47.0%

Description: Defeat the Soul Master

Rarity: Uncommon

How to Unlock:

1. Reach Soul Sanctum in City of Tears
2. Defeat Soul Master (has two phases)
3. Unlocks Desolate Dive spell

Tips:

• Phase 1: Stay close, punish after his dive attack
• Phase 2: He teleports more—be patient
• Desolate Dive can break floors throughout the game

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7. Respect – 46.5%

Description: Defeat the Mantis Lords

Rarity: Uncommon

How to Unlock:

1. Reach Mantis Village in Fungal Wastes
2. Defeat all three Mantis Lords
3. Opens shortcut to Deepnest

Tips:

• One of the best-designed fights in the game
• Learn the patterns—they’re fair and predictable
• After defeating them, Mantis enemies won’t attack you

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8. Soulful – 43.7%

Description: Acquire 3 Vessel Fragments

Rarity: Uncommon

How to Unlock:

1. Collect 3 Vessel Fragments (increases Soul capacity)

Easy Vessel Fragments:

• Sly’s shop (550 Geo)
• Greenpath (left of Stone Sanctuary)
• City of Tears (requires Dive)

Tips:

• 3 fragments = 1 Soul Vessel
• More Soul = more heals/spells per fill

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9. Honour – 42.6%

Description: Defeat the Dung Defender

Rarity: Uncommon

How to Unlock:

1. Reach Royal Waterways below City of Tears
2. Defeat Dung Defender
3. Opens path to Isma’s Grove

Tips:

• Stay in the air—jump and pogo on him
• When he burrows, watch for dirt trails
• Friendly NPC after defeat

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10. Release – 41.7%

Description: Defeat the Broken Vessel

Rarity: Uncommon

How to Unlock:

1. Reach Ancient Basin
2. Defeat Broken Vessel
3. Unlocks Monarch Wings (double jump)

Tips:

• Kill the infection blobs quickly
• Double jump is essential for exploration
• Return later for the Dream variant (Lost Kin)

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11. Enchanted – 39.7%

Description: Acquire half of Hallownest’s Charms

Rarity: Uncommon

How to Unlock:

1. Collect 20 of the 40 Charms

Tips:

• Buy from Salubra, Sly, Leg Eater
• Many found through exploration
• Some require boss defeats or NPC quests

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12. Beast – 38.5%

Description: Destroy Herrah the Beast

Rarity: Uncommon

How to Unlock:

1. Reach Beast’s Den in Deepnest
2. Dream Nail Herrah the Beast (one of three Dreamers)

Tips:

• No fight—just Dream Nail her
• Deepnest is dangerous—bring Grimmchild or Weaversong
• One of three Dreamers needed to access Hollow Knight

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13. Proof of Resolve – 38.4%

Description: Defeat Hornet in Kingdom’s Edge

Rarity: Uncommon

How to Unlock:

1. Reach Kingdom’s Edge
2. Defeat Hornet Sentinel (second Hornet fight)
3. Unlocks King’s Brand

Tips:

• Much harder than first fight
• She throws spike traps—stay mobile
• King’s Brand opens the Abyss

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14. Grubfriend – 38.2%

Description: Rescue half of the imprisoned grubs

Rarity: Uncommon

How to Unlock:

1. Find and free 23 of the 46 grubs
2. Break their glass jars with your nail

Tips:

• Grubs make crying sounds—listen carefully
• Use Grubsong charm to locate them
• Return to Grubfather for rewards

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15. Attunement – 37.8%

Description: Collect 600 Essence

Rarity: Uncommon

How to Unlock:

1. Obtain Dream Nail from Seer in Resting Grounds
2. Collect 600 Essence from dream warriors/bosses/trees

Tips:

• Dream Warriors give 200-400 Essence each
• Whispering Roots give 20-50 each
• Return to Seer for rewards at milestones

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16. Teacher – 37.4%

Description: Destroy Monomon the Teacher

Rarity: Uncommon

How to Unlock:

1. Reach Teacher’s Archives in Fog Canyon
2. Defeat Uumuu (requires Isma’s Tear first)
3. Dream Nail Monomon

Tips:

• Quirrel helps in this fight
• Pop the Oomas to damage Uumuu
• Second of three Dreamers

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17. Warrior – 37.4%

Description: Complete the Trial of the Warrior

Rarity: Uncommon

How to Unlock:

1. Reach Colosseum of Fools in Kingdom’s Edge
2. Pay 100 Geo to enter Trial of the Warrior
3. Survive all waves

Tips:

• First and easiest trial
• Use Shaman Stone + spells for crowd control
• Rewards: 1000 Geo, Warrior achievement

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18. Watcher – 37.2%

Description: Destroy Lurien the Watcher

Rarity: Uncommon

How to Unlock:

1. Reach Watcher’s Spire in City of Tears
2. Defeat Watcher Knight (twin knights fight)
3. Dream Nail Lurien

Tips:

• Hardest Dreamer to reach
• Watcher Knights are brutal—use Descending Dark
• Third of three Dreamers

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19. Cartographer – 36.1%

Description: Acquire a map of each area

Rarity: Uncommon

How to Unlock:

1. Find Cornifer in each area (listen for humming)
2. Buy his map before he leaves to Dirtmouth
3. Complete maps for all major areas

Tips:

• Cornifer leaves paper trails—follow them
• If you miss him, buy maps from Iselda in Dirtmouth (costs more)
• Wayward Compass shows your position on map

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20. Conqueror – 34.2%

Description: Complete the Trial of the Conqueror

Rarity: Uncommon

How to Unlock:

1. Reach Colosseum of Fools
2. Pay 450 Geo to enter Trial of the Conqueror
3. Survive all waves including aerial combat

Tips:

• Harder than Warrior—flying enemies added
• Mark of Pride + Long Nail help with reach
• Rewards: 2000 Geo, Pale Ore

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21. Execution – 32.9%

Description: Defeat the Traitor Lord

Rarity: Uncommon

How to Unlock:

1. Reach Queen’s Gardens
2. Defeat Traitor Lord
3. Required for Cloth’s questline (optional)

Tips:

• Sharp Shadow makes this fight much easier
• Dash through his attacks, not away
• If Cloth is alive and you talked to her, she’ll help (and die)

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22. Hope – 32.7%

Description: Open all of Hallownest’s Stag Stations and discover the Stag Nest

Rarity: Uncommon

How to Unlock:

1. Open all 10 Stag Stations
2. Discover the hidden Stag Nest (requires all stations open)

Stag Stations:

• Dirtmouth, Forgotten Crossroads, Greenpath, Queen’s Station, City Storerooms, King’s Station, Resting Grounds, Distant Village, Hidden Station, Stag Nest

Tips:

• Hidden Station is in the eastern part of Deepnest
• After opening all 10, talk to the Stag—he’ll take you to Stag Nest
• Stag Nest has a Vessel Fragment

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23. Obsession – 30.8%

Description: Defeat the Grey Prince Zote 10 times

Rarity: Uncommon

How to Unlock:

1. Save Zote in Forgotten Crossroads AND Deepnest
2. Find him in Bretta’s basement in Dirtmouth (Dream Nail the statue)
3. Defeat Grey Prince Zote 10 times (gets harder each time)

Tips:

• Each victory increases difficulty
• Not required for 112% completion
• Rewards Essence (300 first kill, +100 each kill up to 1000 total)

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24. Peace – 30.3% ⚠️ MISSABLE

Description: Defeat all three Dreamers without killing any other boss

Rarity: Uncommon

How to Unlock:

1. Start a new save
2. Kill ONLY the required bosses to reach Dreamers (False Knight, Hornet 1, one of: Soul Master/Broken Vessel)
3. Dream Nail all three Dreamers
4. Do NOT kill optional bosses

Tips:

• Very restrictive run—plan your route
• Can skip most bosses with good movement
• Missable if you kill extra bosses

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25. Awakening – 29.8%

Description: Collect 1800 Essence and awaken the Dream Nail

Rarity: Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Collect 1800 Essence total
2. Return to Seer in Resting Grounds
3. Dream Nail upgrades—can now break Dreamer seals

Tips:

• Dream Warriors: 200-400 each
• Dream Bosses: 300-400 each
• Whispering Roots: 20-50 each

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26. Rivalry – 28.6%

Description: Defeat Zote in the Colosseum of Fools

Rarity: Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Save Zote in Forgotten Crossroads AND Deepnest
2. Complete Trial of the Warrior in Colosseum
3. Zote will challenge you—defeat him

Tips:

• Zote is weak and pathetic
• Just hit him a few times
• Funny moment if you saved him twice

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27. Grand Performance – 26.3%

Description: Witness the conclusion of the Grimm Troupe’s ritual

Rarity: Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Light the Nightmare Lantern in Howling Cliffs
2. Collect flames from around Hallownest
3. Upgrade Grimmchild three times
4. Defeat Nightmare King Grimm OR banish the troupe

Tips:

• Two paths: Fight NKG (harder) or Banishment (easier, different rewards)
• NKG is one of the hardest fights in the game
• Banishment gives Carefree Melody charm instead

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28. Strength – 26.2%

Description: Defeat the strongest warrior of Hallownest (Failed Champion)

Rarity: Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Return to False Knight arena after defeating him
2. Dream Nail his armor remains
3. Defeat Failed Champion (dream version)

Tips:

• Much harder than False Knight
• Shockwaves are faster and more frequent
• Rewards 300 Essence

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29. Metamorphosis – 25.7%

Description: Rescue all of the imprisoned grubs

Rarity: Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Find and free all 46 grubs
2. Return to Grubfather for final reward

Tips:

• Use online map to track locations
• Some require late-game abilities (Isma’s Tear, Monarch Wings)
• Final reward: Grubberfly’s Elegy charm

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30. Void – 25.6%

Description: Obtain the Void Heart

Rarity: Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Get King’s Brand from Hornet 2 fight
2. Enter the Abyss
3. Reach the bottom and obtain Shade Cloak
4. Return to Birthplace at Abyss bottom with Kingsoul equipped
5. Complete the memory sequence—Kingsoul transforms to Void Heart

Tips:

• Void Heart is required for true endings
• It’s a 0-notch charm after transformation
• Opens the path to Radiance fight

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31. Worldsoul – 25.0%

Description: Acquire all Vessel Fragments

Rarity: Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Collect all 9 Vessel Fragments (gives 3 extra Soul Vessels)

Locations:

• Sly’s shop (550 Geo, then 900 Geo)
• Greenpath (left of Stone Sanctuary)
• City of Tears (requires Dive)
• Deepnest (near hot spring)
• Stag Nest
• Seer (700 Essence reward)
• Grubfather (31 grubs rescued)
• Resting Grounds (lift requires City Crest)
• Queen’s Gardens

Tips:

• 3 fragments = 1 Soul Vessel
• Max Soul = 99 with all vessels

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32. Witness – 24.6%

Description: Defeat the Soul Tyrant

Rarity: Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Return to Soul Sanctum after defeating Soul Master
2. Dream Nail his corpse in the boss room
3. Defeat Soul Tyrant (dream version)

Tips:

• Faster and more aggressive than Soul Master
• Phase 2 has more orbs
• Rewards 300 Essence

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33. The Hollow Knight – 23.9%

Description: Defeat the Hollow Knight and become the vessel

Rarity: Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Destroy all three Dreamers
2. Enter the Black Egg in Forgotten Crossroads
3. Defeat the Hollow Knight

Tips:

• First ending (not true ending)
• Don’t Dream Nail him when he staggers if you want this ending
• Credits roll, achievement unlocks

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34. Mortality – 23.7%

Description: Defeat all Dream Warriors

Rarity: Rare

How to Unlock: Defeat all 7 Dream Warriors:

1. Elder Hu (Fungal Wastes) – 100 Essence
2. Galien (Deepnest) – 200 Essence
3. Gorb (Howling Cliffs) – 100 Essence
4. Markoth (Kingdom’s Edge) – 250 Essence
5. Marmu (Queen’s Gardens) – 150 Essence
6. No Eyes (Greenpath) – 200 Essence
7. Xero (Resting Grounds) – 100 Essence

Tips:

• Markoth is the hardest—no floor in Ascended/Radiant
• Good Essence farming for Dream Nail upgrades

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35. Dark Romance – 21.3%

Description: Witness a forbidden romance blossom

Rarity: Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Find Emilitia in City of Tears (tower near Nailsmith)
2. Spare the Nailsmith after upgrading nail fully
3. Return to Emilitia’s location—Nailsmith will be there painting

Tips:

• Must NOT kill Nailsmith when prompted
• Wait a few rooms and return
• Wholesome achievement

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36. Solace – 20.7% ⚠️ MISSABLE

Description: Bring peace to the Grey Mourner

Rarity: Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Find Grey Mourner in Resting Grounds (hidden room)
2. Accept the Delicate Flower
3. Deliver it to the Traitor’s Child grave in Queen’s Gardens WITHOUT taking damage or using stag/tram

Tips:

• Clear all enemies on the path first
• No fast travel allowed—walk the whole way
• One hit = flower breaks, restart from Grey Mourner

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37. Fool – 20.0%

Description: Complete the Trial of the Fool

Rarity: Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Reach Colosseum of Fools
2. Pay 800 Geo to enter Trial of the Fool
3. Survive all waves including the God Tamer boss

Tips:

• Hardest Colosseum trial
• Nailmaster’s Glory + Great Slash helps
• Hiveblood can cheese some sections (slow heal)

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38. Masked – 19.9%

Description: Acquire all Mask Shards

Rarity: Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Collect all 16 Mask Shards
2. Gives 4 extra masks (9 total health)

Key Locations:

• Sly’s shop (4 total across price tiers)
• Grubfather rewards
• Brooding Mawlek fight
• Queen’s Station, Deepnest, Hive, etc.

Tips:

• Use wiki/map to track all 16
• Max health makes late bosses much easier

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39. Ascension – 19.9%

Description: Collect 2400 Essence and hear the Seer’s final words

Rarity: Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Collect 2400 Essence total
2. Return to Seer in Resting Grounds
3. She gives Ascension achievement and fades away

Tips:

• Final Seer reward
• After this, Dream Gate becomes free to use
• Awoken Dream Nail can read hidden memories

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40. Dream No More – 19.9%

Description: Defeat the Radiance (true final boss)

Rarity: Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Obtain Void Heart
2. Fight the Hollow Knight
3. When Hornet pins him, Dream Nail the Hollow Knight
4. Defeat the Radiance

Tips:

• True ending—hardest main game boss
• Five phases, final phase is platforming
• Abyss Shriek spam is very effective

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41. Blessed – 19.8%

Description: Acquire all Charms and receive Salubra’s blessing

Rarity: Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Collect all 40 Charms
2. Talk to Salubra with all charms
3. She gives Salubra’s Blessing (faster focus when idle)

Tips:

• Includes charms from all content (Grimm Troupe, Lifeblood, etc.)
• Void Heart counts as a charm
• Carefree Melody OR Grimmchild needed (not both)

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42. Completion – 18.6%

Description: Achieve 100% game completion and finish the game

Rarity: Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Reach 100% completion on save file
2. Beat the Hollow Knight (any ending)

What Counts:

• Bosses, charms, mask shards, vessel fragments
• Nail upgrades, spells, abilities
• Colosseum trials, dream warriors

Tips:

• Check inventory screen for percentage
• 100% is base game—112% includes DLC content

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43. Sealed Siblings – 18.4%

Description: Defeat the Hollow Knight with Hornet by your side

Rarity: Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Obtain Void Heart
2. Fight the Hollow Knight
3. When Hornet pins him, do NOT Dream Nail him
4. Continue attacking until Hollow Knight dies

Tips:

• Second ending (not true ending)
• Hornet seals herself in the Black Egg with you
• Requires Void Heart but ignoring the Radiance fight

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44. Memory – 18.4%

Description: Defeat the White Defender

Rarity: Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Defeat Dung Defender first
2. Return to his arena and ground pound (Desolate Dive) the floor below
3. Dream Nail the hidden sleeping Dung Defender
4. Defeat White Defender (dream version)

Tips:

• Can fight him 5 times—gets harder each time
• Total 600 Essence available (100 per kill up to 5)
• One of the friendliest NPCs in the game

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45. Purity – 18.3%

Description: Defeat the Pure Vessel

Rarity: Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Reach Godhome (requires Simple Key at Junk Pit in Royal Waterways)
2. Complete Pantheons 1-3
3. Fight Pure Vessel in Pantheon of the Knight OR in Hall of Gods

Tips:

• One of the hardest bosses in the game
• Fast, aggressive, no openings
• Learn the triple slash and parry timing

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46. Brotherhood – 16.9%

Description: Defeat the three Nailmasters

Rarity: Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Learn all three Nail Arts from the Nailmasters
2. Reach Godhome
3. Fight all three Nailmasters as one boss: Oro, Mato, and Sheo

Tips:

• Found in Pantheon of the Sage
• Each uses their signature Nail Art
• Learn their tells—punish after big attacks

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47. Inspiration – 15.9%

Description: Witness Sheo’s new calling

Rarity: Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Learn Great Slash from Nailmaster Sheo (Greenpath)
2. Return to his hut after getting all three Nail Arts
3. He will have started painting

Tips:

• Must have all three Nail Arts first
• Quick achievement—just revisit his hut
• Shows his character growth

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48. Ritual – 15.8%

Description: Defeat Nightmare King Grimm

Rarity: Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Complete Grimm Troupe questline (collect all flames)
2. Upgrade Grimmchild to final form
3. Fight Nightmare King Grimm in a hidden dream realm

Tips:

• One of the hardest bosses in the game
• All attacks are faster versions of Troupe Master Grimm
• Sharp Shadow helps dodge through flame pillars
• Rewards Grimmchild final form

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49. Focus – 11.9%

Description: Defeat all Pantheon bosses on Ascended difficulty

Rarity: Very Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Reach Godhome
2. Use Hall of Gods
3. Defeat every boss on Ascended difficulty (double damage taken)

Tips:

• 42 bosses total
• Ascended removes cheese strats—must learn patterns
• Practice individual bosses before attempting

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50. Happy Couple – 9.9% ⚠️ MISSABLE

Description: Witness Nailsmith and Sheo together

Rarity: Very Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Spare the Nailsmith (don’t kill him after Pure Nail upgrade)
2. Learn all three Nail Arts
3. Visit Nailmaster Sheo’s hut
4. Both NPCs will be there together

Tips:

• Missable if you kill the Nailsmith
• Combines Dark Romance and Inspiration requirements
• Wholesome ending for both characters

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51. Soul & Shade – 9.5%

Description: Defeat the Soul Tyrant and Lost Kin

Rarity: Very Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Defeat Soul Tyrant (Dream Nail Soul Master’s corpse)
2. Defeat Lost Kin (Dream Nail Broken Vessel’s corpse)

Tips:

• Both are dream versions of main bosses
• Lost Kin spawns infection balloons—kill them fast
• Rewards 600 Essence total (300 each)

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52. Banishment – 7.8% ⚠️ MISSABLE

Description: Banish the Grimm Troupe from Hallownest

Rarity: Very Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Start Grimm Troupe questline
2. Before fighting Nightmare King Grimm, talk to Brumm in Deepnest
3. Help him destroy the Nightmare Lantern
4. Troupe is banished

Tips:

• Mutually exclusive with Ritual achievement (NKG fight)
• Rewards Carefree Melody charm instead of Grimmchild
• Requires two playthroughs for both achievements

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53. Keen Hunter – 7.5%

Description: Record all of Hallownest’s creatures in the Hunter’s Journal

Rarity: Very Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Obtain Hunter’s Journal from the Hunter in Greenpath
2. Kill or scan every enemy type in the game
3. Fill all journal entries

Tips:

• Some enemies are missable or rare
• Scan dream bosses and NPCs
• Check journal for incomplete entries

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54. Neglect – 7.4% ⚠️ MISSABLE

Description: Leave Zote to die

Rarity: Very Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Find Zote trapped by Vengefly King in Forgotten Crossroads
2. Do NOT save him—leave the area
3. Return later—he will be dead

Tips:

• Mutually exclusive with Rivalry, Obsession, Happy Couple (indirectly)
• Zote never appears in your game
• No Grey Prince Zote or Colosseum Zote

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55. True Hunter – 6.9%

Description: Receive the Hunter’s Mark

Rarity: Very Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Complete Hunter’s Journal (all entries filled)
2. Return to the Hunter in Greenpath
3. He awards you the Hunter’s Mark

Tips:

• Requires Keen Hunter achievement first
• Hunter’s Mark is just a key item/badge
• Shows true completion of bestiary

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56. Passing of the Age – 6.7% ⚠️ MISSABLE

Description: Witness the death of the Nailsmith

Rarity: Very Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Upgrade your nail to Pure Nail (all upgrades)
2. When Nailsmith asks you to kill him, do it
3. Strike him with your nail

Tips:

• Mutually exclusive with Dark Romance, Happy Couple
• He thanks you if you use a Nail Art
• Dream Nail his corpse for extra dialogue

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57. Pure Completion – 6.7%

Description: Achieve 112% game completion and finish the game

Rarity: Very Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Complete all base game content (100%)
2. Complete DLC content: Grimm Troupe, Godmaster, Lifeblood
3. Reach 112% on save file
4. Beat any ending

What Counts for Extra 12%:

• Grimm Troupe bosses and charms
• Pantheons 1-4
• Godhome content

Tips:

• Does NOT require Pantheon 5 (Absolute Radiance)
• Check completion percentage in inventory

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58. Speedrun 1 – 6.2%

Description: Complete the game in under 10 hours

Rarity: Very Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Start new save
2. Beat Hollow Knight in under 10 hours (any ending)

Tips:

• Skip optional content—beeline for Dreamers
• Learn optimal routes
• Easier than it sounds after a few playthroughs

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59. Speed Completion – 5.2%

Description: Achieve 100% game completion and finish the game in under 20 hours

Rarity: Very Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Start new save
2. Reach 100% completion
3. Beat game in under 20 hours

Tips:

• Requires good route knowledge
• Don’t waste time on unnecessary exploration
• Practice boss fights to reduce attempts

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60. Speedrun 2 – 5.1%

Description: Complete the game in under 5 hours

Rarity: Very Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Start new save
2. Beat Hollow Knight in under 5 hours

Tips:

• Requires optimized speedrun route
• Skip all optional upgrades
• Watch speedrun tutorials—many skips and tricks available
• Acid skips and shade skips save huge time

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61. Embrace the Void – 5.1%

Description: Complete the Pantheon of Hallownest

Rarity: Very Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Reach Godhome
2. Complete Pantheons 1-4
3. Complete Pantheon 5 (Pantheon of Hallownest)
4. Defeat Absolute Radiance at the end

Tips:

• 42 bosses in a row, no checkpoints
• Binding optional (not required for achievement)
• Takes 30-45 minutes per attempt
• Absolute Radiance is hardest boss in the game

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62. Steel Soul – 4.4%

Description: Finish the game in Steel Soul mode

Rarity: Ultra Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Beat the game once on any save
2. Start Steel Soul mode (unlocked after first completion)
3. Beat Hollow Knight with permadeath active

Tips:

• One death = save file deleted
• Play safe—skip risky bosses
• Fragile charms don’t break in Steel Soul (good value)
• Back up save if paranoid (controversial)

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63. Steel Heart – 3.7%

Description: Achieve 100% game completion and finish the game in Steel Soul mode

Rarity: Ultra Rare

How to Unlock:

1. Start Steel Soul mode
2. Reach 100% completion
3. Beat game without dying once

Tips:

• Hardest achievement in the game
• Skip Trial of the Fool (not needed for 100%)
• Play extremely safe—heal often
• Learn which bosses are dangerous (Watcher Knights, Traitor Lord)

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TIPS FOR 100% COMPLETION of Hollow Knight Achievement Guide

• Always check NPC dialogue options before progressing story events
• Finish missable achievements first on your normal save
• Leave Steel Soul and speedruns for last
• Use charm loadouts based on boss type
• Track grubs and mask shards with online maps
• Dream Nail everything—NPCs, corpses, bosses
• Estimated total time: 45–60 hours (two playthroughs minimum)

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Thanks for reading this Hollow Knight achievement guide.
If you find any errors or face any issues while unlocking achievements, feel free to reach out at hello@nerdflakes.com.

This Hollow Knight achievement guide is regularly updated to ensure players can complete a 100% achievement run without missing anything.