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Grimm, a captivating and iconic figure in Hollow Knight, embodies the essence of the metroidvania genre with his enigmatic presence and stylish appearance. As the leader of the Grimm Troupe, he draws the Knight into a compelling side quest that adds depth to the journey of saving Hallownest. This quest culminates in challenging battles against Troupe Master Grimm and the even more formidable Nightmare King Grimm, both of which are among the toughest encounters in the game. These fights demand precision, quick reflexes, and strategic charm selection to master the deadly dance.
To engage in these battles, players must equip the Grimmchild charm, which occupies two charm notches, as a prerequisite for both encounters.
Best Charm Builds For Troupe Master Grimm
Facing Troupe Master Grimm offers players their first opportunity to understand his attack patterns and movements. This battle is characterized by its fast pace and dance-like quality, requiring players to be nimble and strategic rather than aggressive. The following charm builds are designed to help players navigate this challenging fight effectively.
Successfully defeating Troupe Master Grimm unlocks the final Charm Notch, essential for tackling Nightmare King Grimm with optimized builds.
Nail Build
- Unbreakable/Fragile Strength
- Quick Slash
- Longnail
- Grimmchild (Mandatory)
This build focuses on maximizing Nail damage during the brief windows between Grimm's attacks. Given the slower pace compared to Nightmare King Grimm, a Nail build is effective for landing multiple hits, thanks to Quick Slash.
Unbreakable or Fragile Strength is crucial for increasing Nail damage, and players should aim to have at least the Coiled Nail or the Pure Nail to efficiently reduce Grimm's health. While Longnail replaces the typically preferred Mark of Pride due to the space taken by Grimmchild, it still provides a valuable range increase, useful for hitting Grimm at the end of his attacks like the Diving Dash and Uppercut.
Spell Build
- Shaman Stone
- Grubsong
- Spell Twister
- Unbreakable/Fragile Heart
- Grimmchild (Mandatory)
For those who favor spellcasting or are less confident with the Nail, this Spell build is ideal for quickly defeating Grimm. Players should have access to the Descending Dark, Abyss Shriek, and Shade Soul spells by this point, with the former two being particularly effective against tough bosses.
Shaman Stone is essential for amplifying spell damage, and Spell Twister allows for more frequent spell use, supplemented by Nail hits for Soul regeneration. Grubsong helps maintain a full Soul gauge, crucial for avoiding hits, while Unbreakable/Fragile Heart provides additional masks, allowing more focus on spellcasting.
Best Charm Builds For Nightmare King Grimm
Nightmare King Grimm presents a significantly greater challenge than Troupe Master Grimm. He inflicts double damage, moves at an accelerated pace, and introduces new attacks, including flame pillars that can be exploited for high damage with Abyss Shriek. Here are the best charm builds to conquer this formidable metroidvania boss.
Best Build
- Unbreakable/Fragile Strength
- Shaman Stone
- Mark of Pride
- Grimmchild (Mandatory)
A pure Nail build is less effective against Nightmare King Grimm, making a hybrid Nail/Spell build the optimal choice. Shaman Stone is essential for maximizing spell damage, particularly with Abyss Shriek and Descending Dark. Unbreakable/Fragile Strength and Mark of Pride enhance damage output during moments when using spells is risky or not feasible.
Alternate Build
- Grubsong
- Sharp Shadow
- Shaman Stone
- Spell Twister
- Nailmaster's Glory
- Grimmchild (Mandatory)
This more defensive build focuses on utilizing spells and Nail Arts while providing tools to evade Nightmare King Grimm's lethal attacks. Shaman Stone and Spell Twister are crucial for boosting spell damage, while Grubsong ensures a steady Soul supply. Sharp Shadow, when paired with the Shade Cloak, allows players to dash through attacks and deal damage, and Nailmaster's Glory enhances the effectiveness of Nail Arts, making them a significant threat to Nightmare King Grimm when combined with strategic spell use.
