Hollow Knight Charms: The Complete Guide to Every Charm and Best Builds
Complete Hollow Knight charms guide covering every charm location, notch cost, and the best charm builds for different playstyles and boss fights.
Charms are the primary customization system in Hollow Knight. There are 45 charms in total (40 in the base game plus 5 added through DLC updates), each taking up notches on your charm bracelet. Building the right loadout transforms the game. The Knight you take into the Pantheon of Hallownest is functionally a different character than the one you explore Dirtmouth with.
Here's every charm in the game, where to find them, and the best builds for different situations.
How Do Charms Work in Hollow Knight?
Hollow Knight's charm system gives you 3 starting notches, with a maximum of 11 available through purchases from Salubra and hidden upgrades. Each charm costs 1 to 5 notches. You can overcharm by equipping beyond your notch limit, but you'll take double damage from all sources as a penalty.
You start with 3 notches. Additional notch slots come from Salubra in the Forgotten Crossroads (upgrades purchased with Geo) and one hidden notch at Salubra's Blessing. Max notches: 11.
Notch costs range from 1 (small charms) to 5 (endgame/boss charms). Some charms overcharm: you can equip them even when they exceed your notch count, but you take double damage from all sources.
What Are the Best Charms in Hollow Knight?
The strongest all-around charms in Hollow Knight are Quick Slash, Mark of Pride, Shaman Stone, Quick Focus, and Unbreakable Strength. These charms form the core of nearly every competitive build, offering massive boosts to nail speed, range, spell power, healing speed, and raw damage output.
| Charm | Notches | Location | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick Slash | 3 | Kingdom's Edge | Increases nail attack speed significantly. Pairs with anything, mandatory for most DPS builds. |
| Mark of Pride | 3 | Mantis Village | Extends nail range by 25%. Turns your nail into a respectable long-range weapon. Works well with Longnail for massive range. |
| Longnail | 2 | Sly's shop | Adds 15% nail range. Stackable with Mark of Pride. |
| Shaman Stone | 3 | Soul Sanctum | Makes spells 33% larger and 20% stronger. Essential for all spell-focused builds. |
| Quick Focus | 3 | Mantis Village | Focus (healing) takes less time. Critical for aggressive builds that rely on healing mid-combat. |
| Unbreakable Strength | 0 | Buy from Divine | Permanent nail damage upgrade. 3 charms upgrade her for this: Fragile Strength, Heart, Greed, all upgraded. |
What Are the Best Spell Charms in Hollow Knight?
The best spell charms in Hollow Knight are Shaman Stone, Spell Twister, Soul Catcher, and Soul Eater. Shaman Stone and Spell Twister together form the core of any spell build, boosting spell size and damage while reducing soul costs. Soul Catcher and Soul Eater keep your soul meter topped off between casts.
| Charm | Notches | Location | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spell Twister | 2 | Soul Sanctum | Spells cost less soul. Combined with Shaman Stone creates the core spell build. |
| Soul Catcher | 2 | Ancestral Mound | More soul per hit. Essential for magic-heavy runs where you're casting frequently. |
| Soul Eater | 4 | Resting Grounds | Even more soul per hit. Upgrade of Soul Catcher effectively, replaces it in high-notch builds. |
Shaman Stone (already mentioned) pairs with all of these for maximum spell effectiveness.
What Are the Best Movement Charms in Hollow Knight?
The best movement charms in Hollow Knight are Sprintmaster, Dashmaster, and Sharp Shadow. Sprintmaster costs just 1 notch for faster movement speed, Dashmaster improves your dash cooldown and adds directional dashing, and Sharp Shadow turns your dash into an offensive tool that damages enemies on contact.
| Charm | Notches | Location | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sprintmaster | 1 | Purchased from Sly | Faster movement. Cheap quality-of-life improvement. |
| Dashmaster | 2 | Royal Waterways | Faster dash cooldown and dash in any direction while midair. Mobility-focused essential. |
| Sharp Shadow | 2 | Deepnest | Dash damages enemies. Combined with Dashmaster enables dash-focused playstyles. |
What Are the Best Defensive Charms in Hollow Knight?
The strongest defensive charms in Hollow Knight are Stalwart Shell, Shape of Unn, Baldur Shell, and Thorns of Agony. These charms extend invulnerability frames, let you reposition while healing, block hits during Focus, and deal passive contact damage, making survival significantly easier in tough fights.
| Charm | Notches | Location | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stalwart Shell | 2 | City of Tears | More invulnerability after getting hit. Good for aggressive players who get hit often. |
| Shape of Unn | 2 | Queen's Gardens | Slug-slide while focusing. Lets you reposition while healing. |
| Baldur Shell | 2 | Howling Cliffs | Shield while focusing. Completely blocks one hit during heal attempts. |
| Thorns of Agony | 1 | Greenpath | Damages enemies who hit you. Passive damage for defensive builds. |
Which Hollow Knight Damage Charms Are Most Notch-Efficient?
The most notch-efficient damage charms are Fragile Strength (50% more nail damage for 3 notches), Fury of the Fallen (75% damage boost at 1 HP for 2 notches), Grubberfly's Elegy (nail beams at full HP for 2 notches), and Nailmaster's Glory (faster Nail Arts for just 1 notch).
| Charm | Notches | Location | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fragile Strength / Unbreakable Strength | 3 | Fragile from Leg Eater | 50% more nail damage. Essential damage multiplier. Fragile version breaks on death (Unbreakable doesn't). |
| Fury of the Fallen | 2 | King's Pass | 75% more nail damage at 1 HP. Strong for low-health builds or clutch situations. |
| Grubberfly's Elegy | 2 | Given by Grubfather after rescuing 46 grubs | Nail beams at full HP. Excellent for boss fights where you can maintain full health. |
| Nailmaster's Glory | 1 | After meeting all three Nailmasters | Faster Nail Arts charge. Useful for Nail Art focused builds. |
What Are the Best Utility Charms in Hollow Knight?
The best utility charms in Hollow Knight are Gathering Swarm, Wayward Compass, Defender's Crest, Glowing Womb, and Flukenest. Most cost 1 to 2 notches and provide quality-of-life improvements or unique synergies. Defender's Crest combined with Flukenest creates one of the highest damage outputs in the game for certain bosses.
| Charm | Notches | Location | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gathering Swarm | 1 | Sly's shop | Dropped Geo flies to you. Quality-of-life essential, cheap notch cost. |
| Wayward Compass | 1 | Iselda's shop | Position shown on map. Useful early game, situational later. |
| Defender's Crest | 1 | Royal Waterways | Releases damaging gas clouds. Plus synergy with Flukenest for the famous Defender's Crest Fluke build. |
| Glowing Womb | 2 | Forgotten Crossroads | Creates Hatchlings that attack enemies. Synergizes with Defender's Crest. |
| Flukenest | 3 | Royal Waterways | Vengeful Spirit becomes Flukes. Combined with Defender's Crest creates the most absurd damage output in the game for certain matchups. |
The 5-Notch Powerhouses
Hollow Knight's high-cost charms include Joni's Blessing and Heart of Hallownest at 4 notches each, plus the efficient Grubsong at just 1 notch. These charms offer powerful but build-defining effects, like Joni's Blessing converting all HP to Lifeblood, which fundamentally changes how you approach healing.
| Charm | Notches | Location | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grubsong | 1 | Given by Grubfather after rescuing 10 grubs | Soul on damage taken. Low cost for a good utility effect. |
| Joni's Blessing | 4 | Howling Cliffs | 40% more max HP but converts all HP to Lifeblood (can't heal with focus). Permanent buff but changes how you play fundamentally. |
| Heart of Hallownest | 4 | Hidden in Hall of Gods | Increases max HP. Expensive but reliable defensive boost. |
What Are the Best Charm Builds in Hollow Knight?
The best Hollow Knight charm builds include General Exploration (Quick Slash, Mark of Pride, Dashmaster), Spell Build (Shaman Stone, Spell Twister, Soul Catcher/Eater), Defender's Crest Flukenest for burst damage, Tanky Build for survival-focused play, and Nail Arts Build for aggressive melee. Each build suits a different playstyle and encounter type.
| Build | Notches | Core Charms | Playstyle |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Exploration | 8-11 | Quick Slash, Mark of Pride, Dashmaster, Gathering Swarm | Safe, efficient, works everywhere |
| Spell Build | 10-11 | Shaman Stone, Spell Twister, Soul Catcher or Soul Eater, Grubberfly's Elegy | Cast spells from range, nail beams as primary attack |
| Defender's Crest Flukenest | 5+ | Defender's Crest, Flukenest, Spell Twister or Shaman Stone | Corrosive flukes annihilate specific bosses |
| Tanky Build | 8-10 | Baldur Shell, Stalwart Shell, Quick Focus, Shape of Unn | Survive through healing, absorb hits |
| Nail Arts Build | 8-10 | Mark of Pride, Fragile/Unbreakable Strength, Nailmaster's Glory, Quick Slash | Slash-focused aggressive play |
| Grubberfly Pacifist | 7-10 | Grubberfly's Elegy, Mark of Pride, Longnail, Dashmaster | Kill enemies at range with nail beams |
General Exploration Build (8-11 notches):
- Quick Slash (3)
- Mark of Pride (3)
- Dashmaster (2)
- Gathering Swarm (1)
- Wayward Compass (1, situational)
Safe, efficient, works everywhere.
Spell Build (10-11 notches):
- Shaman Stone (3)
- Spell Twister (2)
- Soul Catcher or Soul Eater (2 or 4)
- Grubberfly's Elegy (2)
Cast spells repeatedly from range, use nail beams as primary attack.
Defender's Crest Flukenest Build (5 notches):
- Defender's Crest (1)
- Flukenest (3)
- Spell Twister (2) or Shaman Stone (3)
Vengeful Spirit becomes corrosive flukes that absolutely annihilate specific bosses (Watcher Knights, Traitor Lord, Nosk, Mantis Lords, most of the Pantheon).
Tanky Build (8-10 notches):
- Baldur Shell (2)
- Stalwart Shell (2)
- Quick Focus (3)
- Shape of Unn (2)
Survive through healing, absorb hits that others can't.
Nail Arts Build (8-10 notches):
- Mark of Pride (3)
- Fragile Strength / Unbreakable Strength (3)
- Nailmaster's Glory (1)
- Quick Slash (3 if notches allow)
Slash-focused aggressive play.
Grubberfly Pacifist Build (7-10 notches):
- Grubberfly's Elegy (2)
- Mark of Pride (3) + Longnail (2)
- Dashmaster (2)
Never take a hit, kill enemies at range with nail beams.
What Is the Best Build for Path of Pain and Pantheon of Hallownest?
The best build for Path of Pain and Pantheon of Hallownest typically combines Quick Slash, Shaman Stone, and Mark of Pride or Longnail as the core, with Quick Focus or Grubberfly's Elegy filling the remaining notches. Some players prefer overcharming with Fragile Strength for maximum DPS.
For the hardest content in the game, most players end up with variations of:
- Quick Slash (3)
- Shaman Stone (3)
- Mark of Pride (3) or Longnail (2)
- Quick Focus (3) or Grubberfly's Elegy (2)
Some players prefer overcharming with Fragile Strength + everything else for a DPS race approach.
How Do You Get Max Charm Notches in Hollow Knight?
You reach the maximum of 11 charm notches in Hollow Knight by buying all four notch upgrades from Salubra in the Forgotten Crossroads, finding Salubra's Blessing, rescuing grubs for Grubfather's offerings, and completing collections like the Hunter's Journal. Eleven notches supports most practical builds.
- Buy all four notch slots from Salubra (Forgotten Crossroads).
- Find the hidden Salubra's Blessing by bringing charms to her.
- Rescue grubs to increase Grubfather's notch offerings.
- Complete collections like the Journal for maximum total notches.
Max notches is 11, which is enough for most practical builds.
What Charms Were Added in Hollow Knight DLC?
Hollow Knight's DLC updates added five charms: Grimmchild and Carefree Melody (from the Grimm Troupe questline), Weaversong, Dreamshield, and Kingsoul/Void Heart. These charms introduce companion-based attacks, a rotating shield, and story-critical upgrades required for accessing Godhome and the game's true ending.
| Charm | Notches | Source | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grimmchild | 2 | Starts quest with Grimm Troupe DLC installed | Flying companion that grows stronger. Can be turned into Carefree Melody if you complete the pacifist route. |
| Weaversong | 2 | Weaver's Den | Spawns weaverlings that attack. Synergizes well with Glowing Womb. |
| Dreamshield | 3 | Resting Grounds | Creates a rotating shield. Niche but useful. |
| Carefree Melody | 3 | Pacifist Grimm route | Chance to ignore damage completely. |
| Kingsoul / Void Heart | 0 or 5 | Story progression | Required for Godhome access. Upgraded form offers massive Soul and some abilities. |
Why Hollow Knight's Charm System Works
Hollow Knight's charm system works because every charm enables a distinct playstyle rather than offering a flat stat increase. The notch limit forces meaningful trade-offs, so choosing between Quick Slash and Fragile Strength becomes a decision about how you want to play, not which number is bigger.
The charm system succeeds because every charm enables a playstyle rather than just buffing stats. Deciding between Quick Slash and Fragile Strength isn't about numbers: it's about whether you want to attack fast or attack hard. That philosophy runs through the entire system, and it's why Hollow Knight rewards replaying with different builds.
Team Cherry's design philosophy (giving players meaningful choices rather than obvious upgrades) is part of why Hollow Knight remains one of the best indie games ever made and a template that the metroidvania genre keeps reaching for.
If you're still early in Hollow Knight and haven't figured out your preferred playstyle, start with Quick Slash plus a movement charm plus one defensive charm. Experiment from there. The game rewards players who commit to specific builds, and every charm on this list has scenarios where it's the best choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many charms are in Hollow Knight?
There are 45 charms total in Hollow Knight: 40 in the base game plus 5 added through free DLC updates. Each charm takes up notch slots on your charm bracelet, with individual costs ranging from 1 to 5 notches.
What is the best charm build in Hollow Knight?
The best all-around build is Quick Slash (3), Mark of Pride (3), Dashmaster (2), and Gathering Swarm (1) for general exploration. For boss fights, swap to Shaman Stone, Spell Twister, and Soul Catcher or Soul Eater for a spell-focused loadout that deals massive damage from range.
How many charm notches can you get in Hollow Knight?
The maximum number of charm notches in Hollow Knight is 11. You start with 3 and gain additional notches by purchasing upgrades from Salubra in the Forgotten Crossroads, finding Salubra's Blessing, and completing grub rescues and collections.
What does overcharming do in Hollow Knight?
Overcharming lets you equip charms beyond your notch limit, but you take double damage from all sources as a penalty. Some players use overcharming strategically for DPS-race builds, like adding Fragile Strength to an already full loadout for Path of Pain or Pantheon attempts.
