Hollow Knight: Getting Started

Rest to heal and save your position. Benches also let you change charms and update explored rooms on your map once you own the Quill.

Listen for Cornifer’s humming and look for scattered paper. Buy his area maps, then visit Iselda in Dirtmouth for the Quill and useful map supplies.

Unreachable ledges and blocked routes often become accessible later. Mark them on your map and explore another path instead of forcing one obstacle.

Strike enemies with your Nail to gather SOUL. Spend it on healing or spells, choosing between immediate damage and a safer recovery.

Focus only when you have enough time. Learn one reliable opening in a boss’s pattern rather than trying to heal after every hit.

After a normal death, your Shade holds your lost Geo and your SOUL meter is damaged. Recover it before another death to avoid losing that Geo permanently.

Unlock stations to connect distant areas. Ring the bell to call the Stag and shorten trips back to shops and familiar routes.