Hollow Knight: Best Builds For Grimm

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• Best Charm Builds For Troupe Master Grimm

• Best Charm Builds For Nightmare King Grimm

Grimm stands as one of the most iconic and cherished characters not only in Hollow Knight but throughout the entire metroidvania genre. Known for his enigmatic allure and striking appearance, the leader of the Grimm Troupe captivates players as they embark on a quest to restore Hallownest, offering a compelling side storyline that brings a sense of closure to the troupe's saga.

During this journey, players face the challenge of battling Grimm at least once, paving the way to confront an even more formidable version of him to fully complete the Grimm Troupe DLC. Both Troupe Master Grimm and Nightmare King Grimm represent some of the toughest encounters in the game, demanding precise movements, quick reflexes, and unwavering determination. Choosing the right charms is crucial for success in these intense battles.

All charm builds for both versions of Grimm in the base game necessitate the use of Grimmchild, which occupies two charm notches.

Best Charm Builds For Troupe Master Grimm

Facing Troupe Master Grimm offers players their first chance to get accustomed to his attack patterns and moveset. This battle is characterized by its fast pace and dance-like rhythm, requiring players to be precise and strategic in their attacks rather than engaging in a brute force approach. Here are effective charm builds to navigate this challenging fight:

Successfully defeating Troupe Master Grimm unlocks the final Charm Notch, which is essential for crafting some of the best builds against Nightmare King Grimm.

Nail Build

- Unbreakable/Fragile Strength

• Quick Slash
• Longnail
• Grimmchild (Mandatory)

This charm build maximizes the Knight's ability to deal significant damage with the Nail during brief windows between Grimm's attacks. Given the slower pace compared to the Nightmare King version, a Nail-focused build can effectively capitalize on Quick Slash to land multiple hits.

Unbreakable or Fragile Strength is a staple in any Nail build, enhancing the Nail's damage output. Players should aim to have at least the Coiled Nail or the Pure Nail before engaging in this fight to efficiently deplete Grimm's health.

Although Nail builds typically include Mark of Pride, Longnail serves as a suitable alternative here due to the two charm slots occupied by Grimmchild. While offering slightly less range than Mark of Pride, Longnail still proves useful for hitting Grimm during the tail end of his attacks like the Diving Dash and the Uppercut.

Spell Build

- Shaman Stone

• Grubsong
• Spell Twister
• Unbreakable/Fragile Heart
• Grimmchild (Mandatory)

For players who favor spell-based combat or feel less confident with the Nail, the Spell build offers a swift path to defeating Grimm. At this stage, players should have access to the upgraded spells Descending Dark, Abyss Shriek, and Shade Soul, with the former two being particularly effective against formidable foes.

Shaman Stone is an essential charm for any Spell build, significantly boosting the damage of the Knight's spells. Coupled with Spell Twister, this combination allows for frequent spell casting and quick Soul regeneration through Nail hits.

Given the challenge of dodging Troupe Master Grimm's attacks, Grubsong helps maintain a healthy Soul gauge by converting hits into Soul. Unbreakable/Fragile Heart completes the build by providing additional masks, allowing players to focus more Soul on casting spells.

Best Charm Builds For Nightmare King Grimm

Nightmare King Grimm presents an entirely different challenge compared to Troupe Master Grimm. He inflicts double damage, making him a deadly adversary where a single mistake can end the fight quickly. His increased speed and new attacks, including flaming trails and flame pillars, add to the complexity of the battle. The flame pillars, however, present a strategic opportunity to unleash powerful spells like Abyss Shriek for significant damage. Here are the top charm builds for conquering 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 due to his speed and damage output. A hybrid Nail/Spell build proves more successful, leveraging the strength of Abyss Shriek and Descending Dark.

Shaman Stone is indispensable for amplifying spell damage, while Unbreakable/Fragile Strength and Mark of Pride enhance the Nail's effectiveness during moments when using spells is risky or impractical.

Alternate Build

- Grubsong

• Sharp Shadow
• Shaman Stone
• Spell Twister
• Nailmaster's Glory
• Grimmchild (Mandatory)

For a more defensive approach against Nightmare King Grimm, this build focuses on spells and the often-overlooked Nail Arts, while providing tools to evade his most lethal attacks. Shaman Stone and Spell Twister remain essential for maximizing spell damage.

Grubsong offers a reliable way to replenish Soul, while Sharp Shadow, when paired with the Shade Cloak, allows players to dash through many of Nightmare King Grimm's attacks and deal damage. Nailmaster's Glory enhances the effectiveness of Nail Arts, making them a viable option for chipping away at Grimm's health alongside strategic spell use.