Essential Navigation
Grimm stands out as one of Hollow Knight's most memorable characters, embodying the metroidvania genre's allure. This mysterious showman captivates players with his striking appearance and offers a compelling side quest that concludes the Grimm Troupe's narrative arc.
Throughout this journey, players must first face Troupe Master Grimm before confronting his enhanced counterpart, Nightmare King Grimm - one of the game's most demanding battles requiring flawless execution. Selecting the right charm combinations proves crucial for overcoming both versions of this formidable foe.
Note: All charm setups for Grimm encounters require the Grimmchild charm (costing 2 notches) to initiate these boss battles.
Optimized Charm Loadouts Against Troupe Master Grimm
The initial confrontation with Troupe Master Grimm serves as an introduction to his combat rhythm. This elegant, fast-paced duel demands precision timing rather than brute force. The following builds provide optimal strategies for this challenging encounter.
Defeating Troupe Master Grimm unlocks the final charm notch, essential for preparing against Nightmare King Grimm.
Melee-Oriented Setup
- Unbreakable/Fragile Strength
- Quick Slash
- Longnail
- Grimmchild (Required)
This configuration maximizes melee damage output during Grimm's attack cooldowns. The slower pace compared to Nightmare King Grimm makes Quick Slash particularly effective for landing multiple strikes.
Unbreakable/Fragile Strength is fundamental for any melee build, significantly boosting nail damage. Players should ideally wield at least a Coiled Nail or Pure Nail for consistent damage throughput.
While traditionally preferring Mark of Pride, Longnail serves as an efficient alternative given the mandatory Grimmchild. The slightly reduced range remains valuable for countering specific attacks like the Diving Dash and Uppercut.
Spellcaster Configuration
- Shaman Stone
- Grubsong
- Spell Twister
- Unbreakable/Fragile Heart
- Grimmchild (Required)
This spell-focused build offers formidable damage potential for players less comfortable with melee combat. With access to upgraded spells like Descending Dark and Abyss Shriek, it provides reliable solutions against challenging bosses.
Shaman Stone's significant spell damage boost makes it indispensable. Combined with Spell Twister, it ensures sustainable spellcasting throughout the encounter.
Grubsong compensates for unavoidable damage by converting hits into Soul, while Unbreakable/Fragile Heart provides additional survivability, preserving Soul primarily for offensive spells.
Advanced Tactics for Nightmare King Grimm
Nightmare King Grimm represents a substantial difficulty spike - dealing double damage with enhanced speed and new flame-based attacks. His flame pillar attack, while dangerous, creates prime opportunities for damage bursts with Abyss Shriek when positioned correctly.
Optimal Hybrid Approach
- Unbreakable/Fragile Strength
- Shaman Stone
- Mark of Pride
- Grimmchild (Required)
Pure melee builds prove insufficient against this enhanced opponent. This hybrid setup combines formidable nail damage with devastating spell potential, particularly leveraging Abyss Shriek and Descending Dark during openings.
Shaman Stone remains essential for spell effectiveness, while Unbreakable/Fragile Strength and Mark of Pride ensure consistent damage when spell opportunities are limited or too risky.
Defensive Spellfocused Alternative
- Grubsong
- Sharp Shadow
- Shaman Stone
- Spell Twister
- Nailmaster's Glory
- Grimmchild (Required)
This defensive-oriented build emphasizes spellcasting and nail arts while incorporating evasive capabilities. Shaman Stone and Spell Twister maintain offensive pressure, while Grubsong provides consistent Soul generation.
Sharp Shadow enables safe navigation through attacks when paired with Shade Cloak, adding supplemental damage. Nailmaster's Glory transforms charged nail attacks into viable threats, complementing strategic spell usage.
