Quick Links
Grimm stands as one of the most iconic and beloved characters in Hollow Knight, captivating players within the metroidvania genre. With his enigmatic allure and striking appearance, the leader of the Grimm Troupe enthralls the Knight throughout their journey to save Hallownest, providing a compelling side quest that brings closure to the adventures of the Grimm Troupe.
During these adventures, players must confront Grimm at least once, with the opportunity to battle a more formidable version of him to fully complete the Grimm Troupe DLC. Both Troupe Master Grimm and Nightmare King Grimm present some of the game's toughest challenges, demanding precise movement, swift reactions, and unwavering tenacity to survive their deadly dance. Equipping the right charms is crucial for overcoming both versions of Grimm.
All charm builds for both Grimm fights in the base game require the Grimmchild charm to be equipped, which occupies two charm notches.
Best Charm Builds For Troupe Master Grimm
Troupe Master Grimm introduces players to his general moveset and attack patterns. This encounter is a fast-paced battle, more akin to a dance than a brawl. Players must be strategic and elegant, seizing opportunities to strike rather than simply absorbing attacks. The following builds are designed to help players navigate this challenging fight successfully.
Completing the Troupe Master Grimm boss fight unlocks the final Charm Notch, essential for some of the best builds to tackle Nightmare King Grimm.
Nail Build
- Unbreakable/Fragile Strength
- Quick Slash
- Longnail
- Grimmchild (Mandatory)
This charm build maximizes the Nail's damage output between Grimm's attacks. Given the slower pace compared to the Nightmare King, a Nail build is viable for landing multiple hits, especially with Quick Slash.
Unbreakable or Fragile Strength is essential in any Nail build to boost damage. For this fight, players should aim to have at least the Coiled Nail or the Pure Nail to effectively deplete Grimm's health.
While Nail builds typically include Mark of Pride, Longnail serves as a solid alternative here due to Grimmchild occupying two charm slots. Although it provides a slightly shorter range increase than Mark of Pride, Longnail is invaluable for hitting Grimm at the tail end of his attacks, such as the Diving Dash and the Uppercut.
Spell Build
- Shaman Stone
- Grubsong
- Spell Twister
- Unbreakable/Fragile Heart
- Grimmchild (Mandatory)
For players who prefer spell-based combat or feel less confident with the Nail, this Spell build offers a quick way to defeat Grimm. By this stage, players should have access to the Descending Dark, Abyss Shriek, and Shade Soul spell upgrades, with the first two being highly effective against tough bosses.
Shaman Stone is crucial in any Spell-based build, significantly enhancing the Knight's spell damage. Paired with Spell Twister, players can cast multiple spells in one rotation and recharge them with Nail hits.
Given the challenge of dodging attacks, Grubsong helps maintain a full Soul gauge. Unbreakable/Fragile Heart complements this build by providing extra masks, allowing players to focus their Soul primarily on casting spells.
Best Charm Builds For Nightmare King Grimm
Nightmare King Grimm represents a significant leap in difficulty from Troupe Master Grimm. He now inflicts double damage, making every misstep potentially fatal. Additionally, he moves much faster and adds flaming trails to his attacks, which also deal double damage. A new flame pillar attack presents a unique opportunity for players to deal substantial burst damage with Abyss Shriek. Here are the best charm builds for tackling one of the hardest metroidvania bosses.
Best Build
- Unbreakable/Fragile Strength
- Shaman Stone
- Mark of Pride
- Grimmchild (Mandatory)
A pure Nail build is not practical for efficiently defeating Nightmare King Grimm. Instead, a hybrid Nail/Spell Build is more effective, leveraging the power of Abyss Shriek and Descending Dark.
Shaman Stone is essential for maximizing spell damage. Unbreakable/Fragile Strength and Mark of Pride enhance the Nail's damage during windows where 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 using Spells and the often-overlooked Nail Arts while providing means to evade Nightmare King Grimm's lethal attacks. Shaman Stone and Spell Twister are key for boosting spell damage.
Grubsong ensures a steady supply of Soul. Sharp Shadow, when paired with the Shade Cloak, allows players to dash through most of Nightmare King Grimm's attacks and deal damage. Nailmaster's Glory enhances the effectiveness of Nail Arts, making them a significant threat alongside strategic spell use.
