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, a captivating figure in Hollow Knight and a metroidvania icon, presents a compelling side quest and challenging boss fights. His enigmatic presence and unique design add depth to the game's narrative. Confronting Grimm, however, requires skill and strategy. Players will face him twice: as Troupe Master Grimm and the significantly more formidable Nightmare King Grimm. These battles demand precise movements, quick reflexes, and carefully chosen charm builds to succeed.

Both fights necessitate equipping Grimmchild (occupying two charm notches).

Best Charm Builds For Troupe Master Grimm

Troupe Master Grimm serves as an introduction to Grimm's moveset. This fast-paced battle demands skillful timing and precise openings. Mindless aggression won't work; elegance and calculated attacks are key. The following builds provide a solid foundation for victory. Defeating Troupe Master Grimm unlocks the final charm notch, crucial for tackling Nightmare King Grimm.

Nail Build

- Unbreakable/Fragile Strength - Quick Slash - Longnail - Grimmchild (Mandatory)

This build maximizes nail damage. Quick Slash allows for rapid attacks between Grimm's strikes. Unbreakable or Fragile Strength is essential for increased damage output. A Coiled Nail or Pure Nail is recommended for efficient damage dealing. Longnail, a suitable alternative to Mark of Pride (considering Grimmchild's two-notch requirement), extends attack range, enabling hits during Grimm's attack animations (like the Diving Dash and Uppercut).

Spell Build

- Shaman Stone - Grubsong - Spell Twister - Unbreakable/Fragile Heart - Grimmchild (Mandatory)

For spell-focused players, this build excels. Assuming you have the Descending Dark, Abyss Shriek, and Shade Soul upgrades, Shaman Stone significantly amplifies spell damage. Spell Twister increases spell casting speed, allowing for multiple spells before recharging with nail attacks. Grubsong maintains your soul gauge, crucial for consistent spell use. Unbreakable/Fragile Heart provides extra masks, further supporting spell-heavy combat.

Best Charm Builds For Nightmare King Grimm

Nightmare King Grimm is drastically more challenging. He inflicts double damage and moves much faster, demanding near-perfect execution. His attacks are enhanced with flaming trails, adding further difficulty. However, his flame pillar attack presents an opportunity for significant damage with Abyss Shriek.

Best Build

- Unbreakable/Fragile Strength - Shaman Stone - Mark of Pride - Grimmchild (Mandatory)

A pure nail build is insufficient against Nightmare King Grimm. This hybrid approach combines nail and spell attacks. Shaman Stone boosts spell damage. Unbreakable/Fragile Strength and Mark of Pride maximize damage during brief openings.

Alternate Build

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

This defensive build utilizes spells and nail arts, focusing on evasion and strategic damage. Shaman Stone and Spell Twister amplify spell damage. Grubsong replenishes soul. Sharp Shadow (requiring Shade Cloak) allows dashing through attacks. Nailmaster's Glory enhances nail art damage, supplementing spell attacks.