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Grimm, the enigmatic leader of the Grimm Troupe in Hollow Knight, captures the imagination of players with his unique charm and thrilling combat. As you journey through Hallownest to save it, Grimm presents a side quest that adds depth to the game's narrative, culminating in a showdown with both Troupe Master Grimm and his more formidable counterpart, Nightmare King Grimm. These battles are some of the most challenging in the game, demanding precise movement and quick reflexes. Choosing the right charms is crucial to successfully navigating these encounters.
All charm builds for both Grimm fights require the Grimmchild charm, which occupies two charm notches, to access the boss fights.
Best Charm Builds For Troupe Master Grimm
Troupe Master Grimm introduces players to the essence of Grimm's combat style. This battle is a fast-paced dance rather than a direct confrontation, requiring players to be agile and strategic. The following charm builds are designed to help you overcome this challenging boss fight and unlock the final Charm Notch, essential for tackling Nightmare King Grimm.
Nail Build
- Unbreakable/Fragile Strength
- Quick Slash
- Longnail
- Grimmchild (Mandatory)
This charm setup maximizes your Nail damage output, allowing you to strike effectively between Grimm's attacks. The slower pace of this fight makes a Nail build viable, especially with Quick Slash enabling more frequent hits. Unbreakable or Fragile Strength is essential for boosting your Nail's damage, and you should aim to have at least the Coiled Nail or the Pure Nail. While Longnail provides less range than Mark of Pride, it's a solid choice given the two charm slots occupied by Grimmchild, helping you land hits during the tail end of Grimm's attacks like the Diving Dash and Uppercut.
Spell Build
- Shaman Stone
- Grubsong
- Spell Twister
- Unbreakable/Fragile Heart
- Grimmchild (Mandatory)
Ideal for those who prefer spellcasting or feel less confident with the Nail, this build focuses on using Spells like Descending Dark, Abyss Shriek, and Shade Soul to defeat Grimm swiftly. Shaman Stone significantly increases spell damage, making it a must-have in any spell-based setup. Spell Twister allows for more frequent spell use, while Grubsong helps maintain your Soul gauge by generating Soul from hits taken. Unbreakable/Fragile Heart provides extra masks, enabling more focus on spellcasting.
Best Charm Builds For Nightmare King Grimm
Nightmare King Grimm steps up the challenge significantly. Dealing double damage and moving much faster, even small mistakes can end the fight quickly. He also gains new attacks with flaming trails, including a dangerous flame pillar attack that can be exploited for high burst damage with Abyss Shriek. Here are the best charm builds to conquer this formidable boss.
Best Build
- Unbreakable/Fragile Strength
- Shaman Stone
- Mark of Pride
- Grimmchild (Mandatory)
A pure Nail build isn't viable for Nightmare King Grimm due to his increased speed and damage. A hybrid Nail/Spell Build is the way to go, leveraging the power of Abyss Shriek and Descending Dark. Shaman Stone is crucial for boosting spell damage, while Unbreakable/Fragile Strength and Mark of Pride enhance your Nail's effectiveness during windows where casting spells is risky or impractical.
Alternate Build
- Grubsong
- Sharp Shadow
- Shaman Stone
- Spell Twister
- Nailmaster's Glory
- Grimmchild (Mandatory)
This more defensive build focuses on utilizing Spells and Nail Arts to deal damage while providing tools to evade Nightmare King Grimm's lethal attacks. Shaman Stone and Spell Twister boost spell damage, and Grubsong ensures a steady Soul supply. Sharp Shadow allows you to dash through attacks with the Shade Cloak, dealing damage to Grimm, while Nailmaster's Glory enhances your Nail Arts, making them a potent threat in conjunction with strategic spell use.
