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Unveiling the Nightmare: Can You Fight Nightmare King Grimm After Banishment in Hollow Knight?

The question on the minds of many Hollow Knight players facing the weighty decision of whether to embrace or reject the Grimm Troupe is this: Can you still face the formidable Nightmare King Grimm if you choose to banish the troupe? The answer is a definitive no. Banishing the Grimm Troupe permanently removes the opportunity to battle Nightmare King Grimm. This decision is a significant turning point, locking you out of one of the game’s most challenging and rewarding boss fights. The ramifications of this choice extend beyond merely missing a boss encounter; they influence charm acquisition and overall completion strategies.

The Grimm Troupe Dilemma: Banishment vs. The Ritual

The Grimm Troupe DLC presents the player with a moral and gameplay choice: participate in the ritual by collecting flames across Hallownest and empowering the Grimm Troupe, culminating in a battle against Nightmare King Grimm, or banish the Troupe entirely. This decision is not merely cosmetic; it directly affects the game world and available content.

Embracing the Ritual: Path to Nightmare King Grimm

Choosing to embrace the ritual involves assisting the Grimm Troupe in their purpose. You’ll collect Grimmkin Flames, upgrade your Grimmchild charm, and ultimately face Nightmare King Grimm. This path unlocks the boss fight in the Hall of Gods after the first encounter, making it accessible for practice and completion purposes. Victory grants you the Grimmchild charm’s final form and contributes to your overall game completion.

Banishing the Troupe: A Path of Consequence

Banishing the Grimm Troupe leads to a different, albeit equally valid, ending to the questline. This involves speaking to Brumm in the Howling Cliffs after acquiring a certain number of flames and then lighting the Banishment Torch in Dirtmouth. Once banished, the troupe disappears, replaced by Nymm and a unique musical piece in Dirtmouth. The tradeoff, however, is steep: you permanently lose the chance to fight Nightmare King Grimm and the associated content.

The Unbreakable Charms and Divine’s Role

One of the key considerations when deciding between the ritual and banishment involves the Fragile Charms and Divine. Divine offers to consume your Fragile Charms, returning them as Unbreakable Charms for a fee. If you banish the Grimm Troupe before upgrading all the Fragile Charms, those remaining with Divine are lost forever. You will be unable to acquire the Unbreakable versions, impacting your build options and potential for certain challenges.

Completion and the Grimm Troupe: What Counts?

It’s essential to understand how the Grimm Troupe questline affects your overall game completion percentage. While defeating Nightmare King Grimm is a significant achievement, banishing the troupe does not prevent you from achieving 112% completion. The percentage point is awarded regardless of which ending you choose for the Grimm Troupe episode. However, for players aiming for a full completion experience, the Nightmare King Grimm fight is a considerable test of skill and strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions providing further insight into the implications of banishing the Grimm Troupe in Hollow Knight:

Does banishing the Grimm Troupe lock me out of any achievements? No, banishing the troupe doesn’t prevent you from earning any specific achievements. The “Ritual” achievement is earned by defeating Nightmare King Grimm, but there’s no achievement tied exclusively to banishment.
Can I fight Troupe Master Grimm if I banish the troupe? No, similar to Nightmare King Grimm, Troupe Master Grimm becomes inaccessible once the troupe is banished.
What happens to the Grimmchild charm if I banish the troupe? The Grimmchild charm remains in its current state, but you cannot upgrade it to its final form by defeating Nightmare King Grimm.
Does banishing the Grimm Troupe affect any other areas or quests in the game? The primary impact of banishment is confined to the Grimm Troupe questline and associated content. It doesn’t affect other areas, bosses, or quests.
If I banished the troupe, can I still access Godhome content? Yes, accessing Godhome is independent of the Grimm Troupe questline. You can still participate in the Pantheon of Hallownest, including the versions of Troupe Master Grimm and Nightmare King Grimm within the pantheons, regardless of whether you banished the troupe in the main game.
Can I reverse my decision to banish the troupe? No, the decision to banish the Grimm Troupe is permanent within a single playthrough. Once the Banishment Torch is lit, there’s no turning back.
Is there a lore reason why the Grimm Troupe leaves when banished? The lore suggests that banishing the Grimm Troupe disrupts their purpose and the ritual they’re meant to perform. The Troupe’s essence fades away, leaving Hallownest.
What is the benefit of banishing the troupe? The primary benefit is the unique interaction with Nymm in Dirtmouth and the altered musical piece, offering a peaceful resolution to the questline. Some players may also prefer this ending for lore or narrative reasons.
Are there any missable items related to the Grimm Troupe other than the Unbreakable Charms? No, the Unbreakable Charms are the only missable items directly tied to the Grimm Troupe questline.
Does banishing the Grimm Troupe make the game easier or harder? It can be argued that it makes the game slightly easier by removing the challenge of Nightmare King Grimm. However, it also removes a valuable upgrade path and a challenging encounter that many players enjoy.
Can you still complete the Hunter’s Journal if you banish the troupe? Yes, even if you banish the troupe, you can still fill out the Hunter’s Journal with the exception of defeating Nightmare King Grimm. You can encounter Troupe Master Grimm and Nightmare King Grimm in Godhome, even if you have banished them in the main game.
What happens to Brumm after the banishment? The general consensus is that Brumm transforms into Nymm, but the memories of Brumm fade away with the Troupe, leaving Nymm as a innocent being.
Is there a difference in dialogue if you banish the troupe versus completing the ritual? Yes, the dialogue with Nymm after banishing the troupe is unique and reflects the changed state of Dirtmouth.
Is Nightmare King Grimm considered one of the hardest bosses in the game? Yes, Nightmare King Grimm is widely regarded as one of the most challenging bosses in Hollow Knight, testing players’ reflexes and pattern recognition skills. Absolute Radiance is also considered a really difficult boss.
Can I fight Grimm if I banish the troupe after defeating Nightmare King Grimm? No. Once banished, the Grimm Troupe, including Grimm, are gone. However, you can fight Nightmare King Grimm inside Godhome as long as you have encountered him before.

Making the Choice: Embrace or Banish?

Ultimately, the decision to embrace the ritual or banish the Grimm Troupe is a personal one. Both paths offer unique experiences and rewards. Choosing the ritual grants you access to one of the game’s most exhilarating boss fights and the final form of the Grimmchild charm. Banishment offers a peaceful resolution and a unique character interaction, but at the cost of missing content and potential power-ups. Careful consideration of these factors will help you make the choice that best suits your playstyle and preferences in the captivating world of Hollow Knight.

Exploring the design and development of games like Hollow Knight can provide valuable insights into game mechanics and storytelling. For those interested in further study, resources like the Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) offer a wealth of information on game-based learning and the impact of games on education. The Games Learning Society can provide a deeper appreciation for the artistry and craftsmanship behind games like Hollow Knight.

Can you fight Nightmare King Grimm if you banish the troupe?