Unlocking the Grimmchild: A Comprehensive Guide to Hollow Knight’s Fiery Companion
The Grimmchild Charm in Hollow Knight is more than just a collectible; it’s a key to unlocking one of the game’s most compelling and challenging questlines, and a fiery sidekick to boot. You acquire it by first triggering the Grimm Troupe DLC and then venturing to Dirtmouth. Look for the two tents that have mysteriously appeared on the far left side of town. Inside the larger tent awaits Troupe Master Grimm, who will bestow upon you the Grimmchild Charm.
The Grimmchild: More Than Just a Charm
The Grimmchild isn’t just a passive charm; it’s a living companion. Once equipped, it manifests as a small, bat-like creature that automatically attacks enemies alongside you. Think of it as a miniature, fiery guardian, adding an extra layer of offensive capability to your exploration and combat.
Equipping the Grimmchild and Starting the Ritual
To harness the Grimmchild’s power, you’ll need to equip the charm. Remember that charms occupy a certain number of Notches, so ensure you have enough available. The Grimmchild initially takes up two notches.
With the charm equipped, the ritual begins. You are tasked with collecting flames from specific locations scattered across Hallownest. These locations are marked on your map once the charm is equipped, making the task relatively straightforward.
Grimmkin Novices and Masters: Collecting the Flames
Your journey starts with collecting flames from Grimmkin Novices. Upon defeating all three, return to Grimm inside his tent in Dirtmouth. He will upgrade the Grimmchild, improving its abilities and changing its appearance. He’ll then task you with seeking out the flames of Grimmkin Masters, who are significantly more challenging to overcome.
The Final Choice: Ritual or Banishment
The culmination of the Grimm Troupe quest presents you with a critical choice: complete the ritual or banish the troupe. This decision has far-reaching consequences, affecting your potential for 112% completion and the availability of certain upgrades. Choosing to complete the ritual involves defeating Nightmare King Grimm, an optional boss, and fully upgrading the Grimmchild. Banishment, on the other hand, involves destroying the Grimm Troupe’s lantern, ending the questline prematurely.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Grimmchild and Grimm Troupe
Here are some of the most common questions asked regarding the Grimmchild and the Grimm Troupe questline, answered in detail:
1. Can I keep the Grimmchild indefinitely?
Yes, you can keep the Grimmchild as long as you complete the ritual. However, if you choose to banish the Grimm Troupe before upgrading it fully, you will lose access to the fully upgraded Grimmchild, but the fragile form will stay with you.
2. What happens if I banish the Grimm Troupe?
If you banish the Grimm Troupe, you prevent yourself from accessing certain content required for 112% completion. This includes the Troupe Master Grimm boss fight, the Nightmare King Grimm boss fight, and the associated charm notch. Furthermore, any Unbreakable Charms not yet acquired will become permanently unobtainable.
3. Is it better to banish the Grimm Troupe or complete the ritual?
That’s a matter of preference! From a completionist’s perspective, completing the ritual is recommended, as it allows you to achieve 112% completion. Completing the ritual also grants you access to the Nightmare King Grimm boss fight, considered one of the most challenging in the game.
4. How do I upgrade my Grimmchild?
You upgrade your Grimmchild by collecting flames from the Grimmkin Novices and Grimmkin Masters scattered throughout Hallownest. Each set of flames collected prompts an upgrade upon returning to Troupe Master Grimm in Dirtmouth.
5. How many charm notches are there in Hollow Knight?
There are a total of 11 Charm Notches in Hollow Knight. You start with 3, and an additional 8 can be found throughout the game, making careful charm selection essential for various encounters.
6. Can I get 112% completion if I banish the Grimm Troupe?
No, banishing the Grimm Troupe prevents you from achieving 112% completion in Hollow Knight. Certain bosses, upgrades, and quest completions are tied to the Grimm Troupe questline.
7. What is the best charm build for fighting Grimm?
Popular charm builds for the Troupe Master Grimm fight often include Longnail and Unbreakable Strength to maximize reach and damage output. Adding Quick Slash can significantly increase your attack speed. Remember that the Grimmchild charm is required to be equipped during this fight, so plan your charm loadout accordingly.
8. What happens to Divine if I banish the Grimm Troupe?
If you banish the Grimm Troupe before upgrading all your Fragile Charms with Divine, she will vanish from Dirtmouth. If she was in the process of upgrading a charm, the fragile version of that charm will be dropped on the ground for you to collect. You will no longer be able to obtain Unbreakable Charms.
9. Do I need to equip Grimmchild to fight Nightmare King Grimm?
Yes, to initiate the fight with Nightmare King Grimm, you must have the Grimmchild Charm equipped. However, the Grimmchild itself does not participate in the fight.
10. What does the Grimmchild charm actually do?
The Grimmchild Charm conjures a small, bat-like creature that automatically attacks enemies alongside you. It provides a consistent, albeit somewhat weak, source of damage, and its attacks can also interrupt some enemy actions.
11. What are Unbreakable Charms, and how do I get them?
Unbreakable Charms are upgraded versions of Fragile Charms. You obtain them by giving Fragile Charms to Divine in the Grimm Troupe tent and paying a fee to upgrade them. These charms, unlike their fragile counterparts, do not break upon death.
12. Can charms break in Hollow Knight?
Yes, certain charms known as Fragile Charms can break upon death. However, they can be repaired by visiting Leg Eater or, if upgraded by Divine, become Unbreakable.
13. Is the Awakened Grimmchild good?
The fully upgraded Awakened Grimmchild is considered to be better than its earlier versions. It will constantly fire projectiles at enemies.
14. What happens if I bow to Grimm?
If you attempt to bow to Troupe Master Grimm, he will screech at you and counterattack with the flame spawner attack. Do not attack him while bowing.
15. Where can I learn more about game design and educational principles?
For those interested in the intersection of games and learning, the Games Learning Society provides a wealth of resources. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to explore research, articles, and community discussions on how games can be used effectively for educational purposes. Learning more about game design principles can enhance your understanding of the mechanics and narrative structure within games like Hollow Knight.
Embark on your journey to claim the Grimmchild, brave adventurer! Whether you choose to embrace the ritual or banish the troupe, the decisions you make will shape your experience in the haunting world of Hallownest.