How Many Times Can You Beat Zote in Hollow Knight? A Comprehensive Guide
The enigmatic and boastful Zote the Mighty is a character in Hollow Knight that players love to hate, or hate to love. He’s not just a simple NPC; he’s woven into various encounters, each with its own consequences and rewards (or lack thereof). The question on many players’ minds is: how many times can you actually beat Zote? The answer is more nuanced than a simple number, as it depends on which version of Zote you’re talking about.
In total, you can engage in battle with two primary versions of Zote: The Zote you encounter in the Colosseum of Fools, and the formidable Grey Prince Zote (GPZ) accessible through Bretta’s hidden room. While you only defeat the base Zote once at the Colosseum, you can battle Grey Prince Zote a total of 10 times, with each fight increasing in difficulty, and leading to a unique visual reward.
Zote the Mighty: The Colosseum Encounter
The Initial Fight
The first time you encounter Zote as an actual boss fight is in the Trial of the Warrior at the Colosseum of Fools. This encounter is unique as Zote’s nail is made of shellwood which means that he deals no damage to you. Yes, you read that right, he cannot hurt you in this encounter. This fight is more about learning his moveset and preparing yourself for the more challenging fights with Grey Prince Zote. After defeating him in the Colosseum, Zote returns to Dirtmouth where he boasts about his (perceived) victory and collects a souvenir. Defeating Zote in the Colosseum will grant you the Rivalry achievement. This Colosseum encounter can only be completed once per save file.
Grey Prince Zote: The Dream Battle
The Endless Challenge
The real meat of the Zote boss fights lies with Grey Prince Zote. After saving Zote multiple times and obtaining the Monarch Wings, a hidden room will become accessible in Bretta’s house in Dirtmouth. Inside this room is a statue you can use the Dream Nail on, leading you to Grey Prince Zote’s boss arena.
You can fight Grey Prince Zote 10 times in total. Each fight will increase in difficulty, so players should be prepared for a significant ramp-up in challenge. GPZ’s attacks will be faster, he will gain new and more powerful attacks. After your 9th Victory over Grey Prince Zote, he will finally be called “Invincible”.
The 10th and final fight is unique, where GPZ’s attacks will deal 8 masks of damage per hit, allowing players to discern what level fight they are currently on.
The Golden Reward
While there are no tangible item rewards for defeating GPZ all 10 times, once you have defeated him the 10th time a gold statue of Zote will replace the stone one in Bretta’s basement. This is purely a cosmetic reward and does not affect game play.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Zote
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to help you better understand Zote’s role and battles:
1. Where can I find Zote for the first time?
Zote can be first found in Greenpath, trapped in the jaws of a Vengefly King. You can choose to save him or leave him behind.
2. What happens if I don’t save Zote in Greenpath?
If you don’t save Zote in Greenpath before you obtain the Mantis Claw, he will die. His nail and shell will remain there, and hitting his shell will grant you the Neglect achievement.
3. Is it possible to save Zote in Deepnest?
Yes, Zote appears trapped again in Deepnest and it’s advised that you save him again, as doing so will lead to another encounter. However, unlike Greenpath, Zote cannot die in Deepnest.
4. How many times do I need to save Zote?
You need to save Zote twice – once in Greenpath and once in Deepnest – to unlock his Colosseum appearance and later the Grey Prince Zote fight.
5. What happens if I save Zote both times?
If you save Zote both times, he will eventually be captured and taken to the Colosseum of Fools. He will then become the final boss for the Trial of the Warrior.
6. Can I miss the Grey Prince Zote fight?
Yes, if you do not save Zote in Greenpath and Deepnest, you cannot fight Grey Prince Zote.
7. Where do I find the Grey Prince Zote fight?
After defeating Zote in the Colosseum and obtaining the Monarch Wings, a secret room is revealed in Bretta’s house in Dirtmouth. You must use the Dream Nail on a statue inside to access the Grey Prince Zote battle.
8. How many times can I fight Grey Prince Zote?
You can fight Grey Prince Zote a total of 10 times, with each fight increasing in difficulty.
9. What reward do I get for defeating Grey Prince Zote 10 times?
Defeating Grey Prince Zote 10 times changes the appearance of the Zote statue in Bretta’s basement from stone to gold.
10. Is it necessary to beat Grey Prince Zote 10 times for any achievement?
No, fighting Grey Prince Zote 10 times is purely for the cosmetic reward of the statue and is not required for any in-game achievements or story progression.
11. What happens to Bretta if I do or don’t save her?
If you don’t save Bretta, you will miss out on a Mask Shard and a hidden boss fight. After saving her, she will reside in Dirtmouth, where a new house becomes explorable, granting the mask shard upon entry.
12. Where is Bretta after beating Zote 4 times?
After saving Bretta, she will return to Dirtmouth, and her house will be open to explore. Inside you can find a mask shard. This also starts her infatuation with the Knight and Zote.
13. Can I fight Grey Prince Zote in any of the Pantheons?
If you haven’t saved Zote, you will not have to fight the Grey Prince Zote in the third pantheon.
14. What are Zote’s Precepts?
Zote has 57 Precepts which are often amusing and nonsensical rules he lives by.
15. Does the nail damage bonus from Fragile/Unbreakable Strength affect Grey Prince Zote’s damage?
Grey Prince Zote’s damage is not affected by the players nail damage or strength. Additionally, Nail arts don’t get the Fragile/Unbreakable Strength bonus, they only get the Fury of the Fallen bonus.
Conclusion
Zote, whether he is an annoying NPC, a tutorial boss, or a difficult challenge, is a fascinating part of the Hollow Knight universe. While you can only beat the base version once at the Colosseum, the true test of your skills lies in overcoming the Grey Prince Zote fight up to 10 times. Though there are no tangible gameplay rewards to beating GPZ all 10 times, you will be rewarded with a golden statue, and bragging rights for conquering the “Invincible” Zote. Whether you love him, hate him, or love to hate him, Zote is a character that players are unlikely to forget.