Where is the Black Vengeful Spirit in Hollow Knight? A Comprehensive Guide

The coveted black Vengeful Spirit, known as Shade Soul, is a significant upgrade in Hollow Knight, significantly enhancing your offensive capabilities. This isn’t just a cosmetic change; it’s a power boost that propels your magic attacks to a whole new level. But where exactly do you find this essential spell upgrade? The answer is: Shade Soul is located within the Soul Sanctum, a sub-area of the City of Tears. This location is crucial and involves a bit of exploration to reach. Below, we will delve into the specifics of acquiring Shade Soul and answer related questions to make your journey through Hallownest smoother.

Locating the Shade Soul Spell

Accessing the Soul Sanctum

Before you can even think about obtaining Shade Soul, you need to reach the Soul Sanctum, which is tucked away within the City of Tears. Here’s how to get there:

• Elevator Ascent: First, locate the elevator in the City of Tears. This elevator will take you up through the area.
• Secret Shortcut: As you ride the elevator upwards, keep an eye on the left side of the elevator shaft. You will notice a damaged wall. As you pass by this spot, swing your Nail at the damaged section. Continue to swing at the middle portion of this wall as the elevator rises. Keep doing this, and you will eventually break through the wall, revealing a shortcut. This shortcut connects a Bench area with the Soul Sanctum, dramatically reducing travel time.

Obtaining the Shopkeeper’s Key

The hunt for Shade Soul doesn’t end with reaching the Soul Sanctum. You will also need the Shopkeeper’s Key. This key is not in the City of Tears but rather in a different area altogether:

• Crystal Peak: The Shopkeeper’s Key is located within Crystal Peak. More specifically, you must make your way to the central bench in Crystal Peak.
• Left of the Crystal Knight Encounter: From this bench, head left. You will come across the area where you first encounter the Crystal Knight.
• Hidden Corner: Continue past this spot, and you’ll find the Shopkeeper’s Key tucked away in a corner.

Claiming the Shade Soul

Once you have the Shopkeeper’s Key and have made your way to the Soul Sanctum, you are finally ready to unlock the Shade Soul spell. The upgrade is located deeper within the Soul Sanctum and involves a little more exploration after unlocking the short cut and using the key to open the way forward. Be prepared to face challenges along the way, including some tricky platforming sections and enemy encounters. Once you reach the appropriate location in the sanctum, you will be rewarded with this powerful upgrade.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Where do I get Vengeful Spirit?

The Vengeful Spirit spell is the precursor to Shade Soul. You acquire Vengeful Spirit by defeating the False Knight in the Forgotten Crossroads. After the boss fight, you gain access to the Ancestral Mound. Inside, a Snail Shaman grants you the Vengeful Spirit spell.

2. What is the first ability you unlock in Hollow Knight?

While not directly a combat ability, the first significant item that aids in your progression is found in the Green Path, after encountering Hornet. This item grants you World Perception, which is not specifically an ability but helps you navigate the world.

3. What do I do after getting Vengeful Spirit?

After obtaining the Vengeful Spirit spell from the Snail Shaman, you’ll be asked to clear out a beast from the nearby temple. This serves as a tutorial for using the new spell.

4. How do I reach the Soul Master in the Soul Sanctum?

The Soul Master, a challenging boss, resides at the top of the Soul Sanctum. You will have to make your way through a number of different platforming challenges and enemies to get to the top of the Soul Sanctum where the battle takes place.

5. What reward do I receive for beating Soul Master?

Defeating the Soul Master grants you the Desolate Dive spell, a powerful ability useful for combat and exploration.

6. What is Desolate Dive, and where do I get it?

Desolate Dive is a powerful area-of-effect spell that causes damage upon impact. You receive it immediately after defeating the Soul Master at the top of the Soul Sanctum.

7. How do I make my Vengeful Spirit stronger?

The Shade Soul spell is the direct upgrade to the Vengeful Spirit. It dramatically increases its power and changes its projectile to a darker version.

8. What charms should I use for Soul Master?

Charms can greatly enhance your chances of success against Soul Master. Consider these options:

• Soul Catcher/Shaman Stone/Spell Twister: These are ideal for a spell-focused approach.
• Longnail/Mark of Pride/Steady Body/Fragile Strength: These are good for those who prefer a Nail-based combat style.

9. How much damage does Vengeful Spirit do initially?

The Vengeful Spirit spell, in its base form, does 15 damage.

10. How much SOUL does Vengeful Spirit require?

Casting the Vengeful Spirit spell initially requires 33 SOUL.

11. How much soul does Desolate Dive need?

The Desolate Dive spell requires 33 SOUL to cast initially.

12. Can charms reduce the soul cost?

Yes, the Spell Twister charm reduces the SOUL cost of both Vengeful Spirit and Desolate Dive to 24 SOUL.

13. Do Charms increase the damage of spells?

Yes, the Shaman Stone charm increases the damage of both Vengeful Spirit (and its upgraded form Shade Soul) by 33% and Desolate Dive by 51%.

14. Are there any missable items in Hollow Knight?

While nothing essential for 100% completion is truly missable, there are some minor interactions you can miss. For example, your initial encounter with Zote the Mighty can be missed.

15. Does Vengeful Spirit work on Hornet?

Yes, the Vengeful Spirit spell is an effective way to damage Hornet, particularly when she’s out of your Nail range. In the first encounter, it deals about three times the damage as the nail.

By understanding where to find Shade Soul and other key elements of the game, you’ll be well-equipped to navigate the challenges of Hollow Knight. This upgrade, coupled with your evolving skills and strategic use of charms, will make your journey through Hallownest that much more rewarding.