Hornet | Hollow Knight Wiki

Hornet is an NPC in Hollow Knight. Hornet is an arachnid warrior who wears a curved mask shaped vaguely like a boomerang, with two dark eye-holes near the bottom. In addition, Hornet wears a red dress-like cloak and wields a needle and silk as her weapon. Hornet primarily acts as an anti-hero, and her involvement unlocks 2 possible endings in Hollow Knight.

To see the page for Hornet as one of the Bosses, click here.

Hollow Knight Hornet Lore

Hornet was raised in the Deepnest, and survived the fall and the Infection of the kingdom. She wanders around its ruins, chasing off all travelers and outsiders whom she automatically assumes are trying to desecrate the place (despite most of them being harmless). She puts on an imperious facade to compensate for her lack of ability to truly protect the kingdom crumbling around her.

At first she is antagonistic toward the Knight, trying to kill them and primarily acting as an anti-hero. Hornet's initial purpose is to protect the sealing of the Black Egg. She also guards the Cast-Off Shell in Kingdom's Edge. After some time, she was able to sense the awakening of the Infection and started off on a journey to travel across Hallownest in search for answers.

Hollow Knight Hornet Information

Hornet is the daughter of Herrah the Beast, the queen of Deepnest, and The Pale King. Her birth was the result of a bargain: her mother would become a Dreamer if the King granted her a child. As such, Hornet spent only a short time with Herrah, though she remembers it with fondness and seems to admire her mother. Her shared heritage with The Knight and the rest of the Vessels makes them siblings.

• Where to Find Hornet: Hornet can be first found in Greenpath, where she will appear a number of times before you battle her at the end of the area. Then you'll briefly encounter her again in the City of Tears. She will then move on to Kingdom's Edge, where you will fight her the second time. If you're going for "Dream No More" or "Sealed Siblings" ending, she will rejoin you in the Abyss with some dialogue, and finally meet up with you at the Black Egg Temple (provided you have Void Heart).
• Hornet Story Progression: Hornet then moves to Kingdom's Edge after you defeat her in Greenpath.
• Hornet Combat Information: Hornet is fought twice, first in Greenpath, second in Kingdom's Edge. In Kingdom's Edge, she uses more attacks and moves more quickly.
• Rewards for defeating Hornet: Defeating Hornet in Greenpath will reward you with the Mothwing Cloak and the Test of Resolve Trophy/Achievement. Defeating her in Kingdom's Edge will reward you with the King's Brand and the Proof of Resolve Trophy/Achievement.

Hollow Knight Hornet Associated Endings

One of two possible endings involving Hornet: Sealed Siblings - A semi-hidden ending. To get this ending, obtain the Void Heart and enter the Black Egg. When Hornet interrupts, don't strike the Hollow Knight with your Dream Nail, but continue your attacks. Hornet will eventually get knocked out and pass out and the fight continues. Beat the Hollow Knight to get this ending. In this ending, you take the Hollow Knight's place, but because Hornet is sealed with you, she can never escape. The cycle is ended forever as no new knights can enter the Black Egg and Hallownest will eventually succumb to the Infection.

The other possible ending involving Hornet: Dream No More - To get this ending, obtain a fully awakened Dream Nail by defeating the various spirit bosses, the Champion versions of False Knight (Failed Champion), Soul Master (Soul Tyrant), and Broken Vessel (Lost Kin). Additional essence can be gained from the various nonhostile spirits and the Dream Trees scattered around the map. You need a total of 1800 essence to fully awaken the Dream Nail. Additionally, go to the Queen's Gardens and obtain the White Crest Fragment.

After awakening the Dream Nail, strike the Kingsmould sitting in the Palace Grounds. This will transport you to the Dream World, where you must complete the White Palace's platforming challenge. At the end of the palace, strike the Pale King until his exoskeleton drops from the throne. After striking the King's corpse, you must pick up the other half of the Kingsoul. This will make you leave the Dream World.

Equip the Kingsoul and enter the Abyss. Go to the bottom-most section of the Abyss and enter the newly opened cave area. Descend down the area, defeating or dodging the Siblings. At the bottom of the Abyss, strike the mirror with your Dream Nail to travel into the Dream World. This will permanently change the Kingsoul into the Void Heart.

Afterward, go to the Black Egg. Hornet will be waiting outside. Enter the Egg and fight The Hollow Knight. Halfway through the fight, Hornet will interrupt by hitting the Hollow Knight with her nail and tying him down. Hit the Hollow Knight with the Dream Nail. At this point, The Radiance will appear. It is a three-stage boss fight. After you complete it, the Hollow Knight’s Shade form will assist you along with all of the Siblings, and you can watch the ending cutscene. In this ending, you kill the Radiance and end the Infection.

Hollow Knight Hornet Dialogue

Come no closer, ghost.

I've seen you, creeping through the undergrowth, stalking me.

This old kingdom... A terrible thing awakens. I can smell it in the air...

I know what you are. I know what you'd try to do. I can't allow it.

Shaw!

Hollow Knight Hornet Notes & Tips

• In Hornet's second fight, she rarely stays in place long enough for more than two nail strikes. Because of this, it is useful to charge up Nail Arts strikes in between hits to allow players to deal more damage when an opening presents itself.
• Hornet is the only creature in Hollow Knight to wield a Needle.
• She is the protagonist in the upcoming sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong.