Charms in Hollow Knight are special Equipment items that provide The Knight with buffs, which will help with both traversing Hallownest and battling its foes. All charms have a Notch Cost, and The Knight will have a Notch Limit which gradually increases throughout the game. Charms can only be equipped and unequipped while The Knight is resting on a Bench.

There are a total of 45 different Charms available in Hollow Knight, including the Charms from the following DLC: Hidden Dreams, The Grimm Troupe, Lifeblood and Godmaster. 5 of the Charms in Hollow Knight later turn into a different Charm, thus there are only 40 slots for Charms in The Knight's inventory. You are not required to complete the game multiple times in order to get the "Blessed" achievement; filling up all the Charm slots in your inventory is enough.

 

Hollow Knight Charm Tier List

Best Charms in Hollow Knight

The 45 Charms of Hollow Knight are not all equal in effectiveness or worth the Notch Cost they have. There are many Charms in the game that are mostly useless unless synergised with other Charms, and some Charms are a must have for most of the playthrough. 

This Charm Tier List is opinion based but is generally in line with how the community feels about each Charm. It also takes into account personal experiences and various aspects of the game, such as defeating Pantheon 5 (Pantheon of Hallownest)or getting all the Endings. This list is based on how useful each Charm is individually, the context of how many situations it is effective in, and how they measure up to their Notch Cost.

The Charms in each tier are not presented in any specific ranking order. However, Unbreakable Strength could very well be the best Charm in the game. Unbreakable Strength is a Charm that will simply make your Nail do more damage. The Nail is the source for the majority of your damage output, meaning this Charm is helpful in a large variety of situations with consistent results.

The Exploration tier is for Charms that are helpful for getting familiar with Hollow Knight. Their use is individual; some people have a worse sense of direction so they need a Wayward Compass, and some people like to explore faster so they equip Sprintmaster. These Charms are difficult to rate as they have no real combat usage, they are just "convinient".

**Note that Fragile versions of Charms bought from Leg Eater are not included in this list; only unbreakable Charms. If you do not mind paying the Geo to repair a Fragile Charm, treat them the same as the unbreakable versions in this tier list.

 

S

unbreakable strenght hollow knight wiki charmsmark of pride hollow knight wiki charmsshaman stone hollow knight wiki charmsgrubsong hollow knight wiki charmsquick slash hollow knight wiki charms  

A

soul eater hollow knight wiki charmsspell twister knight wiki charmslongnail hollow knight wiki charmssharp shadow hollow knight wiki charmsfury of the fallen hollow knight wiki charmsquick focus hollow knight wiki charms

B

dream wielder hollow knight wiki charmshiveblood hollow knight wiki charmsunbreakable heart hollow knight wiki charmsshape of unn hollow knight wiki charmssteady body hollow knight wiki charmsdashmaster hollow knight wiki charmsdeep focus hollow knight wiki charmsflukenest hollow knight wiki charmsspore shroom knight wiki charms

C

heavy blow hollow knight wiki charmsgrimmchild hollow knight wiki charmskingsoul hollow knight wiki charmslifeblood heart hollow knight wiki charmsnailmasters glory hollow knight wiki charmsstalwart shell hollow knight wiki charmsbaldur shell hollow knight wiki charmsgrubberflys elegy hollow knight wiki charmslifeblood core hollow knight wiki charmssoul catcher hollow knight wiki charmsglowing womb hollow knight wiki charmsthorns of agony hollow knight wiki charms

D

carefree melody hollow knight wiki charmsweaversong hollow knight wiki charmsdefenders crest hollow knight wiki charmsunbreakable greed hollow knight wiki charmsjonis blessing hollow knight wiki charmsdreamshield hollow knight wiki charms

Exploration

void heart hollow knight wiki charmsgathering swarm hollow knight wiki charmssprintmaster hollow knight wiki charmswayward compass hollow knight wiki charms

 

Hollow Knight Charms and Notches

hollow knight wiki charm icon

Charms

Charms in Hollow Knight are special items that provide The Knight with various buffs. There are a total of 45 Charms that can be obtained throughout the game. However, there are only 40 Charm slots in the inventory of The Knight. The remaining 5 Charms will replace their counterparts once you perform certain actions. These Charms include Fragile Greed, Fragile Heart, Fragile Strength, Grimmchild, and Kingsoul.

 

hollow knight wiki notch icon

Notches

Notches in Hollow Knight are an item required to equip your desired Charms. Each Charm has a Notch Cost. There are a total of 11 Notches in the game. The Knight starts off with 3 Notches; the other 8 are found as you progress through the game. Some are sold by Merchants, while the others are acquired under certain conditions, such as beating a Boss or gaining an ability.

 

Hollow Knight Overcharmed

 

hollow knight wiki overcharmed capture info

 

Overcharmed in Hollow Knight is a status The Knight acquires which allows them to exceed their Notch limit.

When a player attempts to equip a Charm that goes beyond the maximum number of available Notches, the Charm is denied and sent back to the player's inventory. However, upon attmepting to equip another Charm 5 times, the Overcharmed status will be activated. Note that if all Notches are in use, Overcharmed cannot be activated. You must have at least 1 free Notch.

You will know you're Overcharmed by the purple aura around your health bar. In this status, The Knight will take double damage from ALL sources. In order to remove this effect, you must unequip your extra Charm.

This mechanic is extremely helpful against the Bosses in Hollow Knight that already one-shot the player, such as in the Godmaster DLC on Radiant difficulty. For obvious reasons, it's inadvisable to explore new areas while Overcharmed.

 

Hollow Knight List of Charms

List View

 

Quick Search of All Hollow Knight Charms  

Click the header to sort the table.

Grid Charm Notch Cost Location Description

22

baldur shell hollow knight wiki charms
Baldur Shell

2
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
Howling Cliffs

Protects its bearer with a hard shell while focusing SOUL.

The shell is not indestructible and will shatter if it absorbs too much damage. 

7

dashmaster hollow knight wiki charms
Dashmaster

2
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
Fungal Wastes

Bears the likeness of an eccentric bug known only as 'The Dashmaster'.

The bearer will be able to dash more often as well as dash downwards. Perfect for those who want to move around as quickly as possible.

27

deep focus hollow knight wiki charms
Deep Focus

4
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
Crystal Peak

Naturally formed within a crystal over a long period. Draws in SOUL from the surrounding air.

The bearer will focus SOUL at a slower rate, but the healing effect will double.

24

defenders crest hollow knight wiki charms
Defender's Crest

1
soul cost hollow knight wiki
Royal Waterways

Unique charm bestowed by the King of Hallownest to his most loyal knight.

Scratched and dirty, but still cared for. Causes the bearer to emit a heroic odour.

37

dream wielder hollow knight wiki charms
Dream Wielder

1
soul cost hollow knight wiki
Resting Grounds

Transient charm created for those who wield the Dream Nail and collect essence.

Allows the bearer to charge the Dream nail faster and collect more SOUL when striking foes.

23

flukenest hollow knight wiki charms
Flukenest

3
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Royal Waterways

Living charm born in the gut of a Flukemarm.

Transforms the Vengeful Spirit into a horde of volatile baby flukes.

12

fragile greed hollow knight wiki charms
Fragile Greed

2
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Fungal Wastes

Causes the bearer to find more Geo when defeating enemies.

This charm is fragile and will break if its bearer is killed.

11

fragile heart hollow knight wiki charms
Fragile Heart

2
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
Fungal Wastes

Increases the health of the bearer, allowing them to take more damage.

This charm is fragile and will break if its bearer is killed.

13

fragile strength hollow knight wiki charms
Fragile Strength

3
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
Fungal Wastes

Strengthens the bearer, increasing the damage they deal to enemies with their nail.

This charm is fragile, and will break if its bearer is killed.

20

fury of the fallen hollow knight wiki charms
Fury of the Fallen

2
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
King's Pass

Embodies the fury and heroism that comes upon those who are about to die.

When close to death, the bearer's strength will increase.

2

gathering swarm hollow knight wiki charms
Gathering Swarm

1
soul cost hollow knight wiki

Dirtmouth

A swarm will follow the bearer and gather up any loose Geo.

Useful for those who can't bear to leave anything behind, no matter how insignificant.

25

glowing womb hollow knight wiki charms
Glowing Womb

2
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
Forgotten Crossroads

Drains the SOUL of its bearer and uses it to birth hatchlings.

The hatchlings have no desire to eat or live and will sacrifice themselves to protect their parent.

10

grubberflys elegy hollow knight wiki charms
Grubberfly's Elegy

3
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
Forgotten Crossroads

Contains the gratitude of grubs who will move to the next stage of their lives. Imbues weapon with a holy strength.

When the bearer is at full health, they will fire beams of white hot energy from their nail.

9

grubsong hollow knight wiki charms
Grubsong

1
soul cost hollow knight wiki
Forgotten Crossroads

Contains the gratitude of freed grubs.

Gain SOUL when taking damage.

16

heavy blow hollow knight wiki charms
Heavy Blow

2
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
Dirtmouth

Farmed from the nails of fallen warriors.

Increase the force of the bearer's nail, causing enemies to recoil further when hit.

31

hiveblood hollow knight wiki charms
Hiveblood

4
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
The Hive

Golden nugget of the Hive's precious hardened nectar.

Heals the bearer's wounds over time, allowing them to regularly gain health without focusing SOUL.

30

jonis blessing hollow knight wiki charms
Joni's Blessing

4
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
Joni's Repose

Blessed by Joni, the kindly heretic. Transfigures vital fluids into blue lifeblood.

The bearer will have a healthier shell and can take more damage, but they will not be able to heal themselves by focusing SOUL.

40

kingsoul hollow knight wiki charms
Kingsoul

5
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
Queen's Gardens and White Palace

Holy charm symbolising a union between higher beings.

The bearer will slowly absorb the limitless SOUL contained within. Opens the way to a birthplace.

29

lifeblood core hollow knight wiki charms
Lifeblood Core

3
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
The Abyss

Contains a living core that bleeds precious lifeblood.

When resting, the bearer will gain a coating of lifeblood that protects from a large amount of damage.

28

lifeblood heart hollow knight wiki charms
Lifeblood Heart

2
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
Forgotten Crossroads

Contains a living core that seeps precious lifeblood.

When resting, the bearer will gain a coating of lifeblood that protects from a modest amount of damage.

18

longnail hollow knight wiki charms
Longnail

2
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
Forgotten Crossroads Increases the range of the bearer's nail, allowing them to strike foes from further away.

19

mark of pride hollow knight wiki charms
Mark of Pride

3
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
Mantis Village

Freely given by the Mantis Tribe to those they respect.

Greatly increases the range of the bearer's nail, allowing them to strike from further away.

35

nailmasters glory hollow knight wiki charms
Nailmaster's Glory

1
soul cost hollow knight wiki
Dirtmouth

Contains the passion, skill, and regret of a Nailmaster.

Increases the bearer mastery of Nail Arts, allowing them to focus their power faster and unleash arts sooner.

26

quick focus hollow knight wiki charms
Quick Focus

3
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
Forgotten Crossroads

A charm containing a crystal lens.

Increases the speed of focusing SOUL, allowing the bearer to heal damage faster.

17

quick slash hollow knight wiki charms
Quick Slash

3
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
Kingdom's Edge

Born from imperfect, discarded nails that have fused together.

The nails still long to be wielded. Allows the bearer to slash much more rapidly with their nail.

5

shaman stone hollow knight wiki charms
Shaman Stone

3
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
Forgotten Crossroads

Said to contain the knowledge of past generations of the shaman.

Increases the power of spells, dealing more damage to foes.

34

shape of unn hollow knight wiki charms
Shape of Unn

2
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
Lake of Unn

Reveals the form of Unn within the bearer.

While focusing SOUL, the bearer will take on a new shape and can move freely to avoid enemies.

33

sharp shadow hollow knight wiki charms
Sharp Shadow

2
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
Deepnest

Contains a forbidden spell that transforms shadows into deadly weapons.

When using the Shadow Dash, the bearer's body will sharpen and damage enemies.

4

soul catcher hollow knight wiki charms
Soul Catcher

2
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
Ancestral Mound

Used by shamans to draw more SOUL from the world around them.

Increases the amount of SOUL gained when striking an enemy with the nail.

6

soul eater hollow knight wiki charms
Soul Eater

4
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
Resting Grounds

Forgotten shaman artifact, used to draw SOUL from still-living creatures.

Greatly increases the amount of SOUL gained when striking an enemy with the nail.

14

spell twister knight wiki charms
Spell Twister

2
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
Soul Sanctum

Reflecting the desires of the Soul Sanctum for mastery over SOUL, it improves the bearer's ability to cast spells.

Reduces the SOUL Notch Cost of casting spells.

32

spore shroom knight wiki charms
Spore Shroom

1
soul cost hollow knight wiki
Fungal Wastes

Composed of living fungal matter. Scatters spores when exposed to SOUL.

When focusing SOUL, emit a spore cloud that slowly damages enemies.

3

stalwart shell hollow knight wiki charms
Stalwart Shell

2
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
Dirtmouth

Builds resilience. When recovering from damage, the bearer will remain invulnerable for longer.

Makes it easier to escape from dangerous situations.

15

steady body hollow knight wiki charms
Steady Body

1
soul cost hollow knight wiki
Forgotten Crossroads

Keeps its bearer from recoiling backward when they strike an enemy with a nail.

Allows one to stay steady and keep attacking.

21

thorns of agony hollow knight wiki charms
Thorns of Agony

1
soul cost hollow knight wiki
Greenpath

Senses the pain of its bearer and lashes out at the world around them.

When taking damage, sprout thorny vines that damage nearby foes.

40

void heart hollow knight wiki charms
Void Heart

--- BirthplaceThe Abyss

An emptiness that was hidden within, now unconstrained.

Unifies the void under the bearer's will. This charm is part of its bearer and cannot be unequipped.

1

wayward compass hollow knight wiki charms
Wayward Compass

1
soul cost hollow knight wiki
Dirtmouth Whispers its location to the bearer whenever a map is open, allowing wanderers to pinpoint their current location.

39

carefree melody hollow knight wiki charms
Carefree Melody

3
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
Dirtmouth

Token commemorating the start of a friendship.

Contains a song of protection that may defend the bearer from damage.

38

dreamshield hollow knight wiki charms
Dreamshield

3
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
Resting Grounds

Defensive charm once wielded by a tribe that could shape dreams.

Conjures a shield that follows the bearer and attempts to protect them.

39

grimmchild hollow knight wiki charms
Grimmchild

2
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
King's PassageDirtmouth

Worn by those who take part in the Grimm Troupe's Ritual.

The bearer must seek the Grimmkin and collect their flames. Uncollected flames will appear on the bearer's map.

8

sprintmaster hollow knight wiki charms
Sprintmaster

1
soul cost hollow knight wiki
Dirtmouth

Bears the likeness of a strange bug known only as 'The Sprintmaster'.

Increases the running speed of the bearer, allowing them to avoid danger or overtake rivals.

12

unbreakable greed hollow knight wiki charms
Unbreakable Greed

2
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
Dirtmouth

Causes the bearer to find more Geo when defeating enemies.

This charm is unbreakable.

11

unbreakable heart hollow knight wiki charms
Unbreakable Heart

2
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
Dirtmouth

Increases the health of the bearer, allowing them to take more damage.

This charm is unbreakable.

13

unbreakable strenght hollow knight wiki charms
Unbreakable Strength

3
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
Dirtmouth

Strengthens the bearer, increasing the damage they deal to enemies with their nail.

This charm is unbreakable.

36

weaversong hollow knight wiki charms
Weaversong

2
soul cost hollow knight wikisoul cost hollow knight wiki
Weaver's Den

Silken charm containing a song of farewell, left by the Weavers who departed Hallownest for their old home.

Summons weaverlings to give the lonely bearer some companionship and protection.




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    • Anonymous

      I don't even agree with the metric of combat only. "Exploration" being the lowest tier is eyerolly, and some charms not on it tend to be great for exploration- because in exploration, you want high charm economy so that you are still safe for heals.

      In general having a subjective tier list in a wiki is a bad idea.

      • Anonymous

        How is Hiveblood not higher up it should be in A tier at least I use it all the time. I'm kinda biased because most of my playthrough time is path of pain.

        • Anonymous

          Having a subjective 'charm tier list' is nonsensical and runs contrary to the idea of hosting an objective informational encyclopedia. I don't mean to suggest that no charm is necessarily better than another, because it's hard to deny that some do give more consistent value than others and it's okay to point that out. What I do believe is that, instead of arbitrarily ranking charms with meaningless letters and no explanation, this page should bring attention to when charms are at their best and how to attain the greatest value from each one. Everybody has unique playstyles and will inevitably find value in charms that others might not.

          • Anonymous

            how is carefree melody under grimmchild? its amazing compared to it, and can even give you a second attempt after gtting hit in the elusive radiant markoth, or any radiant fights, for that matter

            • Anonymous

              Nailmasters glory should be way higher just the fact that it only needs one Notch makes it very good easy A tier in my opinion

              • Anonymous

                Personal recomendations: a) When exploring an unknown area without the map; unequip the Wayward Compass, get a SOUL-booster and a protective charm (Baldur
                Shell, Stalwart Shell, etc)
                b)Bosses: Heal charms and protective charms will be useful
                c) Exploring with the map: I use the Wayward Compass, the Gathering Swarm, Steady Body and/or Nail-booster charms

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