Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight

Charm Notches

Find all Charm Notches in Hollow Knight. Increase your equip capacity to wear more powerful charms and customize the Knight's build.

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Charm Notches

Charm Notches are absolutely essential for tailoring your playstyle in Hollow Knight. Each Charm you equip consumes a certain number of Notches, and your total available Notches directly determine how many Charms you can wear simultaneously. The Knight begins their perilous journey with 3 Charm Notches. However, a grand total of 11 additional Notches can be discovered throughout the vast and decaying kingdom of Hallownest, bringing your maximum capacity to a formidable 14.

Mastering Charm combinations is a cornerstone of success in Hollow Knight. More Notches mean greater flexibility, allowing you to adapt to different challenges, fine-tune your combat style, or enhance exploration. Prioritizing their acquisition will significantly empower your journey through Hallownest.

Acquiring Additional Charm Notches (Total: 11)

Expanding your Charm Notch capacity is crucial for tackling tougher challenges and experimenting with powerful Charm combinations. Here's a comprehensive, step-by-step guide on where to find all 11 extra Notches:

  1. Purchase from Salubra (x5 Notches)
    • Location: Salubra's Shop is nestled in the southern part of the Fungal Wastes, directly below the Mantis Village. To reach her, you'll need the Mothwing Cloak to dash across gaps.
    • Acquisition: Salubra sells five Notches sequentially. The price for each Notch increases as you purchase them, making it a significant Geo investment but one of the most reliable ways to expand your capacity.
    • Cost Breakdown:
      • First Notch: 120 Geo
      • Second Notch: 500 Geo
      • Third Notch: 900 Geo
      • Fourth Notch: 1400 Geo
      • Fifth Notch: 2000 Geo
    • Total Cost: 4920 Geo for all five Notches. It's highly recommended to prioritize these purchases early in your playthrough, as they offer the most substantial boost to your build flexibility. Farming Geo in areas like the Forgotten Crossroads or Fungal Wastes can make these acquisitions smoother.
  2. Colosseum of Fools Reward - Trial of the Conqueror (x1 Notch)
    • Location: Kingdom's Edge, within the Colosseum of Fools. The Colosseum is located in the upper-right section of Kingdom's Edge, accessible after navigating through the area and finding the entrance.
    • Acquisition: Successfully complete the Trial of the Conqueror, which is the second trial offered in the Colosseum of Fools. This trial is significantly more challenging than the Trial of the Warrior (which rewards Geo and a Pale Ore).
    • Strategy: The Trial of the Conqueror pits you against numerous waves of increasingly difficult enemies, including Winged Sentry, Obbles, Great Hoppers, and ultimately the God Tamer and her beast.
      • Recommended Charms: Quick Slash, Mark of Pride, Fragile/Unbreakable Strength, Shaman Stone, Longnail.
      • Key Tactics: Focus on dodging and parrying. Learn enemy attack patterns. Utilize Nail Arts (Great Slash, Dash Slash) for crowd control and burst damage. Save Soul for healing or powerful spell attacks (Shade Soul/Descending Dark). The God Tamer fight requires patience; focus on the beast first, then the Tamer.
  3. Fog Canyon (x1 Notch)
    • Location: Hidden deep within the treacherous, acid-filled chambers of Fog Canyon.
    • Acquisition: This Notch is located in a secret area accessible only after acquiring Isma's Tear. Isma's Tear is found in the Royal Waterways after defeating the Flukemarm.
    • Strategy: From the Queen's Gardens entrance to Fog Canyon (the one leading from the Fungal Wastes), head left and then descend. You'll need to navigate through a series of acid pools. With Isma's Tear, you can safely swim through these. The Notch is in a small, well-hidden alcove protected by a few Oomas (the jellyfish-like enemies). Destroy the Oomas carefully to avoid their explosive demise, then collect the Notch.
  4. Fungal Wastes (x1 Notch)
    • Location: Found in a hidden passage within the Fungal Wastes, specifically near the entrance to Queen's Gardens.
    • Acquisition: This Notch is not a reward for defeating the Mantis Lords. Instead, it's found in a secret area that requires the Mantis Claw (Wall Jump) to access.
    • Strategy: From the main path leading to the Queen's Gardens entrance in Fungal Wastes (the path that opens after you pass through Mantis Village), look for a hidden wall on the upper-left side of the screen, just before the actual Queen's Gardens transition. Use Mantis Claw to wall-jump up and reveal a hidden passage. Follow this passage to find the Charm Notch. This area is often overlooked by players rushing to the Queen's Gardens.
  5. Greenpath (x1 Notch)
    • Location: In a secret area within Greenpath, specifically in the large chamber where you first encounter Hornet.
    • Acquisition: This Notch requires the Mothwing Cloak (Dash) to reach. It is not tied to the Gruz Mother boss.
    • Strategy: After acquiring the Mothwing Cloak, return to the large, central chamber in Greenpath where you first fought Hornet. This is the area with the large lake and several Vengeflies. On the far left side of this chamber, there's a high ledge that appears inaccessible. Use your Mothwing Cloak to dash across the gap to this ledge. Follow the hidden path to find the Charm Notch. This is an early-game Notch that can significantly boost your capacity if you remember to backtrack.
  6. Royal Waterways (x1 Notch)
    • Location: Deep within the putrid Royal Waterways.
    • Acquisition: This Notch is a direct reward for defeating the Flukemarm boss.
    • Strategy: The Flukemarm is located in a large, circular chamber in the lower-right section of the Royal Waterways. To reach her, you'll need to navigate through the maze-like passages and potentially deal with various Flukes and Hwurmp enemies.
      • Boss Battle: Flukemarm: The Flukemarm is a stationary boss that continuously spawns Flukefeys and Flukemons. Focus on clearing out the smaller enemies quickly to prevent being overwhelmed. Use spells like Vengeful Spirit/Shade Soul to hit the Flukemarm directly while also damaging her offspring. Descending Dark/Desolate Dive is excellent for clearing groups of Flukes. Stay mobile to avoid projectiles and the Flukemarm's occasional lunge.
    • Reward: Upon defeating the Flukemarm, the Charm Notch will appear in the center of the arena.
  7. Deepnest (x1 Notch)
    • Location: Hidden deep within the dark, unsettling depths of Deepnest, specifically in the Fungal Core section.
    • Acquisition: This Notch is found in a secluded chamber that requires careful navigation through Deepnest's treacherous terrain.
    • Strategy: From the Hot Spring in Deepnest (the one accessible from the Distant Village tram station), head left and then descend. You'll need to navigate through a series of tight passages, avoiding various Deepnest creatures like Stalkers, Deeplings, and the occasional Corpse Creeper. Look for a path that leads downwards into a more fungal-looking area (the Fungal Core). The Notch is in a small, secluded chamber, often guarded by a few fungal enemies or a Stalker. Be prepared for low visibility and sudden enemy appearances in Deepnest.
  8. Grimm Troupe DLC - Grimmchild (x1 Notch)
    • Location: Dirtmouth, after initiating the Grimm Troupe DLC questline.
    • Acquisition: This Notch is awarded by Divine after you collect the first three Grimmkin Flames and return to the Grimm Troupe's tent in Dirtmouth.
    • Strategy: To begin the Grimm Troupe quest, find the hidden breakable wall in the Howling Cliffs (upper-left corner of the map). Navigate through the area to find a large corpse and interact with it to light the Nightmare Lantern. Return to Dirtmouth, and the Grimm Troupe's tent will appear. Speak with Brumm inside, then interact with Grimm. He will give you the Grimmchild Charm. After collecting the first three Grimmkin Flames (found in Forgotten Crossroads, Greenpath, and Fungal Wastes), return to the tent. Divine will be present, and she will award you the Charm Notch.
    • Note: This Notch is part of the free Grimm Troupe DLC.
  9. Colosseum of Fools Reward - Trial of the Fool (x1 Notch)
    • Location: Kingdom's Edge, within the Colosseum of Fools.
    • Acquisition: Successfully complete the Trial of the Fool, the third and most challenging trial in the Colosseum of Fools.
    • Strategy: The Trial of the Fool is an endurance test, featuring numerous waves of Hallownest's toughest enemies, including Great Hoppers, Soul Twisters, Shielded Fool, and the infamous God Tamer (again). There are also sections where the floor disappears, forcing you to wall-jump and fight in mid-air.
      • Recommended Charms: Quick Slash, Mark of Pride, Fragile/Unbreakable Strength, Shaman Stone, Nailmaster's Glory. Charms that provide healing (Quick Focus, Baldur Shell) or Soul generation (Soul Catcher, Soul Eater) can also be very helpful.
      • Key Tactics: Patience and adaptability are paramount. Prioritize dangerous enemies. Master wall-jumping and aerial combat. Conserve Soul for healing or powerful spells. Learn the patterns of the Shielded Fool and the God Tamer. It will likely take multiple attempts to succeed.

Maximizing Your Charm Loadout

With a full set of 14 Charm Notches, you'll possess unparalleled flexibility in customizing The Knight's abilities. This expanded capacity allows for truly unique and powerful builds. Consider these tips for effective Charm management:

  • Synergy is Key: Always look for Charms that complement each other's effects. For example, Quick Slash and Fragile Strength (or its unbreakable counterpart) form a devastating combination for melee-focused builds, drastically increasing your damage output. Similarly, Shaman Stone paired with any offensive spell Charm (like Soul Catcher or Soul Eater) can turn The Knight into a formidable spellcaster.
  • Adapt to the Challenge: Don't be afraid to swap Charms for specific encounters or areas. A challenging boss fight might necessitate a more defensive loadout (e.g., Quick Focus, Baldur Shell, Shape of Unn), while exploration benefits from movement Charms (e.g., Dashmaster, Sprintmaster) or Geo-gathering Charms (e.g., Gathering Swarm, Fragile Greed). Always check your Charm loadout before entering a new area or engaging a boss.
  • Overcharming: While not directly related to Notches, understanding "overcharming" is crucial for advanced play. You can "overcharm" by equipping Charms that exceed your current Notch capacity. This grants you the Charm's effects but comes with a significant drawback: you will take double damage from all sources. Use this strategically for familiar fights where you're confident in avoiding damage, or for specific challenges where the extra Charm effect outweighs the risk. Overcharming is indicated by a purple glow around your Charm Notches in the inventory screen.
  • Experimentation: The beauty of Hollow Knight's Charm system lies in its depth. Don't be afraid to experiment with unconventional combinations. Sometimes, a seemingly niche Charm can unlock a surprisingly effective playstyle against a particular foe or in a specific area.

By diligently seeking out all the Charm Notches and understanding their strategic application, you'll unlock the full potential of your Charm collection and become an even more formidable force capable of overcoming any challenge Hallownest throws your way.