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Grimm is a standout character in Hollow Knight, celebrated not only within the game but across the metroidvania genre for his enigmatic charm and captivating design. As the leader of the Grimm Troupe, he pulls the Knight into a thrilling side quest that adds depth and closure to the troupe's narrative. During these adventures, players face Grimm in battle, first as Troupe Master Grimm, and then, for a more challenging experience, as Nightmare King Grimm. These encounters rank among the toughest in the game, demanding precision, quick reflexes, and strategic charm use to conquer.
All charm builds for both versions of Grimm require the Grimmchild charm, which occupies two charm notches, to access the boss fights.
Best Charm Builds For Troupe Master Grimm
Troupe Master Grimm serves as an introduction to his combat style, characterized by fast-paced moves and a dance-like rhythm. Players need to be strategic and agile, taking advantage of brief windows to strike rather than engaging in reckless combat. Here are effective builds to help conquer this challenging boss fight.
Completing the Troupe Master Grimm boss fight unlocks the final Charm Notch, crucial for tackling Nightmare King Grimm with optimized builds.
Nail Build
- Unbreakable/Fragile Strength
- Quick Slash
- Longnail
- Grimmchild (Mandatory)
This build focuses on maximizing Nail damage to capitalize on openings in Troupe Master Grimm's attacks. With Quick Slash, players can land more hits during these windows. Unbreakable or Fragile Strength is essential to boost the Nail's damage output. Aim to enter the fight with at least the Coiled Nail or the Pure Nail to efficiently reduce Grimm's health.
Longnail is preferred over Mark of Pride due to the mandatory use of Grimmchild, providing a slight increase in Nail range that's particularly useful for hitting Grimm during the end of his attacks, such as the Diving Dash and the Uppercut.
Spell Build
- Shaman Stone
- Grubsong
- Spell Twister
- Unbreakable/Fragile Heart
- Grimmchild (Mandatory)
For players leaning towards spell-based combat or less confident with the Nail, this build offers a powerful approach to defeating Grimm quickly. Ensure you have the Descending Dark, Abyss Shriek, and Shade Soul spell upgrades, as these are key to dealing significant damage.
Shaman Stone is vital for amplifying spell damage, while Spell Twister allows for more frequent spell casting. Grubsong helps maintain a healthy Soul gauge by generating Soul from taking hits, which can be frequent in this fight. Unbreakable/Fragile Heart provides additional masks, allowing players to focus more Soul on casting spells.
Best Charm Builds For Nightmare King Grimm
Nightmare King Grimm escalates the challenge with doubled damage output and increased speed, making even minor mistakes costly. He also introduces flaming trails to his attacks and a new flame pillar attack, offering opportunities for high damage with Abyss Shriek. Here are the best charm builds to face this formidable foe.
Best Build
- Unbreakable/Fragile Strength
- Shaman Stone
- Mark of Pride
- Grimmchild (Mandatory)
A pure Nail build isn't advisable against Nightmare King Grimm due to his increased difficulty. A hybrid Nail/Spell build is more effective, leveraging the powerful spells Descending Dark and Abyss Shriek. Shaman Stone is crucial for enhancing spell damage, while Unbreakable/Fragile Strength and Mark of Pride boost Nail damage during moments when spell use is risky.
Alternate Build
- Grubsong
- Sharp Shadow
- Shaman Stone
- Spell Twister
- Nailmaster's Glory
- Grimmchild (Mandatory)
This more defensive build focuses on spell usage and underutilized Nail Arts, with tools to evade Nightmare King Grimm's lethal attacks. Shaman Stone and Spell Twister are essential for maximizing spell damage. Grubsong aids in maintaining Soul, while Sharp Shadow, requiring the Shade Cloak, allows dashing through attacks and dealing damage. Nailmaster's Glory enhances the effectiveness of Nail Arts, providing another damage option alongside strategic spell use.
