Hollow Knight Charms: A Comprehensive Tier List

Hey guys! Let's dive into the awesome world of Hollow Knight and talk about something super important: Charms! These little trinkets are your key to surviving the dangers of Hallownest, and choosing the right ones can seriously impact your gameplay. So, I've put together a tier list to help you navigate the vast selection of charms, ensuring you're equipped to handle whatever the game throws your way. This list is based on my personal experience, and how useful I found the charms during both the main game and the various challenges. Keep in mind that charm choices can be very subjective, and depend on your playstyle and what you're trying to accomplish. Some charms may be more beneficial in certain situations than others, so feel free to experiment and discover what works best for you! I've tried to provide a clear and concise breakdown of each charm's effectiveness and how to best use them. Let's get started and explore what makes each charm special!

S-Tier Charms: The Game Changers

Alright, let's kick things off with the S-Tier – the absolute cream of the crop. These are the charms that I believe are essential for almost every build, offering unmatched utility and power. If you're looking to optimize your gameplay, these are the charms you should prioritize. Having these equipped significantly increases your chances of success in various encounters and challenges. They are so impactful that they can single-handedly shift the balance of power in your favor, making tough bosses and challenging areas much more manageable. If you're looking for a strong foundation for any build, start with these!

First up is the Unbreakable Strength. This charm is a game-changer. It boosts your nail damage by a whopping 50%. This means you can defeat enemies much faster and deal significantly more damage. The Unbreakable Strength charm is available late in the game, but if you want it early, you can obtain it after beating the Brooding Mawlek boss. This charm is incredibly useful in almost every situation. The amount of damage it provides is just insane. Then we have Quick Focus, which significantly reduces the time it takes to heal. Healing is vital in Hollow Knight, and being able to heal quickly can be the difference between life and death. Having a fast healing ability is critical for recovery during combat. Quick Focus is a staple in many builds. It is essential for survivability. It gives you a crucial edge in battles.

Another must-have is Shaman Stone, which increases the damage of your spells. Spells are incredibly powerful in Hollow Knight, so boosting their damage output is a huge deal. This charm is really effective in boss fights where you have opportunities to cast spells. Shaman Stone is essential for those who enjoy using spells in their playstyle. The spells do a lot of damage, especially when you pair Shaman Stone with other charms like Soul Eater or Spell Twister. Lastly, we can't forget Mark of Pride. This charm extends your nail's reach, allowing you to hit enemies from a greater distance. This is especially useful for keeping your distance and avoiding damage. Mark of Pride is fantastic for those who like to use the nail for combat.

A-Tier Charms: Powerful and Versatile

Now we move on to the A-Tier charms. These are excellent choices that offer great utility and are often included in many effective builds. They may not be as universally powerful as the S-Tier, but they are still incredibly valuable and will significantly improve your gameplay experience. They provide a significant advantage in various situations and are well worth considering when crafting your charm setup. Using these can certainly enhance your combat effectiveness and survivability. These charms are powerful, effective, and incredibly helpful during your adventures in Hallownest.

First up is Longnail, which, similar to Mark of Pride, extends your nail's reach, but to a lesser extent. It's a solid choice for increasing your attack range. Then we have Quick Slash, which increases your nail attack speed. This lets you get in more hits in a shorter amount of time, boosting your damage output. This is especially helpful against fast-moving enemies or when you need to deal a lot of damage in a short period. We also have Spell Twister, which reduces the Soul cost of your spells. This means you can cast spells more often, and it's a great addition to spell-focused builds. Dashmaster is another excellent choice. It allows you to dash more frequently and even dash downwards. This offers great maneuverability, which makes it easier to dodge attacks and navigate tricky areas. Finally, there's Thorns of Agony, which damages enemies when you take damage. This charm can be helpful in close-quarters combat or when you're struggling to avoid taking hits. The A-Tier charms are very versatile and can fit into many different playstyles and builds, so feel free to try them and decide which ones work best for you.

B-Tier Charms: Solid Choices

In the B-Tier, we find a group of charms that are still useful but may be more situational or less impactful than the higher-tier options. These charms can be very effective in specific situations and might be a good fit for your preferred playstyle, but they might not be essential for everyone. They can still improve your gameplay, but their usefulness depends on how you approach the game and what you prioritize. These charms are still useful and can be beneficial depending on your approach to combat.

We've got Fragile Strength/Unbreakable Strength here. It increases your nail damage. This charm is powerful. However, it breaks upon death. Be careful when equipping it! Steady Body is a good option, as it prevents your character from being knocked back when attacking. This can be useful in certain situations, especially when fighting large enemies or in confined spaces. Next, we have Lifeblood Heart/Lifeblood Core, which gives you extra masks of health. They are nice for increasing survivability. Defender's Crest is also a great option, as it releases a cloud of noxious gas that damages enemies. This is a situational charm that can be useful in certain areas, but it’s not as universally helpful as some of the other charms. Finally, there's Baldur Shell, which creates a shell around you while you focus. This charm is a good choice if you often find yourself getting interrupted while healing. The B-Tier charms offer solid benefits but might not be as essential as the higher-tier options. Consider them depending on your playstyle and the challenges you're facing.

C-Tier Charms: Niche and Situational

Alright, let's move on to the C-Tier. These charms can be pretty situational. They might be useful in specific builds or areas of the game, but generally, they don't offer the same level of consistent benefit as the higher-tier charms. You might find them helpful in certain situations, but they’re not generally recommended for general use. These charms have a niche purpose, and whether they’re worth using really depends on the player's preference.

Here we have Flukenest, which transforms your Vengeful Spirit spell into a barrage of smaller projectiles. It is powerful, but it can be tricky to aim and use effectively. Sprintmaster increases your running speed. While it can be useful for faster exploration, it’s not essential for combat. Heavy Blow increases the knockback of your nail attacks. It can be useful for keeping enemies at bay, but its usefulness depends on the enemy. Deep Focus is similar to Quick Focus, but it takes longer to heal. It offers more health, but the increased healing time makes it less practical. Spore Shroom releases damaging spores when focusing. This charm can be helpful in specific situations, but its benefits are limited. Finally, there's Weaversong, which summons weaverlings to fight alongside you. While they can provide extra damage, they don't always hit their targets effectively. C-Tier charms are all situational, and your enjoyment of them will depend on your build and personal preference.

D-Tier Charms: Limited Use

Last but not least, we've got the D-Tier. These charms are generally considered less effective, and you might find yourself rarely using them. They might have some niche uses, but there are often better options available. Choosing these may depend on very specific builds or challenges, or they might be more of a novelty than a practical tool. Generally, I would not suggest using these unless you have a very specific reason. Here are some charms to consider.

Grubberfly's Elegy fires projectiles when you have full health. This charm can be useful but is limited by how much health you have. Glowing Womb spawns hatchlings that consume soul. This charm is not worth the Soul cost for most builds. Carefree Melody has a chance to block damage, but the chances are slim. Fury of the Fallen increases nail damage when at low health. This can be risky to use and is not a reliable way to deal damage. Joni's Blessing gives you more health but prevents you from healing. This charm might be useful for certain builds, but it requires you to avoid taking damage, which is not always easy. These charms are often outshined by better options, but feel free to experiment to see if any of them suit your needs.

Final Thoughts and Tips

And that's my Hollow Knight charm tier list! Remember, this is just my personal take, and your experience may vary. Experiment with different combinations to find what works best for you. The beauty of Hollow Knight lies in its flexibility, so don't be afraid to mix and match charms. Try to get used to different builds and charm combinations. Also, don't forget to consider your playstyle and the challenges you're facing. Some charms will be more effective against certain bosses or in specific areas. If you enjoy using spells, prioritize charms that boost your spell damage and reduce Soul costs. If you prefer melee combat, focus on charms that increase nail damage, attack speed, and reach. Have fun exploring Hallownest, and keep those charms handy! Good luck out there, and happy gaming! Let me know in the comments if you agree, disagree, or have any favorite charm combinations. Happy exploring, and have fun in Hallownest!