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• Best Charm Builds For Troupe Master Grimm

• Best Charm Builds For Nightmare King Grimm

Grimm stands as one of the most iconic and beloved characters not just in Hollow Knight, but within the entire metroidvania genre. His enigmatic presence and striking appearance as the leader of the Grimm Troupe captivate players throughout their quest to save Hallownest. Engaging with Grimm offers a compelling side quest that brings a satisfying conclusion to the Grimm Troupe's narrative arc.

During these adventures, players are tasked with confronting Grimm at least once, paving the way to battle an even more challenging variant, the Nightmare King Grimm, to fully experience the Grimm Troupe DLC. Both Troupe Master Grimm and Nightmare King Grimm are among the most demanding encounters in the game, necessitating precise movement, swift reactions, and unwavering determination to survive their deadly dance. Equipping the right charms is crucial for overcoming these formidable foes.

All charm builds for both Grimm fights in the base game require the Grimmchild charm to be equipped, which occupies two charm notches.

Best Charm Builds For Troupe Master Grimm

Troupe Master Grimm introduces players to his general moveset and attack patterns. This battle is characterized by its fast pace, resembling a dance more than a brawl. Players must approach it with elegance, carefully selecting moments to strike rather than recklessly absorbing damage. The following builds are designed to help players navigate this challenging encounter successfully.

Completing the Troupe Master Grimm fight unlocks the final Charm Notch, essential for utilizing some of the best builds against Nightmare King Grimm.

Nail Build

- Unbreakable/Fragile Strength

• Quick Slash
• Longnail
• Grimmchild (Mandatory)

This charm build focuses on maximizing Nail damage during the brief windows between Grimm's attacks. Given the slower pace compared to the Nightmare King version, a Nail build is highly effective for landing multiple hits, thanks to Quick Slash.

Unbreakable or Fragile Strength is essential in any Nail build, boosting the Nail's damage output. Players should aim to have at least the Coiled Nail or the Pure Nail to efficiently deplete Grimm's health.

While Nail builds typically include Mark of Pride, Longnail serves as a viable alternative here due to the two charm slots occupied by Grimmchild. Although it offers slightly less range than Mark of Pride, Longnail can still be advantageous for hitting Grimm at 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 who prefer spell-based combat or are less confident with the Nail, the Spell build offers a swift path to victory against Grimm. By this stage, players should have access to the Descending Dark, Abyss Shriek, and Shade Soul spell upgrades, with the former two being particularly effective against tough bosses.

Shaman Stone is a must-have in any Spell build, significantly enhancing the damage of the Knight's spells. Combined with Spell Twister, players can cast multiple spells in a single rotation before needing to recharge with Nail hits.

Given the difficulty of avoiding hits in this fight, Grubsong is invaluable for maintaining a full Soul gauge. Unbreakable/Fragile Heart complements this build by providing additional masks, allowing players to focus their Soul primarily on casting spells.

Best Charm Builds For Nightmare King Grimm

Nightmare King Grimm presents a significantly greater challenge than Troupe Master Grimm. He inflicts double damage, making every mistake potentially fatal. His increased speed and the addition of flaming trails to his attacks further elevate the difficulty, even for seasoned players.

Nightmare King Grimm also introduces a new attack that spawns flame pillars, which, while dangerous, can be exploited to land powerful Abyss Shrieks for substantial burst damage. Below are the best charm builds to conquer one of the toughest bosses in the metroidvania genre.

Best Build

- Unbreakable/Fragile Strength

• Shaman Stone
• Mark of Pride
• Grimmchild (Mandatory)

A pure Nail build is not viable against Nightmare King Grimm for efficient takedowns. Instead, a hybrid Nail/Spell build proves most effective, leveraging the power of Abyss Shriek and Descending Dark.

Shaman Stone is essential for maximizing spell damage against Nightmare King Grimm. Unbreakable/Fragile Strength and Mark of Pride enhance damage output during moments when using spells is risky or impractical.

Alternate Build

- Grubsong

• Sharp Shadow
• Shaman Stone
• Spell Twister
• Nailmaster's Glory
• Grimmchild (Mandatory)

This more defensive build focuses on utilizing spells and the often-overlooked Nail Arts, while providing tools to evade Nightmare King Grimm's most lethal attacks. As with most Spell builds, Shaman Stone and Spell Twister are crucial for boosting damage output.

Grubsong ensures a steady supply of Soul, vital for sustained spellcasting. Sharp Shadow, when paired with the Shade Cloak, allows players to dash through many of Nightmare King Grimm's attacks while dealing damage. Nailmaster's Glory enhances the effectiveness of Nail Arts, making them a significant threat to Nightmare King Grimm when combined with strategic spell use.