"Grimm's Top Builds in Hollow Knight"

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• Best Charm Builds For Troupe Master Grimm

• Best Charm Builds For Nightmare King Grimm

Grimm, a beloved and iconic character in Hollow Knight and the metroidvania genre, captivates players with his enigmatic presence and distinctive style. As the leader of the Grimm Troupe, he draws the Knight into a compelling side quest that adds depth to the journey of saving Hallownest. This quest involves battling Grimm, and eventually facing his more formidable counterpart, Nightmare King Grimm, to complete the Grimm Troupe DLC. Both encounters are among the game's toughest challenges, demanding precise movement, quick reflexes, and unwavering determination. The right charm combinations are crucial for success in these epic battles.

All charm builds for both versions of Grimm require the mandatory Grimmchild charm, which occupies two charm notches.

Best Charm Builds For Troupe Master Grimm

Troupe Master Grimm serves as an introduction to his attack patterns, offering a fast-paced battle that feels more like a dance than a brawl. Players must adopt an elegant approach, carefully seizing opportunities to strike rather than recklessly absorbing damage. The following builds are well-suited to conquer this challenging fight.

Successfully defeating Troupe Master Grimm unlocks the final Charm Notch, which is essential for tackling Nightmare King Grimm with optimal builds.

Nail Build

• Unbreakable/Fragile Strength
• Quick Slash
• Longnail
• Grimmchild (Mandatory)

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

Unbreakable or Fragile Strength is essential for boosting Nail damage. 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 suitable alternative due to Grimmchild's two-notch requirement. Although it offers less range than Mark of Pride, Longnail is invaluable for hitting Grimm at the tail end of attacks like the Diving Dash and Uppercut.

Spell Build

• Shaman Stone
• Grubsong
• Spell Twister
• Unbreakable/Fragile Heart
• Grimmchild (Mandatory)

For players favoring spell-based combat or less confident with the Nail, this build excels at quickly defeating Grimm. By this stage, players should possess 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-focused build, significantly enhancing spell damage. Coupled with Spell Twister, this combination allows for frequent spell casting and quick Soul regeneration through Nail hits.

Given the challenge of avoiding hits, Grubsong is highly beneficial for maintaining a full Soul gauge. Unbreakable/Fragile Heart adds extra masks, enabling players to prioritize Soul for spells.

Best Charm Builds For Nightmare King Grimm

Nightmare King Grimm is a significantly more formidable opponent than Troupe Master Grimm. He inflicts double damage, moves much faster, and introduces flaming trails to most of his attacks, making him a lethal threat. A single misstep can end the fight quickly. His new attack, spawning flame pillars, offers a strategic window for players to unleash powerful spells like Abyss Shriek. Below are the best charm builds to overcome this daunting metroidvania boss.

Best Build

• Unbreakable/Fragile Strength
• Shaman Stone
• Mark of Pride
• Grimmchild (Mandatory)

A pure Nail build is not viable against Nightmare King Grimm. A hybrid Nail/Spell build is the most effective strategy, leveraging the power of Abyss Shriek and Descending Dark.

Shaman Stone is essential for maximizing spell damage. Unbreakable/Fragile Strength and Mark of Pride enhance damage output during moments when using spells is risky or not feasible.

Alternate Build

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

This more defensive build focuses on spells and the often-underrated Nail Arts, providing tools to evade Nightmare King Grimm's lethal attacks. Shaman Stone and Spell Twister are crucial for boosting spell damage.

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