"Top Builds for Grimm in Hollow Knight"

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• Best Charm Builds For Troupe Master Grimm

• Best Charm Builds For Nightmare King Grimm

Grimm, a captivating and iconic figure in Hollow Knight, embodies the essence of the metroidvania genre with his enigmatic charm and striking appearance. 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 culminates in challenging battles against Troupe Master Grimm and the even more formidable Nightmare King Grimm, both of which are among the toughest encounters in the game. These fights demand precision, quick reflexes, and strategic charm selection to master the deadly dance.

To engage in these battles, players must equip the Grimmchild charm, which occupies two charm notches, as a prerequisite for both encounters.

Best Charm Builds For Troupe Master Grimm

Facing Troupe Master Grimm offers players their initial encounter with his unique moveset and attack patterns. This battle is characterized by its fast pace and dance-like quality, requiring players to be nimble and strategic rather than aggressive. The following charm builds are designed to help players navigate this challenging fight effectively.

Successfully defeating Troupe Master Grimm unlocks the final Charm Notch, essential for optimizing builds against Nightmare King Grimm.

Nail Build

- Unbreakable/Fragile Strength

• Quick Slash
• Longnail
• Grimmchild (Mandatory)

This build focuses on maximizing Nail damage output during the brief windows between Grimm's attacks. Given the slower pace compared to Nightmare King Grimm, a Nail build is viable, allowing players to land multiple hits with the aid of Quick Slash.

Unbreakable or Fragile Strength is crucial for boosting Nail damage. Players should aim to have at least the Coiled Nail or the Pure Nail to effectively reduce Grimm's health. While Longnail replaces the typically preferred Mark of Pride due to the space taken by Grimmchild, it still provides a useful range extension, particularly effective during the end of Grimm's attacks like the Diving Dash and Uppercut.

Spell Build

- Shaman Stone

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

For those who favor spellcasting or are less confident with the Nail, this Spell build offers a swift path to victory. By this stage, players should have access to the powerful Descending Dark, Abyss Shriek, and Shade Soul spells, which are key to overcoming tough bosses.

Shaman Stone is essential for amplifying spell damage, while Spell Twister ensures frequent spell usage. Grubsong helps maintain a full Soul gauge, crucial for continuous spell casting, and Unbreakable/Fragile Heart provides additional health, allowing players to focus more on spell attacks.

Best Charm Builds For Nightmare King Grimm

Nightmare King Grimm presents a significantly heightened challenge, dealing double damage and moving at an accelerated pace. His attacks now include flaming trails and a new flame pillar attack, which, while dangerous, can be exploited for high damage with Abyss Shriek. Here are the optimal charm builds to conquer this formidable metroidvania boss.

Best Build

- Unbreakable/Fragile Strength

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

A pure Nail build is less effective against Nightmare King Grimm, making a hybrid Nail/Spell build the best approach. Shaman Stone is vital for maximizing spell damage, while Unbreakable/Fragile Strength and Mark of Pride enhance Nail damage during moments when spell use is risky or impractical.

Alternate Build

- Grubsong

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

This more defensive build leverages spells and the often-overlooked Nail Arts, providing tools to evade Nightmare King Grimm's lethal attacks. Shaman Stone and Spell Twister are essential for boosting spell damage, while Grubsong ensures a steady Soul supply. Sharp Shadow, when paired with the Shade Cloak, allows for safe dashes through attacks, and Nailmaster's Glory enhances the effectiveness of Nail Arts, making them a significant threat to Nightmare King Grimm when combined with strategic spell use.