"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 in choosing their moments to strike rather than engaging in brute force. 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 during the brief windows between Grimm's attacks. Given the slower pace compared to Nightmare King Grimm, a Nail build is highly effective, allowing players to land multiple hits with the aid of Quick Slash.

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

Spell Build

- Shaman Stone

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

Ideal for players who favor spell-based combat or are less confident with the Nail, this build leverages the power of spells to quickly dispatch Grimm. By this stage, players should have access to upgraded spells like Descending Dark, Abyss Shriek, and Shade Soul, which are key to overcoming tough bosses.

Shaman Stone is essential for amplifying spell damage, and when combined with Spell Twister, it allows for frequent spell casting. Grubsong helps maintain a full Soul gauge by generating Soul from hits taken, while Unbreakable/Fragile Heart provides additional masks, enabling more focus on spell usage.

Best Charm Builds For Nightmare King Grimm

Nightmare King Grimm presents a significantly heightened challenge compared to Troupe Master Grimm. With doubled damage output and increased speed, even minor errors can lead to a swift defeat. Additionally, his attacks now leave flaming trails, and he introduces a new flame pillar attack that, 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 due to his increased speed and damage. A hybrid Nail/Spell build is recommended, utilizing the potent spells Abyss Shriek and Descending Dark. Shaman Stone is crucial for maximizing spell damage, while Unbreakable/Fragile Strength and Mark of Pride enhance Nail damage during moments when spell casting is risky or impractical.

Alternate Build

- Grubsong

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

This more defensive build focuses on spells and the often-overlooked Nail Arts, providing tools to evade Nightmare King Grimm's lethal attacks. Shaman Stone and Spell Twister are vital for boosting spell damage, while Grubsong ensures a steady Soul supply. Sharp Shadow, when paired with the Shade Cloak, allows players to dash through attacks and deal damage, and Nailmaster's Glory enhances the effectiveness of Nail Arts, making them a significant threat to Nightmare King Grimm when used strategically alongside spells.