How to speedrun Hollow Knight?

Learning how to speedrun Hollow Knight requires mastering advanced movement techniques, optimal routing, and precise execution across Hallownest's interconnected world.

Essential Movement Techniques

Speedrunning success begins with pogo jumping - bouncing your nail off enemies and hazards to maintain momentum. Practice dash-slash combinations to cover ground quickly while dealing damage. Master wall-jumping sequences in areas like Crystal Peak to skip lengthy platforming sections.

The dive-dash technique is crucial for advanced routes. By combining your downward slash with a dash, you can cover horizontal distances much faster than normal movement.

Key Routing Strategies

Any% Route Optimization

Most Any% speedruns follow the standard route: Forgotten Crossroads → Greenpath → Fungal Wastes → City of Tears → Crystal Peak → Ancient Basin → White Palace. This path minimizes backtracking while collecting essential abilities like Mantis Claw, Mothwing Cloak, and Crystal Heart.

Charm Optimization

Equip Dashmaster early for increased dash distance. Quick Slash significantly reduces attack recovery time. For boss fights, consider Shaman Stone to boost spell damage, particularly useful against the Hollow Knight.

Boss Fight Strategies

Against Hornet Protector, stay close to trigger her lunge attack, then pogo off her head. For Soul Master, position yourself at the chamber's edge to avoid his dive attacks while spell-spamming.

The Hollow Knight fight requires patience - focus on healing during his stagger animations and use Shade Soul for consistent damage.

Practice Recommendations

Start with individual level practice before attempting full runs. Use save states to drill difficult skips like the Acid Skip in Ancient Basin. Time your segments to identify improvement areas.

Mastering Hollow Knight speedrunning takes dedication, but the community offers excellent tutorials and support for aspiring runners. Consider joining speedrunning forums to learn advanced strategies and connect with experienced players who can accelerate your learning curve.