What to do first in Hollow Knight?

Getting Started in Hallownest

Knowing what to do first in Hollow Knight can make the difference between a smooth adventure and hours of frustrating wandering in Team Cherry's challenging metroidvania masterpiece. Your initial steps should focus on mastering core mechanics and establishing a foundation for exploration.

Master Basic Combat and Movement

Begin by practicing your nail combat against the Crawlids and Gruzzer enemies in the King's Pass tutorial area. Learn to time your attacks, jump-slash downward attacks, and basic dodging patterns. These fundamental skills will serve you throughout your entire journey.

Explore Forgotten Crossroads Thoroughly

After leaving the tutorial, prioritize exploring every accessible area of Forgotten Crossroads. This interconnected hub contains crucial upgrades including:

- Vengeful Spirit spell - Essential ranged attack found in the Ancestral Mound

- Dash ability - Located in the acid pools area, dramatically improves mobility

- Multiple Grubs - Rescue these trapped creatures for valuable rewards from the Grubfather

Collect Geo and Purchase Key Items

Gather Geo (the game's currency) by defeating enemies and breaking objects. Visit Sly's shop in Dirtmouth to purchase:

- Wayward Compass (220 Geo) - Shows your location on the map

- Quill (120 Geo) - Enables map annotations

- Maps from Cornifer - Essential for navigation in each new area

Focus on Health and Soul Management

Learn the Focus mechanic early - holding the Focus button converts Soul (gained from attacking enemies) into health. Practice timing your healing during safe moments, as the animation leaves you vulnerable.

Plan Your Route

After securing the dash ability, consider heading toward either Greenpath for the Acid Armor or the City of Tears for additional spells and upgrades.

Mastering these fundamentals will prepare you for Hallownest's deeper mysteries and increasingly challenging encounters that await in the kingdom's shadowed depths.