Hollow Knight ► The Ultimate Starter Guide

This is hopefully the only Hollow Knight video you will ever have to watch if you're a newer player wanting to get further into Hallownest and explore on a deeper level. I've linked relevant resources in a pinned comment, as well as some other videos here in the description that may help you out once you've gotten further and are looking to stay with the game after completion.

MUSIC USED
► Official Hollow Knight Soundtrack by Christopher Larkin
-Crystal Peak Ambient Theme
-Greenpath Ambient Theme
-Soul Sanctum Ambient Theme

Join The Forge here!!!

Other relevant guides:

¹⁰ ⁰¹ ²¹

[Rusty._]

A discord server where you’re allowed to say “fuck”...

Other Community Videos (beware of spoilers):

[sophiethewitch]

Me, an actual beginner that just found Rusty's channel, seeing comments: Ah yes, i feel so out of place

[drorsheffer]

Me, a hollow knight veteran: "interesting"

[thatawesomeguy]

Tip for new players: DO NOT BE AFRAID TO BACKTRACK.

[MichaelReznoR]

A tip that helps new players immensely: buy Map Pins and mark locations on the map where you can't interact/access something. This way you will always know where to return later. Yes, there will be a lot of backtracking.

[azzanqk]

My biggest advice to anyone starting is not to dwell on a boss or a location for too long, if you can't make it then just explore around and come back to it later and stronger..

[minerman]

Rusty: "A beginner's guide"
Most of audience: over 100% completion

EDIT: after seeing the reply notifications trickle in for this, the initial ones matched my assessment but then after that it was all new players, which makes sense.

[idfrigginkman]

Timestamps if needed:

• Intro - 0:08
• Basics - 1:18
(Putting a line break here because on mobile you can't click "read more" if there's a timestamp on the same line)
- HP and Soul - 1:23
- Spells - 3:03
- Nail Arts - 4:38
- Movement Abilities - 6:24
- Charms - 7:45
• Exploration - 9:09
- Mapping - 9:13
- Grubs - 10:56
- NPCs - 11:56
- Platforming - 12:53
- Signage - 14:11
- Breakable Walls - 14:37
• Tips - 15:18
- Charm Builds - 15:22
- Adv. Combat Techniques - 16:58
- Boss Fights - 18:02
- Downstriking & Parrying - 19:31
• Outro - 21:13

Hope this helps!

[thomaslechner]

Adding timestamps would make this a lot more accessible as an universal guide

[englishmailbox]

I’ve beat the game multiple times and know pretty much all this info but Rusty’s vids are so good that I just can’t get enough!

[hirahiro]

“Handful of friendly NPC”
*Shows Zote*
Vets: hm...

[cass]

Most interesting first run moments:
- finding quirrel everywhere
- discovering that trying to go to every attempt of a boss fight with full soul and health was no more successful than just running there and accepting less than ideal condition
- panic stopping c-dash in sewers and getting stuck at the bottom of the world (I wasn't skilled enough to get out and had to do what was for me the most difficult boss that made me contemplate quitting)

I started the game with very, very little gaming experience and struggled even the False Knight, but the game looked so cool that I continued anyway and some day I'm gonna finally 112% it

[basit_manzoor_]

Just started today. This gave me more confidence =) The game is overwhelmingly massive, just got to the map guy the very first time.

[techdeth]

Face it, we all watch shit like this even though we're pros, just because we love hollow knight and rusty lol <3

[Niveden]

The most memorable moments of the game for me are always discovering new areas for the first time, like entering City of Tears as the music swells up. I think that was the moment the game really opened up for me, and I discovered how big Hallownest really was.

[ShinDSER]

Me, who has 112% + POH done: *Yes, very interesting...*

[federicagarridoweisheim]

A tip: use different markers in the map for locked paths depending on what is blocking the way

[taiscommentingaccountusedf]

Even though I have already beated the game and 105%-ed it, I still wanna support the video.
Plus, it's Rusty. You can't go wrong with Rusty.

[paulovictor]

It is simple, as Hornet usually say: GIT

[federicagarridoweisheim]

Recomendation to beginners, always check the left side at the start of any metroidvania