Hollow Knight Guide
4. Forgotten Crossroads
Once you enter the Forgotten Crossroads the game really begins. From here you can basically start exploring how you want. Below are a few places to go at the start.
Get The Map
-
- MAP
Maps make Hollow Knight a bit easier to navigate so let’s grab the map for this area. After dropping into the well, head left until you reach the big room pictured above. In this big room head to the very bottom and drop through the hole in the floor. In this room is Cornifer the Cartographer. He sells maps for each area. The map for this area costs 30 Geo. Buying the map causes vendor Iselda to move into Dirtmouth.
Boss: False Knight
Once you have acquired the map there are a few things you can do. You can spend time exploring the area or head for the first boss fight. Along the way are two benches as well as a fast travel station you can unlock.
False Knight is the first real boss you will face off against in Hollow Knight. The boss is big, but relatively easy to fight. False Knight has a pretty basic move set. There is a simple hammer smash, a jump smash which sends out shockwaves, as well as a wild multi-directional smash which brings fiery balls down into the arena. Hollow Knight’s combat is largely about mobility. Look to dodge then retreat. If you need to heal, look for gaps in attacks which give you ample time to do so. Pick up the City Crest from the False Knight body.
Ability: Vengeful Spirit
After defeating False Knight grab the treasure chest full of Geo and continue on to the left. Head up and meet the Shaman who will give you a new ability. This ability allows you to shoot projectiles using Soul. Upon receiving the ability, you will be knocked unconscious and taken to an area where you are locked in. This area acts as a sort of tutorial for using your new skill and is fairly straightforward. There is a charm in this area which is pretty handy called the Soul Catcher, so grab it. Complete the area and return to the Shaman to have the door unlocked. From here return to the bottom floor of the room and head left, smash the switch and open up the shortcut back to the Cartographer.
What now?
Now that you have Vengeful Spirit, you are probably wondering where to go now? That’s Easy. Head to Greenpath!
Can I use your writing and pictures in this guide to create a android app and publish it legally?
On page 6, Getting to hornet section, isnt going left then down from Cornifer ability locked? I’m trying to speedrun this game using this guide. thanks!
…
This is an excellent, massively helpful walkthrough dude. It’s articulate, easy to follow, and is my default go to guide for when I’m stuck
Much obliged for your putting in the effort in its preparation. I know that the front of house end result belays an awful lot of back office work that you no doubt sweated into this. You’ve done a top job
Cheers,
Lee
– everygrainofsand –
Great guide!! it really helped me solve all of the grueling puzzles! who knew the creatures were bugs!
What about howling cliffs?
I need help. I went to the store in dirtmouth after being at the seers house. I accidentally fell in and got the dream nail on accident. I was traversing through crystal peak when i fell in. I would like to know if i can get back without the tram pass because i dont have that. Also the map wasnt in cornifers shop.
in section 10 of the guide it has discription on how to get to the resting grounds and you should find a card here that says cornifer left after that you will be able to buy the map at dirtmouth
How do i get to the other area in city of tears? In the other area to the northwestern bench. There is a little corridor and it has just a block and the leaver on the other side. OR how do i get to the area past where you meet hornet?
nevermind i got it.
“Uumuu only takes damage after being deflated by (name?) an ally who appears during the fight.”
Quirrel! You make it sound like you haven’t played the game for enjoyment, there are so many places you talk to him!
“This black substance blocks access to certain areas and must be passed through in order to access the final mask.”
What? That’s not true; I broke all three masks before getting the shade cloak 🙂 There’s a way into Fog Canyon from Fungal Wastes that puts you on the other side of the inky wall thing, Cornifer even comments on having found a way around. That wasn’t just to explain his presence there, you can find it too.
Thanks for the guide – I’ve tried to avoid using it other than as a pointer for the next general direction to head. I’m 26 hours in, and just heading towards the second mask in Deepnest. So far the Watcher Knights have been the biggest pain in the ass, but I’m currently getting owned by a dream essence fighter thing I stumbled across in Deepnest (not on your map, but it’s near one of the blue glowing bulb things that gives you extra blue hearts). Such an awesome game.
Fuck the Mantis Village
I have a question, on this guide it says to backtrack to where Hornet was. But there is a passage right above where you get the mantis claw, are you supposed to go there?
strange, queen’s garden is not in the guide ….
queen’s garden is a completely optional part of the game is probably why, this guide isn’t for a 100% completion so it makes sense that its ignored
How do you get to that bench in the picture? I cant find a way there.
How do you get out of the soul master area after defeating him?
Wait nvm I’m and idiot i didn’t notice the wiggling floor
Hi, I am loving the guide. I am on page 12 and I can’t understand how to follow the map to Isma’s Tear. I am on the passage from King’s Station, the one with the broken elevator down below, and can’t find any opening on walls to follow the path on your map. If anybody could help me..
Hello, in the guide number 14, you tell us to go for the first bench in the deepnest. However, the area is blocked. There is no way to go there. What should I do?
I’m sorry, I meant guide number 13
For everyone wondering what to do. This seems to be a mistake.
You can go down to the other bench and then transition one screen to the left and and then go up.
This way you can reach the bench and follow up the route in the guide.
Thanks for this! Was wondering what I was doing wrong. Nearly died two times trying to backtrack to find a path to that bench x_x
First of all, congratz on a great guide. It helps a lot! I have a question about King’s station stagway. I managed to get there but there’s a bench broken and bell on a ground with no possibilty to activate it. I went far right but I gotto Kingdom’s edge. Did I miss something?
Found it, question non relevant anymore;)
Great job on the guide! I’ve dropped 15 hours into Hollow Knight and the lack of pointing you in the right direction has made the challenge only harder. I’m fighting Soul Master now even though I’ve completed the Royal Waterways, Deepnest, and have explored a lot of the map. I think at just glancing at the order that your guide has the areas will make it much more manageable.
Great guide. Simple, easy to understand and it allows to head in the right direction while leaving 90% of the content unspoiled for the user to discover. Thank you so much!