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As far asMetroidvaniasgo, there is really no better game thanHollow Knight. However, as fun as it is, I found Hollow Knight an extremely ambiguous game, since I had no idea what was going on when I was playing it for the first time.
But after multiple playthroughs, it grew on me andbecame my favorite indie game ever. Aside from its huge world, it also consists of a fantastic combat system with very challenging and funboss fights, with thePure Vesseland Nightmare King being my personal favorites.
Hollow Knight: 10 Hardest Areas, Ranked
From crystal caves to dream palaces, this metroidvania presents great challenges beyond its bosses.
One of the more confusing mechanics I found for Hollow Knight is the dream nail, and what it is used to obtain— Essence. So here, I will be writing a complete guide on what essence is, how to obtain it, and what it is used for.
What Is Essence, And What Is It Used For?
Essence is a form of currency in Hollow Knight that is not really used to buy anything; instead, you need to collect a specific amount of Essenceto unlock rewards from the Seer residing in the Resting Grounds.
You can collect a total of 3208 Essences per playthrough if you explore every nook and cranny of the map, butyou only need 2400 to unlock all rewards and achievements related to it.
The only thing I found that consumes your Essence is using the Dreamgate ability, which allows you to warp to the location you set your Dreamgate at.But even then, you don’t have to worry about running out of Essence unless you plan on warping 3200 times.
I would recommend unlocking all achievements and rewards first before you start mindlessly using the Dreamgate ability, so you don’t have to grind extra and suffer in difficult boss fights just to unlock the Ascension achievement.
All Essence Rewards
You can collect these rewards from the Seer after obtaining the listed amount of Essence:
Essence Required
100 Essence
Hallownest Seal
200 Essence
Sub-area Spirits' Glade will open.
300 Essence
500 Essence
Dream Wielder Charm
600 Essence
Unlocks the Attunement achievement.
700 Essence
Vessel Fragment
900 Essence
Unlocks the Dreamgate.
1200 Essence
Arcane Egg
1500 Essence
Mask Shard
1800 Essence
Awaken the Dream Nail, allowing you to access the White Palace. Also unlocks the Awakening achievement.
2400 Essence
Unlocks the Ascension achievement.
If you wish to unlock one of the more unique optional endings of Hollow Knight, thenyou are required to awaken the Dream Nail (collect 1800 Essence), which will then allow you to access and explore theWhite Palace.
Hollow Knight: 10 Best Charm Combos
From a summoner to a mage, from a pure warrior to a hybrid, these are the best charm combinations for your Hollow Knight playstyle.
After the release of theGrimm Troupe DLC, a new area called the Path of Pain was also added in the White Palace, which, as the name suggests, is one of the most brutal and difficult sections in Hollow Knight.
You are free to take on the challengeif you wish to put yourself through some unnecessary suffering with a 5-second-long lore-revealing moment as your reward.
Where To Get Essence
You can collect small amounts of Essence by using the Dream Nail on theWhispering Rootsor spirits found throughout the map. There is also a minimal drop rate for Essence after killing normal enemies, but these methods are not really practical later on. The best way to obtain Essence in bulk is by defeatingDream Warriorsand Dream Bosses
The Dream Warriors are located in random locations throughout the map, while the Dream Bosses are a tougher version of the standard bosses that you have already beaten, with their health and aggressiveness cranked up to the extreme.You can access these boss fights by using the Dream Nail after reaching their locations.
Here is a list of all the Dream Warriors and Dream Bosses in Hollow Knight, along with their location:
Enemy Type
Dream Warrior
Eastern part of Fungal Wastes.
The west part of Deepnest.
Northeast part of Howling Cliffs.
Past the void wall in Kingdom’s Edge. Requires the Shade Clock ability to access.
250 Essence
West of the Stag Station in the Queen’s Garden.
150 Essence
Inside the Stone Sanctuary in Greenpath.
The west part of the Resting Grounds.
Dream Boss
Failed Champion
Past the breakable wall in the boss arena of the original False Knight.
Grey Prince Zote
Located in Bretta’s basement in Dirtmouth. It can only be accessed if you saved Zote and Bretta and defeated Zote in the Colosseum of Fools.
White Defender
Location accessible by using the Desolate Dive skill on the weak floor located at the right end of the Dung Defender boss room.
Can only be accessed after defeating the Dung Defender and the three Dreamers.
Soul Tyrant
Return to the Soul Master corpse in the Soul Sanctum and use the Dream Nail.
Return to the corpse of the Broken Vessel after defeating it in the left area of Ancient Basin and use the Dream Nail.
400 Essence
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