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• Best Charm Builds For Troupe Master Grimm

• Best Charm Builds For Nightmare King Grimm

Grimm is a captivating and iconic figure in Hollow Knight, and a standout within the metroidvania genre. With his enigmatic charm and striking appearance, the leader of the Grimm Troupe adds depth to the Knight's journey through Hallownest. Engaging with Grimm's side quest not only enriches the narrative but also leads to intense boss battles crucial for completing the Grimm Troupe DLC.

Players will face off against Troupe Master Grimm initially, and upon defeating him, they unlock the chance to battle the even more formidable Nightmare King Grimm. Both encounters demand precision, quick reflexes, and strategic charm selection to navigate their challenging dance of death successfully.

To access these boss fights, players must equip the Grimmchild charm, which occupies two charm notches.

Best Charm Builds For Troupe Master Grimm

Troupe Master Grimm introduces players to his signature moveset and attack patterns. This battle is characterized by its fast pace and dance-like nature, requiring players to be agile and strategic in their attacks rather than relying on brute force. Here are effective charm builds to conquer this challenging fight:

Successfully defeating Troupe Master Grimm grants players the final Charm Notch, crucial for tackling the Nightmare King Grimm.

Nail Build

• Unbreakable/Fragile Strength
• Quick Slash
• Longnail
• Grimmchild (Mandatory)

This build maximizes the Nail's damage output, allowing players to capitalize on the brief windows between Troupe Master Grimm's attacks. With Quick Slash, players can deliver rapid strikes, making this build particularly effective given the fight's slower pace compared to Nightmare King Grimm.

Unbreakable or Fragile Strength is essential as it amplifies the Nail's damage. For optimal performance, players should aim to have at least the Coiled Nail or the Pure Nail to effectively deplete Grimm's health.

While the Mark of Pride is often preferred in Nail builds, Longnail serves as a suitable substitute here due to the two charm notches occupied by Grimmchild. Longnail provides a slightly lesser range boost but remains valuable for hitting Grimm during the tail end of his attacks like the Diving Dash and Uppercut.

Spell Build

• Shaman Stone
• Grubsong
• Spell Twister
• Unbreakable/Fragile Heart
• Grimmchild (Mandatory)

For those favoring spells or less confident with the Nail, this build offers a swift path to victory over Troupe Master Grimm. With access to the upgraded spells Descending Dark, Abyss Shriek, and Shade Soul, players can leverage these powerful attacks to tackle some of the game's toughest bosses.

Shaman Stone is indispensable in spell-based builds, significantly boosting spell damage. Combined with Spell Twister, this setup ensures frequent spell casting, with Nail hits used to recharge the Soul gauge.

Grubsong helps maintain a healthy Soul gauge, crucial for avoiding damage in this fast-paced battle. Unbreakable/Fragile Heart adds extra masks, allowing players to focus their Soul primarily on spell casting.

Best Charm Builds For Nightmare King Grimm

Nightmare King Grimm presents a significantly tougher challenge than Troupe Master Grimm. His attacks now inflict double damage, and his increased speed demands even sharper reflexes from players. Additionally, his new flame pillar attack, while dangerous, can be exploited for dealing substantial burst damage with Abyss Shriek. Here are the top charm builds to face one of the most demanding bosses in metroidvania games.

Best Build

• Unbreakable/Fragile Strength
• Shaman Stone
• Mark of Pride
• Grimmchild (Mandatory)

A pure Nail build isn't viable against Nightmare King Grimm. Instead, a hybrid Nail/Spell build maximizes efficiency. Shaman Stone is essential to amplify spell damage, particularly with Abyss Shriek and Descending Dark. Unbreakable/Fragile Strength and Mark of Pride enhance damage output during moments when using spells is risky or not feasible.

Alternate Build

• Grubsong
• Sharp Shadow
• Shaman Stone
• Spell Twister
• Nailmaster's Glory
• Grimmchild (Mandatory)

This build offers a more defensive approach, focusing on spells and underutilized Nail Arts while providing means to evade Nightmare King Grimm's lethal attacks. Shaman Stone and Spell Twister are crucial for boosting spell damage.

Grubsong aids in maintaining a full Soul gauge, essential for both spells and survival. Sharp Shadow, when paired with the Shade Cloak, allows players to dash through many of Nightmare King Grimm's attacks while dealing damage. Nailmaster's Glory enhances the potency of Nail Arts, making them a significant threat alongside strategic spell use.