Choosing the right charms can make a huge difference in Hollow Knight. Some charms make your Nail attacks stronger, while others improve spells, healing, movement, or survival. With limited Charm Notches, you cannot equip everything at once, so choosing the right combination is an important part of the game.
This guide to the best charms Hollow Knight players can use explains which charms are worth getting, what each one does, how much space it needs, and which combinations work well together. Whether you are exploring Hallownest, fighting bosses, completing the Colosseum, or preparing for late-game challenges, these charm builds can help you create a setup that matches your playstyle.
Table of Contents
- How Charms Work in Hollow Knight
- Best Charms in Hollow Knight
- Best Charm Builds for Different Playstyles
- How to Choose and Use Charms Effectively
- Common Charm Mistakes and Expert Tips
- FAQs
- Conclusion
How Charms Work in Hollow Knight
Charms are special items that give the Knight useful powers or bonuses. Some increase Nail damage, some improve spells, and others make healing easier or give you more health. You can equip charms while sitting on a Bench, but each charm takes a certain number of Charm Notches. The Knight starts with three Notches and can eventually reach a maximum of 11.
This Notch system is what makes the charm system interesting. You cannot simply equip every powerful charm together. Instead, you need to decide what matters most for the challenge in front of you. This kind of planning is also important in other strategy-focused titles, so you can explore our Best Strategy Games guide. A boss fight may need damage and movement, while exploration may benefit more from extra range, healing, or utility.
Why Charm Combinations Matter
A charm can be useful on its own, but some become much stronger when paired with another charm. For example, Shaman Stone increases spell damage, while Spell Twister reduces the amount of SOUL needed to cast spells. Together, they create a strong spell-focused setup.
There is also no single perfect setup for every player. Someone who likes attacking bosses with the Nail may prefer Quick Slash and Unbreakable Strength. A player who relies heavily on spells may get more value from Shaman Stone and Spell Twister.
Best Charms Hollow Knight
There are many charms in Hollow Knight, but some are especially useful because they remain valuable across many parts of the game. The following choices cover damage, spells, healing, range, and general survival.
1. Quick Slash
Quick Slash is one of the strongest charms for players who like using the Nail. It allows the Knight to attack much faster, which can greatly increase damage over time. It also lets you build SOUL more quickly because you are hitting enemies more often.
The charm is especially useful against bosses that give you regular chances to attack. Instead of making one slow attack, you can land several quick hits during a short opening. It works particularly well with Unbreakable Strength for a powerful Nail-focused build.
2. Unbreakable Strength
Unbreakable Strength increases Nail damage by 50%, making it one of the best choices for a pure physical-damage build. Unlike Fragile Strength, the Unbreakable version does not break when the Knight dies.
This charm is expensive to obtain, but it is worth having for players who spend a lot of time fighting bosses. Pairing it with Quick Slash is one of the most useful combinations for players who prefer close-range combat.
3. Shaman Stone
If you enjoy using spells, Shaman Stone is an excellent choice. It increases spell damage and also makes Vengeful Spirit and Shade Soul larger. Its damage bonuses vary by spell, with particularly strong increases to several offensive spells.
Shaman Stone is great when you want to attack enemies from a safer distance. It is also useful against bosses where getting close is risky. Combine it with Spell Twister if you want to cast more powerful spells while spending less SOUL per cast.
4. Mark of Pride
Mark of Pride increases the Knight’s Nail range. This sounds like a small bonus, but extra range can make combat much safer. You can hit an enemy while standing farther away, giving you more room to react.
Players who enjoy exploration and discovering new areas can also check out our Best Adventure Games guide.
It is especially helpful for players who are still learning boss attack patterns. Instead of standing directly beside a dangerous enemy, you can keep a little more distance while still dealing damage.
5. Spell Twister
Spell Twister is one of the best choices for a spell-focused build. It reduces the SOUL cost of spells from 33 to 24, allowing you to cast more often with the same amount of SOUL.
The charm becomes even more useful when combined with Shaman Stone. One charm increases spell damage, while the other makes spells cheaper. If you regularly use Shade Soul, Descending Dark, or Abyss Shriek, this combination can be extremely effective.
6. Quick Focus
Quick Focus is a great defensive charm because it lets the Knight Focus and heal faster. This can be very useful when a boss gives you only a short opening to recover health.
Healing too slowly can be dangerous. You may start healing just as the enemy attacks. Quick Focus gives you a better chance to complete the heal before the next attack arrives. It is especially helpful for players who are still learning difficult boss fights.
7. Fragile Heart / Unbreakable Heart
Extra health can be extremely valuable when exploring dangerous areas or learning a difficult boss. Fragile Heart increases the Knight’s health, while Unbreakable Heart provides the permanent upgraded version. The Fragile charm can break after death, while the Unbreakable version does not.
This is a simple charm, but it can make a big difference. If you regularly lose a fight because you are only one hit away from defeat, adding extra health may be more useful than adding another offensive bonus.
8. Longnail
Longnail increases Nail range and is a cheaper alternative to Mark of Pride.
It does not provide as much range as Mark of Pride, but it takes fewer Notches. That makes it useful when you have a limited number of slots available. If you want extra safety without spending too much of your charm budget, Longnail is a practical option.
9. Soul Catcher
Soul Catcher increases the amount of SOUL gained when you hit enemies with the Nail. That extra SOUL can be used for healing or casting spells.
This makes it a flexible charm for players who use both attacks and spells. It is particularly useful earlier in the game, before you have access to some of the stronger charm options.
10. Sharp Shadow
Sharp Shadow is useful for players who rely heavily on the Shade Cloak. It changes the Knight’s Shade Dash so that dashing through enemies can deal damage. It can be very useful against enemies and bosses where movement through the target is already part of your strategy.
The main benefit is that it turns a defensive movement into another source of damage. However, it is more specialized than charms such as Quick Slash or Unbreakable Strength, so it is best used when your playstyle already makes strong use of the Shade Dash.
Best Charms at a Glance
| Charm | Best For | Main Benefit | Difficulty/Use |
| Quick Slash | Nail builds | Faster attacks | Excellent |
| Unbreakable Strength | Boss damage | +50% Nail damage | Excellent |
| Shaman Stone | Spell builds | Stronger spells | Excellent |
| Mark of Pride | Safe melee | Longer Nail range | Excellent |
| Spell Twister | Spell builds | Cheaper spells | Excellent |
| Quick Focus | Healing | Faster Focus | Very useful |
| Unbreakable Heart | Survival | More health | Very useful |
| Longnail | Early/mid game | Extra Nail range | Useful |
| Soul Catcher | Mixed builds | More SOUL from attacks | Useful |
| Sharp Shadow | Dash builds | Damage while Shadow Dashing | Situational |
Best Charm Builds for Different Playstyles
The best charm setup depends on what you want to do. There is a big difference between a boss-damage build and an exploration build, so changing charms at a Bench is often a smart idea.
Best Nail Damage Build
For players who like close combat, try:
Quick Slash + Unbreakable Strength + Mark of Pride
This setup focuses on fast attacks, high damage, and extra range. Quick Slash helps you land more hits, Unbreakable Strength makes those hits stronger, and Mark of Pride lets you attack from farther away.
If you do not have enough Notches, Longnail can be used instead of Mark of Pride.
Best Spell Build
For spell users:
Shaman Stone + Spell Twister + Soul Catcher
Shaman Stone increases spell damage, Spell Twister lowers the SOUL cost, and Soul Catcher helps you collect SOUL through Nail attacks.
This build is useful when you prefer attacking from a distance. It can also be very strong against bosses with large openings for spells.
Best Healing Build
For players who often struggle with health:
Quick Focus + Deep Focus
Deep Focus lets one Focus heal two Masks but makes healing slower, while Quick Focus speeds up Focus. When both are equipped, the Knight can heal two Masks with a much smaller speed penalty than using Deep Focus alone.
This is a defensive setup rather than a damage build. It can be helpful when you know you will have safe opportunities to heal.
Best Exploration Build
For normal exploration, you do not always need maximum damage. A more comfortable setup might include:
- Wayward Compass
- Gathering Swarm
- Longnail
- Fragile or Unbreakable Heart
Wayward Compass helps you understand where you are on the map, while Gathering Swarm automatically collects loose Geo. Once you are comfortable navigating Hallownest, you can replace these utility charms with stronger combat options.
How to Choose and Use Charms Effectively
The biggest mistake is thinking that the same charm setup is best everywhere. Hollow Knight rewards players who change their equipment according to the situation.
Before a boss fight, ask yourself what is causing the most trouble. If you are dying because you cannot get close enough, extra Nail range may help. If you can reach the boss but cannot deal enough damage, Quick Slash or Unbreakable Strength may be better.
Think About Your Notches
Every charm has a Notch cost, so always consider what you are giving up when equipping one.
For example, choosing a large, expensive charm may prevent you from equipping two smaller charms that together provide more value. The strongest build is not always the one with the strongest individual charm.
Use Benches to Change Builds
Do not be afraid to experiment. Charms can only be equipped or removed while sitting on a Bench, so use benches as natural points to change your strategy.
If a charm does not feel useful after several fights, remove it and test something else. There is no need to force yourself to use a popular charm if it does not match your playstyle.
Common Charm Mistakes and Expert Tips
One common mistake is equipping too many defensive charms when the real problem is poor positioning. Extra health can help, but learning enemy patterns is often more important.
Another mistake is ignoring spell damage. Some players focus entirely on the Nail and forget that spells can provide powerful ranged attacks. Shaman Stone can be especially strong for players who learn when to use spells instead of simply swinging the Nail.
Tips to Get More From Your Charms
- Match charms to the challenge. Use different builds for exploration and bosses.
- Test combinations. A charm that seems weak alone may become powerful with another.
- Do not copy builds blindly. Your preferred playstyle matters.
- Watch your Notch budget. A balanced setup is often better than one expensive charm.
- Learn enemy patterns. Charms help, but good movement and timing still matter.
- Use spells when appropriate. Do not rely only on Nail attacks.
- Upgrade important charms. Unbreakable versions are valuable for players who use Fragile charms regularly.
For difficult late-game challenges, strong Nail and spell charms become especially useful. The Hollow Knight Wiki’s Pantheon guidance also highlights Fragile/Unbreakable Strength, Quick Slash, Mark of Pride or Longnail, Shaman Stone, and Spell Twister as useful choices for demanding boss encounters.
FAQs About Best Charms in Hollow Knight
1. What is the best charm in Hollow Knight?
There is no single best charm for every situation. Quick Slash and Unbreakable Strength are excellent for Nail damage, while Shaman Stone is one of the strongest choices for spell-focused players.
2. Is Quick Slash better than Unbreakable Strength?
They do different things. Quick Slash increases attack speed, while Unbreakable Strength increases Nail damage. Using both together creates a very strong melee build.
3. What are the best charms for boss fights?
Quick Slash, Unbreakable Strength, Mark of Pride, Shaman Stone, and Spell Twister are excellent choices. The best combination depends on whether you prefer Nail attacks or spells.
4. What is the best charm for healing?
Quick Focus is one of the most useful healing charms because it makes Focus faster. Deep Focus is another good choice when you want to recover two Masks at once.
5. How many charms can you equip in Hollow Knight?
The Knight can eventually have 11 Charm Notches. Each charm uses a different number of Notches, so your final setup depends on the charms you choose.
Conclusion
The best charms Hollow Knight players can use depend on their combat style, the area they are exploring, and the enemy they are facing. Quick Slash and Unbreakable Strength are excellent for Nail-focused players, while Shaman Stone and Spell Twister are strong choices for spell users. Mark of Pride, Quick Focus, and Unbreakable Heart can provide extra safety when you need more range, faster healing, or additional health.
The most important lesson is not to search for one perfect build. Try different combinations and change them when the situation changes. Once you understand how Charm Notches, upgrades, and charm combinations work, you can build a setup that fits your own way of playing Hallownest.
