Hollow Knight: Complete Guide to Finding All Charm Notch Locations

The Knight is already a formidable combatant with a balance of spells and a strong nail that inflicts significant damage; however, to truly enhance the gaming experience in Hollow Knight, players need to leverage Charms. These equippable items allow for a variety of builds, further diversifying gameplay as you venture through the captivating world of Hallownest.

Charms offer numerous enhancements—they can amplify spells, provide offensive and defensive boosts, introduce new mechanics, or apply special effects. The combinations are virtually limitless. For instance, tailored setups can ease challenges in tricky platforming sections or make boss encounters, like the Mantis Lords, substantially simpler.

Creativity is key. However, acquiring and equipping Charms requires Charm Notches, and some charms can demand multiple slots to equip. Collecting these notches throughout your journey is crucial, and luckily, this guide will provide you with all the information you need.

In total, there are 11 Charm Notches available, of which you begin with just 3, leaving 8 to discover. So grab your nail, and let’s get started!

Each time you find a Charm Notch, your Knight’s HP will be completely restored. While this may not seem groundbreaking, it is certainly a useful mechanic that can be strategically employed during your adventure.

Purchasing from Salubra in Forgotten Crossroads

Hollow Knight All Charm Notch Locations Salubra

Surprisingly, you can acquire four out of the eight Charm Notches simultaneously. To do so, progress in the main storyline to discover Salubra, a merchant situated at the far end of the Forgotten Crossroads.

You can reach her within just a few hours after defeating Hornet for the first time in Greenpath (which unlocks the Mothwing Cloak) and taking down the mini-boss Gruz Mother in Forgotten Crossroads. From there, head to the southeast section until you find a gap to dash through, leading you to a shortcut that will ultimately bring you to Salubra’s shop.

Salubra sells four unique Charm Notches—the reason behind her nickname, the “Charm Lover.” To purchase these, however, each Notch has specific requirements beyond their costs in Geo.

Charm Number	Price	Requirement
Charm 1	120 Geo	Collect 5 Charms
Charm 2	500 Geo	Collect 10 Charms
Charm 3	900 Geo	Collect 18 Charms
Charm 4	1, 400 Geo	Collect 25 Charms

Discovering the Hidden Area in Fog Canyon

Hollow Knight All Charm Notch Locations Fog Canyon

The first Charm Notch available while exploring Hallownest can be found in a concealed area within Fog Canyon, just below the Stone Sanctuary. To access it, obtain Isma’s Tear, which you receive after defeating the Dung Defender in the Royal Waterways and discovering Isma’s Grove located in the eastern portion of that area.

Once you have Isma’s Tear, head to the northeastern section of Fog Canyon (as shown in the accompanying image) to locate a small opening on the left wall that grants entry to the Notch area. Be cautious, as this area is a maze filled with Oomas (the pesky jellyfish that explode when struck), corridors, and toxic acid pools. Fortunately, with Isma’s Tear, you can swim through these hazardous zones.

Navigate carefully past the Oomas until you reach the end of this hidden area, where you’ll find the Charm Notch positioned above another acid pool. You can pursue this Notch immediately after acquiring Isma’s Tear.

Charm Notch in the Arena of the Fungal Wastes

Hollow Knight All Charm Notch Locations Fungal Wastes

Another Charm Notch awaits you in the Fungal Wastes, specifically located in a small arena just beneath the entrance to Fog Canyon and near the highest Bench of that biome. Simply make your way there, where you’ll need to engage in a mini-boss encounter against two large, menacing fungal creatures known as Shrumal Ogres.

The Shrumal Ogres attack by spewing corrosive venom and attempting to slam their bulky bodies into the Knight. Timing your jumps and dashes correctly will allow you to hit back with your nail’s basic attacks. Alternatively, feel free to rely on spells like Desolate Dive or Descending Dark if you find the battle challenging.

Upon defeating the Shrumal Ogres, they will drop a valuable Charm Notch as your reward. You can expect to pursue this Charm Notch a couple of hours after exploring Fog Canyon.

Charm Notch from the Trial in the Colosseum of Fools

Hollow Knight All Charm Notch Locations Colosseum of Fools

The Colosseum of Fools, perched atop Kingdom’s Edge (see image above), is an excellent arena for testing your skills through a series of three sequential trials, one of which offers a Charm Notch as a prize.

The initial challenge is the Trial of the Warrior, with an entry fee of 100 Geo, and it awards you a Charm Notch upon completion.

Be prepared to tackle multiple waves of adversaries, including Vengefly Kings, Sturdy Fools, Primal Aspids, Sharp Baldurs, and Winged Fools. While this trial is notably the simplest among the three, do not underestimate it—put forth your best effort!

Upon successfully completing this trial, you will be welcomed by the crowd’s cheers, with Geo and a coveted Charm Notch extended to you as rewards.

Expect to invest a good amount of playtime in Hollow Knight before you are able to secure this Charm Notch, likely by the midpoint of the main storyline.

Charm Notch from the Grimm Troupe DLC

Hollow Knight All Charm Notch Locations Grimm

Finally, there is a Charm Notch available in the Grimm Troupe DLC, which can be accessed at any point during the main game—though it’s advisable to take on this additional content after completing the game.

Upon unlocking the DLC, converse with Grimm in his tent to initiate his questline, which involves equipping a special charm to collect a series of strange red flames scattered throughout Hallownest (these will be marked on your map).

After gathering them all, you will uncover that the flames were a part of a mysterious ritual, leading you to an opportunity for an arduous showdown against Troupe Master Grimm. Due to the challenge he presents, it’s prudent to tackle this fight after you’ve completed the main storyline.

Defeating him will grant you the ultimate Charm Notch available in Hollow Knight.

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