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Zote is a traveller from outside Hallownest who came to the Kingdom to fulfill a promise. This is ultimately revealed to be a promise of glory for himself. He named his nail "Life Ender" because names supposedly have power. Unfortunately, because it is made of shellwood, it cannot deal damage. While he claims to be the strongest warrior in the land, he is found trapped by weak enemies or claiming the glory of another bug's deeds. He regards the Knight as beneath him and accuses them of constantly getting in his way.

Found along the path leading to Greenpath. He is held in the mandibles of a Vengefly King, and the Knight has the choice to either save him or leave him. If saved, he complains that the Knight got in the way between him and his "prey", he introduces himself and boasts about his supposed mighty deeds.

If he is not saved before acquiring the Mantis Claw, he dies in this location, with his nail and shell remaining. Hitting his shell here grants the Neglect achievement.

If he is saved in Greenpath, Zote shows up in Dirtmouth, where he once again talks to the Knight in an arrogant fashion.

Zote can be found in a corridor leading back to the storerooms of the City of Tears. He has forgotten the Knight and introduces himself again.

Found stuck in spider webs, presumably having been captured by the beasts of Deepnest. Once again the Knight has the choice to either save him or leave him, though this time leaving him does not result in his death. If saved, he once again complains about the Knight meddling in his supposed heroics.

If the Knight saves him both times, he is captured and can be found in the resting area of the Colosseum of Fools, where he brags about his skills and how his capture was part of his plan. He then becomes the final boss of the first trial. As a boss, he deals no damage due to his nail being made of shellwood. He simply has to be attacked until the fight is over. He is quite inept in combat and regularly messes up his jumps. Beating him grants the Rivalry achievement.
Needle is the term used to describe the bladed weapon wielded by Hornet. The needle is attached with a thread of silk.
Trial of the Warrior. Fight for Geo and a Charm Notch.
Shardmites are enemies in Hollow Knight. Formerly used in Crystal Peak's mining operations, these creatures now wander around on walls, feeding on crystal dust. Crawls up and down on vertical surfaces. Upon approaching it, it sprouts long crystal spikes from its shell. While those spikes are extended, it is invulnerable. By attacking quickly, it can be taken off guard and killed before it sprouts its spikes. It is also possible to Nail-bounce off its spikes by down-slashing. With repeated down-slashing, the Shardmite retracts its spikes briefly before sprouting them again, giving the Knight a chance to get in a hit between spikes while keeping distance.

The Trial of the Warrior is the first trial in the Colosseum of Fools available to the Knight.

Requires alt=Steel Soul Jinn is a Merchant in Hollow Knight. She only appears in Steel Soul Mode, replacing Confessor Jiji. Jinn resides in the locked cavern by the base of Crystal Peak in Dirtmouth, where she has been sleeping. She has unseen masters who do not seek order. Jinn speaks in rhythm and claims to be too young to tell anything about herself beside her purpose of providing and trading. Her metallic body cannot take damage, although she still reacts to strikes at her. Steel Soul Jinn replaces Jiji in Steel Soul Mode, as the difficulty mode's permanent death makes Jiji's service useless. She is disgusted by Rancid Eggs, but will still buy them for Geo 290-449 each, as a favor to a friend which she claims appreciates them. This is also an excuse for her to get rid of the Geo she accumulated after helping or hurting other creatures, despite not wanting any. Steel Soul Jinn is located on the very east side of Dirtmouth, within a cave that requires a Simple Key to open. The friend she mentions who likes Rancid Eggs is most likely Confessor Jiji, who is willing to offer her services for them. Jinn is one of the few NPCs who can be "hit" with the Nail without taking damage. An upcoming enemy revealed in the Hollow Knight: Silksong trailer bears a striking similarity to Jinn. It is also a companion to Steel Assassin Sharpe furthering some sort of motif of "steel" between the characters. Jinn is mistakenly referred to as male in some translations of the game. 100 to open.

Upon clearing it for the first time, the Knight receives a Charm Notch, alt=Steel Soul Jinn is a Merchant in Hollow Knight. She only appears in Steel Soul Mode, replacing Confessor Jiji. Jinn resides in the locked cavern by the base of Crystal Peak in Dirtmouth, where she has been sleeping. She has unseen masters who do not seek order. Jinn speaks in rhythm and claims to be too young to tell anything about herself beside her purpose of providing and trading. Her metallic body cannot take damage, although she still reacts to strikes at her. Steel Soul Jinn replaces Jiji in Steel Soul Mode, as the difficulty mode's permanent death makes Jiji's service useless. She is disgusted by Rancid Eggs, but will still buy them for Geo 290-449 each, as a favor to a friend which she claims appreciates them. This is also an excuse for her to get rid of the Geo she accumulated after helping or hurting other creatures, despite not wanting any. Steel Soul Jinn is located on the very east side of Dirtmouth, within a cave that requires a Simple Key to open. The friend she mentions who likes Rancid Eggs is most likely Confessor Jiji, who is willing to offer her services for them. Jinn is one of the few NPCs who can be "hit" with the Nail without taking damage. An upcoming enemy revealed in the Hollow Knight: Silksong trailer bears a striking similarity to Jinn. It is also a companion to Steel Assassin Sharpe furthering some sort of motif of "steel" between the characters. Jinn is mistakenly referred to as male in some translations of the game. 1000-1024, and the Warrior achievement. Subsequent victories reward alt=Steel Soul Jinn is a Merchant in Hollow Knight. She only appears in Steel Soul Mode, replacing Confessor Jiji. Jinn resides in the locked cavern by the base of Crystal Peak in Dirtmouth, where she has been sleeping. She has unseen masters who do not seek order. Jinn speaks in rhythm and claims to be too young to tell anything about herself beside her purpose of providing and trading. Her metallic body cannot take damage, although she still reacts to strikes at her. Steel Soul Jinn replaces Jiji in Steel Soul Mode, as the difficulty mode's permanent death makes Jiji's service useless. She is disgusted by Rancid Eggs, but will still buy them for Geo 290-449 each, as a favor to a friend which she claims appreciates them. This is also an excuse for her to get rid of the Geo she accumulated after helping or hurting other creatures, despite not wanting any. Steel Soul Jinn is located on the very east side of Dirtmouth, within a cave that requires a Simple Key to open. The friend she mentions who likes Rancid Eggs is most likely Confessor Jiji, who is willing to offer her services for them. Jinn is one of the few NPCs who can be "hit" with the Nail without taking damage. An upcoming enemy revealed in the Hollow Knight: Silksong trailer bears a striking similarity to Jinn. It is also a companion to Steel Assassin Sharpe furthering some sort of motif of "steel" between the characters. Jinn is mistakenly referred to as male in some translations of the game. 1000-1024.

Zote the Mighty only appears as the final opponent after he has been saved in Greenpath and Deepnest and can only be defeated in the trial once.

Tips

For the Shielded Fools in wave 1, they can be hit once as soon as they spawn.

For wave 2, the Sharp Baldurs can be triggered one at a time. This will give time to heal.

The Sturdy Fools in wave 3 can be killed using the same strategy as Husk Miners.

For waves 4 and 5, rush the Primal Aspids down. By staying on the rightmost or leftmost platforms there is a window to heal.

For wave 6, the Sturdy Fools on the top platforms are no hassle and they can be easily avoided by using the Shape of Unn Charm.

In wave 7, get onto the highest platform to easily kill the Primal Aspids without being harmed by the Sharp Baldurs.

Wave 1
Transition: None
HJ Shielded Fool Shielded Fool, left
HJ Shielded Fool Shielded Fool, left

HJ Shielded Fool Shielded Fool, right

HJ Sharp Baldur Sharp Baldur, left

HJ Sharp Baldur Sharp Baldur, right

Wave 2
Transition: 5 platforms rise up.
HJ Sharp Baldur Sharp Baldur x2, left

HJ Sharp Baldur Sharp Baldur, top centre
HJ Sharp Baldur Sharp Baldur, bottom centre
HJ Sharp Baldur Sharp Baldur, top right

Wave 3
Transition: The platforms go away, returning the arena to its original state.
HJ Sturdy Fool Sturdy Fool, centre
HJ Sturdy Fool Sturdy Fool, left

HJ Sturdy Fool Sturdy Fool, right

Wave 4
Transition: 3 platforms rise up.
HJ Primal Aspid Primal Aspid, left

HJ Primal Aspid Primal Aspid, right

Wave 5
Transition: 2 more platforms rise up and spikes cover the floor.
HJ Primal Aspid Primal Aspid, top left

HJ Primal Aspid Primal Aspid, top right

Wave 6
Transition: The 5 individual platforms go away and are replaced with two double platforms on the left and right and one triple platform in the centre.
HJ Sturdy Fool Sturdy Fool, top left

HJ Sturdy Fool Sturdy Fool, top right

Defeating one of these enemies spawns the next row.
HJ Sturdy Fool Sturdy Fool, centre
Wave 7
Transition: The triple platform is replaced with a quadruple platform. The double platforms go away. Two more quadruple platforms spring up to create 3 levels.

HJ Primal Aspid Primal Aspid, bottom left
HJ Primal Aspid Primal Aspid, top right

Defeating one of these enemies spawns the next row.
HJ Sharp Baldur Sharp Baldur, centre of middle platform Defeating one of these enemies spawns the next row.
HJ Sharp Baldur Sharp Baldur, centre of bottom platform
Wave 8
Transition: Platforms drop away until there's only a double platform.
HJ Vengefly Vengefly x2, left

HJ Vengefly Vengefly x2, right

HJ Vengefly King Vengefly King, top right
Wave 9
Transition: The platforms and spikes go away, returning the arena to its original state.
HJ Sturdy Fool Sturdy Fool, left

HJ Sturdy Fool Sturdy Fool, right

Defeating one of these enemies spawns the next row.
HJ Shielded Fool Shielded Fool, centre Defeating one of these enemies spawns the next row.
HJ Primal Aspid Primal Aspid, centre Defeating one of these enemies spawns the next row.
HJ Shielded Fool Shielded Fool, left Defeating one of these enemies spawns the next row.
HJ Sturdy Fool Sturdy Fool, right Defeating one of these enemies spawns the next row.
HJ Primal Aspid Primal Aspid, left
HJ Sharp Baldur Sharp Baldur, right
Wave 10
Transition: The ceiling drops down to about 10% the height of the arena.
HJ Sharp Baldur Sharp Baldur, left
HJ Sharp Baldur Sharp Baldur, right
HJ Sharp Baldur Sharp Baldur, left
Wave 11
Transition: The ceiling rises to about 50% the height of the arena.
HJ Volatile Gruzzer Volatile Gruzzer, left

HJ Volatile Gruzzer Volatile Gruzzer, right

HJ Volatile Gruzzer Volatile Gruzzer, left

HJ Volatile Gruzzer Volatile Gruzzer, right
HJ Volatile Gruzzer Volatile Gruzzer, centre

HJ Gruz Mother Gruz Mother, left

HJ Gruz Mother Gruz Mother, right

Wave 12
Transition: The ceiling rises, returning the arena to its original state.
HJ Zote Zote the Mighty After Zote is defeated the first time, he returns to Dirtmouth, and the Trial no longer has this wave.

Achievements

Ellina is an expanded universe character who appears only within the Hollow Knight Wanderer's Journal- acting as the fictional author of the book. Her book details her experiences within the kingdom of Hallownest and acts as an outside source providing some unique reflections, accounts, and opinions on her findings. Ellina's character beyond her time spent in Hallownest is not explored and is unknown.

A brief summary by the author of the book states the following:

"The book is written from the perspective of Ellina the Chronicler, an "outsider" who is documenting her observations as she travels through Hallownest. She only knows what she's learned from others during her journey, so she doesn't pick up on any deep lore."

In addition, Ellina herself provides a small introduction in her journal:

"Greetings, fellow wanderer, and welcome to Hallownest!" "It would seem you’ve happened upon my journal. This volume contains a record of my observations and musings, transcribed as I travelled into the kingdom’s depths and-through a miracle of either luck or sheer willpower-returned safely to the surface. My travels brought me to Hallownest purely out of curiosity; though I expected to find naught but a desolate ruin down below, what awaited me was quite possibly the adventure of a lifetime. To that end, I’ve chosen to leave my completed journal behind, in hopes that another brave explorer might use it to piece together the myriad of mysteries of this forsaken kingdom."

The contents of the Wanderer's Journal include images and descriptions drawn and written by Ellina detailing a variety of enemies, characters, and environments. The main descriptions are typed out and are accompanied by Ellina's "quotes" - which are written out in a handwriting style font.

Ellina's story and adventure canonically occur at the same time as the events of Hollow Knight; the Knight's quest would have been currently in progress during the time Ellina was writing her journal. Evidence of this includes an account of Bretta first encountered by Ellina stuck in the Fungal Wastes, but later on noted to be in Dirtmouth: implying that Bretta was saved by the Knight as it occurs in the game.

Despite her story happening parallel to the game's events, Ellina never meets or runs into the Knight in person during her exploration of Hallownest. The closest instance Ellina comes to encountering the Knight underground is only through noticing the painting of the Knight by Nailmaster Sheo.

However, at the very end of the novel, when Ellina plans to leave the kingdom, she does catch a glimpse of the Knight as she's returning to the surface.
Achievement Warrior Warrior
Complete the Trial of the Warrior.
5G
Delicate Flower

Quests

Grimm TroupeDelicate FlowerTrials (WarriorConquerorFool)
Pantheons (The MasterThe ArtistThe SageThe KnightHallownest)
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