"Top Builds for Grimm in Hollow Knight"

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• Best Charm Builds For Troupe Master Grimm

• Best Charm Builds For Nightmare King Grimm

Grimm, the enigmatic and charismatic leader of the Grimm Troupe, is a standout figure in Hollow Knight and the broader metroidvania genre. His unique appearance and the captivating side quest he offers enrich the Knight's journey to restore Hallownest. Players must confront Grimm at least once, with the chance to battle an even more formidable version later, known as Nightmare King Grimm. These encounters, part of the Grimm Troupe DLC, are among the game's toughest challenges, requiring precision, quick reflexes, and strategic charm setups to navigate the intense dance of death.

Both Troupe Master Grimm and Nightmare King Grimm fights necessitate the use of the Grimmchild charm, which occupies two charm notches, to unlock these battles.

Best Charm Builds For Troupe Master Grimm

Facing Troupe Master Grimm introduces players to his attack patterns in a fast-paced yet rhythmic battle. Success hinges on timing and elegance rather than brute force. Here are effective charm builds to conquer this challenging boss fight. Completing this battle unlocks the final Charm Notch, crucial for tackling Nightmare King Grimm.

Nail Build

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

This build focuses on maximizing Nail damage during Grimm's attack intervals. The slower pace of this fight compared to Nightmare King Grimm makes the Nail build viable for landing numerous hits, thanks to Quick Slash. Unbreakable or Fragile Strength amplifies Nail damage, making it essential. Aim to have at least the Coiled Nail or Pure Nail to effectively reduce Grimm's health. While typically paired with Mark of Pride, Longnail serves as a solid substitute due to Grimmchild's notch requirement, offering a slightly shorter range increase that's still effective for hitting Grimm at the end of his attacks like the Diving Dash and Uppercut.

Spell Build

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

Ideal for players leaning towards spell usage or less confident with the Nail, this build accelerates Grimm's defeat with spells like Descending Dark, Abyss Shriek, and Shade Soul. Shaman Stone significantly boosts spell damage, making it a must-have, while Spell Twister ensures frequent spell casting. Grubsong helps maintain a full Soul gauge despite the challenge of dodging Grimm's attacks, and Unbreakable/Fragile Heart provides additional health, allowing more Soul to be dedicated to spells.

Best Charm Builds For Nightmare King Grimm

Nightmare King Grimm elevates the challenge with doubled damage and increased speed, making every move critical. His new attack, spawning flame pillars, offers opportunities for high-damage spells like Abyss Shriek. Below are the recommended charm builds to tackle this formidable opponent.

Best Build

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

A pure Nail build isn't optimal for quickly defeating Nightmare King Grimm. A hybrid Nail/Spell build, leveraging the power of Abyss Shriek and Descending Dark, proves more effective. Shaman Stone is essential for maximizing spell damage, while Unbreakable/Fragile Strength and Mark of Pride enhance damage during windows where spell casting is risky or not feasible.

Alternate Build

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

This defensive-oriented build emphasizes spell and Nail Arts usage, with tools to evade Nightmare King Grimm's lethal attacks. Shaman Stone and Spell Twister remain crucial for boosting damage output. Grubsong ensures a steady Soul supply, Sharp Shadow enables dashing through attacks with Shade Cloak, dealing damage in the process, and Nailmaster's Glory makes Nail Arts a potent threat, allowing for strategic health reduction alongside spell use.