Hollow Knight Endings: 5 Different Potential Conclusions

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Discover and decode all potential resolutions
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If you’re anything like us, you’ve been fiending for the release of Silksong for years now. But now that it’s finally out, you’re likely reacquainting yourself with the lore, narrative, and history of Hallownest. Whether you’re replaying the end of the original game or simply brushing up on what actually happened, we’ve got you covered!

How many endings does Hollow Knight have?

Hollow Knight has five canonical endings, although two of them are only obtainable if you have the Godmaster DLC, the last of the three free content packs ) released by Team Cherry. The endings, named after their in-game achievement, are:

  • The Hollow Knight
  • Sealed Siblings
  • Dream No More
  • Embrace the Void (Godmaster DLC Only)
  • Delicate Flower (Godmaster DLC Only)
Section 1 of 7:

Spoiler-Free Unlock Requirements

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  1. 1
    Ending 1 (The Hollow Knight) For the first (and most common) ending, you must:
    • Defeat the Hollow Knight .
    • Not have the Void Heart charm in your inventory.
  2. 2
    Ending 2 (Sealed Siblings) The second most common ending occurs if you:
    • Defeat the Hollow Knight .
    • Have the Void Heart charm in your inventory.
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  3. 3
    Ending 3 (Dream No More) This ending requires hitting the Hollow Knight with a fully charged dream nail after Hornet intervenes. You must:
    • Defeat the Hollow Knight .
    • Have the Void Heart charm in your inventory.
    • Hit the Hollow Knight with the Dream Nail.
    • Beat The Radiance .
  4. 4
    Ending 4 (Embrace the Void) The final two endings are only available if you have the Godmaster DLC installed. You must:
    • Not give the Delicate Flower to the Godseeker.
    • Beat the Pantheon of Hallownest.
    • Beat The Absolute Radiance.
  5. 5
    Ending 5 (Delicate Flower) The final ending only occurs if you give the flower to the Godseeker. You must:
    • Give the Delicate Flower to the Godseeker.
    • Beat the Pantheon of Hallownest.
    • Beat The Absolute Radiance.
  6. 6
    Secret post-credits scene: This isn’t technically a different ending, but if you find Mr. Mushroom in every location in the game while the Spore Shroom charm is equipped, you get an extra post-credits scene after the end of the game.
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Section 2 of 7:

What happens in each ending?

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  1. 1
    Ending 1 (The Hollow Knight) After the Hollow Knight dies, we see the Knight (you, not the Hollow Knight) absorbing all of the orange Infection. Chains shoot from the floor and ceiling as the Knight’s eyes are filled with the Shade and the burning Infection. The Knight’s eyes go black and the camera cuts to the Black Egg, which reappears in its hole, and the game ends. [1]
    • Analysis of this ending: You actually see The Hollow Knight inside of the Black Egg in the opening cinematic for the game. The implication here is that the Knight has absorbed all of the Hollow Knight’s infection and become the next Hollow Knight. Presumably, you’ll be trapped in the Egg for the remainder of all time. [2]
    • Reward for this ending: The Infected menu style and the “The Hollow Knight” achievement.
  2. 2
    Ending 2 (Sealed Siblings) Ending #2 is identical to ending #1 in the core beats: Hollow Knight dies, you absorb the Shade and Infection, and then you’re trapped inside the Black Egg for eternity. However, there is one major core difference: Hornet is passed out next to you as all of this happens. [3]
    • Analysis of this ending: If you look closely at the Egg as the screen fades to black, you’ll see that Hornet’s head appears on the surface. The implication is that Hornet is actually trapped inside of the Egg with you. Sorry, Hornet! We know you were just trying to help. [4]
    • Reward for this ending: The same menu style (The Infected style) as ending #1 and the “Sealed Siblings” achievement.
  3. 3
    Ending 3 (Dream No More) After defeating the Radiance, the Knight turns into a Shade version of itself. Other Shades appear, and everyone collectively pulls the Radiance into the darkness. Hornet wakes up in the Egg alone, sees Knight’s helmet shattered and cracked in half, and the Shade version of Knight looks up from the Abyss before disappearing. [5]
    • Analysis of this ending: The Radiance appears to be the source of the Infection. She seems to be using the Infection to spread her influence and get back at the residents of Hallownest for ignoring her. In this context, the Hollow Knight is sealed away to protect the Radiance, not Hallownest. The Void Heart, which represents your acceptance of the Shade, so defeating the Radiance causes the Knight and the rest of the Shade to kill her. We see the Black Egg is gone, the Knight’s helmet missing—showcasing your sacrifice—and your death marks the end of the Shade and the Infection. You have given your life to restore order. [6]
    • Reward for this ending: The Void menu style and the “Dream No More” achievement.
  4. 4
    Ending 4 (Embrace the Void) After defeating Radiance, tentacles spring from the Shade below and hold the Radiance down as a large Shade (it looks kind of like Hunter but it’s unclear) rips the head of the Radiance open. We see Shade dripping and pouring into the Pantheon, and Godseeker cries among a cemetery of bug carcasses before turning into a shade. We see Hornet inside the egg, the lights turn back on, and a beast approaches Hornet, who prepares to strike. [7]
    • Analysis of this ending: Note that this ending implies Godseeker is powerful enough to pull Radiance into the Pantheon battle, which has fascinating implications. The Knight disappears into the Shade and becomes the Shade Lord that kills the Radiance, proving the Knight has become the God of Gods. The Shade survives, takes over GodHome, and causes Godseeker to be absorbed into the Shade. Basically, the Knight takes over the world. It’s implied that Knight becomes Hollow Knight and goes to attack Hornet. This ending kind of leaves the game world in a state of uncertainty—it’s unclear if Knight will be corrupted like the previous Hollow Knight, or rule with love. [8]
    • Reward for this ending: The “Embrace the Void” achievement.
  5. 5
    Ending 5 (Delicate Flower) The ending is identical to Ending 4: The Knight disappears into the Shade below. Then, Shade tentacles hold Radiance as a Shade monster tears it open. The scene ends with Hornet preparing to fight. The only difference is that we see Godseeker holding the flower you gave him before disappearing. Godseeker leaves that flower behind. [9]
    • Analysis of this ending: Ending 5 is identical to Ending 4 in a lot of ways, so we’re just going to focus on the only difference: the flower sticking around after Godseeker disappears. The remaining flower implies that the light of Hallownest will return and that the world can start recovering. The flower is proven in the game to be magical and helpful, and the infection is notably all gone afterwards, so it seems that the final fight at the end with Hornet may just be posturing. The darker reading is that everything has started over again and the Hollow Knight’s release is going to signal future pain for Hallownest.
    • Reward for this ending: The “Embrace the Void” achievement.
  6. 6
    Secret post-credits scene Mister Mushroom is seen flying through the sky like a rocket ship with a trail of air behind him. The camera zooms in on his eyes, which are animated kind of like a hand-drawn cartoon. The camera fades to black, and the screen displays “TO BE CONTINUED.”
    • Analysis of this ending: This is kind of a joke, so there isn’t very much to analyze, but it does seem to imply that we’re going to get some awesome Mr. Mushroom action in Silksong ! Either that or he’s sadly gone as he flies off to look for other worlds. We’ll miss you Mr. Mushroom Man.
    • Reward for this ending: The “Passing of Age” achievement.
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Section 3 of 7:

What is the "true" ending?

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  1. All of the endings are equally good and true. Team Cherry, the developers behind Hollow Knight, hosted a Reddit AMA (ask me anything) 8 years ago, where they were asked this very question . Ari, the co-founder of Team Cherry and the lead artist on Hollow Knight, replied, “All endings are equally canon. We're not into 'True Endings.' You choose the path yourself. We'll do our best in all future Hollow Knight content to account for all of them.” In other words, there is no “correct” ending—they’re all equally good and true.
    • That said, Ending #3 probably ends up best for Knight. Ending #3 is the only ending where Knight gets to both live and ascend to Godhood, so if you want to end things on a positive note for yourself, that’s the ending to shoot for.
    • Ending #5 is ideal if you care most about the world’s survival. Ending #5 does kind of imply Knight dies, but the world around you goes on. The flower remaining behind also suggests that everything is going to return to a healthy equilibrium, which isn’t true for the other endings.
Section 4 of 7:

Can you complete all endings on the same save file?

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  1. Yes, you just need a save point right before the Hollow Knight fight. You can reload the same save file without losing any achievements. However, you can also keep playing on the same save file after completing any ending that doesn’t involve Knight becoming a God to discover the others. So yeah, don’t worry if you didn’t get an opportunity to see all the endings yet.
    • Hollow Knight will never lock you out permanently of an ending, so don’t get stressed if you’re worried about seeing all of the endings.
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Section 5 of 7:

Where is the Void Heart?

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  1. In a secret area at the bottom of the Abyss. The Void Heart charm requires you have at least 1800 Essence and the King’s Brand (which you get from beating Hornet in Kingdom’s Edge). Upgrade your Dream Nail to the Awoken Dream Nail in the Resting Grounds. Then, fast travel to the Abyss and go to the very bottom. Look for a pulsating egg and hit it with your Awoken Dream Nail. A cutscene will play and you’ll get the Void Heart charm. [10]
    • Which endings require the Void Heart? Endings #2 and #3.
Section 6 of 7:

Where is the Delicate Flower?

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  1. You must complete a quest that starts in the Resting Grounds. Go to the Resting Grounds and look for the Grey Mourner (she’s in a house east of the Stag Station). Talk to her to get the Delicate Flower. Then, you must carry it all the way to the Traitor Child’s grave in Queen’s Garden. Here’s the issue: you cannot take damage on your journey. If you get hit even once, the flower breaks. [11]
    • Pro tip: Save the game at the bench by the Stag Station before talking to Grey Mourner so that you don’t have to backtrack a lot if you die.
    • Which ending requires the Delicate Flower? Ending #5. If you weren’t going to give the flower to Godseeker anyway, it’s irrelevant whether you get it or not.
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Section 7 of 7:

Where is the Godseeker?

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  1. Godseeker is in the Royal Waterways. You must have a simple key for this to work. Enter the Royal Waterways from the City of Tears by dropping below. Go all the way to the bottom of the Waterways and go left. Enter the secret area at the room on the top left and follow the path down. Go left as far as you can go until you reach the Junk Pit. Then, use the key to unlock the cocoon and then hit the Godseeker with your Dream Nail to wake her up. [12]
    • Which endings require the Godseeker? Endings #4 and #5.

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      References

      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/FVbLNvcuzLg?t=7
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/KegqDKW_uPs?t=86
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/FVbLNvcuzLg?t=72
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/KegqDKW_uPs?t=132
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/FVbLNvcuzLg?t=150
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/KegqDKW_uPs?t=262
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/FVbLNvcuzLg?t=271
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/KegqDKW_uPs?t=505
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/FVbLNvcuzLg?t=358
      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/uNrqSm4vmjU?t=28
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/KegqDKW_uPs?t=752
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/xhSfi-k4QW0?t=1

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