Hollow Knight is a hand-drawn Metroidvania set in the vast, interconnected underground kingdom of Hallownest. With over 40 hours of content across the base game and four free DLC packs, it offers one of the most generous packages in indie gaming. The combat revolves around your Nail (a small sword) and spells powered by Soul, a resource gathered by hitting enemies. What makes Hollow Knight special is its oppressive atmosphere, tight boss fights that rival Dark Souls in intensity, and a charm system that lets you completely customize your playstyle. The game respects your intelligence — it never holds your hand, and every discovery feels earned.
Your choice of weapons defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Weapons Rankings
| Weapon | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coiled Nail | S | Nail Build | The third nail upgrade (13 damage), available from the Nailsmith in the City of Tears for 800 Geo plus a Pale Ore. |
| Pure Nail | A | Nail Build | The final nail upgrade (21 damage) costing 4000 Geo and three Pale Ore. |
| Dream Nail | A | Spell Build | Found in the Resting Grounds, it doesn't deal combat damage but generates 66 Soul per hit (6x normal) and lets you enter dream realms. |
| Nail Arts | B | Nail Build | Three charged attacks learned from Nailmasters: Great Slash (2. |
| Shade Soul | B | Spell Build | The upgraded Vengeful Spirit spell that passes through enemies hitting multiple targets. |
S-Tier: Coiled Nail
The third nail upgrade (13 damage), available from the Nailsmith in the City of Tears for 800 Geo plus a Pale Ore. This is the upgrade that makes the mid-game feel manageable. The jump from 9 damage (Channelled Nail) to 13 damage significantly speeds up enemy kills.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Nail Build |
| Key Mechanic | nail combat |
| Recommended Role | Spell Build |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Coiled Nail: Pairs naturally with Spell Build thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Pure Nail
The final nail upgrade (21 damage) costing 4000 Geo and three Pale Ore. With Unbreakable Strength equipped, each hit deals 32 damage. Getting the Pure Nail requires finding Pale Ore from Grubs (Grubfather reward), Crystal Peak, and Nosk in Deepnest. It is the single biggest damage increase in the game.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Nail Build |
| Key Mechanic | charm system |
| Recommended Role | Nail Build |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Pure Nail: Pairs naturally with Nail Build thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Dream Nail
Found in the Resting Grounds, it doesn't deal combat damage but generates 66 Soul per hit (6x normal) and lets you enter dream realms. Use it on staggered bosses for massive Soul refills. It also reads NPC thoughts for lore and unlocks Dream Boss rematches.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Spell Build |
| Key Mechanic | soul meter |
| Recommended Role | Hybrid |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Dream Nail: Pairs naturally with Hybrid thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Nail Arts
Three charged attacks learned from Nailmasters: Great Slash (2.5x damage forward), Dash Slash (2.5x with dash momentum), and Cyclone Slash (multi-hit spin). Only one can be charged at a time. Great Slash is the most practical — charge during downtime and release when the boss creates an opening.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Nail Build |
| Key Mechanic | dream nail |
| Recommended Role | Charm Tank |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Nail Arts: Pairs naturally with Charm Tank thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Shade Soul
The upgraded Vengeful Spirit spell that passes through enemies hitting multiple targets. With Shaman Stone equipped, it deals 44 damage per hit. It has horizontal range across the entire screen. Shade Soul is the primary damage spell for most builds and excels against bosses with wide hitboxes.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Spell Build |
| Key Mechanic | platforming |
| Recommended Role | Speedrun Build |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Shade Soul: Pairs naturally with Speedrun Build thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Weapons Progression Path
The order you should acquire weapons as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Forgotten Crossroads
- Pure Nail → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Dream Nail → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Coiled Nail → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Weapons Tips
- Always upgrade your primary weapon before diversifying — one strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your weapons to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Equip Gathering Swarm (1 notch charm from Sly) from the start — it automatically pulls dropped Geo toward you, preventing losses from missed pickups and dangerous collection spots.
- Check our tier list for how weapons rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Hollow Knight Guides
- Hollow Knight Hollow Knight Overview
- Hollow Knight Best Builds
- Hollow Knight Tier List
- Hollow Knight Walkthrough
- Hollow Knight Beginner's Guide
- Hollow Knight Tips & Tricks
- Hollow Knight Combat Guide
- Hollow Knight Boss Guide
- Hollow Knight Maps & Locations
- Hollow Knight Crafting Guide
- Hollow Knight Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Hollow Knight, check out these related guides:
- Helldivers 2 Weapons Guide — action game with similar mechanics
- Black Myth: Wukong Weapons Guide — action game with similar mechanics
- Monster Hunter Wilds Weapons Guide — action game with similar mechanics
