[section=Introduction] This is the speedrunning guide for the 106% True Ending category. True Ending means it includes beating the Radiance + Nightmare King Grimm.

[big]Map Reading[/big] [center]https://i.imgur.com/M3z15E9.png[/center]

[big]The route is separated to 4 parts:[/big]

[big]Part 1 - Early Game[/big] All the way up to Dreamgate ● Some of the harder fights and skips are here ● Geo is tight~ish

[big]Part 2 - Grimm Troupe Fetching Quest[/big] This part mainly consists of collecting the flames and beating Grimm ● Can be a bit confusing on where to go at times

[big]Part 3 - Area Sweeping[/big] With all movement abilities unlocked, this part is just clearing all the areas for completion ● Difficulty is varied throughout this part

[big]Part 4 - End Game[/big] All the harder stuff: Colosseum, Flower Quest, White Palace & NKG ● Medium difficulty, can be a bit stressful towards the end. ● Grubfather visit is a 2 minute break. Use it wisely.

[big]Practicing & Resources[/big] ● You can find practice save files under Resources for this category. ● Fireb0rn's Any% NMG guide explains some of the early skips in depth, I would really suggest checking it out: https://www.speedrun.com/hollowknight/guide/j234z ● There is a cheat info program under Resources to give yourself infinite soul and health to make practicing stuff easier. ● You can always ask questions on HK's discord server.

[big]Important Notes[/big] Patch - The most optimal patch for this category is 1.2.2.1. Essence - All Dream Bosses (excluding Zote) give a total of 2400 essence, but you'll still need a bit of Tree-Essence for Dreamgate Usage. Language - On Chinese / Mandarin the text boxes are much faster, so make sure to change that in the game options, once you are familiar with the dialogues of the game.

[section=Part 1]

[big]Forgotten Crossroads + Greenpath 1[/big]

Fury of the Fallen at the start of the run:

[center]https://youtu.be/bXgk66dUKHY[/center]

¤Make sure to move just a tiny bit to the right after the screen transition to trigger the hardsave.

You can use FotF on False Knight and Hornet if you are comfortable on those fights to make a bit of the time loss. Equip Soul Catcher and build soul during the climb for the upcoming Baldur.

Use the fireball skip (Gif by fireb0rn): [center]https://media.giphy.com/media/7fsnOwR7LiK2c/giphy.gif[/center]

Or the mosquito skip as a beginner / back up strategy: [center]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0kQ-Lierq0[/center]

After save warping back to the Ancestral Mound, go to Fungal Wastes.

[big]Fungal Wastes[/big]

Make sure to get the Geo nodes before the explosion pogo.

Explosion Pogo skip (Gif by fireb0rn): [center]https://media.giphy.com/media/12V4kOucjQwMmc/giphy.gif[/center]

Alternative route for the explosion pogo is specified on the map.

Mantis Skip (Gif by fireb0rn): [center]https://media.giphy.com/media/RpEGHMfqERo1a/giphy.gif[/center]

Get the Journal and the grub after Mantis Claw.

[big]City of Tears[/big]

Get the rafts seal before Lemm.

Fake Dive: [center]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPwj7FVfjJA[/center]

If you don't manage to get the fake dive, you can come back for the grub later (after Soul Tyrant). Save at the bench after Soul Sanctum, and don't use any other benches to be able to save warp back here later. Make sure to unlock the Storerooms Stag Station, as it will be needed later in the run.

[big]Forgotten Crossroads + Crystal Peak + Resting Grounds[/big]

Buy Shaman Stone + Steady Body + Charm Notch. Don't forget you cannot use any benches. After opening Crossroads' Stag Station, keep track of your Geo count. You will need 800G for Elegant Key, so if you are short, make sure to get the backup Geo sources specified on the map. Build a bit of soul before entering to Crystal Peak, either from enemies or the statue near the elevator to CP. Make sure to get the shopkeeper's key and open the shortcut.

Dark room without lantern: [center]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpQljzD0uzI[/center]

A small skip in the Crystallized Mound: [center]https://youtu.be/GsX-2AqObeU[/center]

After dream nail, stag over to Dirtmouth and buy the Elegant Key. Then Save Warp back to CoT.

[big]City of Tears + Waterways + Ancient Basin[/big]

Equip Shaman Stone + Spell Twister.

Shade Soul Cutscene Skip: [center]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBlt2t49XeQ[/center] This is worth going for only if you get to have a folly alive after defeating the soul warrior, and don't have to slow down too much to set the skip up.

Don't forget to get the grub after Soul Tyrant if not gotten earlier. Build a bit of soul before Dung Defender and interrupt his entrance with a dive. Try to save soul for a dive after the fight for the Idol under the valve.

Isma's Tear - Spike Pogo + Acid Skips without Double Jump:

[center]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Brm5HgQFD24[/center]

¤Use the alternative path if you are not comfortable with these skips. You can equip Defender's Crest to make Lost Kin a bit easier.

A small shortcut before Broken Vessel:

[center]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQdEBTdKygA[/center]

When reaching the Hidden Station, stag to Crossroads for Glowing Womb + Failed Champion.

Stag to Resting Grounds after Failed Champion. In Resting Grounds pick Dreamshield and Dreamgate. Afterwards stag over to Dirtmouth and continue to part 2 of the route.

[section=Part 2]

Head to the Howling Cliffs to start the Grimm Troupe quest.

[big]Howling Cliffs + Greenpath[/big]

Use the Early Stag Nest Skip: [center]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfHj2Hx3z_4[/center]

Dark room to Joni's Blessing: [center]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkOn0x4Vkzc[/center]

[big]Fetching Quest - 1st Cycle[/big]

Before continuing on to Hornet 2 and Shade Cloak, we'll complete the 1st cycle of flames collection since that way the next cycles are going to be easier to get.

[big]Greenpath Fetch[/big]

Greenpath Small Skip: [center]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFWryXWUo64[/center]

[big]City of Tears Fetch[/big] Just stag to the Storerooms Station to get that one.

[big]Crystal Peak Fetch[/big]

Use the elevator skip to get to Crystal Peak: [center]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gt6lJTblUc[/center]

Pogo shortcut to Hollownest's Crown: [center]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR5um2DlZWM[/center]

Complete the 1st cycle of flames collection, and then immediately get the The Grimmkin Master in King's pass. Afterwards stag to Resting Grounds.

[big]Fetching Quest - 2nd Cycle[/big]

Don't forget the grub in Resting Grounds. Picking up Soul Eater now is optional. Set a Dream Gate in King's Station. Stag to Palace Grounds after King's Brand.

Shade Cloak S&Q (Vid by Xero): [center]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljHn60abjWg[/center]

Make sure to get the Arcane Egg after Shade Cloak, then Dream Gate back to King's Station.

Flukemarm Quick Kill: [center]https://youtu.be/iIJGVhWz_po[/center]

After completing the Waterways / Fungal Wastes section, Dream Gate back and stag to Dirtmouth. In Dirtmouth beat Troupe Master Grimm, then continue on to the 3rd part of the run.

Skipping TMG's 3rd balloon phase: [center]https://youtu.be/FzSaZk-Vz_w[/center]

[section=Part 3]

Buy Lantern! *Getting 1 Mask Shard right now will make it so you'll complete a full mask when getting the Shard in the Hive, which is often a dangerous area.

Brooding Mawlek Quick Kill: [center]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CerZdWHQWpw[/center]

While shouldn't be needed, you can equip Defender's Crest before Leg Eater to get a 20% discount on his charms. Set a Dreamgate before entering Teacher's Archives, return to it after Monomon. Don't forget Queen's station's Mask Shard.

[big]Queen's Gardens[/big]

There are 3 grub mimics in the Deepnest grub room, the real one is one before the last. As said on the map, make EXTRA sure to open the shortcut for later. This will be needed for the Flower Quest. Equip Grimmchild before heading to Deepnest!

[big]Deepnest[/big]

Talk to Brumm before entering Beast's Den to get a flame.

Use the Beast's Den Bench skip: [center]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2Ek0rtPZbU[/center]

As seen in the video, use Shade Cloak to go through Devouts. Don't forget the grub in the Den. You can get the spring bench instead of the Dreamgate before Nosk if you are at low HP.

Vessel Fragment Quick Cycle:

[center]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hq_F6JqK4I[/center]

[big]Basin Short Visit[/big]

• Note to self: Update the map to 106%

[big]Hive + Kingdom's Edge[/big]

• Note to self: Update the map to 106%

Collector Scream Skip (Credit to Ax2u for the setup): [center]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G47o3gpRPp4[/center]

[big]City of Tears[/big]

Get 3 nail upgrades at once when you get to the Nailsmith. After White Defender head to King's Station, set there a Dreamgate and continue on to Part 4.

[section=Part 4]

Stag to Dirtmouth, Get Grubfather's rewards, and buy out all the required stuff from the shops. You should have all the grubs freed at the time of visiting the Grubfather to claim all the rewards at once. Make sure to not forget anything in Dirtmouth: • Sly's Charms, Mask Shards & Vessel Fragments • Wayward Compass from Iselda • Bretta's Mask Shard

Stag to Resting Grounds after you're done.

[big]Endgame[/big]

When at the Resting Grounds, don't forget to grab Soul Eater if you haven't gotten it earlier.

[big]Flower Quest[/big]

• At Salubra, buy her Charms + 1 Charm Notch. • Get the Mask Shard before the hotspring in the Infected Crossroads.

Return to Dream Gate and head to the Colosseum.

*Optional: After 2nd trial you can return to Dream Gate and stag to King's Station to upgrade nail a final time. Save warp back to the Colosseum afterwards if you do so.

After you're done with the Colosseum and the final Nail Upgrade, return to Dream Gate and stag to the Hidden Station.

[big]Ancient Basin[/big]

Here is an example White Palace run to show all the skips that can be used there: [center]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uickrYLS2hM[/center]

After White Palace, sit on the station bench and change charms into Joni's Blessing + Fragile Heart + Lifeblood Heart + overcharm Kingsoul. Make sure you are not forgetting the fountain Vessel Fragment before going into the Abyss. Return to Dream Gate after Void Heart and stag to Dirtmouth.

Beat Nightmare King Grimm now. Afterwards head to The Black Egg and defeat The Hollow Knight & The Radiance.

[section=The Numbers]

[big][big]Geo Route[/big][/big]

False Knight = +200G (200G) Ancestral Mound Baldur = +25G (225G) Greenpath Baldur = +50G (275G) Moss Knight = +40G (315G) Shroom Ogres = +90G (405G) Geo Nodes = +40G (445G) Mantis Village Journal City Rafts Seal Lemm = +200G +450G = +650G (1095G) Sanctum Soul Warrior = +200G (1295G) Soul Master = +385G (1680G) Soul Master Seal Soul Sanctum Bench = -150G (1530G) City Storerooms Stag Station = -200G (1330G) Crossroads Elevator = -150G (1180G) Gruz Mother = ~+60G (1240G) Salubra = -220G -120G -120G = -710G (780G) Crossroads Stag Station = -50G (730G) ¤Pre Crystal Peak Husk Guard = +45G (775G) Elegant Key = -800G (0G)

Shade Soul Soul Warrior = +150G (150G) Lemm = +450G (600G) Dung Defender's King's Idol Ancient Basin Bench = -150G (450G) Hidden Station = -300G (150G) Seer Seal Howling Cliffs King's Idol Baldur Shell Baldurs = +100G (250G) Greenpath Stag Station = -140G (110G) Grub Moss Knight = +40G (150G) Crystal Peak King's Idol Crystal Guardian 1 = +385G (535G) Crystal Guardian 2 = +550G (1075G) Greenpath Seal CoT Vessel Guantlet = +G (1150G) King's Station = -300G (850G) Lemm = +450G +450G +800G +800G +800G = +3300G (4150G) Mantis Lords = +620G (4770G) Mantis Lords Seal Shade Cloak Arcane Egg Lantern = -1800G (2970G)
Leg Eater = -90G -250G -350G -600G = -1290G (1680G) Queen's Gardens Bench = -150G (1530G) Dash Slash = -800G (730G) Watcher Knight = +655G (1385G) Watcher Knight Seal Lemm = +450G +450G +1200G = +2100G (3485G) Nail Upgrades (3/4) = -250G -800G -2000G = -3050G (435G)

Grubfather = +6750G (7185G) Grubfather Seal Grubfather King's Idol Sly = -5650G (1535G) Iselda = -220G (1315G) Seer Arcane Egg Salubra = -300G -800G -250G -500G = -1850G (100G)
Colosseum = ~+4300G (4300G) Lemm = +450G +800G +1200G = +2450G (6750G) Nail Upgrade (4/4) = -4000G (2750G) Basin Fountain = 3000g (0G)

[big][big]Percentages[/big][/big] (Credit to Sean)

Nail Upgrades: 4% Dream Nail + Upgrade: 2% HP Upgrades: 4% EN Upgrades: 3% Kingsbrand: 2% Crystal Heart: 2% Mantis Claw: 2% Monarch Wings: 2% Ismas Tear: 2% Mothwing Cloak: 2% Shade Cloak: 2% Desolate Dive + Descending Dark: 2% Howling Wraiths + Abyss Shriek: 2% Vengeful Spirit + Shade Soul: 2% Nail Arts (Great Slash,Cyclone Dash,Dash Slash): 3% (Total Skills: 36%)

3 Dreamers (Lurien,Monomon,Herrah): 3% Galien: 1% Marmu: 1% Markoth: 1% Xero: 1% No Eyes: 1% Elder Hu: 1% Grob: 1% Brooding Mawlek: 1% Gruz Mother: 1% Collector: 1% Uumuu: 1% Nosk: 1% Traitor Lord: 1% Broken Vessel: 1% Watcher Knight: 1% Dung Defender: 1% Soul Master: 1% Mantis Lords: 1% Hornet 1 + 2: 2% False Knight: 1% 3 Colosseum Fights: 3% Troupe Master Grimm: 1% Nightmare King Grimm OR Destroy the Nightmare Lantern: 1% (Total Bosses: 29%)

40 Charms: 40%

Seer Departs at 2400 Esscence: 1%

[big][big]Essence[/big][/big]

Lost Kin = 400 essence Soul Tyrant = 300 essence Failed Champion = 300 essence White Defender = 300 essence Gray Prince Zote = 300 essence Markoth = 250 essence No Eyes = 200 essence Galien = 200 essence Marmu = 150 essence Elder Hu = 100 essence Gorb = 100 essence Xero = 100 essence