Hollow Knight Secrets: Mastering the Mask Shard Locations for Increased Health

In the hauntingly beautiful and brutally challenging world of Hollow Knight, survival hinges on your ability to withstand the relentless onslaught of infected creatures and formidable bosses. Central to your endurance is the number of Masks you possess, representing your health. These Masks are not gained automatically; instead, you must painstakingly collect Mask Shards scattered throughout Hallownest and piece them together. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions and maps on where to find every Mask Shard, empowering you to maximize your health and conquer even the toughest challenges in Hollow Knight.

Why Are Mask Shards Important?

Before we dive into the locations, let’s emphasize why Mask Shards are so vital. Each Mask Shard you collect contributes to a complete Mask. Four Mask Shards combine to form a single, full Mask, permanently increasing your health. This additional health is crucial for several reasons:

• Increased Survivability: More health means you can withstand more hits, crucial in boss fights and areas with numerous enemies.
• Reduced Reliance on Healing: While focusing to heal is a core mechanic, more health gives you more opportunities to attack instead of constantly needing to heal, improving your offensive capabilities.
• Exploration: With increased health, you’ll be more confident in exploring dangerous areas, allowing you to discover new secrets and items.
• Boss Battles: The increased margin for error in boss battles granted by more health is often the difference between victory and defeat, especially in the later stages of the game.

The Locations of All 16 Mask Shards

Hallownest is a vast and interconnected world, and the Mask Shards are hidden in various nooks and crannies. Some are easily accessible, while others require specific abilities or the defeat of powerful enemies. Here’s a detailed walkthrough of each Mask Shard location, including prerequisites, directions, and tips:

1. Dirtmouth (Shopkeeper – Sly)

• Prerequisites: Geo (in-game currency)
• Location: Dirtmouth, at Sly’s shop.
• Directions: From the Forgotten Crossroads, head to the top left exit to reach Dirtmouth. Sly’s shop is located to the right of the entrance.
• Details: This is the easiest Mask Shard to acquire. Simply purchase it from Sly for 150 Geo.

2. Forgotten Crossroads (Grubfather Reward)

• Prerequisites: Rescue 5 Grubs.
• Location: Forgotten Crossroads, in the Grubfather’s chamber.
• Directions: From the central Forgotten Crossroads, head left until you reach a breakable wall (near the False Knight’s arena). Break the wall to find the Grubfather’s chamber.
• Details: You’ll need to find and rescue 5 Grubs scattered throughout Hallownest and return them to the Grubfather. As a reward, he’ll give you a Mask Shard. Refer to a Grub location guide for the exact locations of the required Grubs.

3. Forgotten Crossroads (Vertical Shaft)

• Prerequisites: Mantis Claw (wall jump).
• Location: Forgotten Crossroads, in a hidden area above the main vertical shaft connecting the upper and lower areas.
• Directions: In the main vertical shaft of the Forgotten Crossroads, climb about halfway up. Look for a small opening on the left side of the shaft. Use the Mantis Claw to wall jump into the opening. Follow the path to find a Mask Shard.
• Details: The precise location is just above a ledge with a Husk Miner on it. You might need to carefully time your wall jumps.

4. Greenpath (Hunter’s Journal Entry)

• Prerequisites: Ability to defeat enemies.
• Location: Greenpath, near the Hunter.
• Directions: Enter Greenpath from the Forgotten Crossroads. Proceed until you encounter the Hunter (a character who provides tips about enemies). A Mask Shard is located nearby on a platform blocked by breakable thorns.
• Details: Defeat the enemies guarding the area and break the thorns to access the Mask Shard.

5. Greenpath (Lake of Unn)

• Prerequisites: Isma’s Tear (acid immunity).
• Location: Greenpath, submerged in the Lake of Unn.
• Directions: Navigate to the Lake of Unn, located deep within Greenpath. You’ll need Isma’s Tear to survive the acid. The Mask Shard is located at the bottom of the lake in a hidden alcove on the right side.
• Details: Be mindful of the enemies in the area while navigating through the acid.

6. City of Tears (Pleasure House)

• Prerequisites: Geo (in-game currency).
• Location: City of Tears, in the Pleasure House.
• Directions: Enter the City of Tears from the Forgotten Crossroads. Head towards the right side of the city, then upward. The Pleasure House is located in this area.
• Details: Purchase the Mask Shard from the NPC located within the Pleasure House for 800 Geo. This is one of the more expensive shards.

7. City of Tears (Watcher’s Spire)

• Prerequisites: Monarch Wings (double jump).
• Location: City of Tears, in the Watcher’s Spire, high above the main area.
• Directions: Enter the Watcher’s Spire, accessible from the City of Tears. Climb to the upper levels. The Mask Shard is located in a room that requires precise double jumps and potentially wall jumps to reach.
• Details: This shard can be challenging to reach, requiring good platforming skills. Look for the room with the stained-glass window above the Watcher Knights’ arena.

8. Royal Waterways (Cornifer)

• Prerequisites: Geo (in-game currency)
• Location: Royal Waterways, buy the map from Cornifer and then buy the Mask Shard from Iselda in Dirtmouth
• Directions: Descend into the Royal Waterways from the City of Tears. Find Cornifer to purchase the Royal Waterways map. Then, return to Dirtmouth and purchase the Mask Shard from Iselda for 50 Geo after acquiring the map.
• Details: Ensure you have enough Geo to purchase both the map and the shard.

9. Fungal Wastes (Mantis Village)

• Prerequisites: Mantis Claw (wall jump).
• Location: Fungal Wastes, near the entrance to Mantis Village.
• Directions: Enter the Fungal Wastes from the Forgotten Crossroads. Head towards the Mantis Village entrance. Before entering the village, look for a small passage on the right side. Use the Mantis Claw to access the passage, which leads to a Mask Shard.
• Details: Be cautious of the Shrumal Ogres in the area.

10. Crystal Peak (Behind Crystal Guardian)

• Prerequisites: Defeat Crystal Guardian, Crystal Heart (Super Dash).
• Location: Crystal Peak, behind the Crystal Guardian arena.
• Directions: From the Forgotten Crossroads, take the path to Crystal Peak. Defeat the Crystal Guardian at the top of the peak. Once defeated, use the Crystal Heart to super dash to the area behind where the Crystal Guardian was sitting. There is a Mask Shard located there.
• Details: This requires precise timing with the Crystal Heart.

11. Resting Grounds (Seer Reward)

• Prerequisites: Acquire 700 Essence.
• Location: Resting Grounds, from the Seer.
• Directions: Enter the Resting Grounds from Dirtmouth. Speak to the Seer.
• Details: Collect 700 Essence by defeating Whispering Roots and Awakened Dreamers, then return to the Seer. She will reward you with a Mask Shard.

12. Deepnest (Beasts’ Den)

• Prerequisites: Ability to navigate Deepnest.
• Location: Deepnest, in a secret area within the Beasts’ Den.
• Directions: Enter Deepnest from Greenpath or the Fungal Wastes. Navigate through the treacherous tunnels to the Beasts’ Den. The Mask Shard is located in a hidden area that requires some exploration and careful platforming to reach. Look for a breakable wall.
• Details: Deepnest is a confusing and dangerous area, so proceed with caution and be prepared for ambushes.

13. Howling Cliffs (Gorb’s Grave)

• Prerequisites: None.
• Location: Howling Cliffs, near Gorb’s Grave.
• Directions: Enter the Howling Cliffs from Dirtmouth or Greenpath. Climb to the top of the cliffs, near the location of Gorb’s Grave. Look for a small hidden area with a Mask Shard.
• Details: The Mask Shard is fairly easy to access, but the Howling Cliffs can be challenging to navigate early in the game.

14. Kingdom’s Edge (The Colosseum of Fools)

• Prerequisites: Access to Kingdom’s Edge, Geo (in-game currency).
• Location: Kingdom’s Edge, within the Colosseum of Fools.
• Directions: Head to Kingdom’s Edge. Find the Colosseum of Fools, located on the far east side of the area. Complete the Trial of the Warrior. A Mask Shard is awarded as a prize.
• Details: This trial tests your combat skills, so be prepared for a challenging fight.

15. Ancient Basin (Behind a breakable wall near the Broken Vessel)

• Prerequisites: Monarch Wings, Desolate Dive.
• Location: Ancient Basin.
• Directions: From the Broken Vessel boss room, head left until you find a breakable floor. Use Desolate Dive to break the floor and continue to a room containing a breakable wall. Break the wall and collect the Mask Shard.
• Details: This can be a difficult room to reach, requiring both abilities and skillful platforming.

16. Queen’s Gardens (Requires defeating a boss)

• Prerequisites: Defeat Traitor Lord.
• Location: Queen’s Gardens.
• Directions: From the Stag Station in Queen’s Gardens, head down and to the right. Progress through the level until you reach the boss room. Defeat Traitor Lord, and a Mask Shard will be available.
• Details: Traitor Lord is a difficult boss that may require multiple attempts.

Tips for Finding Mask Shards

• Explore Thoroughly: Hallownest is full of hidden passages and secret areas. Take your time and explore every nook and cranny.
• Listen to Environmental Cues: Pay attention to the game’s audio and visual cues. Sometimes, you’ll hear a faint humming sound near a hidden area or see a subtle visual indication of a breakable wall.
• Use a Map: Keep your map updated and mark any areas you haven’t fully explored.
• Consult a Guide: Don’t be afraid to use online resources like this guide or videos to help you locate the Mask Shards.
• Upgrade Your Abilities: As you progress through the game, you’ll acquire new abilities that allow you to reach previously inaccessible areas. Return to old areas after obtaining new abilities to search for Mask Shards you may have missed.
• Patience: Some Mask Shards are hidden in difficult-to-reach locations that require precise platforming skills. Don’t get discouraged if you fail repeatedly. Keep practicing, and eventually, you’ll succeed.
• Cornifer and Iselda: Buy maps from Cornifer whenever you find him in a new area. After that, go to Iselda’s shop in Dirtmouth to buy the location pins to mark on your map.
• Grubs: If you are having trouble finding grubs for Grubfather, use the map pins bought from Iselda in Dirtmouth to locate the grubs.

Conclusion

Collecting all the Mask Shards in Hollow Knight is a challenging but rewarding endeavor. The increased health will significantly improve your survivability and make you a more formidable force in Hallownest. Use this guide as a reference, and remember to explore thoroughly, upgrade your abilities, and persevere. With enough determination, you’ll be able to collect all 16 Mask Shards and face even the toughest challenges with confidence. Good luck, and may your journey through Hallownest be filled with triumph!