Hollow Knight: Complete Essence Guide

As far as Metroidvanias go, there is really no better game than Hollow Knight. However, as fun as it is, I found Hollow Knight an extremely ambiguous game, since I had no idea what was going on when I was playing it for the first time.

But after multiple playthroughs, it grew on me and became my favorite indie game ever. Aside from its huge world, it also consists of a fantastic combat system with very challenging and fun boss fights, with the Pure Vessel and Nightmare King being my personal favorites.

One of the more confusing mechanics I found for Hollow Knight is the dream nail, and what it is used to obtain— Essence. So here, I will be writing a complete guide on what essence is, how to obtain it, and what it is used for.

What Is Essence, And What Is It Used For?

Essence is a form of currency in Hollow Knight that is not really used to buy anything; instead, you need to collect a specific amount of Essence to unlock rewards from the Seer residing in the Resting Grounds.

You can collect a total of 3208 Essences per playthrough if you explore every nook and cranny of the map, but you only need 2400 to unlock all rewards and achievements related to it.

The only thing I found that consumes your Essence is using the Dreamgate ability, which allows you to warp to the location you set your Dreamgate at. But even then, you don’t have to worry about running out of Essence unless you plan on warping 3200 times.

I would recommend unlocking all achievements and rewards first before you start mindlessly using the Dreamgate ability, so you don’t have to grind extra and suffer in difficult boss fights just to unlock the Ascension achievement.

All Essence Rewards

You can collect these rewards from the Seer after obtaining the listed amount of Essence:

If you wish to unlock one of the more unique optional endings of Hollow Knight, then you are required to awaken the Dream Nail (collect 1800 Essence), which will then allow you to access and explore the White Palace.

After the release of the Grimm Troupe DLC, a new area called the Path of Pain was also added in the White Palace, which, as the name suggests, is one of the most brutal and difficult sections in Hollow Knight.

You are free to take on the challenge if you wish to put yourself through some unnecessary suffering with a 5-second-long lore-revealing moment as your reward.

Where To Get Essence

You can collect small amounts of Essence by using the Dream Nail on the Whispering Roots or spirits found throughout the map. There is also a minimal drop rate for Essence after killing normal enemies, but these methods are not really practical later on. The best way to obtain Essence in bulk is by defeating Dream Warriors and Dream Bosses

The Dream Warriors are located in random locations throughout the map, while the Dream Bosses are a tougher version of the standard bosses that you have already beaten, with their health and aggressiveness cranked up to the extreme. You can access these boss fights by using the Dream Nail after reaching their locations.

Here is a list of all the Dream Warriors and Dream Bosses in Hollow Knight, along with their location:

Hollow Knight

Released

February 24, 2017

ESRB

E10+ for Everyone 10+: Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood

Developer(s)

Team Cherry

Publisher(s)

Team Cherry