Hollow Knight’s Endings (& How to Get All of Them)

Spoiler warning: This guide discusses every major ending in Hollow Knight, including late-game items, bosses, and DLC content. If you want to stay totally unspoiled, back away slowly like you just heard a Primal Aspid sneeze.

Hollow Knight is the kind of game that smiles politely, hands you a nail, and then says, “There are multiple endings,” like that’s a normal thing to do to a human being. The good news: you can see every ending on a single save file (with one important caveat). The better news: the game lets you reload after an ending and continue from just before the finale, so you can chase the other conclusions without starting over. The bad news: some steps involve a lot of effort, several emotional betrayals, and at least one long hallway designed by someone who really enjoys spikes.

How many endings does Hollow Knight have?

Most players talk about five main endings (including the Godmaster DLC endings). There’s also an extra epilogue scene tied to a side quest (Mr. Mushroom), which you can view after finishing the game if you complete that questline. For this article, we’ll focus on the five core endings you can actively “earn” through specific actions and boss outcomes, then mention the bonus epilogue so you don’t miss it by accident.

The one rule that matters: don’t lock yourself out of Ending #1

If you want all endings on one save, you should get Ending 1 before you obtain Void Heart. Once you have Void Heart, the game’s “basic” ending is no longer available on that save. (Translation: the game politely removes the option and then watches you Google “did I mess up” at 2:00 a.m.)

Quick glossary (so the rest of this makes sense)

• Temple of the Black Egg: The final story area once you’ve dealt with the Dreamers.
• The Hollow Knight (boss): The final boss of the “base” ending path.
• Void Heart: A late-game charm-state that unlocks additional ending routes and changes the final encounter.
• Awoken Dream Nail: Upgraded Dream Nail needed for certain late-game paths (notably the White Palace route).
• Godhome / Pantheons: Boss-rush challenges from the Godmaster content that lead to the final DLC endings.

Ending #1: “The Hollow Knight” (the “basic” ending)

What happens (in plain English)

You defeat the Hollow Knight. The infection problem gets “handled” in the most Hollow Knight way possible: by stuffing it into you and sealing you away. It’s heroic, tragic, and extremely on-brand for a kingdom that solved most problems by building more seals.

How to get it

1. Defeat the three Dreamers and enter the Temple of the Black Egg.
2. Do NOT obtain Void Heart beforehand.
3. Defeat The Hollow Knight.

Common pitfall: If you’ve already obtained Void Heart, you can’t get this ending on that save anymore.

Before Endings #2 and #3: how to get Void Heart (the “unlock everything” key)

Void Heart is the big turning point. Once you have it, the final boss sequence gains new options (and new consequences). Getting it is a multi-step quest that pulls you through some of the most iconic late-game areas.

Step 1: Get the Awoken Dream Nail

You’ll need enough Essence to awaken the Dream Nail (via the Seer). If you’re already deep into Dream Bosses and Whispering Roots, you’re probably close. If not, congratulations: you now have a reason to go bully your past mistakes in rematches.

Step 2: Collect both White Fragments to form Kingsoul

Kingsoul is created automatically once you obtain both halves (White Fragments).

• White Fragment (from the White Lady): Found through the Queen’s Gardens route; the White Lady provides one half under the right conditions.
• White Fragment (from the Pale King): Earned by completing the White Palace and obtaining the other half from the Pale King.

Step 3: Transform Kingsoul into Void Heart in the Abyss

1. Equip Kingsoul.
2. Go to the Abyss and reach the hidden area known as the Birthplace, which only opens with Kingsoul equipped.
3. Interact as required in Birthplace to complete the memory sequence; Kingsoul becomes Void Heart.

Why Void Heart matters: It changes your relationship with the Void (lore-wise) and unlocks additional endgame paths mechanically. Also, it’s the game’s way of saying, “Okay, now you’re allowed to see what’s really going on.”

Ending #2: “Sealed Siblings” (Hornet joins the seal party)

What happens

This ending is the “alternate” finale once you have Void Heartbut you don’t enter the dream to fight the source of the infection. Hornet intervenes during the Hollow Knight fight, and you finish the battle in a way that leads to a different sealing outcome involving Hornet.

How to get it

1. Obtain Void Heart first.
2. Enter the Temple of the Black Egg and fight The Hollow Knight.
3. During the late-fight moment when Hornet restrains the Hollow Knight, do not use the Dream Nail.
4. Instead, keep attacking and defeat The Hollow Knight normally.

Pro tip: If you hesitate too long during the “opening,” the fight can resume as normal. Stay calmthis game loves turning hesitation into consequences.

Ending #3: “Dream No More” (the Radiance fight)

What happens

This is the ending many players call the “true ending,” not because the others are invalid, but because it directly confronts the root cause behind the infection: The Radiance. You access the dream realm mid-fight and win the final showdown there, which leads to a very different resolution.

How to get it

1. Obtain Void Heart.
2. Fight The Hollow Knight in the Temple of the Black Egg.
3. When Hornet pins/restrains the Hollow Knight late in the fight, use the Dream Nail on the Hollow Knight to enter the dream.
4. Defeat The Radiance.

Practical prep (because the Radiance does not care about your feelings)

• Maximize mobility: If you’re missing movement upgrades, the Radiance will “teach” you why they matter.
• Lean into consistent damage: Many players find spells strong here because the boss has windows where you can safely burst damage if you’re positioned well.
• Practice the late platforming phase: The end of the fight often becomes “dodge first, then damage,” not the other way around.

Endings #4 and #5: the Godmaster DLC (Embrace the Void + Delicate Flower variant)

If Endings #1–#3 are the game’s story finale, Endings #4–#5 are the game’s way of asking, “What if we turned the ending into a marathon and also a personality test?” These endings come from Godhome, an endgame hub of boss rush challenges called Pantheons.

How to access Godhome (quick route)

Godhome is reached via the Junk Pit area (Royal Waterways). You’ll need a Simple Key for the cocoon/lock interaction that leads into the Godmaster content.

What you must do for both DLC endings

1. Unlock and complete the Pantheons up through Pantheon of the Knight (the first four Pantheons).
2. Unlock the Pantheon of Hallownest (the fifth Pantheon).
3. Have Void Heart to enter the Pantheon of Hallownest.
4. Defeat the final challenge at the peak: Absolute Radiance.

Ending #4: “Embrace the Void” (Godmaster ending)

What happens

After conquering the Pantheon of Hallownest and defeating Absolute Radiance, you trigger the Godmaster ending commonly titled Embrace the Void.

How to get it

1. Reach and defeat Absolute Radiance at the top of the Pantheon of Hallownest.
2. Do not give the Delicate Flower to the Godseeker beforehand (see Ending #5).

Note: The achievement/trophy language for this ending is tied directly to ascending the Pantheon of Hallownest.

Ending #5: “Delicate Flower” (the Godmaster alternate)

What happens

This is the alternate Godmaster ending triggered if you deliver the Delicate Flower to the Godseeker before completing the Pantheon of Hallownest. The ending differs in a key moment of the final sequence (same achievement, different cutscene flavor).

How to get it

1. Obtain a Delicate Flower (commonly via the Grey Mourner’s questline and careful delivery rules).
2. Deliver the Delicate Flower to the Godseeker before finishing the Pantheon of Hallownest.
3. Defeat Absolute Radiance at the top of the Pantheon of Hallownest.

Important: Once you give the Delicate Flower to the Godseeker, the “normal” Embrace the Void version becomes inaccessible on that saveso if you want to see both cutscenes, do Ending #4 first.

Bonus epilogue scene: Mr. Mushroom (optional, but fun)

After you complete an ending, if you’ve finished the Mr. Mushroom questline, you can also see an extra epilogue scene. Think of it as the game’s post-credits winkexcept it’s a mushroom, so it’s more like a post-credits spore.

Best order to get every ending on one save (minimal headaches)

1. Ending #1 (The Hollow Knight): Beat the game before obtaining Void Heart.
2. Get Void Heart (Kingsoul + Abyss Birthplace sequence).
3. Ending #2 (Sealed Siblings): Beat THK with Void Heart, don’t Dream Nail during Hornet’s restraint moment.
4. Ending #3 (Dream No More): Beat THK with Void Heart, Dream Nail during Hornet’s restraint moment, defeat the Radiance.
5. Ending #4 (Embrace the Void): Godhome → Pantheon of Hallownest → Absolute Radiance (no flower given).
6. Ending #5 (Delicate Flower variant): Give flower to Godseeker, then complete Pantheon of Hallownest again.

What players usually experience while chasing these endings (500+ words of real-world vibes)

There’s the “guide version” of getting all endingsclean checklists, neat steps, and the comforting illusion that you’re in control. Then there’s the actual experience: a slow transformation from curious explorer into a highly trained bug-athlete who can recognize a boss attack by the sound of its eyebrows moving.

Ending #1 often hits players with an unexpected mood swing. You go in expecting a victory lap, and the game delivers a quiet, heavy finale that feels less like “I saved the kingdom” and more like “I became the kingdom’s new storage unit.” Many players finish it and immediately think, “Wait… that’s it?”which is precisely how Hollow Knight lures you into ending-hunting in the first place. The game doesn’t shout, “There’s more!” It just leaves a big emotional comma and waits for you to fill in the rest.

Then comes the Void Heart chase, which is where the game’s tone shifts into “mythic archaeology with sudden cardio.” The White Palace portion tends to become a shared community experience: even if you don’t talk about it, you can feel the collective memory of players everywhere quietly whispering “those saws” and staring into the distance. The best part? You’ll get better in a very measurable way. A section that initially feels impossible becomes… manageable. Not easy. Never easy. But manageable, like learning to carry groceries with one trip and accepting that your hands will simply become stronger or fail trying.

When you finally reach Ending #2, it can feel oddly tense because the “choice” is subtle. The game gives you a moment where you could do something different, and the first time you see it, your brain often runs through a rapid checklist: “Am I supposed to hit? Dream Nail? Heal? Cry?” It’s an ending that many players get either accidentally (because they didn’t know to Dream Nail) or deliberately (because they want to see everything). Either way, it’s memorable because it reframes the final fight from “me vs. this boss” into “me vs. the story’s unresolved baggage.”

Ending #3 (Dream No More) is where players often report that the game “clicks” narratively. You’ve done enough lore-scraping and late-game exploration that the Radiance fight feels like you’re finally addressing the real problem rather than treating symptoms. The battle itself is a great example of Hollow Knight’s design: it punishes panic, rewards rhythm, and turns your own impatience into damage taken. Players who learn to pausejust a fractiontend to do better, because the Radiance is a boss that loves to catch you mid-commitment. It’s also a fight that encourages you to commit to a build philosophy: either you go for consistent nail damage and safe hits, or you lean into spell bursts during windows. When you finally win, it’s common to feel both triumphant and strangely quiet, like you just finished a very intense book and now you’re holding the last page in your hands.

And then there’s Godhome, which is basically “Hollow Knight, but as a stress test.” Endings #4 and #5 are less about discovering secrets and more about mastering the game’s entire combat language. The Pantheon of Hallownest is infamous not because it’s unfair, but because it demands consistency over a long stretch. Players often develop rituals: warming up in the Hall of Gods, practicing specific trouble bosses, and optimizing charm setups like they’re tuning a race car made of feelings. When you finally reach Absolute Radiance at the top, it can feel like stepping onto a stage after rehearsing for weeksyour hands might shake a little, and the first few attacks determine whether you calm down or spiral.

The Delicate Flower variant adds a poetic twist: after all that power and Void imagery, the difference comes from something fragile and carefully delivered. Many players like that contrast. Others find it hilarious that the kingdom’s fate hinges on the bug equivalent of carrying a fancy cupcake across a trampoline park. Either way, chasing all endings becomes its own story: not just the story Hallownest tells you, but the story you create through practice, stubbornness, and the occasional whispered promise of “one more attempt.”

Final thoughts

Getting every ending in Hollow Knight is equal parts exploration, lore, and proving to yourself that you can improve at something difficult over time. If you want the cleanest route, do Ending #1 early, then chase Void Heart and the remaining story endings, and save Godhome for when you’re ready to treat boss fights like a sport. You’ll end up with a full “ending collection” and a very specific new skill: calmly dodging chaos while making decisions under pressure. Which is either a useful life skill… or proof that Hallownest permanently changed you.

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