The Nail in Hollow Knight is the only weapon in the game, and its power determines how comfortable you will be in combat. Without upgrading the Nail, even common enemies become a challenge, and bosses will simply overwhelm you within the first seconds of combat. We’ll explore how to upgrade the Nail in Hollow Knight, where to find the necessary resources, and which modifications are best to prioritize.
How does nail upgrades work in Hollow Knight?
Upgrading a nail in the game is simple: you visit the Nailsmith in the City of Tears, pay Geo and Pale Ore, and the nail becomes stronger. There are four upgrades, each increasing its damage. The first upgrade doesn’t require Pale Ore at all, but after that, it’s essential.
An important detail: some bosses in the game scale with your weapon’s level. The stronger your weapon, the more health they have. This isn’t a reason to put off leveling, but it’s worth keeping in mind.
All levels of nail upgrades
Upgrading the Nail in Hollow Knight isn’t just a formal checkbox, but a real change in the pace of combat. At the base level, you’re often stuck with unnecessary hits, picking at enemies for a long time, and feeling like every miss is too costly. But the first upgrade noticeably shakes up the game, and the difference between levels only becomes greater. Therefore, it’s best to upgrade the Nail as soon as you have the opportunity, rather than putting it off until enemies start to feel drawn-out and overly durable.
- The Old Nail is the basic weapon you start the game with. Damage: 5. Cost: Free.
- The Sharpened Nail is the first upgrade you should take as soon as possible. Damage: 9. Cost: 250 Geo. Pale Ore is not required.
- The Furrowed Nail is the second upgrade with a noticeable damage increase. Damage: 13. Cost: 800 Geo and 1 Pale Ore.
- The Twisted Nail is the third upgrade, and it makes the game feel completely different. Damage: 17. Cost: 2000 Geo and 2 Pale Ore.
- The Pure Nail is the final upgrade with maximum damage. Damage: 21. Cost: 4000 Geo and 3 Pale Ores.
Where to find the Nailsmith
The Nailsmith is located in the City of Tears. It’s not the first location in the game, but you can reach it in the first third of your playthrough. The Nailsmith sits in his workshop and never leaves, so you can return to him as you accumulate resources.
Where to find pale ore
Pale Ore in Hollow Knight is always found where the game clearly doesn’t encourage you to stroll. It’s a rare resource, and that’s precisely why it’s so valuable. There are six pieces in the game, but only five are needed to fully upgrade a nail, so missing one can be done without disaster. The problem is that almost every piece is either hidden in an inconvenient location or behind a challenge that requires advanced movement and combat skills.
- The first Pale Ore is located in the Forgotten Crossroads. It’s hidden deep within the area and requires careful traversal of a platform section.
- The second Pale Ore is mined in the Crystal Peaks. The path to it isn’t easy, but by then you’ll have plenty of experience controlling your character.
- The third Pale Ore is found in the Mushroom Mines. It’s given to you by one of the characters after completing their request.
- The fourth Pale Ore is awarded for winning the second trial of the Colosseum of Fools. This trial is challenging and requires fast reflexes.
- The fifth Pale Ore is awarded by the Caterpillar Father for rescuing 31 Caterpillars throughout Hallownest.
- The sixth Pale Ore is located in one of the game’s most challenging locations. Before heading there, make sure you have all the necessary abilities. The fight that awaits you there won’t be easy.
Nailing techniques: what they are and how they work
Nail Techniques are special, enhanced attacks taught by Nail Masters. Their damage directly depends on the Nail’s level: the stronger the weapon, the more powerful the technique. There are three techniques in the game.
- Hurricane Strike. Learned by Nail Master Mato. A spinning attack that damages all enemies around it. To use, hold the attack button while looking up and release. The knight will spin for a few seconds, damaging all nearby enemies. An added bonus: this technique slows your fall, which is useful not only in combat but also when platforming.
- Great Slash. Taught by Nailmaster Sheo. A wide forward strike with increased damage. Hold down the attack button and release to use. To reach Sheo, you’ll need a Crystal Heart, Mantis Claws, and Charge.
- Slash. Learned by Nail Master Oro for 800 Geo. A lightning-fast strike after dashing forward. Hold attack, dash, and release the button afterward.
All types of nail strikes
A normal attack seems so simple until you realize how much timing and positioning in Hollow Knight depends on. You use attacks to knock enemies out of the air, control distance, bounce on spikes, and maintain the rhythm of combat. If you have a confident normal attack, everything else becomes noticeably easier.
The downward strike is useful not only for combat but also for movement. It allows you to bounce away from enemies and dangerous objects without losing momentum. The upward strike is useful when an enemy is looming over you or flying above your head. The dash-and-swing attack helps you quickly enter combat and immediately establish the right rhythm. In practice, this entire system works best when you don’t think about each strike separately, but start using them as a single, integrated toolkit.
Nail techniques stand apart because they’re not just attacks, but distinct combat moves that change the very logic of combat. Some are helpful for crowd control, others are suitable for short, intense exchanges, and still others provide an advantage in mobile combat.
Amulets for strengthening nails
Leveling up the Nail in Hollow Knight becomes much more interesting when you start building proper amulets for it. Simply dealing more damage isn’t enough. It’s important to understand how you want to fight. If you’re aggressive, you need one set of combinations. If you prefer a more cautious style, you need a completely different one. The game quickly demonstrates that the same Nail can behave completely differently if you swap out several amulets.
- Fragile Strength increases nail damage by 50%. Purchased from the Leg Eater for 600 Geo. One drawback: the amulet breaks upon death. Repairing it costs 350 Geo. Takes up 3 amulet slots.
- Unbreakable Strength is an upgraded version of Fragile Strength with the same stats but without the risk of breaking. To obtain it, summon the Grim Troupe to Mudmouth, find the Saint there, give her Fragile Strength, and pay 15,000 Geo. It takes up three slots.
- Swift Strike significantly increases the speed of your nail attacks. Particularly useful in boss fights and Colosseum challenges. Takes up 3 slots.
- The Long Nail increases attack range. Purchased from Salubra at the Forgotten Crossroads for 300 Geo. Takes up two slots.
- The Mark of Pride significantly increases the range of the nail. Awarded by the Mantis after defeating the Mantis Lords. Takes up 3 slots.
- Heavy Strike increases enemy knockback with each hit. Useful against enemies who attack nonstop. Purchased from Sly for 350 Geo after rescuing him. Takes up two slots.
- The Nailmaster ‘s Halo reduces the charge time of Nail Techniques. To obtain it, you need to learn all three techniques and go down to the basement of Sly’s shop. It takes up two slots.
- Fallen Fury increases damage by 75% while at 1 health remaining. Also works with Nail Techniques when the Nailmaster’s Halo is equipped.
Nail amulet combinations
A good nail alone does half the job, but the real mess begins when you combine amulets into a proper chain. For an aggressive style, a pair of Fragile Strength and Swift Strike works best. The first amulet increases damage, the second increases the frequency of strikes, and together they transform ordinary exchanges into very quick takedowns. Adding Nailmaster’s Halo to the mix also makes techniques charge much more readily, so the fight doesn’t break up into pauses.
If you like to keep your distance and play more cautiously, then Long Nail and Mark of Pride are much more relaxed. Both amulets increase your attack range, meaning you’ll often reach enemies before they even reach you. This is especially helpful for bosses with wide swings, as extra pixels can decide the outcome of many fights in Hollow Knight. Heavy Strike is also suitable here if you like to push enemies back and disrupt their rhythm. It’s especially handy in tight corridors, where enemies are knocked back after each strike.
Where to start: a route for beginners
If you’re new to Hollow Knight and want to level up your nail as quickly as possible, here’s a simple, no-hassle route.
First, gather 250 Geo in the Forgotten Crossroads and purchase a Long Nail from Salubra. Then, head to the Blacksmith in the City of Tears and pick up a Sharpened Nail. This first upgrade doesn’t require Pale Ore and immediately doubles your damage.
After that, look for the first Pale Ore in the Forgotten Crossroads, while exploring the Greenway and Misty Canyon to accumulate Geo. Once you’ve collected 800 Geo and one ore, go get the Furrowed Nail.
Your further path depends on where the story takes you, but the general principle is simple: return to the Blacksmith with each new resource. The Twisted Nail, with its 17 damage, makes the mid-game significantly more enjoyable, while the Pure Nail seals the path to the true ending.
What to collect first
If you want a short answer without too much fuss, the order here is pretty clear. First, get the first Nail upgrade, then gather Pale Ore for the next stage, and simultaneously pick up amulets that enhance your combat tempo. If you fight at close range, damage and speed are more important to you. If you like to keep your distance, range and control are more important. If you frequently use techniques, then the Nailmaster’s Halo should be picked up as soon as possible after collecting all the techniques. In Hollow Knight, the Nail is developed not only through upgrades at the Blacksmith, but also through how you use it.
Upgrading your nail in Hollow Knight is essential, as without a decent weapon you’ll be nothing but bug fodder. Without upgrades, the game becomes noticeably more difficult, especially towards the end. Grab a Sharpened Nail whenever possible, collect Pale Ore as you explore, learn techniques from Nail Masters, and don’t forget about amulets. A Pure Nail is essential for the true ending, and it’s worth pursuing all the way to the end.