Introduction
Hollow Knight is a challenging Metroidvania with a vibrant speedrunning community. This guide introduces the basics of Any% speedruns, common glitches, and essential movement skills.
Getting Started
To begin speedrunning Hollow Knight, play through the game casually to learn the map and controls. Then, watch world record or tutorial runs to understand the main route and tricks. Practice movement, dashes, pogo jumps, and nail arts for efficiency.
Main Categories
- Any% - Complete the game as fast as possible using all glitches and skips.
- 100% - Collect all major upgrades and complete all areas.
- True Ending - Defeat the Radiance after completing all requirements.
Popular Tricks & Glitches
- Fireball Skip – Use a spell to cross large gaps early.
- Shade Skip – Use your shade to reach out-of-bounds areas.
- Acid Skip – Sequence break by dashing over acid pools.
- Inventory Drop – Cancel downward momentum for faster movement.
Sample Any% Route
- Obtain Mothwing Cloak (dash)
- Get Mantis Claw (wall jump)
- Unlock Crystal Heart (super dash)
- Acquire Dream Nail
- Defeat required bosses (Hornet, Watcher Knights, etc.)
- Enter Black Egg Temple and finish the run