Hollow Knight was one of the best games to come out of 2017, largely owing to its unique style and winning blend of action, adventure, and mystery.
That being said, the game can take a while to open up, and you may find yourself going back and forth umpteen times before you the world of Hallownest really opens up. One such place which many players struggle with is to get to the Abyss. Here, we go through exactly how to get there, what it is, and what you will find there.
Read on to learn how to get to the Abyss in Hollow Knight.
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Page Contents
What is the Abyss?
The Abyss is the bottommost location of Hallownest and is made up of various chambers and rooms. The area is an important feature of Hollow Knight lore, as it is the origin place of an ancient civilization (Vessels) who predate the Hallownest. Because of this, the Abyss is also referred to as the “birthplace”.
The Vessels worshipped the Void and were said to be mothered by the White Lady. They are genderless beings given life by the Pale King, who created them in the Abyss in an attempt to stop the ancient sickness, The Infection.
How to get to the Abyss in Hollow Knight
To get to the Abyss in Hollow Knight, you must go to the very bottom of the Ancient Basin. The entrance will initially be locked and you will need a few things before you can proceed.
Entering the Abyss requires the King’s Brand, an illuminating brand that marks whoever holds it as the new king and allows them to unlock the door to the Abyss that is located at the bottom of the Ancient Basin.
The King’s Brand can be found in Kingdom’s Edge, which is guarded by the Hornet. You’ll need the Tram Pass to get there, and you’ll need the double jump ability to navigate your way through Kingdom’s Edge to find the Hornet. Go to the very end of the Cast-Off Shell and, after defeating the Hornet, you will get the King’s Brand.
Take the King’s Brand to the Ancient Basin and you will be able to open the gate that allows you to get to the Abyss in Hollow Knight. Read on to see what you may find there.
What can I find in the Abyss?
When you first enter the Abyss, you’ll have to be a little bit careful , as there are a lot of treacherous spikes and a few troublesome critters that could do you harm. Take your time, plan your route carefully, and you should be fine.
If you drop down to the first ledge on your left in the shaft, you’ll be able to get the Lifeblood Core if you go through the blue door and navigate through the rather tricky and spiky terrain. If you want to bypass this for now, head on down to the bottom of the shaft of the Abyss and turn right.
You’ll come across some shadowy figures that fly towards you, dispatch them quickly otherwise they will soon gang up on you in unmanageable numbers. Keep clear of the dark pools of evil liquid, too, as this is where the enemies spawn if you get too close.
Head to the top of the tower and activate the lighthouse in the room that you’ll find there. This clears the path for you to progress further. When you leave the lighthouse, go back down to the bottom of the tower and turn right. Swim or fly across the lake and enter the next room. Here you’ll find the Shade Cloak, which is one of the main reasons why you want to get to the Abyss in the first place.
The Shade Cloak greatly increases your exploration capabilities as it allows you to dash through the many black barriers that you may have encountered without taking damage.
Is Cornifer in the Abyss?
The Abyss is one of the three areas that the Cornifer can not be found, the other two being the Hive and the Resting Grounds.
I mention this in the article as many players have reported difficulty in finding Cornifer once they get to the Abyss, but the reality is that you are not able to find them there.
Get in Touch
Thanks for reading how to get to the Abyss in Hollow Knight. Are you enjoying this game? What’s your favorite thing about it? Let us know in the comment section below!
For any enquiries, contact me at richard@blogofgames.com
If you’re still struggling with navigating the vast map in Hollow Knight, check out the great YouTube video below by Gamer Walkthroughs, they will surely teach you how to get to the Abyss!