Ultimate Hollow Knight DLC Guide 2026: Start Every Expansion

To start all Hollow Knight DLC expansions: Get the Dream Nail for Hidden Dreams, light the brazier in Howling Cliffs for Grimm Troupe, reach The Hive in Kingdom’s Edge for Lifeblood content, and use a Simple Key on the Royal Waterways sarcophagus for Godmaster access.

When I first dove into Hollow Knight’s four free DLC expansions, I spent hours wandering Hallownest trying to figure out how to access each one. After mastering all the content and helping countless players on Reddit navigate these expansions, I’ve created this comprehensive guide to ensure you don’t miss any of the incredible content Team Cherry has added to the game.

Since recent surge in Hollow Knight players has brought many new bugs to Hallownest, I’ll walk you through accessing all four DLC packs: Hidden Dreams, The Grimm Troupe, Lifeblood, and Godmaster. Each expansion is automatically included with your base game purchase, but finding and starting them requires specific steps that aren’t always obvious. For players interested in mastering challenging gaming content, check out our PEAK achievement guide for another indie gaming challenge.

Understanding Hollow Knight’s Free DLC Structure

Before we dive into specifics, let me clarify something that confused me initially: all Hollow Knight DLC is completely free and already integrated into your game. You don’t need to download anything separately. When you purchase Hollow Knight on any platform—Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, or even GOG—you’re getting the complete package with all four expansions included.

To verify you have all DLC content, check your main menu. You should see small icons indicating each expansion: a dream essence symbol for Hidden Dreams, a red demon head for The Grimm Troupe, blue lifeblood for the Lifeblood update, and a godseeker mask for Godmaster. The version number should read 1.4.0.0 or higher, confirming all content is available. If you’re interested in exploring similar challenging experiences, consider browsing the best Steam indie games for more hidden gems.

Hidden Dreams DLC: Accessing Dream Bosses and Fast Travel

Hidden Dreams was the first major content update, released in August 2017, and I consider it the most naturally integrated expansion. To access Hidden Dreams content, you’ll need the Dream Nail, which you obtain through normal story progression by visiting the Resting Grounds and completing the Seer’s initial quest.

The main attractions of Hidden Dreams are two challenging dream boss fights: Grey Prince Zote and White Defender. For Grey Prince Zote, you must first save Zote twice during your playthrough—once in Greenpath and again in Deepnest. After defeating him in the Colosseum of Fools’ first trial, you’ll find Bretta has built a statue of him in her basement in Dirtmouth. Use your Dream Nail on this statue to face increasingly difficult versions of Zote, with each victory making him stronger.

White Defender, the dream version of Dung Defender, requires you to first defeat the regular Dung Defender boss in the Royal Waterways. After obtaining Desolate Dive, return to his arena and break through the floor on the right side. You’ll find the sleeping Dung Defender—Dream Nail him to face White Defender. I’ve fought this boss five times, and each victory increases his difficulty while rewarding essence. For comprehensive boss battle strategies across multiple games, our Guntouchables multiplayer guide offers excellent tips for tackling challenging encounters with friends.

Hidden Dreams also adds the Dreamgate ability, purchasable from the Seer for 900 essence. This fast-travel mechanic has become essential to my playstyle, allowing instant teleportation to any previously placed Dreamgate marker. The expansion includes new Stag Stations and quality-of-life improvements that enhance the entire experience.

The Grimm Troupe: Starting the Nightmare Circus

The Grimm Troupe, arriving in October 2017, remains my favorite DLC for its atmospheric storytelling and challenging boss fights. Starting this expansion requires reaching the Howling Cliffs, an area accessible early but often missed by new players. From Dirtmouth, head left through the King’s Pass entrance, then use wall jumps or the Mantis Claw to reach the upper left exit.

In Howling Cliffs, the critical location isn’t immediately obvious. Below the entrance to Joni’s Repose, drop down the left side of the main chasm. Look for a breakable wall—it’s not marked, but hitting walls in this area will reveal it. Inside, you’ll find a mysterious corpse holding a flame. Dream Nail the corpse to learn about the summoning ritual, then strike the brazier with your nail to light it.

Return to Dirtmouth, and you’ll find crimson tents have appeared, bringing Troupe Master Grimm and his nightmare circus to town. Speak with Grimm to receive the Grimmchild charm and begin collecting flames throughout Hallownest. The questline involves fighting two versions of Grimm, with Nightmare King Grimm being one of the game’s most challenging encounters—I died at least 50 times before finally defeating him. If you enjoy atmospheric indie gaming experiences, you might also appreciate Teeto’s 3D platformer adventure for another cozy yet challenging experience.

An important choice appears midway through: you can either complete the ritual or banish the troupe. Completing gives you the upgraded Grimmchild charm, while banishment provides access to Divine’s unbreakable charm upgrades. I recommend completion for the full experience and the satisfaction of conquering Nightmare King Grimm, though both paths offer valuable rewards.

Lifeblood: Enhanced Exploration and The Hive Knight

Lifeblood, released in April 2018, integrates so seamlessly that many players don’t realize they’re experiencing DLC content. The main addition is the Hive Knight boss, located in The Hive area below Kingdom’s Edge. To reach him, you’ll need the Tram Pass and either Monarch Wings or clever platforming skills.

From the Kingdom’s Edge Stag Station, head right and down to find The Hive entrance. The Hive Knight waits behind a breakable wall marked by a bee statue—use Descending Dark or multiple nail strikes to break through. This boss fight rewards the Hiveblood charm, which regenerates health over time and proves invaluable for exploration and the Path of Pain challenge.

Lifeblood also enhanced several existing bosses, added custom map markers, and refined combat mechanics. The update includes a hidden Lifeblood room in the Abyss containing multiple Lifeblood Cocoons—perfect for preparing for challenging encounters. While subtle, these improvements significantly enhanced my subsequent playthroughs. For players seeking relaxing gaming experiences between challenging Hollow Knight sessions, explore our best Steam games under $10 for budget-friendly alternatives.

Godmaster: The Ultimate End-Game Challenge

Godmaster, the final and most substantial DLC released in August 2018, provides the ultimate test for Hollow Knight veterans. I strongly recommend completing most of the base game before attempting this content—you’ll need every skill and charm upgrade available. For detailed completion strategies, check out our comprehensive achievement guide.

Accessing Godmaster requires a Simple Key, with several available throughout Hallownest. The easiest to obtain costs 950 Geo from Sly’s shop after rescuing him. Alternatively, defeat the Pale Lurker behind a breakable wall near the Colosseum of Fools, or find keys in the Ancient Basin, City of Tears, or Dirtmouth.

With a Simple Key in hand, navigate to the Royal Waterways’ Junk Pit. From the waterways entrance below the City of Tears, head right and down, following the main path until you reach a large junk-filled room. Look for a sarcophagus in the water—this requires some tricky platforming to reach. Use your Simple Key to open it, then Dream Nail the corpse inside to enter Godhome.

Godhome contains five Pantheons, each presenting increasingly difficult boss rushes. The first Pantheon features eight bosses, while the fifth includes every boss in the game—a marathon that takes most players 40-50 minutes to complete. Between attempts, you can practice individual bosses in the Hall of Gods, which became my training ground for mastering attack patterns. If you’re looking for other challenging gaming experiences, our Sword of the Sea walkthrough offers detailed strategies for another atmospheric adventure.

Optimal DLC Play Order and Timing

After multiple playthroughs and community discussions, I’ve developed an optimal approach for experiencing all DLC content. Start with Hidden Dreams once you have the Dream Nail and some nail upgrades—the dream bosses provide excellent practice without being overwhelming.

Begin The Grimm Troupe after obtaining the Mantis Claw and exploring most of the map. The flame collection quest encourages thorough exploration while the boss fights test your combat skills. I typically start this around the 15-20 hour mark of a playthrough.

Lifeblood content naturally integrates into exploration, so experience it organically as you discover The Hive. The Hiveblood charm proves invaluable for challenging platforming sections and the White Palace.

Save Godmaster for last—either after defeating the Hollow Knight or as post-game content. The difficulty spike is substantial, and you’ll want every charm, mask shard, and vessel fragment available. Many players, myself included, spend more time in Godhome than the entire base game.

Troubleshooting Common DLC Access Issues

During my time helping players access DLC content, I’ve encountered several recurring issues. If Grimm Troupe tents don’t appear in Dirtmouth after lighting the brazier, ensure you both Dream Nailed the corpse and struck the brazier itself. Some players miss one of these steps.

For players unable to find the Godmaster entrance, remember the Junk Pit sarcophagus is partially submerged in murky water. You might need to adjust your brightness settings to spot it clearly. The path requires careful platforming—use Crystal Heart to dash across gaps if you’re struggling.

If Grey Prince Zote isn’t appearing, verify you’ve saved Zote in both Greenpath and Deepnest, defeated him in the Colosseum, and that Bretta has returned to Dirtmouth. Some players accidentally let Zote die in Greenpath, permanently locking themselves out of this content.

Essential Tips for DLC Success (March 2026)

Through countless deaths and eventual victories, I’ve learned valuable strategies for conquering DLC content. For dream bosses, prioritize learning attack patterns over aggressive play. These fights reward patience and pattern recognition more than quick reflexes.

During The Grimm Troupe, equip Wayward Compass and Gathering Swarm to efficiently collect flames. The Grimmkin Nightmares spawn in specific locations throughout Hallownest—having good map knowledge significantly speeds up collection.

For Godmaster Pantheons, experiment with charm combinations between attempts. My go-to build uses Unbreakable Strength, Quick Slash, and Shaman Stone, but successful builds vary by playstyle. Don’t hesitate to practice troublesome bosses repeatedly in the Hall of Gods before attempting full Pantheon runs. For additional indie gaming recommendations that focus on precise gameplay, check out Dodo Duckie’s upcoming platformer preview.

Conclusion: Maximizing Your Hollow Knight Experience

Hollow Knight’s four free DLC expansions transform an already exceptional game into a masterpiece with potentially hundreds of hours of content. Each expansion offers unique challenges and rewards that enhance the base experience without feeling tacked on. Hidden Dreams provides refined boss battles, The Grimm Troupe adds atmospheric questlines, Lifeblood improves exploration, and Godmaster delivers the ultimate skill test.

As you embark on these expansions, remember that all content scales in difficulty. Don’t feel pressured to complete everything immediately—I returned to Godmaster content periodically over several months before conquering the fifth Pantheon. For those ready to dive deeper into Hallownest’s mysteries, these DLC packs offer some of gaming’s most rewarding challenges.

Looking ahead, while we eagerly await Hollow Knight: Silksong, these expansions provide plenty of content to master. Whether you’re drawn to dream battles, nightmare circuses, or divine challenges, Hollow Knight’s DLC ensures your journey through Hallownest never truly ends. For fans of the genre seeking similar experiences, explore other great Metroidvania games while you perfect your Pantheon runs.