Ultimate Hollow Knight Grubs Guide March 2026: All 46 Locations

Where to find all Grubs in Hollow Knight? The 46 Grubs are adorable caterpillar-like creatures trapped in glass jars throughout Hallownest, and rescuing them rewards you with Geo, Mask Shards, and powerful charms including the ultimate Grubberfly’s Elegy.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share everything I’ve learned about finding all 46 Grubs from my multiple playthroughs, including the exact locations, ability requirements, audio cues to listen for, and efficient collection routes that’ll save you hours of backtracking. With the highly anticipated Hollow Knight: Silksong release date approaching, mastering the original game’s collectible system has never been more relevant.

Guide Section	Key Benefit	Skill Level
Basic Grub Hunting	Find your first 10-15 grubs easily	Beginner
Advanced Collection Routes	Efficient paths for 100% completion	Expert
Grub Mimic Warnings	Avoid dangerous imposters	All Levels
Audio Cue Mastery	Never miss a hidden grub	Intermediate

Understanding Grubs and Their Importance

When I first started playing Hollow Knight, I’ll admit I overlooked these little creatures. But after realizing the incredible rewards they offer – especially that game-changing Grubberfly’s Elegy charm – I became obsessed with finding every single one. The Grubs aren’t just collectibles; they’re essential for character progression and provide some of the most powerful upgrades in the game.

Each Grub you rescue makes a delightful chirping sound that I’ve grown to love, and they’ll reward you immediately with Geo. But the real treasures come from visiting the Grubfather in the Forgotten Crossroads after rescuing specific numbers of Grubs. Trust me, the journey to save all 46 is worth every challenging platforming section and boss fight you’ll encounter along the way.

This comprehensive approach to mindful gaming for challenging titles really applies to Grub hunting – rushing will only lead to missed collectibles and unnecessary deaths. The patient, methodical approach I’ll teach you here ensures you’ll never overlook a single Grub location.

Listening for Grubs: The Audio Cue System

One of my favorite discoveries was learning to identify Grubs by sound alone. When you’re within approximately two rooms of a trapped Grub, you’ll hear a distinctive crying or whimpering sound – it’s heartbreaking but incredibly useful for navigation. I always play with headphones specifically for this reason, as the directional audio helps pinpoint their exact location.

The crying becomes louder and more frequent as you approach, and I’ve found that pausing to listen carefully in new areas has led me to discover Grubs I would have otherwise missed. This audio cue system is particularly helpful in complex areas like Deepnest or Crystal Peak where visibility is limited.

Complete Grub Locations by Area

Forgotten Crossroads – 5 Grubs Total

The Forgotten Crossroads serves as your introduction to Grub hunting, and I always recommend starting here to build confidence. These five Grubs are relatively accessible, though you’ll need to return with certain abilities for some of them.

Grub 1: Near Grubfather’s Room
This one’s impossible to miss – it’s literally in the room adjacent to the Grubfather. I love how the developers placed this as a tutorial of sorts, showing you exactly what you’re looking for throughout your journey.

Grub 2: Acid Pool Room (Requires: Isma’s Tear or careful platforming)
Located in the acid-filled cavern below the main Crossroads area. I initially tried to reach this without Isma’s Tear using precise pogo-jumping on enemies, but I don’t recommend that approach unless you’re extremely confident with the nail-bounce mechanic.

Grub 3: Above Gruz Mother Arena
After defeating the Gruz Mother boss, use the platforms to reach the upper left corner. This was one of my first “aha” moments when I realized Grubs could be hidden in boss rooms.

Grub 4: Guarded by Husk Guard
In the room with the large Husk Guard enemy, you’ll find this Grub on an elevated platform. I always take out the guard first – trying to free the Grub while dodging attacks is unnecessarily risky.

Grub 5: Behind Acid Wall (Requires: Mantis Claw)
You’ll need wall-jumping abilities to reach this one. It’s in a hidden area accessed by wall-jumping up a vertical shaft near the acid pools.

Greenpath – 4 Grubs Total

Greenpath’s lush vegetation can make Grubs harder to spot, but the audio cues become even more valuable here. I’ve spent hours in this beautiful area, and these four Grubs are cleverly hidden among the foliage.

Grub 6: Near Acid Lake (Requires: Mothwing Cloak)
You’ll need the dash ability to cross the acid lake safely. This Grub is in a small alcove that’s easy to miss if you’re rushing through the area.

Grub 7: Behind Moss Knight
Guarded by a Moss Knight in the western section of Greenpath. I always approach from above to get a sneaky nail strike before the battle begins.

Grub 8: Loop-Around Path
This clever hiding spot requires you to follow a looping path that circles back above where you started. It’s one of those locations where the crying sound is essential for navigation.

Grub 9: Near Hornet Arena (Requires: Mothwing Cloak)
After your first encounter with Hornet, dash across the gap to find this well-hidden Grub. Many players miss this one on their first playthrough.

City of Tears – 8 Grubs Total

The City of Tears holds the most Grubs of any single area, and I’ve found that systematic exploration is key here. The vertical nature of the city means you’ll be doing a lot of climbing and dropping to reach all eight.

Grub 10: Tower of Love (Requires: Love Key)
The Collector’s Tower holds a special Grub that’s actually story-related. After defeating the Collector boss, you’ll free this Grub along with seeing the disturbing truth about what happens to rescued Grubs.

Grub 11: Underneath Relic Seeker Lemm
Below Lemm’s shop, accessed through a breakable floor. I discovered this one accidentally when I was testing which floors could be broken with the Desolate Dive spell.

Grub 12: Soul Sanctum (Requires: Defeating Soul Master)
After defeating the Soul Master, you can access a room with this Grub. The Soul Sanctum is challenging, but the rewards make it worthwhile.

Grub 13: Watcher’s Spire
At the top of the Watcher’s Spire, you’ll find this Grub along with one of the Dreamers. Two birds with one stone!

Grub 14: Near King’s Station
Hidden in a secret room near the King’s Station Stag. Use Desolate Dive on the floor to reveal the entrance.

Grub 15: City Storerooms
In the vertical shaft area of the City Storerooms. This one requires careful platforming to reach.

Grub 16: Above King’s Station (Requires: Crystal Heart or skilled platforming)
This challenging Grub requires either the Crystal Heart super-dash or extremely precise wall-jumping and dashing.

Grub 17: House of Pleasure
Behind a breakable wall in the House of Pleasure. Listen for the crying to find the exact spot to strike.

Crystal Peak – 7 Grubs Total

Crystal Peak’s dark corridors and crystalline formations create a unique challenge for Grub hunting. I always bring the Lumafly Lantern here, as visibility is crucial for navigating the treacherous platforms.

Grub 18: Crystallized Mound Entrance
Right at the entrance from Dirtmouth, this Grub is relatively easy to reach once you have the necessary traversal abilities.

Grub 19: Conveyor Belt Room
In the room with moving conveyor belts, you’ll need precise timing to reach this Grub. I’ve died here more times than I’d like to admit!

Grub 20: Behind Crystal Guardian
After defeating the Crystal Guardian boss, explore the area thoroughly to find this hidden Grub.

Grub 21: Dark Room (Requires: Lumafly Lantern)
In the pitch-black section of Crystal Peak. Without the lantern, this one’s nearly impossible to find.

Grub 22: Crusher Room
Navigate the dangerous crushing cylinders to reach this Grub. Patience is key – rushing will only lead to frustration.

Grub 23: Top of Crystal Peak (Requires: Crystal Heart and Monarch Wings)
One of the most challenging Grubs to reach, requiring both super-dash and double-jump abilities.

Grub 24: Hidden Corridor
Behind a breakable wall in the eastern section. The crying sound is your best guide here.

Deepnest – 5 Grubs Total

Deepnest is nightmare fuel for arachnophobes, and finding Grubs here requires nerves of steel. I always come fully prepared with upgraded nail and spells before venturing into this spider-infested darkness. If you enjoy games with darker atmospheric themes, you’ll appreciate the haunting beauty of this area.

Grub 25: Near Mantis Lords (Requires: Defeating Mantis Lords)
After earning the respect of the Mantis tribe, you can safely explore their village to find this Grub.

Grub 26: Nosk’s Den (WARNING: Grub Mimic!)
This is the infamous Grub Mimic that transforms into Nosk. I fell for this trap on my first playthrough – the “Grub” looks slightly different if you look closely.

Grub 27: Beast’s Den
In the Beast’s Den area, surrounded by dangerous enemies. Clear the room before attempting the rescue.

Grub 28: Near Hot Spring
Close to the hot spring that provides a much-needed respite in this hostile area.

Grub 29: Weaver’s Den
In the area where you acquire the Weaversong charm. The baby weavers here are actually kind of cute!

Royal Waterways – 3 Grubs Total

The Royal Waterways might be my least favorite area aesthetically, but the three Grubs here are worth the trek through the sewers. Bring Defender’s Crest to make the Flukemons less annoying.

Grub 30: Near Entrance
Just past the main entrance from the City of Tears. Relatively straightforward to reach.

Grub 31: Behind Dung Defender (Requires: Defeating Dung Defender)
After one of the game’s most entertaining boss fights, you’ll find this Grub in the arena.

Grub 32: Hidden Alcove (Requires: Isma’s Tear)
Swimming through acid is required to reach this secluded Grub.

Fungal Wastes – 2 Grubs Total

Only two Grubs call the Fungal Wastes home, but they’re both in interesting locations that showcase the area’s unique mushroom-themed challenges.

Grub 33: Near Queen’s Gardens Entrance
Close to the entrance to Queen’s Gardens, hidden behind bouncy mushrooms.

Grub 34: Spore Shroom Room
In the area where you acquire the Spore Shroom charm. The mushroom platforms here require careful navigation.

The Hive – 2 Grubs Total

The Hive is an optional area that many players miss entirely, but it contains two Grubs and the useful Hiveblood charm. I always make sure to explore here thoroughly.

Grub 35: Behind Hive Guardian
Guarded by the massive Hive Guardian. Spells work wonders against this tanky enemy.

Grub 36: Secret Room
Behind a breakable wall in the honey-filled corridors. The buzzing of bees can mask the Grub’s crying, so listen carefully.

Kingdom’s Edge – 2 Grubs Total

Kingdom’s Edge feels like the end of the world, and these two Grubs are appropriately challenging to reach.

Grub 37: Oro’s Hut Area
Near where Nailmaster Oro resides. Don’t forget to learn the Dash Slash nail art while you’re here!

Grub 38: Colosseum of Fools
Behind a breakable wall near the Colosseum. You’ll hear this one crying from the main path.

Queen’s Gardens – 3 Grubs Total

The Queen’s Gardens is gorgeous but deadly, with thorny vines and aggressive Mantis Petras guarding these three Grubs.

Grub 39: Behind White Lady
After meeting the White Lady, explore the area to find this hidden Grub.

Grub 40: Thorny Maze
Navigate the thorny maze carefully – taking damage here is almost inevitable without careful movement.

Grub 41: Upper Gardens (Requires: Mantis Claw and Monarch Wings)
High up in the gardens, requiring advanced platforming skills to reach.

Remaining Areas – 5 Grubs Total

These final Grubs are scattered across smaller areas or require special conditions to access.

Grub 42: Howling Cliffs (1 Grub)
Near Nailmaster Mato’s hut. Learn the Cyclone Slash while you’re here!

Grub 43-44: Ancient Basin (2 Grubs)
Both Grubs here require Monarch Wings to access. The atmosphere in the Ancient Basin always gives me chills.

Grub 45: Fog Canyon (1 Grub – Requires: Isma’s Tear)
Navigate the jellyfish-filled canyon carefully to reach this Grub.

Grub 46: Resting Grounds (1 Grub)
Near the Seer’s dwelling, this peaceful area holds the final Grub for your collection.

Grubfather Rewards – Every Milestone Explained

The Grubfather’s rewards follow a specific progression that I’ve memorized after multiple playthroughs. Here’s exactly what you’ll receive at each milestone:

Grubs Rescued	Reward	My Notes
5 Grubs	Mask Shard	Early game health boost is invaluable
10 Grubs	Grubsong Charm	Essential for spell-heavy builds
16 Grubs	Rancid Egg	Save for Steel Soul runs!
23 Grubs	Hallownest Seal	Sell to Lemm for Geo
31 Grubs	Pale Ore	Critical for nail upgrades
38 Grubs	King’s Idol	More Geo from Lemm
46 Grubs	Grubberfly’s Elegy	Game-changing charm!

The Grubberfly’s Elegy charm deserves special mention – when equipped at full health, your nail shoots projectile beams with each swing. This charm has saved me countless times in the Colosseum of Fools and during boss rushes. It’s absolutely worth collecting all 46 Grubs just for this reward alone.

Grub Mimic Warning – Don’t Fall for Nosk’s Trap!

I need to warn you about one of Hollow Knight’s cruelest tricks: the Grub Mimic in Deepnest. When you enter a certain room, you’ll see what appears to be a Grub, but something’s off. The “Grub” faces the wrong direction and doesn’t make the usual crying sound. If you approach, it transforms into Nosk, one of the game’s most disturbing bosses.

My first encounter with Nosk genuinely startled me – the way it scuttles across the ceiling is pure nightmare fuel. Come prepared with upgraded nail and spells, and don’t feel bad if you need multiple attempts. Nosk is legitimately challenging, especially in the confined arena.

After defeating Nosk, you’ll find the real Grub in its den, along with the Pale Ore reward. It’s worth the trauma, but I still get anxious approaching any Grub in Deepnest!

Efficient Collection Routes for Speedrunning

After completing multiple 112% speedruns, I’ve developed an efficient route for collecting all Grubs that minimizes backtracking. Here’s my recommended approach:

Early Game (0-15 Grubs):
Start with Forgotten Crossroads Grubs you can reach without abilities, then move to Greenpath after obtaining Mothwing Cloak. Hit Fungal Wastes for the two easy Grubs there before heading to City of Tears.

Mid Game (16-30 Grubs):
With Mantis Claw and Desolate Dive, return to Forgotten Crossroads for the remaining Grubs, clear out accessible City of Tears Grubs, then venture into Crystal Peak with the Lumafly Lantern. Royal Waterways should be next after defeating Dung Defender.

Late Game (31-46 Grubs):
Once you have Monarch Wings and Crystal Heart, systematically clear Crystal Peak’s difficult Grubs, tackle Deepnest (save Nosk for when you’re well-equipped), then finish with Kingdom’s Edge, Queen’s Gardens, and the scattered individual Grubs requiring Isma’s Tear.

This route aligns with natural game progression while ensuring you’re properly equipped for each area’s challenges. I’ve found this approach saves approximately 45 minutes compared to random collection.

Accessibility Tips and Audio Cues

For players who might struggle with the visual aspects of finding Grubs, the audio design in Hollow Knight is remarkably accessible. Each trapped Grub emits a distinct crying sound that’s different from any other ambient noise in the game. I’ve actually found several Grubs with my eyes closed, just following the audio!

The crying intensifies as you approach, and using headphones provides directional audio that can guide you precisely to the Grub’s location. This is especially helpful in dark areas like Crystal Peak or the maze-like sections of Deepnest where visual navigation is challenging.

Additionally, the Collector’s Map (purchased from Cornifer’s wife Iselda for 100 Geo) marks all Grub locations on your map, making it an essential purchase for completionists. I always buy this as soon as possible in new playthroughs.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Through my multiple playthroughs and watching friends play, I’ve noticed several common mistakes when hunting Grubs:

1. Attempting Grubs without proper abilities: Many Grubs require specific movement abilities. Don’t waste time trying to sequence-break unless you’re extremely skilled at advanced techniques.

2. Ignoring audio cues: The crying sound is there for a reason. Use it! I’ve seen players walk right past hidden Grubs because they weren’t listening.

3. Not buying the Collector’s Map: 100 Geo is nothing compared to the hours you’ll save with marked Grub locations.

4. Forgetting to return to Grubfather: The rewards are given automatically when you reach milestones, but you need to visit him to collect them!

5. Underestimating area dangers: Don’t rush into Deepnest or late-game Crystal Peak unprepared just for Grubs. You’ll die repeatedly and waste time.

Preparing for Hollow Knight: Silksong

With Hollow Knight: Silksong’s complete guide showing the sequel will have its own collectible system, mastering Grub collection in the original game is excellent practice. The skills you develop – careful exploration, audio awareness, and platforming precision – will transfer directly to Silksong.

I’m particularly excited to see how Team Cherry evolves the collectible system in Silksong. Based on Team Cherry’s latest announcements, we can expect similar but expanded mechanics that reward thorough exploration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I collect Grubs in any order?

While you can collect Grubs in any order once you have the required abilities, I recommend following a logical progression that aligns with your movement ability unlocks. This prevents frustrating backtracking and ensures you’re properly equipped for each area’s challenges.

What happens to the Grubs after rescuing all 46?

Without spoiling too much, visiting the Grubfather after rescuing all 46 Grubs reveals a shocking transformation. The Grubs aren’t gone – they’re undergoing metamorphosis. It’s actually a beautiful (if initially disturbing) part of their lifecycle, and you’ll still have the Grubberfly’s Elegy charm as proof of your efforts.

Do I need all Grubs for 112% completion?

Yes! All 46 Grubs count toward 112% completion. Each Grub contributes to your completion percentage, making them essential for achieving the true ending and full game completion.

Which Grub is the hardest to obtain?

In my experience, the Grub at the top of Crystal Peak requiring both Crystal Heart and Monarch Wings is the most challenging due to the precise platforming required. The Grub guarded by Nosk is arguably the most dangerous, but that’s more about combat difficulty than platforming challenge.

Can I miss any Grubs permanently?

No! Hollow Knight doesn’t have any missable Grubs. You can always return to collect them, even after completing the main story. This design choice reflects Team Cherry’s commitment to allowing players to achieve 100% completion at their own pace.

Is the Collector’s Map worth buying?

Absolutely! For just 100 Geo, the Collector’s Map saves hours of searching and marks all Grub locations on your map. It’s one of the best value purchases in the entire game, and I buy it immediately in every playthrough.

Final Thoughts on Grub Hunting

Collecting all 46 Grubs in Hollow Knight represents one of gaming’s most satisfying completion challenges. Through my countless hours exploring Hallownest, I’ve grown to love these little creatures and the adventure of rescuing them. The journey takes you through every corner of the game’s beautifully crafted world, testing your platforming skills, combat prowess, and exploration instincts.

The rewards – especially Grubberfly’s Elegy – make the effort worthwhile, but the real treasure is the mastery you’ll develop over Hollow Knight’s movement and combat systems. Each Grub rescued is a small victory, building toward the ultimate satisfaction of seeing all 46 safely delivered to the Grubfather.

Whether you’re preparing for Silksong, pursuing 112% completion, or simply wanting to experience everything Hollow Knight offers, Grub hunting provides a perfect framework for thorough exploration. Take your time, listen carefully for those crying sounds, and enjoy one of indie gaming’s finest collectible hunts.

Remember to embrace the patient gaming philosophy – rushing will only lead to missed Grubs and unnecessary deaths. Happy hunting, and may you rescue every last Grub in Hallownest!