The Resting Grounds - Hollow Knight Guide - IGN (2024)

This page of the IGN Hollow Knight wiki guide includes instructions on how to unlock and progress through the right side of the City of Tears, obtain the Dream Nail, and explore the Resting Grounds.

For information on other sections, be sure to check out the rest of our Walkthrough. To learn how to obtain the various Collectibles Hollow Knight has to offer, visit our pages on Charms, Spells, Mask Shards, and more.

After defeating the Dung Defender and claiming the Defender’s Crest, head right and hit the lever on the elevated platform, then jump down and move below the platform and use Desolate Dive. After reaching the bottom head right and pickup the King’s Idol, which can be sold to Relic Seeker Lemm for a whopping 800 Geo. Climb back up the shaft, destroy the wooden bracing on the right, then head through the hole and into the next area.

Climb up through the shaft, wall-jumping against the wall on the left side, then dash to the ledge at the top right corner of the screen and continue to the next area. Now that you have returned to the City of Tears, hop up onto the ledge on the left and continue into the next screen. Dispatch the enemies in this area as you move through it, taking the exit on the left.

In the next area, you’ll find a lever. Hit it to unlock a shortcut to and from the earlier sections of the City of Tears.

Head left and you’ll encounter Hornet once again. She will speak of the sacrifice which sustains it and suggest the player seek out the “Grave in Ash.” We’ll get there soon enough, but for the time being inspect the statue, which bears the likeness of the titular Hollow Knight. It will also add the Black Egg Temple to your map, represented by the head of the Hollow Knight.

Head back to the right, continuing past the path to Royal Waterways, until you reach King’s Station. Follow the platforms up and take the exit on the middle platform of the right side to find a Bench and the second Stagway station in the City of Tears. Pay the 300 Geo to unlock the Stagway, then head left and back out to King’s Station, and take the exit at the top of the area.

Follow the path up and use the first elevator, then head right and take the second elevator up. Head left until you reach the exit, then take it to enter the next area. Take the massive lift up, then head left and use the platforms to reach the lever in the upper left corner of the screen. Hop up through the newly formed opening and into the next area.

Head right and you’ll soon arrive at a platform with three large obelisks set upon it. Hop up onto the platform and you’ll be trapped in a bubble of light. Voices will speak to the Knight, then transport them to the dream realm.

Soon a glowing figure will appear and create floating platforms for the Knight. Follow them to the right until you reach the end, then speak to the figure to obtain the Dream Nail.

You’ll then awaken and meet a new character, the Seer. The Seer will explain that they can empower your new Dream Nail if you bring them Essence, a substance which can be gathered from the small coiled plants (called Whispering Roots) scattered throughout Hallownest. Exit and you’ll discover you have been taken to the Resting Grounds area.

Hop down a level and you’ll find your first Whispering Root. Strike it with the Dream Nail and it will scatter small orbs around the area. Track them all down and absorb their Essence, head back up and land on the second ledge from the top on the left side. Continue left and you’ll enter a secret alcove which contains the Dreamshield Charm.

Return to the central shaft, then drop to the bottom and head right. Hop atop the grave, then use Desolate Dive to break through into the caves below the Resting Grounds. Head right and slash through the damaged wall, then continue right and follow the path, breaking through damaged walls until you reach the far right side. Keep moving to avoid the spiked pits as you proceed to the right and eventually you will find the extremely powerful Soul Eater Charm, which greatly increases the amount of Soul gathered when striking enemies with the Nail.

Head left and proceed through the rest of the area and break through the wooden bracing and the far left end. This will open a path which leads to the City of Tears elevator.

Head back up to the main chasm in the Resting Grounds climb up the right side and take the middle right exit towards the Stagway sign. Sit on the bench, then hit the lever to summon the bell and open the gate. Call the Stag and return to Dirtmouth and purchase the Resting Grounds area map. While you are here, you can also purchase new pins for Whispering Roots, Warrior’s Graves, and two additional colored markers for use with the map.