Soulslike games offer gamers some of the most brutal and challenging gameplay in the gaming community. That's why only the most hardcore players manage to beat games like Elden Ring or Code Vein. And while most soulslike games feature stunning graphics and impressive gameplay, others take a simpler approach to this genre, like Hollow Knight.
Hollow Knight delivers the same difficulty most soulslikes have while implementing simple Metroidvania-style gameplay. Players can tailor their own character to their playstyle by using Charm Combos or Spells. Within the world of Hollow Knight, Merchants offer players unique items that will aid them in battle. Finding them all may be challenging without the proper guidance.
Confessor Jiji – Dirtmouth
Players can find Confessor Jiji in the small town of Dirtmouth, just before the King's Pass location. To reach Confessor Jiji, players must first locate a Simple Key, since this Merchant is located behind a locked door. Players can find a Simple Key in various locations, but the closest one can be bought from Sly in Dirtmouth for 950 Geo.
Confessor Jiji offers the unique service of summoning the Shade of the player from wherever the player died. This service is useful if a player dies in an area difficult to reach. However, players will still need to defeat the Shade to recover lost Geo and restore the Soul Meter.
Player should keep note that Confessor Jiji is replaced by Steel Soul Jinn in the Steel Soul Mode.
Iselda – Dirtmouth
Hallownest is a vast and dangerous land where players must fully explore if they want to uncover its secrets. But, roaming Hallownest can be quite challenging since Hollow Knight provides minimal map guidance. Fortunately, Iselda sells maps and mapping tools to make the player's playthrough easier.
Iselda can be found next to the Stag Station of Dirtmouth, inside a tiny home. Iselda sells 13 Maps, 2 Mapping Tools, and 13 Map Pins, all of which are bought with Geo. To gain access to these maps, players must first encounter them in specific areas.
Sly – Dirtmouth & Forgotten Crossroads
Sly's shop is the equivalent of a General Store, where he sells items that players will need throughout their journey through Hallownest. Sly can first be found at the bottom of the Forgotten Crossroads, but later moves into a little shop in Dirtmouth.
Aside from the Simple Keys and Lumafly Lantern, Sly also sells Charms and Vessels. Players can unlock more items from his shop by presenting Sly with a Shopkeeper's Key found at Crystal Peak. Once players learn all three Nail Arts from the Nailmasters, they should return to Sly for a special surprise.
Charm Lover Salubra – Forgotten Crossroads
Charms are one of the most important pieces of combat equipment in Hollow Knight, as they provide players with powerful buffs. To equip a Charm, players will need to collect Charm Notches (11 in total) which can be bought or found throughout the map.
As players can imagine, Charm Lover Salubra is the go-to Merchant to purchase most Charms and Charm Notches. This Merchant can be found at the bottom of Forgotten Crossroad (near Blue Lake). Charm Lover Salubra sells 5 Charms and 4 Charm Notches, plus one special item that players can only buy after they obtain all 40 Charms.
Leg Eater – Fungal Wastes
Players that want to equip the best Charms in Hollow Knight will want to visit Leg Eater, who sells the Fragile Heart, Fragile Greed, and Fragile Strength Charms. Players can find Leg Eater in the Fungal Waste area, which is near the entrance to the Forgotten Crossroads.
These Fragile Charms aren't ordinary Charms since they'll break and become useless once a player dies. The good news is that Leg Eater can repair these Fragile Charms for a price. If the player is wearing the Defender's Crest Charm, Leg Eater will offer the player a 20% discount on repairs.
Little Fool — Colosseum of Fools
Most players struggle to farm enough Geo to upgrade their Knight and equipment, since there are limited areas to farm it effectively. The Colosseum of Fools is one of the best areas to farm Geo, but players must ensure they are prepared to face the Trials as they're not a walk in the park.
Players who want to start a Trial need to speak to Little Fool, who can be found at the top of the western chasm of Kingdom's Edge. Little Fool offers three trials for a set price of Geo, each offering a different difficulty level.
Millibelle the Banker – Fog Canyon & Pleasure House
Geo is the main currency of Hollow Knight, and it's used to enhance gear and abilities. But, like other Soulslike games, once a player dies, they lose all of their Geo and cannot regain them unless they return to the area where they perished.
Players that want to avoid losing their Geo will want to visit Millibelle the Banker, since she can store up to 4500 Geo from the player. Millibelle the Banker is initially found at Fog Canyon, but if a player deposits over 2550 Geo, she'll move to the Pleasure House in the City of Tears.
Nailsmith – City of Tears
The Nail is the default weapon the Knight uses to defeat enemies. Players start with the Old Nail, which only deals 5 Damage, but can upgrade it to Pure Nail from the Nailsmith Merchant. As players can imagine, fully upgrading the Nail is necessary to beat some of the game's most difficult bosses like The Dung Defender.
Players can find the Nailsmith at the City of Tears in a tiny hut with light. Before gaining access to the Nailsmith shop, players must first unlock the ability "Great Slash."
Relic Seeker Lemm – City of Tears
While exploring Hallownest, players may come across Relics (Wanderer's Journal, Hallownest Seal, King's Idol, and Arcane Egg) that can be sold to specific Merchants for a decent amount of Geo. Relic Seeker Lemm is one Merchant that buys Relics for 200 to 1200 Geo.
Relic Seeker Lemm is found near the Fountain Square in the City of Tears. After defeating one of the three Dreamers, Relic Seeker Lemm will momentarily close his shop but will return to it once the player interacts with him at the Fountain Square.
The Last Stag – Any Stag Location
Even though exploring the land of Hallownest can be enjoyable on foot, it can be dangerous if the player has lots of Geo in their pockets. Fortunately, players can use a unique Merchant to transport them to any previously discovered Stag Station.
The Last Stag is found at any Stag Station and can transport the player for free to another location with a Stag Station. Once players find all the Stag Stations, The Last Stag will take players to a unique location only accessible by him.
Tuk – Royal Waterways
The only items that Confessor Jiji accepts as payment for summoning a player's lost Shade are rancid eggs, so having several of them is necessary for a smooth playthrough. There are a variety of ways players can obtain Rancid Eggs, but buying them from Tuk is by far the quickest method.
Tuk sells Rancid Eggs for 80-100 Geo and will give the player a free Rancid Egg if the player is wearing the Defender's Crest Charm. Players can find Tuk inside a hidden room in the Royal Waterways behind a breakable wall in the upper-right corner.
Tuk will not be available to interact with in Steel Soul Mode, but players should visit the location for a shocking discovery.
Hollow Knight is available on PC, Linux, macOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.