The Grimm Troupe expansion in Hollow Knight offers one of the most compelling side quests in Hallownest. Players can call forth a mysterious traveling circus and engage in a sinister theatrical ritual. Completing this dark storyline unlocks rare abilities, additional charm slots, and unique boss encounters.
How to Summon the Grimm Troupe in Howling Cliffs
Initiating the quest requires traveling to the remote area of Howling Cliffs. Hidden behind a secret wall, players will find a large scarlet corpse that reacts to the Dream Nail. Lighting the nearby Nightmare Lantern summons Troupe Master Grimm and establishes his tents in Dirtmouth.
This initial step transforms the peaceful town of Dirtmouth into a staging ground for the troupe's fiery performances. Speaking with Master Grimm inside his main tent officially begins the harvest questline.
Harvesting Nightmare Flames and Upgrading Grimmchild
Grimm hands the player the Grimmchild charm, which must be equipped to progress through each stage. Equipping the charm reveals flame locations on your map where special Grimmkin enemies appear. Defeating these enemies allows the companion to consume their flames and evolve through multiple tiers.
After gathering enough flames, returning to Dirtmouth triggers a dramatic boss fight against Troupe Master Grimm. Winning this encounter rewards players with a valuable Charm Notch to expand their charm capacity.
Choosing Between the Ritual and Banishment
In the final phase, players must decide whether to complete the ritual or banish the troupe entirely. Facing Nightmare King Grimm in the dream realm completes the ritual and fully evolves the Grimmchild companion. This intense battle is widely considered one of the most demanding challenges in the entire game.
Alternatively, players can assist the troupe member Brumm in destroying the lantern at Howling Cliffs. Choosing banishment removes the troupe from Dirtmouth and replaces Grimmchild with the defense-oriented Carefree Melody charm.
Comparing the Quest Rewards and Save Impact
Both pathways yield distinct rewards that permanently affect your current playthrough. Completing the ritual leaves behind a fully upgraded offensive companion that attacks nearby enemies. Banishing the troupe grants a chance to block damage while introducing the musician NPC Nymm to town.
It is important to complete any transactions with Divine before concluding the questline. Banishing the troupe causes Divine to depart immediately, which locks players out of upgrading fragile charms into unbreakable ones.
