The amount of damage a nail does in Hollow Knight depends on its upgrade level. As the Knight progresses and strengthens their weapon, the base damage dealt by a standard nail strike increases significantly.
Nail Upgrade Damage Values
The Nail, the primary weapon of the Knight, undergoes several upgrades throughout the game, each increasing its base damage. The damage values for a standard nail strike are as follows:
| Nail Upgrade | Damage Value | Associated Abilities/Charms |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpened Nail | 9 | Great Slash, Fury of the Fallen |
| Channelled Nail | 13 | Dash Slash |
| Coiled Nail | 17 | Dash Slash, Fury of the Fallen |
| Pure Nail | 21 | Cyclone Slash |
Initially, the starting "Old Nail" deals 5 damage. The "Sharpened Nail" is the first upgrade.
Nail Arts
Beyond standard attacks, the Knight can learn powerful Nail Arts, which are charged attacks that deal increased damage. While the specific damage multipliers for these arts are not detailed here, they scale with the base damage of your current nail upgrade. The Nail Arts mentioned in association with the upgrades are:
- Great Slash: A powerful horizontal swipe.
- Dash Slash: A charging lunge attack.
- Cyclone Slash: A spinning attack that hits multiple times.
Charms like Fury of the Fallen are also mentioned in association with certain nail upgrades, which can further modify or enhance damage under specific conditions, typically when the Knight is at low health.
To maximize your damage output in Hollow Knight, players should focus on upgrading their nail at the Nailsmith in Dirtmouth and mastering the various Nail Arts. Each upgrade provides a substantial boost, making encounters with enemies and bosses more manageable.
