As a dedicated Knight of Hallownest, I often find myself returning to the hauntingly beautiful world of Hollow Knight. With the legacy of Team Cherry's masterpiece enduring for years, many new adventurers still ask me how to dive into the game's fantastic expansions. Let me share my experience and guide you through accessing all the incredible, free DLC content that's seamlessly woven into the base game. It's important to know that all four expansions—Hidden Dreams, The Grimm Troupe, Lifeblood, and Godmaster—are available from the moment you start playing. However, I strongly advise against tackling them too early. My advice comes from personal, painful experience facing some of the DLC's brutal bosses while woefully under-prepared. Trust me, you'll have a far more enjoyable and rewarding time if you complete the main story first, or at least get a strong handle on your skills and upgrades.

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Do the DLCs have a required order? :thinking:

No, there's no mandatory sequence. But from my countless hours exploring, I recommend playing them in their original release order. This progression naturally builds your skills and ends with the monumental Godmaster DLC, which feels like a perfect, challenging farewell to Hallownest. It's a fantastic way to set the stage for the eventual release of Hollow Knight: Silksong. A funny thing to note: because the DLCs are so well-integrated, you might have already completed some of the unlocking steps without even realizing it!

:dart: How to Begin the Hidden Dreams DLC

This expansion focuses less on story and more on adding two hidden, challenging bosses and quality-of-life features like the Dream Gate. Our target here is finding those elusive warriors.

  • White Defender: Journey back to the Royal Waterways, specifically the arena where you defeated the Dung Defender. On the right side of the room, you'll find a crank. Use the Descending Dark spell on the ground below this crank to reveal a secret passage.

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Head left from the entrance, and you'll be greeted by the mighty White Defender. Good luck!

  • Grey Prince Zote: This one's a multi-step quest involving the annoying Zote and the lonely Bretta. You need to:

    1. Save Bretta in the lower right section of the Fungal Wastes. Just talk to her.

    2. Save Zote twice: First from a Vengefly in Greenpath, then from webbing in Deepnest.

    3. Defeat Zote in the First Trial of the Colosseum of Fools.

After all that, ensure you have the Dream Nail. Visit Bretta's now-occupied house in Dirtmouth, descend into her basement, and use the Dream Nail on Zote's statue to face the Grey Prince.

:fire: How to Start The Grimm Troupe DLC

This is one of the most atmospheric expansions, and accessing it feels like performing a dark ritual.

  1. Travel to the Howling Cliffs.

  2. On the right side of the area (near Cornifer's initial spot), look for a breakable wall.

  3. Smash it, proceed, and smash another wall inside to find a corpse.

  4. Interact with the corpse and use your Dream Nail on it.

  5. Leave the room and you'll find a bonfire. Strike it repeatedly until torches ignite and eerie circus music fills the air.

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Return to Dirtmouth to find the mysterious troupe has arrived. Step into their tent to officially begin your pact with Grimm.

:honeybee: How to Access Lifeblood Content

The Lifeblood DLC primarily delivered behind-the-scenes tweaks and system enhancements. However, it also added one significant optional boss: the Hive Knight.

There's no specific activation ritual. The boss was integrated directly into an existing area. To find him, you must fully explore The Hive, the hidden area in the Kingdom's Edge. Navigate to its deepest chamber, where the giant body of the Hive Queen rests. Stepping into this room triggers the Hive Knight's ambush, beginning the battle immediately.

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:crown: How to Unlock the Godmaster DLC

Brace yourself. Godmaster is the ultimate test, a sprawling expansion dedicated to boss rush challenges. Unlocking it is fittingly complex.

Prerequisites:

  • The Dream Nail (obtained from the Dreamers' Memorial in Resting Grounds).

  • A Simple Key. The DLC added a fourth key: find it by breaking a secret wall in the main arena of the Colosseum of Fools, then defeating the Pale Lurker within.

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The Path to Godhome:

  1. Go to the Junk Pit in the Royal Waterways.

  2. Near the bench, look down and to the left for a new, breakable wall.

  3. Smash it to enter a maze-like area. Traverse the creepy tunnels until you find a large sarcophagus.

  4. Use your Simple Key to unlock it, claim the Godtuner inside, and then use your Dream Nail on the cocoon you find. This will transport you to the sacred, brutal halls of the Godmaster.

In 2026, Hollow Knight's world remains as deep and engaging as ever. These expansions aren't just extra content; they are integral chapters that expand the lore, test your limits, and enrich every corner of Hallownest. Take your time, explore thoroughly, and remember—every failure is a lesson. Now, go forth, little ghost, and conquer the dreams and nightmares that await.