I still think Bretta is one of Hallownest’s easiest NPCs to miss — and one of the most rewarding to rescue. In 2026, with Hollow Knight: Silksong now part of the conversation and a new generation of players working through the original, I keep returning to this small side story in the Fungal Wastes. It is not just a rescue. It is a gate to a Mask Shard, a strange little fanfiction collection, and one of the game’s most memorable hidden boss fights. Have you ever walked past a quiet beetle in the Fungal Wastes and assumed she was just scenery? I nearly did, and that is exactly why I want to walk through the route again.
Why Bretta is easy to miss
Bretta sits in an obscure corner of the Fungal Wastes, close to the Mantis Village. She is murmuring to herself, and a suspicious orange substance has formed around her head. She is also closed off from the player at first, which means you cannot simply walk up and interact with her. If you leave her there, you lock yourself out of a reward and a hidden boss battle. That is a harsh trade for a character who looks harmless.
In my view, this is one of those Hollow Knight moments where exploration pays off more than combat skill. The route asks you to use movement abilities you may already have, but it also tests your patience. You need the Mantis Claw to cling to walls, and you will benefit from dash and cloak upgrades. The good news is that the sequence is short once you know where to go.
The route I use in 2026
I start in the southeast of the Fungal Wastes and find one of the area’s few benches. From that bench, I go directly left, dash or jump over the acid pool, and spot Bretta in the next room. She is visible, but not reachable from that position. I then continue left and descend deeper into the chamber until I reach a statue. If I have not collected the Dashmaster Charm yet, this is where I pick it up.
The statue looks like a dead end, but there is a hidden path to its left. I walk through it, pass the Shrumelings and Shrumal Warriors — fighting them is optional — and reach a wall on the far left. I scale it with the Mantis Claw, then dash across a series of platforms with the Mothwing Cloak or Shade Cloak. I keep an eye on the Sporg that shoots explosive projectiles. If I already have the Monarch Wings, I can skip the first part of the platforming challenge, which makes the route much smoother.
After that, I navigate narrow columns and avoid spikes until I reach Bretta. Interacting with her breaks her out of her trance. The ground to her right breaks as well, giving me an exit. It is a clean, satisfying rescue — and it opens up Dirtmouth in a new way.
Rewards, dolls, and a hidden boss
Once Bretta is saved, she returns to Dirtmouth, and her house becomes open to explore. The first time I enter, I receive a Mask Shard. That alone makes the detour worth it. But the house also tells a story. Bretta has accumulated a collection of dolls of the Knight, and she has written fanfiction that I can read. It is funny, a little unsettling, and very much in keeping with Hollow Knight’s quiet strangeness.
| Requirement or reward | What I need to know |
|---|---|
| Mantis Claw | Needed to climb walls and reach Bretta |
| Dash or cloak | Used to cross platforms and acid |
| Monarch Wings | Optional shortcut for part of the platforming |
| Mask Shard | First reward after entering Bretta’s house |
| Grey Prince Zote | Secret boss tied to Bretta and Zote |
Rescuing Bretta also connects to another NPC quest. Zote can initially be saved in Greenpath, and if I continue his quest, he eventually appears in the Colosseum of Fools. After a crippling defeat, he goes to Dirtmouth, where he and Bretta develop a relationship. If both are in Dirtmouth, a secret room in Bretta’s home opens, and I can challenge Grey Prince Zote — an exaggerated form of Bretta’s perception of the traveling warrior.
Defeating Grey Prince Zote changes Bretta’s story again. She decides to leave Hallownest and embark on a journey to meet her true love. It is a bittersweet ending for a character who starts as a trapped, murmuring beetle in a forgotten corner. Is that not what makes Hollow Knight’s side quests so strong? They rarely stay small.
My final takeaway for 2026 players
With so many new games demanding attention, I still recommend making time for Bretta. The rescue is not long, the reward is concrete, and the hidden boss adds real value. More importantly, the quest shows how Hollow Knight uses optional content to build character and mood. If you are replaying the game this year, do not skip the quiet beetle near the Mantis Village. Save her, visit her house, read the fanfiction, and see where Zote’s story takes you. In Hallownest, even the smallest detour can open a secret door.
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