In 2026, Hollow Knight remains one of the most celebrated and merciless Metroidvanias ever made. Its hand-painted world, tight controls, and punishing boss fights have kept the community engaged for nearly a decade, even as Hollow Knight: Silksong remains a major topic in the community. For many players, simply rolling credits is a badge of honor. For others, it is merely the warm-up. The game's achievement list includes several challenges that demand near-perfect execution, deep map knowledge, and a tolerance for repeated failure that borders on masochistic. Based on a long-running community guide, the following achievements still stand as the hardest tests in Hallownest.
| Achievement | Core Demand | Why It Hurts |
|---|---|---|
| Rivalry | Keep Zote alive and defeat him | Missable early, locks out permanently |
| Fool | Clear Trial of the Fool | Endless enemies, spiked floors |
| Ascension | Collect 2,400 Essence | Grind across dream content |
| Embrace the Void | Beat Pantheon of Hallownest | All bosses, no deaths |
| Focus | Clear Pantheon of the Sage | Brutal third Pantheon |
| Speedrun 2 | Finish in under five hours | Average run is 30-40 hours |
| Steel Soul | Finish without dying | One life, no respawns |
| Steel Heart | Steel Soul at 100% | One life plus full completion |
| Pure Completion | Reach 112% completion | Everything, including Pantheons |
| Solace | Deliver Delicate Flower | No damage, no fast travel |
Rivalry: Keep the Loudmouth Alive
Many of Hollow Knight's trickiest achievements require multiple steps, and Rivalry is a prime example. Players must keep the grumpy old warrior Zote the Mighty alive throughout the playthrough. That means saving him in both Greenpath and Dirtmouth so he can find his way to the Colosseum of Fools, located below the Resting Grounds. There, players can finally defeat him at the end of the Trial of the Warrior. The catch is brutal: if Zote is missed, he can perish as early as Greenpath, removing any chance of unlocking the achievement. It is a classic case of one small oversight snowballing into a locked door.
Fool: The Colosseum's Final Trial
The Colosseum of Fools is more than just the stage for Zote's ill-fated duel. Its trials are absolutely no joke. The Trial of the Warrior is a fairly straightforward gauntlet, but the Trial of the Conqueror adds spiked floors and more flying enemies. The Trial of the Fool is even harder, throwing a non-stop barrage of creatures at the player before finally awarding the Fool achievement. For many, this is where dreams of a calm completion run go to die.
Ascension: The Essence Grind
Ascension is a slow burn. Players must head to the Resting Grounds, explore the area, and interact with the Dreamer Statues to unlock the Dream Nail. This tool collects mysterious Essence from certain enemies and objects. The Seer then rewards progress as more Essence is acquired. The achievement unlocks at 2,400 total Essence, which means hunting down Whispering Roots, defeating Dream Warriors, and challenging the game's Dream Bosses. It is part grind, part boss rush, and entirely demanding.
Embrace the Void: The Apex Predator
Embrace the Void is quite possibly the hardest achievement in the game, full stop. It requires completing the Pantheon of Hallownest, which means defeating every boss in the game without dying even once. The last five bosses are the hardest, so players need extensive training beforehand. They must be confident in a near 100 percent success rate for all bosses. A box of tissues probably would not go astray either, just in case.
Focus: The Underrated Nightmare
For players not ready for Embrace the Void, the earlier Pantheons offer a warm-up. The Pantheon of the Sage is the third Pantheon, and completing it earns the Focus achievement. Logic suggests the fourth Pantheon, the Pantheon of the Knight, would be harder. However, many gamers have found the Pantheon of the Sage to be the most challenging of the Pantheons, except for the Pantheon of Hallownest, of course. Complacency is a silent killer.
Speedrun 2: Five Hours to Glory
Speedrunning is impressive in any game, but in Hollow Knight it is almost resume-worthy. Speedrun 2 requires finishing the game in under five hours. That is extremely short considering the average completion time is anywhere between 30 and 40 hours. The achievement calls for expert knowledge of routing, boss strategies, and knowing which enemies to fight and which to avoid. Beating difficult foes like Watcher Knight with minimal gear is no small feat.
Steel Soul: One Life, No Mercy
Steel Soul mode unlocks after completing Hollow Knight. It gives players only one life and no respawns. To unlock the Steel Soul achievement, the entire game must be completed without dying. One slip-up sends the player back to the start. It demands a lot of skill and even more patience. It is not for the faint of heart.
Steel Heart: Steel Soul at 100 Percent
Steel Soul is already a serious challenge, but Steel Heart turns the dial to maximum. Players must complete the game in Steel Soul mode with 100 percent completion. That means no shortcuts, no skipped bosses, and no room for error. It is a challenge for God Tier gamers who can finish Hollow Knight with one life in their sleep. Hopefully, there are still some tissues left over from Embrace the Void.
Pure Completion: The 112 Percent Club
The ultimate achievement in Hollow Knight is Pure Completion. It calls for a 112 percent completion rate. Players must get every charm, every upgrade, every pickup, defeat every boss, locate all Warrior's Graves, defeat all Dreamers, and complete both the Colosseum of Fools and the Godhome Pantheons. The Colosseum and Pantheons are extremely difficult on their own. Together, they form a mountain that only the most dedicated climbers will summit.
Solace: The Delicate Flower Delivery
The Solace achievement requires completing the Delicate Flower side quest. The task sounds simple: deliver a flower from one side of the map to another. The reality is a white-knuckle escort mission. Any damage destroys the flower, forcing a restart. Fast travel is off the table, and taking even one hit ruins the run. The easiest method is to clear the path first, killing all enemies, then head back to complete the quest. It is a heartbreaker, plain and simple.
Final Thoughts
In 2026, these achievements remain a badge of honor for Hollow Knight's most dedicated players. They are not just tests of skill; they are tests of memory, patience, and emotional resilience. Whether the community is waiting for Silksong, revisiting Hallownest, or trying to convince friends that Steel Soul is a good idea, the hardest achievements continue to separate the casual explorers from the true nail masters. For those who chase them, the only advice is simple: practice, persist, and maybe keep that box of tissues nearby.
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