Hollow Knight in 2026: The Soul Master’s Guide to Not Getting Dunked On

In 2026, Hollow Knight still stands as a comfort blanket for bug-loving masochists, and the Soul Master remains one of Hallownest’s most theatrical speed bumps. The smug scholar floats above the City of Tears like a tenure-track ghost who has never been told no, and his Sanctum is packed with spell-flinging experiments, teleporting tantrums, and one extremely important bench. The guide below treats the fight as a comedy of errors—except the errors belong to the Soul Master, assuming players have done their homework.

Getting There Without Becoming a Cautionary Tale

The City of Tears is Hallownest’s old capital and the Soul Sanctum is its north-side research institute, which is a fancy way of saying a building full of scholars who asked whether Soul could solve every problem and then ignored every warning label. Most players first reach the city with the City Crest earned after defeating the False Knight in the Forgotten Crossroads. From there, the route north from Relic Seeker Lemm’s location leads toward the Sanctum, with elevators and the Mantis Claw doing much of the heavy lifting while enemies do their best to interrupt the commute.

Before starting the ascent, players should visit the Nailsmith at the westernmost point of the city and upgrade the Nail. A sharper Nail makes the Soul Sanctum’s scholarly pests less of a tax and the Soul Master less of a sponge. Near Cornifer, a bench costs 150 Geo to unlock. As the only bench in the vicinity of the Soul Sanctum, it is a priority purchase before the boss fight. The wall to the right of Cornifer is also a breakable shortcut from the other side, which gives players a fast track that future versions of the Knight will appreciate.

The Sanctum’s Warm-Up Act

Inside the Soul Sanctum, enemies use variations of the Soul Master’s attacks, which is the game’s polite way of handing players a study guide before the final exam. The Spell Twister charm found in the Sanctum reduces the Soul needed to cast spells, and its low equip cost makes it an easy recommendation for magic-focused loadouts. In 2026, the advice has not aged: grab Spell Twister, admire the decor, and ignore the fact that the decor is probably watching.

Soul Master’s Greatest Hits (and Misses)

The Soul Master’s signature move is Slam, his version of the Desolate Dive spell. He hovers above the player, then slams into the ground and sends shockwaves outward. Players should dash clear and jump over the shockwaves, because the window for damaging him during this attack is about as generous as a professor’s office hours. As his health drops, he begins using fake-out Slams, delaying the attack to ruin the player’s timing. The Soul Master also teleports frequently to dodge attacks and create distance, which makes him slippery, though spell attacks can still land as he repositions.

During the Charge attack, the Soul Master travels the width of the arena. Players can jump over him and use a downslash to deal damage as he passes, and charms such as Longnail or Mark of Pride extend the Nail’s range to make those strikes less fussy. Vengeful Spirit is also useful as he approaches. The Clock attack spawns four concentrated Soul orbs that rotate around him while he crosses the arena; after he leaves, the orbs rotate back without him. This is the best healing window in the fight, and players who stay near the center of the arena can often let the returning orbs miss entirely. The homing orb attack is less dangerous than it looks: dashing toward the projectiles rather than away causes them to hit the ground faster, and the Soul Master stands still long enough for spells such as Howling Wraiths to punish him.

Phase Two: The Floor Is Apparently a Suggestion

When the Soul Master falls, players receive a new spell, but the boss reappears because giving up power is not in his syllabus. He slams through the ground and starts phase two in a smaller arena. His attacks are frantic but less varied, and his health is significantly lower. Players should prioritize dashing away from his Slam attacks, then punish him when he stops to create homing orbs. Defeating the Soul Master officially grants the Desolate Dive spell, which mimics the Slam attack players have been dodging. It also breaks unstable ground, opening new paths and revealing secrets on the way out of the Sanctum.

Dream Rematch: Soul Tyrant, Now With Extra Spice

After obtaining the Dream Nail and defeating the base Soul Master, players can challenge his Dream variant, the Soul Tyrant. Dream Battles are the perfect place to use fragile charms bought from Leg Eater, because those charms do not break if the Knight dies in a dream. The Soul Tyrant is faster, and his Clock attack now spawns two rows of three orbs, creating a smaller space to dodge through—though it remains the best healing opportunity. His Slam shockwaves have a greater impact radius and height, but he no longer uses fake-outs. Defeating the Soul Tyrant awards 300 Essence, which players need to fully awaken the Dream Nail and reach certain endings.

Final Verdict from 2026

The Soul Master is not the hardest boss in Hollow Knight, but he is a professor of panic. A prepared player unlocks the Cornifer bench, upgrades the Nail, grabs Spell Twister, and treats fake-out Slams like a rhythm game with poor sportsmanship. Phase two rewards patience over greed, and the Soul Tyrant rewards players who remember that fragile charms are only fragile outside dreams. 🪲⚔️

Quick checklist:

• Unlock the bench near Cornifer for 150 Geo.

• Upgrade the Nail at the Nailsmith.

• Pick up Spell Twister in the Soul Sanctum.

• Bring Longnail or Mark of Pride for downslashes.

• Use Shaman Stone if spells are part of the plan.

• Dash first, punish second, and never trust a hovering scholar. 💀✨