Optimal Path for Speedrun?

[squattop]

Started a Speedrun file since I've 100%'d my main file and was curious as to what people think the best path for Speedrun would be.

Currently I'm between 1.5-2 hours iirc (can't check atm), currently in Dirtmouth (with most Stag Stations at this point unlocked), and have the following done:

• False Knight defeated
  
• Hornet defeated and dash acquired
  
• Mantis Claw acquired and Mantis Lords defeated
  
• Soul Master defeated
  
• Lumafly Lantern acquired
  
• 1 Nail upgrade

Trying to figure out the fastest way to get straight to Hollow Knight (hoping to get the under 5 hour achievement) with the smallest amount of backtracking. I'm hoping to get at least 2 more Nail upgrades to make dealing with some enemies easier/quicker (main concern is Watcher Knights) as well as get a few more Charm notches hopefully.

I'd like to run some comibation of Mark of Pride, Quick Slash, Fragile Heart, or Fragile Strength. I'd need all 10 Notches to run the full set which I don't think would be viable for a speedrun and could probably do without Fragile Heart. If I could get 8 Notches I could run MoP, QS, and FS which would be ideal. At 5 I could run MoP and QS or FS and QS, not sure which would be better.

Any advice on Charm setup and/or path to take?

[bad]

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=878193536

As the guide says - automatic geo collection is important and you'll want to use it throughout to save time. You will probably use longnail because it's great and because it lets you skip monarch wings. You can go for fragile greed if you feel confident, it'll let you skip more enemies.
You won't really get many more charm notches, so there's no room for much more than longnail/autocollect.

[squattop]

Originally posted by LikeABoss:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=878193536

As the guide says - automatic geo collection is important and you'll want to use it throughout to save time. You will probably use longnail because it's great and because it lets you skip monarch wings. You can go for fragile greed if you feel confident, it'll let you skip more enemies.
You won't really get many more charm notches, so there's no room for much more than longnail/autocollect.

Thanks I'll definitely keep this in mind when doing my speedrun! Personally I haven't needed Gathering Swarm (haven't had any issues with gathering Geo thus far). Seems like I'm about 30 minutes behind schedule, but I did have some stupid deaths trying to get to Soul Master. Considering this is a guide to get it in under 3, I should hopefully have no issues getting the achievement for beating the game in under 5.

[bad]

Gathering geo isn't really a problem - it's more about saving a little time every time you kill something and you not having many better options anyway if you want to be quick.

I just did this route today. I messed up a few times and was stuck on the final boss for about thirty minutes for no real reason and still completed it just shy of three hours. Makes the achievement pretty easy. The only hard parts are the Soul Tyrant (who isn't necessary, only gives some easy geo), the guardian things before the Watcher and the final boss.

[squattop]

Originally posted by LikeABoss:

Gathering geo isn't really a problem - it's more about saving a little time every time you kill something and you not having many better options anyway if you want to be quick.

I just did this route today. I messed up a few times and was stuck on the final boss for about thirty minutes for no real reason and still completed it just shy of three hours. Makes the achievement pretty easy. The only hard parts are the Soul Tyrant (who isn't necessary, only gives some easy geo), the guardian things before the Watcher and the final boss.

The Watcher Knights are the only thing I'm really worried about for this run as well as my Steel Soul run.

Hollow Knight shouldn't be too bad for me, since I fought with him so much because of The Radiance, but I will have to keep in mind I'll be doing less damage, have different charms, and have less health.