Pure Nail as a main objective?

[Torpid]

I recently found a really neat video showing how to get to Pure Nail by only killing 3 bosses. But i would like to know if getting to pure nail is even something i should be trying to do.

Here's what ive done:
- Killed false knight and gotten vengeful spirit
- Gotten Sly back to dirtmouth (almost called it dirtwater)
- Gotten access to greenpath and beat hornet
- Got map of greenpath and forgotten crossroads
- Got mothwing cloak and mantis claw
- Reached City Of Tears and it's fountain, got first nail upgrade.

So this is what ive done so far, is there something more important than the Pure Nail i should get? Honestly i kinda wish there was some sort of quest or objective book so what you should do next would be more obvious.

[Envy]

I would suggest getting desolate dive now (to open up new paths). However, the best thing about hollow knight is that you can just explore and you don't have to finish quests in a given order.

Just explore and do whatever looks fun lol

oh and maybe get shade cloak? (really handy to just dash through enemies imo)

[Acolyte]

Your main objective is to explore and find powerups and secrets on your own. Don't completely focus on pure nail, unless you're really struggling. It does indeed help a lot, but it is mostly there as a tool you can use to tweak difficulty and keep a balance so you don't overwork yourself. Enemies progressively get harder, and when that happens, you should start looking for the pale ores.

[Blook]

I'd highly suggest you don't worry about doing everything the best way, basically any way you can reasonably go is a way that works. You might rarely find your way to a boss you are not prepared for, but you can just come back later if you get stuck.

IMO the best part about this game is exploring and finding your own new paths, so I recommend you don't look up any guides until after you beat the final boss.

[🉑 rezno[R].technology]

Pure Nail is really difficult to get. It's mostly towards the most end-game content. I would not suggest it as your top-one priority. But it's useful if you want to max everything in the game.

Your top priority in this game: Explore and have fun.

[🉑 rezno[R].technology]

I just completed the game in Steel Soul mode with 100% completion in 12h, and I didn't even had to get the Pure Nail upgrade. Just used Coiled Nail with Fragile Strength and upgraded spells.

For Pure Nail I would have had to defeat the whole Trial of the Conqueror, which is much harder (and longer) for me than just defeating single bosses and doing other things for %.

[jajooo]

I would preffer to find some charms, check walls that look broken (You can find something good), and the most important - lore.

[Torpid]

Originally posted by krismoris_:

I would preffer to find some charms, check walls that look broken (You can find something good), and the most important - lore.

yes the most important part of beating any game
l o r e

[sekai]

Pure Nail can only be acquired after going through and defeating some mid-late zones and bosses, and about 70% through a collectathon side quest that often requires visiting off-beat sections or secret part of the map accessible through items and abilities granted by again, beating other zones and bosses. Hell, the last Pale Ore is situated specifically as the reward for completing the last trial challenge of a late game zone, which is so hard many people just gave up on (so did I, I got it because I fired up invincibility mod after literally days of not getting through).

It's not meant to be rushed and you can't have it without going through a significant portion of the game, is what I'm saying.

Just get the Nail upgrade as much as you can and don't think too much, only really worry about upgrading when you're seriously under-damage.

[🉑 rezno[R].technology]

Originally posted by SEKAI (世界):

the last Pale Ore is situated specifically as the reward for completing the last trial challenge of a late game zone

Actually it's not the reward of last (third) trial challenge, but the middle one (Trial of the Conqueror), which is significantly easier than the last one.

[sekai]

Originally posted by 🉑 reznoR:

Originally posted by SEKAI (世界):

the last Pale Ore is situated specifically as the reward for completing the last trial challenge of a late game zone

Actually it's not the reward of last (third) trial challenge, but the middle one (Trial of the Conqueror), which is significantly easier than the last one.

You are right. I stand corrected on that point.

[Blook]

Originally posted by SEKAI (世界):

as the reward for completing the last trial challenge of a late game zone, which is so hard many people just gave up on.

I've beat 4/5 pantheons and 112%ed the game and Trial of the Fool is still the hardest to beat for me, took me like 6-7 hours and I only got to God Tamer 3 times in all that time.

I was also kind of early for it though, there were like 3 areas I hadn't found yet Abyss, Queen's Gardens, Royal Waterways but I did have pure nail.

[Madderlake]

Originally posted by Agent Clyde:

Originally posted by SEKAI (世界):

as the reward for completing the last trial challenge of a late game zone, which is so hard many people just gave up on.

I've beat 4/5 pantheons and 112%ed the game and Trial of the Fool is still the hardest to beat for me, took me like 6-7 hours and I only got to God Tamer 3 times in all that time.

I was also kind of early for it though, there were like 3 areas I hadn't found yet Abyss, Queen's Gardens, Royal Waterways but I did have pure nail.

The overworld mobbing never prepares you for trial of the fool, that's the problem. At least PoP had all the previous parkour sections to get you used to the general jist, unlike white palace that thing is more meat boy

[Torpid]

Instead of making an entirely other post for this i may as well just ask it here, how long does it usually take to complete your first run? Of course it depends on a lot of things but im 20 hours in and i feel like ive made barely any progress

[🉑 rezno[R].technology]

By "complete" you mean 100% or 112% Game Completion? Or just seeing the easiest ending regardless of completion %?

On my first playthrough it took me 42h to reach 92% game completion and reaching final boss without defeating it.

On second playthrough it was 21h to reach 88%.

On third playthrough it was 17h to reach 100%.

On fourth playthrough I did a speedrun and reached + defeated the final boss in only 2h (29% game completion).

Your mileage may vary.

[MADE IN IRON]

Originally posted by Torpid:

Instead of making an entirely other post for this i may as well just ask it here, how long does it usually take to complete your first run? Of course it depends on a lot of things but im 20 hours in and i feel like ive made barely any progress

It took me about 100 hours (ended with 102%), but I was making anything possible not to finish the game.
So it's not about how long does it take to you, but if you are enjoying the game.