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{{Disclaimer|The Knight has no official name in-game. However, the commonly used title by the [[Team Cherry|developers]] is "the Knight".<ref>[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/11662585/hollow-knight/posts/1532829 Kickstarter post] of 30 March, 2016 where "the Knight" was first mentioned.</ref><br>While many characters refer to the Knight as "it," the wiki uses "they" for ease of reading and syntax.}}
{{Infobox Playable Character
|title1 = The Knight
|image1 = <gallery>
The Knight Idle.png|Idle
The Knight Front.png|Front
The Knight Resting.png|Resting
The Knight Shade.png|Shade
</gallery>
|weapon = [[Nail]]
|equipment = [[Charms]]<br/>
[[Spells and Abilities (Hollow Knight)|Spells and Abilities]]
|energy_source = [[SOUL]]
|gender = Genderless<ref name=reddit/>
}}
{{Quote
|An enigmatic wanderer who descends into Hallownest carrying only a broken nail to fend off foes.|[https://www.fangamer.com/collections/hollow-knight/products/hollow-knight-switch-ps4-pc-game Official manual]
}}

<b>The Knight</b> is the protagonist and playable character of <i>[[Hollow Knight (game)|Hollow Knight]]</i>.

== Lore ==
The Knight is a discarded [[Vessels|Vessel]].<ref>[[White Lady]]: <i>"Is it more than simply a Vessel?"</i></ref><ref>{{HK CP Icon Mini|Grimm Troupe|The Grimm Troupe}} [[Troupe Master Grimm]]: <i>"Even a vessel discarded bears fierce strength."</i></ref> They are the child of the [[Pale King]] and the [[White Lady]],<ref>[[White Palace]] [[Lore Tablets (Hollow Knight)#White Palace|Lore Tablet]]: <i>"Eternity in promise and charge in progeny cursed."</i></ref><ref>White Lady: <i>"Success then for the scarlet heart, and irony, to use my spawn to grow its own."</i></ref> born in [[the Abyss]] with [[Void]] inside their shell.<ref>[[Pale King]]: <i>"Born of God and Void."</i></ref><ref name="birthplace">White Lady: <i>"The Kingsoul... What is at the heart of it I wonder? If its curiosity wills it, it should seek out that place. That place where it was born, where it died, where it began..."</i></ref> [[Hornet]] is the Knight's sister through their shared father.<ref>White Lady: <i>"It faced the Gendered Child? She's a fierce foe, strong in mind and body, striking reflection of her mother, though the two were permitted little time together. I never begrudged the Wyrm's dalliance as bargain. In fact, I feel some affection for the creature birthed."</i></ref><ref>[[Hornet]] to the Knight: <i>"Would you supplant our birth-cursed sibling, or would you transcend it?"</i></ref> Like the rest of their Vessel siblings, the Knight is genderless.<ref name=reddit>[https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch/comments/8swt8n/were_team_cherry_and_we_just_released_hollow/e12zmrs/ Reddit AMA comment] on the Knight being genderless.</ref><ref>[[Cut Content (Hollow Knight)|Developer note]]: <entry name="gender notes"/>the hollow knights have no gender.</ref>

[[File:Pale King Abyss.png|thumb|200px|left]]
After climbing out of their birthplace in the Abyss, the Knight witnessed their sibling, [[the Hollow Knight]], being taken out of the Abyss by the Pale King. The entrance to the Abyss was sealed, causing the Knight to fall back down.<ref>The scene that is shown after using the [[Dream Nail]] on the egg in [[the Abyss]].</ref> Sometime after this, despite the entrance being sealed, the Knight and some of their siblings managed to escape the Abyss.<ref name="escape">[https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/6rvds8/we_are_team_cherry_the_developers_of_hollow/dl80ppe/ Reddit AMA comment] on the Knight escaping the Abyss.</ref>

Eventually, the Knight ended up wandering outside of Hallownest for unknown reasons.<ref name="hornet">Hornet: <i>"You've seen beyond this kingdom's bounds. Yours is resilience born of two voids."</i></ref> Spending time in this area caused the Knight to lose their memories, but being there did give them a certain resilience.<ref name="voidachievement"><i>Void</i> [[Achievements (Hollow Knight)|achievement]]: <i>"Remember the past and unite the Abyss"</i></ref><ref name="hornet" /> They returned to [[Hallownest]] after a call went out from either [[the Radiance]] or the Hollow Knight.<ref>[[Dreamers]]: <i>"What compels its climb out of the darkness? What compels its return to this sacred kingdom? A call from beyond the Seals? By the Vessel, or by that captive light?"</i></ref><ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/6rvds8/we_are_team_cherry_the_developers_of_hollow/dl80fdb/ Reddit AMA comment] on why the Knight left Hallownest.</ref>

== In-game events ==
At the beginning of the game, the Knight is equipped with only their [[Nail#Old Nail|Old Nail]] and the ability to [[Focus|heal]] themself using [[SOUL]]. Throughout the game, the Knight gains access to new [[Spells and Abilities (Hollow Knight)|powers]], [[Items (Hollow Knight)|Items]], and [[Charms]] to help them through their journey.

After encountering the [[Dreamers]] in the [[Resting Grounds]], the Knight acquires the [[Dream Nail]]. With this weapon, they can break the Seals in the [[Temple of the Black Egg]] by killing each of the three Dreamers. This allows them to enter the Black Egg, where they can fight the Hollow Knight. If the Hollow Knight is faced before obtaining [[Void Heart]] [[Charms|Charm]], the Knight kills their sibling and takes their place in sealing the Radiance.

[[File:Screenshot_HK_The_Knight_Birthplace.png|thumb|200px]]
If the Knight has fought Hornet twice and has the [[King's Brand]] and the [[Shade Cloak]], they have access to both halves of the [[Kingsoul]]. When the complete Kingsoul is equipped, the Knight can transform this Charm into Void Heart by going to their birthplace at the bottom of the Abyss and remembering their past.<ref name="birthplace" /><ref name="voidachievement" /> Void Heart allows the Knight to unify the Void under their will.<ref>[[Void Heart]] description: <i>"Unifies the void under the bearer's will."</i></ref>

With Void Heart, the Knight can use the Dream Nail on the Hollow Knight after Hornet holds them down. If the Dream Nail is not used, the Knight has to kill the Hollow Knight. This gives a similar [[Endings (Hollow Knight)|ending]] as the ending without having Void Heart, but instead, Hornet becomes a Dreamer, her face appearing on the entrance to Black Egg.

[[File:Screenshot_HK_Dream_No_More.png|thumb|200px]]
Using the Dream Nail initiates the fight with the Radiance. At the end of this fight, the Knight breaks their own shell and lands the finishing blows on the Radiance in their Shade form, with the help of the Shade of the Hollow Knight. Both siblings and all the other Shades in the Abyss then return to the Void.

{{HK CP Header|Godmaster|Godmaster}}

In [[Godhome]], the Knight can ascend by attuning all the [[Bosses (Hollow Knight)|Gods]] of Hallownest and defeating them in the [[Pantheons]].<ref>{{HK CP Icon Mini|Godmaster|Godmaster}} [[Godtuner]] pick up text: <i>"Seek the gods of Hallownest. Tune their power. Through their strength, ascend."</i></ref> In the [[Pantheon of Hallownest]], at the end of the fight with [[Absolute Radiance]], the Knight breaks their shell and their Shade falls into the Void. The [[Void Entity#Void given Focus|Void Entity]] then appears which kills Absolute Radiance, after which Void starts leaking from [[The Godseeker|the Godseeker's]] body in the [[Junk Pit]] and eventually bursts out of her. If Godseeker was given a [[Delicate Flower]], the Void and Godseeker disappear instead.

== Health and SOUL ==
=== Health ===

<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 96px auto; align-items: center;">
<div style="margin: 0 0 1.5rem;">[[File:HP mask.png|center|link=|36x36px]]</div>
[[Mask Shard|Health]] is represented as <b>Masks</b>, shown in the upper-left corner of the screen. The Knight starts the game with 5 Masks, and can obtain more by collecting [[Mask Shard]]s. 4 Mask Shards make one new Mask of health, up to a max of 9 total Masks of health. Health is lost by taking damage, either from enemies or from environmental hazards. Health can be regained by resting at a [[Bench (Hollow Knight)|Bench]] or [[Hot Spring]] or by [[Focus]]ing.
<div style="margin: 0 0 1.5rem;">[[File:Lifeblood mask.png|center|link=|48x48px]]</div>
<b>Lifeblood masks</b>, granted by [[Lifeseed]]s and certain [[Charms]], are temporary Masks that cannot be healed using Focus. Lifeblood Masks disappear upon resting at a bench, whereas those granted by Charms regenerate.
</div>

=== Shade ===

<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 96px auto; align-items: center;">
<div style="margin: 0 0 1.5rem;">[[File:Map Pin Shade.png|link=Shade|center|48x48px]]</div>
When Masks are depleted to 0, the Knight's shell shatters which releases their [[Shade]]. After the screen fades back in from black, the Knight is back on the Bench that was last rested on with a third of their SOUL gauge missing and without any [[Geo]]. Returning to the area where the Knight died and defeating the Shade restores the lost SOUL gauge and recovers the Geo that was lost.
</div>

=== SOUL ===

<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 96px auto; align-items: center;">
<div style="margin: 0 0 1.5rem;">[[File:Soul Meter.png|link=Soul|center|48x48px]]</div>
[[SOUL]] is represented as a circular face to the left of the health indicator. SOUL is used to cast [[Spells]], including Focus. Striking enemies with the Nail is the primary source of regaining SOUL, though other tools and objects also grant SOUL. Collecting three [[Vessel Fragment]]s increases the maximum SOUL by 33.
</div>

== Upgrades and Equipment ==
=== Nail ===

<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 160px auto; align-items: center;">
<div style="margin: 0 0 1.5rem;">[[File:Nail 1 Old Nail.png|center|100x100px|link=Nail]]</div>
The Knight's main weapon, able to swing in any direction. The [[Nail]] can be swung downwards while the Knight is above spikes, [[Enemies (Hollow Knight)|enemies]], or certain objects, called [[Nail#Nail-bouncing|Nail-bouncing]], which gives the Knight a vertical bounce that can be a useful tool for traversing Hallownest. The Nail can be [[Nailsmith|upgraded]] for stronger strikes, and charged attacks called [[Nail Arts]] can be learned from the [[Nailmasters]].
</div>

=== Charms ===

<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 160px auto; align-items: center;">
<div style="margin: 0 0 1.5rem;">[[File:Charms prompt.png|center|100x100px|link=Charms|class=darklight-img]]</div>
Special trinkets acquired through adventuring or by purchasing from other bugs. By equipping them on available Notches, [[Charms]] enhance the Knight's power through a variety of different methods, including increasing health, reducing heal times, spawning allied hatchlings, and more.
</div>

=== Spells ===

<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 160px auto; align-items: center;">
<div style="margin: 0 0 1.5rem;">[[File:Icon HK Vengeful Spirit Art.png|center|100x100px|link=Spells|class=darklight-img]]</div>
First acquired from the [[Snail Shaman]], these magical attacks deal large amounts of damage in short bursts, at the cost of SOUL. Each [[Spells|Spell]] can be upgraded to a stronger version by finding hidden rooms throughout Hallownest.
</div>

=== Abilities ===

<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 160px auto; align-items: center;">
<div style="margin: 0 0 1.5rem;">[[File:Icon HK Mantis Claw.png|center|100x60px|link=Spells and Abilities (Hollow Knight)#Abilities]]</div>
[[Spells and Abilities (Hollow Knight)|Skills and tools]] found throughout Hallownest that allow the Knight to more effectively traverse the terrain and engage enemies in combat, including [[Mothwing Cloak|dashing]], [[Mantis Claw|wall-jumping]], [[Crystal Heart|Super-dashing]], and [[Monarch Wings|double-jumping]].
</div>

== Gallery ==
{{Gallery
|Image1 = Screenshot HK {{PAGENAME}} 01.png!The Knight crawling out of their siblings' corpses some time after being born
|Image2 = Screenshot HK {{PAGENAME}} 02.png!The Knight in King's Pass after returning to Hallownest
|Image3 = Screenshot HK {{PAGENAME}} 03.png!The Knight sitting on the Dirtmouth Bench
|Image4 = Screenshot HK {{PAGENAME}} 04.png!The Knight obtaining the Vengeful Spirit Spell
|Image5 = Screenshot HK {{PAGENAME}} 05.png!Quirrel and the Knight sitting in the City of Tears
|Image6 = Screenshot HK {{PAGENAME}} 06.png!The Dreamers trapping the Knight in a dream
|Image7 = Screenshot HK {{PAGENAME}} 07.png!Hornet rescuing the Knight from the Cast-Off Shell
|Image8 = Screenshot HK {{PAGENAME}} 08.png!The Knight obtaining the Shade Cloak
|Image9 = Screenshot HK {{PAGENAME}} 09.png!The Knight trapped in Beast's Den
|Image10 = Screenshot HK {{PAGENAME}} 10.png!Quirrel and the Knight spending a final moment at Blue Lake
|Image11 = Combat.png!Promotional art of the Knight and [[Lost Kin]]
|Image12 = The Knight.png!Promotional art
|Image13 = Knight Action.png!Promotional art
|Image14 = Knight godmaster.png![[Godmaster]] promotional art
|Image15 = The Knight Death.mp4!The Knight dying
}}

== Trivia ==
* The Knight's design is taken from [[Team Cherry|Team Cherry's]] first game, <i>[http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/643636 Hungry Knight]</i>, which was made during a Game Jam that started the company.
** While the two games are very different, Team Cherry has stated that they "liked the main character and the general aesthetic so much that [they] fleshed it out and expanded on it."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20201111171109/http://teamcherry.com.au/jam-games/ Team Cherry's list of game jam games].</ref>
** This plan was put forward through the conceptual "[[Trivia (Hollow Knight)#Early_Concept_Art|Hungry Bug]]" artworks done by Ari Gibson, which helped visualise and shape the world of <i>Hollow Knight</i>.<ref>[https://www.deviantart.com/teamcherry/gallery/ Team Cherry's DeviantArt profile].</ref>
** [[Mister Mushroom]] makes a reference to Hungry Knight in his first dialogue with them, saying <i>"...It's nice that you were able to help your friend. So you're not hungry any more?"</i>
* When the Knight has one Mask left, the screen becomes bordered by black lines and [[Void]] particles can be seen floating off the Knight. Their posture also changes from upright to a bent over, gasping stance.
** This posture is removed if the [[Fury of the Fallen]] Charm is equipped. [[File:Knight One Mask.gif|thumb|150px|The Knight with one Mask left]]
* The Steam Trading Card and early [[Kickstarter]] material refer to the Knight as "Hollow Knight".<ref>[https://steamcommunity.com/market/listings/753/367520-Hollow%20Knight Steam Trading Card] of the Knight.</ref>
* The Knight has many nicknames used by various characters, notably: 
** "Little Ghost" by [[Hornet]].<ref>[[Hornet]] [[Dream Nail]] dialogue: <i>"Little Ghost... What dreams we share..."</i></ref>
** "(Little) Traveller" by [[Elderbug]], [[Oro]], and the [[Nailsmith]].<ref>[[Elderbug]]: <i>"I'd say it was a foul beast's death, but this cry sounded different...divine? Has something happened little traveller?"</i></ref><ref>[[Oro]]: <i>"I have taught you all I can. Go back into the world, traveller."</i></ref><ref>[[Nailsmith]]: <i>"Hmm? Oh, hello traveller. How strange that we should meet again in a world as vast as this."</i></ref>
** "(Little) Wanderer" by numerous other characters such as [[Bretta]] and [[Relic Seeker Lemm]].<ref>[[Bretta]] Dream Nail dialogue: <i>"White Wanderer...don't be shy....cold outside....bed is soft..."</i></ref><ref>[[Relic Seeker Lemm]]: <i>"Come searching for rare items have you? Well hands off! This collection is mine and I won't be selling to grubby little wanderers."</i></ref>
* Team Cherry has stated that they are not sure how the Knight escaped the Abyss.<ref name="escape" />

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[[Category:Hollow Knight]]