Menderbug

From Hollow Knight Wiki

Menderbug is an enemy in Hollow Knight. He can be found repairing the sign at the bottom of the well in the Forgotten Crossroads.

Member of an elusive guild of bugs fixated on the maintenance of Hallownest's many signs and wayposts.

The bugs of Hallownest were obsessed with building things. What strange little minds they had.

Behaviour and Tactics

 
Menderbug flying away from the Knight

Menderbug has a 2% chance to spawn at the entrance of Forgotten Crossroads right below Dirtmouth. To spawn, the following conditions must be met:

  • The sign at the entrance must be destroyed
  • The Knight must leave and re-enter the room

Upon seeing the Knight, Menderbug quickly flies away and leaves the room.

To kill Menderbug, enter the Forgotten Crossroads from Dirtmouth using the Desolate Dive/Descending Dark Spell. This destroys the sign upon landing and, if he has spawned, also kills Menderbug. Alternatively, by pausing and then unpausing while falling, the Nail can be used to kill him before landing. He can also be seen when entering the room through the east and west doors, and can be killed with Vengeful Spirit/Shade Soul. This requires less SOUL and doesn’t require killing Soul Master to get Desolate Dive. However, this method takes significantly more time and makes it easier to fail to kill Menderbug. One of the easiest ways to catch him is in the late game after acquiring Kingsoul and/or Salubra's Blessing to refill SOUL easily.


Menderbug's Diary

After killing Menderbug, his house is unlocked. The house can be found in the same village where Sly is first found infected.

Diary
Reading the diary Dear Dear Diary,

Isn't life just the most beautiful thing. Fixing signs, mending posts, let them break, I say! I'm a better mender for all that repairing.

I sometimes doubt there's a single bug in Hallownest happier than me.

Hello Again Diary,
Not long now till the next Menderbash! For a stealthy types, we're a riotous bunch when we get together.
And Mender Berri kept flashing me that smile! Might be time to muster my courage and act on it.

I love my home and my life, but sharing it with another, why that'd be the Berri on top!

My Lovely Diary,
Someone's gone and broke my favourite sign! Right there at the top of the crossroads. Keeps happening too!
But you know, I just can't get mad about it. I should be thanking them really! More chances to fix that beautiful, complex sign.
And I've stocked up on spare parts, so I've no fear it'll ever stay broken for long.

Location

Menderbug is located beneath the well in the Forgotten Crossroads.

Gallery

Video on how to spawn and kill Menderbug

Trivia

 
  • There is an unused key found in the game files named Mender_Key. It is implied in cut text that Menderbug would drop this unused key called an "Odd Key" that would probably then allow access into his house.[3]
  • Killing Menderbug is not needed in order to acquire the Hunter's Mark.
  • Menderbug cannot be read by the Dream Nail.
  • Upon death, Menderbug emits an Infection cloud. It is unclear if this is intentional or an oversight.
  • The sign at the entrance of the Forgotten Crossroads remains broken after Menderbug is killed.
  • Menderbug still spawns in the Infected Crossroads.
  • Menderbug cannot be damaged by the Defender's Crest and Spore Shroom Charms.

References

  1. Reddit AMA comment.
  2. Reddit AMA comment by Team Cherry.
  3. Developer note: <entry name="MENDER_DOOR">The door is locked. Use the Odd Key?</entry>