Mask Shard

Mask Shard
A shard of an ancient mask, worn to protect oneself from harm. Collect more to strengthen your shell and protect yourself from damage.
Effects	Increases maximum Masks
Type	Upgrade
Ancient Mask
A complete mask. When whole, a mask protects its wearer, shielding the true form beneath.
Effects	Increases maximum Masks
Type	Upgrade

Mask Shards are Items in Hollow Knight that are used to increase the Knight's health.

Use

Mask Shards are parts of Ancient Masks. 4 Mask Shards are needed to complete an Ancient Mask, which increases the Knight's health by one.

With a total of 16 Mask Shards in the game, the Knight can increase their Mask count by 4, for a maximum of 9 permanent Masks.

Completing a Mask will fully restore the Knight's health.

How to Acquire

There are a total of 16 Masks Shards to be found in the game:

Source	Requirements	Map
Bought from Sly in Dirtmouth for  150	Requires finding Sly in Forgotten Crossroads|	View
Bought from Sly in Dirtmouth for  500	Requires finding Sly in Forgotten Crossroads
Bought from Sly in Dirtmouth for  800	Requires both finding Sly and having the Shopkeeper's Key
Bought from Sly in Dirtmouth for  1500	Requires both finding Sly and having the Shopkeeper's Key
Far west end of the Forgotten Crossroads	Reward for defeating Brooding Mawlek	View
Given by Grubfather	Requires rescuing 5 Grubs	View
Forgotten Crossroads, south of False Knight where some Goams are	Mantis Claw recommended	View
Queen's Station, near the east side	Requires Mantis Claw	View
Bretta's house in Dirtmouth	Requires rescuing Bretta from Fungal Wastes	View
Stone Sanctuary in Greenpath, in a room northeast of No Eyes	Lumafly Lantern recommended	View
Northwest section of the Royal Waterways, swim west under main path	n/a	View
Deepnest, when entered through the Fungal Core, near Mantis Lords	Requires Monarch Wings	View
Reward from Enraged Guardian	Requires Monarch Wings	View
Behind a wall in the Hive	Requires baiting a Hive Guardian into breaking a wall	View
Given by the Seer	Requires collecting 1500 Essence	View
Given by Grey Mourner in the Resting Grounds	Requires completing the Delicate Flower quest	View

Achievements

	Protected
	Acquire 4 Mask Shards. 5G

	Masked
	Acquire all Mask Shards. 15G

Trivia

• The A Weird and Wonderful World trailer shows that "Grey Mask Shard" was an early name for Mask Shards. In the Ferocious Foes trailer, it was called a "Shell Fragment".
• The music heard after acquiring four Mask Shards originates from a short sample track that was posted when Christopher Larkin was hired as the game's composer.
• If the Knight has extra Lifeblood Masks when the number of Masks is increased, the Mask gained overlaps a Lifeblood Mask, creating a white Mask that drips and has a blue background like a Lifeblood Mask. However, both Masks remain and taking damage removes the Lifeblood Mask first.
• Having the Joni's Blessing Charm equipped when the number of Masks is increased has no effect on the Knight's current health. It is only updated when resting at a Bench.

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