Snail Shaman

This article is about the in-game NPC that grants Spells, known as the Snail Shaman. For more information on the lore of the Snail Shaman Tribe, see Snail Shamans.

Snail Shaman
Gender	Male
Voice Actor	William Pellen

I'm going to give you a gift, a nasty little spell of my own creation. It's just perfect for a little one like you! – Snail Shaman

Snail Shaman is an NPC in Hollow Knight. He gives the Vengeful Spirit Spell to the Knight in the Ancestral Mound.

Lore

Snail Shaman is a member of the snail shaman tribe. His relatives can be found around Hallownest, but since he is bound to the Ancestral Mound he is unable to visit them. He is therefore unaware of their fate.

While Snail Shaman can create Soul Spells such as Vengeful Spirit, he and the other snails are unable to make Spells like Abyss Shriek, having never been to the Abyss.

In-game events

Upon first encounter, the Shaman gifts the Vengeful Spirit Spell to the Knight. Accepting it results in the Knight waking up locked up in a small dungeon, tasked with killing an Elder Baldur within the Ancestral Mound.

The bodies of other snail shamans can be found throughout Hallownest. There is a crystallised one in the Crystallised Mound, one with overgrown flora in the Overgrown Mound and one in the Soul Sanctum that looks like it has been experimented on, as well as a snail sarcophagus where the Soul Eater Charm can be found.

Acquiring Spells from these snails causes Snail Shaman to comment on how these spells remind him of his various relatives.

Dialogue

General First encounter Oho! Who is that creeping out of the darkness? My, you're looking grim! A strange, empty face and a wicked looking weapon! Something important has drawn you down into Hallownest's corpse, but I won't ask what. Perhaps the reason you've found me is because you need my help? Say no more, friend. I'm going to give you a gift, a nasty little spell of my own creation. It's just perfect for a little one like you! Ohoho! Listening again, exhausted dialogue Don't be afraid. Have faith! That spell belongs to you now, all you need to do is take it! Ohohoho, you won't be going much further without it, I promise you! Listening after returning before taking the Spell Oho, you've come back! Didn't you like the look of my gift? You left without saying a word! Perhaps you're braver than you think! Go ahead and take what belongs to you! Listening after the Knight awakens Oho? You've woken at last! I apologise, perhaps I should have warned you about the power of that spell. I was watching over you as you slept, but seem to have slipped away myself! Ohohoho! Now we're awake, I was wondering whether you would do me a small favour. Not as repayment for my gift of course, simply because we're now friends. You see, a horrid great beast has made its home in the heart of this temple. Such disrespect! I would be quite grateful if you were to venture deeper in and slay it for me. It's a hardy creature, but with your new power you're more than a match for it! Good luck with this small favour, my friend! Ohohohohohoho! Listening again, exhausted dialogue What is it? Are you wondering about this gate between us? Ohoho! It's a curious thing, but this door will not open until you have slain that creature lying in the heart of the temple. Don't worry about it. I'm sure the spirits of my ancestors will be watching over you. Listening after killing the Elder Baldur Oho! So it's done then, you've slain the beast! The poor thing! It must have been terrified of you. It used to be quite docile, but the rancid air in these caverns filled it with some ancient rage. Still, you did what had to be done! You have my gratitude! Of course, we both know you wouldn't have made it through without that spell of mine... Ohoho! Listening after killing the Elder Baldur if the Knight did not listen to him after awakening Oho! There you are! I was watching over you while you slept, and must have slipped away myself. I woke up and found you'd disappeared! You are a surprising one, ohoho! Actually, I wanted to ask a small favour of you. You see, there is a certain creature lurking just above us, in the heart of this temple... ...Oho? Well, yet another surprise! You've slain that creature before I've even asked! I scarcely deserve such a friend as you! You're a marvel! Ohohoho! After the gate opens And look! The gate between us has opened. Ohoho! I'm sure you're eager to move on. Farewell, and have faith! Whatever you are seeking... it will find you! Ohohoho! Listening again, exhausted dialogue Why do you hesitate? You'll get nothing more from me, I'm afraid. Though I do admire your persistence! Ohohohoho! Listening after returning Oho! What brings you back through here, little shadow? Are you lost? Don't worry about me. I don't need anything more from you. Ohohoho! Dream Nailed Poking around in the dreams of others... You're more curious than you look! Oho ho ho ho! Reacting to spells Listening after acquiring Shade Soul What's this? My vengeful gift has warped within you. You've twisted it into something... else. Ohohohoh! I knew it. My friend! You're a marvel. Your essence has melded with the spell. You must have found a powerful source to transform it in such a unique, expressive way. Listening after acquiring Desolate Dive Ah ho! I'm sensing new power about you, one that'll crack the rock beneath us. A useful thing for one looking to travel ever deeper. My third uncle used to possess similar abilities. He also possessed a ferocious temper! Ohohoho! What a dreadful combination. Listening after acquiring Descending Dark My friend. My friend. There's another quality about you yet. You didn't perchance visit my fourth aunt? She makes her home beside that Crystal Mount. Leaves quite an impression on those that seek her out. Were I not bound here, I'd love to visit myself. Listening after acquiring Howling Wraiths Pried a spell out've my larger cousin did you? Aren't you the charming one. She's not usually the generous sort, certainly not as giving as myself, but she does have that wonderful voice! It's no surprise her spells take on such aural force. Listening after acquiring Abyss Shriek That scream? Ooohh, distorted in such a way... It's not within the skills of us snails to do such a thing. Wherever you draw this new power from, it's not a place my kind ever thought to look.

Location

Snail Shaman is found in the Ancestral Mound in the Forgotten Crossroads. He can be accessed after defeating False Knight or breaking the wall on the left side of False Knight's boss room.

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  Location of Snail Shaman in Forgotten Crossroads

Gallery

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  Snail Shaman near the bench

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  Snail Shaman and Vengeful Spirit

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  Snail Shaman sleeping

Trivia

• Snail Shaman is one of the few NPCs who is able to detect when they are being Dream Nailed.
• Snail Shaman states that his third uncle possessed similar abilities to the Desolate Dive after obtaining said Spell. However, unlike the other shamans that he mentions, that Spell is obtained not from a snail shaman, but by defeating Soul Master.
  • A Snail Shaman is hooked up to a chair in the Soul Sanctum, from which the Knight acquires Shade Soul, implying that Soul Master forcefully took the Spell from him. This shaman could be the mentioned uncle or another shaman entirely.

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