How To Upgrade Nail Hollow Knight And Increase Its Damage

Upgrading your primary weapon is essential for surviving the hostile depths of Hallownest in Hollow Knight. Your base weapon, the Old Nail, deals minimal melee damage, making combat encounters against late-game bosses exceedingly difficult without proper enhancements. By tracking down specific resources and visiting key non-player characters, players can dramatically increase their damage output and clear encounters much faster.

Locating the Nailsmith in City of Tears

The journey to strengthening your weapon begins by traveling to the western edge of the City of Tears. Here, you will find the Nailsmith resting inside his isolated forge, dedicated entirely to perfecting the craft of weapon refinement. Speaking with him unlocks the option to forge your initial upgrades in exchange for Geo and rare crafting items.

Your first enhancement converts the Old Nail into the Sharpened Nail, requiring only a modest amount of Geo to complete. This initial boost provides an immediate increase to your base attack power, making early enemy encounters much smoother. Subsequent upgrades will demand both higher currency costs and specialized materials found throughout the world.

Collecting Pale Ore Across Hallownest

To advance your weapon beyond its initial enhancement, you must collect rare materials known as Pale Ore hidden across various regions. A total of six pieces of Pale Ore are scattered throughout the kingdom, often rewarded for completing tough platforming sections or overcoming formidable bosses. Key locations include the heights of Crystal Peak, the depths of Deepnest, and rewards granted by the Seer and the Grubfather.

Bringing these pieces back to the forge allows the craftsman to transform your weapon into the Sharpened Nail, Channelled Nail, Coiled Nail, and ultimately the Pure Nail. Each successive upgrade significantly amplifies melee damage, allowing players to defeat standard enemies in fewer hits. Securing all six pieces is a core objective for players looking to maximize their combat potential.

Synergizing Nail Damage with Charms

While physical upgrades provide the foundational boost to your weapon stats, equipping specific Charms further elevates your offensive capabilities. Charms such as Unbreakable Strength or Fragile Strength grant a massive percentage increase to your melee attacks. Combining these passive buffs with a fully upgraded weapon allows you to shred through enemy health bars in seconds.

Additionally, Charms like Longnail and Mark of Pride enhance your attack reach, ensuring you can deliver high-damage strikes from a safer distance. Mastering the combination of raw physical weapon upgrades and strategic Charm builds provides the ultimate advantage during challenging boss fights in the late game.