Deepnest & The Beast

Located in the furthest southwestern region of the map, Deepnest is one of the more challenging, terrifying areas of Hollow Knight. This walkthrough includes directions on how to find Deepnest in Hollow Knight, and how to reach Herrah the Beast, one of the Dreamers, in the Beast Den.

To learn how to obtain the variousCollectiblesHollow Knight has to offer, visit our pages onCharms,Spells,Mask Shards, and more.

• How to Get to Deepnest
• How to Find the Deepnest Map - Cornifer Location
• How to Solve the Deepnest Maze
• How to Get to the Failed Tramway
  • How to Get the Tram Pass
• Return to the Tunnels
  • How to Rescue Zote From the Webs in Deepnest
• Explore the Spider Nest
  • How to Get the Weaversong Charm - Location
  • Grub 1 Location
• How to Reach the Distant Village
• How to Find Herrah the Beast
  • Grub 2 Location
• How to Leave Deepnest

How to Get to Deepnest in Hollow Knight

To reach Deepnest in Hollow Knight, start your journey by venturing to Queen's Station via the Stagways. Exit via the eastern door, and make your way southeast toward the Mantis Village. Continue below and into the arena where you fought the Mantis Lords. They bar the path to Deepnest, so if you did not defeat them earlier, now is the time.

With the Mantis Lords defeated, look for a doorway on the left-hand side of the arena. Head inside and progress, and soon you’ll arrive in Deepnest.

How to Find the Deepnest Map - Cornifer Location

Wall-jump up the first shaft you find (ignore the Mask Shard, as you can't get it until you acquire a specific ability), then progress left, and you’ll locate Cornifer hiding from the horrors that lurk in the dark of Deepnest.

Buy the map for the incredibly affordable price of 38 Geo.

Deepnest Map

How to Solve the Deepnest Maze

Just beyond our terrified Cornifer is a winding maze of tunnels, lined with extreme hazards. It's easy to get lost and confused in the maze, so you should read the instructions first before moving. This part of the walkthrough will guide you to safety.

When you're finished with Cornifer, head back down to ground level and proceed left. As you progress, hop across the pits of writhing Garpede (centipede-like creatures) young. Feel free to use your Dash to make the gaps.

Continue to the far left side of the area, then wall-jump up until you reach the exit at the top left.

Hidden Geo Deposits Location

A Geo Rock is hiding in plain sight in the shaft. As you approach the top, enter an alcove on the left side where you can see a handful of white, curly plants.

Just behind a shadow is a Geo Deposit. How sneaky! Destroy it for some Geo.

Go To Map

Hallownest Map

Hop back onto the central column. Drop from the top and enter the first narrow passage on the right.

Near the end is another Geo Deposit.

Go To Map

Hallownest Map

Jump up through it and into the next area, where you’ll find full-grown, indestructible Garpedes patrolling the tunnels.

Note: Throughout Deepnest, you will be unable to “clear” rooms of enemies in the same way you can in other areas. Hostile bugs will regularly emerge from the ground or skitter onto the screen from the background or foreground, so be sure to pause if you step away (or while you are reading this guide) to avoid being killed unexpectedly.

Hop up and hug the left wall until you reach the top and continue, dispatching the emerging Dirtcarver enemy as you go.

Don't forget to grab the Geo Deposit on your way down.

Enter the hole in the floor and stop. Wait until the Garpede passes, then head left.

Dash over the spiked pits and vertical shafts and continue left until you enter a small room with a Deephunter, a spider-like foe that fires venom from the ceiling.

Geo Deposit Location

If you're feeling risky, you can drop down the shaft for some quick Geo. Keep in mind that the area below is chock full of dangers, so it'll pay (ha) to be fast. Enter the shaft and follow it down a short way. Look for the Geo Deposit in a small alcove on the left side of a narrow shaft below.

Return to the passage above to continue.

Go To Map

Hallownest Map

Ignore the hole that appears in the floor. A weak part of the ground will give way in the center of the room, but you should overlook it for now. From that room with the Deephunter, wall-climb up the wall on the left. Follow the path above to the right, then wall-jump up the next wall.

Kill or avoid the Deephunter, continue up, and then turn left. Continue until you drop down through the weak floor. The floor will break under you after standing on it for a moment.

Once you land, head left and hop down the vertical shaft, making sure to fall on the left side of the chasm to avoid a spiked pit.

Continue to the bottom, looking out for a Dirtcarver emerging from the ground, and then head out the exit on your left.

Take the exit at the bottom of the screen. When you enter the room below, head left and follow the passageway down.

You'll eventually drop into a larger room. To the right is a dead end, where a Dirtcarver will emerge from the ground.

Head left and drop into a pit that narrows. Stop when you reach the ground.

Move to the right quickly and don't stop. The ground to the right of where you landed is weak and will give way.

Continue to the right until you reach a narrow shaft leading to a tunnel above. Wait for the Garpede to pass, then follow it to the right.

At the end of the tunnel is a slight drop in the floor. Stand on it to break the ground and fall through.

Continue down the path to the left, dropping through another weak floor, and you’ll soon see a doppelganger of the Knight lurking in the darkness. Spooky!

Progress until you reach a crossroad. Wait for the Garpede to pass, then drop into the hole the beast crawled down and take the tunnel to the right.

Follow the tunnel as it twists and turns downward. When you reach an intersection with a tunnel leading left and another just below going right with a spike pit to its left, stop. Take the left path.

There are two weak floors ahead of you along the tunnel. Continue quickly to the left and hop up the ledge to avoid the first drop. Progress until you reach two shafts in the ceiling and stop before the first one.

The floor between the shafts will drop to a spike pit. Quickly move over it, or jump, to reach the shaft on the far left.

Climb the shaft and continue until you reach a hole in the ground. Drop down into the hole. After falling for a while, you'll at last reach the end of the maze. Huzzah! That wasn't too bad, right? Right?

How to Get to the Failed Tramway

At the bottom of the hole is a lovely and very welcome Hot Springs room, with the area’s first Bench just to the right. Sit on the Bench to heal, make a save point, and update your map. When you're ready, head left until you enter the next room.

Out of the comforting light of the Hot Springs, you find yourself back in the oppressive darkness of Deepnest. Continue left, watching out for the lone mad bug. Take care! Every so often, when you kill a regular bug foe like a Wandering Husk or a Husk Hornhead, they can transform into a Corpse Creeper. Watch for twitching bodies and get ready to defend yourself against this more dangerous enemy.

Hop up onto the elevated platform above the pits of larvae, then jump to the ledge on the right.

There is a breakable wall to the left, but it's too high. You'll need a specific ability to reach it. Beyond the wall you'll find Geo, a Grub, and a Pale Ore piece that a challenging boss guards.

Follow the path up and to the left, then wall-jump up the left wall, and you’ll begin to see cobwebs. At this juncture, you have a choice to make. If you want or need to leave Deepnest for whatever reason, you’ll need to head through the path leading upward until you unlock a shortcut back to Mantis Village.

To continue onwards, head through the cobweb-laden exit on the left.

As soon as you enter, you’ll see a spike wall in front of you. Drop down the three small ledges to your left, then slide down the wall below and dash over the pit below and onto the ledge to the left.

Carefully jump and dash to the safe platform to the left, avoiding all the spikes. Jump and dash left again, and the cavern will open up. At this point, you will begin to encounter more Corpse Creeper enemies, which will reanimate the bodies of the recently deceased. Don’t let your guard down, or you may be swarmed by these fast-moving enemies, which are especially dangerous due to the restricted movement in the tunnels.

Continue to the left and you’ll encounter the powerful, shielded enemies: the Stalking Devout.

These large enemies fill up tunnels, so you won’t be able to pass them. They wear defensive masks and approach slowly before dropping their shield to deliver a flurry of attacks.

Along the path to the first Stalking Devout, look for a wall above a passageway near what appear to be two vertical insect limbs sticking out of the floor. Jump up and to the left to latch onto the wall, and wall-jump to the tunnel above.

Follow the tunnel right, then climb the shaft in the ceiling and continue until you enter the room above. The large, vertical room contains shafts running to the top. There are enemies and spike traps, so stay on your toes while climbing up.

If you pick the left shaft, enter the next shaft to the right when you reach a crossroad. At the top and to the left is a Geo Deposit.

Take the next shaft just to the right. Near the top, you'll need to progress right, hopping over a gap with spikes.

Continue, and take the top exit to arrive in the Failed Tramway sub-area.

How to Get the Tram Pass in Hollow Knight

In this area, you’ll encounter large flying enemies called Carver Hatchers. They will fly and harass the Knight on their own, sporadically spitting out Dirtcarvers. Take them out early with Vengeful Spirit or Nail attacks, to avoid being overwhelmed with enemies.

Head left and you’ll soon find a crashed tram and the old tram station just beyond it. Enter the abandoned station and hop over the short wall. Wall-jump up the left wall to reach a hidden Lifeblood Cocoon if you need extra health.

To continue, drop into the hole in the floor and you'll land in an old tram car. Enter the hole to the right where you see light shining through.

You need to go left, but the gate is closed. Search the area past the car to the right for a lever. Smack it to open the aforementioned door and enter to head into the next room.

Dispatch the Carver Hatcher, then hop up on the platform on the left. Jump and dash to the ledge on the right and hit the lever to unlock the shortcut to the area entrance, then head back towards the left until you reach the final tram car on the left. If you're having trouble with the Carver Hatchers, you can use Super Dash to quickly cross the distance.

Hop up on top of the car and then go down through the hole.

Inspect the item at the front of the car for the Tram Pass.

Go To Map

Hallownest Map

This provides you with more ways to travel between areas, including an area you’ll be heading to very soon.

Tram Pass

Return to the Tunnels

Now that you have the Tram Pass, it's time to heal up and save your progress. There's a Bench you can reach in the Failed Tramway, but it's all the way to the right, opposite the car that gave you the pass.

Head back to the right and through the newly opened gate into the next area. Travel all the way to the right, past the passageway back down into the Deepnest tunnels, and go through the Tramway gate into the next room.

Hop over the gap and you’ll find our old friend Cloth and an area Bench.

Go To Map

Hallownest Map

Poor Cloth has seen better days. Things have certainly seemed to have gone south since you last met her in the Fungal Wastes. Speak with her, and the hearty warrior will admit to feeling a little worn out by the dangers of Deepnest. Exhaust her dialogue to learn that she plans to leave and search for a "less terrifying challenge." Deepnest is rough.

After you have talked to Cloth and rested at the Bench, go left, hop down into the gap, and follow the path to the right.

Continue heading down and to the right until you reach a gap in the floor. Drop onto it to break the weak ground, unlocking a shortcut between the Tramway and the earlier sections of Deepnest.

How to Rescue Zote From the Webs in Deepnest

Before returning to the tunnels above, you can take a quick detour to locate Zote, who needs a hero (whether he'll admit to it or not). To find Zote, travel left from the shortcut you created, past the Bench sign, and drop into the hole at the end of the tunnel.

Go right and drop into the room below, which is suspiciously rich in corpses. A hole at the bottom of the room has a band of black fiber keeping you inside.

It's a trap! Kill all of the Corpse Creepers to remove the band. Enter the hole in the floor.

Once you hit the dirt, follow the tunnel on the right to find Zote the Mighty trapped in some webbing.

Go To Map

Hallownest Map

Attack the web to free him. Speak with Zote, who'll be, erm, grateful for his rescue. Exhaust his dialogue and return to the Failed Tram.

You can meet Zote again later at the Colosseum of Fools.

Wall-jump back up to the top and head back through the Tramway gate to the left.

Dispatch the Carver Hatcher and take the floor exit to re-enter the Deepnest tunnels, again descending the vertical shafts you climbed to reach the Failed Tramway earlier. Watch for the spikes, and slide down the left-side wall until you reach the bottom. Hop down into the exit below, then follow the path left, dropping down twice until find yourself back in the tunnel where you started the Failed Tramway ascension. This time, you'll progress west.

Once you reach the bottom, dash left over the pit of centipede larvae.

Stop after you get to the other side. Walk forward and look for a narrow shaft above the tunnel. Wall-jump up and take the small tunnel to the left to skip the Stalking Devout.

Continue left and you’ll enter the next area.

Explore the Spider Nest

In this area, you’ll begin to encounter Little Weavers, spider-like enemies which seem to fly, but are actually traversing the tiny spider webs which crisscross the entire region. They can appear at any time, so exercise caution when initiating the tricky platforming sections in this area, as some falls can set you back quite a ways.

Drop down the small ledge as you first enter the area, then wall-jump up the small vertical shaft and dispatch the tiny Deepling enemies you find there.

Hop up on the ledge to the left, dash across the spike pit, and continue left. Hop out onto the tiny platforms suspended over the pit, then dash to the far left side.

Kill the Deepling in the narrow tunnel on the other side and leap the gaps lined by floor spikes. Continue all the way to the left and drop down into a hidden shaft. At the bottom you’ll find a Bluggsac.

Go To Map

Hallownest Map

Destroy it to obtain a Rancid Egg, then head right and destroy the wooden bracing to unlock a shortcut to the ground floor.

Hop back up the shaft you just dropped down, dash across the spike pits, then wall-jump up the wall to reach the area above.

How to Get the Weaversong Charm - Location

Before continuing on the critical path, now would be an ideal time to pause and acquire a nearby Charm. It's be a good idea because, for one, it's a powerful Charm, and two, you might not want to come back to Deepnest for a while following this initial visit.

The Weaversong Charm is located down the tunnel to the far right. You must first get past a Stalking Devout enemy, which has made the passageway its home. You should discover the beast a short way to the right of the shaft with its face turned away. The gap above it offers enough room for you to leap and dash over. Do that, and then run like the wind!

Head right, then hop over the gap using the small floating platform in the middle, to reach a tunnel on the other side. Another Stalking Devout is waiting in the tunnel, but this time its gaze is turned to you. Get close and lure it to the left where the tunnel's ceiling is raised. When it enters this spot, turn and leap over it, then progress down the tunnel.

If you're feeling risky or brave, you can also use the ceiling gap to attack the beast from above via the Nail Jump.

Continue right and keep walking to move through a hidden doorway. Soon, you'll discover the entrance to the Weaver's Den.

Head inside, and progress right until you reach a large shaft heading up. Kill the Deephunter waiting on the wall and wall-jump to the passageway above.

Progress left until you reach a row of blades protruding from the floor. You have two ways to cross this hazard:

• Quickly cross the blades with Super Dash. Press the button or key again when you're safe; that way, you don't fly past the Charm.
• Nail Jump your way across and prove to all spiders watching that you fear nothing.

Past the blades and on top of a ledge is a glowing item on the ground. Inspect it to acquire the Weaversong Charm.

WeaversongThe Weaversong Charm, when equipped, automatically spawns three small spider underlings to your side. These tiny, creepy friends attack nearby enemies automatically and will respawn indefinitely. It costs two Charm Notches to equip, making it useful and economical.

When you're ready, leave the Weaver's Den and return to the top of the shaft where you began your search for the Charm.

This time, head left until you reach another shaft leading up.

Whispering Root Location

Go To Map

Hallownest Map

There's a Whispering Root you can activate deep in the spider-infested regions of Deepnest. Look for it on the far left section of the tunnel you reach following the initial shaft. Head left, over the two gaps with spikes, and enter a small room, where you'll find the Root.

Hit it with the Dream Nail to activate the Essence platforming challenge.

Grub 1 Location

Go To Map

Hallownest Map

If you traveled to the Weaver's Den and back, you likely noticed the trapped Grub in a closed-off area above the pit. Here's how you can rescue it.

After arriving the tunnel in the top-left section of the spider lair of Deepnest, head right until you reach the gap in the chasm. Cross it using the platform, then continue right, jumping over the spike trap. Progress with caution! There's a Stalking Devout enemy in the tunnel ahead. Use the gap above the brute to leap over it, then continue right.

Break the Geo Deposit on your way for some extra cash.

After the deposit is a hole in the floor. Drop to the bottom and walk left to locate the Grub.

After breaking the bottle, continue left, and the floor will break, taking you back to the chasm.

Grub 20 - Deepnest

How to Reach the Distant Village in Hollow Knight

When you're ready to proceed, wall-jump up the shaft to reach the next ledge. Once above, head left until you reach a doorway. Head inside to reach the doorstep of the Distant Village.

The tunnel ahead stops shortly after the entrance. Take the vertical shaft in the ceiling, but watch out for enemies.

Caution: The room leading to the Distant Village is rife with enemies and trap floors that lead to painful spikes. Move carefully, but be ready to dash to safety at a moment's notice.

Wall-jump up the vertical shaft and follow the path up and around until you drop back down to the floor, which will give way to a spike pit. Quickly dash to the left after dropping from the ledge!

Continue around the path, killing the Deephunters as you dash and wall-jump between the walls and ledges until you reach another weak floor.

Again, you'll drop onto a floor of spikes. As you descend, get ready to Dash left!

Don't stop: Another hole appears in the floor just to the left of the spikes. Jump away from the weak floor before falling in.

Carefully enter the hole, but hold either the left or right direction to grab onto the wall. At the bottom of the hole is a pit of spikes. Hop over it to avoid damage.

It's best to slide down the right side while holding the right directional button or key; that way, you'll move to safety as soon as you enter the bottom of the shaft.

Head right and destroy the wooden bracing. Continue and wall-jump up and destroy the wooden bracing there to unlock a shortcut back to the previous area.

Backtrack to the shaft you just slid down, wall-jump back up, and continue left. A short way down the columned path, the ground will give way, so jump and dash to avoid falling in the spikes. Continue left and into the next area, the Distant Village.

How to Find Herrah the Beast in Hollow Knight

Go To Map

Hallownest Map

After entering the Distant Village, head left and hop across the small elevated platforms. Climb the platforms suspended by spider webbing, moving up and to the right.

In the upper right corner of the area is a platform that leads you to a door.

Enter it to find a suspiciously destroyed Bench and a (not destroyed) Stag Station. Pay the 250 Geo to unlock the Stagway, then return to the large web-covered cocoon at the center of the village. Enter, heed the advice of all the suspiciously robed figures, and sit down on the Bench.

You’ll soon be mired in spider webs; the robed figures’ betrayal revealed. Try to move and they will close in on you, the screen will go dark, and the Knight will awaken in the Beast’s Den, suspended in a cocoon.

Within the confines of the cocoon are enemies, but you can also find several collectibles.

Use your Nail to free yourself, then head right. Keep walking until you see a ledge above.

Hallownest Seal Location

Near the starting point of the cocoon is a hidden Hallownest Seal. While on the ground below the shaft, walk right a short way, and the weak floor below will break and fall. Don't worry! There are no spikes this time. Walk left, fighting off the two Deeplings. Near a corpse in a small room to the left is the Hallownest Seal on the floor.

When you're ready, head up the shaft and go left. In the tunnel is a Stalking Devout. You'll need to enter the tunnel to continue.

Hidden Geo Deposit Location

Before heading up to deal with that Stalking Devout, you can look for two Geo Deposits nearby. Head right from the bottom of the shaft. Follow the tunnel until the floor gives way under a higher ledge. Drop below and kill the two Corpse Creeper enemies that spring to life when you arrive. Continue to the right to find two Geo Deposits.

How to Kill a Stalking Devout

Likely, you've been able to avoid fighting Stalking Devouts, but you won't be given a choice in the cocoon. You'll have to fight some to survive. The Stalking Devout is one of the most deadly enemies you can face in Deepnest. A single slash of their claws can shatter two entire health masks. You must exercise caution to beat this foe. The best way to defeat a Stalking Devout is to Nail Jump on it if you have the overhead room. If not, you must approach the bug and get close. It'll open its mask to attack, leaving it vulnerable to damage.

Hit it once with your Nail or a Spell, and then dash away. Continue this hit-and-run tactic until it's defeated.

Enter the tunnel and go left, where you'll find the Stalking Devout. Use hit-and-run attacks to kill it, then continue left. Wall-jump up the shaft at the end of the tunnel and follow the path around. Kill the Deeplings and progress right.

Soon the ground will give way, but hop over the hole and continue to the end of the tunnel. Wall-jump up and kill the Deephunter before dashing across the chasm to the ledge on the left.

Continue up through the winding passages. After hopping over a gap, you'll find another weak floor under a shaft leading up.

Rancid Egg Location

Under the breakable floor past the Stalking Devout, you'll find a Bluggsac. After falling down the hole, enter the first tunnel on the right. Kill the two Deeplings within and seek out the Bluggsac at the end of the tunnel. Destroy it to claim a Rancid Egg.

Hidden Geo Location

After dropping through a weakened part of the floor not long after killing the Stalking Devout, you can find a pair of hidden Geo Rocks.

Go down the shaft and enter the second tunnel on the right-hand side. Kill the Deepling and progress right to find the Geo Deposits.

Climb the shaft above the weak floor and follow the tunnel, leading right. Stop before entering the bottom of the next shaft! The floor underneath gives way to a spike trap.

Ascend the shaft above the trap and head around while going left. Continue until the floor gives way. This time, the fall is safe!

Grub 2 Location

Go To Map

Hallownest Map

The second Grub you can come across in Deepnest is located in the cocoon at the Distant Village. Follow the path within the cocoon. Not long after fighting a Stalking Devout and traveling through some twisting tunnels, you'll reach a floor that breaks, dropping you right next to a Grub.Grub 21 - Deepnest

Continue left and hop onto the wall, avoiding the ground below, which will break and reveal another spike trap. Ascend the shaft to the top.

Hidden Geo Deposit Location

Before going left to meet another friendly face, you can take a short detour for some Geo. After heading up the shaft past the Grub in the cocoon, ascend the second shaft. Squeezed into an alcove on the right is a Geo Deposit.

Head left and kill the Stalking Devout. Continue left until you come across a shaft heading up, and a hole in the floor just past it.

Hidden Geo Deposits Location

Before you continue exploring the cocoon, you can find more Geo Deposits to plunder. After killing your second Stalking Devout, head left and fall into the hole in the floor. Enter the first tunnel you see on the right wall to find two Geo Deposits.

Return to the tunnel above to continue.

Ascend the shaft and go right, but keep watch for another Stalking Devout. Kill it, then continue right to find a Dreamer. Use your Dream Nail to strike them and enter the dream realm.

Head right and you’ll find the Beast, patiently waiting for its end. Strike it down with the Nail, then charge your Soul to absorb her essence and break the first of the Black Egg Temple’s three seals.

How to Leave Deepnest in Hollow Knight

When you awaken, head left and follow the far left wall all the way down to the bottom. Go right and you’ll soon find a weak section of floor and another Bench. Drop through the hole to the left and you’ll find the party has died down a bit.

Head to the left to exit the cocoon. At this point, you've done all you could in the village. Return to the Hot Springs you left so long ago. Depending on whether you’ve interacted with him before, you may find Quirrel there. Recharge in the soothing water, then head to the right, through the long corridor, and into the next area.

Here you’ll find a rapid succession of centipedes burrowing through the tunnels. You'll need to time your journey as you work your way to the top right side of the area.

Wait for the first Garpede to pass, going from left to right, and follow after it in the tunnel.

Walk forward a few steps and leap up into the hole in the tunnel ceiling. Smack the Geo Deposit to the right for some quick cash.

Wait for the next Garpede in the tunnel above to move past you, heading left. When it's clear, leap into the tunnel and then jump into the next tunnel directly above.

Head right and drop into the hole in the floor at the end of the passageway after the Garpede passes, then quickly drop into the hole to the left.

Move to the hole to the left and wait for the Garpede. Drop down and head right after it passes.

Follow it out, then drop into the hole. You're safe! Progress right to enter the next room.

In the next area, you’ll find the Tramway, so insert your pass, head inside, and press the glowing button on the right side of the car to travel to get it moving. There's also a Bench in the Tram, so feel free to use it to heal, update your map, and save your progress.

Once the Tram comes to a stop, exit and you’ll find yourself in the Ancient Basin.

Deepnest & The Beast Completed

Up Next: Ancient Basin

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