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.

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, not counting bonuses from Charms and Lifeblood Cocoons.

How to Acquire

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

Source	Conditions / Requirements	Map
1. Bought from Sly in Dirtmouth for 150 Shop description: This old thing? Merely a fragment of something larger. Still, maybe you can make some use of it.	Requires finding Sly in Forgotten Crossroads
2. Bought from Sly in Dirtmouth for 500 Shop description: I found another of these. If you look closely, there's some nice engraving work on them. I suspect I undercharged last time, and this is the only one left. It's gonna cost you!	Requires finding Sly in Forgotten Crossroads
3. Bought from Sly in Dirtmouth for 800 Shop description: You're collecting these, aren't you? Well you're in luck, I found another in my storeroom. This is the last one though, so it's priced accordingly.	Requires both finding Sly and having the Shopkeeper's Key
4. Bought from Sly in Dirtmouth for 1500 Shop description: As it turns out, I do actually have one more of these shards left. Very last one! I feel bad charging you so much for the previous shards, especially because it means I have to charge even more for this one.	Requires both finding Sly and having the Shopkeeper's Key
5. Far West of the Forgotten Crossroads	Reward for defeating Brooding Mawlek
6. Given by Grubfather	Requires rescuing 5 Grubs
7. Forgotten Crossroads South of False Knight where the Goams are	Mantis Claw recommended
8. In Queen's Station, near East side	Requires Mantis Claw
9. Found in Bretta's house in Dirtmouth	Requires rescuing Bretta from Fungal Wastes
10. Found in Stone Sanctuary in Greenpath	Lumafly Lantern recommended
11. Royal Waterways NW section, swim left under main path	n/a
12. Found in Deepnest through Fungal Core, near Mantis Lords	Requires Monarch Wings
13. Reward from Enraged Guardian	Requires Monarch Wings
14. Found behind a wall in the Hive	Requires baiting a Hive Guardian into breaking a wall
15. Given by the Seer	Requires collecting 1500 Essence
16. Given by Grey Mourner in Resting Grounds	Requires completing the Delicate Flower quest

Achievements

	Protected
	Acquire 4 Mask Shards

	Masked
	Acquire all Mask Shards

Trivia

• The A Weird and Wonderful World trailer shows that an early name for the Mask Shard was "Grey Mask Shard". 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.