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Nail is the term used to describe the bladed weapons wielded by several enemies, NPCs, and bosses in Hollow Knight, including the Knight.

The Nailsmith in the City of Tears can upgrade the Knight's Nail up to 4 times if given enough Geo and Pale Ore, which will increase the damage of melee strikes.

The charms Fragile Strength/ Grimm Troupe content Unbreakable Strength and Fury of the Fallen will also increase Nail damage.


Main article: Nail Arts

 Nail Upgrades

Nail Description & Upgrade Cost
Nail 1 Old Nail
Old Nail

A traditional weapon of Hallownest. Its blade is blunt with age and wear.

Default weapon Damage: 5
Nail 2 Sharpened Nail
Sharpened Nail

A traditional weapon of Hallownest, restored to lethal form.

Upgrade cost: alt=Steel Soul Jinn is a Merchant in Hollow Knight. She only appears in Steel Soul Mode, replacing Confessor Jiji. Jinn resides in the locked cavern by the base of Crystal Peak in Dirtmouth, where she has been sleeping. She has unseen masters who do not seek order. Jinn speaks in rhythm and claims to be too young to tell anything about herself beside her purpose of providing and trading. Her metallic body cannot take damage, although she still reacts to strikes at her. Steel Soul Jinn replaces Jiji in Steel Soul Mode, as the difficulty mode's permanent death makes Jiji's service useless. She is disgusted by Rancid Eggs, but will still buy them for Geo 290-449 each, as a favor to a friend which she claims appreciates them. This is also an excuse for her to get rid of the Geo she accumulated after helping or hurting other creatures, despite not wanting any. Steel Soul Jinn is located on the very east side of Dirtmouth, within a cave that requires a Simple Key to open. The friend she mentions who likes Rancid Eggs is most likely Confessor Jiji, who is willing to offer her services for them. Jinn is one of the few NPCs who can be "hit" with the Nail without taking damage. An upcoming enemy revealed in the Hollow Knight: Silksong trailer bears a striking similarity to Jinn. It is also a companion to Steel Assassin Sharpe furthering some sort of motif of "steel" between the characters. Jinn is mistakenly referred to as male in some translations of the game. 250 Damage: 9
Nail 3 Channelled Nail
Channelled Nail

A cleft weapon of Hallownest. The blade is exquisitly balanced.

Upgrade cost: alt=Steel Soul Jinn is a Merchant in Hollow Knight. She only appears in Steel Soul Mode, replacing Confessor Jiji. Jinn resides in the locked cavern by the base of Crystal Peak in Dirtmouth, where she has been sleeping. She has unseen masters who do not seek order. Jinn speaks in rhythm and claims to be too young to tell anything about herself beside her purpose of providing and trading. Her metallic body cannot take damage, although she still reacts to strikes at her. Steel Soul Jinn replaces Jiji in Steel Soul Mode, as the difficulty mode's permanent death makes Jiji's service useless. She is disgusted by Rancid Eggs, but will still buy them for Geo 290-449 each, as a favor to a friend which she claims appreciates them. This is also an excuse for her to get rid of the Geo she accumulated after helping or hurting other creatures, despite not wanting any. Steel Soul Jinn is located on the very east side of Dirtmouth, within a cave that requires a Simple Key to open. The friend she mentions who likes Rancid Eggs is most likely Confessor Jiji, who is willing to offer her services for them. Jinn is one of the few NPCs who can be "hit" with the Nail without taking damage. An upcoming enemy revealed in the Hollow Knight: Silksong trailer bears a striking similarity to Jinn. It is also a companion to Steel Assassin Sharpe furthering some sort of motif of "steel" between the characters. Jinn is mistakenly referred to as male in some translations of the game. 800 + 1 Pale Ore Damage: 13
Nail 4 Coiled Nail
Coiled Nail

A powerful weapon of Hallownest, refined beyond all others.

Upgrade cost: alt=Steel Soul Jinn is a Merchant in Hollow Knight. She only appears in Steel Soul Mode, replacing Confessor Jiji. Jinn resides in the locked cavern by the base of Crystal Peak in Dirtmouth, where she has been sleeping. She has unseen masters who do not seek order. Jinn speaks in rhythm and claims to be too young to tell anything about herself beside her purpose of providing and trading. Her metallic body cannot take damage, although she still reacts to strikes at her. Steel Soul Jinn replaces Jiji in Steel Soul Mode, as the difficulty mode's permanent death makes Jiji's service useless. She is disgusted by Rancid Eggs, but will still buy them for Geo 290-449 each, as a favor to a friend which she claims appreciates them. This is also an excuse for her to get rid of the Geo she accumulated after helping or hurting other creatures, despite not wanting any. Steel Soul Jinn is located on the very east side of Dirtmouth, within a cave that requires a Simple Key to open. The friend she mentions who likes Rancid Eggs is most likely Confessor Jiji, who is willing to offer her services for them. Jinn is one of the few NPCs who can be "hit" with the Nail without taking damage. An upcoming enemy revealed in the Hollow Knight: Silksong trailer bears a striking similarity to Jinn. It is also a companion to Steel Assassin Sharpe furthering some sort of motif of "steel" between the characters. Jinn is mistakenly referred to as male in some translations of the game. 2000 + 2 Pale Ore Damage: 17
Nail 5 Pure Nail
Pure Nail

The ultimate weapon of Hallownest. Crafted to perfection, this ancient nail reveals its true form.

Upgrade cost: alt=Steel Soul Jinn is a Merchant in Hollow Knight. She only appears in Steel Soul Mode, replacing Confessor Jiji. Jinn resides in the locked cavern by the base of Crystal Peak in Dirtmouth, where she has been sleeping. She has unseen masters who do not seek order. Jinn speaks in rhythm and claims to be too young to tell anything about herself beside her purpose of providing and trading. Her metallic body cannot take damage, although she still reacts to strikes at her. Steel Soul Jinn replaces Jiji in Steel Soul Mode, as the difficulty mode's permanent death makes Jiji's service useless. She is disgusted by Rancid Eggs, but will still buy them for Geo 290-449 each, as a favor to a friend which she claims appreciates them. This is also an excuse for her to get rid of the Geo she accumulated after helping or hurting other creatures, despite not wanting any. Steel Soul Jinn is located on the very east side of Dirtmouth, within a cave that requires a Simple Key to open. The friend she mentions who likes Rancid Eggs is most likely Confessor Jiji, who is willing to offer her services for them. Jinn is one of the few NPCs who can be "hit" with the Nail without taking damage. An upcoming enemy revealed in the Hollow Knight: Silksong trailer bears a striking similarity to Jinn. It is also a companion to Steel Assassin Sharpe furthering some sort of motif of "steel" between the characters. Jinn is mistakenly referred to as male in some translations of the game. 4000 + 3 Pale Ore Damage: 21

Nail-bouncing

By jumping and slashing down with the nail on environment jugs, spikes or enemies, the Knight will bounce. This move is known as "nail-bouncing" or "pogo-jumping," useful for fighting some enemies and for platforming.

In Fungal Wastes, there are pink mushrooms on which the Knight can nail-bounce higher than usual. They must be used as a platform to access the Mantis Village and other locations. After obtaining Mantis Claw and Isma's Tear, most of them become completely useless.

Asides from these mushrooms, there are few other times where nail-bouncing is required:

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