Steel Soul Mode

No Shade. No Reviving. Death is Permanent. The Ultimate Challenge.

Steel Soul Mode is a game mode in Hollow Knight that is unlocked after finishing the game for the first time.

In Steel Soul Mode, there are four main changes to gameplay, compared to Classic Mode:

• The Knight will not respawn upon death. Once the Knight dies, the game ends and the save file is reset. Note: dying to a Dream Boss, or in Godhome, does NOT count as an actual death. However, dying in the White Palace or to the Radiance DOES result in a Game Over.
• Unique animation upon dying.
• Confessor Jiji is replaced by Steel Soul Jinn, who will trade Rancid Eggs for Geo.
• Tuk has been killed by the Infection, and will not sell Rancid Eggs. Found next to her corpse is a Rancid Egg.

As death is permanent, this means that the Fragile Charms sold by Leg Eater become significantly more useful, as their main penalty (breaking upon death) is nullified.

Trying to enter a failed Steel Soul run will result in asking if the player would like to clear the save slot. The save slot will also say the word "DEFEATED" instead of the location the game was last saved in.

Besides two Achievements, finishing the game in Steel Soul Mode also unlocks a new Menu Theme.

Screen for unlocking Steel Soul Mode.

Screen for completing Steel Soul mode without dying.

The Game Over screen, only visible after dying in Steel Soul Mode.

Steel Soul Mode death animation

Steel Soul Menu Theme

Achievements

	Steel Soul
	Finish the game in Steel Soul mode

	Steel Heart
	Achieve 100% and finish the game in Steel Soul mode