If you’ve been exploring Hallownest and keep getting defeated by bosses with only a few masks of health, you’re not alone. One of the most important upgrades in Hollow Knight is collecting Mask Shards. Yet many players miss several of them because they’re hidden behind secret walls, locked doors, difficult platforming sections, or NPC interactions. Whether you’re aiming for 100% completion, preparing for tougher late-game bosses, or simply want more survivability, finding every Mask Shard can make a huge difference.

Mask Shards are permanent health upgrades that increase the Knight’s maximum health. Every four Mask Shards combine to create one additional Mask. Since Hallownest is packed with dangerous enemies, environmental hazards, and challenging boss fights, these upgrades are among the most valuable collectibles in the game.

This guide covers all Hollow Knight Mask Shard locations, including difficult-to-find shards in areas such as the Hive and Royal Waterways. You’ll also learn the easiest order to collect them, practical tips for reaching hidden locations, and a complete location list to help you avoid missing any.

What Are Mask Shards in Hollow Knight?

Mask Shards are collectible fragments that permanently increase your health pool.

Here’s how the system works:

Collect 4 Mask Shards
They automatically combine into 1 new Mask
Your maximum health increases permanently
More health means greater survivability during exploration and boss fights

There are 16 Mask Shards in total throughout the game.

Collecting all 16 grants four additional Masks, significantly improving your chances against difficult encounters such as:

The Hollow Knight
Nightmare King Grimm
Pure Vessel
Radiance
Watcher Knights

Many experienced players consider Mask Shards one of the highest-priority upgrades, especially for newcomers.

Complete Hollow Knight Mask Shard Locations List

Below is every Mask Shard location in the game.

Sly’s Shop (4 Mask Shards)

The merchant Sly sells four Mask Shards throughout your adventure.

First Purchase

Cost: 150 Geo
Available immediately after rescuing Sly

Second Purchase

Cost: 500 Geo

Third Purchase

Cost: 800 Geo

Fourth Purchase

Cost: 1500 Geo

Total Geo Required: 2,950

Practical Tip

Many players spend Geo on charms and maps early. If you’re struggling with bosses, prioritize purchasing Mask Shards first. The extra health usually provides more value than minor upgrades.

Bretta’s House

Location

Dirtmouth

After rescuing Bretta in Fungal Wastes:

Enter her house
Look to the right side
Find the hidden Mask Shard

This is one of the easiest shards to overlook because players rarely revisit her home after the rescue.

Queen’s Station

Location

Near Queen’s Station in Fungal Wastes

Requirements:

Mantis Claw

You’ll find a platforming section above Queen’s Station that leads to a hidden Mask Shard.

Helpful Advice

If you’re exploring naturally after obtaining Mantis Claw, this shard can be collected relatively early and provides a valuable health boost before mid-game challenges.

Forgotten Crossroads

Location

Southern area of Forgotten Crossroads

Requirements:

Mothwing Cloak

A series of platforms leads to a hidden chamber containing a Mask Shard.

Because this route appears insignificant, many players pass by it several times before noticing the collectible.

Greenpath

Location

Stone Sanctuary area

Requirements:

Lumafly Lantern

Navigate through the dark passages to discover a hidden Mask Shard.

Why Players Miss It

Without the Lumafly Lantern, the area is nearly impossible to navigate comfortably. Many players postpone exploration and forget to return later.

Fungal Wastes

Location

Hidden area requiring wall jumps

Requirements:

Mantis Claw

Look for breakable pathways and elevated sections that reward thorough exploration.

Crystal Peak

Location

Crystal Heart challenge area

Requirements:

Crystal Heart

Use your super dash ability to reach a hidden platform containing a Mask Shard.

Common Mistake

Many players stop after acquiring Crystal Heart and immediately leave Crystal Peak. Spend extra time exploring because several valuable collectibles are hidden there.

Resting Grounds

Location

Near the graveyard area

Requirements:

Basic exploration

This Mask Shard is relatively straightforward to obtain and often serves as an easy mid-game pickup.

Hollow Knight Mask Shard: Royal Waterways

One of the most searched Mask Shard locations is found in Royal Waterways.

Where to Find It

Requirements

Simple Key
Access to Royal Waterways

Inside Royal Waterways, you’ll discover a hidden section that requires careful exploration through tunnels and side passages.

Eventually you’ll encounter:

Acid pools
Hidden pathways
Breakable walls

The Mask Shard sits in a secret room that many players miss while rushing toward the area’s boss encounters.

Exploration Tip

Royal Waterways rewards checking every suspicious wall. If a room appears unusually empty, try attacking nearby surfaces. Several secrets in the area are hidden behind breakable walls.

Hollow Knight Mask Shard: The Hive

The Hive contains one of the game’s most memorable Mask Shards.

How to Reach The Hive

Requirements:

Tram Pass
Access to Kingdom’s Edge

The entrance is hidden behind a breakable wall in Kingdom’s Edge.

Many players finish the game without ever discovering this optional area.

Hive Mask Shard Location

Inside The Hive:

Progress through bee-filled tunnels
Defeat aggressive Hive enemies
Navigate vertical passages

Eventually you’ll reach a challenging section containing the Mask Shard.

Why This Shard Is Difficult

Several factors make it harder than average:

Powerful enemies
Confusing layout
Hidden pathways
Late-game access requirements

If you’re collecting shards near the end of your playthrough, this is often one of the final pieces missing from your collection.

Grubfather Rewards

Two Mask Shards come from rescuing Grubs.

First Reward

Rescue 5 Grubs

Second Reward

Rescue 10 Grubs

Visit Grubfather after reaching these milestones.

Recommended Strategy

Don’t wait until late game to rescue Grubs. The rewards become available surprisingly early and provide meaningful health increases.

Grey Mourner Quest Reward

One Mask Shard comes from completing part of the Grey Mourner questline.

Requirements

Deliver the Delicate Flower successfully

This quest is famous for its difficulty because taking damage causes failure.

Helpful Method

Many experienced players clear enemies along the route first. Once enemies stay defeated, transporting the flower becomes far easier.

Enraged Guardian Reward

Location

Crystal Peak

Defeat the Enraged Guardian to receive a Mask Shard.

Battle Advice

Focus on:

Quick dashes
Staying mobile
Watching laser patterns

This fight becomes significantly easier after upgrading your Nail.

Seer’s Reward

Requirement

Collect Essence

The Seer awards a Mask Shard after reaching a specific Essence milestone.

Since Essence gathering occurs naturally through Dream Boss encounters, this shard often arrives during normal progression.

Delicate Platforming Challenges

Several Mask Shards are hidden behind platforming sequences that test:

Wall jumping
Dash timing
Crystal Heart control

If a section seems impossible initially, return later after obtaining additional movement abilities.

Hollow Knight frequently rewards revisiting old locations with new powers.

Best Order to Collect Mask Shards

For most players, the easiest progression is:

Buy Sly’s first shard
Rescue Bretta
Collect Queen’s Station shard
Search Forgotten Crossroads
Explore Greenpath
Rescue Grubs
Visit Crystal Peak
Complete Royal Waterways exploration
Unlock The Hive
Finish late-game rewards

This route minimizes backtracking while steadily increasing survivability.

Why Mask Shards Matter More Than You Think

Many new players focus entirely on:

Nail upgrades
Charms
Spell improvements

While these upgrades are powerful, additional health often provides greater overall value.

Consider a difficult boss fight:

With 5 Masks, a few mistakes can end the attempt.
With 8 or 9 Masks, you have significantly more room for recovery and healing.

This extra margin allows players to learn attack patterns without restarting repeatedly.

In practical gameplay, Mask Shards reduce frustration and make exploration far less punishing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Mask Shards are in Hollow Knight?

There are 16 Mask Shards total.

How many Masks can you gain?

Every four shards create one Mask, giving a total of four additional Masks.

Is the Hive Mask Shard missable?

No. You can return to The Hive later and collect it whenever you’re ready.

Can you get all Mask Shards before the final boss?

Yes. Every Mask Shard can be obtained before fighting the final boss, provided you have the necessary abilities and upgrades.

Which Mask Shard is hardest to find?

Many players struggle with:

The Hive shard
Royal Waterways shard
Grey Mourner quest reward

These tend to be the most commonly missed locations.

Final Thoughts

Mask Shards are among the most valuable collectibles in Hollow Knight. While some are easy purchases from Sly, others require deep exploration of hidden regions like the Hive and Royal Waterways. Collecting all 16 shards grants four extra Masks, dramatically improving your survivability against Hallownest’s toughest bosses and platforming challenges.

If you’re aiming for full completion or simply want a smoother experience, prioritize Mask Shards whenever you discover a new area. The extra health pays dividends throughout the entire adventure, turning many frustrating encounters into manageable challenges and giving you the confidence to explore every secret Hallownest has to offer.

Outing Club examines the life stories, family histories, and personal paths of famous individuals, giving readers a more in-depth view of the people behind news and media attention.