You're stuck. I know because I’ve been there—staring at that shimmering, white-armored corpse in the Ancient Basin and wondering why a simple sword swing isn't doing anything. If you want to know how to get to the White Palace, you aren't just looking for a map marker. You’re looking for a key. Not a physical key, but a mental one.
The White Palace is arguably the most brutal platforming challenge in Hollow Knight. It’s a stark departure from the somber, combat-heavy exploration of the rest of Hallownest. Suddenly, you’re in a world of buzzsaws and blinding light. But before you can even die to those saws, you have to break the seal.
The Absolute Prerequisite: The Awoken Dream Nail
Most players make the mistake of finding the location before they have the gear. You’ll find the entrance in the Ancient Basin, right near the Hidden Station stagway. You’ll see a Kingsmould—that big, silver-armored knight—slumped against a wall.
If you hit him with a standard Dream Nail, nothing happens. Just a few sparks.
To enter his mind and access the palace, you need the Awoken Dream Nail. This isn't just handed to you. You have to earn it by collecting 1,800 Essence. Honestly, this is the part where most people give up and go do something else. Essence comes from defeating Dream Warriors like Xero or Gorb, but the real "fast track" is hunting down the Dream Variants of bosses you’ve already beaten. Think Failed Champion, Lost Kin, or Soul Tyrant. They are significantly harder than their base versions, but they drop hundreds of Essence at a time.
Once you hit that 1,800 mark, head back to the Seer in Resting Grounds. She’ll upgrade your nail. Now you’re ready to crack the shell of that Kingsmould.
Navigating the Ancient Basin
The Ancient Basin is a depressing place. It’s gray, it’s dusty, and it’s filled with those annoying Shadow Creepers. To get to the White Palace entrance, you should have the Monarch Wings (double jump) and the Mantis Claw.
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Go to the very bottom right of the Basin. You’ll pass the area where the fountain is. Keep going right until you hit the Hidden Station. Just outside that station, you’ll find the Kingsmould.
Once your Dream Nail is "Awoken," just stand next to the corpse and hold the button. The screen will flash white. You’re in.
Why does this place even exist?
Lore-wise, the White Palace was the Pale King’s sanctuary. He literally pulled his home out of the physical world and hid it inside the mind of a dead guard to escape the Infection. It’s a memory. A nightmare. It’s also the only way to get the Kingsoul charm, which is the missing piece you need if you want to see the "true" endings of the game.
Preparing Your Charm Loadout (Don't Skip This)
If you walk into the White Palace with a combat build, you are going to have a bad time. There are almost no enemies here. The enemy is the floor. And the walls. And the ceiling. Basically, everything is a buzzsaw.
You need a "Regen Build."
Hiveblood is the MVP here. It’s a 4-slot charm, which is expensive, but it automatically refills your last lost mask of health after a few seconds. Since the White Palace is a series of platforming puzzles, you can just wait after every mistake. It turns a frustrating "Game Over" into a test of patience.
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Pair Hiveblood with Grubsong. Every time you hit a spike, you gain soul. If you’re really struggling, add Deep Focus. This allows you to heal two masks for the price of one, though it’s slower. Honestly, if you have Hiveblood, you can literally stand still and never die. It just takes a bit of time.
The Path Through the Saws
Once you're inside, the Palace is divided into several wings. It’s vertical. Very vertical.
You’ll be doing a lot of "pogoing." If you haven't mastered down-slashing on spikes or saws to bounce upward, the White Palace will teach you. Or it will kill you.
- The First Wing: Mostly introduces you to the shifting platforms. Keep your eyes on the timing.
- The Mid-Section: This is where the buzzsaws start overlapping. There’s a specific rhythm to the sound. Listen for the whirr-clink.
- The Throne Room: Your goal is the very top. You’ll eventually find the Pale King himself. He’s not going to fight you. He’s already gone.
I remember the first time I reached the King. The music changes. It gets quiet. All that stress from the saws just vanishes. You just walk up to him, give him a little tap, and he drops his half of the Kingsoul.
A Quick Note on the "Path of Pain"
If you see a breakable wall in the mid-section that leads to a ridiculously hard-looking corridor, that’s the Path of Pain. You do not need to do this to complete the White Palace or get the ending. It is purely for bragging rights and a tiny bit of extra lore. Unless you are a masochist or a speedrunner, just keep moving toward the King.
Troubleshooting the Entry
Sometimes people think they have the Awoken Dream Nail but they actually don't. Check your inventory. Does the nail look like it’s glowing with white fire? If it’s just the standard purple-ish glow, you haven't talked to the Seer yet.
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Another common issue: players can't find the Kingsmould. If you are in the Ancient Basin and you see the tram, you’ve gone too far left. Head right. Past the Cornifer spot. If you find the broken elevator shaft, you’re close.
What to Do After You Finish
So you’ve got the Kingsoul. Great. You’re probably exhausted.
But the game isn't over. The Kingsoul is a heavy, 5-slot charm that slowly generates soul. It’s kind of mediocre for combat. Its real purpose is to open the path to the Birthplace at the very bottom of the Abyss.
If you take that charm down there, something will change. The floor will open. You’ll find your own reflection. That is how you turn the Kingsoul into the Void Heart, which is permanent and takes up zero notches. That’s the real prize.
Actionable Steps for Your Run:
- Farm 1,800 Essence immediately. Don't wait. Hit the Whispering Roots in every area and hunt the Dream Warriors.
- Equip Hiveblood. Go to the Hive (under Kingdom's Edge) and beat the Hive Knight if you don't have it yet. It is mandatory for a sane experience.
- Practice the Pogo. Find a safe spot with a spike and practice jumping and down-slashing repeatedly. You’ll need to do this for 30 seconds straight in some palace sections.
- Check the Walls. There are hidden benches throughout the Palace. If you feel like you've been platforming for too long without a save, you probably missed a breakable wall.
The White Palace is a rite of passage. It’s frustrating, it’s beautiful, and it’s the only way to truly understand what happened to the King of Hallownest. Just breathe. Wait for the Hiveblood to kick in. You've got this.
Once you have the Kingsoul, your next move is to head to the bottom of the Abyss to transform it. Don't stop now; the hardest part is actually behind you.