You've been hitting that same Vengefly for five minutes. It’s annoying, right? Your nail feels like a wet noodle, and you’re starting to realize that the bosses in Hallownest aren't getting any easier. You need more power. You need the Nailsmith. But more importantly, you need to hunt down those rare, silvery slabs known as Pale Ore.
Honestly, the map in Hollow Knight is massive, and if you're just wandering around hoping to stumble onto these, you’re gonna have a bad time. There are exactly six pieces. No more, no less. Finding them all is the difference between a "Sharpened Nail" that tickles enemies and a "Pure Nail" that deletes them.
Let’s get into where they actually are. No fluff. Just the spots.
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The Hollow Knight Pale Ore Locations You Can Actually Reach
Most players think they can just rush the Nailsmith and get a maxed-out weapon immediately. Nope. The first upgrade is easy—just 250 Geo. After that, the game demands Pale Ore.
The easiest one to snag early is probably in the Ancient Basin. You don’t need to be a god at the game to get it. If you’ve got the Tram Pass or you’ve tumbled down the long shaft from the City of Tears, you’re close. Head west from the Tram Station. You’ll find a couple of Lesser Mawleks guarding a shiny item. Kill them. Claim your prize. It’s basically a participation trophy compared to what comes later.
Then there’s the Seer. This is the moth lady in the Resting Grounds. She’s not just there for the lore; she’s a vending machine for rewards. Once you’ve collected 300 Dream Essence by slapping Whispering Roots or bullying Dream Warriors like Xero or Gorb, go talk to her. She’ll hand over a piece of Pale Ore like it’s nothing.
Why the Crown of Hallownest is a Nightmare
If you hate platforming, you’re going to hate the Hallownest’s Crown location. It’s at the very, very top of Crystal Peak. You essentially have to climb until you can’t climb anymore.
You absolutely need the Mantis Claw for this. Having the Monarch Wings (double jump) and Crystal Heart (super dash) makes it a lot less of a headache, though some speedrunners might tell you otherwise. At the absolute summit, there’s a massive statue of The Radiance. Tucked right into the pedestal is your Pale Ore. The view is great. The trek up there? Not so much.
The Combat Challenges
Not all ore is just sitting on the ground. Sometimes you have to bleed for it.
- The Trial of the Conqueror: Head to the Colosseum of Fools in Kingdom’s Edge. You have to beat the first trial first, which is fine. But the second one, the Trial of the Conqueror, is the one that matters. It’s 17 waves of chaos. If you survive, you get the ore and a decent chunk of Geo.
- Nosk’s Lair: This one is creepy. In Deepnest—near the Hot Spring—there’s a breakable wall to the west. You’ll see a version of yourself running away. Follow it. Eventually, you’ll fight Nosk. He’s a weird, spindly mimic boss. Kill him, walk into the back room, and there’s your ore.
- The Grubfather’s Gift: This is the "long game" ore. You need to rescue 31 Grubs. There are 46 in total, so you don't need all of them, but 31 is still a lot of jar-breaking. Once you’ve hit that number, go back to the Crossroads and the old man will toss you a piece of ore.
The Upgrade Path (And the Geo Sink)
Getting the ore is only half the battle. You still have to pay the Nailsmith in the City of Tears. Here is how the scaling actually works:
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- Channeled Nail: 1 Pale Ore + 800 Geo.
- Coiled Nail: 2 Pale Ore + 2,000 Geo.
- Pure Nail: 3 Pale Ore + 4,000 Geo.
Total cost? 6 pieces of ore and 7,050 Geo. It’s a lot. If you’re short on cash, I’d suggest equipping the Fragile Greed charm (just don't die) or farming the little moss knights in Greenpath.
Common Misconceptions
People often ask if they can skip the Colosseum or the Grubs. Technically, yes, you can beat the game without a Pure Nail. People do it with the Old Nail all the time for the "bravery" (or insanity). But for a regular playthrough, skipping these makes the endgame bosses feel like hitting a brick wall.
Also, don't ignore the Collector’s Map. If you’re struggling to find enough grubs for that 31-count reward, go to the Tower of Love and beat The Collector. It puts every single missing grub on your map. It’s a total game-changer.
Actionable Next Steps
Check your inventory right now. If you have zero Pale Ore and haven't visited the Ancient Basin, go there first. It is the lowest barrier to entry. If you’ve already done that, start hunting the 300 Dream Essence for the Seer; it’s much faster than doing the Colosseum trials.
Once you have your first piece, get to the far west side of the City of Tears. The Nailsmith is waiting in a lonely hut. Upgrade that blade and stop tickling the enemies.