You’re standing in the rain of the City of Tears, staring at a rusted hatch in the floor. You know something is down there. You can hear the pipes groaning. But the game just tells you it’s locked. This is the classic Hollow Knight simple keys experience—having a vague sense of where you need to go but no idea where the literal "key" to progress is hidden.
The name is a bit of a lie. They aren't "simple" to find. There are exactly four of them in the entire game, and if you're trying to 112% this masterpiece, you’re going to need every single one. Honestly, the game doesn't care if you find them or not. You could finish the whole story and never even see the Junk Pit. But if you want the full experience (and the Godmaster content), you have to hunt them down.
Where to Actually Find the Hollow Knight Simple Keys
Most players stumble onto the first one by accident, but the others? They’re tucked away in corners of Hallownest that most people walk right past. Let’s break down the actual locations without the fluff.
1. The Easy Way: Sly’s Shop
Basically, just go to Dirtmouth. If you’ve rescued Sly from the Forgotten Crossroads, he’ll set up shop and sell you a Simple Key for 950 Geo. It’s expensive for the early game, but it’s the most straightforward one to get. You’ll probably use this for the Waterways or Jiji’s hut.
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2. The City of Tears Alcove
This one is easy to miss because the room is huge and full of Winged Sentries that want to poke you to death. You need to head to the area below the City Storerooms stag station. Look for a massive room with a Whispering Root. If you climb to the very top right, there’s a little alcove with a corpse. That bug is holding your second key.
3. The Ancient Basin’s Hidden Horror
You’ll need the Crystal Heart (super dash) for this. Down in the Ancient Basin, near the area where you fight the Broken Vessel, there’s a path leading further down into a pit. You’ll find a room full of spikes and a few Mawlurks. After you kill the living one, keep going right. You’ll see the corpse of a massive Mawlurk. Go inside its mouth. I know, it's gross. Inside, there's a dead Royal Retainer holding the key.
4. The Pale Lurker (The Godmaster Key)
This is the one that trips everyone up. It wasn't even in the base game originally. You have to go to the Colosseum of Fools in Kingdom’s Edge. Go to the right of the bench room, past the cages, and look for a breakable wall on the far right.
This leads to a secret area called the Pale Lurker’s Retreat. You’ll find a frantic, twitchy bug running around. That’s the Pale Lurker. She won’t fight you head-on; she just runs and throws stuff. Chase her down, smack her until she stays down, and she’ll drop the final key.
What Do These Keys Actually Open?
You’ve got the keys. Now what? You can’t just use them on any door. There are four specific "Simple Locks" in Hallownest.
- Confessor Jiji’s Hut: At the far right of Dirtmouth, past the graveyard. This is a godsend if you died in a stupid place and don't want to trek back to get your Shade. Give Jiji a Rancid Egg, and she’ll summon your Shade right there.
- The Royal Waterways: That hatch I mentioned earlier in the City of Tears. It’s right next to the fountain. This is the "intended" way to reach the sewers and eventually Isma's Grove.
- The Pleasure House: Located in the eastern part of the City of Tears (you’ll need the Elegant Key or some platforming skills to get to this side). It’s a hot spring where you can talk to Millibelle the Banker if she stole your money, or just listen to Marissa sing.
- The Junk Pit (The Godseeker): This is the big one. Hidden behind a breakable wall in the Royal Waterways is the Junk Pit. There’s a massive golden cocoon there. Use a key to "free" the Godseeker, which drops the God Tuner and lets you access Godhome.
The Mistakes Everyone Makes
I've seen people spend hours looking for a fifth key because they think they "lost" one. You can't. There is a 1:1 ratio of keys to locks. If you have a lock left and no key, you missed a location.
Another big misconception? That you must use the Simple Key to get into the Royal Waterways. Technically, you don't. You can actually enter the Waterways from the Kingdom’s Edge side via the Tram or a secret breakable floor near the Eternal Emplitia, but it's a massive headache. Just buy the key from Sly. It’s worth the 950 Geo just to save the walking time.
Also, don't prioritize the Pleasure House. Honestly, it’s the least "useful" of the four locations unless you’re hunting Millibelle to get your Geo back. If you’re low on keys, hit Jiji or the Waterways first.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
If you’re currently stuck, here is the most efficient order to handle the hollow knight simple keys hunt:
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- Check your Geo. If you have 950, go to Sly immediately. Open Jiji's hut first if you’re a beginner, or the Waterways if you're confident.
- Clear the City of Tears. Don't leave that zone until you've grabbed the key from the sentry room. It’s right there; don't make yourself come back later.
- Get the Crystal Heart. You can't get the Basin key without it. Once you have the super dash, make a pit stop in the Mawlurk room.
- Save the Pale Lurker for last. You won't be ready for Godhome until the very end of the game anyway. The fight is annoying, and the area is out of the way.
Go check your inventory. If you're missing that fourth key, head to the Colosseum. That breakable wall is much further right than you think it is.