Finding the Hive in Hollow Knight is a rite of passage that usually involves a lot of swearing and walking back and forth past a wall that looks perfectly normal. Honestly, it’s one of the most infamously hidden areas in Hallownest. You can see the golden, honey-colored glow behind certain walls in Kingdom’s Edge, but finding the actual hole to crawl through? That's a different story.
If you’re currently wandering around the bottom-right corner of the map feeling like you’re losing your mind, don't worry. You’re not bad at the game; the developers at Team Cherry just really wanted to see if you were paying attention to the small stuff.
Where is the Hive Hollow Knight? Finding the Kingdom's Edge Secret
Basically, the Hive is tucked away in the southeast corner of the map. It sits directly underneath the main vertical climb of Kingdom’s Edge and right next to the Tram Station that connects to the Ancient Basin and Deepnest.
To actually get there, you need to head to the Kingdom's Edge Tram Station.
Once you step off the tram, don't immediately start climbing upward toward the rest of the zone. Instead, head to the right. You’ll find yourself in a large room filled with those annoying little "Hivelings"—the tiny, buzzing bees that seem harmless until they start dive-bombing your head.
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The Breakable Wall You’re Looking For
The entrance isn't a door. It's a breakable wall.
Most people miss it because it’s positioned above a spike pit. You’ll see two or three Hivelings hovering in front of a section of the wall on the right side of the room. This is your clue. If you blast a Vengeful Spirit or Shade Soul at those bees, the spell will keep going and crack the wall behind them. If you prefer the old-fashioned way, you can jump and slash at the wall with your nail, but be careful not to fall into the spikes below.
Once that wall crumbles, you’re in. The music shifts, the air turns golden, and you’ve officially entered the domain of the bees.
What Do You Need Before Entering?
Technically, you can stumble into the Hive as soon as you have the Tram Pass from Deepnest. However, just because you can get in doesn't mean you're ready for what's inside. The Hive is a platforming nightmare filled with enemies that have very large hitboxes.
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- Monarch Wings (Double Jump): While not strictly required to enter, your life will be ten times easier if you have the double jump. There are several vertical sections where you'll feel stuck without it.
- Isma’s Tear: There are some acid pools nearby in Kingdom's Edge. Having the ability to swim in acid makes the journey to the entrance much less stressful.
- The Tram Pass: This is the big one. Without the pass found in the Failed Tramway in Deepnest, you can't take the tram to the station right next to the Hive.
Honestly, some players try to drop down into the Hive from the top of Kingdom's Edge, but that's a one-way trip that usually ends in a lot of lost Geo. Stick to the Tram Station entrance.
Why Even Bother With the Hive?
It's an optional area, so you might wonder if it’s worth the headache. The short answer is yes. The long answer is Hiveblood.
The Hive Knight Boss
Deep within the honeycomb tunnels, you’ll face the Hive Knight. He’s a fast, teleporting bug who coughs up bees and spawns spike balls. He’s a "honorable" boss, protecting the corpse of Queen Vespa.
The Rewards
Once you take him down, you get access to the Hiveblood charm.
This charm is a game-changer for specific parts of the game. It slowly regenerates your last lost health mask without using Soul. If you’re planning on tackling the White Palace or the Path of Pain, Hiveblood is practically mandatory unless you have the patience of a saint. It turns those "one mistake and you're dead" platforming sections into "one mistake and you wait ten seconds to try again."
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You'll also find:
- A Mask Shard hidden behind a breakable floor.
- A Grub (because there’s always a grub).
- Tons of Geo from the giant Hive Guardians if you have the patience to farm them.
Dealing with the Hive's Annoyances
The biggest challenge in the Hive isn't actually the boss; it's the Hive Guardians. These are the massive, round bees that bounce around the hallways. They have way more health than you think, and their hitbox is basically the entire screen.
Tip: Don't try to out-tank them. Use your spells. Descending Dark provides i-frames (invincibility frames) that are a literal life-saver when a Guardian is bouncing toward you in a cramped tunnel.
Also, be aware that there is only one bench in the entire Hive. It’s hidden inside a giant chunk of honey that you have to break open. If you die to the Hive Knight, it’s a long, annoying trek back from the Kingdom's Edge Tram Station if you haven't found that internal bench yet.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Journey
If you’ve been searching for the Hive and can’t find it, here is exactly what you should do right now:
- Check your inventory for the Tram Pass. If you don't have it, head to the far left of Deepnest to the Failed Tramway.
- Travel to the Ancient Basin tram station and ride it all the way to the right to Kingdom's Edge.
- Step off the tram and walk right. Look for the Hivelings buzzing in front of a solid-looking wall.
- Blast that wall with a spell. Don't even try to find a crack; just fire off a Shade Soul and see what breaks.
- Bring the Dream Nail. Once you beat the boss, use the Dream Nail on the spirit of Queen Vespa to get some of the coolest lore tidbits in the game about why the Hive stayed separate from the rest of Hallownest.
The Hive is a beautiful, golden-hued break from the gloom of the rest of the kingdom, even if the bees there really want you dead. Just keep your nail sharp and your eyes on the walls.