You hear it before you see him. That low, rhythmic humming that somehow cuts through the eternal downpour of Hallownest’s capital. If you’ve spent more than ten minutes wandering through the City of Tears, you know the feeling of being utterly, hopelessly lost in its verticality. You're dodging Great Husk Sentries, trying not to fall into the fountain, and desperately looking for a bench. But more than a bench, you need a map. Honestly, finding Cornifer in the City of Tears is the first real "git gud" moment for navigation in Hollow Knight. It isn't just about having the Geo; it’s about surviving the trek to his little corner of the world.
He's tucked away. Not too deep, but just enough that if you aren't paying attention to the paper trails on the ground, you’ll breeze right past him.
The City of Tears is a massive difficulty spike. For many players, it’s the first time the game truly opens up and says, "Good luck, you're going to need it." Finding the map maker isn't just a luxury here. It's a survival requirement. Without him, you're just a tiny knight wandering through a rainy graveyard of aristocrats.
Tracking the Hum: Cornifer's City of Tears Location
Most people enter the City after using the City Crest they looted from the False Knight. You walk past the statue of the Hollow Knight, feel the atmosphere shift, and then the panic sets in. Where do you go?
To find Cornifer, you need to head toward the center of the first main section of the city. Specifically, he’s located in a room in the upper-middle portion of the western side of the City of Tears. If you've reached the bench with Quirrel (the one overlooking the windows), you’re actually getting warm. You’ll need to go up.
💡 You might also like: Why EA Sports Cricket 07 is Still the King of the Pitch Two Decades Later
Look for the tell-tale signs: loose pages of parchment scattered on the floor. Team Cherry was brilliant with this. They don't give you a waypoint; they give you a breadcrumb trail. Follow the papers into a room filled with platforms and a few pesky Winged Sentries. He’s sitting right there, seemingly oblivious to the fact that the city is a deathtrack.
What if you miss him?
It happens. Maybe you were running for your life from a Belfly or a Sentry and just didn't hear the humming. If you beat the area boss or progress too far without buying the map, Cornifer will eventually pack up his things and head back to Dirtmouth. Don't worry, you haven't locked yourself out of the map forever. You'll just have to buy it from Iselda at her shop. It costs a bit more Geo there, though. Iselda takes a convenience fee, basically.
Why the City of Tears Map is Different
The City of Tears is unique because it's split into two distinct halves. The first time you find Cornifer, he only sells you the map for the western side. This catches a lot of people off guard. You buy the map, look at it, and realize a huge chunk of the right side is just... blank.
That’s because the city is geographically divided by a large gap that you can't cross initially. You’ll eventually access the eastern side via the King’s Station or through the Deepnest/Ancient Basin routes. When you get there, your map won't auto-update. You have to fill in those blanks yourself by exploring, provided you have the Wayward Compass equipped so you actually know where you are standing.
📖 Related: Walkthrough Final Fantasy X-2: How to Actually Get That 100% Completion
Actually, the Wayward Compass is non-negotiable here. The City's layers—the Soul Sanctum, the basements, the elevator shafts—are a nightmare to keep straight in your head.
The Cost of Knowledge
When you find him in his usual spot, the map for the City of Tears will set you back 60 Geo. That’s a steal. Seriously. By this point in the game, 60 Geo is what you find under the couch cushions. If you wait and buy it from the shop in Dirtmouth, the price jumps slightly.
The Soul Sanctum Problem
A lot of players think Cornifer will be inside the Soul Sanctum. He isn't. He’s smart enough to stay away from those teleporting Soul Twisters. The Soul Sanctum is technically part of the City, but it’s a sub-area. If you’re looking for a map specifically for the Sanctum while you’re inside it, you’re out of luck. You have to rely on the general City of Tears map and your own internal sense of direction.
It’s brutal. You’ll get lost. You’ll die to the Soul Master at least three times. That’s just the Hollow Knight experience.
👉 See also: Stick War: Why This Flash Classic Still Dominates Strategy Gaming
Master the Navigation: Practical Steps
Stop running blindly. If you want to master the City of Tears, you need a strategy that goes beyond just finding the guy with the glasses.
- Listen for the Hum: This is your primary radar. Turn down the music if you have to, though Christopher Larkin’s score is incredible, so maybe don't.
- The Bench Near Quirrel: Use this as your "home base." From here, head right and then immediately look for ways to climb.
- Kill the Sentries First: Don't try to talk to Cornifer while a Winged Sentry is diving at your head. Clear the room. He isn't going anywhere, but your health bar is.
- Check the Ground: If you see a single piece of white paper on the floor, you are on the right track.
- Bring the Lantern: While not strictly necessary for the western city, having the Lumafly Lantern makes the trek through the darker corridors leading toward the city much less stressful.
Once you have the map, your next priority should be finding the Blacksmith (the Nailsmith). He’s located at the very bottom left of the city. You’ve likely got a Pale Ore by now, or at least enough Geo to get your first upgrade. Do that before you even think about tackling the Soul Sanctum. A stronger nail makes those City Sentries much less of a headache.
After you’ve secured the map and upgraded your nail, head toward the center of the city to activate the Stag Station. This connects the City of Tears to the rest of Hallownest, making it way easier to get back to Iselda's shop in Dirtmouth to buy the remaining markers and pins you'll need to make sense of the sprawling metropolis.