You're wandering through the Crossroads, minding your own business, when you hear it. That high-pitched, melodic chirping. It’s a sound that basically defines the early-game experience of Team Cherry’s masterpiece. You follow the noise, break a glass jar, and a fat, happy green caterpillar wiggles its way into the ground. Finding Hollow Knight all grubs is arguably the most rewarding—and occasionally heartbreaking—side quest in Hallownest.
Most players treat it like a simple collect-a-thon. Find the bug, get the Geo. But if you've spent any real time in the Queen’s Gardens or the depths of the Hive, you know it’s much more than that. It’s a test of platforming skill, a lore mystery, and eventually, a source of some of the best Charms in the game.
There are 46 of these little guys scattered across the map. Some are sitting right in the open. Others? Well, others require you to navigate literal gauntlets of thorns or face off against Mimics that look exactly like the real thing until they sprout teeth and try to eat your face.
The Grubfather’s Creepy Obsession
Every time you save a grub, you head back to the left side of the Forgotten Crossroads to visit the Grubfather. He’s huge. He’s loud. He throws money at you like a proud, over-enthusiastic grandfather. Honestly, the rewards start small—a bit of Geo here, a Rancid Egg there. But as you progress through the Hollow Knight all grubs checklist, the loot gets serious.
You’ll eventually unlock the Mask Shard, which is vital for staying alive in the late game, and the Pale Ore, which you absolutely need to upgrade your Nail at the Smithy. Then there are the charms. Grubsong is a literal life-saver for boss fights because it gives you SOUL when you take damage. If you’re a perfectionist and rescue all 46, you get Grubberfly’s Elegy. It lets you fire beams of light from your Nail when your health is full. It’s basically the Master Sword from Zelda, but bug-themed.
That Ending, Though...
We have to talk about it. If you’ve finished the quest, you know the "twist." You walk into the room, and the grubs are gone. The Grubfather has... well, he’s eaten them. Or has he?
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If you listen closely, you can still hear them chirping inside his belly. The achievement you unlock is called "Metamorphosis." In the world of Hollow Knight, the Grubfather is acting as a living cocoon. He’s sacrificing his own body to allow the next generation to undergo their transformation. It’s weird, it’s gross, and it’s peak Team Cherry storytelling.
Navigating the Map: Where Most People Get Stuck
You probably found the first ten without even trying. The real trouble starts when you hit the late-game areas. Hallownest is massive, and some of these jars are hidden behind breakable walls that don't even have the courtesy to look cracked.
The Collector’s Map is Your Best Friend
If you’re trying to find Hollow Knight all grubs without a guide, you’re going to have a bad time unless you find the Collector. Deep within the Tower of Love (which requires the Love Key from Queen’s Gardens), you’ll fight a spindly, laughing freak of a boss. Beat him, and you get the Collector's Map. This puts a little icon on your in-game map for every single uncollected grub.
It makes the hunt infinitely easier, but it doesn't make the platforming any less stressful.
- Deepnest: There's a grub hidden behind a series of fake walls in the room full of Garpedes. It's frustrating. You have to time your movements perfectly or get crushed.
- Crystal Peak: One of the grubs requires a precise series of Crystal Heart dashes and double jumps through a corridor of lasers. If your hands are shaking, you're going to hit the spikes.
- The Hive: You have to trick a Big Bee into smashing a wall for you. It’s one of those "how was I supposed to know that?" moments.
Breaking Down the Difficulty Spikes
The game doesn't scale the difficulty of these rescues linearly. You might find a "hard" one in the Crossroads and an "easy" one in the Abyss.
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Take the Queen’s Gardens. The grubs there aren't just hidden; they are guarded by some of the most annoying platforming sections in the game. You’re dealing with disappearing platforms and thorns that send you back to the start of the room. It’s less about combat and more about whether or not you can handle the pressure of the White Lady’s backyard.
Then you have the Mimics. These are the ultimate "gotcha" moments. You see a jar, you feel that rush of dopamine, you break it, and instead of a cute "mwee!" sound, you get a screeching monster. There are three in the entire game. One in Crystal Peak, and two in Deepnest. Pro tip: Hit the jar with your Dream Nail first. If the dialogue says "...Empty..." or "...Kill...", it’s a Mimic. Real grubs just think "...Home..." or "...Happy...".
Why You Should Care About Grubberfly’s Elegy
A lot of people get the final reward and never use it. That’s a mistake. Grubberfly's Elegy is actually broken if you pair it with the right build.
If you combine it with Quick Slash and Fragile/Unbreakable Strength, you turn into a ranged powerhouse. This is especially useful for the Radiant boss fights in Godhome where you die in one hit anyway. Since the charm only works at full health, and Radiant bosses require you to stay at full health (or die), it’s a match made in heaven.
Synergy is Key
- Grubsong + Weaversong: This is the "lazy man's" SOUL generator. Your little weaver spiders will actually collect SOUL for you every time they bite an enemy if you have Grubsong equipped.
- Elegy + Fury of the Fallen: There is a weird, hidden interaction here. If you are down to your last life fluff, the Elegy beams turn red and deal way more damage. It's high-risk, high-reward.
Fact-Checking the Common Myths
There’s a lot of misinformation floating around on old forums about the grubs. No, you cannot kill the Grubfather to get them back. No, there isn't a secret 47th grub hidden in the Palace.
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Also, some players think you need to find Hollow Knight all grubs to get the "true" ending of the game (Dream No More). You don’t. You only need them for the 112% completion achievement and certain Charms. However, if you're going for the Platinum trophy or all Steam achievements, you can't skip this.
Strategic Pathing for a 112% Run
If you're aiming for efficiency, don't hunt grubs one by one. It’s a waste of time. Instead, wait until you have the Monarch Wings and the Isma’s Tear.
Most of the "missing" grubs people complain about are the ones submerged in acid or tucked away on high ledges in the Kingdom’s Edge. If you try to get them too early, you'll just end up backtracking. Get your movement abilities first. Then, go on a "Grub World Tour."
- Clear the Forgotten Crossroads early for the easy Geo.
- Ignore the ones in Fog Canyon until you have Isma's Tear.
- Save the Collector's fight for right before you head into the final boss encounters.
- Use the Dreamgate to teleport back to the Grubfather quickly after a big haul.
Finding every single one of these little guys is a journey through the history of Hallownest. You see the ruins, the gardens, and the industrial hell of the peaks. By the time you’ve rescued the last one, you’ve basically seen everything the kingdom has to offer.
Actionable Next Steps for Collectors
Start by checking your inventory. If you don't have the Grubsong charm yet, you haven't even rescued 10 grubs. Head to the Crossroads and finish those basics. Next, prioritize getting the Love Key from the bottom-right of the Queen's Gardens. You’ll need the Mantis Claw and Crystal Heart to reach it. Once you have that, head to the Tower of Love in the City of Tears to fight the Collector. Having those icons on your map changes the game from a frustrating search into a focused mission. Check your map for the "jar" icons and mark a route that hits the Hive and Deepnest in one go to save on travel time.