How to Find the White Palace

AI Coaching Guide — Hollow Knight

By Sidekick AI Team
★★★★☆~30-60 minLate Game
Phase 1Access
Phase 2Platforming
Phase 3The Pale King

Getting to the White Palace

The White Palace is a dream world area. You can't just walk there.

Sidekick AI suggested:

To access the White Palace, you need the Awoken Dream Nail. That's the upgraded version — you get it from the Seer in the Resting Grounds after collecting 1800 Dream Essence. If you haven't done that yet, go farm dream bosses and warrior dreams first.

Prerequisites:

  1. Awoken Dream Nail — upgrade the Dream Nail by bringing 1800 Essence to the Seer
  2. Go to Palace Grounds in the Ancient Basin (right side, below the Broken Vessel boss arena)
  3. Find the Kingsmould corpse sitting on a throne
  4. Use the Dream Nail on it — you enter the White Palace

The Platforming Gauntlet

The White Palace is primarily a platforming challenge, not a combat one. The main threats are saw blades, spikes, and thorn floors.

Sidekick AI suggested:

Equip Hiveblood before you start. It regenerates one mask of health every 12 seconds. In a platforming section where you're getting hit repeatedly, this passive healing is the difference between completing it and running out of health.

Recommended charm loadout

  • Hiveblood (3 notches) — passive healing, essential
  • Mark of Pride (3 notches) — longer nail for pogo bouncing on saws
  • Grubsong (1 notch) — gain Soul when hit, allows healing
  • Deep Focus (3 notch) — heal 2 masks per heal, fewer stops

Key techniques

  • Nail pogo — downstrike on saw blades to bounce across gaps. The saw blades are solid objects you can bounce on.
  • Dash timing — many sections require precise Mothwing Cloak or Shade Cloak dashes through saw gaps.
  • Wall cling — use wall jumps to wait and time your movements between moving saws.
Sidekick AI suggested:

This section has three saws moving in a pattern. Wait for the first saw to pass right, then dash through the gap. Wall jump on the far side and wait for the next opening. Don't rush — Hiveblood heals you between attempts.

Tips for Survival

  • Take your time. Hiveblood heals you passively. After each hit, wait 12 seconds before trying again.
  • Practice pogo bouncing. If you can't consistently downstrike on saws, practice in a safer area first.
  • Watch the patterns. Every saw blade section has a rhythm. Watch for 5-10 seconds before attempting.
  • Benches exist. There are benches inside the White Palace. Rest at each one to set your respawn point.
  • Ignore the Path of Pain on your first visit. Complete the main palace first.

The Throne Room

At the end of the palace, you reach the Pale King's throne room. Here you find:

  • Half of the Kingsoul charm — needed for the true ending
  • A lore moment with the Pale King
Sidekick AI suggested:

You made it to the throne room. Grab the Kingsoul fragment from the Pale King's corpse. Combined with the other half (from the Queen's Gardens), it forms the Kingsoul charm, which you need for the true ending path.

Summary

The White Palace tests platforming precision, not combat. Equip Hiveblood, learn to pogo bounce on saw blades, and take your time. Let Sidekick AI call out saw patterns and dash timing so you can focus on execution instead of memorization.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I access the White Palace?

You need the Awoken Dream Nail (upgraded Dream Nail from the Seer after collecting 1800 Essence). Then go to the Palace Grounds in the Ancient Basin and use the Dream Nail on the Kingsmould corpse sitting on the throne. This transports you into the White Palace dream.

What charms should I use for the White Palace?

Hiveblood (passive healing, essential for platforming sections), Mark of Pride (longer nail range for pogo bounces), Grubsong (gain Soul when hit, lets you heal), and Deep Focus (heal 2 masks per heal). Hiveblood is the single most valuable charm here since it heals you automatically between hits.

What is the Path of Pain?

The Path of Pain is an optional ultra-hard platforming gauntlet hidden within the White Palace. It's behind a breakable wall in the middle of the palace. It's significantly harder than the main White Palace and rewards a lore cutscene. It's not required for any ending.

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