Mask Shards - Hollow Knight Guide - IGN (2024)

This page of the IGN Hollow Knight Wiki Guide includes instructions on how to find the many collectible Mask Shards you'll need to increase your health in Hollow Knight.

For information on other sections, be sure to check out the rest of our Walkthrough. To learn how to obtain the various Collectibles Hollow Knight has to offer, visit our pages on Charms, Spells, Grubs, and more.

Mask Shards are a collectible in Hollow Knight. Gathering four Mask Shards will increase your available health pool by one Mask, allowing you to take an additional hit from most enemies.

Below are the locations of each Mask Shard in Hollow Knight, along with the area each is located in, how to obtain it, and what currency, skills, Spells, or events are required before it can be obtained.

Mask Shard #1

Once you have found Sly in the southeastern region of Forgotten Crossroads, he’ll return to Dirtmouth and open a shop. Gather up 150 Geo and return to him to obtain this Mask Shard.

Mask Shard #2

NOTE: This Mask Shard requires the player to have found Sly in the Forgotten Crossroads and purchased his first Mask Shard.

Once you have found Sly in the southeastern region of Forgotten Crossroads, he’ll return to Dirtmouth and open a shop. After purchasing the first Mask Shard for 150 Geo, he’ll offer up a second one. Fork over 500 Geo to obtain this Mask Shard.

Mask Shard #7

NOTE: This Mask Shard requires the player to have found Sly in the Forgotten Crossroads, found the Shopkeeper’s Key in Crystal Peak, and have purchased Mask Shards 1 and 2.

Once you have found Sly in the southeastern region of Forgotten Crossroads, he’ll return to Dirtmouth and open a shop. Purchase Mask Shards 1 and 2 and find the Shopkeeper’s Key in Crystal Peak (located northwest of the first area bench) and he’ll offer this Mask Shard for 800 Geo.

Mask Shard #8

NOTE: This Mask Shard requires the player to have found Sly in the Forgotten Crossroads, found the Shopkeeper’s Key in Crystal Peak, and have purchased Mask Shards 1, 2, and 7.

Once you have found Sly in the southeastern region of Forgotten Crossroads, he’ll return to Dirtmouth and open a shop. Purchase Mask Shards 1 and 2 and find the Shopkeeper’s Key in Crystal Peak (located northwest of the first area bench) then purchase Mask Shard 7. After that, Sly will put one final Mask Shard up for 1,500 Geo.

Mask Shard #15

NOTE: This Mask Shard requires the Mantis Claw and Mothwing Cloak.

While this Mask Shard is located in Dirtmouth, it requires you to find Bretta in the southern reaches of the Fungal Wastes. Southeast of Mantis Village there is an area Bench. Head left from the Bench and take the exit in the bottom left corner and you’ll quickly arrive at the Dashmaster statue, where the Dashmaster Charm can be obtained.

Head left from the statue to discover a hidden cavern. Wall-jump up the left wall, then jump and dash to find a long tunnel filled with spikes. Use the Mantis Claw and the Mothwing Cloak to navigate the treacherous tunnel until you find Bretta.

Speak with her to rouse her from her trance-like state and she’ll return to her home in Dirtmouth. Head back to Dirtmouth and the Bretta’s home, immediately to the right of Cornifer and Iselda’s shop, will be open. Enter to find the Mask Shard.

Mask Shard #3

NOTE: This Mask Shard requires the Lumafly Lantern, which can be purchased at Sly's Shop in Dirtmouth for 1,800 Geo after the Knight meets Sly in the Forgotten Crossroads.

Mask Shard #3 is located in southeast Greenpath. From the southeast area Bench, head south and take the first exit on the right side. Continue along the spike-filled corridor and you'll soon arrive at a small temple called the Stone Sanctuary.

Enter the temple and navigate all the way to the right through the elevated platforms and spiked pits and you'll find Mask Shard #3 hovering in the air in the final chamber.

Mask Shard #4

NOTE: This Mask Shard requires the Lumafly Lantern, which can be purchased at Sly's Shop in Dirtmouth for 1,800 Geo after the Knight meets Sly in the Forgotten Crossroads. It also requires a Simple Key, which can be purchased from Sly or found in the Soul Sanctum area of the City of Tears.

Mask Shard #4 is located in the western section of the Royal Waterways, just south of where the player meets Cornifer. From the Fungal Wastes entrance, head right into the next area, then drop down into the water and turn left. Follow the path and you'll find the Mask Shard in a hidden alcove.

Enter the temple and navigate all the way to the right through the elevated platforms and spiked pits and you'll find Mask Shard #3 hovering in the air in the final chamber.

Mask Shard #5

NOTE: This Mask Shard requires the player to have rescued 5 Grubs.

While traveling through Hallownest, you’ll undoubtedly find small Grubs trapped in glass jars (especially if you’ve been following our guide on how to obtain every Grub in Hollow Knight!). After each one is rescued, they return to the Grubfather, who is located in the northwestern corner of Forgotten Crossroads.

The Grubfather is extremely grateful for the safe return of each and every Grub, and he offers mountains of Geo, and other valuables, for players who free his children. Free at least 5 Grubs and return to him to obtain this Mask Shard.

Mask Shard #12

NOTE: This Mask Shard requires the Mantis Claw or Monarch Wings.

This Mask Shard is located in the southern reaches of Forgotten Crossroads, south of the area Hot Springs. In the large cavern with the invincible burrowing Gloams, in the lower left corner, you’ll see a ledge. Hop up to it and you’ll enter a tunnel filled with Gloams.

Time your moves carefully as you proceed and eventually you’ll drop down into a small alcove where you’ll find the Mask Shard.

Mask Shard #13

This Mask Shard is located in the western reaches of Forgotten Crossroads. From the entrance to the Forgotten Crossroads, head left until you reach the large vertical shaft, then drop down and take the third exit on the left side.

Follow the path down and you’ll find the Brooding Mawlek boss encounter. Defeat it and this Mask Shard will appear.

Mask Shard #6

NOTE: This Mask Shard requires the Mothwing Cloak and the Mantis Cloak.

Mask Shard #6 is located in the bottom right section of the Queen's Station Stagway, located on the far left side of the Fungal Wastes.

From the Stagway Bench, head right and you'll find a part of the station which has been overrun by thorns. Wall-jump and dash through the tiny maze and you'll find Mask Shard #6 hovering in the air next to a lever which will open the way out.

Mask Shard #9

NOTE: This Mask Shard requires the Tram Pass.

This Mask Shard is located in The Hive, a sub-area of Kingdom’s Edge, which can be accessed after the player gains access to Ancient Basin and has a Tram Pass.

Towards the end of The Hive, and located just before the area boss, you’ll see a Mask Shard hidden behind a breakable wall. Head to the right side of the screen and attract the attention of a massive Hive Guardian.

Get it to follow you back to the wall, then repeatedly wall-jump on the breakable section of the wall until the Hive Guardian initiates its charging bounce attack. Move out of the way and the Hive Guardian will slam into the wall, breaking it open and allowing you to obtain the Mask Shard.

Mask Shard #10

NOTE: This Mask Shard requires the Monarch Wings and the Mantis Claw.

This Mask Shard is located in Deepnest, but is accessed via the Fungal Core (a sub-area of the Fungal Wastes) just northwest of the Mantis Village. Take the exit at the top of Mantis Village, then follow the path up and to the left, taking the first exit on the left side. You’ll arrive in a small area with a long vertical shaft upwards, so use the Monarch Wings to double-jump up to the wall, then wall-jump to the top and you’ll enter an area called the Fungal Core.

Head left, dropping off each ledge until you reach a hole at the bottom left corner. Drop down and follow the path all the way down to the very bottom of the area, then drop down the massive hole and you’ll fall into Deepnest. Floating to your left is the Mask Shard. Pick it up, then head left or right to fall through weak sections of the floor.

Mask Shard #11

NOTE: This Mask Shard requires the Dream Nail.

Once you have obtained the Dream Nail, you will be able to use Whispering Roots and challenge Dream Warriors to obtain Essence. You can also return to previously defeated bosses, such as False Knight, Soul Master, and Dung Defender, to fight much more challenging versions and obtain large amounts of Essence.

After gathering 1,500 Essence, return to the Seer in Resting Grounds and they will gift you this Mask Shard.

Mask Shard #14

NOTE: This Mask Shard requires the completion of the Grey Mourner “Delicate Flower” side quest.

This Mask Shard is found in the Resting Grounds and can be obtained by completing the Grey Mourner side quest. Due to the restrictions associated with this quest, this Mask Shard can be the most difficult to obtain.

Starting at the Resting Grounds Stagway, head left into the next area, then head down to the bottom right corner of the shaft to find a stone coffin.

Stand atop the coffin and use Desolate Dive to smash through into the tunnels beneath the Resting Grounds, then head right, breaking through various weak walls and ceilings until you reach an exit near the upper right corner.

Head through it and you’ll find a Bench and a small building. Speak to the Grey Mourner inside the building to obtain the Delicate Flower and begin the quest.

Once you have obtained the Delicate Flower, you’ll need to make the treacherous journey to a grave in Queen’s Gardens, which is located just north of the Queen’s Gardens Stagway.

While it is tempting, don’t make for the Resting Grounds Stagway; you must make the journey without using the Dreamgate teleport or Stagways and, as an added challenge, you must arrive at the grave without taking any damage, or the flower will be destroyed.

If you take damage, and the flower breaks, return to the Grey Mourner to receive a replacement. It may take you a few tries, but once you have successfully brought the Delicate Flower to the grave, return to the Grey Mourner in the Resting Grounds to obtain this Mask Shard.

Mask Shard #16

NOTE: This Mask Shard requires the Monarch Wings, Mantis Claw, and completion of the Crystal Guardian and Enraged Guardian boss encounters. For a walkthrough of those boss encounters, check out the IGN Wiki Guide for the Crystal Guardian.

This Mask Shard is located in the northern region of the Crystal Peak area, in a small room just above the northern area Bench.

Wake and defeat the Crystal Guardian, then head right and use the Monarch Wings and Mantis Claw to jump up into the above area, where you'll find the Enraged Guardian. Defeat it and head left to claim the Mask Shard.