The Resting Grounds sit between Crystal Peak and the City of Tears, reached most easily by dropping south from the Peak or climbing up through the city. The area is quiet, short and structurally simple, but it gates one of the most important items in the game.
This is the one mapped area where Cornifer never appears. He never sets up a stall in the Resting Grounds, so there is no cheap version of this map. Iselda sells it in Dirtmouth for 75 Geo and that is your only option. Because the area is small and mostly linear, plenty of players skip the map entirely; if you want a full collection, just buy it whenever you are passing through Dirtmouth.
The Seer lives in the Spirits' Glade and hands you the Dream Nail. The Dream Nail lets you read the thoughts of NPCs and enemies, strike Whispering Roots for Essence, and enter the dreams of certain bosses. It is a hard requirement for the Dreamers, for Warrior Dreams, for the Awoken Dream Nail at 1800 Essence, and for completion. Bring Essence back to the Seer for rewards: a Pale Ore at 1200, a Mask Shard at 2400 along with her farewell, and the Dreamgate at 900, which lets you plant a warp point anywhere and return to it from a bench.
The rest of the area supports that. The Catacombs below hold Xero, a Warrior Dream worth 100 Essence. There is a Whispering Root in the Spirits' Glade and another in the main hall. A Stag Station sits in the middle, a hot spring nearby restores all your masks for free, and the Blue Lake in the north connects up to Crystal Peak and eventually to the City of Tears. The Dream Nail also lets you finally read the Dreamer seals and start closing out the main story.
Come here as soon as you can reach it. Almost every collectible category in Hollow Knight depends on owning the Dream Nail, and getting it late means a long backtracking tour of the whole map.
Places inside Resting Grounds
- Spirits' Glade
- The Catacombs
- Blue Lake
- Resting Grounds Stag Station
- Hot spring
Tips
- Cornifer is not here. The map is Iselda only, 75 Geo.
- Get the Dream Nail from the Seer early. Roots, Warrior Dreams and the Dreamers all need it.
- Hand Essence to the Seer for a Pale Ore at 1200 and a Mask Shard at 2400.
- The Dreamgate at 900 Essence saves enormous amounts of walking. Prioritise it.
- The hot spring here fully heals you for free. Use it before long boss runs.
- Xero in the Catacombs is one of the easier Warrior Dreams. Do him first for Essence.
All 29 locations in Resting Grounds
Benches (2)
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Resting Grounds Stag Station
Beside the stag platform, a short walk from the Dream Nail altar and the Seer.
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Outside the Grey Mourner's house
East of the Resting Grounds proper. Rest here before starting the Delicate Flower run.
Stag Stations (1)
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Resting Grounds
No Geo is needed here, only a large lever on the ground. Cornifer leaves his letter in this station instead of mapping the area himself.
Trams and Lifts (1)
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South-west edge of the Resting Grounds
The eastern end of the upper tram line, on the Resting Grounds side of the tunnel.
Grubs (1)
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Catacombs, south Resting Grounds
Break the floor with Desolate Dive and follow the catacomb tunnels to the jar.
Mask Shards (2)
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Seer's chamber
Given by the Seer once 1500 Essence has been collected with the Dream Nail.
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Grey Mourner's house
Given by the Grey Mourner for completing the Delicate Flower quest.
Vessel Fragments (1)
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Seer's chamber
Given by the Seer once you have gathered 700 Essence with the Dream Nail.
Pale Ore (1)
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Seer's chamber
Awarded by the Seer once 300 Essence has been gathered with the Dream Nail.
Whispering Roots (2)
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Resting Grounds, near the Seer
A short walk from the Seer, in the burial chambers of the Resting Grounds.
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Spirits' Glade
Inside the Glade of Hope, east of the Seer. The Glade opens once the Seer has been given 200 Essence.
Relics (5)
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Catacombs east of the lift
Work east through the catacombs, breaking several cracked walls along the way.
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Seer's chamber
The Seer's first gift, given for 100 Essence collected with the Dream Nail.
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Behind the waterfall, Spirits' Glade
Walk through the falling water at the back of the Glade of Hope to find the idol hidden behind it.
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Room near the Soul Eater charm
In the eastern crypts of the Resting Grounds, close to where the Soul Eater charm sits.
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Seer's chamber
The Seer hands this one over at 1200 Essence.
Charms (3)
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Catacombs east of the Resting Grounds Stag Station
A stronger Soul Catcher, granting a large amount of extra Soul per nail hit. Dive through the grave just under the Stag Station, then head east along the passage to the Snail Shaman sarcophagus.
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Room below the Seer's chamber, Resting Grounds
Summons a slow orbiting shield that blocks projectiles and chips at enemies. It sits in a small room directly below the Seer.
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The Seer's chamber, Resting Grounds
Charges the Dream Nail faster and generates extra Soul on every dream hit. The Seer rewards it once you bring her 500 Essence.
Keys and Items (1)
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Grey Mourner's house
The Grey Mourner gives you the flower for the grave in the Queen's Gardens. It breaks if you take a hit, use a bench or fast travel.
Warrior Dreams (1)
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Graveyard west of the Resting Grounds
A knight who launches up to four homing nails that circle back at you. Weave between the nails, attack after each volley returns, and keep to the wide part of the arena.
Dreamers (3)
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Dream altar above the Resting Grounds bench
The key item that lets you read minds, collect Essence and enter dream worlds. Walk up to the glowing altar in the Resting Grounds and accept it from the Moth Tribe, then talk to the Seer.
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The Seer's chamber, Resting Grounds
Places a warp point anywhere and lets you return to it from any bench, which saves enormous amounts of backtracking. The Seer teaches it once you bring her 900 Essence. It does not add completion percentage.
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Seer's chamber, Resting Grounds
The upgraded Dream Nail that can pierce the Hollow Knight and Grimm, which is required for the true ending and Nightmare King Grimm. The Seer awakens it once you bring her 1800 Essence.
NPCs and Shops (2)
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Seer's chamber, Resting Grounds
Trades Essence for rewards: 100 for a Hallownest Seal, 200 opens the Spirits' Glade, 300 for a Pale Ore, 500 for Dream Wielder, 700 for a Vessel Fragment, 900 for Dreamgate, 1200 for an Arcane Egg, 1500 for a Mask Shard, 1800 to awaken the Dream Nail and 2400 to hear her final words before she departs.
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Grey Mansion, east Resting Grounds
Gives you a Delicate Flower and asks you to carry it to a grave in Queen's Gardens without taking a single hit, dashing into anything or using a bench. Success rewards a Mask Shard and ends her story. Break the ceiling above the chest to reach her house.
Secrets and Lore (3)
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Sealed glade east of the Resting Grounds
A quiet garden full of the ghosts of Hallownest, which the Seer opens for you once you have gathered 200 Essence. Dream Nail every spirit here for lore and a little Essence.
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Lower Resting Grounds
A tomb corridor lined with coffins and drifting ghosts, reached by diving through the grave below the Stag Station. Soul Eater waits at its eastern end beside a Snail Shaman sarcophagus.
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Resting Grounds, west of the dream altar
A second tier Grimmkin that only appears once the Grimmchild has absorbed the three Novice flames. It teleports more aggressively than the Novices, so fight it with space above you.
