They come from everywhere. Two are sold by Sly in Dirtmouth for 150 and 500 Geo. One comes from the Grubfather at 5 grubs freed. One comes from the Seer once you have handed her 2400 Essence. Several are dropped by optional bosses like Brooding Mawlek and Nosk. The rest are hidden in the world, usually behind a breakable wall or at the end of a small platforming challenge.
Health is the single biggest difficulty lever in Hollow Knight. Going from 5 masks to 7 turns most mid-game bosses from a wall into a fair fight, so grabbing shards early is usually better value than hoarding Geo for charms.
How to collect them
Most world shards sit in an alcove behind a wall you have to break, or above a ledge that needs a specific movement ability. If you are sweeping an area, hit the walls at the ends of dead-end corridors. The shard itself glows faintly and is picked up by touching it.
The two Sly shards are the easiest early wins: 150 Geo for the first and 500 for the second. Buy the cheap one as soon as you have spare Geo. Filter the map here to the Mask Shard category and cross-reference with the areas you have already cleared to find what you have walked past.
What you get
Four shards make one mask, and 16 shards make four extra masks for a maximum of nine. Those four mask upgrades are worth 4 percent of the 112, one percent each, and they count when the mask completes rather than per shard. Individual shards are worth nothing on their own, so there is no point stopping at three.
All 16 locations by area
Dirtmouth (5)
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Sly's shop
The cheapest of Sly's four shards. He only opens the shop after you find him in the Forgotten Crossroads.
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Sly's shop
Appears in Sly's stock once the first shard has been bought.
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Sly's upstairs storeroom
Needs the second shard bought and the Shopkeeper's Key handed over.
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Sly's upstairs storeroom
The last and most expensive shard, sold once the third one has been bought.
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Bretta's house in Dirtmouth
Free Bretta from the Fungal Wastes first. Once she is home in Dirtmouth, drop into her basement and take the shard.
Forgotten Crossroads (3)
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Far west end of the Forgotten Crossroads
Reward for defeating Brooding Mawlek in the pit at the western end of the Crossroads.
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Grubhome, north-west Crossroads
Given by the Grubfather once 5 Grubs have been rescued.
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Goam passage south of the False Knight
South of the False Knight arena, climb the passage lined with Goams. The Mantis Claw makes this far easier.
Greenpath (1)
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Stone Sanctuary, room north-east of No Eyes
In the room north-east of where No Eyes sleeps. The Lumafly Lantern makes the dark sanctuary much easier to navigate.
Fungal Wastes (1)
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Queen's Station, east side
Below the entrance to the Fungal Wastes at Queen's Station. Wall-jumping up with the Mantis Claw is required.
Crystal Peak (1)
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Crystal Guardian room, second fight
Return to the Crystal Guardian room later in the game and beat the Enraged Guardian. The Monarch Wings are needed to reach the shard.
Resting Grounds (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.
Royal Waterways (1)
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North-west Royal Waterways
Swim west underneath the main path in the north-west section of the Waterways.
Deepnest (1)
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Deepnest, near the Mantis Lords border
Entered through the Fungal Core near the Mantis Lords. The Monarch Wings are needed to reach the ledge.
The Hive (1)
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Behind a wall in the Hive
Bait a Hive Guardian into charging the cracked wall, then walk through to the shard.