Every Mask Shard Location to Maximize Health in Hollow Knight

Surviving the treacherous depths of Hallownest requires more than just a sharp nail and quick reflexes. Your survivability is measured by the ancient masks displayed in the top-left corner of your screen. In Hollow Knight, increasing your maximum health is tied directly to Mask Shards. There are 16 individual Mask Shards hidden throughout the kingdom, and for every four you collect, you earn a permanent extra mask, allowing you to sustain one additional hit from the bugs and beasts that roam the ruins.

Reaching a total of nine masks (starting from the initial five) is a transformative experience. It changes the way you approach late-game bosses like the Hollow Knight or Nightmare King Grimm, shifting the balance from a fragile struggle to a battle where you have the breathing room to make mistakes. This guide details every single shard location, the requirements for reaching them, and the strategies needed to overcome the challenges protecting them.

The Merchant of Dirtmouth: Sly’s Inventory

The simplest way to begin your health upgrades is by spending Geo at Sly’s shop in Dirtmouth. However, Sly isn't there at the very start of the game. You must first find him in a small house in the southeastern part of the Forgotten Crossroads, near the Gruz Mother’s arena. Once you wake him up, he returns to the surface and opens his shop.

The First Two Shards

Sly offers two shards immediately upon opening his store.

Mask Shard 1: Costs 150 Geo. This is likely the first health upgrade you will ever obtain.
Mask Shard 2: Costs 500 Geo. This becomes available after you purchase the first one.

In the early game, 650 Geo can feel like a fortune. In our experience, the best way to farm this quickly is to explore the Forgotten Crossroads thoroughly and sell any Wanderer's Journals you find to Lemm in the City of Tears once you reach that area.

Expanding the Inventory

To unlock Sly’s final two shards, you must find the Shopkeeper’s Key. This key is located in the Crystal Peak, specifically in a room to the left of the area where you encounter the first bench. Once returned to Sly, his stock expands significantly. 3. Mask Shard 3: Costs 800 Geo. 4. Mask Shard 4: Costs 1,500 Geo.

Totaling 2,950 Geo for four shards, Sly effectively sells you one complete Ancient Mask. It is a heavy investment, but one that provides a reliable safety net before you head into the more dangerous territorial biomes.

Rewards from the Residents of Hallownest

Beyond the shop, several NPCs reward your progress through specific quests or collection milestones. These shards often require significant time or skill to earn.

Rescuing the Grubs (Grubfather)

The Grubfather, located in the northwestern corner of the Forgotten Crossroads, is desperate to have his children returned. As you explore Hallownest, you will find Grubs trapped in glass jars.

Mask Shard 5: You receive this as a reward after rescuing 5 Grubs.

Since there are 46 Grubs in total, getting the first 5 is relatively easy and can be done before even leaving the Crossroads. Listen for their distinctive high-pitched chirping to locate them through walls.

The Seer’s Wisdom (Resting Grounds)

After you obtain the Dream Nail in the Resting Grounds, the Seer asks you to collect Essence by defeating Dream Warriors and Dream Bosses, or by harvesting Whispering Roots.

Mask Shard 6: Awarded by the Seer once you reach 1,500 Essence.

1,500 Essence is a mid-to-late game milestone. We recommend tackling Dream Warriors like Elder Hu or No Eyes early on, as they are generally easier than the "Rematch" dream bosses like Lost Kin or Failed Champion.

Bretta’s Gratitude (Dirtmouth)

Bretta is a lonely bug you find in the Fungal Wastes. She is located near the Dashmaster statue, but reaching her requires the Mantis Claw and Mothwing Cloak. You must navigate a platforming challenge filled with thorns to wake her up.

Mask Shard 7: Once rescued, Bretta returns to Dirtmouth. Visit her house (the one with the glowing light next to the shop) to find the shard inside.

The Delicate Flower Quest (Grey Mourner)

This is arguably the most stressful Mask Shard to obtain in the entire game. In the Resting Grounds, hidden behind a breakable ceiling in the eastern section, lives the Grey Mourner. She tasks you with delivering a Delicate Flower to the grave of the Traitor’s Child in the Queen’s Gardens.

The Catch: The flower will break if you take damage, use the Stag Station, or Dreamgate.

Mask Shard 8: Successful delivery of the flower.

Expert Tip: In our successful runs, the most effective strategy was to clear the entire path of enemies first without resting at a bench. Start from the grave in the Queen’s Gardens and work your way back to the Grey Mourner, killing every enemy in the way. Since you aren't resting, the larger enemies won't respawn. Then, take the flower and walk the empty path. Use the route through the Fog Canyon and the Blue Lake for the fewest obstacles.

Exploration Shards in the Forgotten Crossroads

The Forgotten Crossroads acts as the hub for your journey, and it hides two shards that require vastly different approaches.

The Brooding Mawlek

In the western section of the Crossroads, there is an area accessible by jumping up a vertical shaft that looks impossible at first. You can either use the Mantis Claw later in the game or "pogo" (strike downward) on the environmental spikes to reach the ledge early.

Mask Shard 9: Dropped by the Brooding Mawlek boss.

The Mawlek is a tough fight for beginners because of its sweeping claw attacks and acid rain. Stay close to the boss, jump over the claw swipe, and use Vengeful Spirit whenever it jumps to the other side of the arena.

The Goam Platforming Challenge

Located in the southern part of the Crossroads, near the entrance to the Fungal Wastes, is a room filled with Goams—giant, indestructible armored worms that burst out of the walls.

Mask Shard 10: Found at the end of the Goam gauntlet.

This requires precise timing. You don't need the Mantis Claw, but it makes the vertical sections much safer. Watch the rhythm of the Goams; they always fire in a set sequence.

Hidden Gems in Greenpath and the Queen’s Station

As the world opens up, the shards become more integrated into the lore and environmental storytelling.

The Stone Sanctuary (Greenpath)

In the southeastern part of Greenpath, you will find a dark area known as the Stone Sanctuary. While you can navigate this without the Lumafly Lantern, we strongly advise against it unless you have memorized the layout. The darkness hides spikes and lethal drops.

Mask Shard 11: Located at the far right end of the Sanctuary.

Inside, you will also encounter the boss "No Eyes." You don't need to defeat her to get the shard, but the arena is so close that you might as well collect the Essence while you are there.

Queen’s Station (Fungal Wastes)

The Queen’s Station is a massive Stag Station connecting several regions. Many players walk right past this shard during their first visit.

Mask Shard 12: Located in the upper right section of the station.

You will see the shard sitting on a high platform surrounded by thorns. You need the Mantis Claw to wall-jump up the side and the Mothwing Cloak to dash across the gap. It is a simple platforming test that rewards players who double-back to explore old areas with new abilities.

Mid-Game Challenges: Waterways and Deepnest

These shards are located in the more "unpleasant" parts of Hallownest, requiring both specialized movement abilities and a bit of bravery.

The Royal Waterways

The Waterways are a labyrinth of pipes and acid. To find this shard, you need to head to the western side of the map, near the area where you find Cornifer.

Mask Shard 13: Located in a hidden passage in the pipes.

From the main vertical shaft, head left and look for a breakable wall or a gap in the ceiling. You will need to swim through some shallow water and avoid the Hwurmps (the inflating enemies). In our testing, it’s easiest to get this after obtaining Isma’s Tear, which allows you to swim in acid, though it isn't strictly required for this specific shard.

The Fungal Core (Deepnest)

Deepnest is a nightmare for the unprepared. This shard is tucked away in the Fungal Core, an area that bridges the Fungal Wastes and Deepnest.

Mask Shard 14: Located at the bottom of the Fungal Core.

To reach this, you must enter from the Fungal Wastes (near the Mantis Lords) and use the Monarch Wings (Double Jump) to navigate the high ledges. The area is filled with explosive spores and Spore Shroom enemies. It is a long trek, so ensure you have a bench secured nearby, likely the one in the Distant Village or the Mantis Village.

Late-Game Mastery: Crystal Peak and The Hive

The final two shards are guarded by a powerful boss and a clever environmental puzzle.

The Enraged Guardian (Crystal Peak)

In the center of Crystal Peak, you likely fought the Crystal Guardian to unlock a bench. If you go back to that same room after obtaining the Monarch Wings, you will notice a ledge leading upward.

Mask Shard 15: Dropped by the Enraged Guardian.

This is a "rematch" boss. He is faster, deals two masks of damage per hit, and fires lasers more frequently. The strategy here is to stay grounded and only jump when he fires his floor beam. Use Quick Focus if you struggle to find time to heal, or go full offensive with Shaman Stone and Descending Dark to utilize the invincibility frames.

The Hive’s Hidden Wall

The Hive is an optional area located deep below the Kingdom’s Edge. It is filled with bees that have very aggressive AI. Near the area where you fight the Hive Knight, there is a large, seemingly solid wall.

Mask Shard 16: Hidden behind a breakable wall in the Hive.

The Puzzle: Unlike other walls, you cannot break this one with your nail. You must bait a Hive Guardian (the large, round, bouncing bees) into slamming into the wall. Stand in front of the weakened section and dash away at the last second. The impact will shatter the barrier, revealing the final shard.

Optimization: In What Order Should You Collect Shards?

While you can collect these in almost any order, a specific pathing strategy can make your playthrough much smoother.

Early Game (0-5 Hours): Focus on the Forgotten Crossroads (Mawlek and Goams) and Sly’s first two shards. Having 6 masks before facing the Soul Master or Hornet in Greenpath makes a significant difference.
Mid Game (5-15 Hours): Once you have the Mantis Claw, grab the Queen's Station shard and rescue Bretta. If you have the Geo, buy the third shard from Sly.
Late Game (15+ Hours): After obtaining the Monarch Wings, head for the Crystal Peak rematch and the Deepnest shard. Save the Delicate Flower quest for when you have all movement abilities and the Pure Nail, as you will want to kill enemies as quickly as possible.

Health vs. Lifeblood: Which is Better?

While Mask Shards provide permanent health, you can also gain temporary health via Lifeblood Cocoons or Charms like Joni's Blessing. However, permanent masks are superior for two reasons:

Recoverability: Permanent masks can be healed using Soul. Lifeblood masks are gone until you rest at a bench.
Charm Synergy: Having more permanent masks allows you to stay in the "over-half health" range for charms like Fragile Strength or Fury of the Fallen (if you are playing a high-risk style).

By collecting all 16 shards, you reach a total of 9 masks. With the addition of the Unbreakable Heart charm, you can reach 11 permanent masks, making the Knight a formidable tank capable of enduring the most brutal boss encounters in Godhome.

Conclusion

Collecting all 16 Mask Shards is a rite of passage for any Hollow Knight player aiming for 112% completion. From the simple transaction at Sly’s shop to the harrowing journey across Hallownest with a Delicate Flower, each shard represents a milestone in your growth as a player. With 9 permanent masks, the Knight ceases to be a fragile vessel and becomes a true master of the void, ready to face the Radiance and beyond.

Summary of Mask Shard Locations

Sly's Shop (Dirtmouth): 4 Shards (Geo required).
Grubfather: 1 Shard (Rescue 5 Grubs).
Seer: 1 Shard (1,500 Essence).
Bretta: 1 Shard (Rescue her in Fungal Wastes).
Grey Mourner: 1 Shard (Delicate Flower quest).
Forgotten Crossroads: 2 Shards (Brooding Mawlek and Goam area).
Greenpath: 1 Shard (Stone Sanctuary).
Queen’s Station: 1 Shard (Upper platforms).
Royal Waterways: 1 Shard (Western pipes).
Deepnest: 1 Shard (Fungal Core).
Crystal Peak: 1 Shard (Enraged Guardian).
The Hive: 1 Shard (Breakable wall puzzle).

FAQ

What is the easiest Mask Shard to get? The first shard sold by Sly for 150 Geo is the easiest, followed closely by the reward from the Grubfather for rescuing only 5 Grubs.

Can I miss any Mask Shards? No, none of the Mask Shards are missable. Even if you progress the story to the end-game, all locations remain accessible.

Does the Delicate Flower quest fail if I teleport? Yes. Using a Dreamgate or a Stag Station will cause the flower to break. You must walk the entire distance manually.

How many shards are needed for one heart? It takes 4 Mask Shards to create one Ancient Mask, which adds one heart (HP) to your health bar.

Is there a map for all shards? While the game doesn't provide a specific "Shard Map," purchasing the Collector’s Map (after defeating the Collector in the City of Tears) will show the locations of all Grubs, which helps secure the Grubfather's shard. For world shards, you must rely on exploration and landmarks.