Within the grueling trials of Hollow Knight: Silksong, few adversaries are as formidable (and frustrating!) as the boss known as Groal the Great, lurking in the murky depths of Bilewater. His difficulty, coupled with the arduous journey to reach him, makes this encounter particularly challenging.
Simply navigating Bilewater demands the patience of a saint. Poisonous pools threaten to deplete your Silk, precision platforming sequences punish even the slightest error, and relentless enemies pose a constant threat.
Adding to the misery is the significant distance from the nearest Bench, compounded by a gauntlet of deadly creatures and ambushes along the way. And to top it off, Groal only appears after enduring several waves of enemies.
This can quickly transform exploration into a true test of endurance. However, triumph lies not in brute force, but in meticulous preparation. With the right strategy, this seemingly impossible boss fight can be turned into a swift victory – we’re talking seconds!
To save your sanity (and your controller from a premature demise), we’ve assembled a comprehensive guide detailing the essential tools, abilities, optimal routes, and a lightning-fast strategy to conquer Groal the Great.
How To Find Groal the Great in Hollow Knight: Silksong
Venture to the upper reaches of Bilewater to encounter Groal the Great. This region, though not literally hell, is a grim swampy area within Pharloom.
Access Bilewater from Greymoor and the Whispering Vaults. To truly explore this area, you’ll need certain abilities: the Swift Step (found in Deep Docks), the Drifter’s Cloak (from Far Fields), the Clawline (The Cauldron), the Cling Grip (Sheelwood), and the Faydown Cloak (Mount Fay).
Attempting Bilewater without these is highly discouraged. Not only will you be unable to access all areas (including the map), but it will also lead to immense frustration.
With all the abilities in hand, you’re set! Ascend through Bilewater to discover the lair of Groal the Great.
The Best Preparation To Face Groal the Great
Beyond the essential abilities, equipping specific, powerful Tools is key to utterly dominating Groal the Great.
First, acquire the Reaper Crest. This allows you to equip two Tools of each color – doubling down on your power!
For a passive boost, consider the Fractured Mask (purchased from the Mottled Skarr in Hunter’s March) or the Weavelight (earned after defeating the Double Moss Mother). The Mask grants an extra life, while the Weavelight speeds up Silk regeneration, crucial given Bilewater’s poisonous waters. Choose the one that suits you best.
Next, arm yourself with potent, long-range weapons. Cogfly and Curveclaw (or Conchcutter) are perfect choices. Then, get the Pollip Pouch (from the “Rite of the Pollip” quest) to automatically poison these ranged options.
For Yellow Tools, select your preference. The Compass (to avoid getting lost on the way back from the far away Bench) and the Weighted Belt (for more stable movement) are solid choices, but not critical to the strategy.
Upgrade your Needle twice with the Pinmaster to maximize damage. This requires two Pale Oils – one from the Whispering Vaults, the other from completing the “Great Taste of Pharloom” quest.
Finally, obtain all four Crafting Kits to amplify your Tools’ damage and effectiveness. Three can be bought: one from the Forge Daughter (180 Rosaries in Deep Docks), another from the Twelfth Architect (450 Rosaries in Underworks), and the third from Grindle (700 Rosaries in Blasted Steps). The fourth is earned in the “Crawbug Clearing” quest.
Best Path From Bench To Groal the Great
Contrary to popular belief, Bilewater has a secret Bench located much closer to Groal the Great’s arena.
Ascend through Bilewater until you reach a dimly lit area filled with hanging pilgrims. Head right into narrow corridors with numerous traps, then continue right (even if the path goes upward) and intentionally fall into a pool of poisonous water.
Break the hidden wall to your right to reveal a secret passage. Avoid the enemies (there are only poisonous waters here) and keep going left until you reach the Bench. This shortcut dramatically reduces the travel time to the boss!
From the hidden bench, simply climb back up to the ambush area, then proceed right, climb up again, and finally, go left (refer to the map in the gallery above). Focus on avoiding enemies.
Crucially, before fully entering Groal’s arena, pause at the entrance and climb the wall above to find a hidden area with extra Silk. Use this to heal if you took any damage en route.
How To Beat Groal the Great
Phase 1
The initial phase involves enduring waves of common Bilewater enemies, like exploding flies and moss creatures. Your priority is to eliminate them quickly and avoid poisoning.
First, two moss enemies will emerge, spitting poisonous projectiles. Anticipate their appearance by watching for bubbles in the arena. Position yourself near one of them.
As they appear, jump onto their head and quickly attack three times to defeat it. Repeat for the other one.
Next, two different moss enemies will emerge. Like before they will jump into the arena, but this time they float before launching three spears at Hornet. Repeat the jumping strategy, striking each one rapidly. Be aware that these jump higher than the previous enemies!
Quickly move to either side of the arena to evade the incoming spike ambush. After that, three exploding flies will appear. Remain calm and strike them three times each. Easy to defeat, but don’t rush!
After the mosquito trio, the moss enemies return – one of each type. Maintain your strategy, focusing on avoiding hits (and poison) and striking them on the head. Upon defeating them both, run to the side of the arena once again to avoid the double spike ambush.
Prepare for the final wave: two flies and one moss enemy. Combine the strategies outlined above, and the real battle will begin.
Phase 2
Prepare to bring this fight to a rapid conclusion and utterly cheese Groal the Great.
As Groal enters the arena, immediately position yourself in one of the corners and unleash all your Cogflies. Then, relentlessly bombard him with Curveclaw (or Conchcutter) throws.
Keep a close watch on Groal’s actions. He can spit poisonous bubbles, try to swallow you, or unleash a powered-up form that fires powerful projectiles. Jump to avoid his attacks.
Continue to spam Cogflies and Curveclaws (or Conchcutters) until Groal is defeated.
Rewards For Defeating Groal the Great
Beyond the sheer satisfaction of obliterating one of the most challenging bosses in Hollow Knight: Silksong, you will be rewarded with the Seeker’s Soul, essential for completing the “Silk And Soul” quest.
Furthermore, defeating Groal unlocks the path to the Putrified Ducts, another unforgiving region within Pharloom. But that is a guide for another time.