Hollow Knight Tattoo Ideas
Are you wiggling across on the internet on your search for the perfect Tattoo Clues? Well, worry not, let’s take a dive into the abyss as we bring you the ultimate Hollow Knight Tattoo Idea list the internet has ever seen.
What is Hollow Knight?
Hollow Knight is a Metroidvania developed by the indie studio Team Cherry from Australia. It was first released in 2017 and quickly became one of the most beloved indie games ever made for its haunting atmosphere, challenging gameplay, and emotional storytelling.
In the original Hollow Knight, you play as The Knight, a small, silent, mysterious bug-like warrior who explores the vast, ruined kingdom of Hallownest, a once-thriving underground civilisation now overtaken by infection and decay.
Throughout the journey, you’ll discover the world’s tragic lore, meet quirky characters, and slowly piece together the Knight’s own mysterious origins. The beauty of Hollow Knight lies in the fact that the story isn’t told outright; it’s hidden in dialogue, environments, and subtle clues, encouraging players to interpret it themselves.
Hollow Knight Silksong was the much-anticipated sequel, most famous for its prolonged delays before finally releasing on September 4th, 2025. Silksong follows the adventure of Hornet after she has been kidnapped and taken to the Kingdom of Parloom for unknown reasons.
Similar to the original Hollow Knight, you’ll explore a new broken world and meet new quirky characters as you uncover the reasons as to why Hornet was brought to Pharloom.
41+ Best Hollow Knight Tattoo Designs
Now that we know a little about the Hollow Knight series, let’s take a look at some of the best Hollow Knight Tattoos the internet has to offer.
1. The Knight Hollow Knight Tattoo
The Knight is the main protagonist of Hollow Knight. A genderless being, the Knight is presumably one of countless failed ‘vessels’ born of the Pale King and White Lady and infused with the Void in an attempt to seal the plague that spread across Hallownest.
As the Pale King is said to have had foresight, it’s uncertain as to whether he foresaw that the player character would purge Hallownest of the plague, therefore not being a failed vessel, or whether he truly believed the ‘Pure Vessel’ was the solution before the infection began to spread anew.
In the game, the Knight returns to Hallownest to fulfill their purpose, either confronting the source of the infection head-on or taking the place of the previous Vessel, known as the Hollow Knight.
2. The Hollow Knight Tattoo
The Hollow Knight, also known as the Pure Vessel, is both a major character and a boss in Hollow Knight. It was created by the Pale King to contain a god-like being of light whose infection corrupted the minds of bugs across the kingdom.
The Hollow Knight was chosen amongst all its other kin for this impossible task as it was believed to be “pure” — completely hollow of emotion, making it an ideal vessel to imprison the Radiance without succumbing to her influence.
This chosen Vessel was raised and trained by the Pale King and the White Lady and then sacrificed by absorbing the Radiance within its body and being sealed inside the Black Egg Temple.
Unfortunately, the Pure Vessel was tarnished by “an idea instilled,” that being the bond it formed with its father before being sealed away.
3. Pale King Hollow Knight Tattoo
The Pale King is the ruler of Hallownest, a god-like being known as a Wyrm, who took on a smaller, more humanoid form to live among the bugs of the kingdom. It is claimed that under his rule, the bugs of Hallownest evolved from simple, instinct-driven creatures into intelligent, self-aware beings capable of speech, culture, and emotion.
Claims of the King delivering sentience to the bugs of all of Hallownest are disputed not only by those who worshipped the Radiance pre-Pale King, but also by the remains of ancient civilization artifacts that can be found throughout Hallownest.
Before Hallownest’s rise, the Pale King existed as an enormous ancient Wyrm. At some point, he shed his Wyrm form, became small and descended into the caverns of Hallownest to build his kingdom.
The Pale King’s goal was to create a perfect kingdom, free from instinct, chaos, and suffering. To achieve this, he brought together the Five Great Knights, formed alliances with other tribes, and expanded his rule throughout the Kingdom.
However, in doing so, he unknowingly angered the Radiance, an ancient light deity that the moths once worshipped. When the moths turned away from the Radiance to worship the Pale King, she was forgotten but not gone.
4. The Radiance Hollow Knight Tattoo
The Radiance is a higher being that was worshipped long before the Pale King’s reign.
She ruled over the Moth Tribe, who revered her as their divine protector and source of enlightenment.
When the Pale King arrived in Hallownest, the moths turned away from her light, angering her and making her grow vengeful. As the Pale King’s influence spread, the Radiance was erased from memory. However, she began to seep into the dreams of Hallownest once more, infecting the minds of sleeping bugs with her light-born infection.
This Infection is the central curse of Hallownest as the Radiance’s attempt to reclaim control through dreams and memory as her light invades the subconscious, forcing bugs to remember her and obey.
5. King’s Brand Hollow Knight Tattoo
The King’s Brand is a royal seal that grants the Knight access to The Abyss. It’s both a symbol of the Pale King’s authority and a key that marks whoever bears it as a true child of the King. When the Knight acquires the King’s Brand, they are officially recognized as the Pale King’s heir, able to enter the birthplace and uncover the truth about their origins.
6. Lace Hollow Knight Tattoo
Lace is a recurring boss and central character from Hollow Knight: Silksong. The daughter of the Pale Being, Grandmother Silk, Lace was created entirely out of silk to be the perfect daughter that wouldn’t betray her mother.
Lace, though loyal, struggles with her own existence and despises what she is. Yet, with Hornet’s encouragement, she defied her mother, saved Hornet, and was ultimately cast into the abyss alongside her when Hornet and the Snail Shamans’ trap was sprung.
Hornet, however, would not let things end like this, and descended into the abyss to finish Grandmother Silk for good and save Lace.
7. Last Stag Hollow Knight Tattoo
The Last Stag is a massive, ancient beetle who serves as the fast-travel system of Hollow Knight. He’s one of the last remaining members of the once-proud Stag family, giant beetles who carried passengers across Hallownest via a network of tunnels and stations known as the Stagways.
8. Dung Defender Hollow Knight Tattoo
The Dung Defender, whose real name is Ogrim, is a former knight of Hallownest and one of the Five Great Knights who once served the Pale King with unwavering loyalty.
Ogrim now lives deep in the Royal Waterways, surrounded by piles of dung that he proudly uses to build his home and weapons! Despite his fragrant setting, Ogrim is full of life, joy, and honour, still protecting the ruins of Hallownest long after its fall.
9. Delicate Flower Hollow Knight Tattoo
The Delicate Flower is most infamously known as a special quest item given to the Knight by The Grey Mourner Ze’mer, one of the Five Great Knights of Hallownest. While it initially appeared to be just a normal flower, following the release of the GodMaster DLC, it was recontextualized as a flower with a mysterious power.
If the flower is given to the God Sekker, and the Pantheon of Hallownest is overcome, the flower will dispel the void in the subsequent cutscene. Also, during the events of Silksong, the flower can be used to descend through the void for the final confrontation.
10. Shade Cloak Fountain Hollow Knight Tattoo
The Shade Cloak Fountain is a monument located deep within the Abyss, the birthplace of the Knight and the other Vessels. It’s a dark, otherworldly pool that grants the Shade Cloak, one of the Knight’s most powerful abilities.
This fountain is potentially a nod to the Chozo Statues of Metroid. Chozo statues are ancient alien relics created by the mysterious Chozo race, the beings who raised and trained Samus Aran.
Like the Shade Cloak fountain, these statues often hold upgrades that grant Samus new abilities that allow her to explore her map faster and reach previously inaccessible areas.
11. Cornifer Hollow Knight Tattoo
Cornifer is the friendly map-maker of Hollow Knight. He is a plump, bespectacled bug who’s always found humming happily to himself as he charts the forgotten tunnels of Hallownest.
You’ll usually hear him before you see him because of his joyful, muffled humming echoing faintly through the caves. Corniger is married to former warrior Iselda. While Cornifer roams the kingdom making maps, Iselda runs the shop above ground. She’s practical, grounded, and fondly exasperated by her husband’s adventurous nature.
12. Sherma Hollow Knight Tattoo
Sherma is a fan favourite pilgrim from Hollow Knight Silksong. He is best known for his optimism and faith, and his catchy tune that he sings while banging his chime. Despite not being competent in combat, Sherma manages to evade Grandmother Silk’s influence and the dangers of Pharloom to reach the First Shrine, where he tends to the wounded.
13. Hornet Hollow Knight Tattoo
Hornet is a warrior princess, the daughter of the Pale King and Herrah the Beast, making her the Knight’s half-sister.
Hornet serves as both rival and ally to the Knight throughout the game. She tests you in battle, warns you of dangers, and watches your progress.
Following the conclusion of the original Hollow Knight, Hornet is captured by the bugs of Pharloom and brought to their Kingdom for unknown reasons, where she stars as the protagonist of her own game.
14. Bench Hollow Knight Tattoo
Benches are resting points scattered throughout Hollow Knight’s vast underground world. Mechanically, they serve as save points and checkpoints, where you can catch your breath, recover health, and reorganise your charms.
However, in both Hollow Knight and Hollow Knight Silk Song, benches represent safety, reflection, and peace, with players breathing a sigh of relief whenever they uncover a new one in a newly discovered area.
15. Bell Beast Hollow Knight Tattoo
The Bell Beast is Silksong’s answer to the Last Stag. While initially a boss, the Bell Beast becomes a trusted partner to Hornet, aiding her in exploring Pharloom at speed and even aiding her in battle on one occasion.
16. Dream Nail Hollow Knight Tattoo
The Dream Nail is a special weapon and spiritual tool that allows the Knight to enter dreams, read thoughts, and interact with the essence of souls. Unlike the Nail, the Dream Nail is a blade of the mind, forged to pierce the veil between reality and dreams.
It’s not used to harm but to understand, used to reveal hidden memories, whispers, and truths otherwise locked away in the silent world of Hallownest.
17. Grub Mimic Hollow Knight Tattoo
The Grub Mimic is a hostile creature disguised as one of the Grubs you rescue throughout Hollow Knight. At first glance, it looks exactly like a trapped Grub, but when you strike open its glass jar, the “grub” suddenly distorts, revealing its true monstrous form and lunging straight at you.
18. Quirrel Hollow Knight Tattoo
Quirrel is a gentle, inquisitive traveller who explores Hallownest, best known for always being polite, optimistic, and deeply curious about the kingdom’s history, even though he doesn’t quite understand why he feels drawn to it.
Quirrel is, in fact, connected to Monomon the Teacher, one of the three Dreamers who helped seal away the Radiance. Long ago, Quirrel was Monomon’s apprentice, to whom she entrusted her mask —the artifact tied to her life force —to keep it safe and ensure the seal would endure.
Over time, Quirrel’s memory faded after he left Hallownest, but he was drawn back by instinct, chasing fragments of a past he doesn’t fully remember.
19. Grimmkin Hollow Knight Tattoo
The Grimmkin are mysterious, fiery spirits that serve Troupe Master Grimm, the enigmatic leader of the Grimm Troupe, a travelling circus of shadows that descends upon Hallownest.
They are fragments of the Nightmare Realm, conjured to feed on flame, the lifeblood of the Troupe’s existence.
The Grimmkin gather the scattered Nightmare Flames across Hallownest to awaken the Grimmchild, who, in turn, strengthens Grimm’s connection to the physical world.
20. Seer Hollow Knight Tattoo
The Seer is an ancient, moth-like being who resides in the Resting Grounds. She is the last surviving member of the Moth Tribe, a race that once worshipped the Radiance. While most of her kin fell into slumber or forgot their connection to dreams, the Seer remained watching over the Dream Realm and waiting for someone worthy to carry on her duty.
21. Myla Hollow Knight Tattoo
Myla is a young miner found early in Hollow Knight, humming happily as she works in the tunnels of Forgotten Crossroads, near the entrance to Crystal Peak. She’s one of the first friendly bugs you meet in the game who seems oblivious to the dangers of the Radiance’s corruption.
When you first encounter her, she’s chipping away at crystal ore, singing softly to herself. Unfortunately, over time, Myla stops signing as she starts to undergo the Radiance’s influence until she finally becomes hostile, attacking the Knight.
22. Charms Hollow Knight Tattoo
Charms are mystical artifacts that grant the Knight special abilities and stat boosts when equipped. They can enhance your combat and spells, improve mobility or healing, modify Soul and Nail mechanics, or even change how the game feels entirely.
You find them scattered across Hallownest, dropped by bosses, hidden in corners, sold by merchants, or gifted by friendly bugs.
23. Nail Hollow Knight Tattoo
The Nail is the primary weapon used by the Knight and other bugs. To the inhabitants of Hallownest, Nails are both swords and tools forged from steel and essence, used in both combat and creation.
You start the game with a simple Old Nail, but as you explore and grow, you can have it reforged into increasingly powerful versions, culminating in the legendary Pure Nail.
24. Grimm Hollow Knight Tattoo
Troupe Master Grimm is the enigmatic leader of the Grimm Troupe. He’s elegant, sinister, and captivating, appearing with a swirl of red flame. Grimm and his Troupe descend upon Hallownest after you light the Nightmare Lantern in the Howling Cliffs.
Once summoned, the Grimm Troupe Tent materialises in Dirtmouth, and inside one of the tents, you find Grimm, who explains that the Knight has summoned him and must now take part in a sacred ritual.
By collecting these flames from the Grimmkin, you help Grimm awaken the Grimmchild, a small companion born of fire and dream. If you complete the ritual and don’t banish the Troupe, the player can battle Nightmare King Grimm, a faster and more powerful version of Grimm.
25. Seal of Binding Hollow Knight Tattoo
The Seal of Binding is a Hunter Journal’s entry that you get as a reward for completing the infamous Path of Pain in the White Palace. The seal is said to contain a powerful force or to preserve something of great importance, seemingly being the truth that the King and the Hollow Knight developed a bond with one another.
26. Grub Hollow Knight Tattoo
Grubs are tiny, worm-like larvae found trapped in glass jars scattered throughout Hallownest. The Knight can rescue them by breaking the jars, freeing them so they can wriggle back home to their parent, the Grubfather, who lives in a cavern known as the Grubhome, located in the Forgotten Crossroads.
Each Grub you rescue disappears into the ground with a joyful “plop!”, eventually reappearing safely in the Grubhome where they pile up together, wriggling happily. When the player character rescues all the Grubs and returns to the Grubfather, he has eaten all the Grubs.
However, all may not be as it seems, as the final gift, the Grubberfly’s Elegy Charm, suggests that the Grubs are merely moving onto the next stage of their life cycle, potential being stored within the father to evolve.
27. Hollow Knight X Berserk Tattoo
Berserk is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kentaro Miura, first published in 1989. It follows the story of Guts, a lone mercenary with a tragic past, set in a brutal medieval world filled with monsters, demons, and corrupt humanity.
The series is known for its mature themes, deep characters, graphic violence, and stunning artwork, some of the best ever drawn in manga.
28. Broken Vessel Hollow Knight Tattoo
The Broken Vessel, or Lost Kin, is a failed sibling, left behind and consumed by the Infection. Found deep within the Ancient Basin, it lies lifeless until a swarm of orange Infected Parasites floods into its empty body, puppeteering it to life.
29. Watcher Knight Hollow Knight Tattoo
The Watcher Knights are the fallen protectors of Lurien the Watcher, one of the three Dreamers who presided over the City of Tears. They were created to guard the Watcher’s Spire, Lurien’s lofty sanctuary atop the city, where he entered eternal sleep to maintain the seal containing the Radiance.
But by the time the Knight arrives, these once-proud protectors are long dead, with their hollow shells now infested with parasites that reanimate them in grotesque imitation of life.
30. Gruzzer Hollow Knight Tattoo
The Gruzzer is a basic enemy found early in Hollow Knight. The Hunter’s Journal states that these creatures are only dimly aware of their surroundings and so easy to cut down that it seems like they search for ways to die.
31. Shadow Creeper Hollow Knight Tattoo
Shadow Creepers are enemy bugs found only in deep, dark places. The Hunter’s Journal states that while they pose no real threat, the way it moves and the noises it makes even unsettles the Hunter himself.
32. Zote the Mighty HollowKnight Tattoo
Zote the Mighty is a self-proclaimed “fearless warrior” wandering Hallownest, declaring himself destined for greatness. He believes he’s the world’s most powerful fighter, quoting his own “precepts of heroism,” but in reality, he’s utterly incompetent, constantly needing the Knight to save him.
Following his dismantling by the Knight at the Colosseum, Zote moves into Dirtmouth, becoming the centre of Bretta’s infatuation. He boasts endlessly about his triumphs, completely oblivious to how undeserved they are.
This delusion of grandeur is what later inspires Bretta’s dream of Grey Prince Zote, turning him into the tragic dream boss you can fight.
33. Flea Hollow Knight Tattoo
Fleas are Silksong’s answer to Hollow Knight’s Grubs. The fleas are a part of a travelling caravan that seeks to find a safe place within Pharmloom from Grandmother Silk’s threat.
Unfortunately, many became lost, and the Fleamaster asks Hornet for aid in returning them to the caravan.
34. Sisters of Battle Hollow Knight Tattoo
The Mantis Lords, or Sisters of Battle, are the three rulers of the Mantis Tribe, one of the few groups in Hallownest that resisted the Infection through sheer will and tradition.
They live deep in the Mantis Village, a hidden community carved into the walls of the Fungal Wastes. The tribe is proud, disciplined, and fiercely territorial, viewing outsiders with suspicion, but also living by a strict warrior code.
Unlike many of Hallownest’s fallen inhabitants, the Mantises retain their minds, no longer attacking the Knight after he proved his strength to the Lords.
35. Dreamers Hollow Knight Tattoo
The Dreamers are three powerful beings chosen by the Pale King to help seal away the Radiance, the ancient god whose light infected the minds of Hallownest’s inhabitants.
The Dreamers consist of Monomon the Teacher, Lurien the Watcher, and Hornets Mother, Herrah the Beast. Each Dreamer sacrificed their physical life, entering an eternal sleep to maintain the magical barrier that contains the Radiance.
Their minds exist only in the Dream Realm, and their physical bodies rest inside elaborate sanctuaries scattered across Hallownest. Despite the sacrifice, the seal and Hollow Knight weren’t enough to protect from the Radiance’s grasp, and must be undone by the Knight so he can confront the heart of the infection.
36. Hatchlings Hollow Knight Tattoo
Hatchlings are tiny creatures that the Knight can summon at the cost of Soul when using the Glowing Womb Charm. It is stated that “The hatchlings have no desire to eat or live, and will sacrifice themselves to protect their parent.”
37. Spell Hollow Knight Tattoo
Spells are powerful Soul-based abilities that the Knight can cast using Soul gathered from striking enemies. While your Nail represents the physical side of combat, Spells embody the Soul, the metaphysical force of will, emotion, and memory in Hallownest.
38. Ability Hollow Knight Tattoo
Abilities are the Knight’s special movement and combat techniques that expand exploration and mobility. They’re learned throughout Hallownest, often guarded by mini-bosses or ancient mechanisms, symbolizing moments of evolution.
39. Folly Hollow Knight Tattoo
Folly are former Soul Sanctum scholars twisted by the Sanctum’s experiments with Soul. According to the Hunters Journal, these bugs were attempting to achieve immortality before their twisted experiments left their bodies inflated and deformed.
40. Shrumal Warrior Hollow Knight Tattoo
A fan favourite enemy thanks to its bizarre cat-like noises, the Schrumal Warrior protected its young from intruders by rolling into a ball and hurling itself at anything that dares to come close.
41. Hollow Knight X Dark Souls Tattoo
Sometimes considered the Dark Souls of Indie Games, Hollow Knight shares a few similarities with the From Software classic games. Each game has its version of tough and demanding bosses that you need to run back to upon each defeat, the same recovery system after death, similar themes and tones, and a similar save progression system with the Bonfire coming from Dark Souls and the Bench coming from Hollow Knight.
42. Void Given Focus Hollow Knight Tattoo
The Void Given Focus or the God of Gods is a form of the Void Entity that resembles no beings seen elsewhere in the Hollow Knight series. This being only appears upon defeating the Pantheon of Hollownest in Godhome and destroys the Absolute Radiance, and is briefly seen in the final cutscene of Silksong.
43. Mender Bug Hollow Knight Tattoo
Mender Bug is one of Hollow Knight’s most easily missed NPCs. He is a tiny worker devoted to keeping Dirtmouth’s signposts repaired. While Hallownest crumbles around him, Mender Bug quietly goes about his duty, fixing signs the Knight accidentally breaks during exploration.
If you kill Mender Bug, he doesn’t respawn. His home can later be found, and inside is a journal revealing his simple pride in doing honest work. It’s a small, quietly heartbreaking moment that reinforces Hollow Knight’s themes of loss, decay, and unintended consequences.
Cogwork Dancers Hollow Knight Tattoo
The Cogwork Dancers are twin automaton dancers that serve as the guardians of the final trial for those who wish to reach Pharloom’s peak. These machines were modelled after the partner of the Green Prince, the dual prince of Verdania.
To save Verdania, the prince made a deal with The Citadel, offering himself up as trade. His body was used as the mould for the automatons, and his soul was split in two and placed within them.
Relic Seeker Scrounge Hollow Knight Tattoo
Relic Seeker Scrounge is an NPC whom players can exchange tradeable items for Rosaries, and also provides lore about the relics found throughout the game. Scrounge is found in Bellhart, next to Pinmaster Plinney’s shop, after the player character, Hornet, defeats the boss named Widow.
Conclusion
As we ascend out of the depths of the void, our adventure through the incredible world of Hollow Knight Tattoos has come to an end. Thanks for joining us, and be sure to return again as we will continue to feature more Hollow Knight and Silk Song Tattoos in the future. But before you go, why not stick around and check out these One Piece Tattoos designs, these Dandadan Tattoos Ideas, or these Dragon Ball Tattoos.
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