Somewhere beyond the dreams of gods and kings lies the White Palace—a surreal, glowing kingdom within Hollow Knight that feels like a reward and punishment in equal measure. Dripping in mystery and packed with some of the most difficult platforming challenges in the game, the White Palace is where patience meets precision, and only the most focused players will see it through to the end.

In this walkthrough, we’ll break down everything you need to know about the White Palace: where to find it, how to unlock it, what abilities are required, and how to solve each of the frustrating yet elegant puzzle-platforming gauntlets that stand in your way. Whether you’re chasing the True Ending or simply looking to conquer Hollow Knight’s hardest area, this guide is your map through madness.

The White Palace isn’t just sitting out in the open. To access it, you’ll first need to complete several prerequisites:

Requirements:

• Defeat the Traitor Lord in Queen’s Gardens

• Acquire the Awoken Dream Nail (upgraded Dream Nail)

• Visit the corpse of the Pale King in the Ancient Basin

Once you use the Awoken Dream Nail on the Pale King’s corpse, you’ll be transported into the White Palace. There is no fast travel out—you must complete the platforming trials within to escape.

Don’t enter unprepared. While there are no enemies inside the White Palace, the challenges come from platforming. Equip yourself wisely:

Recommended Charms:

• Hiveblood: Regenerates one mask of health over time—great for repeated spike damage.

• Grubsong: Earn soul when taking damage; helpful for healing between sections.

• Mark of Pride/Longnail: Increases nail range, useful for breaking switches mid-jump.

• Sharp Shadow: Lets you dash through saws without taking damage.

• Dashmaster: Adds agility with quicker dashes and better movement control.

Equip according to your style, but mobility and recovery are your friends.

The White Palace is divided into three main wings:

1. Entryway Trials

2. Upper Palace Climb

3. Throne Room Path

Each wing increases in difficulty and complexity. The final section is often referred to as the Path of Pain , though that’s technically a secret challenge off the main path (we’ll cover that too).

Let’s break them down one by one.

The moment you land in the White Palace, you’re greeted with gleaming white corridors, echoing silence, and a series of introductory challenges meant to test your familiarity with core movement mechanics.

Common Mechanics:

• Wall jumps

• Timed spike platforms

• Blade saws that rotate

Tips:

• Practice dashing through tight gaps with Sharp Shadow equipped.

• Use wall clings to carefully gauge jump distances.

• Don’t rush—movement control is more valuable than speed.

Complete these trials to unlock the upper wings.

Here, the game dials up the intensity. You’ll be introduced to:

• Vertical climb sequences with spinning saws

• Lever-based platform resets

• Sections requiring precision pogo bounces

Puzzle Tip:

In one corridor, you must hit a switch midair, then bounce on a sawblade using your downward slash to reach the next ledge. Time your jump after the first blade passes, then slash and dash immediately. Many of these sequences require muscle memory, so expect to retry.

This section culminates in an upward gauntlet with respawning platforms and narrow dodge timings.

After navigating the upper trials, you’ll begin the final stretch toward the Pale King’s throne room. This area is packed with narrow spike-lined corridors, small ledges, and traps designed to punish imprecise movement.

What to Expect:

• Continuous vertical sections with limited rest platforms

• Side routes with collectible lore tablets and bonus grub rewards

• Blades moving in cross-patterns and diagonal sweeps

Use patience and listen to audio cues from moving saws to time your dashes and jumps effectively.

Once you reach the throne, you’ll be treated to a beautiful but somber cutscene that ties into Hollow Knight’s deeper lore—essential for unlocking the True Ending.

Hidden behind a breakable wall in the White Palace, the Path of Pain is a brutal test of everything you've learned. This isn't just hard—it's infamous.

How to Find It:

• Near the top of the palace, break the cracked wall on the right side of a hallway with moving platforms.

• Follow the path to a new entrance and prepare for absolute chaos.

Tips for Completion:

• Equip Sharp Shadow and Grubberfly’s Elegy if you're confident in midair control.

• Expect to spend a long time mastering sequences.

• Take breaks—it's okay to rest your hands.

The reward is a hidden cutscene and a massive sense of satisfaction.

The White Palace isn’t just a physical challenge—it’s a narrative one. Here you uncover pieces of the Pale King’s legacy, the fall of the kingdom, and the unspoken burdens he left behind.

Notable Rewards:

While you don’t receive direct gameplay boosts like new spells or abilities, the White Palace deepens your connection to the world and your character’s role within it.

Surviving the White Palace is more than an accomplishment—it’s a rite of passage in Hollow Knight. With careful charm selection, precise control, and some genuine grit, even the harshest saw-filled gauntlet can be overcome.

Every hallway you clear and every blade you dash through adds to your experience—not just as a player of the game, but as someone who has truly understood the rhythm of Hollow Knight’s world.

Now it’s your turn. Have you conquered the Path of Pain? Do you have charm combinations that made a difference? Share your route and experience below—and stay tuned for more dream realm breakdowns and lore guides.