All Pale Ore Locations Hollow Knight Complete Upgrade Guide

In the beautiful and melancholic world of Team Cherry's Hollow Knight, surviving the depths of Hallownest depends heavily on the strength of your primary weapon. Upgrading your nail increases your damage output and allows you to defeat the kingdom's toughest bosses with fewer strikes. To achieve the absolute highest upgrade tier, adventurers must track down six rare pieces of Pale Ore hidden across different corners of the map.
Rewards for Altruism and Exploration
The first few pieces of Pale Ore can be obtained by assisting the unique characters you encounter during your journey. One piece is held by the Grubfather in the Forgotten Crossroads, who rewards you after you successfully rescue thirty-one of his missing children scattered throughout the world. Another piece is locked behind a spiritual milestone, requiring you to collect three hundred essence points and speak to the Seer in the Resting Grounds.
Gathering these items requires patience as you slowly uncover the secrets of the underground world. You can naturally track your collection milestones while checking global gaming statistics on your personal Steam account to see how close you are to total completion. Balancing these passive character requests with active mapping ensures a steady flow of upgrade resources.
Delving Into Treacherous Environmental Peaks
Two distinct pieces of Pale Ore are hidden deep within dangerous geographical biomes that test your traversal skills. The first is located at the very peak of Hallownest's Crown, positioned high above the industrial tunnels of the Crystal Peak region. Reaching this freezing summit requires advanced movement abilities or incredibly precise platforming maneuvers to bypass the sheer cliffs.
The second environmental piece requires navigating down into the claustrophobic corridors of the Ancient Basin. Players must explore the far western edge of this desolate zone to locate the ore sitting quietly in a dangerous cavern. This area is heavily guarded by aggressive local wildlife and environmental hazards that require quick reflexes to overcome.
Confronting Deadly Bosses and Arena Trials
The final two upgrade materials are heavily guarded by dangerous combat encounters that require absolute martial mastery. One piece is located within the shadowy depths of Deepnest, hidden directly behind the secret lair of the terrifying mimic boss known as Nosk. Defeating this shifting creature requires memorizing its fast movement patterns and exploiting gaps in its erratic charging attacks.
Your ultimate combat test awaits in the northern edges of the Kingdom's Edge region at the famous Colosseum of Fools. Players must survive the grueling Trial of the Conqueror, which serves as the second major arena challenge on the board. Overcoming the multiple waves of elite warriors rewards you with the final piece needed to complete your ultimate nail upgrade.