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Royal Waterways
Hollow Knight

Royal Waterways

A complete walkthrough for Hollow Knight's Royal Waterways, detailing Cornifer's location, enemy encounters, item locations, and the Dung Defender boss fight.

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A complete walkthrough for Hollow Knight's Royal Waterways, detailing Cornifer's location, enemy encounters, item locations, and the Dung Defender boss fight.

Walkthrough
  1. 1
    Head left to find Cornifer and purchase the map. Watch out for Pilflips and a Belfly.
  2. 2
    Continue left, encountering Hwurmp enemies.
  3. 3
    Drop down and proceed left, then down. You'll find a Rancid Egg and a Soul Totem.
  4. 4
    Go left to find Cornifer. Defeat Hwurmp enemies to unlock the gate and get the map. Hit the lever to open the path to the Fungal Wastes.
  5. 5
    Detour to the Fungal Wastes: go all the way down to find the Dashmaster Charm.
  6. 6
    Take the hidden path left of the Dashmaster Charm. Navigate narrow paths with spikes, using Dash and Super Dash abilities. Meet Bretta at the end.
  7. 7
    Return to the Royal Waterways. Exit Cornifer's screen to the right, drop into the water, and go left to find a Geo chest.
  8. 8
    Drop into the water again and go left to find a Mask Shard. Exit via the bottom right.
  9. 9
    On the next screen, grab the Rancid Egg above. Use platforms to reveal a dark path.
  10. 10
    Continue right until you hit a wall. Break the wall to the right to find a hidden room and rescue a Grub.
  11. 11
    Use the map to find Tuk by going all the way right. You may need to break a wall near a Geo Chest.
  12. 12
    Tuk sells Rancid Eggs. Exit Tuk's screen and the Royal Waterways entrance screen via the bottom exit.
  13. 13
    Go to the bottom and then left. Climb the wall on the left in a room with a shaky floor to reveal a hidden path.
  14. 14
    Rest on the Bench and break the scaffolding. Go right to find a Rancid Egg.
  15. 15
    Go left, drop down, and then right. Follow a voice upwards to the next screen.
  16. 16
    Prepare for the Dung Defender boss fight.
  17. 17
    After defeating Dung Defender and obtaining the Defender's Crest, go right and hit the pump switch. Break scaffolding to open a path.
  18. 18
    Backtrack and go down. Head right, then use Super Dash to pass spikes. Slide down, Super Dash right, and slide up.
  19. 19
    Find a Rancid Egg on the upper left. Go right and all the way up. Inspect the element X at the top.
  20. 20
    Drop down and exit right. Climb walls up and go right, then down to a wide open area. Defeat all enemies to unlock the exit.
  21. 21
    Exit right and go all the way down to Isma's Grove.
  22. 22
    In Isma's Grove, go right and inspect the item on the floor to obtain Isma's Tear, allowing you to swim through acid.
  23. 23
    Use Isma's Tear to swim right through the acid. Climb walls and rescue a Grub.
  24. 24
    Continue climbing up, go left, drop down, and exit left.
  25. 25
    Backtrack to the 'element X' area and follow the path left. Climb up a dead-end path.
  26. 26
    Go right until you see a light you can enter. Climb walls and exit left.
  27. 27
    Meet Eternal Emilita, talk to her, and hit the switch to open the door.
Tips
  • The Vengeful Spirit spell can destroy the dirt balls thrown by Dung Defender in one hit.
  • When Dung Defender is underground, wait for him to start dropping back down before attacking.
  • Focusing while Dung Defender is on the ground after being hit can yield a good opportunity for damage.
  • Make sure to have your Soul meter filled before attempting the narrow paths with spikes requiring Dash and Super Dash.
  • Map of Royal Waterways (from Cornifer)
  • Dashmaster Charm
  • Rancid Egg x4
  • Mask Shard
  • Defender's Crest (from Dung Defender)
  • Isma's Tear

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