Hollow Knight’s vast world of Hallownest is filled with powerful upgrades and secrets tucked away behind locked doors. One of the most sought-after items is the Elegant Key, a special artifact that grants access to a significant ability upgrade for your Knight. This guide will walk you through the entire process, from finding the prerequisite item to locating the secret door the key unlocks.
Step 1: Acquire the Shopkeeper's Key
Your journey for the Elegant Key doesn't start with the key itself, but with another item: the
Shopkeeper's Key.
- Who to Give It To: This key must be delivered to Sly, the humble shopkeeper in the town of Dirtmouth. If you haven't already, you must first rescue him from the Forgotten Crossroads where he is trapped near the bottom-right area.
- Where to Find It: The Shopkeeper's Key is hidden deep within the Crystal Peak area.
- Prerequisites: To reach it, you must have both the Mantis Claw (wall-jump) and the Desolate Dive/Descending Dark (downward spell) abilities.
- The Path:
- Enter Crystal Peak from the entrance just to the right of the Forgotten Crossroads well.
- Take the first elevator up.
- Use your Desolate Dive spell to smash through the fragile, cracked floor to descend into the main part of the zone.
- From the room you land in, head down and then to the right.
- Look for a path leading upward and use your Mantis Claw to climb the wall.
- Continue ascending through a room populated with Crystal Crawlers (laser-shooting enemies).
- Before you reach a large, intimidating Crystal Guardian enemy, look for a small alcove in the top-right wall. The Shopkeeper's Key will be inside.
Once you have it, return to Dirtmouth and give the key to Sly. This unlocks his "special stock" of exclusive items.
Step 2: Purchase the Elegant Key
After handing over the Shopkeeper's Key, simply speak to Sly again and browse his new inventory. Among the new offerings, you will find the Elegant Key available for purchase for 800 Geo. Buy it to proceed to the next step.
Step 3: Using the Elegant Key and Unlocking Shade Soul
The Elegant Key has one specific purpose: to unlock a hidden door within the City of Tears.
- Location: The door is found inside the Soul Sanctum, the tower dedicated to the obsessive Soul Masters.
- How to Find the Door:
- Enter the Soul Sanctum from the City of Tears.
- Proceed past the first Soul Twister enemy (or defeat it if the area boss is still alive).
- In the next large room, instead of going up, head immediately to the left.
- You will find a small elevator. Ride it up to a secluded hallway where the ornate Elegant Door awaits.
- The Reward: Shade Soul
- Use the key on the door to open it. Inside, you will be challenged by a Soul Warrior miniboss. Defeat it.
- A door on the left will open, allowing you to climb up into a chamber above.
- Interact with the strange figure attached to a device. When prompted, select "Yes" to inspect it closely.
- This grants you the Shade Soul ability, a powerful upgrade to your standard Vengeful Spirit spell.
The Shade Soul fires a larger, darker projectile that deals significantlymore damage and can even pierce through enemies, making it an essentialtool for both combat and exploring the deeper secrets of Hallownest.
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