Preparing for the Fungal Wastes – Hollow Knight Walkthrough

The Fungal Wastes is one of the most unique and challenging areas in Hollow Knight Android APK. It is located near the center of Hallownest, between Greenpath and the City of Tears. Covered in mushrooms and filled with toxic acid pools, the area presents many dangers for the unprepared.

In this guide, we will help you navigate through the Fungal Wastes. You’ll learn about key abilities, useful charms, enemies, and important NPCs you’ll encounter. By the end of this guide, you’ll know how to prepare, survive, and make the most of your journey through the Fungal Wastes.

Fungal wastes Hollow knight walkthrough

Key Abilities and Items Needed

Before entering the Fungal Wastes, you need to ensure that you have the right abilities and items. Without them, some parts of this area will be inaccessible or much harder to explore.

  • Mothwing Cloak: This ability is crucial. It lets you dash forward, which helps you cross gaps and avoid enemy attacks. You get it after defeating Hornet in Greenpath.
  • Dashmaster Charm (optional): This charm speeds up your dashing, allowing faster movement. It’s useful for navigating the area quickly.
  • Soul-based charms: Charms like the Shaman Stone increase the power of your spells. Since many enemies in the Fungal Wastes attack in groups, stronger spells can make a big difference.
  • Healing charms: If you’re worried about taking damage, consider using the Quick Focus charm. It lets you heal faster by using Soul, which is important in this enemy-filled area.

How to Access – Fungal Wastes Map

If you see the Fungal Wastes Map, there are two main ways to enter the Fungal Wastes. Both routes require the Mothwing Cloak to dash across gaps.

the-fungal-wastes-map-hollow-knight
  1. From Forgotten Crossroads
    • Head southwest from the Forgotten Crossroads, near the Hot Spring.
    • Use your Mothwing Cloak to dash past obstacles and acid pools.
    • Keep going until you enter the Fungal Wastes.
  2. From Fog Canyon
    • Travel south from Fog Canyon.
    • You’ll pass through Queen’s Station, a Stagway station that connects to the Fungal Wastes.
    • After resting at the bench, proceed through the exit into the Fungal Wastes.

Both paths lead you into this mushroom-filled area. Be sure to rest on benches when you find them, as the enemies can be tricky.

Navigating the Fungal Wastes

The Fungal Wastes is divided into different areas, each with its own set of enemies and challenges. Here’s a breakdown of the key areas and how to navigate through them:

Navigating-into-fungal-wastes
  1. Queen’s Station
    • As you enter from Fog Canyon, you’ll reach Queen’s Station. This Stagway station is a safe place to rest and heal. There’s also a bench here.
    • Nearby, you can find the NPC Quirrel, who provides valuable dialogue that helps you understand the area’s lore.
    • Use this area as a central hub when exploring the Fungal Wastes.
  2. Cornifer’s Map
    • Cornifer, the cartographer, can be found early in the Fungal Wastes. His map costs 75 Geo and helps you track your progress.
    • To find him, follow the humming sound as you descend into the area. After purchasing the map, use it to plan your exploration.
  3. Mantis Village
    • Deeper in the Fungal Wastes, you’ll encounter the Mantis Village. This area is home to the hostile Mantis Tribe.
    • The Mantis Tribe is known for its quick attacks, so be prepared to dash and dodge effectively. After exploring, you can challenge the Mantis Lords, one of the key bosses of the area.
  4. Fungal Core
    • The Fungal Core is a hidden area in the Wastes. It can only be accessed after you’ve obtained the Monarch Wings.
    • This area contains hidden treasures, including a Mask Shard. It also connects to other important areas like Deepnest.

Navigating the Fungal Wastes can be challenging due to the acidic pools and explosive spores. Use your dash ability to avoid hazards and keep your map handy to avoid getting lost.

Important NPCs and Vendors

The Fungal Wastes is home to several key NPCs and vendors. Interacting with them will help you gain powerful charms and important lore.

Important-NPCs-in-Fungal-Wastes
  1. Leg Eater
    • Location: Northeast Fungal Wastes.
    • Leg Eater sells Fragile Charms that boost your abilities, but they break if you die. You can pay him to repair these charms when needed.
    • Charms sold by Leg Eater:
      • Fragile Heart: Increases your health by two masks.
      • Fragile Greed: Boosts the amount of Geo you collect.
      • Fragile Strength: Increases the damage of your attacks.
  2. Cornifer
    • Location: Found near the beginning of the Fungal Wastes.
    • Cornifer sells you the Fungal Wastes map for 75 Geo. This map helps you navigate the area and find key locations. Always buy a map when entering a new area, as it makes exploration easier.
  3. Quirrel
    • Location: Found in Queen’s Station and later in the Mantis Village.
    • Quirrel provides insight into the lore of Hallownest and shares useful information about the areas you explore. His dialogue often hints at important locations or secrets.
  4. Cloth
    • Location: Hidden underground in the northeast of the Fungal Wastes.
    • Cloth is another adventurer like you. She offers support in later areas if you encounter her here. Interacting with her adds more depth to the story.
  5. Bretta
    • Location: South of the Fungal Wastes, near Mantis Village.
    • Bretta is trapped, and rescuing her will return her to Dirtmouth. She becomes a key character in the town, providing additional dialogue and story progression.

These NPCs and vendors offer important items and story content. Be sure to visit them as you explore the Fungal Wastes.

Fungal Wastes Hidden Areas

The Fungal Wastes is full of hidden paths, treasures, and secret areas that can easily be missed. Exploring these hidden places will reward you with geo, items, and important charms.

1. The Fungal Core

  • Location: To the far west of the Fungal Wastes, below the main area.
  • How to Access: You can only enter the Fungal Core after gaining the Monarch Wings from the Ancient Basin.
  • What’s Inside: The Fungal Core hides several valuable items:
    • Geo caches: Break open the hidden geo rocks to collect a large amount of currency.
    • Mask Shard: Located at the very end of the Fungal Core, this shard helps you increase your overall health.
    • Connection to Deepnest: You can also find a hidden entrance to the dangerous area of Deepnest.

2. Charm: Spore Shroom

  • Location: In the southwest part of the Fungal Wastes, close to the entrance to Deepnest.
  • How to Access: You will need to pass several tricky platforming sections and fight off Shrumal Warriors. The charm is found in a small hidden chamber.
  • Use: The Spore Shroom charm creates a cloud of spores around you when healing. This can damage nearby enemies, making it useful in tight battles.

3. Geo Deposits

  • Location: Scattered throughout the Fungal Wastes.
  • How to Access: Keep an eye on the walls and floors as you explore. Many deposits are hidden behind breakable walls or in narrow passages.
  • What’s Inside: These deposits hold large amounts of geo, which is important for upgrading your character and buying charms.

4. Hidden Passage to Mantis Village

  • Location: Near the bottom-left area of the Fungal Wastes, leading into Mantis Village.
  • How to Access: Use your Mothwing Cloak to dash through a breakable wall. This shortcut takes you directly into Mantis Village, bypassing some enemies and hazards.

5. Breakable Platforms

How to Access: Look for cracked floors and platforms. These can be broken by using downward attacks, often leading to hidden areas with geo, relics, or even shortcuts to deeper parts of the Fungal Wastes.

Location: Throughout the Fungal Wastes.

Enemies and Boss Fights in Fungal Wastes

In this area, you will encounter various enemies that pose a challenge with their unique attack patterns. Here’s an overview of what to expect and how to defeat them:

enemies-in-Fungal-wastes

Common Enemies:

  1. Fungoon
    • These floating enemies release explosive spores when defeated.
    • Strategy: Use ranged attacks or quick dashes to avoid getting hit by the spores after they explode.
  2. Ambloom
    • Amblooms are stationary, but they spit poisonous clouds that linger for a few seconds.
    • Strategy: Wait for the cloud to clear, then attack, or use spells from a distance to eliminate them safely.
  3. Shrumal Warrior
    • They attack by launching orange blobs in an arc towards you.
    • Strategy: Time your dashes to avoid the projectiles and close the distance to strike with your Nail.
  4. Mantis Warrior
    • These fast enemies attack with swift slashes and leaps. They can also throw a boomerang-like projectile.
    • Strategy: Focus on dodging their quick attacks by dashing at the right moment, and counterattack during the brief gaps in their attack pattern.

Miniboss:

  1. Shrumal Ogre
    • These large mushroom enemies are slow but dangerous. They spray orange ooze in wide arcs, which deals heavy damage.
    • Strategy: Attack from a distance using spells like the Vengeful Spirit. If you have the Shaman Stone, your spells will be more powerful. Use hit-and-run tactics to avoid staying too close for too long. After defeating two Shrumal Ogres, you’ll receive a Charm Notch upgrade, increasing the number of charms you can equip.

Boss Fight:

  1. Mantis Lords
    • One of the most significant battles in the Fungal Wastes, the Mantis Lords, is fast and deadly. This fight takes place in the Mantis Village.
    • Strategy: The Mantis Lords attack with precision. Their main attacks include dashing across the screen and throwing long boomerang-like projectiles. Timing your dodges is key. Wait for gaps in their attacks to strike. After defeating them, you’ll gain access to the deeper parts of the Wastes and the entrance to Deepnest. You’ll also be rewarded with the Mark of Pride charm, which increases your Nail’s range.

The enemies and bosses here require patience and quick reflexes. Understanding their attack patterns and preparing with the right charms and spells will make the fights more manageable.

Key Items and Charms to Collect

You can get valuable items and charms from fungal wastes that can significantly improve your abilities. Here’s a list of important collectibles and how to find them:

Charms the fungal wastes

1. Charm Notch

  • Location: North part of the Fungal Wastes, after defeating two Shrumal Ogres.
  • Use: Increases the number of charms you can equip by 1, allowing for more customization of your build.

2. Spore Shroom

  • Location: Southwest of the Fungal Wastes, near the entrance to Deepnest.
  • Use: This charm releases a cloud of damaging spores when you heal, making it useful when surrounded by enemies. It’s a helpful defensive tool for longer battles.

3. Dashmaster

  • Location: Southeast of the Fungal Wastes, near the Mantis Village.
  • Use: The Dashmaster charm allows you to dash more frequently and in all directions, improving your mobility in combat and exploration.

4. Mark of Pride

  • Location: In a chest in the Mantis Village, after defeating the Mantis Lords.
  • Use: Increases the range of your Nail, making it easier to hit enemies from a safer distance. This is a highly valuable charm for both combat and exploration.

5. Mask Shard

  • Location: Queen’s Station.
  • Use: Collecting four Mask Shards increases your total health by one Mask. This particular shard can be found after obtaining the Mantis Claw.

These items are crucial for increasing your survivability and combat effectiveness in the Fungal Wastes and beyond. Be sure to explore thoroughly to find these important upgrades.

Lore of the Fungal Wastes

The Fungal Wastes is not just a dangerous area to explore but also holds a rich history in the world of Hallownest. Here’s a breakdown of the key lore connected to this unique region.

1. Mushroom Clan

  • The Fungal Wastes is home to the Mushroom Clan, a group of fungal creatures with a shared mind. They are territorial and often hostile to outsiders, attacking anyone who ventures near their domain.
  • The Mushroom Clan once lived in peace, but after the arrival of the Pale King, they accepted his rule. They believed his foresight would protect them from danger. However, the spread of the Infection turned many of them aggressive, making them a threat to travelers.

2. Mantis Tribe

  • The Mantis Tribe rules the southern region of the Fungal Wastes. Unlike the Mushroom Clan, the Mantis Tribe refused to fall under the Pale King’s rule. Instead, they maintained their independence, agreeing to a truce with Hallownest in which they would protect the border with Deepnest, a more dangerous area filled with deadly creatures.
  • The Mantis Tribe is known for their discipline and skill in battle. They attack anyone who enters their village but will cease hostilities if the Mantis Lords are defeated in battle. After this, the tribe becomes neutral, allowing you to explore their village peacefully.

3. Infection and Conflict

  • The Fungal Wastes plays a significant role in the overall conflict within Hallownest. The area shares a border with Deepnest, a hostile and dangerous region. The Mushroom Clan had frequent conflicts with Deepnest before the Infection began spreading. After the Infection, the once-peaceful creatures of the Fungal Wastes became more dangerous.
  • Despite the Infection, the Mantis Tribe remained unaffected. Their strong culture and tradition kept them from falling to its corruption. This makes them one of the few groups in Hallownest to resist the Infection successfully.

The Fungal Wastes is an area deeply affected by the history of Hallownest and the spread of the Infection. Exploring the lore adds depth to your journey, giving you a better understanding of the game’s world.

Tips for Exploring the Fungal Wastes

This is one of the tricky areas in Hollow Knight with various hazards, enemies, and environmental challenges. Here are some tips to help you explore this region efficiently and safely:

Use Your Dash Wisely

  • The Fungal Wastes is full of environmental hazards like acid pools and explosive spores. Always keep your dash ability ready to avoid these dangers.
  • Consider equipping the Dashmaster charm if you want to dash more frequently. It will help you escape sticky situations and navigate the area faster.

Watch Out for Explosive Spores

  • Many enemies in this area, such as Fungoons, leave behind explosive spores after being defeated. Always move away after killing them to avoid taking unnecessary damage.

Farm Geo with Fragile Greed

  • If you need extra Geo, equip the Fragile Greed charm from Leg Eater. The Fungal Wastes has a good number of enemies and breakable objects that drop Geo, so this charm will help you collect more. Just be cautious, as the charm will break if you die.

Bench Locations Are Your Friends

  • Be sure to rest at every bench you find. The Fungal Wastes can be tough, and it’s always better to save your progress and heal before venturing further.
  • There’s a convenient bench at Queen’s Station, which is a good central spot to come back to if you need a break.

Prioritize Ranged Attacks for Tough Enemies

  • Enemies like the Shrumal Warriors can be difficult due to their ranged attacks. Using spells like Vengeful Spirit or Desolate Dive can help you deal damage from a distance, especially when paired with the Shaman Stone for extra spell power.

Prepare for the Mantis Lords

  • Before heading into Mantis Village to fight the Mantis Lords, make sure you have enough Soul to heal and attack. You’ll need quick reflexes for this fight, so equipping charms like Quick Focus for fast healing and Mark of Pride for increased attack range can make the battle easier.

Exploration Order Matters

  • It’s a good idea to explore the northern part of the Fungal Wastes first, collect important items, and then make your way deeper to areas like the Mantis Village or Fungal Core. This helps you gather upgrades that will make the harder areas more manageable.

By following these tips, you’ll have a smoother experience while exploring the Fungal Wastes and handling its challenges.

Conclusion

The Fungal Wastes is a fascinating yet challenging area in Hollow Knight. By preparing with the right abilities, charms, and strategies, you can navigate its mushroom-filled caverns and defeat the powerful enemies and bosses that guard valuable items.

Whether you’re exploring the lore of the Mushroom Clan and the Mantis Tribe or collecting key charms like Mark of Pride and Spore Shroom, this area offers plenty of rewards for those who take the time to explore. Don’t forget to use the benches and Stag Stations wisely to rest and save your progress.

With the tips and information provided in this guide, you are now well-prepared to tackle the Fungal Wastes and continue your journey through Hallownest.

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