Groal the Great waits at the top of Bilewater in Bilehaven, after a five-wave enemy gauntlet. Save health and silk during those waves, then use the arena’s water and side corners to avoid the sweeping spike ball and emerging Stilkin. Attack during Groal’s Acid Spit animation, and treat Great Inhale as a cue to interrupt or escape rather than keep swinging.
Where to find Groal and what to expect before the fight
Groal is at the top of Bilewater in Bilehaven. The boss does not appear until Hornet has survived five waves of enemies; the final wave is followed by Groal rising from the Muckmaggot pool. The Hollow Knight Wiki lists the waves as:
- Two Stilkin.
- Two Stilkin Trappers.
- Three Swamp Squits.
- One Stilkin and one Stilkin Trapper.
- Two Swamp Squits and one Stilkin Trapper.
Spend health and silk carefully during the gauntlet. The waves are part of the encounter, so arriving at Groal already depleted makes the boss fight harder.
PC Gamer reported a possible shorter route back to the fight: at the bottom of a shaft with a pool of worms, break the wall to the right to reach a closer Bilewater bench. The description is brief, so treat this as a reported shortcut rather than a fully mapped route. PC Gamer’s Groal guide
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How to read Groal’s attacks
The attack labels below are community guide terminology, not confirmed official move names. The Hollow Knight Wiki notes that most of its attack names are non-canon.
Acid Spit
When Groal’s stomach glows, it spits two arcing acid orbs. They bounce once and then explode; they disappear if they land in water. A position below Groal can be relatively safe, and the Hollow Knight Wiki says Hornet can hit the orbs to push them away, though they still explode shortly afterward. The animation is also an opportunity to deal damage: the Silksong Wiki guide recommends pogoing during the spit, while PC Gamer describes leaving a defensive water position to attack during the animation. Leave the opening and return to cover before Groal’s next move.
Great Inhale
Groal opens its mouth and pulls Hornet toward it. Getting behind the boss can stop the pull early, according to the Hollow Knight Wiki. The Silksong Wiki guide recommends throwing a Voltvessel into Groal’s mouth to interrupt the attack. If you do not have that tool, its suggested fallback is to escape with dash and Clawline.
Spike Ball Ambush
A large spike ball swings across the arena’s middle, with an audible cue. It does not reach the side platforms, according to the Hollow Knight Wiki, so move to a side platform, enter the water, or press against a wall to avoid its path. The downtime after this attack can also give you a chance to heal.
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Stilkin Ambush
Two Stilkin or Stilkin Trappers emerge from the water, attack once, and drop back in. You do not need to defeat them. The Hollow Knight Wiki advises staying in a corner below a side platform to avoid the ambush; watch for the spawn cue and be ready to punish the enemies if your position gives you a safe opening.
Vengeful Soul
At 390 HP, Groal enters a second phase and adds two or three Soul blasts aimed at Hornet, according to the Hollow Knight Wiki. The Silksong Wiki guide recommends jumping to draw the shots high, then dashing to avoid them.
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Choose a strategy that fits your tools
| Approach | How it works | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Defensive water-corner | Stay low in the water or tucked into a corner beneath a side platform. Leave cover to attack during Acid Spit, then retreat. | Reduces exposure to several attacks and the Stilkin ambush, but Groal can dive close and projectiles near the water can still hit you. |
| Standard arena play | Move between the water and side platforms as attacks are telegraphed. Use the spike-ball cue to reposition, react to enemy spawns, and use openings such as Acid Spit to attack. | Offers more room to attack and adapt, but asks you to read each cue and manage your position rather than relying on one safe spot. |
Both approaches are community-described tactics, not guarantees. The sources do not establish a measured success rate or time advantage for either.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A practical sequence for the encounter
- Preserve resources in the gauntlet. Avoid spending health or silk unnecessarily across the five waves.
- Choose a low, safe position when Groal appears. Use the water or a corner under a side platform to limit exposure while watching for cues.
- React to the spike-ball sound. Get to a wall, the water, or a side platform before the ball sweeps through the middle.
- Use Acid Spit as an opening. Attack during the animation, then move back to cover before the next attack.
- Counter Great Inhale. Throw a Voltvessel if available, or use dash and Clawline to escape; getting behind Groal may also stop the pull.
- Prepare for Soul blasts at 390 HP. Jump to draw the shots upward and dash away as they come through.
Clawline can also help get behind Groal, and the Hollow Knight Wiki suggests using spawn cues and spike-ball downtime to prepare attacks or heal. These are guide recommendations, so adjust to the openings you can safely reach.
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What defeating Groal unlocks
Defeating Groal grants access to Bilehaven and the Seeker’s Soul route. The Hollow Knight Wiki says the Seeker’s Soul is required for the Silk and Soul wish.
Sources: Hollow Knight Wiki: Groal the Great; Hollow Knight Wiki: Groal strategy; Silksong Wiki: Groal the Great; PC Gamer: How to beat Groal the Great. The detailed mechanics and counters here come from community-maintained wikis and PC Gamer, not a developer-authored guide. Game-version-specific behavior has not been established by these sources.
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