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In Hollow Knight, the Nightmare Lantern is in the Howling Cliffs, in a hidden passage below Cornifer that opens only after you break two walls. Inside, a large bug corpse is the trigger: Dream Nail it, return to the previous room, and strike the brazier repeatedly to light the lantern and summon the Grimm Troupe.
Where the lantern is
The Nightmare Lantern is not inside Joni’s Repose, which is a common assumption. The hidden route starts in the Howling Cliffs, in the area below Cornifer. Nothing on the surface marks the entrance, so you need to search the walls there directly.
Route to the lantern chamber
- Reach the Howling Cliffs and find Cornifer’s location.
- Search below Cornifer for two breakable walls. Breaking them opens the passage that leads to the Nightmare Lantern chamber.
- Follow the corridor through a small hidden gap until you reach the corpse of a large bug at the end of the passage.
- Use the Dream Nail on the bug corpse.
- Return to the previous room.
- Strike the brazier repeatedly. This lights the Nightmare Lantern and summons the Grimm Troupe.
The Grimm Troupe link
The Dream Nail is the only part of this route that is not a simple wall-break or walk, so do not skip it. The Dream Nail reference in the game’s documentation also lists summoning the Grimm Troupe through a corpse in the Howling Cliffs as one of its functions, which is why the corpse step is required rather than optional.
Brumm and the banishment route
The same chamber matters later in the Grimm Troupe questline. If you speak with Brumm, Brumm can help the Knight destroy the lantern, which is the banishment route for the quest. Do not leave the room after speaking with him but before breaking the brazier. The quest documentation states that leaving at that point makes banishment unavailable, so finish the brazier first if you want that outcome open.
#1 Best Overall
- Classic side-scrolling action, with all the modern trimmings. Dodge, dash and slash your way through even the most deadly adversaries.
- Tightly tuned 2D controls. Dodge, dash and slash your way through even the most deadly adversaries.
- Forge your own path! The world of Hallownest is expansive and open. Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face and find your own way forward.
- An enormous cast of cute and creepy characters all brought to life with traditional 2D frame-by-frame animation.
- Leap into minds with the Dream Nail. Uncover a whole other side to the characters you meet and the enemies you face.
Check you are looking at the right game
“Nightmare Lantern” is also the name of an item in Once Human, and it appears in unrelated game and merchandise listings. Everything above applies only to Hollow Knight. If you meant a different title, the location will differ and this route will not help.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.In-game verse
The Grimm Troupe lore page attributes this verse to “The Grimm Troupe.” It is flavor rather than a clue, but it gives the lantern’s role in the story:
Rank #2
![Hollow Knight - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51nXCF+sf5L._SL160_.jpg)
- Classic side-scrolling action, with all the modern trimmings.
- Forge your own path! The world of Hallownest is expansive and open. Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face and find your own way forward.
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- An enormous cast of cute and creepy characters all brought to life with traditional 2D frame-by-frame animation.
Shadows dream of endless fire,
Flames devour and embers swoop,
One will light the Nightmare Lantern,
Call and serve in Grimm’s dread Troupe.Quick Recap
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Rank #4
![HOLLOW KNIGHT [E10]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51gHoLA9kNL._SL160_.jpg)
HOLLOW KNIGHT [E10]
- Includes four giant bonus content packs: Hidden Dreams, The Grimm Troupe, Lifeblood, and Godmaster
- Classic side-scrolling action, with all modern trimmings
- Tightly tuned 2D controls. Dodge, dash, and slash your way through even the most deadly adversaries
- Explore a vast interconnected world of forgotten highways, overgrown wilds, and ruined cities
- Forge your own path. The world of Hallownest is expansive and open. Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face, and find your own way forward
Rank #3
![Hollow Knight: Silksong Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51mOgOC8xEL._SL160_.jpg)
Hollow Knight: Silksong Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]
- Discover the fallen insect kingdom of Pharloom! Explore mossy grottos, gilded cities and misted moors as you ascend to the shining citadel at the top of the world.
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