Old Nail
The Old Nail is the starting weapon and deals 5 damage.
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8 source-linked references · 4 with game artwork
8 matching references · Undated entries keep reference order.
The Old Nail is the starting weapon and deals 5 damage.
The Sharpened Nail deals 9 damage and costs 250 Geo.
The Channelled Nail deals 13 damage and costs 800 Geo plus 1 Pale Ore.
The Coiled Nail deals 17 damage and costs 2,000 Geo plus 2 Pale Ore.

The Pure Nail deals 21 damage and costs 4,000 Geo plus 3 Pale Ore.

Vengeful Spirit upgrades to Shade Soul; its listed use is horizontal ranged damage.

Desolate Dive upgrades to Descending Dark; its listed use is a down-slam that breaks floors.

Howling Wraiths upgrades to Abyss Shriek; its listed use is upward and area damage.
Decisions are limited to the four supplied tables. The progression guide and IGN spell page identify Hollow Knight, but the excerpts do not specify a game edition, DLC variant, or NG+ distinction; none is inferred.
Counts describe the imported source tables. They do not establish complete coverage of every patch, DLC or upgrade variant. Multiple values remain labeled as listed values when the source does not identify their upgrade levels.
For movement and access, compare dash, wall movement, Super Dash, mid-air jumping, and acid protection alongside their stated conditions.
Mothwing Cloak Mantis Claw Crystal Heart Monarch Wings Isma’s TearFor dream-related progression, compare the Dream Nail’s dream access and Essence collection with Awoken Dream Nail’s protected-memory access and Dreamgate’s return travel.
Dream Nail Awoken Dream Nail DreamgateThe supplied passage supports a general damage-increasing upgrade track using Geo and Pale Ore, but does not establish individual form names or statistics.
Nail upgradesChoose a topic to see how it works, where it helps and what to consider.
Mothwing Cloak grants a short dash over land or through the air, crossing distances beyond a standard jump and adding a movement option.
Understand this choiceMantis Claw lets the wearer cling to, ascend, and slide down walls, then leap away, enabling access to areas and platforming challenges.
Understand this choiceDream Nail accesses dreams, enables Dream Warrior and enhanced boss encounters, reveals thoughts, and collects Essence, according to the supplied description.
Understand this choiceAwoken Dream Nail is the Dream Nail’s true form and permits entry into certain protected memories, including access to the White Palace.
Understand this choiceCrystal Heart grants Super Dash for long horizontal travel, retaining momentum through doorways until it hits an obstacle or strong enemy.
Understand this choiceMonarch Wings allow another jump while airborne, extending reach to passageways and gaps beyond a standard jump’s stated capability.
Understand this choiceShade Cloak upgrades Mothwing Cloak, allowing charged dashes through enemies and their attacks and passage through Shade Gates.
Understand this choiceIsma’s Tear protects the Knight from damage while swimming through acid, enabling traversal into areas otherwise closed by acidic pools.
Understand this choiceDreamgate lets the Knight place a gate and warp back to it from anywhere on the map, providing a return route after distant travel.
Understand this choiceThe Nail is the Knight’s bladed weapon. The Nailsmith can upgrade it up to four times, with each upgrade adding damage when given enough Geo and Pale Ore.
Understand this choiceIGN says abilities are permanent upgrades that do not use Soul and explicitly distinguishes them from spells. Do not infer a Soul cost for the abilities described here.
The source says the cloak must be charged for the dash-through effect and that its charge returns after a few moments following a dash.
The supplied Nail passage supports up to four upgrades that add damage and require Geo and Pale Ore, but does not establish individual form names, costs, or statistics.
Covers nine named abilities or traversal items and the Nail’s general upgrade track. IGN supports the ability effects and listed conditions; the Nail passage supports its general damage-increasing upgrade description and materials. Individual Nail forms, statistics, costs, and effects are not established by the supplied Nail excerpts.
Explanations prepared with GPT-6 Luna and checked against the linked references. These are source-reviewed guides. They do not establish independently tested optimal builds or exact upgrade budgets. How coverage works.