Frederic Melton
In *Hollow Knight*, defeating the Radiance, the final boss, can be an incredibly challenging task for many players. However, there’s a strategy known as cheese that allows players to exploit mechanics or glitches to gain an unfair advantage. One popular method involves using the Dream Nail and the Grimmchild charm to deal consistent damage while minimizing risk. By positioning yourself in a specific spot and repeatedly using the Dream Nail, you can chip away at the Radiance’s health while avoiding most of its attacks. This approach requires patience and precision but significantly reduces the difficulty of the fight, making it accessible even to players who struggle with the boss’s intense patterns. While some consider this method less honorable, it’s a viable option for those seeking to progress without mastering the fight conventionally.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Boss | The Radiance (Hollow Knight) |
| Cheese Strategy | Using Desolate Dive + Shade Soul |
| Required Charms | Joni's Blessing, Shape of Unn, Grubsong/Deep Focus |
| Soul Requirement | High (for repeated Shade Soul use) |
| Positioning | Stay at the bottom of the arena, close to the walls |
| Attack Pattern Exploit | Avoid direct attacks by staying low and using Desolate Dive to dodge |
| Damage Source | Shade Soul (repeatedly cast to deal damage) |
| Healing | Grubsong for passive healing or Deep Focus for soul gain |
| Movement | Minimal movement, focus on dodging and casting Shade Soul |
| Difficulty | Easier than traditional methods, but requires precise timing |
| Recommended Skills | Mastery of Desolate Dive timing and Shade Soul casting |
| Risk | High soul consumption, risk of running out of soul if not managed properly |
| Alternative Cheese | Using Weaversong + Dashmaster for invulnerability frames |
| Notes | This method is considered a "cheese" strategy as it bypasses the intended difficulty of the fight |
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What You'll Learn
- Use Desolate Dive - Spam Desolate Dive for invincibility frames and damage
- Stay Above - Position yourself above Radiance to avoid most attacks
- Quick Slash - Use Quick Slash repeatedly to deal consistent damage safely
- Heal Strategically - Heal only after dodging attacks to minimize risk
- Dash Through Beams - Use dashes to quickly pass through Radiance's beam attacks
Use Desolate Dive - Spam Desolate Dive for invincibility frames and damage
Desolate Dive isn't just a traversal tool—it's your ticket to survival against The Radiance. This ability grants a generous window of invincibility frames, turning you into a ghostly blur immune to her fiery wrath. Spamming Desolate Dive becomes your mantra, a rhythmic dance of descent and damage that keeps you safe while chipping away at her health.
Mastering this tactic requires precision. Time your dives to coincide with The Radiance's most dangerous attacks: the sweeping laser beams, the explosive fireballs, or the relentless dash. Initiate the dive just as these attacks begin, ensuring you're untouchable during their execution. Remember, each dive deals damage on impact, so aim for her vulnerable core whenever possible.
The key to success lies in stamina management. Desolate Dive consumes a significant chunk of your stamina bar, so monitor it closely. Carry enough Geo to heal if necessary, but prioritize stamina-boosting charms like Baldur Shell or Grubberfly's Elegy. These extend your dive spamming capabilities, allowing you to maintain constant pressure on The Radiance.
This strategy isn't without risk. Over-reliance on Desolate Dive can lead to predictable patterns, leaving you vulnerable to attacks you miss. Mix in occasional dashes and jumps to keep The Radiance guessing. Additionally, be mindful of your positioning; diving off the edge of the arena can be fatal. Practice this technique in safer encounters before attempting it against The Radiance.
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Stay Above - Position yourself above Radiance to avoid most attacks
Positioning yourself above The Radiance in Hollow Knight is a tactical cornerstone for minimizing damage and maximizing control during this notoriously difficult fight. By staying above, you exploit the boss's attack patterns, which are predominantly horizontal or ground-based. This strategy forces The Radiance to rely on slower, more predictable vertical attacks, giving you precious moments to strike back or reposition.
The key lies in understanding The Radiance's attack rhythm. When above, her sweeping laser beams and horizontal dashes become less threatening. You can focus on dodging the occasional upward slash or fireball, which are far easier to anticipate and avoid than her rapid side-to-side movements. This elevated position essentially shrinks the battlefield, simplifying the fight into a manageable dance.
Mastering this technique requires practice and precision. Equip the Monarch Wings for extended air time, allowing you to maintain altitude and quickly adjust your position. Utilize the Dash ability to close the distance for quick strikes, then immediately retreat to your aerial vantage point. Remember, the goal isn't to aggressively pursue damage, but to chip away at The Radiance's health while minimizing your own risk.
Patience is paramount. Don't get greedy with attacks; a single mistake can be fatal. Focus on consistent, calculated strikes from above, gradually whittling down The Radiance's health bar. This methodical approach may take longer than a head-on assault, but it significantly increases your chances of victory.
While staying above is a powerful tactic, it's not without its limitations. The Radiance's occasional upward slashes and fireballs still pose a threat, requiring constant vigilance and quick reflexes. Additionally, this strategy can be less effective against the Dream Nail-enhanced version of the fight, where The Radiance gains new aerial attacks. However, for players struggling with the standard encounter, staying above offers a reliable path to success, transforming a seemingly insurmountable challenge into a manageable test of patience and precision.
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Quick Slash - Use Quick Slash repeatedly to deal consistent damage safely
Quick Slash is a deceptively simple yet highly effective tool for chipping away at The Radiance's health. This nail art's rapid execution and short recovery time allow you to deliver a steady stream of damage while minimizing your exposure to her dangerous attacks.
Execution: Time your Quick Slashes to coincide with The Radiance's attack wind-ups or brief pauses between moves. Aim for the moments when she's committed to an animation, like the charge before her laser or the downward slash of her nail. Two to three Quick Slashes per opening is ideal – greedily spamming the attack leaves you vulnerable to counterattacks.
Positioning is Key: Don't get greedy. Maintain a safe distance, slightly to the side of The Radiance, allowing you to dodge her sweeping attacks. Use the arena's width to your advantage, constantly moving to avoid getting cornered.
Counterplay Awareness: Be mindful of The Radiance's most punishing attacks. Her dash and laser require you to either dash through her or jump over the laser, respectively. Time your Quick Slash bursts to avoid these high-damage moves.
The Cumulative Effect: While individual Quick Slashes deal moderate damage, their true power lies in consistency. By chipping away at The Radiance's health bar steadily, you'll eventually whittle her down. This strategy is particularly effective for players who struggle with more complex combos or have difficulty dodging her faster attacks.
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Heal Strategically - Heal only after dodging attacks to minimize risk
In the high-stakes battle against The Radiance in Hollow Knight, every decision counts, especially when it comes to healing. The instinct to heal immediately after taking damage is natural, but it’s a gamble that often backfires. The Radiance’s attacks are relentless and unpredictable, meaning healing mid-combo leaves you vulnerable to follow-ups. Instead, adopt a reactive healing strategy: heal only after successfully dodging an attack. This minimizes the risk of wasting a mask charge and ensures you’re in a safer position to recover.
Consider the timing of The Radiance’s moveset. Her attacks often come in patterns, with brief pauses between combos. These pauses are your windows of opportunity. For example, after dodging her sweeping laser attack, you’ll have a split second of relative safety to heal. Conversely, healing during her rapid dash or orb barrage is a recipe for disaster. By waiting for the right moment, you conserve resources and maintain control of the fight.
This strategy requires discipline and awareness. Train yourself to resist the urge to heal impulsively. Focus on learning The Radiance’s attack patterns and identifying the safest moments to recover. For instance, during her teleportation phase, she pauses briefly before launching her next attack—use this moment to heal. Similarly, after dodging her downward slam, you’ll have a few frames of invincibility to restore health. Practice makes perfect; the more you familiarize yourself with her rhythm, the easier it becomes to time your heals effectively.
One practical tip is to pair this strategy with Soul management. If you’re low on Soul, prioritize dodging and wait for a safe moment to gather more before healing. The Nail Art "Great Slash" is particularly useful for quickly generating Soul mid-fight. Additionally, consider equipping the Quick Slash charm to increase your mobility and create more opportunities to dodge and heal safely.
In conclusion, strategic healing is a game-changer in the Radiance fight. By healing only after dodging attacks, you reduce risk, conserve resources, and maintain momentum. It’s a tactic that demands patience and precision, but the payoff is immense. Master this approach, and you’ll transform one of Hollow Knight’s most daunting battles into a manageable—even predictable—encounter.
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Dash Through Beams - Use dashes to quickly pass through Radiance's beam attacks
The Radiance's beam attacks in Hollow Knight are notorious for their wide reach and devastating damage. However, with precise timing and a well-executed dash, you can turn these attacks into mere inconveniences. The key lies in understanding the beam's pattern and exploiting the invincibility frames granted by the dash.
Mastering the Dash: The dash is your primary tool for beam evasion. It provides a brief window of invincibility, allowing you to phase through the beam's damage. To execute a dash, double-tap the directional button while in mid-air. Practice this mechanic in safer areas until it becomes second nature. The timing is crucial; dash too early, and you'll collide with the beam; too late, and you'll be hit. Aim to initiate the dash just as the beam starts to materialize, ensuring you pass through it during the invincibility frames.
Beam Patterns and Opportunities: The Radiance's beam attacks follow distinct patterns. The most common is a sweeping beam that covers a large arc in front of her. Observe the telltale signs: a brief pause, followed by a glowing charge-up animation. This is your cue to prepare for the dash. As the beam extends, identify the gaps between its pulses. These gaps are your safe zones. Time your dash to coincide with these openings, allowing you to swiftly move through the beam's path without taking damage.
Advanced Techniques: For a more aggressive approach, combine dashing with offensive maneuvers. The dash can be used to close the distance quickly, allowing you to strike the Radiance during her brief vulnerability after a beam attack. Alternatively, the Shade Dash charm can be a game-changer. It extends your dash invincibility, providing a larger window to navigate through beams. However, it requires precise soul management, as it consumes soul upon use. Experiment with different charm combinations to find the setup that suits your playstyle.
Practice and Patience: Cheesing the Radiance's beam attacks requires patience and repetition. Don't be discouraged by initial failures; each attempt provides valuable experience. Focus on learning the beam's rhythm and refining your dash timing. With practice, you'll develop a sense of anticipation, knowing exactly when to dash and where the safe passages through the beams will appear. This technique is not about brute force but about elegance and precision, turning a seemingly insurmountable challenge into a graceful dance through danger.
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Frequently asked questions
The most common cheese strategy involves using the Desolate Dive and Grubberfly's Elegy charm combo. Equip these charms, then repeatedly use Desolate Dive to heal and deal damage while staying airborne, minimizing the risk of taking damage.
Yes, you can cheese the fight by using the Dream Nail to heal. Equip the Dream Nail and focus on hitting the Radiance with it during the fight to regain health, reducing the need for healing items.
While not a traditional cheese, using the Shade Cloak to dash through attacks can help you avoid damage. Combine it with high damage spells like Shaman Stone or Spell Twister to quickly defeat the Radiance.
Using the Great Slash or Cyclone Slash Nail Arts can deal significant damage while keeping you safe. Time your Nail Arts to avoid the Radiance's attacks and focus on dealing damage during her slower phases.
Staying in the corners can help you avoid some of the Radiance's attacks, but it’s not a reliable cheese strategy. Combine it with high damage spells or Nail Arts to make the fight easier, but be prepared to dodge when necessary.
