In Hollow Knight, collecting all 16 Mask Shards is essential for enhancing your health, allowing you to withstand more damage in encounters with the myriad of challenging enemies and bosses throughout Hallownest. Below is a comprehensive guide on how to obtain each of the Mask Shards, accompanied by the necessary information to aid your exploration.

Mask Shard Locations

1. Sly (Dirtmouth) – Mask Shards 1 to 4:
– After defeating the Brooding Mawlek boss, visit Sly, who sells you the first four Mask Shards for 200 Geo each.

2. Brooding Mawlek (Forgotten Crossroads) – Mask Shard 5:
– Found in the Forgotten Crossroads area, defeating this boss grants you a Mask Shard.

3. Grubfather (Forgotten Areas) – Mask Shard 6:
– Rescue Grubs scattered throughout Hallownest and return to the Grubfather in the Forgotten Crossroads to receive a Mask Shard as a reward for your efforts.

4. Goam Challenge (Fungal Wastes) – Mask Shard 7:
– Near the Queen’s Station, complete a timed platforming challenge to receive a Mask Shard.

5. Queen’s Station (Fungal Wastes) – Mask Shard 8:
– In the bottom-right section of Queen’s Station, behind a breakable wall. Utilize your abilities to access it.

6. Bretta’s House (Dirtmouth) – Mask Shard 9:
– Located in Bretta’s house in Dirtmouth, you can pick this shard up directly.

7. Bretta (after rescue) – Mask Shard 10:
– After rescuing Bretta, she rewards you with another Mask Shard.

8. Stone Sanctuary (Deepnest) – Mask Shard 11:
– This difficult platforming area in Deepnest contains a hidden Mask Shard.

9. Forgotten Crossroads (near Hot Springs) – Mask Shard 12:
– Reach a cavern guarded by invincible Gloams and navigate through careful platforming to claim the Mask Shard.

10. Brooding Mawlek (Forgotten Crossroads) – Mask Shard 13:
– Defeating this boss provides yet another Mask Shard, which is repeated as it can be fought in two phases.

11. The Hive – Mask Shard 14:
– Behind a honeycomb wall in the Hive, bait the Hive Guardian into breaking it to obtain the Mask Shard.

12. Crystal Peak – Mask Shard 15:
– Explore an accessible area in the Crystal Peak region to find a Mask Shard hidden inside.

13. Delicate Flower Quest – Mask Shard 16:
– Completing the Delicate Flower side quest will reward you with your final Mask Shard.

Important Notes

– Abilities Required: Some Mask Shards are only accessible once you have specific abilities, such as the Monarch Wings for double jumping, Mantis Claw for wall climbing, or powerful spells.
– Thorough Exploration: The world of Hollow Knight is highly interconnected, making exploration key. Pay close attention to hints from NPCs and environmental cues to find every shard.
– Resources for Help: For players seeking visual guidance, there are numerous video walkthroughs and interactive maps available that illustrate the complex paths and locations to collect all Mask Shards.

By following this guide carefully, you will successfully enhance your health through all 16 Mask Shards and build your strength to face the myriad of challenges in Hollow Knight. Happy hunting!