Hello, fellow speedrunners and bug-slaying enthusiasts! If you're anything like me, you're always on the lookout for the next bizarre challenge that pushes the boundaries of what's considered "optimal" in games. Today, we're diving deep into a truly cursed category within the incredible world of
Hollow Knight speedrunning.
You might think you've seen it all – Any%, All Bosses, True Ending speedruns. But what happens when the community decides to invent a route so nonsensical, so utterly "meme-worthy," that it actually becomes a legitimate (albeit hilariously flawed) challenge? I'm talking about a route that forces you to fight every single boss in the game, *outside* of the climactic Godhome, and in the *exact* order they appear within the Pantheon of Hallownest. Yes, you read that right. It’s a recipe for chaos, a test of patience, and a beautiful display of speedrunning absurdity.
This "cursed" route, as some runners have dubbed it, is designed purely for the meme. It breaks conventional speedrunning logic by forcing you to backtrack, fight bosses you've already conquered in different contexts, and generally makes absolutely zero sense from an efficiency standpoint. Yet, that's precisely its allure. The sheer defiance of established strategies and the commitment to an inherently silly objective is what makes it so captivating for a certain breed of runner.
What Exactly IS This Cursed Route?
Let's break down this glorious mess. The standard
speedrun categories for Hollow Knight typically aim for the fastest completion by any means necessary, often skipping optional content or using sequence-breaking glitches. This meme category, however, flips the script.
The objective is to defeat *every single boss* that appears in the Pantheon of Hallownest, but critically, you must do so *before* entering the Pantheon itself. And the kicker? You have to fight them in the chronological order they appear in that final boss rush. This means you'll be fighting bosses like False Knight and Hornet (early game) *after* you've already acquired endgame abilities and charms, but *before* you can access the Pantheon where they are staged.
It’s a route that defies all logic. You might have the Shade Cloak and Ascended Nail, but you're still fighting The Collector like it's your first boss.
This forces runners to engage with boss encounters in ways they were never intended, often requiring specific charm loadouts or precise movement to deal with enemies using skills and health pools far beyond their initial stage. It’s a bizarre twist that offers a fresh, albeit masochistic, way to experience the game's combat.
Why Run a Route Like This? The Speedrunner's Mindset
So, why would anyone dedicate time to mastering such an illogical path? For the true speedrunner, it's about more than just optimization. It's about:
* **Novelty**: Discovering new challenges and finding creative solutions within a game you thought you knew inside out.
* **Community**: These meme categories often arise from community discussions and inside jokes. Participating is a way to engage with that shared humor and creativity.
* **Skill Expression**: While not optimal for time, executing this route requires immense game knowledge and precise control. You have to master *every* boss fight, regardless of its placement in the intended progression.
* **Entertainment**: Let's be honest, watching someone struggle through a self-imposed, nonsensical challenge is often hilarious. It breaks the monotony of seeing "perfect" runs and offers a more relatable, human struggle.
I personally found this route utterly "cursed" enough to try it myself. The idea of intentionally making things harder and sillier is peak
speedrunning energy. It’s about proving you can conquer the game even when you’re actively fighting against its design.
Navigating the Madness: Strats and Struggles
The core difficulty lies in the forced order. You'll encounter bosses with vastly different health pools and attack patterns appearing sequentially, regardless of your current progression in terms of abilities or nail upgrades.
For instance, imagine fighting the massive, tanky Uumuu after already clearing harder bosses that come later in the Pantheon order. Or worse, facing early-game bosses like Gruz Mother or False Knight with endgame gear, making the fights trivially easy but awkwardly placed in the sequence. The true challenge arises when you hit bosses that require specific movement tech or spells you might not typically use at that point in a "normal" run.
The charm builds are key here. You can't just rely on raw damage; you need to adapt your loadout for specific encounters within this chaotic order.
One of the biggest struggles is managing your Geo and Charm Notches. You need specific charms for certain bosses, but gathering the Geo for them in a non-optimal route can be time-consuming. This means careful planning and potentially saving Geo for crucial upgrades rather than buying everything.
The Boss Order Breakdown: A Symphony of Silliness
To truly appreciate the absurdity, let's look at a *simplified* example of the boss order as it appears in the Pantheon of Hallownest, and how this cursed route forces you to tackle them:
1. **False Knight**: Early game boss, fought with potentially endgame gear.
2. **Hornet (Protector)**: Your first major encounter, but you might be fighting her with fully upgraded spells.
3. **Grizzly Mother**: Another early-game fodder boss.
4. **Vengefly King**: Flock of enemies, requires area-of-effect.
5. **Brooding Mawlek**: A tougher early-game challenge.
6. **Crafter (optional boss, depends on Pantheon variation)**: If included, adds another layer.
7. **No-Eyes**: Requires precise dodging and timing.
8. **Traitor Lord**: Fast-paced, requires quick reflexes.
9. **Mark of Pride Boss (optional, depends on Pantheon)**: If it's a boss like Gorb, it's a different challenge.
10. **Uumuu**: The jellyfish boss. Its slow movement might be exploited, but its electric attacks are dangerous.
11. **The Collector**: The room-filling boss. Requires good spatial awareness.
12. **Dung Defender**: A recurring boss with a predictable pattern.
13. **Brothers Hornhead**: The two charging bugs.
14. **Grimm (or Nightmare King Grimm)**: If included in the Pantheon, this is a significant difficulty spike.
15. **White Defender**: A tougher version of Dung Defender.
16. **Watcher Knights**: Infamous for their difficulty and sheer number.
17. **Duh! A group of other knights**: Depending on the specific Pantheon, this could bePermalink, or other variations.
18. **Absolute Radiance**: The ultimate challenge, often the final boss.
This is just a *fraction* of the potential order, and the actual Pantheon of Hallownest includes even more bosses and variations. The key takeaway is the wild swing in difficulty and required strategy between consecutive fights.
Tips for Tackling the Cursed Route
If you're brave enough to attempt this yourself, here are a few pointers:
* **Master Every Boss Individually**: Don't rely on having endgame gear to brute-force early bosses. Understand the base mechanics of each fight.
* **Charm Loadout Strategy**: You'll need a versatile set of charms. Consider builds for high DPS, survivability, and specific mobility needs. Charms like Shaman Stone, Quick Slash, Longnail, and Grubsong are almost always beneficial.
* **Spell Usage is Crucial**: Don't neglect your spells. Abyss Shriek and Desolate Dive/Descending Dark can trivialize some fights or provide critical damage windows.
* **Movement Tech Matters**: Even without sequence breaks, precise dashing, pogoing, and spell-dashing can save you precious seconds and avoid damage.
* **Patience and Persistence**: This route is a marathon, not a sprint. Expect to die, expect to get frustrated, but keep pushing.
The RNG Factor
While Hollow Knight bosses are largely deterministic, there's still a degree of
RNG, especially with enemy spawns and attack patterns. In a run where you're intentionally fighting bosses out of order, mitigating bad RNG becomes even more critical. Small deviations can lead to significant time loss or even death when you're already in a precarious situation.
Community and Future Runs
This kind of category often thrives on community engagement. Runners share their attempts, discoveries, and frustrations. Watching streams and VODs is not only entertaining but also educational.
I followed the stream myself and have the full VODs available. The edited versions are incredibly helpful for understanding the nuances of specific boss encounters within this peculiar route. A huge thanks to zord for the editing work!
The beauty of speedrunning is its constant evolution. Who knows what other bizarre and wonderful categories the
Hollow Knight community will invent next?
Frequently Asked Questions
### What is the main goal of this Hollow Knight speedrun category?
The goal is to defeat every boss that appears in the Pantheon of Hallownest, but in the specific order they are encountered within the Pantheon, and *before* actually entering the Pantheon itself.
### Is this a glitchless category?
This category is generally considered glitchless in terms of major sequence breaks, but it intentionally exploits the game's progression by fighting bosses out of their intended order.
### Is this route considered optimal for time?
Absolutely not. It's a "meme" or "cursed" category designed for novelty and challenge, not for achieving the fastest possible time in a traditional sense.
### What makes this route so difficult?
The difficulty comes from fighting bosses in an order that defies the game's natural progression. You might face early-game bosses with endgame abilities, or vice-versa, requiring adaptation and mastery of every encounter.
### Where can I find full runs or edited content of this category?
You can often find full VODs on runners' Twitch channels or their associated YouTube channels. Edited highlight reels and guides are also common on YouTube. For example, check out the full VODs [here](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqE8ssiqS4BsR4kd2JdEV7w).
If you enjoyed this deep dive into the wonderfully weird side of speedrunning, or if you have your own experiences with cursed categories, let us know in the comments below! Join our Discord channel to discuss all things
speedrun and gaming!
