Species list

The kingdom of Hallownest is full of different groups of plants and animals that exist in the world. The species are all unique in their own ways. Some species may be powerful, like the Mantis Tribe or the Scholars of Soul Sanctum, while others may be smart and wise, like the Moth Tribe. All species have their pros and cons, and this list includes all the species. It will also include a basic description of the group, as well as list all the different creatures part of the group. They are sorted in alphabetical order, with the exception of Husks at the end.

Aspids
The Aspid are a group of insects found mainly within the Forgotten Crossroads. The Aspids are acid-filled insects that use their damaging liquids as a way to hunt and defend. They live peacefully among the creatures of the crossroads, as well as in City Of Tears, Ancient Basin and Kingdom's Edge. Male Aspids are known as the Aspid Hunters. They will hunt in packs using their acids to attack. The Aspid Mothers are the female breeders that carry eggs that hatch into Aspid Hatchlings, which grow into adult Aspids. They are the descendants of the Primal Aspids, a group of Aspid ancestors thought to be extinct. Like Baldurs, a special version the Aspids are used to fight in the Colosseum of Fools (in this case, they are the Primal Aspids mentioned above).

At some point there was also an large Aspid Mother referred to as the Aspid Queen in the crossroads, but she was overtaken and killed by the Infection prior to the Knight's journey.

Baldurs
Baldurs are small, woodlice creatures that use their metal-like shells as both a offensive and defensive weapon. They are found mainly in the Ancestral Mound, Howling Cliffs, and Colosseum of Fools. They possess the ability to curl themselves into a ball. Young Baldurs can use this to roll into enemies, while larger Baldurs, known as the Elder Baldurs, have heavier and sturdier shells that are indestructible but prevents them from rolling. A special breed of them are used in the Colosseum.

Bee Colony
The Bee Colony, typically known as the Bees or sometimes the Hive Colony, are a group of bee-like creatures that reside within The Hive, a small beehive located beneath Kingdom’s Edge. They served Hive Queen Vespa, the queen bee of the Hive. Eventually, however, she had grown so large to the point where she couldn’t leave her hive, and had eventually been killed. When the Pale King had began to put together the kingdom, they sealed themselves off from the rest of the Kingdom, hiding away from the Pale King. However, with the death of their queen, they had been weakened, they had inevitably succumbed to the Infection.

Flukes
The Flukes are a small species of worm-like animals that infest the Royal Waterways beneath the City of Tears. They are often seen as hostile, although not all will attack as long as they are not provoked. They are born from Flukemarm, the mother of the Flukes. Like most other creatures, they too, have been infected.

Fools
The Fools are heavily-armored, fierce warriors that fight against other Fools and creatures within the Colosseum of Fools. They only fight for glory, and specialize and various weapons such as swords, shields, throwing blades, lances, and more. Despite being Infected like the many other creatures of Hollownest, they are not hostile towards others outside the Arena. They are watched by the Lord Fool who sits among the spectators. He had unknowingly passed away, but many of which are unaware of his demise. A Little Fool lies outside of the Colosseum, armor-less and hung upside down. He grants permission into the Trials for Geo. The former champion of Fools, Pale Lurker lies behind the Colosseum, driven mad by her obsession with treasure. The current champion is known as the “God Tamer,” a lance-wielding ant who rides an acid-spitting beast.

Mantis Tribe
The Mantis are an elite group of skilled warriors that resided in the Mantis Village. They were led by four Mantis Lords that sat at the bottom of the village, guarding the main gate and preventing the beasts of Deepnest from moving past them. The Mantis, unlike most of the other species of the kingdom, were immune to the Infection. However, a small group of the tribe had given themselves in to the Radiance to become more powerful, leading them to become another group of infected bugs. These mantis were lead by one of the Mantis Lords, who had later been casted out of the village along with the rest of the infected traitors.

The remaining members of the tribe include the Mantis Youth, flying younglings that attach onto walls and ceilings and attack nearby intruders. After training they become the Mantis Warriors, skilled fighters that use their long-ranged claws to kill their foes. The Mantis Lords themselves are skilled with the lance and use it to battle enemies who try to enter or leave Deepnest. Anyone who can defeat them in battle will gained the respect and neutrality from the rest of the tribe.

Mantis Traitors
As stated above, a small group of the Mantis Tribe had purposely given in to the Infection, leading them to be banished from the tribe. This had split the tribe in half - the main part of the tribe had stayed within Mantis Village, while the Infected ones, known as the Mantis Traitors, live in exile in the Queen’s Gardens. They are led by the Traitor Lord, formerly one of the four Mantis Lords. The Traitor Lord uses melee swipes and lunges to fight, compared to the lances and boomerangs used by the Mantis Lords. The Traitor Lord's followers consist of the Mantis Petra, flying mantis that shoot boomerang projectiles similar to that of the Mantis Lords, and the Mantis Traitors, mantis that attack in a similar fashion to their leader.

Monomon's Protectors
Prior to becoming a Dreamer, Monomon the Teacher had constructed several electric, jellyfish-like creatures that roam Fog Canyon. Born in the Teacher's Archives, they were primarily used for experiments alongside a special variant of the Lumafly known as Charged Lumaflies. After Monomon was put to sleep, the jellyfish had escaped from the Teacher's Archvies and took over Fog Canyon. Unfortunately, they too, were eventually Infected, turning them into explosive, mindless creatures sought to defend Monomon.

Mosskin Tribe
The Mosskin Tribe are a group of insects that inhabit the paths of Greenpath. They were born from a dream by Unn, a higher being similar to the Radiance, Shade Lord, etc. Unfortunately, they had been Infected, and like all other Infected creatures, are now hostile towards wanderers. They will try to protect the vegetation of the region in hopes that someday Unn will return to them. A small group of them had formed a Moss Chapel in which they had followed the Radiance instead.

Moth Tribe
The Moth Trive of Hallownest was a tribe of wise, uninfected moths that had been created light of the Radiance. The Radiance was depicted as a god and the Higher Being had been worshipped by the Moth Tribe. However, as the moths began to worship the Pale King over the Radiance, she had slowly begun to be forgotten. To prevent this, she invaded the dreams of bugs as a burning light. This had led to the start of the Infection, which she had used to control the minds of groups such as the Husks and the Traitors.

Mushroom Clan
The Mushroom Clan can be found in Fungal Wastes. They are sentient little non-insects that hide as part of the background and will attack when someone is in their territory. They’ve developed a special language similar to that of what is spoken by Mister Mushroom. They too have been infected and will attack enemies to protect their young ones. The Shrumelings are not capable of fighting or defending itself, and will instead run from threats under the protection of the Shrumal Warriors and the primal form, the Shrumal Ogres.

Snail Shamans
The Snail Shamans were a large family of snail-like creatures that inhabited various temples throughout the Kingdom. While they are thought to be somewhat religious, who they worship is unknown. They were magical creatures who could perform special SOUL-based abilities known as “Spells.” These spells were an alternative to melee nails and were much more powerful. Spells ended up being used by the Vessels later on.

At the time of the Knight’s journey, there was is one Snail Shaman left, living in the Ancestral Mound of the Forgotten Crossroads. He grants the Knight the “Vengeful Spirit” spell and tasks him with defeating a group of Baldurs nearby. Various other killed snails can be found in different places in Hallownest, including Greenpath, Crystal Peak, Soul Sanctum, and more.

Soul Sanctum's Scholars
Former advanced scholars of Soul Sanctum, the scholars were often found experimenting with SOUL. They had taken this soul from the citizens of the City of Tears, and had attempted to use them as an energy source and gain special powers off of them. Soul Master was the leader of these advanced bugs, and had often went against the Pale King's ideas in an attempt to become immortal. The scholar's thirst for immortality had driven them mad and eventually gave in to the Infection.

Their successful experiments led to the development of powers such as enhanced health, infection orb projectiles, teleportation, and Soul Master's Desolate Dive. Some scholars, however, misused SOUL and had led to failed experiments, becoming Follies and Mistakes.

Spider Tribe
Various creatures live in Deepnest, from Dirtcarvers to Garpedes to Nosk. However, a specific group of these beasts can be found in the Distant Village, under the control of Herrah The Beast. The Spider Tribe consists of six-eyed bugs such as Weavers, Stalking Devouts, and other deadly critters. They had often gotten into battles with the Mushroom Clan and Mantis Tribe, and still kept themselves alive. However, they were not able to withstand the Infection. The Infection swept through Deepnest and the Distant Village, infecting most members of the tribe and causing the Weavers to leave the kingdom.

The Grimm Troupe
The Grimm Troupe is a traveling circus within the vast world both in and beyond Hallownest. Led by the one and only Troupe Master Grimm, if a traveler lights a special lantern known as the Nightmare Lantern, the troupe will be summoned into that kingdom. They are tasked with performing a ritual that will sustain the Nightmare's Heart, a dangerous creature that lives within the darkest parts of the Dream Realm and is the source of a special type of dream known as Nightmares. In order to perform this ritual, the traveler needs to gather a total of nine flames scattered throughout the kingdom. The flames are consumed by a Grimmchild. After killing the Nightmare King, the Dream form of the Troupe Master, the ritual is complete and the child will eventually take the Nightmare King’s role.

Other members of the group include merchant Divine and accordion player Brumm, accompanied by two Grimmsteeds. Also serving the master are a group of Grimmkins, who guard the flames during the ritual.

Vessels
Vessels are Void creatures born from the White Lady and Pale King. They roam the lands of Hallownest, however, very few of them are left during the Knight’s journey. The Vessels had roamed the kingdom with two parts: a shade and a shell (soul and body). Several destroyed bodies of vessels make up the ground of the Abyss, discarded during the Pale King’s search for the Pure Vessel. Notable Vessels include the Knight, the main character, and the Hollow Knight, the Pure Vessel that was chosen by the Pale King to contain the Radiance in the Temple of the Black Egg.

Void
The dark, vast lands found deep below the kingdom of Hallownest lies the the Abyss, home to a mysterious liquid known as Void. Void is found flowing through the deep oceans of the Abyss, inhabited by deadly creatures known as “Void Tendrils.” The ancient civilizations that lived long before the Pale King's rule had worshiped the almighty Shade Lord, referred to as the “God of Gods” by the Godseekers.

During the Pale King’s rule, the king had seen how powerful the mysterious void really was. He had built his palace above the Abyss and constructed a lighthouse to scare away the Void Tendrils and take the dark fluids from the ocean. The Pale King used Void to make his children, the Vessels (as mentioned above). Other void creatures include constructs: Kingsmoulds and Wingmoulds that guard the King’s White Palace, and The Collector, a strange void creature that resides in the Tower of Love, collecting creatures within his glass containers.

While they mainly opposed the Radiance, it possible for them to be infected, as seen with the Hollow Knight & Broken Vessel. They are also capable of having dreams, as seen with, once again, Hollow Knight & Broken Vessel.

Husks
Husks make up most of the kingdom of Hallownest. They are remnants of former citizens that used to roam the kingdom, reanimated and brought back to life by the Infection. Husks can be found all throughout the kingdom, making up most of the population of Hallownest. Some husks, however, are bound to a single region of the kingdom. Some examples include:
 * Wealthy, upper-class husks live in the City of Tears.
 * Husk Sentries protect City of Tears and their citizens.
 * Miner Husks live in Crystal Peaks and mine peacefully among the local crystal critters.