Hollow Knight Silksong Groal the Great Boss Guide

Groal the Great in Bilewater is one of the most frustrating bosses in Hollow Knight Silksong. The arena is packed with exploding enemies, spiked traps, and pools of maggots that block healing. The runback alone can break your will, but there’s a simple trick to make this fight far easier. This guide explains both the normal strategy and the “maggot bath” method that turns Groal into a joke.

How to Reach Groal the Great

Groal waits at the top of Bilewater after a brutal gauntlet. You must first clear waves of Stilkins, Stilkin Trappers, and spiked traps before he appears. A hidden bench can be found halfway up the area by breaking a wall near a worm pool. Unlock this shortcut to save time on repeated attempts.

Recommended Loadout

Bring tools that work at range and hit multiple enemies. Curveclaw, Threefold Pin, and Silk Spear all perform well. The Crest of the Architect is ideal if you have it, while Hunter’s Crest offers reliable melee damage.

For trinkets, Pollip Pouch is strong since venom damage adds up over time. Wreath of Purity can help if you fall in the water, though it breaks after too many hits. Carry shards for healing breaks and silk regeneration charms to keep your harpoons ready.

Groal the Great Attacks

Acid: Fires bouncing orbs that explode after landing. They disappear if they hit water.
Eat: Attempts to swallow Hornet. If eaten, you can still deal damage from inside by button mashing.
Dive: Splashes into the water, summoning Stilkins or triggering traps.
Hover: Floats above the arena between attacks.
Spells: After enough damage, Groal glows white and spits glowing spells in quick succession.

Groal staggers by rolling onto his back and sinking into the water. This creates small windows for damage or healing.

Normal Strategy to Beat Groal

Stay on one side of the arena and bait Stilkin projectiles into the water. Use high and low platforms to dodge trappers, and heal when traps reset. Strike Groal from the sides and underneath during Acid Spit, but avoid attacking from above during Inhale.

In Phase 2, watch for the bright white glow that signals Spell Burst. Jump over the projectiles and punish him when he returns to hovering. Tools like Voltvessels or Pimpillo can interrupt Inhale by throwing them into his mouth.

The Maggot Bath Strategy

If you’re struggling, the easiest method is to jump straight into the water. Sitting in the bottom corners makes most of Groal’s attacks miss entirely. Acid orbs vanish in the water, lasers pass overhead, and bombs rarely land close enough to matter.

The only risks are his dive and close-range firebombs. If Groal swallows you, keep striking to damage him and regain silk. Use ranged tools like Curveclaw or venom-boosted attacks from Pollip Pouch to chip away while staying submerged.

This “worm bath” tactic feels silly, but it trivializes the fight. Pair it with Wreath of Purity for an added safety net if you’re worried about maggot damage.

Final Blurb

Groal the Great is one of Silksong’s toughest roadblocks, but you don’t have to suffer through endless wipes. You can fight him the intended way with patience and platform control, or you can dive in and let the maggots do the work for you. Either way, beating Groal unlocks progress beyond Bilewater and removes one of the game’s biggest headaches.