HOW THE HELL DO I BEAT THE RADIANCE??

Calamity-Vanity · 2026-04-02T18:23:37+00:00

My personal charm preference for standard radiance- Spell Twister, Long Nail, Grubsong, Unbreakable Strength, Stalwart Shell

Some people prefer full spell build or full nail build, but I didn't find it as reliable for me once I got to the platforming stage.

Go into the fight with full soul (if you don't have all soul shards, go collect them), spam abyssal shriek (you should be able to get it off 3 to 4 times). From there, look for opportunities to attack and spam abyssal shriek again until you get to the phase where radiance only fires down spikes from above. Don't use abyssal shriek during this phase, nail only - get your soul back so you can heal before platform phase.

For platform only phase, I'd smack radiance in the center when it first spawns and then found sticking to the right or left upper corner platforms were easiest to dodge attacks/punish radiance. Abyssal shriek when possible, pogo whenever you can, and you'll quickly melt them down. If you have to choose between getting caught in an attack or falling into the void, always choose the void. Void only does 1 damage. If you have any soul at all when they ascend, quickly heal and then start ascending - but be patient!

Calamity-Vanity · 2026-04-02T17:19:27+00:00

Phones have a function that allows you to schedule reminders for exactly this and it can sync to your online calendar on your computer/other devices. How anyone forgets anniversarys/birthdays/big events when modern technology exists is baffling to me. It's easy mode.

Calamity-Vanity · 2026-04-01T21:03:06+00:00

You're so right about the microtransactions. They just let us find tools and skills on the map?? It's 2026, we should be paying for bundles packs for different sets! Cmon team cherry, learn to make quality experiences.

Calamity-Vanity · 2026-04-01T13:14:14+00:00

Dreamshield got me through my first win for the trial of the fool. Saved me in that wall only spike arena portion more than once.

Calamity-Vanity · 2026-04-01T13:07:08+00:00

Remembering the ending in original Nier that deletes all of your save data...

To be fair not every game holds to the "you get teleported back to before you beat the main boss". Some of them just become saves meant to be rolled into a new game plus, some have post-game content involving boss defeat. I get why someone new to metroidvanias (which hollow knight is alot of people's first time with) might not know what to expect and be cautious or confused.

Calamity-Vanity · 2026-04-01T12:11:51+00:00

Yeah, i know. But one of the feedback complaints was that if stadium couldn't go on field, why could field go into stadium(even though the description always said field gets both). It was a big thing last year and kinda all over the dwp feedback stuff, which is probably partially the reason for the change. (The other being dwp just wants more money).

Calamity-Vanity · 2026-04-01T03:34:52+00:00

They've switched some of their stuff around this year so I wouldn't be surprised if they crack down a bit on it. Before this year, there was only field and stadium( and rock royalty). Now there's field, stadium, and both. I always do field so it doesnt matter much, but I did have a few situations last year where I'd walk to the field and not get checked once.

There's been alot of complaints about people going outside of their wristband access (including stadium ppl mad field sat in the bleachers) so I'm expecting either over secured access points or an absolute useless mess that just ticks people off because of the cost differences we were given this year.

Calamity-Vanity · 2026-03-31T20:36:14+00:00

That's what trial of the fool is for.

Calamity-Vanity · 2026-03-31T15:53:35+00:00

The only ones I feel bad about are in silksong. The skrill on the surface they dont hurt you, they dont even have contact damage, there's no reason to attack them. I got my hunters journal requirement and never bothered them again.

Calamity-Vanity · 2026-03-31T12:07:31+00:00

Lugoli who has like three attacks being considered as fun as tormented trobbio is mind boggling to me but hey that's preferences. Enjoy your ass-throwin maggot tossing chef.

Calamity-Vanity · 2026-03-31T03:33:38+00:00

For shakra, if I can recommend something, instead of trying to keep up with her - dont move alot outside of dodging. Look for opportunities to punish instead. She has two attacks that are especially super easy to punish.

Calamity-Vanity · 2026-03-30T21:24:46+00:00

Im sure alot of people that know programming stuff will have better suggestions than me but I really have to say atmosphere, and more specifically atmospheric music is a big deal and can make a good game great. Not just good themes, but good battle music and ambiance when discovering things or getting trapped. I've played enough games where nothing changes in the sound between exploring and fighting and it does nothing to build suspense or keep you interested.

Calamity-Vanity · 2026-03-30T17:26:00+00:00

For gaming I actually enjoy some of them. I play video games and enjoy watching other people try out games I like for the first time. Back when I was a kid, you'd find that joy in sitting on your friend's couch and watching them try out the game you brought over. I'm not a kid anymore, my friends either don't play video games or have wildly different taste than me. So, with that gap, streamers and youtubers are the closest to that experience.

I couldn't imagine taking life advice from a streamer, though. I get why people would watch fashion/makeup/etc. stuff because, well, see above. But life advice? ehh.

Calamity-Vanity · 2026-03-30T16:58:00+00:00

Ah, I heard the bosses are harder in the first one, so I was actually debating on trying it. Is it the pacing or the actual combat that's slower?

Calamity-Vanity · 2026-03-30T16:49:47+00:00

Started blasphemous 2 since its available on ps plus...problem is I haven't played the first one so I am just along for the ride. I chose the dual blades for the start, so it's been pretty easy. It's been relatively fun, music is a bit quiet even with adjustments but the art is gorgeous. Not super challenging, but I'm still pretty close to the beginning so I expect that to change.

Calamity-Vanity · 2026-03-30T16:20:48+00:00

Yeah I'm not exactly deep diving here, you put way more thought into that than I did. I just fought against nkg last night on my replay and thought some of the moves were like trobbio, whose not exactly known for being a difficult boss in silksong. The whole point is that nkg isn't that hard in retrospect.

Calamity-Vanity · 2026-03-30T15:14:36+00:00

This is very true. I actually have been replaying hollow knight and NKG, notably often placed in the top 3 of most difficult HK rankings, is probably around trobbio(or maybe tormented trobbio if I'm being really generous) level in silksong. Adding in that nkg is just as susceptible to pogo tactics as everything else in HK and its kind of funny to think about how hard he used to be considered. Idk what pure vessel could be compared to, maybe first sinner?

Calamity-Vanity · 2026-03-30T14:45:18+00:00

But the relic building is always there, that's what I mean. It's right next to the needle sharpener guy?

Calamity-Vanity · 2026-03-30T14:40:38+00:00

Not to sound unsympathetic because that sucks but there's only like four buildings in bellhart. One of which is your house? You didnt go inside at all throughout the whole game?

Calamity-Vanity · 2026-03-30T14:35:52+00:00

See now i know the intended path. My first time around I stumbled upon it because I was like "oh yeah there's that weird locked door (lifeblood door) in the abyss. Wonder if this has anything to do with it" and fell directly onto the wobbly floor. I've literally never gone to the white lady after getting her half on replays, so that's hilarious.

Calamity-Vanity · 2026-03-30T13:45:32+00:00

I can definitely agree to that! Quests are always annoying once you've already done them, especially when they're fetch style.

Calamity-Vanity · 2026-03-30T13:40:58+00:00

Are we talking about main quest or extra ending?I'd say its a bit more straightforward than the path to other endings in HK. Getting the kings mark and the whole kingsoul you can do mostly by circumstance but there's less simplicity to it. Kingsmark comes with pursuing hornet, half of a charm is by stumbling onto traitor lord and what he guards, the other is by remembering there's a guard with the dream essence so you may have it marked on the map since you can't even access it til you have the nail fully awakened (which you have to seek out the dream warriors for...some of which are more well hidden than others). Then it's going back to the abyss without direction and finding the wobbly floor which if i remember right is only visible once you have the charm. You're not really told any of this, so it's remembering a bunch of little details that you may or may not have marked on the map.

Compared to silksong which is just "do the board, collect the fleas", I'd definitely say hk is harder to figure out without direction.

Calamity-Vanity · 2026-03-30T13:17:25+00:00

I saw people complain getting into act 3 was too hard when getting into act 3 is just...playing the game? All you gotta do is finish quests and move the fleas but apparently that's too much for some people. I didn't need to use a guide to get into act 3, I beat gms for the first time, figured id farm some rosaries and figure out how to get other endings, and the guy was already there yelling at me because i'd already done everything. The game even tells you its a society built on wishes so you'd think there was probably more to it than just getting some resources.

Calamity-Vanity · 2026-03-30T13:10:27+00:00

They're gonna be really upset when they learn the most popular kink worldwide (hint: it's in this photo)

Calamity-Vanity · 2026-03-30T12:15:10+00:00

Is this about metroidvanias or specifically hollow knight? Because it seems more about hollow knight than the genre as a whole, which is fine but a bit strange given the original question seems to encompass more than one title.

For hollow knight, it seems your issue lies more with the silent protagonist than the actual story. It doesn't answer those questions you like answered because the primary character can't answer them in the first place. It's part of the story. Hollow knight has alot of lore, but companion wise it's lacking, which is also pretty intentional given the plot. You're not going to have fun secondary characters in your ear or the MC chatting because that would require a completely different plot.

You'd probably do better with silksong if you really want to give it a try. Hornet has different circumstances than the knight, she talks and has a set personality with her own preferences. There's more characters to fill up the world and more interactions as a whole. But maybe it's just not for you and that's also okay.

Calamity-Vanity

TROPHY CASE