Hollow Knight: How To Locate Cornifer In Each Area (2024)

Hollow Knight is a big game. The world of Hallownest only seems to get more and more intricate as you explore every nook and cranny to find secrets, new areas, and pieces of the world's past that slowly show the depth and care put into it. While discovering these mysteries on your own is part of the magic, doing it without really knowing where you're going would soon prove impossible. That's where Cornifer the Cartographer comes in.

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Cornifer is a special NPC that can be found in nearly every area in Hollow Knight, as he is integral to building a full-scale map of the world and everything you've found. This guide will go over how to find this humming bug in each area, so you can find your way through Hallownest easier.

Updated September 13, 2023, by Sean Murray: Looking for Cornifer? We've refreshed this guide with improved formatting and a few more breakout tips to make finding Cornifer's locations that much easier.

Forgotten Crossroads

Cornifer's location in the Forgotten Crossroads is pretty easy to come by and can be reached almost as soon as you drop into it from Dirtmouth. As soon as you drop down into the crossroads, head left into the next room. This is a long, vertical shaft that connects the top and bottom of the area.

Drop down to the very, very bottom to fall through a hole. Once here, you should be able to hear Cornifer's humming and find him near the spot on the map above.

Greenpath

Finding Cornifer in Greenpath is fairly easy when you know where you're going.

Upon entering from the Forgotten Crossroads, go all the way to the left into the next room, then drop down the vertical shaft.

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Be wary of the spikes, then head right. Traverse through the room until you see an opening on the right-hand wall at the end.

You should find both Cornifer and a Grub in this room.

Fungal Wastes

Cornifer is fairly deep in the Fungal Wastes, but it doesn't take too long to reach him if you keep moving. The Fungal Wastes are pretty much directly in the middle of Hallownest, so it has several entrances from several areas, but the easiest way to reach him is by falling in from the Forgotten Crossroads.

Upon doing so, head down to the very bottom of the shaft, then go left.

When you reach the bottom here, go left again until you see a place you can drop down, and continue down until you hear Cornifer's humming, which should guide you to a small opening.

City Of Tears

There is almost a straight shot to Cornifer as soon as you enter the City of Tears. When using the City Crest acquired from the False Knight to make your way through the gate, head right, and then up a small opening.

From here, you will progress right through a room filled with platforms and continue until you reach a bench, with Cornifer sitting right by it.

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Crystal Peak

Reaching Cornifer in the Crystal Peak requires a bit of platforming skill, but it's not impossible. Make your way to the eastern top entrance of the Crystal Peak, almost directly east of the Black Egg Temple.

From there, go right and make your way through a series of conveyor belts to reach the inside of the mines.

Make your way through a series of crystal enemies, making sure to go to the bench on the far right, before making your way upward. You will eventually see Cornifer's notes as you ascend through two rooms, and his humming will guide you to the top left of the room.

Royal Waterways

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Finding Cornifer in the Royal Waterways is fairly simple. After dropping down from the City of Tears, head all the way to the left, dropping down into the next room.

Head left in this room as well, past the bench sign. Navigate through a bit of platforming around some floating enemies, remaining aware that they can puff up to attack you.

You will already see one of his notes, so keep heading left. Drop down and dash in the next room, then keep going until you reach a chamber where you will hear his humming. Defeat some enemies to open a door, and you should find him in the top-left corner of the room.

Fog Canyon

There are actually two ways to reach Cornifer in the Fog Canyon.

The first way starts at the Queen's Station and requires the Shade Cloak to get through. Go up and to the left into the Fog Canyon, then make your way all the way to the top of the room, and go left again.

From there, continue upward, and then go right. You should already hear Cornifer, but there is a Shade Gate blocking your way. Once through, simply follow his notes upward and find a path to the left leading to him.

The second path requires Isma's Tear and can be accessed from the Fungal Wastes. About northwest of the Leg Eater, there is a small opening filled with acid that leads directly to the Fog Canyon. You basically need to just make your way left until you reach the room Cornifer is in.

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Queen's Gardens

The easiest way to find Cornifer is to go up from the Queen's Station, and head into the Fog Canyon. From there, go up to about the middle of the room and look left for a secret passageway.

Simply continue left, then drop down to the bottom of the next room and go right. You will have to fight some mantis enemies before you can continue right.

You should see his notes right away toward where the bench is. Simply follow them and his humming to find him.

Kingdom's Edge

Cornifer is extremely easy to find in Kingdom's Edge. From the King's Station bench, simply go to the bottom right of the King's Station through the opening into Kingdom's Edge.

Then, once you make it through the corridor into the area, simply drop down just a little and to the left to find him just beneath the ledge where you dropped off.

Howling Cliffs

Cornifer can be found relatively easily in the Howling Cliffs. You are most likely to enter this area for the first time from the northern opening in Greenpath.

As soon as you enter from there and make your way past the Baldurs, simply make your way up the platforms until you reach the opening on the right.

Deepnest

There are two places you can encounter Cornifer in Deepnest: in the lower section and the upper section.

It is easiest to find him in the lower section, which can be accessed from the entrance to Deepnest found to the left of the room where you fight the Mantis Lords. Simply defeat the Mantis Lords to open the way to the area, continue left, then go up and to the left to find him.

The second location is for if you enter from the north, entering from the Queen's Gardens. You simply need to make your way downwards before continuing to the left. You'll need the Lumafly Lantern to better navigate the area, but his location is relatively close to the Failed Tramway.

Ancient Basin

Cornifer can be found quite quickly after falling into the Ancient Basin. Coming from the Royal Waterways, head further into the area directly below the room you're in.

After that, simply make your way to a small cavern to your right. You should hear his humming soon after dropping in.

Where Did Cornifer Go?

If you arrive at one of these locations and find that Cornifer isn't there anymore, there's no need to worry. This most likely happened because you beat the main boss of the area, and Cornifer has moved on to the next area.

No matter which map you missed, you can purchase it from Iselda's shop in Dirtmouth. Unfortunately, Iselda's sells them at a slightly higher price, so hold onto your Geo. You can also purchase a map for the Resting Grounds from Iselda, which is the only place you can buy it.

Next: Hollow Knight: Where You Can Get Simple Keys And Where To Use Them