Hollow Knight / Article

Gruz Mother

Content updated 2026-05-27 · Sources & license

Overview

Source details: HK Infobox Boss
{{HK Infobox Boss
|theme = [https://youtu.be/DtD_v0plYgc Decisive Battle]<br>
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zK03jfpcOc8 Boss Defeat]<hr/>
[https://youtu.be/oufGdlsl-xo Colosseum Intensity 4]<br/> (Trial of the Warrior)<br>
{{HK CP Icon Mini|Godmaster}} [https://youtu.be/eBQOc2AhZT4 Gods And Glory (Part A)] (Pantheon of the Master)
|drops = {{G|50}}<br>
[[Trial of the Warrior]] rewards ([[Colosseum of Fools]])
|numbers_required = 3
|image1 = <gallery>
B Gruz Mother.png|Hunter's Journal
Gruz_Mother_Awake.png|Awake
</gallery>
|health = 90<br/>
140 (Trial of the Warrior)
|gender = Female
}}
Source details: Quote
{{Quote
|Mature gruzzer that carries its young in its belly. Attacks by hurling its huge body around.<hr/>
Bizarrely, this monster does not lay eggs but instead carries its young inside of its fat stomach. This strange practice seems to exhaust the creature, making it sleepy and vulnerable. Take advantage!
|Hr = Bestiary
}}

Gruz Mother is a boss in Hollow Knight. Two more Gruz Mothers appear in the Colosseum of Fools as a mini-boss. Unlocking her Journal entry requires beating 3 Gruz Mothers.

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In-game Events

One Gruz Mother can be found blocking the direct path to an abandoned village at the bottom of the Forgotten Crossroads. She is sleeping, exhausted from carrying her children, and wakes up when struck. Upon defeat, her stomach bursts open to reveal a swarm of Gruzzers.

Two more Gruz Mothers can be fought simultaneously at the end of the Trial of the Warrior. They do not spawn Gruzzers upon death.

Behaviour and Tactics

Source details: AttackDisclaimer
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Gruz Mother is found sleeping in a small arena. The battle begins once she is attacked. * Charge: Gruz Mother charges a short distance straight at the Knight's location, and then either stops or lightly collides off the floor or a wall. * Wild Slam: Gruz Mother repeatedly slams herself between the floor and the ceiling slowly moving a short distance forwards with every slam and turning without stopping when reaching a wall. * Fly: While not performing any attack, Gruz Mother aimlessly flies within the arena.

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When Gruz Mother dies in her Forgotten Crossroads encounter, she spawns a swarm of 7-8 Gruzzers that must also be defeated before the Knight can leave the boss area.

The Wild Slam attack can be dodged more easily with the Mothwing Cloak since the attack is fast and decent timing is required to avoid it otherwise. Using the Vengeful Spirit Spell is the easiest way to defeat her, as she has relatively low health (6 Vengeful Spirits/18 Old Nail strikes is enough to defeat Gruz Mother).

In the Colosseum of Fools, two are fought at once. It is best to kill one Gruz Mother as fast as possible, and using all SOUL for Spells is a good idea since the next wave may be Zote the Mighty, who cannot deal any damage to the Knight. Howling Wraiths/Abyss Shriek is the best Spell to defeat Gruz Mother in the Colosseum of Fools. Otherwise, use the Fragile Strength/

Source details: HK CP Icon Mini
{{HK CP Icon Mini|The Grimm Troupe}}

Unbreakable Strength or Quick Slash Charms to kill her quickly. Healing is easy since they do not attack very often, just keep a small distance from them when healing.

Source details: HK CP Header
{{HK CP Header|Godmaster}}
Godhome difficultyHealth
Attuned650
Ascended / Radiant945
Source details: HK GM Boss
{{HK GM Boss
|image = Statue Gruz Mother.png
|name = Gruz Mother
|epithet = "I sleep amongst winding roads"<br/>"Slumbering god of fertility"
|pantheon = [[Pantheon of the Master]], 2nd boss
|At_Health = 650
|AsRa_Health = 945
|arena = In any difficulty, Gruz Mother does not spawn Gruzzers upon defeat. The ground is replaced with 3 smaller platforms and 4 spike pits on Ascended difficulty or above.
}}
Source details: HK DN
{{HK DN|
* ...Full...Almost time...
* ...Danger...Tired...Kill...
* ...Sleep... Dying...
}}

Location

Gruz Mother can be found in the Forgotten Crossroads, sleeping peacefully until disturbed.

Two are fought at once in the Colosseum of Fools, however, they do not spawn Gruzzers upon death. This is also true for the ones fought in the

Source details: HK CP Icon Mini
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Hall of Gods,

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Pantheon of the Master, and

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Pantheon of Hallownest.

Source details: Gallery
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|Image1 = Mapshot HK Zote 05.png!Colosseum of Fools
|Image2 = Mapshot HK Gruz Mother 01.png!Location in Forgotten Crossroads
}}
Source details: Gallery
{{Gallery
|Title = Gallery
|Image1 = Screenshot HK Gruz Mother 01.png!Gruz Mother sleeping in the Forgotten Crossroads
|Image2 = Screenshot HK Gruz Mother 02.png!Gruz Mother attacking
|Image3 = Screenshot HK Gruz Mother 03.png!Arena in the Forgotten Crossroads
|Image4 = Screenshot HK Gruz Mother 04.png!Gruz Mothers in the Colosseum of Fools
|Image5 = Godhome Arena Gruz Mother Attuned.png!Attuned Arena in Godhome
|Image6 = Godhome Arena Gruz Mother Ascended.png!Ascended/Radiant Arena in Godhome
}}
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Achievements

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{{Achievement|Warrior}}

Trivia

* Gruz Mother was the first mini-boss revealed in a YouTube gameplay demonstration video.

Source details: Footnote
<ref>[https://youtu.be/guiYMjOVnOo Hollow Knight Gameplay Demonstration] video showing Gruz Mother.</ref>

It was referred to as "Empress Muzznik".

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<ref>[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/11662585/hollow-knight/posts/1073866 Kickstarter Update] of December 4th, 2014.</ref>

* If the Knight defeats the Gruz Mother blocking access to the deserted village but dies to the swarm of Gruzzers, the boss is still counted as dead, the Gruzzers do not respawn, and the Knight can access the village. * The Geo dropped by Gruz Mother is not affected by Fragile Greed/

Source details: HK CP Icon Mini
{{HK CP Icon Mini|The Grimm Troupe}}

Unbreakable Greed.

Source details: Localisation
{{Localisation
|DEname = Grummermutter
|DEmeaning = 
|ESname = Madre Gruz
|ESmeaning = Gruz Mother
|FRname = Mère Gruz
|FRmeaning = Gruz Mother
|ITname = Cicalina Madre
|ITmeaning = Buzzer Mother
|JAname = グラザーママ
|JAromanised = Gurazā Mama
|JAkatakana = foreign
|JAmeaning = Gruzzer Mama
|KOname = 붕붕파리 어미
|KOromanised = 
|KOmeaning = 
|PTname = Mãe Mosca
|PTmeaning = Mother Fly
|RUname = Матка Жужж
|RUromanised = 
|RUmeaning = 
|ZHname = 格鲁兹之母
|ZHromanised = Gé lǔzī zhīmǔ
|ZHmeaning = Gruz's Mother or Gruzzer's Mother 
|CODEname = BIGFLY
|CODEmeaning = 
}}
Source details: Refs
{{Refs}}
Source details: HK Nav Enemies
{{HK Nav Enemies}}

Майка Грузер Grummermutter Madre_Gruz Mère Gruz Cicalina Madre Matka Gruzzerów Mãe Mosca Матка Жужж Матка Дзижчить 格鲁兹之母

Source & attribution

Source revision
192609
Content updated
2026-05-27
License
CC BY-SA 3.0

Adapted from Hollow Knight Wiki. Original contributors retain attribution through the linked source revision and its page history.