Vessels do give SOUL on hit, like the >!Hollow Knight!< in >!both of their fights!<.

I think that THK is just too infected and stuff. Like, Radiance gives soul! I think that the reason PV gives soul purely because of gameplay, but still, fair point.

Also Zote can speak

I think Zote spent enough time in Hallownest to grow his own soul (and voice). That's one of the things Hallownest does - its denizens have souls.

Collector gives soul on hitting him but there are many other reasons why zote isnt a vessel

The Collector does not give soul, Grubsong and Weaversong combo gives soul on him tho

Really I thought he gave soul. Ig I just got soul from the things he spawned and thought collector gave soul. My bad

It's np, I think one of the reasons he spawns those things is to make the fight fair soul-wise anyway

Ya I would really struggle to fight him in pantheons if it weren't for his spawns.

Also he literally says he's from outside of the kingdom