Hollow Knight: Silksong’s Mid-Game Ability Design is a Head…

Hollow Knight: Silksong has been out for a few days now, and its early post-launch life is quickly proving to be a wonderfully difficult challenge. Its predecessor was, of course, a major trial on its own, but Hollow Knight: Silksong takes it to the next level in a variety of ways.

Silksong has already been a historical launch for an indie game, making it clear that the sequel was well worth the wait. The reception to Silksong has been stellar, and while it's close to being a perfect Metroidvania, there are still a few hiccups and design choices that are confusing, with one of them being a mid-game ability: Clawline.

Silksong is priced at $20, and it is available for Nintendo Switch 1&2, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. It's also offered on Game Pass.

Hollow Knight: Silksong's Clawline Ability is Held Back From Meeting its Full Potential

Clawline's Overreliance on Silk is Baffling

Getting the Clawline ability is already a tough task on its own. Players won't get the skill until reaching The Cauldron found in Underworks, and once acquired, it's essential for Hornet's journey to the Citadel. This skill turns Hornet's Needle into a harpoon-like grappling tool, and while it could potentially be incredibly useful, it can quickly become a headache when trying to get the hang of it.

The most frustrating part about enabling Clawline is that it uses Silk. There are several features that make Silksong a greater challenge than its predecessor, and while Clawline is definitely difficult, it's hard to say if it was intended to be this frustrating. The fact that Clawline uses Silk, Hornet's source of energy, seems counterproductive, as it can really hinder progress for those who are trying to master the ability. It can be maddening to truly get the hang of it, and while it replenishes a small sliver of Silk so grapples can be chained together, it isn't the most satisfying mechanic. When the game requires players to chain Clawlines together, timing is ultimately everything, and that's easier said than done.

hollow knight silksong first update patch notes

Of course, some players may have no trouble with Clawline, but for others, it could easily be one of the most frustrating aspects of the game. Team Cherry loves to bring difficulty to new heights, so the annoyance that comes with Clawline is likely deliberate, but if any skill is worthy of being streamlined and more approachable, it may be this one.

The Bell Beast and Hornet in Hollow Knight Silksong

Since launch, Silksong's all-time player peak on Steam was an impressive 587,150.

Silksong has already been a historical launch for an indie game, making it clear that the sequel was well worth the wait.

Hollow Knight: Silksong Brings 2025 to Even Greater Heights

Even before Silksong's release date was announced, this year was already shaping up to be a major time for game launches. Between titles like Split Fiction, Doom: The Dark Ages, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Death Stranding 2, and the upcoming Ghost of Yotei, these games merely make up the tip of the iceberg. The month of September alone is packed with big titles, and with other games like Battlefield 6 and Black Ops 7 on the way, 2025 is proving to be one of the industry's biggest years.

It feels surreal that Silksong is finally here. After years of theories and anticipation, Silksong is shaking up the industry in a great way, and as The Game Awards are set for December, it will be interesting to see how it fares with nominations. It's very possible that Silksong could take home the Game of the Year award, but only time will tell. As of now, Silksong has proven to be something special, even when the Clawline design is less than ideal.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image