After opening the Grand Gates by defeating the Last Judge at the end of Act 1 of Hollow Knight: Silksong, players will find themselves stranded deep within the Underworks without a clear way to return to where they came from.

The elevator that takes players down to the Underworks breaks immediately, and it is impossible to use Wall Climb to go back up to the surface. Those with unfinished quests left behind in Act 1 will want to know if it is possible to go back, and how to do it if so. Here’s the breakdown.

key of apostate in hollow knight silksong
Key Of Apostate Location In Silksong (& Where To Use It)

The Key of Apostate is used in to unlock two doors while exploring The Slab in Hollow Knight: Silksong.

How to Get Back to Act 1 in Silksong

how to return to act 1 in hollow knight silksong

To physically return to Act 1 areas of Silksong, you will first have to reach the Choral Chambers area by going up through the Underworks.

choral chambers bench in hollow knight silksong
  1. From the first Choral Chambers bench, turn left and go past the pilgrims to the very edge of the room.
    how to return to act 1 route in hollow knight silksong
  2. There will be a breakable section of the floor that can be destroyed by using a downward slash.
    how to return to act 1 breakable wall in hollow knight silksong
  3. Destroy this area and go through the tunnels with the spinning blades, and you’ll find yourself back in the Grand Gate area.
  4. Drop down to the bottom and head left to return to the Blasted Steps.

If you didn’t activate any Bellways in Act 2, the only way you can return is by using this route, as the elevator is broken.

When going back to Act 2, hit the see-saw platforms in the Grand Gate to make them move.

Where to Find a Bellway in Act 2 in Silksong

act 2 in silksong

While it is possible to go back to Act 1 on foot, the trek is very long and more tedious as you further explore the Citadel. Luckily, there are two Bellways very close to the starting section of Act 2 of Silksong that players can unlock straight away; one is located in The Slab, while the other can be found in The Grand Bellway.

Both are equally easy to reach but the Grand Bellway is a better first destination as it contains a Ventrica Tube as well, making it an excellent mid-way point for the two types of fast travel methods in Silksong. Here are both of their locations.

Grand Bellway Location

After falling down into the Underworks, go through the tunnels to climb to the Choral Chambers.

grand bellway route in silksong
  1. Turn left from the first Choral Chambers bench, then drop down, before heading left again past the pilgrims.
    choral chambers bench in hollow knight silksong
  2. In the large hall, Wall Climb to the top, turn right, then go up again to the floating platform in the middle of the room.
    the grand bellway route 3 in silksong
  3. Go up through the tunnel above the platform, then go across the room with the four pilgrims to find a lever at the end.
    the grand bellway route 4 in silksong
  4. Hit the lever to open a path below that leads to another room on the right.
  5. Cross this room as well to reach a large hallway with floating platforms and hanging bells you can use to pogo.
    the grand bellway route 6 in silksong
  6. Use parkour to reach the top of the room and enter the chamber to the right that has a bench sign beside it.
    the grand bellway route 7 in silksong
  7. Sit on the bench to set a new respawn point and then continue right to the gauntlet room.
    the grand bellway route 8 in silksong
  8. Activate the lever on the ground to access a tunnel system below and navigate through it to reach the area below.
    the grand bellway route 9 in silksong
  9. Turn right in the hallway and keep going until you reach another large room with platforms and hanging bells.
    the grand bellway route 10 in silksong
  10. Drop down to the bottom and enter the room to the right to find the Grand Bellway, a bench, and a Ventrica fast travel point.
Silksong What To Do First Act 2 Where To Go Citadel Entrance
Where to Go First in Act 2 of Silksong (Post-Act 1 Guide)

Follow this guide to learn what you should do first in Act 2 in Silksong, and locations players should prioritize unlocking at the start of Act 2.

The Slab Bellway Location

The Slab Bellway is located to the left of the Choral Chambers, and reaching it requires following much of the same route as the Grand Bellway. Here’s how:

the slab bellway route in silksong
  1. Follow Steps 1-7 from the section above.
    the slab bellway route in silksong-1
  2. Turn left from the bench in Step 7 and look for an opening on the left side of the room.
    the slab bellway route in silksong (2)
  3. In the next room, use the floating platforms to reach the top, and you’ll see two openings to the left, one above the other. The bottom one leads to a bench, while the one on the top is a direct route straight to The Slab area.
    the slab bellway route in silksong (3)
  4. Take the path on the top left and keep going in a straight line.
  5. Cross the large ornate bridge to reach The Slab.
    the slab bellway route in silksong (4)
  6. From the entrance, keep heading left, and you’ll immediately see a Bellway signboard pointing down.
    the slab bellway route in silksong (5)
  7. Jump down and cross the two rooms with enemies before dropping down again to reach The Slab Bellway.

To get The Slab map, you'll either need to get captured by the NPC in Hunter's March or find the Apostate Key in the Putrefied Ducts.

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Metroidvania
Action
Adventure
Soulslike
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Top Critic Avg: 91 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
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Released
September 4, 2025
ESRB
Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood
Developer(s)
Team Cherry
Publisher(s)
Team Cherry
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Genre(s)
Metroidvania, Action, Adventure, Soulslike
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty