The sequel to Hollow Knight, Silksong begins with a cutscene of Hornet being taken to the kingdom of Pharloom in a cage, forced into submission with a seal of binding. Suddenly, the seal is broken as tendrils of white silk attack the cart, breaking the bridge and sending Hornet hurtling into the depths below the Citadel.
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Find answers to the most common Hollow Knight Silksong FAQs and what you need to know about this highly anticipated sequel with this guide.
At the start of the game, exploration and progression are relatively linear, but not long after, players may find themselves wondering where to go first in Silksong as options open up. This guide offers a list of eight things you should do first in Silksong, guiding players from the initial tutorial zone and Moss Mother boss fight to unlocking the first Silk Skill and the Bell Beast fast travel system.
Complete the Tutorial & Beat Moss Mother
Defeat Moss Mother to Meet The Chapel Maid
After Hornet's cage is broken and she falls to the depths of Moss Grotto, the game begins. Hornet picks up her nail, players are taught how to Bind to restore HP with their Silk Spool gauge, then set off into the world of Pharloom. Take some time to get used to the controls and feel of combat as you progress through the Moss Grotto zone.
Get to the end of the tutorial section by following the relatively linear path through the zone to come up against the Moss Mother. This is the first boss in Silksong, and you'll have to beat it to escape Moss Grotto, meet the Chapel Maid, and get to Bone Bottom – the first major town hub.
Explore Bone Bottom
Sit at the Bench, Talk to NPCs, & Peruse Pebb's Shop
In the first town hub, Bone Bottom, there are a few things Silksong players should do first:
- After entering the town, sit on the bench to save your progress, then talk to the Little Pilgrim just to the right of the bench to learn a little bit about Bone Bottom and why these bugs are here.
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Then, go into the building to his right. Take note of the signpost outside – three rightward chevrons.
- Though you can't use it right now, this is a Bell Beast travel location, and once you unlock this fast travel system, you can travel back to Bone Bottom after discovering this point.
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There are two other NPCs you should interact with here – Pebb and Flick the Fixer.
- Pebb is the town merchant and will offer a variety of general goods, like a Simple Key, Mask Shard, and the ability to string up your Rosaries. Though you likely don't have any Rosaries when you first meet him, you'll collect and spend this currency with merchants like Pebb.
- Flick the Fixer is working on a wishwall. Wishwalls serve as one of the main ways to pick up quests in Silksong. Once it's complete, come back to this board to see quests in the local area.
Once you've explored enough, continue to the right to find Sherma, another Pilgrim who is trying to open a door.
Open the Door for Sherma
Music Won't Open This Door, Unfortunately
Sherma is a pilgrim with a wide-brimmed hat who sings and plays music in an attempt to get past various obstacles – in this case, a large Bone Gate. You'll come across her numerous times throughout your adventure in Pharloom.
In this case, after you run into Sherma, go back left and traverse upward, then right, then down to get to the back side of the Bone Gate. You'll have to survive a room with waves of enemies, including a large crawler that can deal two masks of damage with each hit.
Once you complete this room and unlock two exits, go into the room below to reach the other side of the Bone Gate. Hit the lever to open it, then go to the right to continue through The Marrow.
Meet Fleamaster Mooshka
Send Fleas Back to the Caravan, Like Grubs
After helping Sherma, continue through the relatively linear path through the caves until you enter The Marrow. This is the second major area in Silksong, and there are a few important things players should keep an eye out for in The Marrow.
As you go through the area, keep an eye out for a sign with a fluffy bug on it. This is a Flea Caravan sign, which will lead you to Fleamaster Mooshka and what remains of his Flea caravan. Promise to fulfill his wish to reunite the lost Fleas throughout Pharloom, and you will begin the quest to find Fleas in the hidden areas of the world, much like collecting Grubs in Hollow Knight.
Above the Flea Caravan, there is a breakable wall. Hit this repeatedly to enter a secret off-shoot area containing 24 Rosaries.
Find the Shard Pendant Tool
The First Tool In Silksong
After meeting Fleamaster Mooshka, head upward, then left, until you find a chasm. To progress through the level, you should head upward in this chasm, but before you do that, take a detour downward and enter the room leading left to find the first Tool of the game: the Shard Pendant.
This yellow Tool can only be equipped at a bench. When equipped, you will gain slightly more Shards from defeated enemies. Shards are used to craft Tools and other gear, but not until a little bit later on in the game.
Meet Shakra to Get a Map, Quill, & Compass
Silksong's Map-Maker: Shakra, Wielding Rings
At the beginning of the game, Silksong players don't have access to a map. In fact, you won't be able to get one until you progress through much of The Marrow zone. Go upward when you reach the chasm with the Shard Pendant, then exit the tall room on the far left. Continue left, and you will eventually run into Shakra.
Shakra sells a variety of cartography tools and items, including Maps of nearby areas (in this case, Moss Grotto and The Marrow), the Compass item (which shows your location on the map), and the Quill (which updates your map with explored areas when you Rest).
Purchase both Maps, the Quill, and the Compass. Both maps cost a combined 90 Rosaries, the Quill costs 50 Rosaries, and the Compass costs 70 Rosaries. Explore the nearby area to find a few small hoards of Rosaries if you come up short.
Unlock the Bone Bottom Shortcut
Find the Elevator Above Bone Bottom
From Shakra's room, go left, then jump up and continue left to enter the Mosshome sub-area. Jump onto the platforms above to avoid the enemies down below, then jump across these ledges until you reach a lever. Pull the lever, then continue downward until you reach an elevator.
This elevator hangs over Bone Bottom, and if you walk inside and activate the pressure plate, it will slowly lower down to the settlement below. This shortcut is unlocked permanently after you ride it once. Sit at the bench to update your map, then take the elevator back up to get back to Mosshome.
Get & Use Silkspear To Free The Bell Beast
Break The Bell Beast Free, Then Prepare For a Fight
After taking the elevator shortcut back up, continue upward, then go back into the room with the lever you navigated through earlier. Go back to the lever and jump upward into another room above. In here, avoid the traps and platform your way upward until you reach the symbol of a Weaver.
Interact with this to get the Silkspear ability, a long-range piercing attack that uses a small amount of Silk to cast. After unlocking this first Silk Skill, head back into the room with the lever, then go right.
There should be a sign indicating a Bell Beast fast travel point in the room to the right – continue right, then use Silkspear to break all of the strands of silk at once and free the Bell Beast.
Once freed, Hornet must subdue the Bell Beast to earn its cooperation.
Beat the boss, and you will collect what appears to be a ball of Silk. Ascend through this dream realm to get a Silk Heart, then Hornet will wake up back in the boss room with the fast travel system unlocked.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Released
- September 4, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Team Cherry
- Engine
- Unity
- Franchise
- Hollow Knight
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC
