If you’ve been playing Hollow Knight: Silksong for a while, you probably already know that the game hides more secrets than you might think. Some of these are just hidden paths behind breakable walls, while others are areas you can’t reach yet because you lack certain abilities or a key.
Throughout the map, you’ll find some areas locked with simple locks. Each of these can be opened with a Simple Key, of which there are four around Pharloom. Here’s how to find each one.
Where to Find Every Simple Key
Simple Keys have a rusty appearance with three bronze rings arranged in a triangle at the top. Here’s how to get all of them:
Simple Key Location One
This key is available early on. You can find it by crossing the Moss Grotto area. After leaving the green lands, you’ll arrive in a settlement called Bone Bottom, where you can talk to a vendor named Pebb.
Pebb sells a Simple Key for 500 Rosaries. In the early game, you’ll need to farm pilgrims in The Marrow to gather enough Rosaries, but you won’t need this key for a while.
Simple Key Location Two
The second key is in the Sinner’s Road area, accessible via the top middle of Greymoor. If you’ve already reached this zone, you can take a shortcut elevator from Halfway Home.
Once in Sinner’s Road, head straight to the right in the first room, then climb straight up. It’s easier if you have Clawline and Faydown Cloak abilities.
You can also grab the map for Sinner’s Road from Shakra nearby. When you reach the top, choose the right path to find the key on a body.
Simple Key Location Three
This key is in the Sands of Karak area, above Blasted Steps. You need the Clawline ability to access this spot, with Faydown Cloak recommended.
Move to the far left of Blasted Steps until you see a conch icon on the map. Clawline your way to the top left and enter the sands.
Inside, climb up and navigate through two large rooms filled with mobs and platforms you can create by hitting orb objects. After passing these rooms, you’ll find a bench with a pilgrim’s body nearby.
Defeat the mob guarding the body, then loot the key from its corpse.
Simple Key Location Four
The last Simple Key is in the Songclave area of the Choral Chambers, once you activate the First Shrine. Activating this unlocks a new wishboard, including a wish for the Wandering Merchant, Jubilana.
You can buy this key from Jubilana for 650 Rosaries. To farm Rosaries efficiently, go to the top left exit of Songclave and fight Reed guards around the Cogwork Dancers.
Where to Use the Simple Keys and What You Get
Once you’ve collected the keys, here are the locations and rewards for each locked area:
Simple Lock Location One
Early in the game, you’ll encounter your first lock in the Deep Docks area, shortly after beating The Marrow. To reach it, head right while falling down through exits, then jump over a small gap to find the door.
If you’ve already explored Deep Docks, the lock is just below the blacksmith vendor in the area, giving early access to sections that are normally accessible only through Far Fields. Keep in mind, this area is tough and not recommended during the early game.
Opening this lock grants access to items like Craftmetal, Flea, and Spool Fragments.
Simple Lock Location Two
The second lock is in Wormways. You find it by progressing through the map, starting from the Shellwood Bellway and jumping down the hole at the left of Blasted Steps. Stick to the left wall after the jump to find Wormways.
Inside, follow the path down and left until reaching a large room with metal platforms—then go through a small gap to find the door. Opening it grants access to items such as the Sharpdart Silk Skill, the Alchemist’s Assistant wish, the Memory Locket, and the Wandering Crest in Bone Bottom.
Simple Lock Location Three
The third lock is in Sinner’s Road, near where you found the second key. After entering the biome, go right from the first room; you’ll see a green NPC above the entrance to the next room.
To reach the lock that cages the Green Prince, climb around the area. While freeing Green Prince doesn’t be useful early on, it unlocks access to Verdania later in the game after reaching Act Three.
Simple Lock Location Four
The final lock is in the High Halls biome. It’s easy to spot at the very end of the biome, accessible after passing a room with a bench and Ventrica on the left.
Head further left to find a locked room on a small platform. Enter this room, then break the ceiling above and go around to a chamber filled with Rosaries. After defeating the enemies here, jump out through the bottom exit to reach the hidden chambers below where the Rosary Cannon tool is located.
Where to Find Every Simple Lock
Here’s where each lock is located and what they unlock:
Simple Lock Location One
In Deep Docks, shortly after beating The Marrow, reach the door by moving right and jumping down. If you’ve previously explored Deep Docks, the lock is just below the blacksmith vendor.
Opening it gives access to areas with items like Craftmetal, Flea, and Spool Fragments. Using this key early can provide shortcuts and resources but may be better saved for more rewarding areas later.
Simple Lock Location Two
In Wormways, progress through the Biome by taking the Shellwood Bellway and jumping down the earliest hole on the left of Blasted Steps. Follow the path downwards to a big room with platforms and a door on the left.
Unlocking this door allows entry to Wormways, where you can find items like the Sharpdart Silk, the Alchemist’s Assistant wish, and the Memory Locket.
Simple Lock Location Three
In Sinner’s Road, right after finding the second key, head right through the biome. Reach the area where the Green Prince is caged.
The lock is nearby, and opening it helps you unlock access to Verdania in late game.
Simple Lock Location Four
In the High Halls, at the far end of the biome, you’ll find the lock on a small platform. After passing the Rosary-filled chamber, jump out of the bottom to find the chamber below with the Rosary Cannon.
This lock is quite visible if you’ve completed the area, and opening it reveals a powerful tool along with Rosaries to collect.