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Compared to its predecessor, Hollow Knight: Silksong feels more like a traditional role-playing game, thanks to its clearer wish system. However, this also means you’ll encounter some boring quests along the way. Once you save Courier Tipp and Courier Pill from the Bellhart Quest Board, the Delivery quests in Silksong can be both frustrating and rewarding at the same time.

Since the journey between objectives can be tough with lots of hostile bugs, it’s best to have as many strong Weaver techniques and movement skills as you can before taking on the harder challenges. Luckily, each quest gives a hint about its difficulty, so you can start with the easier ones to practice Hornet’s faster moves and see how far she can go without damaging the supplies.

Every Reward for Silksong’s Delivery Quests

At first, it’s fun to see many new quests to do. But most of Tipp and Pill’s delivery quests aren’t full wishes — they’re a new way to farm Rosaries outside of fighting. This makes them repeatable for easy money, but they’re not the fastest way to farm Rosaries overall.

Delivery Quest	Reward	Repeatable
Bone Bottom Supplies	80 Rosaries	Yes
Pilgrim’s Rest Supplies	180 Rosaries	Yes
Songclave Supplies	360 Rosaries	Yes
Courier’s Rasher	Courier’s Rasher Ingredient	No
Queen’s Egg	Expanded Silkeater Farm, 120 Rosaries	No

Compared to the farm quests, these courier missions do have some one-time challenges with big rewards, but they’re harder.

The first unlocks after you do any one delivery first. It’s a request to bring a Queen Silkeater grub egg to Styx at the end of Sinner’s Road. Doing this quest gives you 120 Rosaries and permanently upgrades your Silkeater farm, doubling your reward from each visit to Hornet’s helper.

The second special quest ties into the “Great Taste of Pharloom” mission. It requires you to deliver perishable ingredients to Loyal Mergwin in the Citadel before time runs out. Completing this influences Hornet’s second nail upgrade.

Best Ways to Complete Silksong’s Delivery Quests

While the quests seem simple on paper, they often require backtracking through areas full of enemies. Some rules make these missions tougher. The hardest limitation is not being able to fast-travel, plus an item health bar that shrinks each time Hornet takes damage, falls, or crashes into a wall without stopping.

Unlike the single-hit delivery quests in Hollow Knight, Silksong gives you more chances to mess up. But you also can’t cheat by killing enemies ahead of time. For most quests except “Courier’s Rasher,” it’s best to use your familiar abilities and avoid enemies altogether.

The most challenging quest is “Courier’s Rasher.” It’s best to wait until you have the Clawline and Feydown Cloak abilities before trying it. Since it has a time limit, delivering this requires both speed and careful movement, so having Hornet’s advanced skills is a must.

To prepare for tough delivery tasks, it helps to have extra tools. Besides the movement skills, the Flea Brew weapon and Silkspeed Anklets are great for boosting your speed. The compass is also essential for keeping track of your route.

If you have spare memory lockets, the Wanderer’s Crest can help, especially during the harder deliveries. It makes Hornet pogo downward more reliably to dodge enemies and hazards. And if you still have slots left, ranged weapons like the Curveclaw can protect you from pesky flying enemies.

Best Routes for Every Delivery Quest

For the basic supply deliveries, rely heavily on the Drifter’s cloak to stay safe. Use it to avoid enemies by sticking to the sides or using air currents.

The Sinner’s Road route can be tricky if you haven’t explored it much. Muckmaggots can mostly be avoided by sneaking along paths and using area transitions to make flying enemies disappear. This way, you can reach Styx without too much trouble.

For the longer distances and tight time limits, it’s best to learn the map first. Try running the route several times without making a delivery. This practice helps you understand tricky sections and saves time later on.

Hollow Knight: Silksong is an exciting sequel to the popular indie game Hollow Knight, but it’s also a much harder version of the original. Even if you finished the first game easily, you might find yourself stuck on some challenges in Silksong for a while.

If you want help with the toughest parts of the game, these guides are here for you. They include tips for tough bosses, tricky areas, and hidden secrets. We’ll keep updating these guides as we explore more of the game.

Boss Guides for Hollow Knight: Silksong

Not every boss in the game will be a problem, but things get tougher near the end of Act 1. Make sure to check out our video and tips for defeating the Last Judge — it can save you a lot of time on one of the hardest platforming sections.

Map Guides

Since Silksong is a metroidvania, its areas can be confusing and full of dangerous jumps and environmental hazards. Our map guides for locations like Hunter’s March and Bilewater will help you navigate these tough spots. We also have a guide on how to access and escape the early-to-mid game area called the Slab, even as early as Act 1.

Location Guides

In Silksong, Hornet must complete quests called Wishes, which involve finding all sorts of objects. Sometimes, you’ll want to hunt out things that aren’t part of the main quest, like Silkeater Grubs, which can help save your rosaries. If you’re tired of exploring Shellwood for the Pollip Heart or listening for Lost Fleas across the land, these guides will make your journey easier.

Key Upgrades & Unlocks

Whenever you’re stuck, it might be because you need an upgrade. Some upgrades can turn a difficult boss fight into a manageable one. Be sure to look out for the first needle upgrade or swap out your crest to improve your chances of success. Always stay upgraded to stay ahead in the game.

Even with the hardest challenges, beating Hollow Knight: Silksong won’t be easy. But with the right guides and tips, Hornet can make it all the way to the end.

The boss fights in Hollow Knight: Silksong really stand out when they have a clear theme behind their attacks, and the Widow of Bellhart definitely delivers in this aspect. As the creature responsible for the current hauntings in the town, there’s a strong reason for Hornet to defeat her. However, defeating her will take some effort on your part.

She uses the leftover Silk from Pharloom to attack, with a variety of moves that may take some time to learn. Once you get the hang of her patterns, you should find it easier to defeat her. Luckily, using the right tools can make this early boss fight much quicker and less frustrating, so you can enjoy the battle without feeling overwhelmed.

Best Equipment for Fighting Widow

Given that Widow’s moves mainly involve standing still while pulling rocks or crawling along the ground, placing traps like Sting Shards or Tacks over her can do a lot of damage. Quick-throw weapons like the Straight Pin or Threefold Pins can also be very helpful for dealing extra damage between her attacks.

Tip: If you’re having trouble or running out of tools during the fight, save most of your resources for her second phase. This will help shorten her empowered state and make the fight easier.

Using the right tools combined with upgrades can also make a big difference. Improving your tool capacity, damage, and passive effects with accessories like the Pollip Pouch can give you a significant boost in damage output.

For other accessories, the Weighted Belt can prevent unnecessary damage from falling boulders when attacking her. Defensive tools like the Bell, which shields you from off-screen attacks, and the Druid’s Eye, which offers extra healing, are also useful to have.

Luckily, you don’t have to farm for many upgrades or Rosaries before facing Widow. If you don’t have the perfect setup, don’t worry—she’s still beatable.

How to Beat Widow and Dodge Her Attacks

Since you won’t get your first nail upgrade before fighting Widow, focus on staying alive by playing cautiously. Her attack patterns may seem fast at first, but they are fairly predictable once you learn them.

Her most common move involves calling down bells from above at an angle, which is a good opportunity to deal damage as long as you watch where they land. She also calls down vertical bells to block your movement, which is a good time to launch projectiles or a Silkspear if you have extra thread.

Another move involves her jumping into the air and slashing diagonally, then running across the screen. Dashing underneath her at the right moment can help you dodge this attack. If timed well, you can also land several diagonal pogo attacks while she’s running side to side.

Sometimes, Widow will dash without attacking and summon bell hazards from below. When this happens, it’s safer to focus on wall jumping to stay high and float towards the side where the hazards appear.

It might take several tries to get the timing right, especially in her second phase when she’s more aggressive. But with patience and practice, these tips will help you beat her efficiently. Defeating her is very satisfying, especially because her attacks are themed and connect to what she unlocks afterward.

Sister Splinter can be one of the hardest bosses in Hollow Knight: Silksong, mainly because the fighting area can become very crowded. While her attacks are pretty straightforward, they get much more difficult to dodge when there are spikes on the ceiling and flying enemies around.

Knowing how to keep the fighting space clear can make defeating Sister Splinter much easier. With the right strategy and tools, you can beat her and move on to other challenges in the game.

Where To Find Sister Splinter and the Bench Location

Deep in Shellwood
You can find Sister Splinter in the Shellwood area on the map, as shown in the picture above. You need to fight her to move forward in the game, as she blocks the wall-jump ability that helps you explore more areas.

To reach her easily, work your way through most of Shellwood to unlock the elevator that gives quick access. Once you have it, rest at the bench near the center of Shellwood; this is the shortest route back after the fight. The bench costs 50 rosaries to unlock, so make sure you have enough when exploring this area.

From that bench, take the elevator up, go into the room on your right, then jump across the platforms and climb up. Use your pogo jump to cross the flowers on the left to reach the boss room.

How to Defeat Sister Splinter

First Phase
Your main goal during the fight is to keep the area clear. When she goes up to the ceiling, spikes will come down soon after. You can break these spikes with a few hits—don’t bother destroying all of them, just the ones that block your movement. You need enough space to dodge her attacks comfortably.

In this phase, dodge her strikes by moving left or right, jumping to hit her whenever possible. She attacks in sets of three, alternating when she strikes from the left or right. When she’s about to drop spikes, you’ll see light beams indicating where they will land—use this to avoid them and heal if needed. Staying on the correct side of her attacks makes it easier to get hits, and when she falls to the floor, step back quickly to avoid damage from her impact. When she’s on the ground, you can safely attack or heal.

Second Phase
Things get tougher here. She will summon flying enemies at the start, giving you a few seconds to handle them before she attacks again. Instead of trying to hit these enemies, it’s better to use your Silkspear attack if you have the silk available. It kills the flying enemies in one hit, helping you keep pace.

Throughout the fight, she’ll keep spawning flying enemies. Focus on killing them with your Silkspear rather than using it for healing. Her own attacks can also kill these enemies if they’re in her way, which can work in your favor if you’re careful.

If she slams down many brambles at once, use your Silkspear to take them out with a single attack. The tool you have equipped, like the Longpin (found in a side room in Shellwood), can help deal with environmental hazards. If you don’t have the Longpin, the Straight Pin is a good alternative.

Staying aggressive is key. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed; I struggled early on because I wasn’t using the Silkspear, but I beat her without taking a hit once I changed my approach. Sister Splinter is a tough opponent if she controls the arena, but shutting down her attacks quickly gives you the advantage.

After defeating her, leave the arena to the left. You’ll find a statue nearby where you can unlock the wall jump ability. With that skill, you’ll be able to reach the next boss above Bellhart as you progress towards the end of the first act of Silksong.

The Last Judge is the final challenge of the first act in Hollow Knight: Silksong. It’s likely to be the toughest boss you’ll face so far. The fight is long and aggressive, and each time you try to face it, you’ll need to do a tricky run back to get there.

Thankfully, with some practice and knowing what to do, you won’t get stuck. Understanding the runback route, choosing the right crest, and using a helpful tool can make a big difference. This can turn a daunting boss into a more manageable one.

How to Get Through the Last Judge Runback

Don’t Waste Time on Enemies

The runback to the Last Judge can seem intimidating because of the platforming involved. Watching a video of an optimized runback can help you avoid unnecessary jumps and enemy encounters.

Keep your speed up. Dashing allows you to skip fighting some enemies. Quickly dash and jump over the first few sandworm gaps, then start jumping vertically between platforms. Instead of moving straight to the right, jump to the left and wall jump up to avoid some difficult spots.

Next, you need to pogo off a bell. I used the Wanderer crest because it makes pogo jumps easier, but you can do this with other crests too. Run forward, then jump, dash, and float over the next gap to avoid an enemy and pogo off the bell. It’s better to pogo off a bell rather than hitting the wall for a quick wall jump — that’s more reliable.

Once you hit the far wall, wall jump up, then move back left for another pogo. Hit the left wall, wall jump again, then jump, float, and dash onto the last platform. Once you master these steps, you can do the entire runback in about 30 seconds without fighting enemies.

How to Beat the Last Judge

Playing Aggressively Can Help

When fighting the Last Judge, having the Wanderer crest equipped is very useful. You can find it in the Bone Bottom area, after passing through the Wormways. With it, you can land quick attacks, but the boss can still be defeated with other crests if you prefer.

The Magma Bell, bought from the smith in Deep Docks, is also a good choice. It reduces fire damage, which is a major part of the boss’s attack pattern. You can pick other gear based on your playstyle. Since some of the boss’s attacks block tools, consider using flasks that boost speed or mask count.

You can play more aggressively against the Last Judge, especially if you have the Wanderer crest. Its first phase isn’t too dangerous — dash in for hits when it attacks. The easiest opening is when it leaps into the air and slams down, but you can also dodge toward it when it throws its flail, then leap over the flail when it pulls back. Its spin attack can often be parried with the crest, but it’s safer to back away.

The second phase introduces fire attacks. The spin attack sends out flames you can dodge by moving left or right. Pillars of flame also appear and can be avoided the same way. When it slams the ground, jump into the air to avoid the shockwave. The flail explosion releases fire too, so steer clear of the blast radius.

Pro Tip: When you need to heal, look for good openings and try to do it while airborne — fewer of the boss’s attacks will hit you then.

Mastering the timing of these attacks will give you chances to land hits. As the fight gets harder, you might want to play a bit safer, especially during the second phase. The transition between phases is a good moment to strike quickly.

After defeating the Last Judge, there’s a brief freeze before it falls. Move as far away as possible right afterward. Once it explodes, you can safely return to the area.

Getting good at the Last Judge fight takes time, but it’s doable once you know the openings. Remember: hit fast, dodge the flames, and get out of the way as soon as it’s over.

Even though Hollow Knight: Silksong has only been out for a few days, some players have already finished the final boss and are ready for the next challenge. If you’re still working through the game on normal difficulty, don’t worry—there’s an alternative difficulty called Steal Soul mode that’s not too far away.

While Hornet has many tools and abilities to fight enemies in Pharloom, players have still raised concerns about how tough the game can be. Whether you’re an expert or just want to see how hard Silksong can get, Steel Soul mode is the ultimate challenge.

What Changes with Steel Soul Mode in Silksong

The main change in Steel Soul mode is the permadeath mechanic. When Hornet is defeated for the first time, your save file is erased, making it a very tough mode similar to the one in the previous game.

Tip: Quitting and saving right before dying will bring Hornet back to the last bench you used with full health, helping you avoid a complete run loss.

In the original Hollow Knight, Steel Soul mode affected shopkeepers—some NPCs that sell items would be killed or replaced. In Silksong, this mode makes certain items like Rosary Strings useless since your death results in losing everything. However, items like mask shards, tools, and powerful weapons become even more important.

Knowing which areas to avoid and when to return is crucial for surviving Steel Soul. Remember, quitting before death can be a lifesaver by letting you restart with full health.

How to Unlock Steel Soul Mode in Silksong

The intended way to unlock this end-game challenge is to complete the game once through any ending. After that, on your next save, you’ll see a prompt to choose between Classic Mode or Steel Soul.

Some players have discovered an early unlock method without beating the game first. By going into the extras menu and entering this code: Up, Down, Up, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, a sound will confirm that Steel Soul mode is unlocked—that is, even before starting your initial playthrough.

While attempting Steel Soul mode without experience in the main game is extremely challenging, it can be a fun way to test your skills and try a very different way to play. Just be prepared—it’s a tough fight even for experienced players.

Even if Hollow Knight: Silksong doesn’t have as many charm options as the original game, it makes up for it with special tools and different move sets. These offensive tools and charms are already diverse, but the real strength of combat comes through the new Crest customization system.

Instead of upgrading Hornet directly, Crests let you choose themed moves and abilities to swap out your current ones. This keeps the game feeling fresh as you move forward. Which Crest you pick depends on your playing style, but there’s one that offers big advantages and is worth investing in early on.

How to Get the Wanderer’s Crest in Silksong

There are two ways to get the Wanderer’s Crest: one uses the float and dash abilities, while the other requires buying a 500 Rosary key in Bone Bottom after gathering enough currency. Both methods start with either taking the elevator unlocked in Moss Grotto or entering from the upper right via the Marrow pathways.

Once back in Moss Grotto’s main hole, you’ll need to jump up and cross a gap filled with hanging cages and flying enemies. You can bounce on these enemies or dash past them. After crossing, if you have the key, go left through the Wormways, avoiding a large enemy until you reach a locked door.

For a quicker route, unlock the door using the key, then go down through the Wormways to find a hidden area—but this uses up your expensive key that could be useful elsewhere.

If you have the float and dash powers, you can skip taking the Wormways route to the locked door. Instead, head down from the pathway entrance where there’s a broken cage hanging off a ledge. Jump off and float down near the left wall, timing a dash to land in an open window inside an overgrown habitat.

Continue left and glide as far as you can. You’ll end up near the giant bug carcass hanging in the air. No matter which way you go, you’ll eventually find yourself on the far left side of Moss Grotto. There, you’ll see a simple tomb. By passing through the tomb, avoiding traps, and fighting some haunted bugs, you’ll finally earn the Wanderer’s Crest.

What Does the Wanderer’s Crest Do?

The Wanderer’s Crest unlocks a new moveset and attack patterns for Hornet that focus on faster, more precise strikes. This comes at the cost of a smaller, less forgiving hitbox. It also offers more charm slots than other movesets, with room for a weapon charm, two support charms, and three navigational tools.

The main appeal of the Crest is that its moveset is familiar to fans of the original Hollow Knight. It replaces Hornet’s diagonal pogo attacks with downward slashes like those of the Knight. This change makes bouncing on enemies and environmental hazards much easier, and it also makes Hornet’s dash attack faster.

While adjusting to the Wanderer’s Crest can take some time, it’s especially powerful when paired with strong Needle upgrades. This combo allows you to deal a lot of damage quickly during boss fights or tough encounters.

After beating the final boss in Hollow Knight: Silksong, you might think the game’s story is over. But if you complete some optional missions, you can unlock a third act that reveals a new chapter and a special ending.

As its name suggests, you can only access Act 3 after unlocking Act 2 first. To do this, you need to reach and defeat Grandmother Silk, which is usually the last boss for most players. However, by completing certain side quests and collecting specific items, you’ll unlock more content in Act 3.

Steps to Unlock Act 3 in Hollow Knight: Silksong

1. Complete Nearly All Wish Side Quests
You need to finish almost every Wish quest, which are given by NPCs or on Wishboards scattered around different areas. These include battles against area bosses and optional enemies, quests that require spending currency, and missions involving finding certain NPCs. Some of these tasks are:

• Pharloom’s Crown (Ascend)
• Savage Beastfly (Grand Hunt)
• The Hidden Hunter (Grand Hunt)
• The Terrible Tyrant (Grand Hunt)
• The Wailing Mother (Grand Hunt)
• Various Hunt, Learn, Delivery, Donate, Gather, Search, Seek, Sprint, and Wayfarer quests listed in detail in the game.

2. Collect All 25 Fleas
Once you’ve completed all the Wish quests, go to the Bellhart region and speak with an NPC named Pavo. Make sure you’ve gathered all 25 fleas in the game. These fleas are vital for unlocking Act 3 and are earned by progressing through your skills and story — you’ll find them gradually as you play.

3. Move the Flea Caravan
Ensure Fleamaster Mooshka moves the flea caravan to the Putrefied Ducts area, which is a necessary step before proceeding.

Doing all these tasks unlocks a new Wish called “Silk and Soul,” which you can learn more about from an NPC called the Caretaker in Songclave.

How to Complete the “Silk and Soul” Wish

1. Gather Four Key Items
To set the trap against Grand Mother Silk, talk to the Caretaker, who shares a plan involving four special items:

• Maiden’s Soul
• Hermit’s Soul
• Seeker’s Soul
• Snare Setter

You’ll find these items by interacting with specific characters or completing challenging quests. Upgrading your needle can help in obtaining some of these, as they sometimes involve tough enemies.

2. Locations and How to Get Each Item

Item	Location	How to Obtain
Maiden’s Soul	Bone Bottom	Talk to the Chapel Maid after the Moss Grotto tutorial
Hermit’s Soul	Bellhart Bellway	Speak to the Bell Hermit in pipes beneath Bellway
Seeker’s Soul	Bilewater	Left from the bench, then collect it from abandoned bellhome
Snare Setter	Weavenest Atla	Open a door in Needolin, then find it on a table above a bench

Collect these items as you explore, even before starting the “Silk and Soul” quest — some may already be in your inventory.

3. Build the Trap
Bring all four items back to the Caretaker, who then creates a trap for Grand Mother Silk. When you fight Silk after setting this trap, instead of the usual ending, you’ll get a different outcome.

How to Reach the Hidden Act 3 Story and Ending

1. Use the Trap During the Final Fight
After you defeat Grand Mother Silk with the trap, choose the “Needolin” option instead of “Bind” to trigger the secret ending.

2. Access Your Save File
Once the credits roll, your save file will be covered with dark vines. Interact with your save to attack the vines repeatedly until they break, which restores your access to the game.

Note: Don’t worry — your progress and upgrades from Act 2 stay intact for Act 3.

What’s New in Act 3?

Act 3, titled “Abyss,” features new areas and tougher enemies. It’s a continuation of your journey from where you left off, now with more challenging bosses. To unlock the true ending and uncover all secrets of Hallownest, you’ll need to complete “Silk and Soul” and reach Act 3.

Enjoy the new adventures and challenges ahead!

There are many hidden details in Hollow Knight: Silksong, such as secret locations and hidden NPCs like the Mask Maker. Even though she doesn’t seem to be part of any big quests or rewards, the Mask Maker is a familiar face from the original Hollow Knight that players might recognize. She plays an important role by helping various creatures in Hallownest, so it’s worth meeting her at least once.

In the first game, the Mask Maker was found in Deepnest, where she was an intriguing character with lots of knowledge. She knew a lot about the history and stories of Hallownest, especially about the masks she crafted for different bugs. Now, as you search for items in Silksong, you might find a new character who holds this title.

Where to Find the Mask Maker

The Mask Maker in Silksong is located in the Mount Fay area. To find her, you need to have the map of Mount Fay, which you can buy from Shakra once you come across her in the area.

Maps are useful early in the game, but Shakra can be tricky to locate. To find her, go west from the quick travel point at The Slab, then use the Clawline skill to cross the hanging chains and move further west, where you’ll hear her singing.

Once you have the map, look for a room with a jetstream that pushes you high into the upper parts of Mount Fay. Head west from the first platform you see when climbing upward. In the next room, keep going west until you see a big drop.

To reach her:

1. Drop down and float southwest until you land in a walkable area.
2. Go west past some ruins until you reach a room filled with spikes on the ground.
3. Use your Double Jump and Harpoon skills to jump over enemies and climb upward.
4. Reach the top of the room, then continue climbing higher.
5. Keep using your Double Jump and attack bugs to ascend further.
6. At the northwest tip of the area, you will find an entrance where the Mask Maker’s home is located.

The Double Jump ability, which you learn while exploring Mount Fay, is essential for reaching her. You’ll need to hang onto walls and make precise jumps, so it might take a few tries to get there.

What the Mask Maker Does in Silksong

Even though she’s not exactly the same Mask Maker from the first game, the character you meet in Silksong is still quite interesting. Talking to her is your main reward; her dialogue offers important insights into the world of the game.

The Mask Maker, true to her name, creates masks for bugs in Hallownest, which is a vital but often overlooked part of their world. If you use Hornet’s Charge Attack on her, you can even knock off her mask, revealing her true face underneath.

This action unlocks new dialogue and reveals more secrets about the setting, which fans of the series will find especially fascinating. For players aiming to complete Hollow Knight: Silksong 100%, finding the Mask Maker is a key step, as she adds another piece to the puzzle you don’t want to miss.

“Hollow Knight: Silksong” features nearly 200 enemy types and 40 different bosses, so making sure your Needle weapon is upgraded is essential. Upgrading the Needle increases your main damage, helping you defeat tougher enemies as you explore more dangerous areas. There are several stages to strengthening the Needle, so it’s best to unlock these upgrades as quickly as possible.

With “Hollow Knight: Silksong” already making waves and breaking records, it can be overwhelming to decide what to do first when you start playing. Before focusing on upgrading the Needle, you need to have some abilities unlocked. For example, if you want to deal more damage, you should first obtain the wall-jump ability in the Shellwood area before looking for Needle upgrades.

How to Find the Needle Smith in “Hollow Knight: Silksong”

One character must be rescued to get weapon upgrades

The Needle can only be upgraded by a smith named Plinney, who specializes in the type of weapons Hornet uses. However, Plinney isn’t available early in the game, and many players might have missed the spot where he can be found.

To reach Plinney, head east from Shellwood until you find a lift that takes you to the northeast part of the map. Plinney is located in Bellhart, which is just east of Shellwood. After taking the lift, go past the water-filled room and jump to the exit at the top right. Carefully slide down the walls through the caverns until you reach a bigger room at the bottom. From there, head straight west until you see a gap in the floor to fall through.

Avoid the spikes along the walls in Bellhart, as they can quickly reduce your health. You’ll need to keep your health high to defeat the boss that is preventing Plinney from upgrading your Needle.

After falling through the gap, head east through several corridors that lead to a boss room. You must defeat the Widow boss to free the residents of Bellhart, including Plinney. Once the boss is defeated, a lift will unlock, taking you to the upper parts of Bellhart where Plinney eagerly waits to help.

How Upgrading the Needle Works

Complete quests to discover more weapon improvements

Pinmaster Plinney is an experienced smith and will offer you a free first upgrade to the Needle after you defeat the Widow. Future upgrades will require completing quests for Plinney. Many of these quests involve collecting rare materials from different parts of the world—such as retrieving Iron Silk from specific areas. Finding everything needed for Plinney’s tasks might take some time and may involve some shopping in “Hollow Knight: Silksong.”

As the game gets more challenging with stronger enemies and more damage from bosses, upgrading your weapons becomes almost necessary. Defeating the Widow early on can help you unlock Needle upgrades quickly, giving you an edge as your journey progresses into tougher territory.