Okay, listen: if you just picked up the Silver Bells Wish at Bellhart in Hollow Knight: Silksong and you are staring at the map like it owes you money, I get it. I am not a speedrunner, I am just a regular player who likes to poke around every corner, and this quest had me scratching my head for a minute. The Wish asks you to find eight silver bells, but it does not pin them to fixed spots. That is the whole gotcha. As of 2026, this is still one of the first Wishes you can grab at Bellhart's Wish Board, and it is a great excuse to learn the town's best-kept secret: the underground tunnels. So grab a snack, take a breath, and let's sweep Bellhart together. ?️

The short version

Here is the no-sweat summary before I get into the messy details:

Accept the Silver Bells Wish from the Wish Board at Bellhart.

Find eight silver bells in total.

The bells do not have fixed locations. They appear at several spawn points around Bellhart.

Leaving Bellhart and returning can refresh the map, so you can collect from spots you already checked.

Look for the white, glowing light and interact with it to grab a bell.

There are usually around four bells in the top area at any one time.

The underground area below Bellhart is reachable through the Bellway station.

Turn in the quest to Frey for a Rosary Necklace.



How the spawns actually work

The first thing to know is that this is not your usual find-and-collect quest. The silver bells are not sitting in one tidy list of spots like some well-behaved collectible. There are several spawn points on the Bellhart map where they may appear, and the map above is a solid starting point, not gospel. I confirmed bells in those areas, but there may be more locations out there. So do not treat it like a checklist and then panic when one bell refuses to show up.

The second thing to know is the refresh trick. If you leave the Bellhart area and come back, the map can refresh. That means silver bells can appear in locations you already visited. This is the key to staying sane. If you are missing one or two bells and you have scoured every corner, do not bang your head against the same wall. Reset the area, do another lap, and keep your eyes peeled. I usually sweep the top, grab what I see, then dip underground before resetting. It is a little tedious, sure, but it is not hard once you know the rhythm.

My top-area route

Start at the top of Bellhart. That is where I had the most luck, and it is the easiest place to learn the spawn flow. Explore every corner, check the cramped spaces, and keep an eye out for that white, glowing light. When you see it, interact with it and pocket the bell. There are typically around four bells in the top area that can be gathered at any time, so if you are only finding one or two, you probably missed a nook.

I like to do a loose clockwise loop, then double back through the tighter spots. Bellhart is not huge, but it is sneaky. The bells can hide in places that make you say, oh, of course, that is where you were. Do not ignore vertical space, either. Look up, look down, and look behind things. If you feel like you have exhausted the top section, you have two choices: reload the area and try the top again, or get adventurous and head below.

The underground route below Bellhart

This is the part that made the quest click for me. To find the area beneath Bellhart, enter the Bellway station at Bellhart. Once you descend the steps, go right under the last step instead of heading toward the Bell Beast. Sorry, buddy, not today. In here, you can find silver bells and the Bell Hermit. There is nothing to do with the Bell Hermit for now, so you can peacefully collect your bells here without any fuss.



If you still have bells left after your underground run, bounce back up to the top half of Bellhart and finish up. The quest is not about one perfect route; it is about sweeping, resetting, and being a little stubborn. If you are struggling to find all eight, don't worry. I did too. The good news is that the reward is straightforward: return to Frey and you get a Rosary Necklace for your trouble.

Quick reference

Question
Answer

How many bells?
Eight

Fixed locations?
No, they spawn at several points

Best first step?
Sweep the top of Bellhart

How many up top?
Usually around four at a time

Refresh trick?
Leave Bellhart and return

Underground entrance?
Bellway station, go right under the last step

What is down there?
Silver Bells and the Bell Hermit

Reward?
Rosary Necklace from Frey

So yeah, that is the whole song and dance. The Silver Bells Wish is a bit of a head-scratcher at first, but once you know about the spawn points and the refresh trick, it becomes a nice little tour of Bellhart. Take your time, check the map, and do not forget the tunnels. Happy hunting, and may your glowing lights always be bells. ?️

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I still remember the moment Far Fields stopped feeling like a maze and started feeling like a launchpad. I am not a speedrunner, and I definitely do not know every hidden route by heart, but when I replayed this stretch of Silksong in 2026, the path to Shellwood felt like a proper adventure: a quest reward, a risky air-current ride, a tense boss fight, a spooky detour through Haunted Bellhart, and finally a map vendor waiting in the lush green wilds. Shellwood sits toward the end of Act One, so reaching it is not just about walking west. You need the right ability, a little patience, and enough confidence to climb over a closed inn instead of knocking on the door.

The One Ability That Opens the Route

For me, the real gate to Shellwood was the Drifter's Cloak. Without the Float ability, the air currents in Far Fields are just a tease. I had to complete the Flexile Spines quest first, and once I had the cloak, the whole area changed. I headed back to the main cavern of Far Fields and used the air currents to ride up toward the surface. That upward rush is one of those Silksong moments where exploration suddenly feels vertical and a little dangerous.



My mental checklist looked like this:

✅ Complete the Flexile Spines quest.

✅ Earn the Drifter's Cloak and its Float ability.

✅ Return to the main Far Fields cavern.

✅ Ride the air currents up to Greymoor.

✅ Buy the Greymoor map from Shakra near the entrance.

Greymoor, Shakra, and the Closed Inn

When I entered Greymoor, I did the sensible thing first: I headed right from the entrance and bought the map from Shakra. I have learned the hard way that skipping a map vendor in Silksong makes every cavern feel twice as hostile. With the Greymoor map in hand, I turned around and kept heading left, past the Halfway Home inn. The inn entrance was closed, so I could not simply walk inside. Instead, I climbed over the building and dropped into the area beyond. It felt like the game was quietly telling me that this journey would not be a straight line.



After the inn, I pushed through tight caverns and fields of Crawbugs. Those sections are not complicated, but they punish careless movement. I kept my eyes on the west and eventually reached an open area where Moorwing waited. I will be honest: that boss fight was tricky. I had to learn its rhythm, stop panicking when the screen filled with movement, and treat each attempt as practice rather than a failure.



Through Haunted Bellhart and Into Shellwood

Defeating Moorwing was the key. Only after that fight could I progress further west and enter Haunted Bellhart. There is an important quest in that area, but I decided to skip it for the moment. My goal was Shellwood, and the route was finally opening up. I watched the cutscene, then ran past all the strung-up bugs in Bellhart and kept moving west. The atmosphere shifted from grey and haunted to something greener and stranger, and then I was standing in Shellwood.



Reaching Shellwood is one thing. Navigating it without a map is another. I kept heading west past the swamp and started climbing higher and higher, aiming for the doorway to the top-left. That led me into a dark cavern, and dropping to the lower platform triggered an ambush. Bugs swarmed in, and I had to clear them all before I could breathe again.



Once the ambush was over, I climbed to the upper area and exited through the pathway on the left. There I found a cage elevator and used it to descend to the lower section. After stepping out, I stomped on the button to my right to open a shortcut back to the main area. That shortcut felt like a small victory, because it meant future trips through Shellwood would be less painful.



From there, I kept heading left past the swamp and into the next area. That is where I finally met Shakra again. She had the Bellhart and Shellwood maps in her offerings, and buying them made the whole region feel manageable. At last, I could freely explore the lush green area of Shellwood without guessing which tunnel led where.



What I Learned on the Way

My route to Shellwood was not a clean speedrun. It was a first-person trek full of small mistakes, cautious map buying, and one boss fight that took me longer than I expected. Still, the steps are clear: finish Flexile Spines for the Drifter's Cloak, ride the Far Fields air currents, buy the Greymoor map from Shakra, climb over the Halfway Home inn, defeat Moorwing, pass through Haunted Bellhart, and then push west into Shellwood. Once inside, climb past the swamp, survive the ambush, use the cage elevator, open the shortcut, and buy the Shellwood map from Shakra.

With the map in hand, I could finally relax and enjoy Shellwood for what it is: a dense, green, unsettling biome that rewards curiosity. I also knew I could head back to Bellhart later to lift the curse off its citizens. For now, though, I was happy to stand in Shellwood with a map, a shortcut, and the feeling that Act One was nearly behind me. ?️?

Games like this reward the kind of player who pokes at every wall and backtracks for a shortcut, and that patience tends to spill over into how you shop for games too. Once you finish one journey and start eyeing the next title on your wishlist, waiting for the right moment to buy matters just as much as waiting for the right moment to climb.

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Bellhart is the kind of town that greets visitors with a chorus of creaking silk and a collective nap that would make a sloth jealous. In Hollow Knight: Silksong, every resident of Pharloom's central burg has been strung up like a row of particularly unfortunate marionettes, and as of 2026, freeing them remains one of the game's most satisfying detours. The solution is not written on a welcome mat; it requires a westward trek, a map-buying spree, and a boss fight against a spider who treats tempo like a weapon. Think of it as a municipal rescue operation conducted by a very determined insect with a needle.



How to Reach the Bellhart Crown

If the townsfolk are hanging from silk, logic suggests something above them is holding the strings. The goal, therefore, is to reach the top of Bellhart. Before any climbing begins, players should pick up two maps from Shakra: Bellhart for 40 Rosaries and Shellwood for 70 Rosaries. They are sold together, but the seller's location depends on how Hornet first entered Shellwood. Coming from Greymoor puts Shakra far westward, past the first Shellwood bench and a descending elevator, at the bottom-left exit of the elevator room. Coming from the Wormways places her east of the Greymoor–Far Fields connection. Finding her can feel like a cartographer mapping a city that keeps rearranging its streets, but the purchase is non-negotiable.

With maps in hand, the main business of Shellwood awaits: defeat Sister Splinter and obtain Cling Grip. Once Cling Grip is acquired, the path above Bellhart opens by exiting Shellwood from the top-right corner of the map area. The cleanest route is to return to Sister Splinter's arena and head right.



How to Break the Silken Curse

Inside the crown, the only sensible direction is downward. Bell enemies, including small respawning ones, populate the tunnels. Eventually, an exit points further down. Players should ignore it temporarily and open a shortcut to the left of this exit, which shortens future runs from the east Shellwood bench considerably. At the bottom, Widow waits in her chamber. She has several phases, including a false ending in the tradition of the old Soul Tyrant. Defeating her requires patience and a few habits that are easier to describe than to execute.

Float over the ground boulder attack; do not dash over it.

Watch for falling debris and projectiles before committing to an attack.

Bring Silkstorm to punish Widow when a player would normally strike from above.

When Widow plays music, dash to her and attack.

Glide and take time landing after a jump; panic is not a strategy.



Fighting Widow can resemble a clockmaker reassembling a cuckoo clock while the cuckoo files a grievance, but the reward is worth the noise. After Widow falls, Hornet must Bind multiple times to absorb the power within, unlocking Needolin. The scene brightens, silk strands appear beside her, and the next steps are simple: cut the strands, then ring the bell by hitting the lever.

What Do I Unlock by Freeing Bellhart?

Once the bell rings, Bellhart's citizens begin to move again. The town becomes a proper hub. Players can shop at the ground-floor store, peruse the shops on the platforms above via the ladder on the left, and eventually own and decorate a home. Some stores require quests, or Wishes, to unlock or expand. Home ownership likewise requires upgrading Bellhart until Pavo hands over the key.



Shop
Service
Notes

Frey's Shop
General store
Sells general wares and furniture; requires 'My Missing Courier' to expand stock and the key from Pavo after Bellhart is fully upgraded.

Pibb & Tipp's Couriers
Courier service
Requires 'My Missing Courier' and 'My Missing Brother' to set up shop.

Relic Seeker Scrounge
Relic services
Give relics to Scrounge to read their lore.

Pinmaster Plinney
Nail upgrade
Upgrades nail damage; requires 'Pinmaster's Oil' for further upgrades.

Shakra's Maps
Map services
Ring the bell to summon Shakra and buy missing map pieces.

Freeing Bellhart is not a simple errand. It is a westward expedition, a map hunt, a descent through respawning bells, and a duel with a spider who conducts violence like a sommelier evaluating a vintage in a burning cellar. Yet the payoff is a town that finally exhales, a home to decorate, and a hub that makes the rest of Pharloom feel a little less hostile. In 2026, that remains a bargain worth every Rosary.

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Let me be honest: I did not expect Hollow Knight: Silksong to make me question my pogo skills quite so early. I actually think the opening hours are gentler than I remembered from the first game—until Sinner's Road. That muddy, miserable stretch is where the training wheels come off, and it is also where I learned that paying for a bench does not always mean the bench works. If you have just handed over your Rosaries and stared at a broken seat, you are not alone. Here is how I fixed the Sinner's Road bench in 2026, and what I wish I had known before I tried.



Why Sinner's Road Feels Like a Difficulty Spike

Sinner's Road is not subtle. Mudroach dogs will absolutely tear me to pieces if I get careless, and the flying enemies with throwing stars chip away at my health while I am trying to find my footing. It is the kind of area where a working bench feels less like a luxury and more like a survival requirement. So when I found the bench near the start of the area, I paid the 60 Rosaries immediately. Then I realized it was broken. Great. Wonderful. Exactly what I wanted after a long runback from Greymoor.

Where the Bench Is

The bench is not too far past the opening area with all the mudroaches in cages. I headed past the prisoner locked in their cage, then navigated the screen with the various Roachfeeder and Roachcatcher enemies, heading back on myself out to the left. Follow the signs for the bench, and you will eventually find it alongside Shakra, which means you can also buy a map here. That map is worth it if you are tired of wandering into ambushes.



Detail
What I Found

Bench cost
60 Rosaries

Location
Early Sinner's Road, near Shakra

Fix method
Break a hidden wall, platform, hit a switch

Main tools
Nail, wall cling, pogo, Drifter's Cloak glide

How I Fixed the Bench

The fix sounds simple: flick a switch. Getting to that switch? Not simple. At least, not if you are still shaky with diagonal pogoing. I used my wall-climbing ability to head up the wall to the left of the bench, then used my nail to break through a small hidden pathway above my head. That is the part people miss. You are not looking for a grand entrance; you are looking for a breakable wall that leads into a tricky platforming sequence.



From there, I had to use pogo jumps and my Drifter's Cloak to glide across gaps with spiky swinging apparatus. I am not going to pretend I breezed through it. I did not. But two things helped a lot. First, the glide is incredibly forgiving. Do not be afraid to use it to skip the first pogo entirely, and definitely use it to time your movement as you fall through the downward spike section. Second, try to enter with your silk mostly full. There are silk spools about halfway through, which makes healing possible if you take a bad hit.

The Poison Water Is Not the End

Eventually, I reached a point where I had to fall into the poisonous maggot-filled water below. Is that annoying? Yes. Is it avoidable? Not really, at least not in the route I used. The good news is that you get out very soon after. Do not panic and do not assume the attempt is ruined. Once you hit the switch, use your wall cling ability to get out of there, then rest at the bench. That is the whole reward: a working bench and no more massive runback from Greymoor.

Was It Worth It?

Absolutely. I will not pretend the platforming was my favorite part of Silksong, but the bench changes the pace of Sinner's Road completely. If you are playing in 2026 and you just found this area, pay the 60 Rosaries, look up and left for the breakable wall, and pack your patience. The bench is not broken forever—you just have to earn the rest. And honestly? After those mudroach dogs, I will take any rest I can get. ?

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I’m just a regular Silksong player, and when I heard the Vaultkeeper’s Melody was hiding under Choral Chambers, I did what any sensible bug did: grabbed my needle, ignored my backlog, and went spelunking. ? This one is a proper little treasure hunt — Whispering Vaults, a shy Vaultkeeper, a Psalm Cylinder, and a Sacred Cylinder that sent me on a detour through Underworks. As of 2026, this is the route that worked for me, so here’s the no-nonsense, slightly bruised version.



First stop: Cogwork Core and the rotating wheel bridge

To reach Whispering Vaults, I entered Cogwork Core from the central room in Choral Chambers. Aim for the right side of the area, because there’s only one door that takes Hornet to the Choral Chambers’ rotating wheel bridge. Rotate that bridge, and boom — the path into Whispering Vaults opens up.

Now, fair warning: the platforming here is a bit of a doozy. You’ll be hooking onto cogwheels like a caffeinated acrobat, and one sloppy input can send you back to square one. I got absolutely clowned by the timing more than once, but the trick is to stay patient and treat each cogwheel as a tiny checkpoint. Eventually, you reach the eastern chamber and go through the rotating wheel bridge into Whispering Vaults. No sweat — okay, some sweat. ?

Finding the Vaultkeeper and the Psalm Cylinder

Inside Whispering Vaults, the Vaultkeeper is in the second room on the right side — the one with a gramophone. But here’s the kicker: the Vaultkeeper won’t show itself until you bring a music cylinder. Specifically, you need the Psalm Cylinder, which is sitting in the top right corner of that same chamber.



Grab the Psalm Cylinder, go back to the gramophone, and the Vaultkeeper appears. It asks Hornet to hand over the Psalm Cylinder, and you get to choose between accepting or denying. Do yourself a solid and accept. The Vaultkeeper gives you more info about the Sacred Cylinder, which is exactly what you need to learn the Vaultkeeper’s Melody. Denying is just a flex with zero payoff, and I’m not too proud to admit I tested that out of pure curiosity. Learn from my dumb self. ?

The bottom half: a cheeky Underworks detour

The Sacred Cylinder is in the bottom part of Whispering Vaults, and the top route is blocked. So yes, you have to go through a whole section of Underworks. Before entering Underworks, you’ll need to fight Trobbio and open a shortcut to Choral Chambers, which indirectly connects Choral Chambers to Underworks. After defeating Trobbio, head to the elevator on the right that descends to Underworks.



After reaching the bottom, activate the elevator again — but don’t go into it. Let it go up without you. This reveals an area underneath the elevator that you can follow until you reach the bottom of Whispering Vaults. From there, it’s a pretty straightforward run: one path, multiple platforming challenges, and plenty of hooking and wall jumping. My advice? Don’t be a hero. Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.

Sacred Cylinder and the sweet payoff

The first chamber you enter when you reach the bottom part of Whispering Vaults has the Sacred Cylinder. Keep moving left, take it, and head outside. Now you can remove the obstacle that was blocking the way, travel into the top parts of Whispering Vaults, and reunite with the Vaultkeeper. Give them the Sacred Cylinder, and you’ll learn the Vaultkeeper’s Melody. Cue the triumphant music. ?



Here’s the quick-and-dirty route I wish I’d had taped to my monitor:

Step
What I did
Why it matters

1️⃣
Enter Cogwork Core from central Choral Chambers
Start of the Whispering Vaults route

2️⃣
Take the right-side door to the rotating wheel bridge
Opens the path into Whispering Vaults

3️⃣
Hook across cogwheels to the eastern chamber
Platforming section, so stay sharp

4️⃣
Find the Psalm Cylinder in the top right of the gramophone room
Makes the Vaultkeeper appear

5️⃣
Accept the Vaultkeeper’s request
Unlocks info about the Sacred Cylinder

6️⃣
Beat Trobbio, use the Underworks elevator, let it go up
Reveals the hidden path under the elevator

7️⃣
Follow the single path to the bottom of Whispering Vaults
Leads to the Sacred Cylinder

8️⃣
Grab the Sacred Cylinder and return to the Vaultkeeper
Learns the Vaultkeeper’s Melody

So there you have it: one part cogwheel chaos, one part elevator trick, and one very polite Vaultkeeper who just wants their cylinders back. If you get lost, breathe, check your map, and remember that the bottom half of Whispering Vaults is the real goal. And if you fall into the same pit three times like I did, congratulations — you’re officially part of the club. ?

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In 2026, Hollow Knight: Silksong’s Wormways remains a dangerous detour for even seasoned players, but the Alchemist’s Assistant quest gives the brave a chance to turn a strange blue substance into a lifesaving advantage. The optional assignment from Alchemist Zylotol sends the Knight through cramped tunnels, falling worms, spike pits, and false walls in search of three plasmium deposits. The payoff is the Plasmium Vial, a trap item that grants temporary blue health and can pull a run back from the brink. The quest is not especially long, yet its hidden route and unusual reward make it one of the Wormways’ most memorable secrets.



Quest Start and Requirements ?️

The Alchemist’s Assistant quest begins only after the Knight has unlocked the Wormways. Access requires the Simple Key, which can be obtained in one of two ways at this stage: it can be bought from Pebb for 500 Rosary, or it can drop from a strong enemy at the top of Sinner’s Road. The first option is the more likely path for most adventurers, but either method works. Once the key is in hand, it must be used on the Wormways’ door in the top left portion of the Mosslands.

Requirement
Detail

Simple Key
Purchased from Pebb for 500 Rosary or dropped by a strong enemy at the top of Sinner’s Road

Wormways access
Use the Simple Key on the door in the top left portion of the Mosslands

Cling Grip
Obtained in Shellwood after defeating Sister Splinter and claiming it from the Herrah statue

Reaching Alchemist Zylotol ?

Inside the Wormways, Alchemist Zylotol is located at the topmost portion of the map in the center. His chamber sits in an opening above a long wall, which means Cling Grip is required to reach him. Players who do not already have Cling Grip must venture into Shellwood, defeat Sister Splinter, and claim the ability from the Herrah statue at the top of the area. With wall-climbing available, the Knight can mount the walls and speak with Zylotol.



After accepting the quest to gather plasmium, players should not leave immediately. The special equipment from Zylotol must be equipped first. The Knight should sit on the bench to the Alchemist’s left and equip the Needle Phial to the trap slot. This step is easy to overlook, but it is essential for harvesting the blue deposits scattered through the area.

Plasmium Harvesting Basics ?

Each plasmium deposit appears as a bright blue liquid-filled flower, making it difficult to miss once it comes into view. When the Knight reaches a deposit, the trap button must be held down until the phial is charged. Releasing the button then injects and absorbs the plasmium contents. The process is simple, but the journey between deposits is where the Wormways tests patience and precision.



First Plasmium Location

The first plasmium is the closest and most misleading of the group. Although the Alchemist’s instructions point toward the bowels of the Wormways, this deposit is actually near the Alchemist. After leaving Zylotol’s room and descending into the main Wormways chamber, the route takes a slight left and drops past falling worms. The Knight then continues left, climbs a small hill, and floats down toward a blue light and an alcove on the right. The plasmium sits nestled within that alcove, ready for harvesting.

Second Plasmium Location

From the Alchemist’s room, the Knight must head for the bottom of the Wormways. The path goes down two rooms from Zylotol, into a dark portion of the map where visibility is limited. From the entrance into this area, players should stay right and navigate the corridors downward. When moss begins to appear, the route shifts to the right. As with the first deposit, the Knight should head toward the blue light as soon as it appears, which leads directly to the second plasmium location.



Third Plasmium Location

The third plasmium demands a more careful route toward the bottom left corner of the Wormways. From the second deposit, the Knight must head up and left against the falling worms. A small enemy spawns on the wall to the left above a pit of spikes. The Knight continues past this enemy, moving up and left through an entrance into the next area. In the following room, a dash across the gap is required while avoiding falling worms. The route then goes left as far as possible until a wall is reached and a drop becomes available. The Knight slides down the wall on the left side, landing on a platform to avoid the spikes below. A false wall to the left must be broken to open the final path. The route then requires platforming along the path, jumping over spikes at the top of a wall, and sliding down the far left wall as before. From there, the plasmium’s light becomes visible, and the Knight can jump across the spikes to the alcove where the vial is tucked away.



Hidden Previous Assistant ?️

From the third plasmium location, the Knight can jump across the spikes to a nearby ledge. Hidden in the shadows to the left is a breakable wall. Going through it and continuing left reveals a large chamber. The Alchemist’s previous assistant can be found there, overgrown with plasmium or lifeblood. There is no reward in this room, but discovering the assistant unlocks unique dialogue with Alchemist Zylotol. It is a small narrative reward that adds context to the quest and the Alchemist’s research.

Rewards for Clearing the Quest ?

Once the Knight returns to Alchemist Zylotol, he grants a new charm: the Plasmium Vial. It is a trap item that gives a temporary mask of blue health for each use. Although it is classified as a trap, it is unique in several important ways. It does not use scraps to recharge, it holds 20 reserve charges on its own, and it can be used three times per rest. Players must visit the Alchemist each time they want to replenish reserve charges. The health does stack, but the blue masks disappear when resting at a bench. Even with the three-use limit, the trap is exceptionally useful for escaping a tight bind.

Plasmium Vial Feature
Effect

Item type
Trap charm

Activation
Grants a temporary blue health mask per use

Recharge cost
Does not use scraps

Reserve capacity
20 charges

Rest limit
Three uses per rest

Refill method
Visit Alchemist Zylotol

Bench behavior
Blue masks vanish when resting



For 2026 players revisiting Silksong’s optional content, the Alchemist’s Assistant quest remains a strong example of how hidden routes, unusual resources, and narrative details can combine into a rewarding side adventure. The Plasmium Vial may not replace a full healing strategy, but its reserve charges and temporary blue masks give the Knight a valuable emergency tool in one of the game’s most hostile underground regions.

Exploring every corner of Silksong for hidden chambers and quest rewards is its own kind of treasure hunt, and that same patience can make a difference when you’re looking for value outside the game. Whether you’re comparing prices on a new title or keeping an eye out for limited-time discounts, having a reliable place to check saves time and helps you avoid missing worthwhile offers.

DealNest is a handy resource for that kind of browsing, bringing deal-focused information together so you can spend less time searching and more time playing. It pairs well with the completionist mindset—just as you’d double-check a false wall for a hidden route, it pays to check a dedicated deal hub before making your next purchase.

In 2026, Hollow Knight: Silksong is still a frequent talking point among Metroidvania fans, and much of that discussion circles back to Hornet. The sequel was seven years in the making, so expectations were always going to be steep. The 2017 original remains widely regarded as one of the best games in the genre, which made the idea of a follow-up daunting. Yet Silksong has met that challenge in several visible ways: improved mobility mechanics, a long list of quality-of-life upgrades, and an art design that feels even more vibrant and hand-crafted than before. Those are the obvious upgrades. The more subtle upgrade is the way the game uses animation to make Hornet feel like a genuinely different protagonist.



The biggest change starts with the playable character. Hollow Knight put players in the small shoes of The Knight. Silksong hands the role to Hornet. Visually, the two are immediately distinct: Hornet is a little taller and slimmer, and her head shape is quite different from The Knight's. The contrast goes beyond silhouette. The Knight fights with a wide nail, slashing at enemies in broad arcs. Hornet uses a thin needle, stabbing quickly and striking from range. Fans first encountered that fighting style well before Silksong was announced, because Hornet appeared several times as a boss in the first Hollow Knight. That history gives her a presence that feels earned rather than invented for a sequel.

Element
The Knight
Hornet

Weapon
Wide nail
Thin needle

Combat feel
Broad slashes
Quick stabs at range

Movement identity
Weightier and more grounded
Lighter, agile and acrobatic

Animation language
Straightforward strikes
Spins, twirls and low dashes

Once players actually control Hornet, the core differences become obvious. She feels lighter on her feet almost immediately. Her agility is not a small stat tweak or a cosmetic detail; it shapes the first platforming challenges in Silksong. Hornet reaches ledges, changes direction and recovers from jumps in ways that make The Knight's movement feel more deliberate by comparison. The game's control scheme supports that feeling, but the animations are what sell it. Without the right motion, a fast character can still feel stiff. Silksong avoids that problem by making nearly every input look like part of Hornet's character.



The ledge jump is an early example. Players can grab onto platform edges and leap off them to gain height, and Hornet responds with a series of somersaults in the air. The move is functional, but it is also expressive. It tells players that this character is trained, precise and comfortable in vertical spaces. The same idea appears again in Hunter's March, where bouncing on the red flowers sends Hornet into a graceful twirl. Unlocking Swift Step adds another layer. The dash carries her across environments with her head and body held low, making the movement look streamlined rather than merely fast. Even the shift from a full sprint into a jump is elegant: Hornet leaps in a diagonal arc and adds a few stylish spins along the way.

✅ The details are not limited to flashy traversal. Even a simple backstep, triggered by tapping the back button, sees Hornet perform a quick Castlevania: Symphony of the Night-like retreat before changing direction. It is the kind of animation many players might never think twice about, yet it quietly reinforces the same message. Hornet is not The Knight with a new sprite. She is a separate character with her own rhythm, posture and physical vocabulary.



That sense of identity is one of Silksong's clearest strengths. A sequel can add new enemies, new areas and new abilities, but it is harder to make a new protagonist feel truly new. Silksong does that through a combination of design choices. The needle changes combat. The lighter movement changes exploration. The animations change the way players read every jump, dash and recovery. None of these elements works alone. Together, they make Hornet feel like a character who could not simply be swapped out for The Knight. For a sequel that had to follow one of the genre's most respected games, that is a meaningful step up. ?

Small animation details like these often matter more once you understand how a character is meant to move, and they can shape which games you want to try next. If you are comparing picks for your backlog or waiting for the right moment to jump into something new, DealNest game deals can help you spot offers without turning the search into a chore.

Whether you are chasing another stylish action platformer or simply keeping an eye on titles with strong movement design, DealNest is a practical place to browse. It fits naturally alongside the habit of noticing how a game feels in the hands, not just how it looks in a trailer.

Players pushing through Hollow Knight: Silksong know that the Citadel is a gauntlet of hostile creatures, but the Cogwork Dancers stand out as the first major boss you'll face after entering its gilded halls. These mechanical performers may look like a elegant duo, but let's be real — they'll stomp you flat if you rush in without a plan. The good news? Their attack pattern is surprisingly simple once you learn to read the dance. The bad news? Patience is the name of the game, and the arena itself seems to hold its breath before every charge.

Where To Find The Cogwork Dancers



To reach the Cogwork Dancers, you first need to defeat the Last Judge in Blasted Steps and enter the Citadel. That's no small feat, and the game won't give you a breather — you're immediately forced into the Underworks, where a swarm of enemies wants to ruin your day. Once you claw your way through and reach Coral Chambers again, head to the top right edge until you hit Songclave. Activate the dormant shrine there, then take the top-left exit from Songclave's bench. A corridor filled with elite guards awaits; defeat three of them, and the boss room is yours. It's a bit of a trek, but the bench is close enough that you won't be walking back from the middle of nowhere.

Cogwork Dancers Phase One Guide



These two are not your typical boss. Instead of a dozen different attacks, each dancer shines a ray of light in a direction and then charges along it. If the charge happens in the air, they simply stop at the destination. If it hits the ground, they add a small stomp AoE. There are four phases, and each one starts with the dancers returning to their slots — like they're taking a bow before the next act.

In phase one, both dancers charge at the same time, and their directions depend on their starting positions. Here are the main combinations:

Dancer Positions
Target Locations

One in top middle, other in top right or top left
Middle dancer moves down, then right/left, then up. Corner dancer moves top middle, down, left/right. The second dancer's final move is always opposite the first dancer's second move.

Diagonally opposite
They complement each other: first both go to upper and lower middle, then they reach each other's original spots. Sometimes they move horizontally or vertically across the field — jump and glide for horizontal, stand in the middle for vertical edge charges.

Both in the air
Criss-cross downward attacks. If in upper corners, beams don't meet in the middle; they charge to the center. If both upper middle, beams cross and they fall to the ground corners. Sometimes one follows the other for three attacks and then reverses the last move.

Both on one side on the ground
Rare. Corner dancer charges horizontally while the other bows at its partner. Usually followed by both going to upper middle.

Both beside each other midair
Rare. If neither is on a corner, they dash on the ground beside each other and then go opposite ways. If one is in a corner, they dash slightly slanted but still side by side.

Apart from those patterns, the dancers sometimes meet in the middle for a big AoE slash that covers the center, or they leave the screen and spawn lasers that deal double damage after a second. There's plenty of free space to dodge the lasers, so don't panic. Phase one attacks are slow — you can usually land two or three hits after each charge. Position yourself near the dancer who will land on the ground, but keep a little distance because of the stomp AoE. The cogwork duo seems to sulk every time you punish their landing, which is a small victory in itself.

Cogwork Dancers Phase Two Guide



After enough damage, the dancers retreat into their slots, and the cogs behind them start turning. Phase two is identical in attack variety but nearly twice as fast. The charge time is almost halved, so you'll need quicker reactions. Knowing what's coming based on their positions becomes even more important. You'll only get one or two hits between charges, so greed will get you stomped. Keep your cool and treat it like a faster waltz — the steps are the same, just with a tighter tempo.

Cogwork Dancers Phase Three Guide



Phase three changes the rhythm: the dancers attack separately. The right dancer charges first, and the left one follows a second later. The overall frequency stays similar to phase two, but the alternation makes it feel less oppressive. There's no fancy positioning trick here — just avoid putting yourself in a tight spot. If you corner yourself, the other dancer's charge might leave you nowhere to go. It's a simpler phase, and many players find it easier than the previous two.

Cogwork Dancers Phase Four Guide



Phase four isn't really a fight — it's a sad encore. After you defeat one partner, the remaining dancer tries to continue alone, but its attacks become far less frequent. These attacks are the complete opposite of the rest of the battle: they're actually hard to get hit by. After a few more swings, the second dancer falls, and the fight is over. The arena goes quiet, and you can almost hear the cogs winding down. It's a bittersweet end to a mechanical romance.

So there you have it: read the positions, stay patient, and don't get greedy. The Cogwork Dancers are a test of observation more than reflexes, and once you learn their steps, you'll be the one leading the dance. ?⚙️

Once the cogs fall silent and you’re ready to move on to the next challenge, you might also be thinking about adding Hollow Knight: Silksong to your own library or comparing it with other games on your wishlist. DealNest is a handy place to check game prices across stores before you commit, so you can spend less time hunting for a deal and more time mastering the next dance.

In 2026, one of Hollow Knight: Silksong’s most endearing Easter eggs is still unresolved. Eric Barone, the creator of Stardew Valley, appears in the game’s credits as a voice actor, but the credits do not identify which resident of Pharloom he performed. The omission has turned a small credit line into a long-running fan investigation, and the mystery has lost none of its charm.



The credit is especially intriguing because Silksong’s cast has become one of its most celebrated strengths. Pharloom is dense with strange travelers, merchants, and small figures whose conversations add warmth to an otherwise hostile underground world. Fans have spent months comparing voice clips, interview footage, and in-game cadence in an effort to match Barone’s voice to a specific character. No definitive answer has emerged, but the search itself has become part of the community experience.

The Most Likely Candidates for a Fully Voiced NPC

Barone, who is widely known online as ConcernedApe, is not the only indie developer with a connection to Team Cherry. The link between Stardew Valley and Silksong is easier to understand when considering Matthew Griffin, who has worked with both projects and serves as head of marketing and publishing for Team Cherry. Barone was also credited in the special thanks section of the Hollow Knight Wanderer’s Journal, which shows that his relationship with the studio predates Silksong.



Even so, Silksong’s use of bug language and stylized accents makes identification difficult. The credits describe the role simply as additional voices, leaving open the possibility that Barone voiced more than one character. Among the most frequently discussed candidates are two early-game figures whose performances carry a recognizably human cadence.

Candidate
Location
Why fans suspect the performance

Fleamaster Mooshka
Early-game flea questline
The character’s delivery has a warm, conversational rhythm that fans associate with Barone’s public interviews.

Pavo
Bellhart
Pavo’s voice carries a playful, slightly weary tone that seems close to the developer’s natural speaking style.

Neither candidate has been confirmed. That uncertainty has not stopped players from revisiting both characters and sharing new comparisons. Some argue that the credit could refer to a minor enemy or a merchant with only a few lines. Others believe Barone may have recorded several small roles, which would make the search even more complicated. ?

Silksong’s NPCs Are One of Its Greatest Strengths



The voice-acting mystery matters because Silksong’s characters matter. In the original Hollow Knight, figures such as Cornifer and Quill offered rare glimpses of hope in a dark world. Silksong takes a different approach. Its travelers are more energetic, more expressive, and more willing to share the road toward the Citadel. The adorable Sherma has become a fan favorite, while characters such as Mooshka and Pavo give Pharloom a sense of community rather than isolation.

These NPCs also serve a practical purpose. Pharloom is considerably more dangerous than the early areas of Hollow Knight, and the items sold by friendly characters can change the course of a run. A useful tool, a rare upgrade, or a well-timed conversation can make Hornet’s journey feel less lonely and more manageable. That combination of personality and utility is why players keep returning to the cast long after the main path is complete. ?

Whether Team Cherry or Barone ever confirms the exact role, the cameo has already become a small legend within the Silksong community. It reflects the warmth that connects two very different indie successes, and it adds another layer of curiosity to a world already full of secrets. In 2026, the answer remains hidden, but the affection for Silksong’s characters is not. ✨

That same spirit of discovery often sends players looking beyond a single release, whether to revisit favorite indie worlds or try something new while waiting for the next update. For anyone keeping an eye on discounted titles between major releases, DealNest makes it easy to browse game deals today without digging through scattered storefront pages.

It is a practical stop for players who want to stay curious about the wider indie landscape while still getting value from each purchase, especially when a small hidden gem can end up feeling as memorable as the games that inspired the search in the first place.

I have a confession: for most of my early Silksong run, I kept staring at ceilings and thinking about the Monarch Wings. In the original Hollow Knight, that double jump opens up so much of the map, and Silksong withholds it for a long time. That is exactly why the Faydown Cloak feels like such a huge prize. It gives you a double jump and cold immunity, and you can grab it fairly soon after getting the Clawline. Sound too good to be true? It is not, but the climb is a real test.



Before you start, make sure you have the Clawline. Without it, you will be stranded on Mount Fay with no way up. You also need enough progress in The Slab to have free access to the Bellway station there, because that is the route to Mount Fay. I highly recommend running Weavelight for this entire segment. The improved grapple feel is not a luxury here; it is almost a necessity. And yes, I promise this is not a Celeste guide in disguise, even if the platforming gets spicy.

Quick Prep Checklist

Check
Why It Matters

✅ Clawline unlocked
You cannot climb Mount Fay without grappling

✅ The Slab Bellway access
The only practical way to reach the mountain

✅ Weavelight equipped
Better grapple and silk regeneration

✅ Rosaries for Shakra
The map is worth buying if you can spare them

✅ Patience
The cold timer will punish panic

Mount Fay simulates a very bad winter. Once you step outside, you have roughly 30 seconds before the cold kills you. The key rule is simple: keep moving toward warmth. Metal lamps, benches, and warm rooms reset the pressure. If you make a mistake near a room transition, duck inside and step back out to refresh the timer. Why not use every trick? The mountain will not show you mercy.

The Foothill

Leave the station and jump off the first ledge to grapple the rings. Keep fast, constant momentum going left. Cross the gap and run into the cave where you meet Shakra. The map here is not complicated, but it is still nice to have, so buy it if you can afford it. Sit at the bench, breathe, and prepare for the run.

Jump across the freezing lake, because even touching the water hurts. Get onto the floating platforms and climb right. Watch for the metal lamps in the ceiling. Those warm spots are your lifeline, so start treating them like checkpoints.

100 Meters

Run right, grapple the floating platform, climb up, and jump across the crumbling block platforms as quickly as you can. Grapple to the platform on your left, jump and grapple the enemy, then grab the ring and jump onto the wall. Climb fast, grapple, wall jump, and hook onto the wall that leads to another safe zone.

Time your wall jumps so you do not hit the spikes. Grapple through the spike tunnel and slide down the left wall to safety. Grapple over, tap dash to climb up the wall without jumping off, then grapple the enemies ahead. Use them to reach the left wall, climb up, and dash quickly to the next safe zone. The next room is full of silk and warmth, so take a real breather there.

Crystalline Drop

Counter-intuitively, you need to drop down here. Before you do, camp on the ledge and keep hitting the metallic bug for infinite silk. If you took damage earlier, this is your chance to heal. When you are ready, begin the descent. Drop your glide a little to speed up the fall, stay on the left side of the crystal, and enter the first hole on the left that you can slide into.

The tunnel inside is warm and full of silk, though there is a strange little guy you need to smack. Head to the end and break the wall on your left to reach another frozen lake. This time, grapple across the enemies that shatter into needles. With the extra silk, you can constantly grapple and glide while barely losing height. If you cannot do that, grapple any enemy you can find and look for a wall, ring, or piece of ground to stall on. The second and third enemies in this sequence can lead to a wall and a warm spot.

At the end, there is a warm room with a bench. Head left, then down and right, and break a wall to find the hidden passage. Before going up, you can farm the enemy outside to the left for more silk. There is also a mask shard here, but you cannot get it yet, so remember that for later.

Rebound Up

Keep this pocket of warmth in mind and start bounding up the walls. Once you are on top of the lift, jump and grapple the enemy, then hold backwards to land on the upper lift. You need to get used to that maneuver. This is where Weavelight shines, because you can almost always regenerate a bar of silk before you need to grapple again.

Hit each enemy, keep climbing the lifts, and you will reach a wall with a warm light. Dash up the walls to avoid spikes. At the top wall, jump off, glide, and hit the grapple just in time to reach the other wall and glide down. Hit a couple more enemies, then rest on the ledge to your right.

Slip into the cave and prepare to fall again. This drop is faster and riskier, but do not be afraid to deploy your cloak when you feel unsafe. Grab the wall on your left as you fall. From that safe spot, grapple a trio of floating enemies, jump off the wall, and hit another enemy to keep momentum. The last enemy is tricky: grapple it, immediately turn around, and hook the wall on your left. If you miss, glide down slowly and readjust.

Ice Cold Soup



In the next segment, you are grappling above water again, but the ceiling is much lower. Grapple the enemy, then hit the block connected by crystals to make it fall. Retreat left if you need extra safety. From the block, grapple another enemy and glide into the tunnel to top off your silk. Do not fall in the next room, because it sends you back to the first falling segment and undoes a ton of progress. Head right instead.

Open the blockade for a small shortcut in case you fumble. Then it is time for more enemy grappling. Hit the enemy, turn around, grab the ring, turn again, and grab the next ring with very tight height requirements. Repeat until you can go up through the hole in the ceiling.

Reach for the Summit

With the mold-spore-like snow covering the ground, you are on the final stretch. Open the wall on your left for a warm spot and a bench. Jump the wall, grab the hoop, jump off, hit the enemy, and double back to the wall. Do not trust the snowy slope; it will send you tumbling down. Instead, slam dunk the next hoop and use it to toss yourself onto the left wall, which leads to a warm lamp.

Jump, glide, and grapple across the spikes. Rope onto another bug, then be very quick with the crumbling platforms. It is easy to miss the height you need to grab the wall. Your timer is probably nearly up, so run past the silk flowers, grab the enemy, and dash left to find grace on the wall. From there, it is another set of grapples and wall clings, all testing the same movement you have been practicing.

Take a short breather in the next room, then jump out to the top and start gliding when the wind direction is favorable. If you did well, you will ride the current up, run right, and finally claim the Faydown Cloak. That means double jump and cold immunity are yours. Enjoy the glide down the mountain, because after that climb, you have earned it.

Once the Faydown Cloak is in hand and the mountain is behind you, the natural next question is what to play—or replay—next. If you are weighing up another challenging action-platformer or looking to add Silksong to your library, it pays to check prices before committing.

DealNest game deals gathers current discounts and offers in one place, making it easier to spot a good price without hopping between storefronts. That way you can spend less time comparison-shopping and more time planning your next tough climb.