Conquering the Hunter's March in Hollow Knight: Silksong

Hunter's March in Hollow Knight: Silksong challenges pilgrims with brutal fights, hidden loot, movement puzzles, and essential routes to master.

The Hunter's March does not welcome visitors. It tests them. In 2026, as new pilgrims continue to arrive in Hollow Knight: Silksong, this brutal stretch of the world remains one of the early game's most demanding detours. A traveler who wishes to see everything the March hides will need patience, sharp reflexes, and two crucial movement tools: the Cling Grip and the Drifter's Cloak. Without them, some paths simply cannot be climbed. With them, the March becomes a gauntlet of ant soldiers, hidden traps, wind currents, and a final beast that guards a precious reward.

The Path from The Marrow

The entrance to the Hunter's March waits inside The Marrow. The traveler can ride the Bell Beast to the area, then head right until the path ends at a pit. A door at the bottom opens into a small chamber, and there the first obstacle waits: Skarrgard, an enormous bruiser with long reach and punishing jumps. He hits hard, but his recovery windows are generous. The reliable strategy is to wait for him to burrow underground, strike during the opening, and dash away before his next swing. Once Skarrgard falls, the March opens its jaws.

Challenge
Recommended Approach

Skarrgard
Wait for burrow, hit, dash away

Ant soldiers
Strike first, then reposition

Spike traps
Watch the floor closely and jump

Wind currents
Use Drifter's Cloak to drift safely

The Combat Arena and the Rosary Cache

Inside the March, the traveler faces a vertical choice. With the Cling Grip, they can jump straight up the entrance wall. Without it, they must bounce off bulbs using downward slashes. An ant waits above, and a flying ant follows soon after. The left path leads to a caged flea, while the right path climbs toward a split. The top alcove on the right hides a bevy of rosaries, but an aggressive ant general patrols the way. His down strike is his weakness; slash through it, then keep pressing right into a combat arena.

The arena is not cruel, only relentless. It recycles enemies the traveler has already learned, so patience and steady slashes carry the day. Beyond it, a large shaft opens with two entries on the left and right. The left entry holds a bench rigged with a trap, which must be disarmed before resting. The right door introduces Gilly, a quiet figure worth speaking to. Above the bench, a hidden passage leads to a large collection of Shell Shards. Even further left, across gaping holes and trapped floors, waits Mottled Skarr, a merchant who sells unusual weapons and items. Back at the shaft, riding to the top brings a second Skarrgard, this time with a companion. The fight can overwhelm, but calm pattern recognition wins. Afterward, a huge cache of rosaries sits at the end of the room. A bone door at the bottom left also unlocks a shortcut to Deep Docks, making future runs far kinder.

The Chapel of the Beast

With the Drifter's Cloak, the next jumps become almost gentle. A gust of wind blows upward, and a caged Memory Locket waits on a side platform. Breaking the cage and collecting the locket is worth the detour. Riding the wind to the top leads right, into the Chapel of the Beast. The chapel demands careful hovering, bulb bouncing, and spike avoidance. Enemies burst from cages, including a floating bug with a scissor attack that is easy to parry. A small bug with a shell of daggers patrols a gap, but simple hit-and-retreat tactics work. A bone door inside makes the run to the boss shorter, and that boss is the Savage Beastfly.

The Savage Beastfly punishes hesitation, but the arena leaves room to drift and counter. After the beast falls, the traveler inspects a bug husk in the next area and receives the Crest of the Beast. With that crest in hand, the Hunter's March is conquered. The journey through Hollow Knight: Silksong continues, but the March has left its mark: a hard-won lesson in patience, preparation, and the value of a well-timed dash. ️

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Great Conchflies in Silksong: A Double Date With Two Burrowing Bugs

Great Conchflies in Hollow Knight: Silksong is a one-phase Blasted Steps duo; treat the fight as calm whack-a-mole and dodge their two moves.

Some bosses announce themselves with operatic fury. The Great Conchflies announce themselves with the subtlety of two drills that have swallowed a kazoo factory and decided to redecorate the Blasted Steps. In Hollow Knight: Silksong, this pair waits near the main area of that windy biome, and in 2026 the encounter still has a reputation for being scarier on paper than in practice. The player does not need to out-chaos chaos. Treat the fight like a game of whack-a-mole played inside a sandstorm, and the twin bugs become far less terrifying.

Finding the Great Conchflies Without Becoming Sandpaper

The road to the lair is not a casual stroll. The player needs three specific movement abilities before the trip: Cling Grip, Drifter's Cloak, and Swift Step. Those three gifts allow dashing, gliding, wall grabbing, and wall climbing, which are all required to explore the Blasted Steps properly and to reach the double boss without turning into a very aerodynamic smear.

The entrance sits on the left exit of Shellwood, and Cling Grip is needed to unlock it. Once sandworms and an absurdly strong wind greet the player, the correct biome has been found. From there, the route is a chain of platforms, dangerous enemies, and one or two moments of quiet backtracking. The Blasted Steps are not a major story zone, so a little detour is expected.

At the fork where the path can go down or up, the player should choose up. Two enemies wait above, and the bell-wielding one can be annoying enough to deserve priority. After that, the wind becomes a helpful glide toward the right. Four enemies patrol the path; they can be ignored or defeated, depending on the player's patience and appetite for unnecessary risk. The next area follows to the right, where Shakra sells a map. Buying it is highly recommended before returning to the main route.

Back at the climb, the rightmost wall leads to high platforms and more enemies. The spider enemies on these platforms are devilish, and touching them is a bad idea with long-term consequences. Once the player drops to the ground again, following left leads to the Great Conchflies' lair. Entering it starts the boss fight.

The Fight: One Phase, Two Moves, Zero Need For Panic

The Great Conchflies do not get a second phase; they get a second bug. Their shared health bar is a bureaucratic loophole: two signatures on one form. The pair has only one phase and two moves, and neither bug actually targets the player while attacking. That sounds strange, and it is, but it also means the fight is less a duel and more a pair of malfunctioning compasses arguing over north. Calm observation beats frantic button-mashing.

Move
What It Looks Like
Best Response

Burrow burst
Dust appears before a Conchfly bursts in or out of the floor and walls.
The player should note the dust direction, stand at the edge of the incoming path, and strike when the bug gets stuck for a second or two. If positioning feels shaky, stay near the arena center and jump or dash.

Bouncing spike
One Conchfly appears and spits a small spike that bounces three times before vanishing.
Dash underneath the boss and hit it from below with enthusiasm. The spike is the only real distraction.

The first move is the common one, and its dust telegraph is the entire strategy. The player should not chase the Conchflies around like a caffeinated moth. Waiting near the center or near the edge of the incoming direction keeps the fight readable. When a bug bursts into the arena and drills in place, that is the invitation to deal damage.

The second move turns one Conchfly into a grumpy vending machine that dispenses exactly one bouncing spike. The player should dash under the boss and punish it from below. Two or three hits per moveset are perfectly fine. There is no need to force a heroic combo, and there is no need to worry about killing one boss first, because the pair shares HP. When one falls, the other escapes immediately, so the fight ends with one defeated Conchfly and one very lucky survivor.

🪡 Rewards and the Pinstress

Defeating the Great Conchflies does not shower the arena with loot. The immediate reward is the noble feeling of surviving two giant insects with a combined sense of direction borrowed from a broken GPS. The real prize comes after the fight: following left leads to the Pinstress, who grants the Needle Strike ability.

Needle Strike lets the player hold the attack button to perform a charged attack in combat. In practical terms, it is a can opener for future problems. The Great Conchflies may not be the most fearsome bosses in Silksong, but they are a memorable test of patience, positioning, and the ancient art of not panicking when two large insects start playing percussion with the floor.",

"language": "en

Once the arena goes quiet and the Needle Strike unlock settles in, many players start thinking about what to pick up next between Silksong sessions. That is where a little prep work pays off, especially if you are weighing a new title against your backlog or waiting for a sale before committing.

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Hollow Knight's Steam Revival: Silksong's Halo Effect in 2025 and Beyond

Hollow Knight hit a new Steam concurrent-player peak of 92,866 after Silksong's 2025 launch, proving a sequel's halo can revive a legacy indie.

When Hollow Knight: Silksong arrived in 2025, attention naturally shifted to Team Cherry's long-awaited sequel. Yet something unexpected happened on Steam: the original 2017 Hollow Knight climbed alongside its successor. Publicly tracked data showed the original reaching 92,866 concurrent players, an all-time peak that was still rising when the figure was recorded. For a game first released years earlier, the number was remarkable. It marked the first time the original had ever crossed the 90,000 concurrent-player milestone on Steam. The sequel was larger in raw scale, with Silksong peaking at 587,150 players, but the original's revival told a distinct story about legacy, discovery, and the strange halo effect a sequel can create.

A Record Built on Word of Mouth

Hollow Knight has long been regarded as one of the best Metroidvania games ever made. Its 2017 release found immediate critical success, and positive word of mouth helped turn an indie project into a commercial success. The game has since surpassed the 15 million sales mark, a remarkable achievement for Team Cherry. Its reputation rests on a hand-drawn world, precise combat, exploration, and lore that rewards curiosity. By the time Silksong approached release, many players had heard of Hollow Knight without having played it. The sequel's launch created a new sense of urgency.

The Numbers Behind the Surge

Milestone
Figure
Context

Original Hollow Knight peak before the 2025 surge
20,324
August 2022

Original Hollow Knight peak in the prior month
70,000+
Month before Silksong's launch

Original Hollow Knight new all-time peak
92,866 and rising
Around Silksong's launch

Silksong peak
587,150
Same period

Original Hollow Knight lifetime sales
15 million+
Since 2017

Before the 2025 surge, the original Hollow Knight's all-time Steam peak was 20,324 in August 2022. During the month before Silksong's release, that figure had already climbed past 70,000. The new peak of 92,866 was more than four times the older record. Silksong's 587,150 peak dwarfed the original's number, but the contrast did not diminish the achievement. It framed it. The sequel was a major event, and the original was benefiting from the same cultural moment.

🧭 Why Players Returned

Public data cannot explain every individual motive, but several patterns are clear:

• Sequel hype as a discovery engine. The enormous attention around Silksong led many gamers to finally try the original for the first time.

• ️ Community recommendation. Hollow Knight's reputation as a landmark Metroidvania made it an obvious starting point for newcomers.

• 🧩 Lore and continuity curiosity. Players interested in Silksong's world had reason to explore the foundation laid by the first game.

• ️ Revisiting a favorite. Some returning players simply wanted to replay a celebrated title while the sequel dominated conversation.

• Mixed early reactions to Silksong. Some players expressed serious gripes with the sequel, although the game was largely excellently received by the community.

The revival also showed that a sequel does not necessarily replace its predecessor. For many players, Silksong may have been the entry point, but the original offered essential context. That dynamic can filter newcomers back toward the sequel later, creating a loop between the two games rather than a simple handoff.

️ A Sequel That Lifted Its Predecessor

Viewed from 2026, the 2025 episode remains a notable case study in how sequels can expand an audience for the original. Hollow Knight was already successful, acclaimed, and commercially proven. The new peak did not create its reputation; it revealed how much latent interest still surrounded the game. The original's 92,866 peak is modest next to Silksong's 587,150, but it is larger than any previous Hollow Knight peak, and that is the point. A older title briefly became part of a live conversation again.

The moment also underlined Team Cherry's unusual position. A small independent studio had produced a defining Metroidvania and then a sequel that commanded massive attention. The original game's resurgence suggested that players valued the foundation as much as the new release. For newcomers, Hollow Knight remained approachable, celebrated, and historically important. For returning players, it offered familiarity during a period of intense sequel excitement.

What the Revival Signals

The revival signals enduring demand for handcrafted Metroidvania experiences. It also highlights how community conversation can give older titles a second life. Hollow Knight's 15 million sales already proved its long-term reach, but the 2025 Steam peak added a different kind of evidence: even after years on the market, the game could still attract a huge simultaneous audience. In 2026, the lesson is clear. A sequel is not only a continuation; it can be a doorway back to the game that started it all.

For players drawn back to Hallownest by sequel excitement, timing a purchase can matter as much as choosing where to start. Older acclaimed titles often see renewed discounts around major releases and seasonal events, so keeping an eye on price history helps separate a genuine bargain from a routine promotion.

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MIO: Memories in Orbit Is the Metroidvania Silksong Fans Should Watch

MIO: Memories in Orbit is a compelling Silksong alternative, blending hand-drawn exploration, tough combat, and rich lore in a haunting robot world.

Players who watched Hollow Knight: Silksong turn launch day into a stress test for storefronts already know the rhythm: finish a demanding campaign, stare at the credits, and start hunting for the next Metroidvania that can fill the silence. That is where MIO: Memories in Orbit enters the chat. Douze Dixiemes' hand-drawn adventure has been building a quiet reputation as one of the most Silksong-adjacent games on Steam, and in 2026 it remains a title fans of moody exploration, tough combat, and lore-rich worlds should keep on their radar.

On the surface, MIO wears its inspirations on its sleeve. The world looks hand-drawn. The map stretches its legs in a way that invites backtracking and note-taking. Some enemies lean insect-inspired, and the combat carries Soulslike weight rather than floaty button-mashing. Those ingredients explain why Silksong fans keep circling back to it: it scratches the same itch without pretending to be a clone.

Element
Why Silksong fans may care

Hand-drawn art
Gives the world a storybook mood that rewards slow looking

️ Huge map
Encourages exploration, secret-hunting, and mental note-taking

Insect-inspired enemies
Echoes the creepy-crawly flavor many genre fans enjoy

️ Soulslike combat
Suggests deliberate fights with real risk and reward

NPC-driven lore
Lets players piece together the world through conversations

Where MIO: Memories in Orbit pulls away is in its setting. Instead of an ancient kingdom like Pharloom, it presents a futuristic world where robots have gone rogue. That contrast is not a bug; it is part of the appeal. The game uses art and music to tell environmental stories, and players uncover details by talking with interesting NPCs. The result sounds less like a copy and more like a cousin with a different accent. The world has a personality of its own, and that matters when a genre is crowded with lookalikes.

Focus Entertainment is publishing, and that name carries weight. The company has backed My Time at Portia, Aliens: Fireteam Elite, the A Plague Tale series, Atomic Heart, and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. Douze Dixiemes is smaller but promising; its 2020 release Shady Part of Me holds Very Positive reviews on Steam. That track record is no small feat for a studio with only one other title to its name. It suggests MIO has a real chance to land as a polished, atmospheric experience rather than a rough genre exercise.

Practical note for 2026: players should check the current store page for launch status, demo availability, and platform details before planning a weekend around it. The game's public messaging has centered on a 2025 target and a playable demo, so the smart move is to verify the latest status rather than rely on old chatter. A wishlist remains the simplest way to catch updates. Frankly, that small step is worth it for anyone who likes to be ready when a genre gem lands.

Combat in MIO appears to have teeth. The trailers and screenshots suggest deliberate encounters, not endless swarms. The map seems built for players who like to peek into corners and remember locked doors. The music and hand-drawn illustrations do a lot of the heavy lifting, giving the world a personality that can stand beside its inspirations. Fans of Silksong's challenge and replayable loop will likely appreciate that MIO is not trying to smooth away the difficulty; it wants players to earn their progress.

Silksong's shadow is long, but it is not the only shadow worth standing in. MIO: Memories in Orbit has enough of its own identity -- rogue robots, futuristic ruins, NPC-driven lore -- to avoid feeling like a retread. For players who finished Silksong and want another Metroidvania with atmosphere, challenge, and a map that rewards curiosity, it is worth keeping an eye on. If that sounds like their jam, MIO may be the next stop after Pharloom.

While waiting for release dates and demo windows to settle, the practical side of being a patient player is keeping an eye on prices across storefronts. Wishlists help with notifications, but they do not always surface the sharpest discount at the right moment, especially when multiple retailers run overlapping promotions. That is where a little preparation pays off: bookmarking [this price tracking tool]( makes it easier to see how a game's cost shifts over time instead of checking each store page individually.

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Team Cherry's Silksong Proves Respecting Players Still Pays Off

Hollow Knight: Silksong proves consumer-friendly gaming can thrive through fair pricing, no microtransactions, and polished content.

By 2026, Hollow Knight: Silksong has settled into its well-earned reputation as one of the most consumer-friendly releases in recent memory. Team Cherry's long-awaited sequel arrived in 2025 with little fanfare compared to the industry's usual hype machine, yet it delivered a massive, polished experience at a fair price. More than a year later, the game stands as a quiet rebuke to the nickel-and-dime tactics that have become all too common in gaming.

The story of Silksong's development is well known by now. It began as DLC for the original Hollow Knight, but Team Cherry eventually expanded it into a full sequel. A shadier studio might have chopped that DLC into a mini-release and charged a premium for it. Team Cherry did the opposite. Silksong is not an expensive game, and by most accounts it is significantly larger than the original Hollow Knight. It manages to feel familiar to veterans while resisting the urge to be a simple copy-paste job with new levels.

The Anti-Cash-Grab Playbook

Team Cherry never seemed interested in juicing customers. There were no microtransactions, no paid cosmetic packs, and no get it now or you don't love Hollow Knight marketing blitz. The company kept its head down, released trailers that promised only what the final product delivered, and let the game speak for itself. As one observer noted, the industry can sometimes disintegrate like cotton candy dipped in a stream, but Team Cherry stayed above the mess.

Aspect
Silksong's Approach
Common Industry Practice

Price
Fair, no hidden costs
$70 base + microtransactions

Communication
Quiet, honest, no overpromising
Endless hype, vague promises

DLC origins
Expanded into full game, no extra charge
Cut content sold as paid DLC

Launch
Little fanfare, massive sales
Months of ARG, events, delays

The contrast with other major releases is stark. Take Borderlands 4, for example. Its run-up featured a parade of interviews filled with PR speak that simultaneously promised more of the same and something completely different. Even discussions around its price felt like an attack on fans who dared to question the cost. Silksong never made fans feel bad for asking for the game. It never mocked people for hoping the price would be reasonable. And it never sat back waiting for fans to come to it. It was a symbiotic relationship, not an antagonistic tug-of-war.

Underpromise, Overdeliver

Team Cherry's approach was not just about money. It was about respect. The studio announced a game, took its time, did not antagonize its audience, and released a finished product to massive sales and thunderous applause. There was no Duke Nukem Forever-style parade of grandiose claims. There was no half-year-away release date that inevitably slipped. When the final release date arrived, Team Cherry was absolutely serious about it. Ironically, the launch had so much fanfare precisely because it was done with little fanfare.

It is easy to forget that many developers face enormous financial pressure and cannot always make independent decisions about promotion or release. Some anti-consumer choices come from that strain. But Silksong shows that respecting players is not a luxury. It is a strategy that pays off. The proof is in the pudding: the game sold like hotcakes, and the goodwill Team Cherry built over years of honest communication turned into a tidal wave of support.

A year later, Silksong's reputation has only grown. Players still praise its value, its scope, and the way Team Cherry treated them like adults. In an industry that often seems more concerned with slipping things past the customer goalie than doing the game justice, Silksong is a breath of fresh air. It did not try to take your money. That is exactly why it deserved it.

The lesson for other developers is clear: no need to promise the moon. Just deliver a great game at a fair price, communicate honestly, and treat the audience with respect. Team Cherry walked the walk, and fans rewarded them. As the saying goes, the cream rises to the top.

For players who want to carry that same consumer-first standard into their own buying decisions, a little research goes a long way. Rather than preordering on hype or paying launch-day premiums, it helps to compare prices, watch for genuine discounts, and support studios whose practices you actually respect. Deal-tracking resources can make that easier without turning every purchase into a spreadsheet.

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The Reaper Crest in Silksong: A Cheerful Guide to Spiked Cogs

Find the Hollow Knight: Silksong Reaper Crest in Greymoor with this route guide, including the Halfway Home Bench and Chapel gauntlet.

Crests in Hollow Knight: Silksong are not just fancy hats with a combat license. They change how Hornet attacks, alter the feel of platforming, and come with different tool slots. Here is the delightfully awkward part: when a player acquires a new Crest, they must unlock all the slots on that new Crest, even if they had already unlocked every slot on the old one. So yes, the collection journey involves a little backtracking, a little grinding, and a lot of quiet muttering. Since Crests significantly change combat and platforming, players must acquire all of them to determine what works best for their playstyle. In 2026, the Reaper Crest remains one of the early-ish prizes worth chasing, and its location is tucked into Greymoor.

Why the Reaper Crest Matters

The Reaper Crest is not a subtle sidegrade. Its description states that it allows Hornet to attack with heavy, arcing slashes and reap additional Silk from enemies. For players who enjoy wide swings and a Silk-hungry toolkit, that sounds less like a Crest and more like a business proposal. The catch is that the new Crest comes with fresh tool slots to unlock, so it is not plug-and-play. The player has to invest a bit before the Reaper Crest reaches its full, slash-happy potential.

The Route to Greymoor and the Halfway Home Bench

To get the Crest, players must first progress through the game until they reach Greymoor, which is a main story location. Once they arrive, the route begins by turning left toward the Halfway Home Bench. Interacting with this bench is important, because it will be used quite a lot when exploring the area and running back to the boss room. From the Halfway Home Bench, the player heads left again and triggers an encounter. Deal with the enemies so the room can be exited, then continue left. The enemies standing outside are best ignored, and the player should head further left into the tower.

The goal is to go even further left, but that door is locked at first. Instead, the player goes up the tower, sticks to the left side to exit, and drops all the way down to the lever that opens the gate. What could possibly go wrong? Only a tower, a locked door, and a lever with main-character energy.

The Chapel of the Reaper and the Spiked Cog Gauntlet

From that large room, the bottom-left hole leads down to the Moorwing boss arena, so it can be ignored for now. Instead, the player heads toward the middle section on the left, climbs some platforms, and heads inside to find the Chapel of the Reaper. The Chapel is not lengthy by any means, but there is an encounter that might be difficult depending on when the player visits to acquire the Crest.

First, drop down and head right to spot a moving wheel that is making spiked cogs move alongside it. The player needs to jump and dash toward the platforms and go further up without getting hit by the cogs, as they deal damage. A down Pogo on these spiky cogs is possible, but it is not recommended, especially with the starting Crest equipped. The cogs do not accept apologies, and they certainly do not respect optimism.

Once the platform above is reached, the player must fight a bunch of enemies that spawn one or two at a time. This section can be annoying, but the enemies are all previously encountered foes, so there is a decent chance the player knows how to deal with them. Once the encounter is finished, head up to find a body that can be interacted with using the Bind button. This rewards the Reaper Crest. A body, a button press, and a shiny new combat toy — what a lovely little transaction.

Is the Reaper Crest Worth It?

Detail
Information

Location
Chapel of the Reaper in Greymoor

Prerequisite
Reach Greymoor and use the Halfway Home Bench

Main hazard
Spiked cogs on a moving wheel

Combat trial
Enemy waves spawning one or two at a time

Reward
Reaper Crest

Combat style
Heavy, arcing slashes and extra Silk from enemies

For players who like sweeping attacks and extra Silk, the Reaper Crest is a tempting prize. For players who hate timed jumps near angry machinery, it is a character-building experience. Either way, the Crest collection journey in Silksong rewards curiosity. After all, how else is a player supposed to discover which Crest truly fits? The answer, as usual, involves a bench, a tower, a lever, and a wheel of cogs with absolutely no sense of mercy.

Crest hunting is as much about experimentation as acquisition, and half the fun comes from mixing abilities until a build finally clicks. That same curiosity often spills over into browsing new worlds, comparing releases, and keeping an eye on worthwhile discounts between play sessions.

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Five Early Tools That Turned Hornet’s Pharloom Nightmare Into a Joyride

Hollow Knight: Silksong’s best early tools give Hornet vital health, speed, damage, and survival advantages across Pharloom.

By 2026, Hollow Knight: Silksong has settled into its reputation as a gorgeous, merciless pilgrimage through Pharloom, and Hornet’s first hours remain a masterclass in humility. Team Cherry did not pull their punches: even the so-called harmless critters can knock two masks off her health bar, the needle feels about as threatening as a butter knife until its first upgrade, and the skies are crowded with winged nuisances that fling projectiles like they are paid per shot. In that kind of environment, every tool matters. The good news is that a handful of early pickups can turn a desperate scramble into a swaggering, silk-slinging joyride. These five tools gave Hornet breathing room, bite, and a few well-earned laughs.

Plasmium Phial: The Blue Mask That Bought One More Breath

Pharloom teaches its first harsh lesson quickly: even the most ordinary enemy can deal two masks of damage. Hornet can heal, sure, but the math is ugly. Take two hits, heal once, and she is already down to a thin margin against anything fierce. The Plasmium Phial’s blue mask changes that arithmetic. It is not glamorous, but it is clutch. That extra hit is often the difference between a victorious boss attempt and a sad little crumple on the floor. Because mask fragments are scarce in the early hours, the phial feels extraordinarily influential, and it is refreshingly accessible: finish the quest from the NPC at the top of Wormways and it is hers.

Flea Brew: A Temporary Shot of Quick Slash

Quick Slash is one of the best charms in the original Hollow Knight, and Flea Brew is its temporary cousin in Silksong. When Hornet drinks it, she runs and attacks faster, which makes the whole game feel more dynamic. Slow enemies suddenly look like they are moving through treacle, and stunned bosses become a personal pincushion. The effect does not last forever, and recharging it costs Rosaries, so it is not a free lunch. Still, for players who are comfortable with the controls and not short on cash, it is a brilliant way to squeeze out extra damage. Speed was powerful in Hallownest, and Pharloom is no exception. Hornet just has to remember to keep her pockets full.

Curveclaw: A Bone With a Grudge Against Flying Pests

Team Cherry clearly had fun designing flying enemies. Pharloom is full of them, and many hurl projectiles in every direction while hovering just out of reach. The Curveclaw is the answer. It is the trickiest tool on this list to master because the thrown bone follows an awkward arc, but once Hornet gets the hang of it, it becomes an excellent way to swat winged nuisances out of the sky. Practicing in a moderately safe room is worth the trouble. Each area seems to have its own set of airborne troublemakers that are more irritating than some bosses, so the Curveclaw ends up carrying more weight than it first appears. The Mottled Skarr merchant sells it, and the Rosaries are well spent. Threat reduction is a bargain at almost any price.

Flintslate: Set the Needle Ablaze

Many players spend ten hours or more before their first needle upgrade, and during that stretch the weapon can feel like it does barely any damage. The Flintslate fixes that by temporarily imbuing the needle with fire. It is a bit like Charcoal Pine Resin from Dark Souls: a simple buff that makes a noticeable difference in damage output. Hornet still has to swing, dodge, and survive, but the extra fire damage makes boss fights less of a marathon. Its number of uses per recharge is generous enough to extend the effect through an average encounter, so with a little planning she can keep her needle burning for most of the important fight. It may not turn a loss into a win by itself, but it makes life much easier against enemies that would otherwise tear her to bits.

Threefold Pin: Daggers Between Every Slash

When damage output is the problem, the Threefold Pin is a saving grace. The button combinations for tools can feel unintuitive at first, but once Hornet gets the rhythm down, these little daggers are a game changer. Throwing them between needle slashes lets her fly through screens, whether she is carving up regular enemies or chipping away at a boss. The damage they deal in tandem is out of this world, and the pin is easy to aim from both close range and a distance, making it wonderfully versatile. It is the most fun and most powerful early tool on this list. With the Threefold Pin in her kit, Hornet feels less like a struggling wanderer and more like a proper menace.

The Short Version

Tool
Role
Why Hornet Keeps It Close

🧪 Plasmium Phial
Survival buffer
Grants an extra blue mask, buying one more hit in a tight spot

Flea Brew
Speed burst
Temporary Quick Slash effect for faster running and attacking

🦴 Curveclaw
Anti-air
Swats projectile-hurling flyers out of the sky with practice

Flintslate
Damage boost
Sets the needle ablaze for noticeable extra damage

️ Threefold Pin
Burst damage
Throws daggers between slashes for versatile, high damage

None of these tools are a magic wand. Pharloom still demands patience, pattern reading, and the willingness to take a few lumps. But in 2026, with new players still discovering Silksong and veterans revisiting its early zones, these five pickups remain a superb foundation. They are not crutches; they are part of the dance. Hornet’s journey becomes a little less nightmare and a little more joyride when she has the right trick up her sleeve. So if the early game is handing her a rough time, she should bite the bullet, gather a few Rosaries, and let these tools do some of the heavy lifting. After all, Pharloom is no walk in the park—and a clever hunter takes every edge she can get. ️

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September on Game Pass: A Story of Silksong, Couch Chaos, and Cozy Farms

Xbox Game Pass September games feature Hollow Knight: Silksong and A Way Out for thrilling solo and co-op play.

September has a way of feeling like a reset button for gaming. The summer release rush has cooled, the holiday season hasn’t quite kicked into gear, and players are left with a rare mix of heavy-hitters and sleeper picks to explore. It’s the perfect moment to dive into games that demand time—whether it’s an epic new release or a cozy sim that pairs well with the season’s slower pace. And Xbox Game Pass offers players the perfect ground to explore this space.

For one fictional player named Jordan, this September felt like an invitation. After a busy summer, Jordan opened Game Pass and found a lineup that seemed to speak directly to every mood. There was the long-awaited sequel fans had been clamoring for, a co-op title guaranteed to spark drama on the couch, a stylish cult hit that rewards curiosity, and a fan-favorite farming sim that felt tailor-made for the early days of fall. Whether Jordan wanted intensity, comfort, or something to share with friends, the lineup covered it all.

If you’re a Metroidvania fan and haven’t jumped on the hype yet, there’s little reason to wait. Hollow Knight: Silksong arrived on Game Pass, and by now the platform collapses from sheer demand should be a distant memory. Jordan downloaded it as quickly as possible, curious to see if the sequel could live up to impossible expectations. As a follow-up to one of the most beloved indie games of all time, Silksong carries a heavy burden—and somehow, it lives up to it. Its haunting environments and surprisingly challenging learning curve pull players in, while expanded movement options, improved combat depth, and new biomes bring fresh challenges without losing the precision and atmosphere that made Hollow Knight so iconic. For fans of Metroidvanias and exploration, Silksong is a no-brainer. It’s rare for a game to dominate the spotlight this completely, but Team Cherry more than earned it.

Later that week, Jordan hosted friends for a long weekend of socializing. Instead of opting for well-known couch co-op favorites, Jordan pitched a title that would stir the pot just a little bit more than most: A Way Out. The result was full-on shouting matches—and Jordan couldn’t have been prouder. Split Fiction and It Takes Two fans will immediately recognize the formula, since A Way Out was developed by Hazelight Studios. But what sets this one apart is its gritty narrative about two escaped convicts who rely on one another to survive. Unlike many lighthearted co-op titles, A Way Out pushes players to make tough calls, and that tension makes for truly unforgettable moments. The room was loud, the decisions were divisive, and everyone left with a story to tell.

When the friends went home, Jordan turned to something quieter but no less gripping: Control: Ultimate Edition. If Silksong is the headline grabber and A Way Out is the grim party-starter, Control is the game that sneaks up on players with style. Remedy Entertainment’s award-winning supernatural action game thrives on mood, setting, and mystery, drawing players into the Federal Bureau of Control’s shifting headquarters, the Oldest House. With the Ultimate Edition on Game Pass, the experience is at its most complete—both expansions are included, and the extras serve as additional boons. The result is a sharp, stylish action game that blends eerie worldbuilding with dynamic gameplay. For anyone looking to spend nights lost in atmosphere and questions, Control still delivers one of the most original gaming experiences of the last decade.

As fall begins and temperatures drop, sometimes all a player needs is a cozy activity to unwind. Bonus points if it fits the autumn vibe. For gamers, Stardew Valley is the ideal game to quiet the chaos of a busy day. With the 1.7 update recently announced, now is the best time to get into the game’s rhythms. What makes Stardew special isn’t just its farming sim mechanics, but the way it quietly becomes about building routines, relationships, and a sense of community. Every season feels different, and fall in particular makes the game shine with its orange-hued palette, slower pace, and some of the best festivals in the game. Whether Jordan put in twenty minutes before bed or lost hours to fishing and mining, Stardew Valley remained one of Game Pass’s most comforting staples.

Game
Mood
Why It Fits September

Hollow Knight: Silksong
Intense, atmospheric
A challenging Metroidvania that demands focus and rewards exploration

A Way Out
Tense, social
Couch co-op that sparks drama and unforgettable moments with friends

Control: Ultimate Edition
Mysterious, stylish
Supernatural action with eerie worldbuilding and complete expansions

Stardew Valley
Cozy, comforting
A farming sim perfect for fall routines and quiet evenings

By the end of the month, Jordan had cycled through all four moods without ever leaving Game Pass. September’s lineup had offered a rare balance: the adrenaline of Silksong, the chaotic laughter of A Way Out, the cerebral pull of Control, and the gentle rhythm of Stardew Valley. It was a reminder that a good subscription service isn’t just about quantity—it’s about having the right game for the right moment. And as the leaves turned and the nights grew longer, Jordan knew exactly where to go for the next reset.

Of course, subscription libraries shift over time, and the game that fits tonight’s mood may not always stay in the catalog. When a favorite leaves Game Pass or a sale makes sense for keeping something permanently, it helps to know where to look before committing.

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Sister Splinter in Silksong: A Hilariously Thorny Guide to Shellwood's Rooty Menace

This Sister Splinter boss guide covers the Shellwood route, attack patterns, smart dodges, and rewards for a thorny Silksong victory.

Every so often, a video game boss arrives with the subtlety of a grand piano dropped from a third-story window. Sister Splinter, the freaky root-monster of Shellwood, is exactly that kind of boss: loud, thorny, and absolutely determined to flatten Hornet into a silk pancake. As of 2026, players are still getting tangled up in this fight, largely because of its Triple Slam attack, its habit of summoning flying friends, and its talent for turning the arena into a game of Tetris designed by a sadist. But fear not, fellow traveler: this guide will walk through where to find Sister Splinter, how to beat it without losing one's mind, and what shiny reward awaits after the dust settles.

Where to Find Sister Splinter (Without Getting Hopelessly Lost)

The route to Sister Splinter winds through Shellwood with the logic of a dream had by a slime mold. Players must progress through the lower layers of Shellwood until they reach the far left shaft leading upward. From there, make the way up, then take the top-right exit into a large room housing a Weaver statue at the very top. For now, exit that room via a door on the right, platform to the right through the next room, then unlock the elevator shortcut above the central Bench. From the central Bench, take the elevator up and go right, jump and slash flowers to reach the top-left of the next room, then continue left until Sister Splinter appears.

The best Bench for this fight is the central Bench in Shellwood, which connects to the elevator shortcut that should be unlocked on the way to the boss. This Bench can be unlocked earlier in the zone for a steep 60 Rosaries. From the Bench, take the elevator up, exit to the right, then make the way around the room in the far top-right of the zone until reaching two white flowers leading to the top-left exit (above the entrance to the room). Downward slash onto these flowers to get across, then keep going left to safely return to Sister Splinter.

️ How to Beat Sister Splinter (Without Becoming a Thorn Cushion)

The fight itself is a dance of anticipation. Sister Splinter's Triple Slam attack is the star of the show, and it lands with the gentle finality of a piano dropped down an elevator shaft. The key is to learn the tells, dodge between slams, and sneak in a few hits. If dodges are timed well, players can jump up and attack Sister Splinter in between each slam, netting a handful of additional hits during this move.

The Multi-Thorn attack is the other headache. When the room gets blanketed in thorns, players without enough Silk to cast Silkspear should get to the center of the room, then rapidly hit the two thorns on both sides when they appear. After clearing the middle space, go toward one wall and hit vines on the way. Though vines will respawn at first, they stop respawning after about three waves. Clear at least three thorn vines' worth of space to have room to dodge the slam.

Traps and tools that damage enemies in mid-air are practically essential for the parts of the fight when a flying ally appears. The Longpin tool, for example, is thrown in an arc like a spear and can hit both Sister Splinter and any flying enemies at the top of the arc, even if they are near the ceiling out of Hornet's normal reach. Longpin also pierces through vines in its way; spamming this tool can quickly break multiple vines at once (if there is enough Tool ammo to spare).

Tool / Trap
Why It's Useful

Longpin
Arcing throw hits airborne enemies and pierces vines; spam to clear thorns fast.

Silkspear
Great for clearing the Multi-Thorn attack if Silk is available.

Mid-air traps
Essential for dealing with flying allies while focusing on Sister Splinter.

What Happens After Beating Sister Splinter?

After Sister Splinter is finally put out of its misery, access to the rest of Shellwood unlocks. Most notably, the exit to the left of the boss arena leads to the top half of another room Hornet ventured through earlier. Make the way around the central pillar and a Weaver statue will appear. Bind in front of this statue to get the Cling Grip ability. This is an extremely useful movement ability for Hornet, allowing her to grab onto vertical surfaces and wall jump. Getting Cling Grip lets players continue through Shellwood to the Widow fight to save Bellhart, and it also opens up previously-inaccessible areas in old zones. It is like being handed a master key after spending hours picking locks with a bent paperclip.

So there it is: a thorny boss, a slightly convoluted runback, and a reward that makes every wall in the game look like a ladder. With a little patience, a few well-aimed Longpins, and the ability to dodge like a caffeinated squirrel, Sister Splinter will be nothing more than a bumpy footnote on the road to Bellhart. ️

Boss guides are great for getting through a tough fight, but they rarely help with the next decision: what to play once the controller is down and the map is complete. If you're thinking about picking up another metroidvania, revisiting an old favorite, or convincing a friend to give Silksong a try, comparing prices before checkout is an easy way to avoid overpaying.

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Silksong’s Mist: Follow the Glowing Bugs, Not Your Panic

Hollow Knight: Silksong Mist guide: use Needolin and glowing insects to navigate the foggy maze, dodge traps, and reach the Exhaust Organ.

By 2026, Hollow Knight: Silksong has had plenty of time to teach players that the Mist is not a normal area. It is a foggy little labyrinth with a smug attitude, a fondness for cheap tricks, and absolutely no interest in being mapped like a respectable dungeon. A third-person observer might call it atmospheric. A player stuck inside it might use less poetic language. Fortunately, the Mist has a weakness, and that weakness is delightfully silly: its glowing white insects are basically tiny, unpaid tour guides. Hornet does not need to out-think the fog. She just needs Needolin, a little patience, and the humility to follow bugs instead of her own heroic instincts.

The Melody Is the Map

The key ability is Needolin, which lets Hornet string silk along her needle and play ancient melodies. Most players who find the Mist will already have it, but anyone who wandered in without it should probably secure it first. The Mist does not reward bold improvisation; it rewards musical bug-charming. Once Needolin is available, players should enter the first room and look for small white insects. Standing near them and using the ability will make them fly toward one of the room’s exits. That is the exit players want. It is not a suggestion, not a riddle, and definitely not an invitation to test free will. It is the answer.

There are usually several groups of insects in a room, so cautious players can verify the correct exit by activating a second set. This is not cheating. It is peer review. The process then repeats: find white insects, play Needolin, follow the little glowing commuters through the exit they choose, and try not to look too surprised when the technique actually works. After several rooms of this bug-based navigation, players will reach a poison-filled corridor. Inside it sits a structure called the Exhaust Organ, which is a much more pleasant discovery than the corridor’s name suggests.

The Mist Has Opinions About Confidence

Using Needolin to cross the Mist is straightforward, but the area still has hazards. Players who treat the fog like a friendly tutorial will quickly learn that the Mist has a sense of humor, and that its sense of humor involves damage.

Hazard
What it does
A sensible response

Wraiths
These glowing white enemies lunge at Hornet, deal two points of damage, and steal some silk if they connect.
Stand still, wait for the scream, jump over the lunge, then strike. Leading them into traps also works and is deeply satisfying.

Traps ️
Falling spikes and tricky platforms are scattered through the area.
Move deliberately. The Mist rewards careful steps, not dramatic sprinting.

Falling ️
Dropping into the mist at the bottom of the screen sends Hornet back to the beginning of the area and resets progress.
Do not trust misty edges. They are not decorative. They are a reset button with bad manners.

Wraiths deserve special mention because they combine damage, silk theft, and an irritating scream into one glowing package. Players who panic and flail may find themselves poorer in silk and shorter in health. A calmer approach works better: wait for the tell, jump the lunge, and punish the enemy. Alternatively, baiting a Wraith into a trap is a fine example of letting the environment do the work while Hornet supervises.

Traps require similar discipline. The Mist is full of falling spikes and platforms that seem designed by someone who thought platforming was too relaxing. Players should be very deliberate with their movement and avoid rushing toward an exit just because a bug flew through it. The bug knows the route. The bug does not care about Hornet’s health bar. Falling is even less forgiving, since dropping into the mist at the bottom of the screen sends players back to the start and wipes their progress through the area. In other words, the Mist has a reset button, and it is not afraid to use it.

The Elegant Strategy: Let the Bugs Cook

The Mist is confusing because it refuses to behave like a normal area, but it becomes manageable once players accept a simple truth: the white insects are the map. Needolin turns them into guides. Following them through the correct exits turns a frustrating fog maze into a strange little parade. Wraiths, traps, and bottomless mist can still ruin the mood, so players should move carefully, verify exits with extra insect groups, and treat every glowing enemy as a reason to stop being cocky.

In 2026, this remains the cleanest way through the Mist in Silksong: play the melody, follow the bugs, dodge the screaming ghosts, and do not argue with the fog. The Mist may be confusing, but it is not unbeatable. It is just waiting for Hornet to stop acting like a hero and start acting like a very well-armed bug whisperer.

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