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. ️

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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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The Terrible Tyrant: A Silksong Side Quest Worth the Hunt

Hollow Knight: Silksong’s The Terrible Tyrant quest demands Wall Cling and patience before the Skull Tyrant fight.

By 2026, Hollow Knight: Silksong has had time to reveal its quieter pleasures, and one of them is a side quest that turns a simple errand into a proper hunt. The traveler had already survived the early dangers of Moss Grotto, the Marrow, and the Deep Docks, but Bone Bottom still felt like a haven. That was where a new notice appeared after the Bell Beast was brought back, and that was where The Terrible Tyrant began. It was not a quest for someone who wanted a quick reward. It demanded Wall Cling, a little patience, and the willingness to hit suspicious walls.

A Quest That Waits for the Cling Grip

The first lesson was simple: The Terrible Tyrant could not be started without the Wall Cling ability. Once that power was in hand, the Bell Beast needed to be back in Bone Bottom. Only then did the quest appear, as if the settlement had finally trusted the traveler with a job beyond gathering berries. The path to the target began along the lowest corridor of the Marrow map. The traveler followed it until a mechanical platform offered a zip across the lava. On the far side, a new route opened up, one that only Cling Grip could reach.

That route was not welcoming. Narrow passages were lined with spikes, spiky enemies patrolled the edges, and skull spiders dropped from awkward angles. The traveler learned to move slowly, strike first, and treat every wall as a possible secret. The way forward was hidden behind more than one false surface, so every wall deserved a hit. At the end of that dangerous path, the traveler first headed left to pull a lever and open a shortcut. That small detour mattered. It turned a long, punishing return into a manageable one. Then it was time to head right, where the Skull Tyrant waited.

The Skull Tyrant Fight

By this point in Silksong, the Skull Tyrant is not a complex boss. Its moveset is limited, but its damage is not gentle. Each hit removes two masks, so the margin for error is thin. The fight boils down to three attacks: a running charge, a slam that sends rocks falling from the ceiling, and a jumping lunge. The traveler’s first mistake was drifting into the right-hand corner. Getting pinned there made every charge feel twice as dangerous. The better answer was to jump over the ground charge and strike from behind.

The rocks were the second problem. Light beams marked where they would fall, so the traveler kept one eye above the arena while circling the beast. The third lesson was about patience. The Skull Tyrant’s crown acts as armor, which means the usual pogo approach is not a safe shortcut. The traveler could not simply bounce on the boss and chip it down. Instead, the useful windows came when the creature screamed. Those pauses were short, but they were real. A ranged tool helped enormously, because the Skull Tyrant has a lot of HP, even with a sharpened nail. Without extra damage, the fight risked dragging on until mistakes piled up.

Boss attack
What to watch for
Best response

Running charge
A fast ground rush
Jump over it, then hit from behind

Slam
Light beams above the arena
Keep moving and avoid the marked spots

Jumping lunge
An aerial leap toward the traveler
Dodge, then punish the recovery

When the beast finally fell, the traveler did not forget the drop. The Crown Fragment was the proof of the hunt, and it had to be carried back to Bone Bottom. That return trip felt lighter thanks to the shortcut lever, but the reward was the real prize.

Rewards and Final Thoughts

Turning in The Terrible Tyrant quest brings 220 Rosaries. In Bone Bottom, that is a meaningful sum. It can be enough to finally buy one of the Simple Keys from a nearby merchant, or it can ease the cost of other early purchases. Many Silksong boss fights ask for effort and offer little more than survival, so a direct payment of 220 Rosaries stands out. The quest also teaches a useful rhythm: explore carefully, open shortcuts, learn a boss, and bring the proof home.

Quest fact
Detail

Prerequisite
Wall Cling / Cling Grip, plus the Bell Beast returned to Bone Bottom

Starting area
Bone Bottom

Target location
Lowest corridor of the Marrow, beyond the lava zip platform

Boss
Skull Tyrant

Turn-in item
Crown Fragment

Reward
220 Rosaries

In 2026, The Terrible Tyrant remains a fine example of what Silksong does well. It is not the hardest hunt in the game, and the Skull Tyrant will not trouble a prepared traveler for long. Yet the journey there is tense, the shortcut is satisfying, and the Rosaries are genuinely useful. For a player who has just earned Wall Cling, it is a side quest worth taking before the next grand challenge begins.

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A Secret Code Opens Silksong’s Steel Soul From the Start

Hollow Knight: Silksong's Extras menu hides a shortcut that unlocks Steel Soul mode, where death is permanent.

The title screen of Hollow Knight: Silksong is a quiet shrine—until someone begins pressing buttons in the Extras menu. In 2026, long after players have mapped Hornet’s kingdom and argued over its hardest bosses, a strange shortcut still lingers there: Up, Down, Up, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right. A flash cuts across the screen; a sound answers like a lock turning behind the wallpaper. Silksong does not explain what happened. According to a community discovery reported by MP1st and credited to Buttnugtaster on the Hollow Knight subreddit, the sequence unlocks Steel Soul mode from the very beginning—no completed playthrough required.

A Trapdoor in the Title Screen

For most players, Steel Soul is a reward at the end of a long road. In the original Hollow Knight, the mode appeared only after the game had been beaten once. Silksong follows the same tradition, but the code carves a side door. The player does not need to finish Hornet’s story, defeat every boss, or prove anything to the game. They only need to open Extras, tap out the sequence, and watch for the brief flash and audio cue that confirm the input. The game offers no explanatory pop-up, no trophy fanfare, and no warning label. The code is a trapdoor painted to match the ceiling: invisible until someone taps the right pattern.

What Steel Soul Actually Means

Steel Soul is not a badge; it is a lit fuse taped to a save file. The rules are simple and merciless: death is permanent. A fallen run does not respawn at a bench or reload a checkpoint. The save file is booted, marked with the word 'defeated', and left as a tombstone. For players who find Silksong’s normal difficulty already sharp enough to draw blood, Steel Soul is less a mode and more a stress test for nerve.

The Sequence and the Risk

The community discovery is easy to repeat, but that does not make it wise. The input is short, silent, and easy to forget once the title screen moves on.

Step
Action
Result

1
Open the Extras menu on the title screen
The menu waits, apparently ordinary

2
Press Up, Down, Up, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right
A quick flash and a sound play

3
Start the game
Steel Soul mode is available, according to the community report

Silksong never spells out the consequences. That silence is part of the trap. A player who enters the code expecting a cosmetic unlock may instead find a mode that treats every mistake as a final sentence.

A Featherweight Key, A Blast Furnace

For veterans, the shortcut is a featherweight key that opens a blast furnace. It removes the gate but not the heat. A first-time player may be tempted to prove something by selecting Steel Soul immediately; the smarter move is usually to learn Hornet’s moves, map the traps, and understand which enemies punish greed. Silksong’s normal mode already has a reputation for turning patience into splinters. Steel Soul multiplies that tension because every careless step carries the weight of a full save file.

Why the Secret Matters

The code is a small piece of community folklore. It reflects the way Silksong’s players trade secrets like travelers passing maps in a dark tavern. One person experiments, another verifies, and soon a hidden path becomes common knowledge. Yet the mode remains a personal choice. The code does not force Steel Soul on anyone; it simply opens the door and steps back. For completionists, the shortcut may be a convenience. For newcomers, it may be a siren song. Either way, the flash and the sound are the only confirmation the game provides.

Final Word

By 2026, Silksong’s hardest challenges are still measured in patience, timing, and the willingness to lose progress. Steel Soul mode sits at the top of that pile. The secret code makes it available from the start, but availability is not readiness. The player who enters the sequence should do so with open eyes, a steady hand, and a tolerance for the word 'defeated' appearing where a save file used to be. ️

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Silksong in 2026: A Kingdom That Refuses to Soften

Hollow Knight: Silksong is a hostile, uncompromising sequel set in Pharloom, where Team Cherry's design refuses to soften for patch culture.

In 2026, the conversation around Hollow Knight: Silksong has settled into something unusual for a modern game: a quiet respect for its stubbornness. One player, a longtime fan of the original Hollow Knight, returned to Pharloom expecting the same warm glow of discovery that Hallownest had once offered. Instead, they found a sequel that felt less like an embrace and more like a dare. Silksong is obstinate, hostile, and utterly convinced of its own design. And after years of watching games bend to every patch note and fan complaint, that refusal to soften feels almost radical.

The original Hollow Knight had become one of the player's favorite games ever made. The moment they leaped into Hallownest, they were hooked by its world, and their fervor only grew as they surmounted each challenge. Silksong is different. It is mean, and not merely in the familiar sense of high difficulty. Benches constantly demand precious currency. Early-game bosses take out two chunks of health with every hit. Runbacks stretch patience thin, diagonal platforming segments are placed with trickster precision, and boss fights have a habit of spamming extra enemies into the arena. These choices are not simply hard; they are hostile, demanding a kind of patience that goes beyond learning a boss's attack patterns.

Would this game have survived a focus group? The question practically answers itself. If Silksong had been run through the usual pre-release testing gauntlet, the long runbacks would have been flagged. The bench costs would have been called punitive. The extra enemies in boss fights would have been trimmed. The diagonal platforming would have been sanded into something safer. In an era of online fan feedback and frequent patches, games are increasingly shaped by their communities. Intentional design decisions are often jettisoned if fans do not respond well, even in acclaimed titles like Baldur's Gate 3. The player had recently loved the challenges of Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, but community complaints about hostile choices, such as an abundance of traps, led to patches that softened the game's aggression. Silksong, by contrast, feels like an unaltered vision.

Team Cherry, a core team of just three people, clearly did not build Silksong to be universally agreeable. The game's scope might fool a newcomer into expecting a polished corporate product, but playing it quickly highlights that it could never have come out of a major company. There is too much personality in its cruelty. Too much confidence in its awkward edges. The player found themselves asking: is this what it looks like when artists trust their own instincts more than they fear the review thread?

Design choice
Modern patch culture
Silksong in 2026

Long runbacks
Often shortened after complaints
Preserved as part of the tension

Bench costs
Likely removed or reduced
Kept as a constant economic pressure

Boss adds
Frequently toned down
Embraced as chaos to manage

Diagonal platforming
Simplified for accessibility
Left tricky and demanding

In some ways, it is refreshing to play a game so clearly committed to its vision. It has been frustrating to watch developers back down every time fans complain, sanding games down into a monotonous idea of what good design is supposed to be. Silksong does not do that. It demands more patience than breezing through the original Hollow Knight did, and whether the player will end up finding the experience as fun overall remains to be seen. Maybe it does not matter. Team Cherry made the game it wanted to make, and in 2026, that is worth something.

The player may not walk away loving Silksong as much as the first game. The hostility may wear thin. The bench currency may sting too often. But there is a strange gratitude in seeing a sequel that refuses to apologize for its own shape. In a year when so many games are polished into agreement, Silksong stands as a reminder that a kingdom can be hostile, beautiful, and unforgettable all at once. ️️

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Hollow Knight: Silksong Double Moss Mother Boss Guide: Location, Phases, and Rewards

Hollow Knight: Silksong Double Moss Mother guide: find the arena, prepare Swift Step, master each phase, and claim victory.

In 2026, Hollow Knight: Silksong’s community is still plumbing Pharloom’s hidden corners, and one of the nastier optional scraps remains the Double Moss Mother fight. The original Moss Mother is the game’s first mandatory boss and essentially a tutorial in needlework, but the rematch is a different beast entirely: two aggressive moss mothers, one cramped arena, and absolutely no room for sloppy play. A fresh walkthrough of the encounter lays out the backtracking route, the best preparation, a phase-by-phase game plan, and the reward waiting at the end. Grab your Needle—this is double trouble.

Location and Preparation: Backtracking with a Purpose

The Double Moss Mother is tucked away in Weavenest Atla, a subarea of Moss Grotto, the very first biome. Players cannot simply stroll in on a first playthrough. The gate requires the Needolin, the passive ability Hornet earns after defeating the Widow in Bellhart. The Needolin lets Hornet use Silk to play ancient melodies with her Needle, opening the dark, inscription-covered Weaver Doors scattered around Pharloom.

Before making the trip, the guide recommends unlocking and mastering Swift Step, the dash from Deep Docks. That mobility is central to surviving the duo’s pendulum swings and falling debris. The quickest route back to Moss Grotto is to fast travel to The Marrow and jump into the pit on the left. Once inside Moss Grotto, open the map and look for the gate drawn in the rightmost area. Use the Needolin at the Weaver Door, speak ‘friend’—a wink to fantasy fans—and step into Weavenest Atla.

Weavenest Atla is not a major zone, but it hides useful items and, of course, the boss. The route is straightforward but easy to fumble:

• Follow the right passage to the end and hit the two slightly glowing lamps on the mysterious machine.

• On the way back to the exit, interact with the huge panel to unlock the area map.

• Continue left and step on the weird floor device that glows underfoot; it drops Hornet into a new area.

• Head left to find a Bench, rest, and make it the save point.

• Jump into the pond and swim left into a secret passage leading to a larger area.

• Clear or dodge the common enemies—especially the huge ones—and follow the left corridor to the very end.

The Double Moss Mother arena waits there. Players who rush in without a plan will get clobbered, so the guide’s preparation checklist is worth taking seriously: Needolin obtained, Swift Step mastered, Bench secured, and Silk reserves topped up.

Phase One: Kick Down the Door

The first Moss Mother enters with far more aggression than the tutorial version—perhaps seeking revenge. She swings her pendulum more frequently and beats the ceiling to drop rocks and summon minions. Crucially, phase one may last only seconds. Its duration does not depend on damage dealt; the boss herself decides when to call in the second Moss Mother. That makes phase one a damage race, not a survival test.

Players should be aggressive from the opening bell and never let her breathe. The core strategy is to stay near the center of the arena so the boss cannot corner Hornet. Jump to avoid pendulum swings, then punish her from below when she passes underneath. When she hits the ceiling and heavy stones fall, dash away immediately—dust marks where they will land. Summoned minions should be deleted as soon as they hit the floor. They are slow, but they can shave off one or two health points if players get desperate while dodging the boss.

When the first Moss Mother hits the ceiling and screams, the second one is about to arrive. That is the cue to brace for chaos.

Phase Two: Patience Is the Name of the Game

Phase two is where the fight earns its reputation. Two Moss Mothers attack at once, and the arena can spiral into chaos in a heartbeat. The guide’s advice is blunt: stop trying to be the hero. Stay centered, clear every minion that appears, and gather Silk for healing whenever possible. The safest approach is to let the bosses set the pace, wait for one to commit to a pass, then jump or dash in for a single hit. Only punish when the other Moss Mother is not about to accidentally clip Hornet on the way through.

Do
Don’t

Stay near the center
Get pinned in a corner

Kill minions immediately
Ignore adds for boss damage

Punish one pass at a time
Greed for long combos

Keep distance after a kill
Stand in the explosion

When one Moss Mother finally falls, she explodes and screams. That visual noise can distract players—one common pitfall is dying to the survivor right after the first kill. Get as far away as possible until the screen returns to normal. With one boss left, the fight loops back to the phase one strategy: stay centered, avoid the pendulum, punish safely, and clean up minions. A lucky long phase one can make the whole encounter much easier; chunk the first Moss Mother early, then focus the low-HP target once the duo arrives.

Rewards: Weavelight and a Hard-Earned Win

Surviving the double trouble does not end the danger. Two flying insects enter the arena after the bosses fall, and it would be a bitter pill to survive the duo only to get killed by common enemies. Defeat them with jump attacks, then grab the glowing item on the floor: the Weavelight. This blue tool increases the speed of Silk regeneration, effectively granting extra passive Silk. In a game where healing and abilities revolve around Silk, that is a genuinely useful reward and a fitting prize for one of Silksong’s tougher optional rematches.

The fight is no walk in the park, but it is fair. Center positioning, minion control, and old-fashioned patience are the name of the game. As the 2026 community continues to revisit Pharloom’s secrets, the Double Moss Mother remains a memorable test—and the Weavelight makes the detour well worth the bruises.

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Silksong's Hornet Has a Love Life, and I'm Obsessed

Hollow Knight: Silksong's Hornet diary entry reveals her multiple partners and lifespan grief, sparking fandom lore debate.

I have spent an embarrassing amount of time poking around every corner of Hollow Knight: Silksong, and just when I thought I had a handle on Hornet's whole deal, Team Cherry drops a diary entry that has completely rewired how I see her. Yes, we finally get more Hornet, and yes, she is way more vocal than she was in the original game, but I was not prepared for the community to start debating her romantic history like it is the final boss of lore analysis. The entry in question is tied to the Great Conchfly, and once you encounter it, Hornet writes something that has sent shippers, lore nerds, and meme makers into a full-blown spiral.

The Diary Entry That Broke the Fandom

Here is the short version: Hornet's journal notes that the Great Conchfly rarely leaves its mate once it has partnered up. That alone is a cute bit of creature behavior, but then Hornet reflects on her own life and reveals that she has had multiple partners over her lifetime. She says she once sought the "great joy" that having a mate brings, which is a surprisingly tender line from a character who usually communicates through needle strikes and terse warnings. The kicker is that none of her former partners shared her lifespan. That detail opens up a whole nest of questions: did they pass away? Did she leave before things got too painful? Was she trying to avoid outliving someone she loved? Suddenly, Hornet's quiet intensity feels a lot heavier.

As a player, I love this kind of environmental storytelling because it does not spell everything out. It gives us just enough to make us lean in. The journal system in Silksong is already one of my favorite additions because it makes Hornet feel like a person with opinions, routines, and a past, not just a cool silhouette with a spear. And honestly, the fact that she keeps a journal at all is a delightful character beat. She is observing the world, writing things down, and letting us peek at her thoughts. That is a far cry from the Hornet we met in the first game, where every encounter felt like a test.

What the Journal Reveals
Why It Matters

Hornet has had multiple partners
It confirms she has an active romantic history, not just a mysterious past

She sought the "great joy" of having a mate
It makes her more emotionally vulnerable and relatable

None of her partners shared her lifespan
It hints at her age, longevity, and possible loss

Great Conchflies rarely leave their mates
It contrasts her own experiences with a more permanent bond

The Fandom Is Handling It Exactly How You'd Expect

The community reaction has been absolute chaos in the best way. Shippers are re-examining every character interaction with a magnifying glass, artists are already sketching potential former partners, and lore theorists are using the lifespan line to argue about how old Hornet actually is. I have seen people joke that she felt the six-year wait for Silksong in her bones because she has clearly been around for a very long time. Others are taking the sadder route and imagining a string of quiet farewells, which honestly fits the tone of this series a little too well. The memes are relentless, but underneath the jokes, there is genuine fascination with Hornet as a character.

What I find most interesting is that this reveal does not feel like fan service. It feels like worldbuilding. Hornet has always been one of the most compelling figures in the series, and Silksong finally gives us the space to spend time with her. The Knight is great, obviously, but Hornet has a presence that demands more attention. She is proud, guarded, and capable, and now we know she has also been lonely in a way that is hard to fix. A long lifespan is not just a power fantasy; it is a recipe for watching people come and go. That line about her partners not sharing her lifespan does more character work than a dozen exposition dumps could.

My Take as a Player

I do not think this entry means we should expect a dating sim spin-off, and I also do not think it reduces Hornet to a romance subplot. If anything, it makes her more complete. It tells us she has tried to connect, that she understands the appeal of partnership, and that something about her nature makes those connections fragile. That is rich material for future lore, and it makes her journal entries feel worth hunting down. I am now side-eyeing every new NPC in Silksong and wondering whether Hornet is going to write something devastating about them in three paragraphs.

So yes, the fandom is going wild, and I am right there with them. Hornet has a love life, a long memory, and a journal full of feelings she would probably never say out loud. That is a fantastic character reveal, and it is exactly the kind of quiet detail that keeps me obsessed with this world long after the credits roll. ️️

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Lamine Yamal FC 27 Card Guide: Stats & Coins

Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana’s Star Performer card shines in FC 27 with elite dribbling, pace, and passing—plus fast ways to obtain it.

Introduction About Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana

Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana is a Spanish footballer who holds Spanish and Equatorial Guinean nationality and was born on 13 July 2007 in Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Catalonia. He is a good Right Wing player, standing out for his close control, creativity, and composure on the flank, and he is widely seen as one of the most promising young attackers in the game.

On the international stage, he first joined Spain’s U19 setup in October 2022 and made his senior Spain debut on 9 September 2023 in a European Championship qualifier, scoring on that appearance. At UEFA Euro 2024, he became the tournament’s youngest-ever player and youngest assist provider, helped Spain win the title, and was named Best Young Player after recording one goal and four assists.

At club level, Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana developed through Barcelona’s La Masia academy and progressed from the U16 and U19 sides before then-head coach Xavi invited him to train with the first team in September 2022. He made his Barcelona debut in April 2023 and was part of the squad that won the 2022–23 La Liga title. In October 2023, he scored his first Barcelona goal and became La Liga’s youngest scorer at 16 years and 87 days; he later received the Kopa Trophy in October 2024 and the Golden Boy award in November 2024.

Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana's Star Performer card

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Fastest Ways to Earn FC 27 Coins

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Silksong’s 45-Degree Downward Attack Is Rewiring My Hollow Knight Muscle Memory

Silksong’s diagonal Hornet downward attack breaks Hollow Knight muscle memory, turning every pogo into a stylish, thrilling test of precision.

I did not expect Silksong to make me feel like a beginner again. I have played Hollow Knight before—seven years ago, apparently, which is a sentence that makes my knees creak—and I do not spend much time in 2D platformers. My first run through Hallownest was a parade of tiny mistakes, repeated deaths, and boss rooms that taught me humility. So when Silksong arrived, I braced for the same long climb back to competence. In 2026, with the launch hype settled and the game still living rent-free in my rotation, I can say most of it came back like muscle memory. Except for one move. One tiny, elegant, infuriating change: Hornet’s downward attack.

The Knight Went Down. Hornet Goes Diagonal.

In Hollow Knight, the Knight’s downward attack was exactly what it sounded like: a strike aimed straight down. You jumped over an enemy, pogoed off its head, bounced over spikes, and used the move as a late-game crutch for bosses and optional areas. I had it mastered. I assumed Silksong would inherit that muscle memory and let me coast. Ha. No.

Hornet does things with flair. When you press down-attack, she darts downward at a 45-degree angle in whichever direction she is facing. If she connects with an enemy or obstacle, she bounces back up with a spin that looks cool enough to frame. It is incredibly Hornet. It is also a completely different geometry from the move I spent years internalizing.

Move
Hollow Knight (The Knight)
Silksong (Hornet)

Direction
Straight down
45-degree diagonal dash

Feel
Simple pogo
Stylish spin and flip

Risk
Miss and fall
Miss and fly off a ledge

Relearning curve
Already mastered
Ongoing, humbling

That table is doing a lot of emotional labor for me.

Muscle Memory Is a Traitor With Good Taste

I am trying to use the move as much as possible so I can nail it early. Pun absolutely intended. If Hornet insists on doing a dramatic spin and flip while fighting, then fine—I will spin and flip too. We both deserve it. I am two bosses down, and the move already paid off on the second fight. The extra airtime kept me alive in a way that felt less like luck and more like a skill I might eventually own.

But the downside arrived quickly. I found a room with obstacles to bounce across, no platforms, and a spiky floor below. On the other side? Treasure. Sweet, glorious treasure. I made it across the first time and grabbed it. Then I needed to get back. I tried, lost health. I tried again, lost more health. I tried once more, died. Now I had to return, bounce across again, collect my things, and bounce back out. Oh man. The room was not asking for mastery. It was asking for one clean diagonal pogo, repeated, while my brain kept whispering, remember the Knight? Remember straight down?

The deaths are not tragic, exactly. They are funny in the way that only your own hands betraying you can be funny. I keep striking where the enemy was, or where a straight-down attack would have connected, and instead Hornet rockets off at an angle. Sometimes I hit the enemy with my body and take damage. Sometimes I miss entirely and go flying off a ledge. The game feels familiar. The design feels familiar. The bosses feel like Hollow Knight bosses. But this one move catches me out again and again.

Relearning Is the Best Part, Unfortunately

Here is the annoying truth: I love that Silksong did this. A lesser sequel might have copied the Knight’s pogo and let veterans sleepwalk through the early game. Hornet’s diagonal down-attack forces me to actually think about positioning, facing direction, and momentum. It turns ordinary traversal into a small puzzle. It makes combat feel like a conversation where I keep mishearing the other person.

Is it frustrating? Absolutely. Do I want the game to change it? No. The frustration is the point. It is the same feeling I had seven years ago when Hallownest was a hostile unknown and every bounce was a tiny negotiation with gravity. In 2026, I am not a beginner anymore, but Silksong found a way to make me feel like one in the best possible way. I have to relearn Hollow Knight, and I love that. I just wish my thumbs would stop filing complaints.

So yes, the downward attack is a small change. It is also the change that will define my early Silksong experience. I will keep spinning, keep missing ledges, keep dying to rooms that should be simple, and keep coming back. After all, what is a Hollow Knight game without a little humiliation? And what is a sequel without one move that makes you question everything you thought you knew?

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Needle Strike in Silksong: A Third-Person Guide Through Blasted Steps

Get Needle Strike in Hollow Knight: Silksong by reaching Blasted Steps and defeating the Great Conchflies with smart, mobile tactics.

Hornet had learned to dance through Shellwood's canopy, but the real prize of Act 1 still eluded her. In Hollow Knight: Silksong, the flashy moves and unique abilities are only half the story; the other half is a charged attack that hits like a freight train. That ability is the Needle Strike, and by 2026 it remains one of the most satisfying tools in the early game. It does not show up until the end of Act 1, and the road to it is no walk in the park. The path is not overly long, but it runs straight through a duo boss that deals two masks of damage per hit. For any player who has been coasting on Silk and swagger, this is where the gloves come off.

The Road to Blasted Steps

The first order of business is reaching Blasted Steps, the far-left slice of the map that opens up after Hornet acquires the wall jump ability in Shellwood. From the Bellway Station in Shellwood, head right and drop down all the way until the path lets you go left. Keep going until you arrive at a bench, and just before it is a spot where you can go up. Use that to access the bench on the right and open the gate blocking the Bellway Station. Once you are in Blasted Steps, which is the path left of the bench you just unlocked, head all the way up. There you will find Blasted Steps' Bellway Station and a bench to rest at. It is a bit of a trek, but nothing that should send you back to the drawing board.

From that bench, head down the same way you came, but float toward the left wall. When you spot a blue sign pointing to the left, head through there. That is your cue to keep your eyes peeled, because you are about to come across the Great Conchflies.

A Duo That Means Business

The Great Conchflies are a duo boss fight, and both Conchflies deal double mask damage. They are coordinated in their attacks, which means Hornet has to watch where both of them start to drill in and drill out. At times, one of the Conchflies will stop and shoot a projectile at you. You can dodge it, or you can attack it to deflect it away. Whenever the boss is about to emerge from the ground, a trail of dust will appear. That is a huge indicator, so do not ignore it. After one of the bosses has been dealt with, the other will run away, ending the fight. The trick is to focus one target, stay mobile, and treat the dust trail like a warning sign from the game itself. It is not a cut-and-dry damage race; it is a dance, and the Conchflies are happy to lead.

Challenge
What to Watch For
Quick Tip

Drill attacks
Both Conchflies coordinate their entries and exits
Keep both on screen and move early

Projectiles
One Conchfly stops to shoot
Dodge or deflect with an attack

Ground emergence
A trail of dust appears
Use the dust as your cue to reposition

Duo pressure
Two masks of damage per hit
Do not get greedy; chip away and reset

Once the fight is done, head further left and make your way across the worms below. At the end of the path, you will need to pogo the bouncy balls to reach the hut above. This is a classic Silksong platforming moment: a little patience, a little rhythm, and a little nerve. Pogo off the balls, keep your cool, and you will land at the hut where the Pinstress waits.

The Pinstress and the Prize

Talk to the Pinstress, and she will reward Hornet with the Needle Strike ability. It is performed by holding down the attack button, and it deals increased damage to enemies. After the Conchflies, the reward feels like a well-earned pat on the back. The Needle Strike is not just a flashy trick; it is a tool that changes how Hornet approaches tougher foes. Charged attacks can punish openings, break through defensive moments, and give players a reason to hold their ground instead of always flitting away.

For players who have been wondering when Silksong would hand over its first real power spike, the answer is simple: Act 1's end, after a boss that refuses to go easy. The route is not complicated, but the Great Conchflies are the real gatekeepers. Keep the dust trail in mind, deflect what you can, and do not let the two-mask damage get under your skin. Once the Pinstress hands over the Needle Strike, the rest of Act 1 feels different. Hornet walks away with a new trick, and the game quietly says: now the real fun begins.

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Silksong Steel Soul Mode: Early Unlock Code, Permadeath Rules, and Achievements

Silksong’s Steel Soul Mode is a permadeath challenge: one life, no revives, and a 100% completion achievement for the fearless.

In 2026, Silksong's Steel Soul Mode remains the game's sternest test of nerve. The permadeath variant returns from the original Hollow Knight and gives players one life, one save slot, and one shot at finishing the entire campaign without falling once. Even a standard run of Silksong can be brutally punishing, so Steel Soul Mode does not simply raise the difficulty; it changes the conversation. The mode does not hold hands. It stares back. For veterans who know Hornet's move set and the map's cruel little surprises, that stare is the appeal.

A Single Life, No Do-Overs

Steel Soul Mode is normally unlocked by completing a regular playthrough. That path rewards patience, but it is not the only way. A secret method lets players open the mode early through the Extras menu on the title screen. The sequence is:

Up, Down, Up, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right

To trigger it, players open Silksong's main menu, select Extras, and enter the sequence. A successful attempt produces a brief white flash on screen. After that, starting a new game presents two choices: Classic Mode for normal play, and Steel Soul Mode for a run with no reviving and permanent death.

Mode
Rule

Classic Mode
Standard play with normal revival rules

Steel Soul Mode
No reviving; death is permanent

When Hornet Falls, the Run Is Over

In Steel Soul Mode, health is not a buffer for experimentation. If Hornet's health reaches zero, the Game Over screen appears, and the run is finished. Death does not knock politely. The save slot then carries the word 'Defeated', and the only available action is deletion, clearing space for a fresh attempt. That public mark is part of the mode's harsh design: it turns every failed run into a small tombstone.

For newcomers, one slip-up and it's curtains. For experienced players, the threat sharpens every decision. Healing windows become precious. Risky shortcuts lose their charm. Boss patterns that once felt like puzzles become exams with no retakes. Steel Soul Mode asks players to trade experimentation for discipline, and that shift is a whole different ball game.

Achievements and the 100% Test

Two achievements are tied to Steel Soul Mode in Silksong:

• Steel Soul: Finish the game in Steel Soul Mode.

• Steel Heart: Achieve 100% game completion and finish the game in Steel Soul Mode.

The first is a clean completion under permanent-death rules. The second is the mode's real crown. A 100% run demands broad exploration, optional challenges, upgrades, and boss encounters, all without a single death. The achievement list keeps its toughest prize behind one life, and that design gives completionists a target that is easy to understand and brutal to execute.

Why Steel Soul Still Matters in 2026

Steel Soul Mode remains relevant because it reframes Silksong as a game of memory and restraint. It is not the default way to play, and it is not meant for every player on day one. It is the ultimate gauntlet for those confident in their skill, a mode that turns map knowledge, combat timing, and route planning into a single continuous performance. Players who have already cleared the campaign may find that Steel Soul changes how they read every room, every bench, and every enemy tell. In 2026, that appeal has not faded. The mode is still a badge of honor, a stress test, and a reminder that Silksong's world can be beautiful, hostile, and unforgiving all at once.

For players who treat Steel Soul as a test of patience and precision, the same mindset often carries over to how they build their gaming library and setup. Whether you're hunting for a new controller that can handle long boss attempts, a comfortable headset for late-night runs, or simply another challenging title to conquer next, DealNest is a straightforward place to compare offers and [find the best deal]( without wasting time.

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Chasing Pollip Hearts: My Rite of the Pollip Journey in Silksong

Hollow Knight: Silksong's Rite of the Pollip guide maps all six Shellwood Pollip Hearts, with Greyroot quest tips and the Pollip Pouch route.

Even in 2026, Hollow Knight: Silksong still has a way of making me feel like a lost bug in a very pretty maze. I remember stumbling into Shellwood for the first time, all confidence and no map, and then meeting Greyroot. Her request sounded simple: bring her six purple pollips. Six flowers. How hard could it be? Several wood wasp swarms, one Sister Splinter fight, and a lot of vertical pogo practice later, I learned that the Rite of the Pollip is less a stroll and more a treasure hunt designed by someone who loves hidden tunnels. If you are chasing that 100 percent achievement and the Pollip Pouch, here is the route I wish I had on my first pass.

Before You Pick a Single Flower

Before you accept the wish, do yourself a favor and buy the Shellwood map. I skipped it once and spent twenty minutes hugging walls. Shakra sells it for 70 Rosary, but where she appears depends on how you entered Shellwood.

• If you arrived from the Wormways before going through Greymoor, find Shakra in Greymoor, east of the Far Fields entrance.

• If you came from Bellhart, take the west exit from the first Shellwood bench, ride the elevator down, and use the bottom-left exit.

With the map pinned, visit Greyroot in her west-side abode. My route: head west from the east Shellwood bench, go as far left as you can in the next room, take the top-left exit, and enter the house at the end. She asks for six purple pollips. Accept the quest, and the hunt begins.

Pollip Hearts hide inside unique purple flowers. Strike each flower three times to break it and claim the heart. A few truths I learned the hard way: many hearts are guarded by wood wasps; you must defeat Sister Splinter; Cling Grip is required for the final three; and hearts can be collected in any order, but they never respawn.

The Six Hearts, Without the Guesswork

Where to look
Requirement

1
Top-right corner of the room two exits west of Bellhart
None; Cling Grip makes it faster

2
Center alcove of Shellwood's central vertical room
Pogo off white flowers

3
Room after Sister Splinter's arena
Defeat Sister Splinter

4
Secret tunnel below a wood wasp nest near Herrah's statue
Cling Grip

5
Top of the right wall reached from the east bench's bottom-right exit
Cling Grip

6
Behind a breakable vine wall near the east bench
Cling Grip

1. The Wasp-Guarded Northeast Flower

This one does not need Cling Grip, though I used it anyway. Start in the room two exits west of Bellhart — the room southwest of the east bench. Climb from the left side, keep going until you reach the east wall, then follow the vines and wasps upward. The flower waits in the top-right corner. Bring a weapon you trust, because the wasps below and at the site are relentless.

2. The Center Alcove Pogo Puzzle

The second heart is a pogo puzzle. Find the small vertical room in the dead center of Shellwood, reached from the top-left exit of the east bench room. Inside, a single splinterhorn keeps you company. Bounce off the white flowers to reach the pollip in the top-left corner of the center alcove. It is safe enough to practice; just do not rush the last jump.

3. The Post-Boss Flower

This one showed up naturally after Sister Splinter. After the boss fight, continue left into the next area and keep your eyes below. Two white flowers and wall growths mark the spot. Drop down and left into the small alcove.

4. The Wasp Nest Secret Tunnel

Once Cling Grip is yours, head to the room right of Herrah's statue. Instead of going right toward Bellhart, go up past the splinterbarks. The path dead-ends at a wood wasp nest beside a pool — lovely. Destroy the nest, and a secret tunnel opens downward to the heart.

5. The Right Wall Climb

Return to the east bench. Take the bottom-right exit, descend until you can move right, then follow platforms along the right wall. Climb the right wall when you can, and the heart is at the top. Heart five and six are practically neighbors, so order does not matter.

6. The Hidden Vine Wall

From the east bench, jump onto the right wall and take the first exit on the right. In the next room, drop off the ledge instead of jumping to the platform, then destroy the breakable vine wall on your left. The hidden passage reveals the final flower.

Turning Hearts Into Venom

Return to Greyroot once all six hearts are in your inventory. Give her the pollips and wait while she works off-screen. In return, she hands over the Pollip Pouch.

Venom adds extra ticks of damage on initial contact and another tick after a short delay. Against bosses and the wraiths in the Mist, that extra damage matters. For trap-based builds, the Pollip Pouch is basically mandatory, so getting it early is worth every wasp sting.

Would I do it again? In 2026, with a map and Cling Grip, absolutely. The Rite of the Pollip is still one of Silksong's fussiest collect quests, but the Pollip Pouch turns a flower hunt into a real build option. Grab the map, visit Greyroot, and pack plenty of patience for those wasps. 🪲️

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