The much-anticipated Hollow Knight (2017) sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong, has dropped from Team Cherry. Silksong follows Hornet, Hallownest’s former princess-protector, after she is captured and taken to the distant kingdom of Pharloom. This long-awaited Hollow Knight: Silksong delivers the same gorgeous atmosphere and merciless combat fans loved in the original, but with fresh mechanics and faster movement, all in a brand-new setting.
No matter what experience level you’re at, these Hollow Knight Silksong tips will help you stay one step ahead of the game.
Hollow Knight: Silksong Beginner Tips: Starting Strong in Pharloom
If you’re new to Hollow Knight: Silksong, or even just the franchise itself, the first hours can feel overwhelming.
Here are a few things you can focus on when getting started in Hollow Knight: Silksong:
Learn Pogo and Mid-Air Healing Early on: Hornet’s movement is faster than the Knight’s, and it makes pogo mechanics critical. To diagonal pogo correctly, you need to press down and hold a horizontal direction as well to have precise control for any quick mid-air redirections. You can pair this with Hornet’s unique ability to heal in the air: pogo off an enemy, then start binding while airborne so you get a safe heal window.
Experiment with Crests: The crest you choose defines how Hornet fights. You have two crests to choose from, with the Hunter’s Crest offering balance and reliable pogo setups, while the Wanderer’s Crest delivers faster attacks and DPS. Don’t overcomplicate it and pick whichever is most natural for you, as you can always swap it later.
Don’t wait too Long to Map and Quill: In Hollow Knight Silksong, you must purchase a quill to update your maps properly. Navigating Pharloom blind is way too complicated when you’re still learning routes and landmarks.
Don’t be Hasty: Many bosses only allow one or two safe strikes before punishing counterattacks, so slow down, learn attack patterns, and take safe damage windows instead of spamming combos.
With these Hollow Knight: Silksong beginner tips, you should be able to lay a solid foundation to get ahead in the game.
Hollow Knight: Silksong Advanced Tips: Mastering Hornet’s Arsenal
Now that you’ve got a good grasp on Hollow Knight: Silksong, it’s time to sharpen your skills and further develop your playstyle.
Feel free to try out some of these more advanced Hollow Knight: Silksong tips:
Dash Cancels and Fluid Movement: Dash cancelling is ending a dash early with an attack to reposition quickly so you can weave in safe pokes without overextending into enemy swings. Combined with pogo and float mechanics, dash cancelling creates a rhythm of in-and-out movement for Hornet.
Prioritize Red Tools Over Spells: Tools like Clawline or Scuttle Brace outperform spells in most encounters. They’re safer, faster, and deal consistent damage without leaving you too exposed, so save your silk for these tools and weave them into your combos.
Upgrade Your Needle ASAP: Seek out Pinmaster Plinney after liberating Bellhart to begin upgrading Hornet’s needle with Pale Oil. Each upgrade dramatically improves your damage and efficiency in combat. You should also revisit earlier zones once your needle is stronger, as you’ll often find secrets and clear rooms that were too tough to go through previously.
Use Movement for Defense, Not Just Offense: Hollow Knight Silksong prioritizes positioning over damage, so basically jumping aimlessly or strolling in fights leads to punishment. Think of every movement input as part of your defense.
With these more advanced tips, you can master Hollow Knight Silksong and all the challenges Pharloom throws your way.
General Hollow Knight: Silksong Tips for Everyone
These Hollow Knight: Silksong tips apply no matter how much time and experience you have with Hollow Knight.
Following these tips can help keep you alive in Pharloom:
Observe Before Attacking: When you encounter a new boss, spend your first few attempts dodging only. Watch tells, spacing, and movement patterns so you can learn safe windows much faster than if you’re swinging blindly.
Beware of Benches: Unlike in the previous Hollow Knight game, benches aren’t always safe in Silksong, which means you need to constantly scan the environment before sitting. Some areas feature traps, like spiked pendulums near Hunter’s March, that punish you for letting your guard down.
Manage Your Resources Wisely: Don’t burn all your shards or rosaries on minor upgrades early. Save currency for key upgrades, such as needle sharpening or essential tools.
Embrace Difficulty Spikes: Silksong deliberately throws difficulty walls at you. Instead of getting discouraged, take them as signals to backtrack, upgrade your needle, or experiment with new tools.
With Hollow Knight Silksong’s emphasis on rewarding players who plan and prepare instead of mindlessly going into battle, having an idea of what you need to do to get through Pharloom will bring you much further in the game.
Hollow Knight Silksong: Bonus Quests and Tips
Aside from the main gameplay, there are plenty of side quests hidden throughout Hollow Knight: Silksong. These side objectives can make your journey much easier, as long as you know where to look.
Make sure to keep an eye out for these quests:
Spine Cores and the Seamstress: In Far Fields, farming Hokers for 25 Spine Cores lets the Seamstress craft the Drifter’s Cloak, granting wind-pillar traversal and progression.
Steel Soul Mode: Permadeath mode is unlockable early via a code in the Extras menu, although you should wait until you’ve spent more time playing Silksong.
Hidden Map Reward: Avoiding the quill for a large portion of the game grants a secret cosmetic badge. Basically, it’s a bragging-rights challenge for those willing to suffer through the game without maps.
At its core, Hollow Knight Silksong is the ultimate expression of Team Cherry’s design philosophy: graceful movement, punishing challenge, and layered systems that reward persistence.
Play Hollow Knight: Silksong on an iBUYPOWER Gaming PC
Hollow Knight: Silksong is not meant to be easy. It’s deliberately designed to push you and surprise you, but once you adapt, the game evolves into so much more.
To fully immerse yourself in Pharloom, you need a premium gaming PC system. At iBUYPOWER, there are many ways to enjoy Hollow Knight: Silksong, from our customizable gaming PCs to our pre-built systems. No matter how you want to play, iBUYPOWER has you covered.
Want to learn more about building gaming PCs? If you’re new to the game, check out our ultimate guide for choosing your first PC.
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