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My Liquid Lacquer Delivery to Mask Maker in Silksong Master the brutal Liquid Lacquer delivery in Hollow Knight: Silksong—protect the fragile 3 HP jar along the Bellhart-Mount Fay route to Mask Maker. After I saved Tipp and Pill, I thought the chaos was over. Nope. Those two immediately put me on courier duty, and the Liquid Lacquer delivery to Mask Maker became the closest thing Silksong has to a stress test for the soul. That little jar sat in my inventory like a fragile glass heart, and every enemy, spike, and bad landing wanted to shatter it. Why This Quest Is Brutal Delivery quests in Hollow Knight: Silksong already disable teleporting, but Liquid Lacquer adds a cruel twist. The item has only 3 HP. On top of that, this quest opens in Act 3, when many enemies are upgraded and throwing dark attacks. Some of those attacks hit multiple times, which can instantly erase the jar. No pressure, right? The mission rules are short, but the run feels anything but short: Deliver Liquid Lacquer to Mask Maker in Mount Fay. Protect the Liquid Lacquer with its 3 HP. Survive without teleportation. Prepping Before the Run I cleared every area along the route before starting the actual delivery. It took longer than the run itself, but I would rather spend twenty minutes removing Void Masses and dark enemies than repeat a ten-to-fifteen-minute run because a multi-hit shadow attack tapped my jar twice. The journey is long enough without gambling on enemy spawns. Here is the route I trusted: Order Area 1 Bellhart 2 Shellwood 3 Blasted Steps 4 Grand Gate 5 Choral Chambers 6 The Slab 7 Mount Fay Bellhart to Mount Fay I started from Bellhart using the same path I knew from the Courier's Rasher delivery. Act 3 changed things, though. Some walls were broken and old hook points were gone, but new platforms and targets appeared clearly enough. Once I reached Choral Chambers, I stopped at the gate that exits into The Slab and aimed for the Bellway at the bottom. That lower route gave me easy access to Mount Fay. The Mount Fay Climb Mount Fay is where the real platforming begins. It is the same climb I did for the Faydown Cloak, but this time I had Double Jump, which made the vertical maze far more manageable. Still, Act 3 placed dark upgraded enemies along the climb, including some that normally exist only to help with the hook. Even the air felt hostile up there. After conquering the main climb, the wind current carried me upward. I used it to leap left onto a ledge. For a moment, I just stopped and let Hornet breathe... Then I spotted the slide. The Hidden Parkour Puzzle That slide drops you toward the bottom of Mount Fay. I had to jump and descend until I saw a small hole on the left side. Entering it began the final upward parkour puzzle to Mask Maker. The first rough spot involved a high ledge with spikes waiting on the other side. I jumped at the spikes and attacked them to boost Hornet onto the ledge. My hands were absolutely sweating by then. Next came a double-jump wall challenge that demands perfect timing. Instead of fighting it, I used the skip: jump to the icy slide on the left, touch it, and immediately jump again to reach the other side. That little move saved my attempt and possibly my controller. Delivering the Jar After ten to fifteen minutes of nerves, I finally reached Mask Maker and delivered the Liquid Lacquer. The jar survived, barely. Standing there at the end of Mount Fay, I realized the hardest part was not any single enemy or spike—it was keeping my focus while the whole of Pharloom tried to crack my cargo open. Would I run it again? Ask me after my hands stop shaking. After a delivery like that, I usually find myself browsing for the next game to test my platforming skills before I lose my nerve entirely. Whether I'm hunting for something that matches Silksong's intensity or just re-installing an old favorite, I've learned to compare prices before committing. Sites like DealNest specialize in rounding up the [cheapest steam keys]( so I never have to overspend just to satisfy my craving for a good challenge. Once you have your next title secured at a fair price, you'll be ready for whatever absurd deliveries await. And trust me, there is always another jar, another climb, and another Mask Maker waiting just around the corner. https://dealnesthq.com

How I Triggered and Finished the Dark Hearts Quest in Silksong Hollow Knight: Silksong Act 3's Dark Hearts quest guides players to remove Void Masses in Pharloom, earning a valuable Mask Fragment. While pushing through Act 3 of Hollow Knight: Silksong, I noticed a new Hunt-type wish pinned to the Bellhart Wish Board. The citizens of Bellhart were clearly unsettled—they kept looking over their shoulders at dark, pulsing growths that had begun appearing in the surrounding areas. Their wish was simple: find someone brave enough to remove the Void Masses permanently. That request turned out to be the Dark Hearts quest. It did not take long to trigger, but tracking down enough Void Masses made me climb through almost every corner of Pharloom. The trigger itself is straightforward once you have reached Act 3. I approached the Bellhart Wish Board and grabbed the wish. From that moment, Hornet's objective was to destroy 12 Void Masses. The reward promised for clearing the danger was a Mask Fragment, which is always useful for survivability. What surprised me was how many Void Masses actually exist—there are more than 40 scattered across Pharloom, but only 12 are required for the quest. That gave me plenty of freedom to pick a route close to Bellhart and avoid some of the more dangerous detours. I started my search right outside Bellhart. From the hub, I headed right and took the elevator upward. After running left and climbing a few rocky ledges, I reached Shellwood. Under one of the wooden platforms I found my first Void Mass. The growth was dark, sticky, and seemed to cling to the surface like tar. A quick strike removed it. I continued left and glided down beneath a cliff edge to find a second Void Mass. Staying on lower ground, I entered a larger chamber. Near the top of that area, next to a room entrance, a third Void Mass was stuck to the side of the wall. Venturing through a lower door to the left brought me close to the bench near Bone Bottom. In that horizontal room, another Void Mass clung to the ceiling, forcing me to jump and strike upward. From Shellwood I made my way toward The Marrow. I also used the Needle to summon the baby Bell Beasts and returned to the Bellway, which allowed me to teleport closer to my next targets. Heading left from the Bellway and then down revealed a Void Mass tucked in a corner under a platform on the right. Gliding down to the bottom of a vertical room, I looked to the upper left corner and used the platforms to reach another one. Climbing to the top of that same vertical room, I went right and found a Void Mass on the roof near a red bulb. Further right, I flew past a bench—resting there helped because the enemies were starting to pile up—and found a Void Mass on the upper part of the area. Deep Docks became the next major stop. I kept moving in the same direction and climbed the second vertical room. At the end, a Void Mass waited. Heading higher and turning left, I saw another Void Mass stuck to the side of a platform near the lava. That one was tricky because enemies guarded the area. I cleared them first and then used a plunge attack to scrape the growth off cleanly. I briefly considered heading into Hunter's March. There is a Void Mass on the roof above two enemies not far from the entrance, but after checking my count I decided to skip it. If you want a safer route or need an extra one without going too far into Far Fields, Hunter's March is a reasonable option. However, I preferred to push forward. Returning to Deep Docks, I went right into Far Fields. I climbed higher and moved into the next area, where a Void Mass was stuck to the top and surrounded by enemies. Defeating them before removing the mass made the task less frantic. Then I went back to the previous room, glided down to the lower section, and ran right. There, under one of the platforms near the lava, I found the final Void Mass I needed for my count. By the time I destroyed twelve, I had explored a good chunk of Pharloom. The route I followed was not the only option, and I know I left many Void Masses untouched in more distant areas. That is one of the best parts of the Dark Hearts quest: you can mix and match based on your preferred path, your combat comfort, and whether you want to detour into optional regions. Returning to Bellhart felt satisfying. I spoke with the quest giver, turned in the removed Void Masses, and completed the Dark Hearts quest. The reward was exactly what the board had promised—a Mask Fragment. For any player in Act 3, I would recommend picking up this wish early and keeping an eye out for the dark growths as you travel. Since only twelve are needed out of more than forty, the quest is manageable even if you skip the more hostile locations. Quick trigger checklist: Advance to Act 3. Visit the Bellhart Wish Board. Accept the Hunt-type wish called Dark Hearts. Destroy 12 Void Masses anywhere in Pharloom. Return to Bellhart and turn them in for a Mask Fragment. A few tips that helped me: Use plunge attacks when a Void Mass is attached to a platform or floor. Clear nearby enemies before trying to remove a growth. Rest at benches before enemy-heavy rooms. Watch ceilings, corners, and the undersides of platforms, because the black growths blend into shadows. Once you've cleared your board and collected that Mask Fragment, it's natural to start thinking about the next adventure. Many players I know like to keep a rotating backlog of games so they can jump straight from one quest to another. Hunting for good deals is part of that habit, and I've found it pays to compare prices before picking up a new title. If you're looking to expand your library without overspending, you might want to check out [cheapest steam keys]( at DealNest. Whether you're chasing another Metroidvania with similar exploration or want to switch genres entirely, grabbing a game at a solid discount makes the next adventure even easier to start. Happy hunting, and may your benches always be nearby. https://dealnesthq.com

How I Found Every Crest in Hollow Knight: Silksong Hollow Knight: Silksong Crests transform Hornet’s gameplay, offering unique moves, upgrades, and strategic options for survival. I never expected a simple badge to change how Hornet moves, attacks, and survives. But that is exactly what Crests do in Hollow Knight: Silksong. After too many hours wandering Pharloom in 2026, I finally tracked down all seven and earned that achievement. Here is my story. Hunter Crest This one starts with you. I did not have to find it. The Hunter Crest is equipped at the beginning of Hornet's journey. At first I thought it was basic. But it is the only Crest that can be upgraded. Eva in Weavenest Atla can upgrade it twice. The upgrades depend on how many Memory Lockets I had used. I was hoarding a few, and after using them, Eva offered the upgrade. Fully upgraded, it gains a focus meter. That meter builds when I deal successful damage and makes my attacks hit even harder. If I get hit, it drops to zero. This Crest rewards a careful, dodge-focused playstyle. If you like Hornet's starting moveset, stick with it. Reaper Crest The Reaper Crest sits in Greymoor, just before the Moorwing fight. I found it in the Chapel in the far west, south of Yarnaby. It changes the main attack into a slow but heavy strike. I could even slash downward instead of diagonally. Binding also lets me steal silk wisps from enemies to charge the silk meter faster. This crest made my run back to Moorwing less painful because grabbing a Crest acts as a hard save. If you are struggling with that fight, pick this up first. Wanderer Crest I loved the original Hollow Knight attack speed, so the Wanderer Crest was a joy. It allows extremely quick slashes but with far less range. If I judged distance correctly, fights ended fast. It also gives a powerful critical chance when my silk meter has silk. To reach it, I went to the Chapel west of Bone Bottom Town. I needed the Cling Grip to climb a high wall in a ruined building at the far west. The Longclaw tool helps offset the short range. Beast Crest Honestly, I did not experiment much with this one. Its down attack is tricky, and pogoing feels essential in Silksong. It has passive lifesteal, which heals you when you damage enemies. That sounds great, but it also gets no blue tool slots, which hurts. I got it in the east of Hunter's March after taking down the Savage Beastfly. Witch Crest This one only becomes available in Act 2. It is tied to the Infestation Operation quest. I found a twisted bud in Bilewater from the Whispering Vaults exit, then spoke to Greyroot in Shellwood. Completing the quest let me fuse with the twisted bud. The moveset double-hits enemies and builds silk quickly. The binding attack whips tendrils around for heavy damage. It took practice, but it became my pick for arena rooms like High Halls. Architect Crest I loved spamming Cogflies but always ran out. The Architect Crest fixed that. It turns the main weapon into a drill and lets me equip three red tools. I could craft more on the fly. The shard cost is high, but the payoff is worth it. To get it, I needed 25 different tools. After that, the Architect Key appeared in the shop for 110 rosaries. I headed up and west from the Architect's location to enter a new area and bind the crest. Shaman Crest The last one is hidden in Act 3 and requires Silk Soar. It specialises in Silk Skills, giving them a damage multiplier. I could use up to three different skills at a time instead of more tools. With two blue slots, it pairs well with Volt Filament for lightning damage and Egg of Flealia to reduce skill silk cost at full health. I headed far east of the ruined chapel, then silk soared through the ceiling in front of the lore tablet. I followed the path down and found the crest. Quick Crest Overview Crest Location / Requirement Playstyle Hunter Equipped at start, upgraded by Eva Balanced, focus meter after upgrade Reaper Greymoor Chapel, before Moorwing Slow heavy attacks, silk steal Wanderer Chapel west of Bone Bottom Town, need Cling Grip Fast slashes, short range, crits Beast East Hunter's March, beat Savage Beastfly Lifesteal, tricky down attack Witch Act 2, Infestation Operation quest Double hits, tendril binding attack Architect 25 tools, buy Architect Key for 110 rosaries Drill weapon, 3 red tools Shaman Act 3, far east ruined chapel, need Silk Soar Silk Skill focus, 2 blue slots Now I have all seven. If you want that same sense of completion, just follow the path I took. Some crests demand patience. Others demand a specific tool or quest. But every one of them changes Hornet in a way that makes Pharloom feel new again. Once you've unlocked all seven crests and felt that rush of discovery, you might find yourself hungry for more Hollow Knight experiences or even other metroidvania gems. Whether you're picking up the Silksong launch edition, grabbing a new controller for those precise Silk Soar inputs, or hunting down a used switch cartridge to revisit Hallownest, it's always worth checking a few stores before comitting. Prices can swing wildly between retailers just like a Wanderer's crit build, so taking a moment to [compare prices here]( before checkout can leave you with extra rosaries in your pocket. With every crest collected and Hornet's toolkit fully customised, your journey through Pharloom is complete. But the game never truly ends for collectors and completionists. If you're looking to expand your shelf with art books, figurines, or soundtrack vinyls inspired by Team Cherry's work, a quick price comparison is the smartest tool you can equip. After all, a true hunter always knows the value of every resource they gather. https://dealnesthq.com

Silksong's Shadow Drop and Its Ripple Effects on the Indie Game Scene Hollow Knight: Silksong's shadow drop thrilled fans but frustrated indie developers, as Hell is Us's director called it callous to smaller studios. In September 2025, the long-awaited release of Hollow Knight: Silksong sent shockwaves through the gaming industry, igniting celebration among fans while simultaneously stirring frustration among some independent developers. The creative director of the action-adventure title Hell is Us, Jonathan Jacques-Belletête, publicly expressed mixed feelings about Team Cherry's decision to shadow drop the sequel, calling it both a monumental indie event and a somewhat callous move for smaller studios. His comments, made during an episode of the Friends Per Second podcast, highlighted the complex dynamics of a release calendar dominated by one of the most anticipated indie games in modern history. The journey toward Hollow Knight: Silksong's arrival had been a test of patience for fans. For years, Team Cherry remained largely silent, with sporadic updates fueling both hope and anxiety. Rumors began intensifying in early 2025, and on August 21, the studio finally confirmed a September 4 release date. The announcement was met with euphoria from the Hollow Knight community, as players who had awaited the sequel since its original 2019 announcement finally saw a concrete date on the horizon. The sudden announcement, coming only two weeks before launch, exemplified the modern trend of surprise reveals and immediate availability. However, not everyone in the industry welcomed the timing. The release date placed Silksong directly in the path of several other independent projects. Games such as Baby Steps, Little Witch in the Woods, Demonschool, and Faeland were among those that shifted their own launches to avoid being overshadowed. For Hell is Us, which shared its original release date with Silksong, the decision was more complicated. Jacques-Belletête explained that although the situation felt harsh—jokingly referring to Silksong as "the GTA 6 of indie"—his team decided to stand firm. He acknowledged that while Hell is Us was large enough to weather the storm, smaller studios would have been disproportionately affected. The numbers behind Silksong's debut were staggering. Within its first three days, the game attracted over five million players across all platforms. On Steam alone, it reached a concurrent player peak of more than 587,000 users within hours and maintained a steady baseline of around 286,000 concurrent players during its opening weeks. Such figures placed Silksong among the most successful indie launches of the decade. Despite this commercial triumph, the title was not without controversy. A review bombing campaign emerged, primarily driven by complaints about the game's Chinese localization, which many players considered subpar. Team Cherry later addressed the translation issues, but the incident underscored the global expectations faced by high-profile indie releases. Hell is Us ultimately forged its own success path. The game's blend of exploration, intricate dungeons, atmospheric world-building, and addictive gameplay earned praise from both critics and players. Many reviewers highlighted its unique narrative structure and haunting horror vibes, which made it a particularly fitting release for the approaching Halloween season. The parallel trajectories of the two titles demonstrated that even in the shadow of a blockbuster indie release, a well-crafted game could still find its audience. By the end of 2025, the conversation had shifted from initial fears of overshadowing to a broader discussion about the health of the indie ecosystem and the increasing importance of strategic release timing. Looking back from 2026, the September 2025 release of Hollow Knight: Silksong stands as a defining moment for independent gaming. It illustrated both the immense drawing power of a beloved franchise and the fragility of smaller studios navigating an increasingly crowded market. Jacques-Belletête's candid remarks resonated with many developers, prompting renewed conversations about release transparency and collaboration within the indie scene. Meanwhile, both Silksong and Hell is Us continued to thrive, with ongoing updates and community engagement keeping them relevant well into the new year. The shadow drop may have been a shock to the system, but its long-term effects ultimately underscored the resilience and diversity of the independent game development landscape. For players inspired by the success stories of 2025's standout releases, the current gaming landscape offers more opportunities than ever to explore titles like these. With the industry continuing to expand and new projects constantly emerging, finding the right time to dive into a game can be just as important as knowing which ones are worth playing in the first place. Whether you are revisiting a classic or jumping into a brand-new adventure, staying informed about pricing trends and seasonal discounts has become an essential part of planning your next gaming experience. That is where smart shopping tools come into play. Dedicated platforms have made it easier for fans to track price drops across multiple stores and wait for the perfect moment to purchase a title they have had their eye on. For those eager to expand their libraries without overspending, checking the [best game deals]( at DealNest can provide a straightforward way to discover offers across popular releases and hidden indie gems alike, ensuring the next great adventure fits comfortably within any budget. https://dealnesthq.com

How I Beat Lace the Second Time in Silksong Silksong Lace 2 boss fight guide reveals location, best gear, and survival tips for conquering this challenging rematch. Let me paint you a picture: back in Hollow Knight, Hornet was the boss who made me hurl my controller across the room in Greenpath and later in Kingdom's Edge. Now, in Silksong, I finally get to play as her. But the universe has a twisted sense of humor, because Lace has arrived to fill the vacant role of 'nightmare that lives in my head rent-free.' If you have already fought Lace once in Deep Docks and thought that was the end of it, surprise! She is back for round two near The Cradle, and she has not come to cuddle. I was on my way to confront Big Momma Silk when Lace jumped me for the second time, and honestly, I was not emotionally prepared. This guide is written from the perspective of an ordinary player—me—who got absolutely shredded by Lace 2 the first few tries. I will walk you through where to find her, what to equip, and how to survive all three phases without losing your mind. Where This Rematch Happens I will not lie to you: getting to Lace's second fight is a mini-quest in itself. You will need to collect the threefold melodies required to operate the elevator near Cogwork Core. That means: Clearing Whispering Vaults, which includes finding a secret sound cylinder for one very particular NPC. Surviving High Halls, home to one of the deadliest battle arenas in Silksong. Getting through Cogwork Core, a platforming and puzzle combo that will test your patience. Once you have all three melodies, return to the elevator, play the tunes, and ride it up. Fair warning: the moment you step out of that elevator, the fight starts. No dramatic cutscene to catch your breath. Lace is just there, ready to ruin your day. Preparing for Round Two (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Cogfly) Before I talk strategy, let us talk gear. Honestly, there is no single must-have item for this fight, but after my own trial and error, I found a combination that kept me alive long enough to actually enjoy the choreography. Here is what I ran with: Tool / Crest Why It Matters Cogfly Your tiny mechanical buddies do consistent damage in phase three and help end the fight before Lace's nastiest attacks can stack up. Silkspeed Anklets This fight is all about hit-and-run. The extra speed lets you dart in, poke, and sprint to the other side of the arena before Lace can punish you. Barbed Bracelet Only use if you are extremely confident in phases one and two. It can shorten the fight, but if you are sloppy, it will cost you. The core idea is to stay mobile. Standing still against Lace is basically asking her to turn you into a pincushion. Keep moving, keep poking, and let the Cogfly do a chunk of the heavy lifting when things get chaotic. How To Beat Lace 2 Phase One: The Needle Dance The first phase is all about reading Lace's quick stabs and closing the distance before retreating. Her main attack is a steady string of stabs that she uses to chase you down. My advice? Sprint away, and when you are out of room, pogo off her head to escape. She also has a jump-and-diagonal lunge. Watch where she is going to land, jump above the impact point, and pogo on her after she touches down. Her thrust attack is even nastier: she slides across nearly the entire arena in one motion. The trick is to wait for her to commit, leap up, pogo on her head, and then haul yourself to the opposite side. One more thing that caught me off guard: her parry. If you hear the clink of her blocking your attack, run. Fast. She will immediately launch into a flurry that can drain two masks if you are too close. Treat that sound as your early warning system. Phase Two: Bubbles of Doom After you stun Lace for the first time, she decides to get a little more creative. Her jump attack now leaves behind three light bubbles that deal damage if you touch them. Instead of trying to dodge around them, I found it more consistent to dash under her jump and hit her from behind—there is a small safe pocket between the bubbles if you time it right. Beyond the bubbles, phase two is mostly the same as phase one. Keep chipping away at her health, avoid the new AOE trick, and you will eventually stun her again. That is when the real chaos begins. Phase Three: Thread Storm Nightmare Phase three is easily the worst. Lace takes flight and marks out a huge circle covering much of the arena, then unleashes a flurry of attacks that looks a lot like your own Thread Storm ability. The saving grace? It is very well telegraphed. Whenever you see that large glowing circle with white light fizzing in the center, dash away as fast as you can. This is also the moment I started spamming my Cogfly minions like there was no tomorrow. They deal solid damage and can shorten this terrifying phase so you do not have to survive her barrage any longer than necessary. If you can stay calm, keep moving, and let your little mechanical helpers chip away at her, you will finally put Lace down for good. Rewards (Or the Lack Thereof) After all that effort, you might expect a shiny new crest or a pile of currency. Nope. Lace 2 gives you no tangible reward. Instead, she unlocks access to The Cradle, the game's final gauntlet between you and the credits. So in a way, the reward is more pain. But hey, that is Silksong for you. Look, I am not going to pretend this fight is easy. But once you understand the rhythm—poke, retreat, pogo, dash—and you save your Cogfly spam for phase three, Lace 2 becomes less of a wall and more of a very sharp, very angry dance partner. Just remember to breathe, keep those Silkspeed Anklets on, and do not let the bubbles pop your morale. You have got this. Regardless of how many attempts it takes, that moment when Lace finally crumples is well worth every death. Once you push through The Cradle and roll credits, you may find yourself craving another challenge that tests your reflexes and patience just as fiercely. If you are looking to expand your collection without emptying your wallet in the process, checking out the [best game deals]( curated by DealNest is a great way to stumble upon your next obsession for a fraction of the price. And who knows—maybe a discounted gem will introduce you to a new favorite that gives you that same addictive blend of triumph and despair. Either way, you have more than earned a break. Go play something that lets you be the one dealing two-mask damage for a change. https://dealnesthq.com

Hell Is Us Director Calls Hollow Knight: Silksong Shadow Drop 'A Little Callous' Hollow Knight: Silksong’s surprise release date impacted indie games and Hell Is Us, sparking debate on industry timing and fairness. Here in 2026, I still remember the collective whiplash on August 21, 2025, when Team Cherry finally pulled back the curtain on Hollow Knight: Silksong. The announcement of a September 4, 2025 release date hit like a well-placed nail bounce in Greenpath. After years of memes, speculation, and near-total radio silence, giving the indie world just a couple of weeks’ notice felt less like a victory lap and more like a jump scare. I’ve been covering games long enough to know that timing is everything, and Silksong’s near shadow drop blew up the calendar for plenty of smaller studios. The collateral damage was real. As of August 2025, at least seven indie titles shifted their launch plans to steer clear of Silksong. I’m not talking about tiny, under-the-radar projects either. The list included Aeterna Lucis, Baby Steps, CloverPit, Demonschool, Faeland, Little Witch in the Woods, and Megabonk. Some of those games had been in the “when it’s done” oven for years, and suddenly their teams had to decide whether to share oxygen with the most anticipated Metroidvania sequel since, well, Hollow Knight itself. Delayed Game Reaction Aeterna Lucis Avoided Silksong launch window Baby Steps Avoided Silksong launch window CloverPit Avoided Silksong launch window Demonschool Avoided Silksong launch window Faeland Avoided Silksong launch window Little Witch in the Woods Avoided Silksong launch window Megabonk Avoided Silksong launch window Hell Is Us Director Calls the Surprise Date “A Little Callous” Jonathan Jacques-Belletête is no stranger to high-pressure projects. Before serving as creative director on Hell Is Us, he worked on Guardians of the Galaxy, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, and Deus Ex: Human Revolution. His first solo project was critically praised in our review: “Hell Is Us is a rare gem that we don’t normally see in the gaming industry. It’s more than a game that simply “doesn’t have waypoints or quest markers.” Instead, it’s an engaging experience that truly trusts the player’s intelligence, curiosity, and active listening skills.” But the buzz didn’t quite match the reception. Speaking on the Friends Per Second podcast, Jacques-Belletête admitted he believes Silksong absolutely affected Hell Is Us’ performance, even if he can’t prove it with hard numbers. That’s not sour grapes; it’s just the reality of a packed year. Borderlands 4 was breathing down everyone’s neck, and the summer had already been swallowed by Nintendo Switch 2, a new Mario Kart, and a fantastic 3D Donkey Kong platformer. Still, the way Team Cherry dropped the date got under his skin. “As the ‘GTA 6 of indie’… to shadow drop something like this is a little callous,” he said. And honestly, I get it. In the same way major publishers tiptoe around Grand Theft Auto 6, Silksong is the indie equivalent of a cultural black hole. Attention is finite. We saw this with The Dark Knight in 2008—when the only movie brave enough to open alongside it was Space Chimps. The Barbenheimer schedule clash worked out, but that’s the exception, not the rule. The moment the Silksong date hit, Jacques-Belletête and his team went into scramble mode. He described it bluntly: “We all jumped on our phones really quickly with our publisher and all sorts of things like that...a lot of emails and texts and messages back and forth between a lot of people, between us and our publisher. It was a real thing.” That image of tiny teams firing off messages while Hollow Knight fans celebrated is the indie games industry in a nutshell. Looking back from 2026, I don’t think this is about whether Silksong deserved its moment. It did. But for smaller studios, a two-week notice from a giant can feel like being asked to politely move out of the way. The lesson for me is simple: surprise drops are thrilling for players, but they can be brutal for developers who don’t have a marketing budget big enough to shout over the noise. For players, the flip side of a crowded release calendar is that it's harder than ever to catch everything at launch. Between surprise drops, packed summers, and tight budgets, waiting for the right moment to pick up a game has become just as important as knowing which ones to play. That's especially true for indie titles like Hell Is Us, which can easily slip under the radar before a player's backlog clears up. That's why many gamers now track the [best game deals]( before committing their wallet — giving smaller releases a second chance to shine when the spotlight finally moves on. A little patience, a saved search, and a timely discount can turn a game you almost missed into your next favorite experience. https://dealnesthq.com

Where to Find All 3 Silk Hearts in Hollow Knight: Silksong Silk Hearts in Hollow Knight: Silksong boost Hornet’s silk meter; this guide details every Silk Heart location and boss fight. Silk is the high-octane bug juice that keeps Hornet alive in Hollow Knight: Silksong. She burns it to heal, and she also burns it to pull off some seriously flashy offensive moves. The usual way to refill the meter is to land hits, which is great for aggressive players who treat every room like a boxing ring. But for anyone who prefers a little passive income, the three Silk Hearts are the real prize. These things quietly restore a portion of the Silk meter without asking for much in return. A player can grab two of them by simply playing well and clobbering major bosses, but the third one? Oh no, one of them is a proper sneaky little needle in a very large haystack. This guide covers every Silk Heart location in Silksong, including the boss fights, the keys, the weird locks, and the Regenerated trophy that comes from collecting all three. Silk Heart Boss Location Act Missable? Extra Reward First Bell Beast The Marrow Act One No Bellway fast travel Second The Unravelled Whiteward, Citadel Act Two Yes Sneaky bragging rights Third Lace The Cradle Act Two finale No Regenerated trophy 1. First Silk Heart: Bell Beast in The Marrow The first Silk Heart is a nice warm-up. Early in Act One, players roll into The Marrow and find the Bell Beast wrapped up like a leftover burrito in webbing. At first, the poor thing looks more like set dressing than a boss. But after Hornet grabs the Silkspear ability, she can cut the beast loose, and then the real fight begins. The Bell Beast is not the cruelest fight in the game, but it can absolutely punish a player who treats it like a tutorial pushover. Once the beast goes down, the first Silk Heart will be floating right over its body. The key here is not to fast travel away in a post-victory daze. Snag that heart. On top of that, beating this boss also unlocks the Bellway fast travel system, which is basically a quality-of-life gift from the developers. 2. Second Silk Heart: The Unravelled in Whiteward If completionist anxiety had a mascot, it would be this heart. While the first Silk Heart practically hands itself over, the second one apparently took lessons from a hide-and-seek champion. It is hidden in the Citadel during Act Two, and a player can completely walk past it if they are not poking their antennae into every corner. The target is the Unravelled boss in the Whiteward area. To get there, players first need to pass through the Coral Chambers and track down a white key. That key opens a lift with a lock bearing a surgical symbol, which is the game's subtle way of saying \u201cabandon all comfy vibes.\u201d After riding into Whiteward, the hunt continues. There is a Surgical Key needed to open an ornate lock mechanism, because one ominous medical lock simply was not enough. Once inside the crypt, things get spicy. A gang of enemies jumps out, and then the Unravelled boss crashes the party. This fight can be a genuine head-scratcher, especially for players who like to brute-force bosses without learning patterns. When the Unravelled finally falls, the second Silk Heart will be floating in the air like a smug little prize. Players should grab it immediately, because second chances are not exactly on the menu. 3. Third Silk Heart: Lace at the Cradle The final Silk Heart shows up during the Act Two finale, and it is tied to Hornet's most stylish rival: Lace. To reach this showdown, players have to learn three melodies. Think of them as the world's creepiest elevator music: The Melody of Conductor The Melody of Architect The Melody of Vaultkeeper Once all three tunes are learned, the lift unlocks and the player can enter the Cradle. That is where Lace is waiting, probably sharpening her needle and practicing dramatic entrances. Lace is fast, elegant, and more than happy to remind a careless player that standing still is a death sentence. After she is defeated, the third Silk Heart appears, and a player can finally complete the collection. All Three Silk Hearts? Trophy Time Collecting all three Silk Hearts causes the Regenerated trophy to pop like a champagne cork. These hearts are not just shiny collectibles; they make Hornet's Silk management a little more forgiving over a long run. The second heart is the main reason some players miss the Regenerated trophy, so anyone aiming for full completion should double-check Whiteward before moving on. As of 2026, the Silksong community has these three locations thoroughly mapped, but that second heart still catches plenty of overconfident players sleeping. Silk Hearts are one of those small upgrades that feel minor on paper but make a huge difference in practice. A player who picks up all three will have a much smoother time in later sections, especially when healing windows are tight. So the next time someone asks why their Silk meter keeps refilling on its own, they can point to these three little treasures and say, \u201cThat\u2019s the good stuff.\u201d For players who want to chase down every last boss and secret in Silksong, being patient with the grind is only half the battle. Managing time and knowing where to look is what separates a casual explorer from a true completionist. And for those who like to stock up on new adventures after finishing their Silk Heart hunt, keeping an eye on the best [game deals today]( is a smart way to keep the momentum going without emptying the wallet. Hornet's journey may end once those three hearts are in hand, but the broader world of action-platformers is full of similar challenges waiting to be conquered. Whether it is a fresh indie gem or a polished AAA title, grabbing a solid discount at the right moment can turn a casual evening into another unforgettable playthrough. After all, the hunt for rewards does not have to stop at the Cradle. https://dealnesthq.com

Facing Shrine Guardian Seth: My Emotional Hollow Knight Silksong Boss Fight Hollow Knight: Silksong's hidden path leads to Shrine Guardian Seth, a poignant boss fight whose fair moveset demands patience and clean timing. When I first dropped into the hidden corridor below Grand Gate in Hollow Knight: Silksong, I expected another silent guardian to throw itself at Hornet. Instead, Shrine Guardian Seth stopped, looked at me, and spoke. That small gesture changed everything. In 2026, after all the waiting and speculation, his boss fight still feels less like a duel and more like a conversation. The music is unusually slow and a little sad, which makes sense once you know the story. Seth was designed with and named after Hollow Knight fan Seth Goldman during his cancer treatment, thanks to the Marty Lyons Foundation and Team Cherry. I’m not going to lie, I put the controller down for a moment before the fight began. It hit different. Finding the Hidden Path to Seth I had to climb the Grand Gate elevator shaft, hug the left wall near the top, and smash a breakable panel. The path beyond demanded a few careful pogo jumps over gaps. It felt like the game was asking me to slow down. Seth wasn’t guarding a main route; he was waiting at the end of a quiet detour. Preparing for a Fair Fight I’ll be honest—I overprepared for this one. In the end, my usual Crest worked fine. Seth seems to want a clean, evenly matched exchange. Ranged tools and area attacks can sneak in extra damage, but they aren’t required. Comfort mattered more than optimization. Seth’s Moveset and How I Learned to Punish Him Seth fights in two phases with a needle and a cymbal shield. In phase one, he signals much of what he does, and the real battle is patience. His shield isn’t just gear; it feels like a partner with its own rhythm, humming whenever it lands. Attack Tell My Response Three-hit melee lunge Jumps backward before starting Back away, then strike once or twice after the combo ends Ground shield toss Hurls shield across the arena, then dashes to catch it Jump over the shield, run to the end of its arc, and hit him during recovery Aerial shield throw Leaps and throws the shield diagonally Let the shield hit the ground, run beneath it, and attack when he lands Downward dive Dives from the air on a diagonal Avoid it, then keep away from the golden shockwave after he lands No joke, that shockwave caught me more times than the dive itself. After landing, Seth usually followed it with a lunge, so I learned to stay patient instead of forcing a hit. In phase two, Seth chains multiple dive attacks before a final lunge. The same rule applies: avoid the golden shockwaves, keep him in sight, and wait for recovery. I prioritized front or back hits because his shield made aerial approaches feel sloppy. Rewards, Rivalry, and a Song Beating him opened a way to Shellwood Shrine and gave me the Shellwood Shrine Key plus 200 Rosaries. But the bigger reward was that Seth survived. He lost his Shrine Guardian status and became a wandering NPC. During Act Three, I found him in Greymoor, Shellwood, Grand Gate, and Fleatopia. Each meeting gave him a little more peace. In Fleatopia, he bragged—politely, I think—about setting high scores in all the flea mini-games. When I beat those scores, I earned the Guardian’s Memento, a spiny medallion that now hangs in Bellhome. The final touch? If I played my Needolin in front of Seth after Fleatopia, he sang along. The melody wasn’t flashy; it was an ode to perseverance and courage. That moment turned a cameo into a tribute. Maybe that’s why the boss music always felt like a memory rather than a threat. That quiet tribute stuck with me long after I put the game down. Silksong rewards that kind of patience—the willingness to learn a boss’s rhythm, adapt, and eventually turn a struggle into something close to harmony. It’s a feeling I chase in other games too, and it’s part of why I keep an eye on what’s coming next to Steam. Between the recent Hollow Knight-inspired metroidvanias and bigger indie showcases, there’s always another arena to learn and another melody to uncover. But with so many releases dropping each week, the price tags add up fast. That’s where I’ve found the [steam deal finder]( at DealNest genuinely useful—it lets me wishlist everything that catches my eye and then jump in when the discounts line up. That way, the next song I’m humming doesn’t have to come with a full-price sting, and I can spend more time mastering the next boss instead of second-guessing a purchase. https://dealnesthq.com

How Hollow Knight Silksong's 0.1% Achievements Broke and Rebuilt Me in 2026 Hollow Knight: Silksong bench locations and brutal achievements challenge even veteran players, making every victory in Pharloom hard-earned. I never thought a game about a tiny bug princess with a needle could make me question my existence. But here I am, deep into 2026, still replaying Hollow Knight: Silksong like it is a personal grudge. The latest balance patch has certainly softened some of the early game's rougher edges, yet Silksong remains the kind of sequel that looks at your hundreds of hours in the original and just laughs. The movement is deeper, the combat is meaner, and the achievements? They are definitely not for the faint of heart. Navigating Pharloom without losing my mind meant learning every bench location like the back of my hand. Those small safe havens became my lifeline, especially when I attempted some of the game's most brutal challenges. Even with benches, though, the real horror starts when you open the achievement menu. When Silksong first launched in 2025, a few achievements were already hovering at just about 0.1 or 0.2 percent completion. Now in 2026? Those numbers have barely moved. I get it. To earn some of them, you have to beat the entire game a second time in Steel Soul mode, where a single death erases everything. No retries. No checkpoints. Just memory, muscle, and a whole lot of anxiety. I tried Steel Soul once. Honestly? My longest run lasted nearly five hours. Then a regular enemy, the kind I had killed a hundred times before, caught me mid-dash. I just sat there, controller still in my hands, staring at the death screen. Silence. I did not rage quit; I just... sat. That is when I realized Silksong's hardest achievements are not mistakes. They are designed for a very specific kind of player — the ones who want bragging rights that take years to earn. The game also mixes in speedrun challenges on top of Steel Soul completion, which turns an already punishing experience into an absolute nightmare. Unlike traditional RPGs that can be ground out with enough time and effort, Silksong's hardest achievements can take years of practice to master. It mirrors the original Hollow Knight in that way, and maybe that is why I keep coming back. There is something weirdly appealing about a challenge that does not care about my feelings. But if Steel Soul or speedrunning is not your thing? Trust me, there is still plenty to do. The newly implemented Wish system and those adorable NPCs who would be completely helpless without Hornet make the side content just as rewarding as the main story. I spent an entire weekend chasing the 'Great Taste of Pharloom' quest, and it forced me to unlock locales and items I had completely missed. That quest is no joke, but it is the good kind of brutal. Here is a quick breakdown of how different challenge types have treated me so far in 2026: Challenge Type What It Demands My Experience Steel Soul completion Beat the whole game without dying Five hours down the drain Speedrun achievements Finish under strict time limits I am not built for this, honestly Inventory completion Find every item and upgrade Doable and oddly satisfying Alternative endings See every story conclusion Rewarding, less rage-inducing Those alternative endings and inventory completion achievements are much more forgiving, and they still offer fun challenges for players of all skill levels. I found myself enjoying those far more because they let me appreciate Hornet's journey instead of just surviving it. By this point in 2026, I still have not unlocked every impossible achievement. Maybe I never will. But every time I return to Pharloom, I learn a little more about patience and precision. And honestly? That might be the real reward. That relentless pursuit of mastery extends beyond the game itself. For those of us who love testing our limits in games like Silksong, patience is a virtue that carries over into how we buy games too. I have learned the hard way that impulse-buying every title that looks challenging just drains the wallet and the willpower. These days, I wait for the right moment to strike. That is exactly why I started checking a reliable [steam sale tracker]( before adding anything new to my backlog. It lets me grab the games I actually want at a price that does not sting when I inevitably fail twenty times in a row. Between grinding through Steel Soul attempts and hunting down hidden treasures, I can build a library of brutally hard games without breaking the bank. https://dealnesthq.com

Hollow Knight: Silksong Endings Guide: All 5 Finales I Unlocked Unlock all five Hollow Knight: Silksong endings with this definitive guide, from Weaver Queen to Passing of the Age. I've been deep in Pharloom since the 2026 release, and after multiple clean saves I've now seen every unique finale Hollow Knight: Silksong has to offer. Team Cherry kept the original's habit: one default ending you'll find naturally, plus several alternatives that demand real detours. The payoff is worth it, because each route has its own fully animated cutscene showing the consequences of your choices. For my own checklist, I count five endings, not three, because some special scenes can chain together on one file while others are mutually exclusive. From my runs, I could see Weaver Queen, Snared Silk, and Sister of the Void on a single save, while Twisted Child required a deliberately cursed Act 2 run. Passing of the Age is a bonus coda that plays after the true ending. How the endings fit together Ending Type Notes Weaver Queen Default ending Can be seen in a normal playthrough if conditions are not met Twisted Child Cursed Act 2 ending Mutually exclusive once you move into Act 3 Snared Silk Void entrapment Credits roll, then leads to the next ending Sister of the Void True ending Follows Snared Silk Passing of the Age Mushroom coda Not exclusive, adds a new final scene Weaver Queen: the default finale This is the ending most players will stumble into. I reached it by completing the main quests, reaching the Cradle at the peak of the Citadel, and avoiding the conditions for Twisted Child or Snared Silk. The minimum kit for the route is the dash, wall jump, and Needolin. You can enter the Citadel either by ringing the bells and killing the Last Judge, or by taking the back path through the Mist and defeating Phantom. After that, I fought the Cogwork Dancers, collected the three song parts from the Cogwork Core, the Vault, and the High Halls, pushed past Lace on the ascent, and finally brought down Grand Mother Silk. In this ending, Hornet binds with Grand Mother Silk, absorbs her power, and becomes the Weaver Queen of Pharloom. It felt like an introductory ending, not the full stop. Twisted Child: the cursed run I planned from the start For this one I intentionally kept the Twisted Bud instead of taking it to the surgeon. That meant heading to the Cradle while still cursed and fighting the final boss with no tools, no silk abilities, and no healing. To me, the fight didn't become unbearably hard, but it did force a more focused style. The big caveat is the lockout. If you start the Rite of Rebirth and move into the next act, you miss this ending. So if you want everything on one character, I recommend holding off on that quest until you are ready to finish the game. After the fight, Hornet cannot bind Grand Mother Silk. The Twisted Child erupts from her instead, and the cutscene suggests it takes over Hornet, Grand Mother Silk, and possibly the whole kingdom. Snared Silk: not quite an ending, but it still rolls credits I count this one because the credits do roll after its cutscene. Instead of rushing into the Grand Mother Silk fight, I did every quest on every quest board in all three towns, including donation quests. I also grabbed the Faydown Cloak, assembled the Cogheart and gave it to the Second Sentinel, and finished the world side objectives. The most demanding part was finding the Putrified Ducts, reaching the lake inside, and relocating almost every flea. After that, the strange guy at the chapel in Songclave gave me a mission. I traveled around the kingdom, spoke with his siblings, trudged through Bilewater, and grabbed a tool from Weavenest Atla. At the end of the Grand Mother Silk fight, I played my Needolin. That entrapped both Grand Mother Silk and Lace in the void, and the scene rolled into the next route. Sister of the Void: the true ending After Snared Silk, I broke the void-soaked threads binding the save file, reopened it, and found the world ruined. The Snail Shamans at the ruined chapel in Moss Grotto sent me after three dream bosses: one at the Coral Tower, one near the Grand Gate, and one in the Far Fields. If you want an easier route, you can collect a heart from the Green Prince at the right edge of Greymoor instead. With three hearts in hand, I returned to the Snail Shamans, played through an excellent retelling of Hornet's backstory, and claimed the Everbloom. Hornet then took it into the Abyss, dived in, and fought one last duel against a void-soaked Lace. This route feels like the true ending, and the final cutscene includes an appearance from a certain character that made the whole run feel complete. Passing of the Age: the Mister Mushroom coda This one is not mutually exclusive with the previous ending, so I added it to the same file. I started in the lake where the Fleas had taken residence and found a hole in the ceiling near the highest rocks. A super jump and a Needolin tune let me speak with Mister Mushroom. He then visited a set of locations in order: Moss Grotto, Bone Bottom, Far Fields, Greymoor, The Slab, the peak of Mount Fay, and finally a newly unlocked room at the very top of The Cradle. After some genuinely scary platforming, I spoke to the mushroom man one last time, then fought Lost Lace again. After the normal ending, Mister Mushroom takes off with another "To Be Continued," just like the original Hollow Knight. If you want the full 2026 completion route, I would do this: normal playthrough for Weaver Queen, back up your save, then do a dedicated cursed run for Twisted Child, and finally a completionist run through Snared Silk into Sister of the Void while stacking Passing of the Age. It takes time, but seeing all five cutscenes in Silksong is one of the best reasons to explore every corner of Pharloom. The full completion run is a serious time investment, but it is also the kind of experience that makes Hollow Knight: Silksong worth every hour you put into it. Between the boss gauntlets, hidden dream fights, and those Mister Mushroom platforming sections, there are moments that will stick with you long after the credits roll. If you have not picked up the game yet or you want to gift a copy to a friend so they can finally understand why Hornet is such a beloved protagonist, it is smart to check a [game price comparison]( before you buy. Prices fluctuate across storefronts and regions, so a quick look can easily save you enough for a nice DLC or a fresh keycap set. For anyone planning their own five-ending run, the main thing to remember is that Pharloom rewards patience and curiosity. Whether you are chasing the void-soaked true ending or just want the whimsical mushroom farewell, every route adds a layer to the story that makes the world feel alive. And once you have seen everything the game has to offer, you can always revisit your favorite areas or wait for the next content drop without worrying about having overpaid for the journey in the first place. https://dealnesthq.com

Stardew Valley 1.7 Could Return the Hollow Knight Silksong Favor Stardew Valley's 1.7 update sparks Hollow Knight Silksong crossover hopes after Eric Barone's voice-acting credit—expect a subtle pixel-art nod. The farming sim community received an unexpected surprise when Eric Barone, known as ConcernedApe, confirmed that Stardew Valley would receive a version 1.7 update. The announcement took place during one of the Stardew Valley orchestral concerts, where Barone appeared on stage to share the news in person. A simple pixel art message then circulated on social media after the concert, making the reveal official. Even though Barone has said he wants to focus on Haunted Chocolatier, his next project, the valley has clearly not been left behind. No one yet knows exactly what Update 1.7 will contain. The announcement was deliberately small, which has left fans with plenty of room to speculate. Some players expect new crops, furniture, or quality-of-life improvements. Others are looking for a proper crossover nod that would link two of the most respected indie games in recent memory. Version 1.6 set a high bar when it launched, bringing the meadowlands farm, the desert festival, and the mastery system among many other additions. Even though Update 1.7 may be smaller by comparison, the use of a full version number rather than a small bug-fix patch suggests that Barone is planning something new. Small patches often arrive quietly, but numbered updates tend to give players a reason to start a fresh save file. A Full Circle Indie Moment Days after the concert, Hollow Knight: Silksong arrived on September 4, 2025, and attentive players discovered Eric Barone's name in the credits. His role was in voice acting rather than design or programming, but the credit still carried significant weight. Both Stardew Valley and Hollow Knight are indie darlings with devoted fanbases. Seeing the creator of one appear in the credits of the other felt like a rare full-circle moment. Because Stardew Valley 1.7 is in development, there is a strong chance that Barone could return the favor inside his own game. The most likely path is not a literal character crossover but a subtle item reference. A small statue, a rosary-style wall hanging, or a new silk cloth material could serve as an unspoken nod while still fitting the game's rustic fantasy world. Potential items could include: A carved nail-themed decoration for farmhouse walls A silk-based tailoring material that expands clothing options A Hornet-inspired charm or rosary to display in the home A direct audio reference is unlikely. Barone contributed as a voice actor to Silksong, but Stardew Valley relies on simple sound effects that match its pixel art aesthetic. Hornet's iconic 'shaw' would feel out of place in the valley, so the tribute would probably be visual or mechanical rather than audible. Stardew Valley already has a template for this kind of cross-game tribute. The Terraria crossover added items like Meowmere, but obtaining them required players to perform specific steps that mirrored moments from Terraria. A Silksong-inspired chain could work similarly. A hidden statue might be locked behind a season, a specific fish, or a bundle-style quest. If Team Cherry's world of silk and nail is referenced, it would likely arrive through discovery rather than a simple shop purchase. The version 1.7 window is ideal for such an Easter egg. It does not need to be large, but it could deepen the connection between two landmark indie titles. For now, the only thing players can do is wait for a release date. As 2026 continues, the community keeps a close eye on any new pixel art message or patch note that might reveal what Barone has been quietly preparing. While the community waits for any hint of a release window, many players are choosing to revisit the valley or introduce the game to friends who have somehow never played it. With the 1.7 update still shrouded in mystery, a fresh save file on a new platform can make the wait feel far more productive. Gamers looking to pick up Stardew Valley on another device or grab a copy for a friend can [compare prices here]( at DealNest to find the best current offer across multiple storefronts. Until Barone reveals more, re-exploring the existing content remains the most reliable way to pass the time. Whether that means hunting for rare items, perfecting farm layouts, or chasing every hidden secret the game already holds, having the title at the best possible price makes the journey a little sweeter. The anticipation for 1.7 only grows with each passing week, and the community will be ready the moment that pixel art message finally appears again. https://dealnesthq.com

How I Returned to Act 1 and Unlocked Early Bellways in Silksong Stuck in Hollow Knight: Silksong's Underworks? Return to Act 1 via the Choral Chambers, then unlock early Bellways for fast travel. After I defeated the Last Judge and the Grand Gates finally creaked open, I expected to leave Act 1 behind cleanly. Instead, the floor collapsed into the Underworks, the elevator groaned and snapped, and I was stuck with no obvious way back. If you left unfinished quests in Act 1, don’t panic—returning is possible, but it’s a bit of a hike. Can You Return to Act 1? Yes, but not by climbing. The elevator that takes you down to the Underworks breaks immediately, and Wall Climb cannot carry you back to the surface. To physically return to the Act 1 areas of Silksong, you need to climb up through the Underworks until you reach the Choral Chambers. From the Choral Chambers, smash the breakable wall and follow the tunnels filled with spinning blades. This path eventually drops you back into the Grand Gate area. Once there, drop to the bottom and head left to reach the Blasted Steps. If you did not activate any Bellways in Act 2, this long walk is your only return route—the elevator stays broken. Honestly, the elevator giving up felt a little personal after that boss fight. Here is the shortest foot route I’ve used: Climb from the Underworks to the Choral Chambers. Break the hidden wall near the chambers. Follow the spinning-blade tunnels to the Grand Gate area. Drop down and move left toward the Blasted Steps. Unlocking Early Bellways in Act 2 The walk back is doable, but it gets tedious as you push deeper into the Citadel. Fortunately, two Bellways sit very close to the opening section of Act 2. One is in The Slab, and the other is in The Grand Bellway. Both are easy to reach, but they serve slightly different purposes. The Grand Bellway After falling into the Underworks, go through the tunnels and climb to the Choral Chambers. Hit the lever to open a path below that leads to another room on the right. Cross that room, and you’ll enter a large hallway with floating platforms and hanging bells you can pogo across. I recommend this as your first Bellway because The Grand Bellway also contains a Ventrica Tube. That makes it an excellent midway point that connects both fast travel methods in Silksong. Unlocking it early saves you from repeating the whole Underworks climb later. The Slab Bellway The Slab Bellway is located to the left of the Choral Chambers. Reaching it follows much of the same route as the Grand Bellway. From the Choral Chambers, take the path on the top left and keep going in a straight line. Then cross the large ornate bridge to arrive at The Slab. This one is straightforward and a decent second unlock, but it doesn’t offer the same Ventrica Tube convenience as the Grand Bellway. Which Bellway Should You Grab First? Bellway Location Best For The Grand Bellway Close to Choral Chambers First unlock; has a Ventrica Tube The Slab Left of Choral Chambers Quick second fast travel point Fast travel in Silksong has two layers: Bellways let you ring yourself between major locations, while Ventrica Tubes work as tram-like connectors. Having both in one spot is rare early on, so The Grand Bellway is the more efficient first stop. As of 2026, this remains the most reliable route I’ve found. If you clean up Act 1 quests before activating any Bellways, you’ll be stuck with the long Underworks walk. Let’s be real—nobody wants to retrace that entire spinning-blade tunnel twice. So grab the Grand Bellway early, ride the Ventrica Tube when you can, and keep those old Act 1 quests from haunting you. Nailing down this route early makes Act 2 far less painful, but you can only put the strategy to work if you have the game in hand. Whether you're picking up Hollow Knight: Silksong for the first time or grabbing a copy for a friend so you can finally talk through Bellway routes together, it's worth making sure you're not overpaying. If you want to save a little real-world Geo before your next playthrough, you can [compare prices here]( and land on the best deal without the usual storefront hunt. Once the purchase is handled, the only thing left is the fun part: ringing those Bellways, gliding through Ventrica Tubes, and never crawling back through the Underworks again. With the Grand Bellway unlocked and your fast travel network taking shape, Act 2 stops being a chore and becomes the sprawling adventure it was always meant to be. https://dealnesthq.com

Chasing Black Muscle: A 1971 Challenger, a 550 HP Coronet, and the Mopars of Port Jervis A 1971 Dodge Challenger in original TX9 Formal Black anchors this Mopar stockpile tour, joined by a 550-hp 1965 Coronet and a driver-ready 1967 Dart. I’ll say it up front: I’m a sucker for wild Mopar colors. Plum Crazy, Go Mango, SubLime—you name it. But every so often, a black muscle car comes along and reminds me that nothing beats the original shade. Black hides nothing at night and absorbs everything in daylight. On a 1971 Dodge Challenger, the effect is pure intimidation. That’s exactly why a recent video from Backyard Barn Finds caught my attention. They traveled to Port Jervis, New York, to meet a father-son duo with a stockpile of Mopars, including a worn-out Challenger that still wears its TX9 Formal Black paint code. The trip didn’t start in a garage. It started at Hawk’s Nest, a winding scenic overlook that has appeared in car commercials and movies. I appreciate that Parker and the crew took a moment to show the drive itself. It sets the mood. Old cars feel different on roads like that. You hear the engine against the guardrails, and suddenly the whole point of owning a classic makes sense. That brings me to the first car they showed: a 1967 Dodge Dart. This wasn’t some trailer queen. They actually drove it to the meeting. It’s been restored, it runs, and it has a fresh 318 under the hood. Is it a fire-breathing muscle car? No. But it’s the kind of car you can jump in and drive anywhere. The owner didn’t seem desperate to sell, but he threw out a number around $20,000. In my world, that’s a fair entry point for a solid driver. Then the tone shifted. The real showstopper for me was a 1965 Dodge Coronet. On the outside, it doesn’t scream outlaw. But under the hood sits a 440 with a four-speed behind it, aluminum heads, and a full TTI exhaust. The seller said it’s making around 550 horsepower. That’s nearly three times the Dart’s output. The Coronet has been worked over from front to back, and I can only imagine how it feels when the secondaries open. There was no asking price mentioned, but I suspect this one would require a much bigger wallet. And then we got to the car I came for. The 1971 Challenger is not perfect—far from it. It sat for years in a muddy driveway, and the rust is there if you look. But it’s complete. The interior is present, and it runs and drives. The 318 and automatic aren’t glamorous, but the car still sounds mean. Maybe that’s just the black paint talking. The asking price is $18,000. In 2026, that’s still a chunk of change, but for a running, driving ’71 Challenger with an original TX9 black code, it feels like a project with real potential. I’d rather see someone restore this than let it rot further. As if the garage tour wasn’t already enough, the seller also has a 1973 Plymouth Duster. It’s another 318 car, but it has a fresh transmission. The body is in better shape than the Challenger, though it still has some rust. The asking price sits somewhere between $14,000 and $16,000. For a first-time buyer wanting a lightweight Mopar, that might be the most sensible option on the table. Here’s a quick summary of the cars and their rough numbers: Vehicle Drivetrain Condition Estimated Price 1967 Dodge Dart 318, fresh Restored driver ~$20,000 1965 Dodge Coronet 440, 4-speed, ~550 hp Restored, modified Not listed 1971 Dodge Challenger 318, automatic Complete, runs, rust $18,000 1973 Plymouth Duster 318, fresh trans Better body, rust $14,000–$16,000 At the end of the day, I’m just a regular enthusiast watching from home. I don’t have a barn full of Hemis or a disposable budget. But that’s the great thing about this hobby. A car doesn’t have to be perfect to be worth saving. The black Challenger may have a tired small-block and some rust, but it still carries the same silhouette that made these cars legendary. If I had the space and the spare cash, I’d be making a call to Port Jervis. The same thrill I get from spotting a fair-priced Mopar in a dusty driveway is what drives hobbyists of every stripe to keep hunting. Whether you're chasing a numbers-matching Hemi or a nearly forgotten arcade classic, the rush of finding genuine value never gets old. It's the kind of feeling that turns ordinary afternoons into stories you tell for years. That itch to uncover a steal isn't limited to sheet metal and carburetors—it carries right over to any market where patience and sharp eyes pay off. Classic car forums have their endless "for sale" threads, and the digital world has its own equivalents. For anyone who enjoys the hunt for a good bargain on the gaming side of things, keeping an eye on [DealNest game deals]( scratches a similar itch. Just as I'll spend an evening scrolling through classifieds for a promising project car, someone else might spend that same hour sorting through price drops for an overlooked gem. Either way, the chase is half the fun—and landing that deal is the other half. https://dealnesthq.com

My Complete Memory Locket Hunt in Hollow Knight: Silksong Find all 20 Memory Lockets in Hollow Knight: Silksong to expand Crests and equip more Tools with this route-driven guide. When I set out to collect all 20 Memory Lockets in Hollow Knight: Silksong, I thought it would be a short side errand. A few hours later, I was deep in hidden alcoves, breaking cocoons in Bilewater and juggling Rosaries at three different vendors. Memory Lockets are the key to expanding Crests, which lets Hornet equip more Tools on each Crest. Since maximizing her loadout can completely change how a fight plays out, I knew I had to find every single one. First, let me mention the gear and unlocks I needed. The hunt is much smoother if you have wall jump, double jump, at least one Simple Key, Silk Soar from Act 3, and a decent pile of Rosaries. You will spend 480 Rosaries just on vendor lockets: Mort sells one for 150 after you pay 30 to enter his building in Pilgrim's Rest, and Frey in Bellhart sells another for 330. Keep those funds ready. My early route looked like this. In Bone Bottom, I accepted the Volatile Flintbeetles Wish from the Wish Board and completed it to receive a Memory Locket. In the Marrow, I waited until I had wall jump, then climbed the route to a locket. Wormways, above Moss Grotto, was easier to reach once I knew the path; it sits just above the grotto. In Deep Docks, I used a Simple Key on the locked door and followed the path to the reward. The Far Fields area held two more: one from Mort in Pilgrim's Rest after paying the entrance fee and his price, and one at the end of a hidden path in the secret area that only opens after Act 3. After that, I moved through Hunter's March and Greymoor. In Hunter's March, I found a cage at the marked position and hit it repeatedly until it released a Memory Locket. In Greymoor, the path to the locket forced me past a Mitemother, so I kept my guard up. The Bellhart region gave me three lockets. First, I entered Halfway Home and jumped to the top-left ledge to reach a hidden alcove. Second, I bought one from Frey for 330 Rosaries. Third, I used Silk Soar above Bellhart to reach an alcove that would otherwise be unreachable. That third one is easy to overlook because the unlock only arrives in Act 3. The midgame regions tested my movement. In Blasted Steps, I followed the mapped route to the locket. In the Sands of Karak, the third seed created a forked tree; I took the left path, found the seed hanging from the ceiling, and that seed opened another leftward path ending at a Memory Locket. In the Slab, I double-jumped and broke through the ceiling, entered the cave, climbed the wall, and took the first path on the right to an alcove. In the Underworks, the room with three Rosaries devices hid a platform on the left wall; from there, I found a hidden hole in the ceiling and followed the path to another locket. The late-game lockets required more careful navigation. For the Choral Chambers locket above the Grand Bellway Bell Beast, I started at Songlcave, passed through the Cogwork Core and Whispering Vaults, used the elevator down to the Underworks, hit the switch at the bottom without riding the elevator, and accessed the area beneath it. That route feels obscure, but the locket is sitting there once you commit to the detour. In the Whispering Vaults, a hidden path in the top-right corner of a room leads to a climb and another Memory Locket. In Memorium, I used double jump to enter and made my way to the marked position. Finally, Bilewater gave me two more. One was down a hidden path near the fast travel point, and the other was hidden inside suspended cocoons at the marked position; I broke them open and claimed the last locket. I often ask myself: was every detour worth it? When I look at Hornet's Crests now, each one can hold an extra Tool or two, and that flexibility makes the whole hunt feel justified. If you are only planning to use a couple of Crests, you can skip some of these, but for a full build, all 20 Memory Lockets are worth collecting. Here is my quick checklist: Region Method 1 Bone Bottom Complete Volatile Flintbeetles Wish 2 The Marrow Climb with wall jump 3 Wormways Path above Moss Grotto 4 Deep Docks Open Simple Key door 5 Far Fields / Pilgrim's Rest Pay Mort 30 + 150 Rosaries 6 Far Fields Hidden path after Act 3 7 Hunter's March Hit the cage repeatedly 8 Greymoor Follow path past Mitemother 9 Halfway Home Top-left ledge alcove 10 Bellhart Buy from Frey for 330 11 Bellhart Use Silk Soar above Bellhart 12 Blasted Steps Follow mapped route 13 Sands of Karak Third seed left path, then ceiling seed 14 The Slab Double jump through ceiling, first right path 15 Underworks Left wall platform, hidden ceiling hole 16 Choral Chambers Elevator switch route from Songlcave 17 Whispering Vaults Hidden top-right path 18 Memorium Double jump enter, marked position 19 Bilewater Hidden path near fast travel 20 Bilewater Break suspended cocoons I hope this checklist saves you some backtracking and helps you fill out your Hornet's Crests without pulling your hair out. Sticking to the route above should get you through every locket in a single dedicated sweep, so you can spend less time wandering and more time actually enjoying the extra Tool flexibility. Once your collection is complete, you might already be eyeing the next world to explore. If you're looking to pick up a similar Metroidvania without overpaying, a quick [game price comparison]( can point you toward the best deals on titles that reward that same sense of discovery — because hunting down hidden secrets is always better when you got the game at a fair price. https://dealnesthq.com

The 10 Best Boss Fights in Hollow Knight: Silksong, Ranked Hollow Knight: Silksong boss ranking highlights unforgettable encounters and masterful design, making Hornet's journey through Pharloom iconic. Now in 2026, months after finishing Hollow Knight: Silksong, I still find myself replaying its bosses in my head. After fifty of the most glorious hours I have ever given to a video game, Team Cherry's adventure left me desperate to write about it until my fingers hurt. The bosses felt like the ideal starting point because they are not merely difficult obstacles; they are one of the highest quality collections of encounters I have ever experienced in this genre. Below is my personal ranking of the ten best boss fights in Hollow Knight: Silksong, ordered from tenth to first. This is not a how-to guide, but rather a love letter to the encounters that made Hornet's journey through Pharloom unforgettable. 10. Forebrothers Signis and Gron I met the Forebrothers quite late, which made the fight feel a little easier than it probably should have been. Even so, the encounter clicked because of how the two siblings work together. The game gives you time to learn one of them before throwing both at you, and from that moment it becomes a beautiful adaptation of the Mantis Lords from the original Hollow Knight, but with molten rain falling from above. Signis threatens the horizontal space while Gron covers vertical and diagonal lines, so my eyes had to stay sharp in every direction. It turned into a reflex challenge that felt genuinely fantastic. 9. Phantom By the time I reached The Mist, I was stunned by the sheer size of the game and its ability to keep reinventing itself. Phantom is not an especially complex fight, but the buildup with the organ and the boss's entrance make the moments before the battle just as memorable as the clash itself. This encounter embodies what I love most about this type of duel: elegant movement, quick animations, attacks that feel ripped out of an anime, and plenty of parries. Phantom may be the least varied boss on this list, but its simplicity and superb presentation made me treasure it deeply. 8. Widow Silksong begins with a noticeable difficulty spike compared to the original Hollow Knight, and the Widow goes beyond just being tougher. It was my personal introduction to the idea that beating the original game is not enough preparation for Pharloom. This boss throws multiple attacks from different directions at once, at speeds that made Soul Tyrant feel almost slow. The superb animations, wonderful introduction, and the lore tied to Bellhart's story all combined to convince me that even the best Hollow Knight bosses would fall below the average of this new creation. The Widow's design and arena are outstanding, so placing it this low only proves how absurd the overall quality is. 7. First Sinner First Sinner feels like a boss that would have been locked away as a Pantheon 5 exclusive in the original game. From the aesthetics of its movements to the orientation and style of its attacks, this fight demands godlike precision while being extremely showy. I beat it on my second try, yet I still remember every pattern in minute detail, which is my biggest argument for its inclusion here. It summons runes like Pure Vessel, teleports like Grimm, and calls needles like Radiance. It works beautifully as an ode to its predecessor. 6. Shakra I am a huge fan of humanoid fights that demand agile reaction times, and Shakra might be the fastest boss in the entire game. Wielding her iconic rings, she moves at the speed of light, throws them with pinpoint accuracy, and teleports in every direction like something straight out of Dragon Ball Z. Team Cherry seems to anticipate common player tactics and punishes you if you try to rely on them here. What gets me is that the fight is essentially a friendly sparring match between warriors before the end of time. There is no prize, no plot advancement, and nothing at stake. It is fighting for the art of it, and that adds a rare sense of solemnity and positive unproductiveness. 5. Second Sentinel Aside from the Last Judge, I spent most of the first half of the campaign without facing any truly major challenge, so encountering the Second Sentinel was a much-needed reality check. Its entire questline is memorable, and I loved how I had to build its heart to activate it. It ranks highly because the fight itself is superbly designed. The Sentinel is fast, hits hard, strikes in every direction, and rarely leaves an opening. That is exactly the kind of boss I love to fight until I completely master it. When you learn its moveset, you understand when to go under it, when to pogo it, and when to dash back. It best embodies the philosophy that has given so many of us headaches and satisfactions over the years. 4. Lost Lace Part of me feels that facing Lace three different times during the story could have diminished her final fight, and yet it remains among the best in the game. The entire scene is terrifying: fighting in the abyss while the Grand Mother Silk's daughter watches on, visually raising the stakes for Hornet and the whole kingdom. Lost Lace delivers one of the toughest fights in all of Silksong. She repeats her elegant and varied attacks while adding a repertoire of void moves that deal huge damage and are incredibly hard to dodge. Three phases, dark waves covering the screen, tentacles rising from the ground, and constant parries make this fight sensational. 3. Tormented Trobbio The first time I faced Trobbio, I felt almost sad because I beat him on my first try and did not have the chance to properly appreciate him. Then Tormented Trobbio appeared, and it felt like a gift from the heavens. I got to fight him again at a harder level, with more time to enjoy the encounter. Somehow, he is so perfectly telegraphed and balanced that I defeated him on the first try again, but this time my heart was pounding and my senses were fully stimulated by the audiovisual spectacle. I still replay his colorful choreography and spectacular introduction in my mind, wishing for a boss rush mode just so I could fight him again and again. 2. Cogwork Dancers It is curious that a boss who literally tells you what he is going to do next remains one of the hardest in the game. What first seems like a simple gimmick turns out to be one of the best fights in the entire genre. Each of the three phases is perfectly planned, giving you time to adjust to the increasing demands while positioning becomes vital for avoiding the overwhelming number of attacks they unleash together and individually. Their dance tells their story alongside that of their kingdom, suppressed by the Citadel like everything else. It is romantic and bleak, just like Hollow Knight: Silksong itself. 1. Skarrsinger Karmelita In a game full of excellent bosses, choosing first place seemed difficult until I came across Skarrsinger Karmelita. Far Fields hides far more than meets the eye on a first playthrough, and I honestly did not expect the best boss in the entire franchise to be waiting there. Karmelita is both the hardest boss in all of Silksong and the most wonderful demonstration of why the game is a masterpiece. From her chants before entering to her unstoppable charges, her beautiful animations and smooth transitions make the fight flow like silk. Every parry she made, every projectile she hit me with from impossible angles, and every time I had to enjoy her tunes before getting my head kicked in convinced me: Skarrsinger Karmelita is the best boss in Hollow Knight: Silksong. Whether Silksong is already sitting in your library or you have been waiting for the perfect excuse to dive into Hallownest's vibrant sequel, these boss fights alone are reason enough to pick up the game. Skarrsinger Karmelita's mesmerizing battle, the tragic dance of the Cogwork Dancers, and every other encounter on this list represent some of the most polished and memorable combat the genre has to offer—an experience that deserves to be felt firsthand rather than just read about. If this ranking has convinced you to finally experience Hollow Knight: Silksong for yourself, you might want to check pricing across different stores before making the leap. Different platforms and regions can have surprisingly different rates, so it pays to [compare prices here]( before your journey into Pharloom begins. https://dealnesthq.com

My 2026 Run Through the Great Taste of Pharloom for the Pale Oil Hollow Knight: Silksong's third Pale Oil nail upgrade requires completing Mergwin's Great Taste of Pharloom wish—gather five ingredients. Let me tell you, upgrading my nail in Hollow Knight: Silksong has been a ride. As of my 2026 run, the third Pale Oil still isn't just sitting around waiting for you—Mergwin locks it behind one of those sprawling Wishes, the Great Taste of Pharloom. I found the quest-giver in the Choral Chambers, that room on the left side of the map with the little building-like figures drawn in. It's northwest of the Citadel Spa and just west of Cogwork Core. When I reached Mergwin on the far right, I had to smack the Pale Oil container first. Then I accepted his grocery list: five items for his master. The list looked innocent enough. Item Where to Grab It My Honest Vibe Mossberry Stew Mosshome, Moss Druid easiest of the bunch Vintage Nectar Greymoor, Halfway House ants. so many ants Pickled Muckmaggot Sinner's Road kitchen boss cooking chaos Crustnut Sands of Karak platforming pain Courier's Rasher Bellhart, timed delivery don't get hit How I Found the Mossberry Stew The Mossberry Stew was a nice warm-up. You need to have finished the Berry Picking quest. If you did it ages ago like me, you can just pop back to the Moss Druid in Mosshome. I took the shortcut elevator up from Bone Bottom, went up to the room where I got the Silkspear art, and kept right until her room. A quick chat and the stew slid into my inventory. No fuss, no boss, just... stew. How I Found the Vintage Nectar Then I headed back to Greymoor, because Creig at the Halfway House knows his fancy drinks. He demanded 480 Rosaries—steep, but I paid. Of course, he “forgot” to mention the basement was basically an ant convention. Once I reached the cellar and touched the vintage on the shelf, Hunter's March sent in the cavalry: Skarrlid, Skarrwing, Skarr Scout, Skarr Stalker, Spear Skarr, Skarrgard. Two waves of them. I had to wipe them all out before the Vintage Nectar finally let me collect it. On my way out, I definitely gave Creig a piece of my mind—someone should really call the health inspector! How I Found the Pickled Muckmaggot This one sent me back to Sinner's Road. If you haven't found it, the best route is via the exit at the top-right above the Halfway House in Greymoor. Inside, I went all the way right to a dead-end, used a double jump to get into the walls, then wall-climbed into the next room. Pro tip: open the shortcut on the left as soon as you can, because the next room is a boss fight. I rang the gong and faced the two lesser cooks first. Then Disgraced Chef Lugoli wrapped up the second and third parts. Honestly, I won't sugarcoat it—the chef had me scrambling. I learned to stay under the lesser cooks and dash behind them. Against Lugoli, I kept to the center, stayed grounded, and in the second phase I stood beside where he surfaced from the maggots. If the maggots clipped me, I healed after dashing under Lugoli to the far side. How I Found the Crustnut The Crustnut sounds like a snack, but it's a whole ordeal. It's in the Sands of Karak, an optional area you've walked past on the Blasted Steps but can't access without at least the Clawline. The entrance sits above the Pinstress's home on the west side, so I had to defeat the Great Conchflies first. Then came the platforming—northwest through difficult but straightforward jumps to a tall vertical chamber. I highly recommend doing three things before pushing deeper: buy the map from Shakra on the second left from the bottom, knock down the giant red spike to open a shortcut back to Blasted Steps, and reach the east bench to move your checkpoint closer. That place is not a backtracking playground. When I was ready, I climbed the vertical chamber, broke the coral crystals to reveal a chamber to the left above Shakra's map spot and below the Coral Tower road. My only real goal was to keep heading west until there was nowhere left. The Crustnut was waiting at the end of that long, spiky road. How I Delivered the Courier's Rasher This is the one I saved for last, and it's basically the White Flower quest on a timer. Tipp and Pill in Bellhart start you off, but first I made sure My Missing Courier and My Missing Brother were done. I equipped Silkspeed Anklets and used Flea Brew before talking to them—every second counts. The moment I chatted with them, the timer started. I could pause it by opening either menu fully, but I mostly kept moving. My route in ten steps: right to the end of Shellwood before the bench; ascend to Blasted Steps; go right to where I met Shakra, then ascend to the room before Last Judge; use the left wall to skip the driznit; sprint through Last Judge's arena ignoring enemies; race right through the Grand Gate to the platform chamber; climb the platforms through Choral Chambers to the Terminus sign; sprint right using the floor shortcut; take the exit at the top left, then the second alcove on the right; and finally run right using levers to reach Mergwin. I stayed careful—walls hurt, enemies hurt, and I jumped over threats with Clawline. It was tense, but delivering all five at once saved me a trip. Rewards for Completing Great Taste of Pharloom When I handed over the Courier's Rasher with the other four, Mergwin made that gelatinous dessert for his master. The cutscene was a lot, but once it finished, he gave me the Pale Oil from the pedestal on his right. Then it was back to the Pinmaster in Bellhart to put that oil to use. My nail gained a full level of sharpness, boosting both regular attacks and nail arts. Worth it? Absolutely. That kind of payoff is exactly why I keep coming back to Silksong—every quest, no matter how frustrating, feeds into a bigger sense of progression. Between the map purchases, upgrades, and countless deaths, the game rewards patience. And with so many hours of content waiting in Pharloom, it is genuinely one of those games you want everyone to experience. If you have been holding off on starting your own journey, now is a good time to pick it up. Prices for the game vary depending on the platform and region, so I always suggest doing a quick [game price comparison]( before committing. DealNest makes that easy by checking prices across multiple stores at once, letting you focus your energy on the quests ahead instead of hunting for deals. https://dealnesthq.com

What Counts for 100% Completion in Silksong and What Doesn't Hollow Knight: Silksong completion guide details checklist items, stat upgrades, and tools needed for the 100% achievement. Tracking down a full completion run in Hollow Knight: Silksong can feel mysterious at first. The game does not openly explain what pushes its internal percentage higher, and many players only discover the system after obtaining a particular item. Once the Farsight item is found and placed inside Hornet's Bellhome, the current completion status becomes visible, but the exact requirements for the Completion achievement remain hidden. This guide walks through the categories that matter for a 100% run and clarifies which activities do not contribute. In the original Hollow Knight, reaching 112% completion required collecting every Mask Shard, Vessel Fragment, Charm, Nail upgrade, equipment piece, and spell. Players also had to defeat progression-related bosses and clear miscellaneous challenges such as the Colosseum of Fools. Silksong follows a similar philosophy, though its own checklist has a few important differences. As of the current version in 2026, the completion route remains focused on collectible categories rather than raw boss count. To earn 100% in Silksong, players must still find every stat increase item, every Needle upgrade, every ability including all Ancestral Arts and Silk Skills, every Crest, and every Tool in the game. Upgraded versions of base Tools are not counted separately, so acquiring the base Tool is enough. The main difference from the original Hollow Knight is significant. Silksong does not require players to defeat every boss, nor does it require completing every Wish. The only bosses and Wish quests that matter for completion are those connected to one of the items on the checklist. For example, the Broodfeast quest must be finished because it rewards the Longnail. The quest itself adds no percentage, but the Longnail does, so the quest becomes mandatory for a true 100% run. A similar rule applies to many side activities. Individual Fleas do not count toward completion, but finding 25 Fleas is one of the requirements to enter Act 3. Progression goals follow the same logic. Players will not earn percentage for acquiring each piece of the Threefold Melody, nor does each collected Map provide any direct progress. However, because these objectives are required to reach Act 3, they are technically unavoidable on the road to 100% completion. In short, some tasks are mandatory because they unlock required items, even if the task itself does not move the percentage. The table below summarizes what counts and what does not. Category Counts toward 100%? Notes Farsight item No direct percentage Unlocks the completion display in Bellhome Stat increase items Yes Every one must be collected Needle upgrades Yes All Needle upgrades are required Abilities Yes Includes Ancestral Arts and Silk Skills Crests Yes Every Crest is required Tools Yes Base Tools count; upgraded versions do not add separately Bosses Only if tied to an item Defeating every boss is not required Wish quests Only if tied to an item Completing every Wish is not required Individual Fleas No 25 Fleas are needed for Act 3 progression Threefold Melody pieces No direct percentage Required to reach Act 3 Maps No direct percentage Required for progression Players looking to 100% Silksong should therefore focus on collecting every permanent upgrade and Tool rather than trying to clear every boss or complete every Wish. Keeping track of the Farsight display can help confirm whether a missing percentage is tied to a stat item, an ability, a Crest, or a Tool. The system rewards thorough exploration, but it does not punish players who leave optional bosses or side Wishes unfinished unless those activities guard a completion item. A full completion journey still requires careful attention. The list of required collectibles is broad, but the distinction between direct percentage and mandatory progression is useful. By locating the Farsight item early and placing it in Hornet's Bellhome, players can monitor their status and plan routes through Act 3 more effectively. The path to 100% is not simply a boss rush. It is a scavenger hunt through every upgrade category, with a few progression roadblocks that must be cleared along the way. For players who find this kind of meticulous completion tracking satisfying, the hunt doesn't have to end with Silksong. Many similar action-platformers reward the same level of thorough exploration, and building a library of such games can quickly add up. 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Silksong’s Rite of Rebirth: Surviving Hornet’s Most Annoying Errand Hollow Knight: Silksong's Rite of Rebirth quest strips Hornet of healing and tools, challenging completionists to survive its harsh trials. Nobody picks up a wailing, vine-covered baby for fun—except the most stubborn completionists in Hollow Knight: Silksong. The Rite of Rebirth sounds like a noble wish, but it quickly turns into a multi-zone scavenger hunt that strips Hornet of her healing, her tools, and her patience. Here is how Hornet can survive the ordeal without losing her mind. Finding the Twisted Bud The Twisted Bud sits in a cradle on the outskirts of Bilewater, hidden behind tiny passageways. To reach it, Hornet needs the grappling hook from the Whispering Vaults in The Citadel. From there, she should head east, pull down a hook, dodge a series of very rude gears, and drop into Bilewater. After progressing a little east, she must look for a hidden path on the left near the bottom. Small side paths eventually lead up and to the right, where the cradle waits. The real problem starts after pickup. The Twisted Bud is described as consorted mass of ashen vine. Cries out incessantly. Opening the inventory becomes psychological warfare, because the bud screams every single time. Greyroot’s “Help” Is a Trap After grabbing the bud, Hornet heads to Greyroot. Players who completed the Rite of Pollip will gain access to the Rite of Rebirth. It sounds like a wholesome delivery. It is not. Greyroot accepts the Twisted Bud, grabs Hornet, infects her with a parasite, and drops her at the Chapel of the Witch in Shellwood. So much for maternal warmth. The infection imposes three miserable restrictions: Cannot change Crests ️ Cannot equip tools ️🩹 Cannot Bind or heal That final restriction hurts most. Every skirmish turns into a no-hit challenge. There is one upside: finishing the game while infected opens a different ending. Most first-time players, however, will want the parasite gone before the controller goes through a window. Curing the Infection The easiest lead comes from the Bell Hermit in Bellhart. He tells Hornet to seek an exiled bug named Yarnaby, who has moved “high up into the moors.” Yarnaby lives in the northwest of Greymoor. Hornet must climb the towers, push all the way west, and eventually reach a small home belonging to a rather rude individual: Yarnaby. After Hornet explains the illness, Yarnaby agrees to help, but only in exchange for a specific item: Steel Spines. Yarnaby’s directions are deliberately vague—“a tangled mess of cages.” Players who have visited Sinner’s Road will recognise the cages in the central section. At the top right of that area, two bugs named Benjin and Crull wait. They will sell the Steel Spines for 260 Rosaries. Item Cost Location Steel Spines 260 Rosaries Benjin & Crull, Sinner’s Road central cages Return to Yarnaby with the Steel Spines, and she will rip the parasite out of Hornet with zero bedside manner. The reward is the Witch crest, plus the return of healing and tools. The Twisted Bud’s crying finally stops. Final Tips for the Rite of Rebirth Save 260 Rosaries before visiting Benjin and Crull. Avoid opening the inventory while carrying the cursed bud. 🧭 Explore Sinner’s Road early to mark the cage location. If attempting the infected ending, do it on a second run, not the first. The Rite of Rebirth is less about rebirth and more about being repeatedly inconvenienced across Pharloom. But the story, the Witch crest, and the sweet sound of silence after the parasite is removed make it one of Silksong’s most memorable detours. Once the parasite is gone and the Witch crest is equipped, the rest of Silksong opens up at your own pace. For many players, finishing this quest is also a signal to revisit other parts of Pharloom — or to start hunting for similar action-platformers with the same rich atmosphere. Whether you're picking up a physical copy of Silksong, investing in a new controller, or eyeing expansion packs, every Rosary saved at Benjin and Crull reminds us that frugality pays off. That same mindset carries over into real-world gaming purchases. Before committing to a full-price order, it's worth checking whether a better offer is hiding nearby — just like a secret room in Greymoor. [DealNest]( regularly rounds up discounts, promo codes, and bundles across the gaming and tech space, so you can spend less time hunting for bargains and more time actually playing. A little patience rewards exploration in Hallownest, and it can do the same for your wallet. https://dealnesthq.com

Hollow Knight: Silksong Bell Eater Guide: Defeat It and Reunite the Beast Master the Hollow Knight: Silksong Bell Eater boss with this Beast in the Bells quest guide, covering loadouts, weak points, and phase tactics. In the 2026 version of Hollow Knight: Silksong, few encounters test a player's nerve quite like the armored centipede known as the Bell Eater. The first time a player tries to summon the Bell Beast from a bell fast travel system after waking up in The Citadel, this creepy crawler makes a brief and unsettling cameo. From that moment on, the fast travel tunnels are locked down, and the only way to get things back on track is to start the quest Beast in the Bells and take the fight to the Bell Eater. This guide breaks down the whole shebang—preparations, phase-by-phase tactics, and the heartwarming reunion that follows. ️ At a Glance Detail Info Boss The Bell Eater Location Bell fast transport tunnels, Act 3 Quest Beast in the Bells Weak Points Head and rear Win Condition Stagger the boss in Phase 1, stagger it twice more in Phase 2, then the Bell Beast finishes the job Preparations Before leaping into the bell tunnels, it pays to gear up properly. The Bell Eater is not the kind of boss that rewards half-baked loadouts. Since fast travel remains blocked until the quest is completed, players should knock this out as soon as Act 3 begins. The quest automatically pops into the wish tracker after the first Bell Eater sighting. Crest Suggestions 🩸 Reaper's Crest – The Bell Eater only has two main weak points, so heavy damage is worth its weight in gold. ️ Architect's Crest – Trap-focused players can equip more tools and bank silk for healing, especially since some silk abilities will not affect the Bell Eater. Tool Suggestions Tool Why It Helps 🪀 Shakra's Rings Ricochet around the room and hammer the Eater's weak spots multiple times. Fractured Mask Provides a safety net against a fatal attack. 🪚 Sawtooth Circlet Damages nearby enemies with every cloak flap. 🧵 Reserve Bind Acts as emergency silk healing if Hornet runs dry during the fight. Conch Cutter Ricochets off walls and the Eater's body in Phase 2 to hit weaker areas more easily. ️ Longclaw Extends needle reach so Hornet can stay outside the red orb bounce range while attacking. 🧪 Plasmium Phial Adds a temporary mask of health and can be reused before needing an Alchemist refill. Silk Ability Suggestions ️ Thread Storm – Excellent for high damage output on the Bell Eater's vulnerable areas. Sharpdart – Propels Hornet forward for blade and silk damage; use quick in-and-out dives for value. Boss Fight: The Bell Eater Phase 1 The Bell Eater has a handful of tricks up its sleeve to keep Hornet on her toes. Its body is covered in armor, leaving only the rear and head open to damage. It will hang down from the ceiling or pop up from the ground, swinging its scythe-like limbs around in a small radius. Players can use that moment to pogo off its head with a downward strike and deal damage. The Eater also disappears and drops heavy bells from the ceiling. Looking up reveals dust that telegraphs where each bell will fall. Much like the Bell Beast fight, the bells bounce once before leaving the screen. At other times, the Eater shows its rear and spits red orbs that ricochet around the room. These can be parried, and the rear weak point can be punished before the boss retreats. On rare occasions, the Bell Eater rumbles underground, forcing Hornet to glide over long spines that erupt from the ground in arcing waves. Once the boss is staggered, it screeches and shifts into Phase 2. Phase 2 In Phase 2, the Eater's long body blocks off the left and right sides of the arena, which makes the whole fight feel a lot more claustrophobic. The red orb attacks speed up, and the boss starts combining the ground arc attack with bell drops. When the Eater lifts its head and strikes at Hornet's last position, players should get out of dodge and use the opening to toss Shakra's Rings or let Conch Cutter ricochet around the arena. This phase requires at least two more staggers. Downward pogo attacks on the rear weak point are the name of the game, because the head is often harder to reach while the rear offers a bigger opening for aerial hits and orb parries. A flea brew can also boost movement speed to help dodge the faster red orb launches. Just as the Bell Eater tries to shift again, the Bell Beast appears and tackles it into the sea of bells, taking care of the end of the fight. Reunited with the Bell Beast After the Bell Eater is soundly defeated, Hornet can finally speak with the Bell Beast. The creature lets out a loud purr before small baby Bell Beasts pop out of the ground beside their mother. Hornet can then take out the Needolin and play a song with the Bell Beast and its young, which unlocks a new melody called the Beastling Call. The Beastling Call is a fitting reward for a fight that asks so much of Hornet, and it caps off one of Silksong's most memorable encounters. For players who want to experience this moment for themselves, the wait for a release date—or a good time to pick the game up—can feel just as tense as the boss fight itself. Tracking down a solid deal on Hollow Knight: Silksong can save you a few Geo, and using [this price tracking tool]( makes it easy to see when the price drops to a comfortable range. That way, you can focus on learning the Bell Eater's patterns instead of worrying about your wallet. https://dealnesthq.com

Hollow Knight: Silksong — All Seven Crest Locations and Best Playstyles Master all seven Hollow Knight: Silksong Crests, from Hunter to Shaman, with locations, slot colors, and combat perks that trivialize bosses. In Hollow Knight: Silksong, Crests are not just shiny trinkets — they are the backbone of Hornet's entire kit. Seriously, picking the right Crest can make a brutal boss feel like a walk in the park, while the wrong one can leave you tearing your hair out. Each Crest changes your basic melee attacks, dictates the color-coded slots you have for tools, and often brings a special twist like life steal or drill strikes. Whether you're a speedrunner, a support player, or someone who just wants to bonk bosses into next week, there's a Crest for you. Here's the lowdown on all seven Crests discovered so far as of 2026, including where to find them and what makes each one tick. Crest Starting Slots Specialty Hunter 1 White, 1 Red, 1 Yellow, 1 Blue Balanced Wanderer 2 Yellow, 1 Red, 1 White Speed/support Reaper 1 White, 1 Red, 1 Yellow, 1 Blue Heavy combat, silk gain Beast 1 White, 2 Red Life steal Witch 1 White, 1 Red, 1 Blue Twisted Root life steal Architect 3 Red Drill attacks, craft tools Shaman 2 Blue Triple Silk Skills Hunter Crest — The Default Option The Hunter Crest is the one you wake up with, no farming or key required. It's balanced, giving Hornet one slot each for white, red, yellow, and blue tools. That's handy for learning the ropes. The catch? Its diagonal downward attack can feel a bit wonky during tight platforming bits, so don't be surprised if you whiff a pogo or two. Still, it's a dependable all-rounder until you find something spicier. ️ Wanderer Crest — Speed & Support To snag this one, you'll need to head beneath Moss Grotto and unlock the Bonegrave with a Simple Key. Pebb in Bone Bottom sells one, but at 500 Rosaries it's a real grind early on. Honestly, waiting until you've banked some Rosaries is the smart play. Once inside, head west and follow the path to claim the Wanderer Crest. It kicks off with two yellow slots, one red, and one white, making it a dream for support-focused builds that lean on speed and utility. ️ Reaper Crest — Silky Smooth When you reach Greymoor, make a beeline for the far west and the Chapel of the Reaper. Clear the arena fight, climb to the top, and the Reaper Crest is yours. This one is much more combat-focused, dishing out heavy strikes and boosting the silk you build from defeated enemies. Its starting slots mirror the Hunter — a balanced set — but the downward strike is way easier to pull off. If pogo-jumping over spikes is your jam, the Reaper Crest is a solid pick. 🩸 Beast Crest — Life Stealer The Beast Crest waits in Hunter's March, at the Chapel of the Beast along the southeastern passage of that gnarly area. You'll need to beat the Savage Beastfly first. It starts with one white and two red slots, and later upgrades add yellow but no blue. The real draw here is the life-stealing ability: Hornet can go berserk and heal by attacking enemies. For aggressive players who hate backing off, this Crest is a total game changer. Witch Crest — Act 2 Exclusive This one's locked behind Act Two, and it's no quick pickup. You'll need to finish the Wishes 'Rite of Rebirth' and 'Infestation Operation,' which form the Twisted Root questline across Shellwood and Greymoor. After both are done, head back to Greyroot in Greymoor to receive the Witch Crest. It starts with one white, one red, and one blue slot, with room to add more blue and red later. The ability to summon Twisted Root extensions and steal life from enemies is as creepy as it is useful. ️ Architect Crest — Twisted Mind Head east of the Underworks area to find the Twelfth Architect, who'll sell you the Architect's Key for 110 Rosaries. Keep in mind you need at least 25 tools in your inventory before he'll even consider it. Take that key to the northern part of The Cauldron, unlock the Chapel of the Architect, and claim your prize. The Architect Crest turns Hornet's needle into a drill and lets her craft tools on the fly by spending Silk. It starts with three red slots, with upgrades adding two blue and two yellow — pure damage, no fluff. ️ Shaman Crest — Silk Skills Galore Last but not least, the Shaman Crest only shows up in Act Three. After unlocking Silk Soar, head to the specified spot, run right a screen, and break through to a higher platform just below the ceiling light. Follow the path over spikes, drop down, and dive into a deep pit to find it. Its big selling point? You can equip three Silk Skills at once, each slightly empowered. The trade-off is just two blue slots, so plan your loadout carefully. So that's all seven Crests uncovered so far in Hollow Knight: Silksong. Each one can flip the script on how Hornet plays, so don't be shy about experimenting. Whether you're after speed, life steal, drill attacks, or triple Silk Skills, Pharloom has you covered — if you're willing to hunt them down. Now get out there and claim them all. ️ Before you dive into Pharloom and start tracking down every Crest, it's worth making sure you've got the game in your library at the best possible price. With a title this anticipated, prices tend to fluctuate quickly — especially around launch windows and seasonal sales. If you're looking to grab Hollow Knight: Silksong without overpaying, keep an eye on the latest [game deals today]( to catch discounts the moment they drop. You never know when a solid price cut might appear, and every saved coin is another step toward those expensive tool upgrades. Happy hunting, and may your Silk meter always be full. https://dealnesthq.com