From the Moss Grotto to your first boss fight, Hollow Knight: Silksong wastes no time showing players that Pharloom is a world full of secrets, dangers, and rewards. Master Hornet’s Bind system, save your Rosaries, and unlock key abilities like Swift Step to make the journey smoother.

The Journey Begins: Your First Steps in Pharloom

After years of anticipation, Hollow Knight: Silksong has arrived, and this time, you’re not the Knight—you’re Hornet. Faster, more agile, and equipped with a unique set of acrobatic abilities, Hornet brings a whole new rhythm to the gameplay. The opening areas are designed to ease you into her style, but the world wastes no time throwing challenges your way.

Healing and Currency: What’s New

One of the biggest shifts from the original is the new Silk Gauge system.

  • Healing: Instead of focusing and waiting like the Knight, Hornet uses the Bind action, instantly healing up to three masks when her Silk Gauge is full. It’s quick but risky—if you’re interrupted, you lose all your silk. Timing is everything.
  • Currencies: Pharloom introduces two forms of currency:
    Shell Shards – your everyday resource for items and upgrades.
    Rosaries – a higher-value currency for bigger purchases. But beware: unstrung Rosary Beads drop when you die, just like Geo in the first game.

Walkthrough: Moss Grotto to the Surface

Your adventure begins in the Moss Grotto, a lush but dangerous starting zone meant to teach you Hornet’s fundamentals.

  • Learn the Controls: Practice her diagonal downward strike with the needle—it replaces the Knight’s pogo mechanic and is key for both combat and traversal.
  • Collect Shell Shards: Hunt the mossy enemies to build your stash early.
  • Find a Rosary: You’ll soon come across the Frayed Rosary String, introducing you to the new money system. Use it wisely, or risk losing your beads on death.
  • Face the Moss Mother: Your first boss fight arrives sooner than expected. This encounter tests your ability to juggle offense, movement, and healing with Bind.

Unlocking Essential Abilities

Progression in Silksong is all about unlocking new tools to survive Pharloom’s harsh environments. One of the earliest and most important upgrades is the Swift Step (Dash).

  • Location: Found in the Deep Docks.
  • How to Get It: Solve a short puzzle involving platforming and hitting an orange orb to open a hidden path. At the end, interact with the idol to claim the ability.
  • Why It Matters: Dash drastically improves your mobility and gives you an edge against tougher enemies and bosses.

Why the Hype is Real

Silksong isn’t just living up to expectations—it’s surpassing them. Pharloom is a sprawling kingdom packed with:

  • 150+ new enemies and 40 unique bosses to challenge your skills.
  • A quest system that adds story-driven depth.
  • A crafting system for tools and upgrades, expanding the way you play.

The excitement was so huge that launch-day demand even crashed servers on Steam and the Nintendo eShop. It’s safe to say Silksong has earned its place as one of the most anticipated sequels in gaming.