Silksong is real, and it’s finally here! After amassing nearly half a million Steam players on launch day and almost breaking every major storefront in gaming, Team Cherry’s highly anticipated indie title has officially arrived.
And with a new game comes a whole new set of tutorials, as this is far from the original Hollow Knight you’ve played before. While the Knight had plenty of mobility, Hornet in Silksong is far more agile but requires careful precision.
Many players have found this frustrating at first. So, here are five major tips you should know about in Silksong before heading back to the Kingdom of Pharloom:
Learn to Pogo!
The first big hurdle you’ll notice in Silksong is that Hornet doesn’t have a horizontal pogo move like the Knight in the original. Instead, hers is a 90-degree angle attack that’s tough to master at first.
The first taste of this move happens during your entrance to the Hunter’s March. You’ll notice small red berries, and the only way to interact with them is by pogo-ing your way up.
For context, pogo-ing is a staple move in Hollow Knight. It uses the protagonist’s weapon to bounce back from enemies, spikes, and other objects with contact damage. Silksong keeps the mechanic, but it takes time to learn and can feel frustrating for new players.
Pogo-ing is a highly effective move against the game’s increasing number of difficult encounters. So make sure to master it.
Hornet Has a High Jump You Don’t Know About
Hornet has a high jump, but it requires precise timing. Pressing the jump button at the right time whenever Hornet grabs a ledge makes her jump higher than usual. I noticed this during one of my many runbacks from the earlier Ant encounters.
This move is especially helpful during tricky platforming sections or if you need to bypass those annoying flying enemies blocking your path. It is as essential as pogo-ing, and both are skills you want to really master to handle Pharloom’s toughest platforming challenges.
Sprinting Is Important
Once you unlock the Sprint, it becomes a crucial move not just for mobility, but also for combat. You don’t need to press Sprint every time, but it’s smart to do this before engaging an enemy. Doing so lets Hornet lunge forward with her Needle, then leap back, which you can cancel into a diagonal pogo strike.
It may sound technical, like something out of a fighting game tutorial, but it’s a vital move that helps maximize Hornet’s agility and combat prowess.
The Difference Between Rosary Beads and Shells
A major change in Silksong is the introduction of two resources: Rosaries and Shell Shards. New players should know the difference between both.
Rosaries are essentially Silksong’s version of Geo, which was the original’s primary currency. They’re used to buy trinkets, amulets, and other items from NPCs. Unlike in Hollow Knight, they aren’t dropped by every enemy. Instead, they mainly come from the inhabitants of Pharloom, like Pilgrims and soldiers. Standard monsters won’t drop them.
Shell Shards, on the other hand, are primarily dropped by minor monsters. They’re used to repair Tools whenever you rest at a bench. In Silksong, Hornet can have tools like the Wooden Claw, which acts as a boomerang against flying enemies. These are limited-use items, and Shell Shards replenish them at every Bench, provided you have enough Shell Shards.
Other than that, you can also use Shell Shards to repair Bone Bottom’s infrastructure to make the other Pilgrim’s journey to the Citadel less dangerous.
Keep in mind, you can only hold a maximum of 400 Shell Shards, so hoarding them is not recommended. Make sure to spend them with every chance you get, as it is a pretty common resource.
TL;DR: Rosaries are for purchases, and Shell Shards are for crafting and repairs.
Always Buy Maps from Shakra
Another important step in Silksong is buying every map you can from Shakra, one of the game’s new NPCs. She’s a mix of Cornifer and Iselda from the original. She can be seen selling maps, a compass, and especially Pins that mark benches, fast-travel stations, and NPCs.
Shakra has a knack for singing, so whenever you hear her voice or find traces of her ringed weapons on the floor, head straight to her and buy everything she offers. Having her maps and items can save you hours of backtracking and help you navigate Pharloom with ease. Check out our guide on how to get maps here.
And that’s about it. While there are still more tricks and secrets to uncover, these 5 essential tips will help you make the most of your journey in the first few hours of Hollow Knight: Silksong.
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