The Heart of Might: The One Thing That Makes Silksong’s 3rd Act Unbelievably Unbearable

Silksong is an unforgiving game, but one whose difficulty is a key selling point. Regardless of how many fans complain about how hard it can get, it is that toughness that compels them to keep playing and enjoy it. Still, no matter how charming its challenge may be, there are instances where the game definitely takes it too far.

Those who've experienced Silksong to its fullest will likely say that the game's third act is where things get insanely serious when it comes to ramping up the difficulty, so much so that it's not even worth getting to that part of the game unless one is a true fan of Hollow Knight. As someone who has beaten it, I can say with confidence that it's true, and it's a shame that it's like that.

The infamous third act would have been fine, as it's expected to be a challenge given the conditions required to get to it, but it is one of the best examples where the game's difficulty goes above and beyond to frustrate the player into quitting. This is all because of a quest known as The Old Hearts and its Heart of Might requirement for completion.

Out of all conditions in Silksong's many wishes, this particular one that can be found in the Coral Tower high above the dangerous Sands of Karak is quite possibly the worst. Meeting it has to have been one of my least enjoyable experiences with the game, and it plummeted the quality of the game's third act. If you're wondering why it's so horrible, well, I'll explain it with three important reasons.

1. The Number of Enemies You Have to Take On

Credit: Team Cherry

Given how the third act is the pathway towards the true end of Silksong, it's not surprising that it's going to be filled with enemies that are much harder than anything faced before. However, those that can be found in The Heart of Might Wish condition are not only challenging, but also plentiful.

Those who've played the game will know that there are certain instances where it forces Hornet to go through a gauntlet of foes before being allowed to proceed to the next area. While getting The Heart of Might, there isn't just one or two, but four such tests of endurance, each one harder than the last.

I lost count of how many enemies there were, but I know there were too many for my liking. Taking them on can be exhausting, and given that they're no pushovers, it's also incredibly frustrating. This horrible aspect of The Heart of Might also leads to the next problem, one that emphasizes why the wish condition makes Silksong's third act now worth completing.

2. Failing at Any Point Means Restarting the Gauntlet

Credit: Team Cherry

This has to be one of the biggest struggles of playing Silksong in its third act. The game already has a problem when it comes to runbacks, but I believe The Heart of Might segment of The Old Hearts quest is where it's truly emphasized.

If at any point one were to die during the four enemy gauntlets, it means having to see Hornet waking up from her defeat and redoing the entire process from the beginning. It is a soul-crushing experience every time it happens, and could compel one to quit on the third act and never play the game again.

While Team Cherry did try to alleviate the issue by placing in a checkpoint of sorts, it can easily be missed. Also, finding it doesn't even remove the need to go through all the gauntlets, as it still only takes away three out of the four. It feels like the equivalent of putting a Band-Aid over a profusely bleeding wound, which doesn't bode well for those who intend to try and conquer what awaits.

3. The Boss at the Top Can Shut Down All Your Progress

Credit: Team Cherry

Waiting at the end of this particular quest condition is Crust King Khann, and he can be considered one of the worst bosses of Silksong. What's funny is that it isn't the quality of the boss himself that makes him so bad, but rather what needs to be done to face him.

Having to go through what seems like an endless wave of foes is already exhausting, but knowing that there's something even more challenging waiting at the end can feel downright cruel. If one fails after coming so close to the end, it can be quite the demoralizing experience, especially if that person didn't manage to find the hidden checkpoint.

Given that the Silksong's Khann is no slouch when it comes to combat and how much time it takes to face him even once, he's definitely up there as one of the worst bosses, and a good reason why The Heart of Might is the biggest deterrent from wanting to complete the game's third act.

If it weren't for this one condition of The Old Hearts quest, Silksong's third act would have been an amazing time. Alas, that isn't the case, and it will take only the bravest, skilled, and most stubborn of players to be able to enjoy what it has to offer.