How to Unlock Act 3 and the Silk and Soul Quest in Hollow Knight: Silksong
This is it—the final stretch before Hollow Knight: Silksong reveals its deepest secrets. The path to the hidden Act 3: Abyss and its true ending begins long before you face the final boss. It’s a deliberate, multi-step process that transforms your save file and unlocks the game’s most challenging content. Here’s exactly how to prepare your world and meet all the prerequisites to trigger the transition.
Navigating the treacherous path to the secret third act.
The Foundation: Completing the Wishes
Your journey to the secret third act starts with proving yourself to the kingdom of Pharloom. The first and most critical requirement is the completion of all Wishboard Quests in the three main settlements: Bone Bottom, Bellhart, and Songclave. These aren't just side tasks; they're the game's way of tracking your commitment to the world's inhabitants. Speak to every NPC, hunt every target, and deliver every item listed on these boards. Only when all three boards are cleared will key characters acknowledge you're ready for what comes next.
The Flea Caravan and Your Bellhome
Parallel to your wish-granting, you must aid the Flea Caravan. You need to rescue a minimum of 25 out of the 30 Lost Fleas scattered across Pharloom. This advances the caravan to its final camp in the Putrefied Ducts. This act of compassion is a subtle but mandatory story trigger.
Back in Bellhart, after finishing all local wishes, speak with Pavo. As the town's leadership, he will grant you the Bellhome Key, confirming you’ve met the town's conditions. This key solidifies your place in the community and is a quiet flag that you’re prepared for the greater quest.
Unlocking the Quest Giver
With the wishes done and your status secured, you must have defeated Grand Mother Silk at least once in The Citadel. This initial victory is what enables the quest to be offered. Now, head to Songclave and seek out the Caretaker. As the settlement's guardian of ancient knowledge, this NPC will finally provide the Silk and Soul quest and agree to construct the powerful Soul Snare once you bring them the required components.
Before you dive into collecting the four soul items, use this preparation phase to stock up on all gear, tools, and upgrades from merchants. Many will disappear once Act 3 begins, so buy everything you might need now—you’ll thank yourself later.
With every wish fulfilled, the Flea Caravan settled, your Bellhome secured, and the Caretaker waiting for you in Songclave, your save file is primed. The next step is gathering the four unique components for the snare, which will lead you to a fateful choice at the peak of The Citadel. Your adventure is about to take a dark and spectacular turn. Let's go.
How to Find the Four Soul Components for the Soul Snare
This is the hunt—with the Silk and Soul quest accepted, your mission in Hollow Knight: Silksong shifts to gathering four powerful, elusive components scattered across Pharloom. Each item is a piece of the trap, and finding them all is your key to changing the kingdom's fate. Here’s exactly where to look.
Searching the deep tunnels for the Soul Snare's required pieces.
Your first stop is back where your journey in Pharloom likely began: Bone Bottom. Head to the Ruined Chapel in this area to find the Chapel Maid, a sorrowful NPC who has witnessed the kingdom's decay. Speaking to her will earn you the Maiden’s Soul as a gift—no fight required, just a moment of quiet reflection.
Next, travel to the bustling hub of Bellhart. The Hermit’s Soul is hidden within the settlement's own Bellway building. Here’s the trick most guides miss: instead of leaving the station, look for a breakable wall in the lower-right corner of the main chamber. Smash through it to discover a hidden chamber and the reclusive Bell Hermit, who will entrust you with his soul.
The Seeker’s Soul demands a fight. Venture into the toxic reaches of Bilewater and seek out the boss Groal the Great. This is a tough, multi-wave encounter in an arena with no nearby bench, so come prepared. After defeating Groal, a passage to the left opens. Follow it to a nearby hut to collect the soul from the corpse of a fallen seeker.
⚠️ Prepare for a trek: Benches are scarce in Bilewater. If you die to Groal, it’s a long walk back. Search carefully for a secret bench in the area—it can save you a major headache.
Finally, you need the mechanism itself: the Snare Setter. This tool is hidden in Weavenest Atla. From the main bench in this area, look up. You’ll need to use a series of [R2] wall-jumps to ascend the right wall and reach a secret platform in the ceiling. The Snare Setter awaits on an altar in this hidden room.
The double-jump ability from the Faydown Cloak makes reaching this ceiling platform much easier. If you haven’t acquired it yet, consider backtracking to get it first.
With all four components—Maiden’s Soul, Hermit’s Soul, Seeker’s Soul, and Snare Setter—in hand, your final step is to return to the Caretaker in Songclave. He’ll combine them into the completed Soul Snare. Don’t forget, you’ll also need the Needolin instrument, obtained from behind the Weaver's Door in Weavenest Atla, for the final confrontation. Once you have everything, you’re ready to face Grand Mother Silk and change the course of history.
How to Reach the Abyss and Restore the Bellway System
The world has fractured. With the Soul Snare triggered and the Snared Silk ending achieved, your save file in Hollow Knight: Silksong is now visually corrupted. This is Act 3: Abyss, and Pharloom is a hostile, transformed kingdom. Your first objective is to restore the vital Bellway system and plunge into the darkness below.
Exploring the vast interconnected regions of the kingdom.
Triggering the Abyss
Your journey into Act 3 begins the moment you defeat Grand Mother Silk at The Citadel’s peak and make the pivotal choice. Instead of selecting the ‘Bind’ prompt, you must choose the ‘Needolin’ option. This uses the Soul Snare, pulling Grand Mother Silk into the Void and corrupting your world. Back at the main menu, you’ll see your save slot covered in dark vines. To load into Act 3, you must attack these vines on your save file—a fittingly physical action for a world now scarred by the Void.
The Bell Eater: Reclaiming Fast Travel
Upon loading in, you’ll find Pharloom drastically altered. Void tendrils block familiar paths, and the Bellways—your fast-travel network—are now hazardous. Your immediate goal is to reach the Grand Bellway within the Choral Chambers to restore them. Here, you’ll face the Bell Eater, a massive, serpentine boss that has claimed the Bellways as its territory.
This fight is a test of patience and precision. The Bell Eater coils around the arena, and only its blood-red head or emerging tail can be damaged. Every other part of its body deals 2 damage on contact, so reckless aggression will end you quickly.
- Phase 1 Strategy: Stay central. When it performs its limb flail attack, you can safely pogo off its head for 1-2 hits before dashing away. When the tail appears and spits bouncing bombs, deflect them with your needle for an opening to strike upward.
- Phase 2 Unlock: After enough damage, the arena expands. Watch for dust clouds on the floor signaling Falling Bells—double jump and float with your cloak to avoid them. The head and tail may attack simultaneously; focus on whichever is safer.
Tools like the Cogfly for distraction or the Fault Vessel for high-damage tail strikes are invaluable here. The key is surviving, not speed.
Victory is rewarded with a cinematic where the Bell Beast intervenes, and you unlock the Beastling Call (also called Bellway Recall). This crucial ability lets you instantly return to the last Bellway station you used by pressing [Up] + [Needle] while on solid ground. It’s your new lifeline in this corrupted world.
Descending into Darkness
With fast travel restored, your next directive from the Snail Shamans in Moss Grotto is clear: find a way to The Abyss, Pharloom’s deepest and most dangerous region. The path leads to Deep Docks.
Here, you’ll find Bellow by the giant Diving Bell. He’ll give you the Diving Bell Key, allowing you to operate this ancient vessel. Board it and prepare for the descent—this is your one-way ticket into the heart of the corruption. The journey down is harrowing, passing through layers of the kingdom until you arrive in the oppressive, dark expanse of The Abyss.
This new region is a vertical gauntlet of void tendrils, floating hazards, and demanding platforming. Your goal here is to find a Weaver Nest and acquire the Silksoar ability, a super jump essential for navigating its depths and the challenges to come. It’s a place where every shadow moves, and the only way out is through.
You’ve restored order to the chaos, reclaimed your mobility, and taken the first, deliberate step into the Void. With the Bellways at your command and the Abyss beneath your feet, you’re ready to begin the true work of cleansing Pharloom.
How to Complete the Old Hearts Quest in Hollow Knight: Silksong
With the Bellway system restored in Hollow Knight: Silksong, Pharloom is yours to traverse—but the true work of cleansing the Void has just begun. The Snail Shamans in Moss Grotto have a dire quest for you: gather the three Old Hearts of ancient, powerful bugs to create a resonance strong enough to repel the corruption. This is a tour of Act 3's most dangerous arenas, and you'll need every skill you've mastered.
Battling enemies to reach the ancient hearts.
First, return to the Snail Shamans at their gathering spot in Moss Grotto. After witnessing the 'Red Memory' vision of the past, they will teach you the Elegy of the Deep. Press [A] to play this haunting melody at specific statues to enter the memories of the heart's guardians, which is the only way to claim them.
Hunter’s Heart: Skarrsinger Karmelita
Your first target is the Hunter’s Heart, guarded by the spectral hunter Skarrsinger Karmelita. To reach her, head to Hunter’s March. In the far top-right of this area, you’ll find a large rabbit statue. Use your Silksoar ability from this spot to launch upwards into a hidden section of the Far Fields above.
Inside the secluded hut, you’ll find Karmelita. Play the Elegy of the Deep before her to enter her memory and start the fight. She’s a relentless, long-range fighter using needle throws and disorienting sonic screams. The key is to stay mobile, dashing through her projectile patterns to get in close. Defeating her in the memory causes her real-world body to appear beside the statue, where you can collect the Hunter’s Heart. This prize permanently increases your dash distance, a vital upgrade for the challenges ahead.
Her sonic scream attack has a very distinct wind-up animation. Use that moment to Silksoar over her head and land behind her for a few safe hits.
Encrusted Heart: Crust King Khann
The Encrusted Heart offers formidable protection, but getting it is a marathon before the sprint. Make your way to the Sands of Karak, accessed from Blasted Steps. Find the imposing statue of the Crust King and play the Elegy of the Deep.
This transports you to the Coral Tower, his fortified memory. Before you even face the king, you must survive a brutal gauntlet of roughly 30 waves of increasingly tough enemies. There’s no shortcut here—just endurance. Use area-control tools like Cogflies or Tacks to manage the crowds.
After the gauntlet, use Silksoar to reach the boss chamber. Crust King Khann is a heavily armored, slow powerhouse. His weak point is his exposed back during his long charge attacks. Dash through him as he lunges, then spin around to strike. His reward, the Encrusted Heart, provides passive armor that significantly reduces damage from environmental hazards like acid or void pools.
Pollen Heart: Shrine Guardian Seth & Nyleth
The final mandatory heart, the Pollen Heart (also called the Heart of the Woods), is a test of adaptability against two very different bosses. To find it, go to the Grand Gate and take the elevator down to the Underworks. Instead of exiting, look for a breakable wall in the elevator shaft itself. Break through to find a hidden bench and the path forward.
You’ll first face Shrine Guardian Seth, a swift, melee-focused warrior. Defeat him to gain access to the inner shrine. Play the Elegy of the Deep at the fountain inside to confront the true guardian: Nyleth. This fight is a battle of area denial, with Nyleth filling the arena with damaging magical zones. The arena will eventually collapse, dropping you into a thorn-filled chamber—if you die, the fight restarts from this second phase. Stay airborne as much as possible, using pogo strikes to damage her while avoiding her ground-based attacks. Victory grants the Pollen Heart, which provides a constant, slow regeneration of your silk over time.
The Optional Substitute: Conjoined Heart
If one of these trials is too daunting, there’s a single, powerful alternative. The Conjoined Heart can substitute for any of the three main hearts. To get it, you must find the Green Prince in Greymoor (which requires finding him in all his previous locations) and play the Elegy of the Deep for him. This unlocks Lost Verdania, a secret zone where you must restore the prince’s memory by collecting glowing orbs. This culminates in a boss fight against the Clover Dancers. Beating them lets you claim the Conjoined Heart from the real world.
Once you have at least three hearts (any combination of the main three or the substitute), return them to the Snail Shamans in Moss Grotto. They’ll combine the hearts' power, setting the stage for your final descent. With the ancient guardians' strength now your own, you’re ready to face the source of the Void itself.
How to Obtain the Everbloom and Reach the Final Boss
This is it—the final push. In Hollow Knight: Silksong, the Red Memory is your last stop before facing the void itself. After delivering the three ancient hearts to the Snail Shamans in Moss Grotto, you’ll witness a powerful, interactive flashback sequence. This vision reveals the tragic history of Grand Mother Silk, the curse’s origin, and features poignant echoes of Herrah the Beast and Vespa. It’s a narrative gut-punch that sets the stage for the ultimate confrontation.
The complex architecture of Pharloom.
Claiming the Everbloom
The vision culminates in the White Palace, where the White Lady bestows upon you the Everbloom. This mystical flower is your key to the Abyss. It passively dispels the thick, black Void barriers that block critical paths in the deepest chambers, and its radiant light deals significant damage to void-corrupted enemies on contact. Don’t underestimate its power—it turns some of the most harrowing exploration segments into a manageable, even empowering, final trek.
With the Everbloom equipped, you can safely traverse the most corrupted areas of the Abyss. Its constant aura makes platforming through tendril-filled rooms far less punishing.
Preparing for the Descent
Before you make your final dive, ensure you’re at peak strength. Your journey to the Weaver Nest in The Abyss to obtain the Silksoar ability is essential; hold [L] and release [A] to execute this super jump, which is mandatory for reaching the boss arena. Equally important is securing the Fourth Needle Upgrade. Head to Fleatopia after finding all Lost Fleas, complete the associated minigames, and then visit the Forge Daughter in the Deep Docks to apply the final Pale Oil. This maxes out your damage, which is non-negotiable for the fight ahead.
Stock up on all consumables, ensure your tools are upgraded, and take a deep breath. You’ve weathered the Red Memory, armed yourself with the Everbloom, and honed your skills to their absolute limit. You are now ready to descend into the heart of the void and claim your destiny.
Best Build for the Sister of the Void and Lost Lace
This is it—the final stretch of your adventure in Hollow Knight: Silksong. The Sister of the Void and her Lost Lace form represent the ultimate combat challenge, demanding not just skill but a perfectly optimized loadout. You’ve collected the powerful hearts and the Everbloom; now, let’s build Hornet into a true end-game powerhouse to conquer the Void.
Agility and strength are key to the Sister of the Void build.
The Shaman Crest Core Build
Your build’s foundation is the Shaman Crest, found in the Ruined Chapel area within Moss Grotto. To reach it, you’ll need the Silksoar ability from the Abyss. This crest is non-negotiable—it allows you to equip three Silk Skills simultaneously, exponentially increasing your offensive potential. Once you’ve spoken to Eva in the southeastern part of Weavenest Atla to unlock Vesticrests, you can use Memory Lockets to open its two blue slots, giving you a total of three blue and one yellow slot to customize.
Make the trip for the Shaman Crest your first priority upon entering Act 3. The difference between having two skills and three is the difference between struggling and dominating.
Essential Silk Skills for Boss Slaying
With the Shaman Crest equipped, you can run a deadly trio of skills. First, secure Pale Nails by binding Grand Mother Silk's arm at the top of The Cradle during Act 3. This skill delivers high-damage, shock-infused strikes that will be your primary source of burst damage.
Next, grab Sharpdart from the Wormways by binding the statue behind the Needolin door. This skill is your lifeline for survival; pressing [R2] lets you dash and phase through attacks, perfect for evading Lost Lace’s relentless teleport chains and Moulinet slashes.
For your third slot, Cross Stitch is a fantastic choice, obtained after defeating the Phantom boss in the Exhaust Organ area of Bilewater. Its parry mechanic can turn Lost Lace’s aggression against her, creating crucial openings.
Tool Synergy: Volt Filament & Wispfire Lantern
Your skills are only half the equation. To maximize damage, you must equip the Volt Filament in one of your blue tool slots. This tool imbues all your equipped Silk Skills with a deadly electric charge, making every use of Pale Nails or Sharpdart hit significantly harder. This shock damage is especially effective against Void-corrupted foes.
In another blue slot, equip the Wispfire Lantern, a reward for defeating the Father of the Flame boss in Bellhart. This tool provides consistent passive damage as it floats around the arena, chipping away at Lost Lace’s health even while you focus on dodging and positioning. It’s free damage during her most chaotic movement phases.
Filling Out Your Loadout
For your remaining slots, prioritize utility and sustain. The Compass is a top pick for the yellow slot, invaluable for navigating the transformed landscapes of Act 3. For your final blue slot, Weavelight (from the Moss Mothers fight in Weavenest Atla) ensures your silk regenerates quickly, letting you use your powerful skills more often.
If you’ve wiped here before, you’re not alone—Lost Lace is designed to punish any build that isn't fully realized. But with the Shaman Crest enabling your Pale Nails, Sharpdart, and Volt Filament combo, you’re now equipped with the sustained damage and defensive mobility needed to prevail. Stock up on Shellshards, master the rhythm of dodge-and-punish, and you’ll be ready to claim the true ending.
Lost Lace Phase 1: Void Flurry and Teleport Chains
You've reached the bottom of The Abyss, the arena is silent, and then she appears—Lost Lace, the Void-possessed final boss of Hollow Knight: Silksong’s Sister of the Void ending. This is Phase 1, a frantic dance of teleportation and razor-sharp combos. If you've struggled here, you're not alone; this is where Hornet's journey reaches its peak intensity.
Mastering silk abilities for boss fights.
Your first objective isn't to attack, but to survive. Lost Lace is relentless, but her openings are consistent if you know how to read them. Her Phase 1 arsenal is built around two core attacks designed to overwhelm you: Void Flurry and Teleport Chains.
Void Flurry is her bread-and-butter combo. She'll dash forward, unleashing a multi-hit slash sequence. The number of strikes can vary, but the third slash is almost always her longest lunge. This is your key punish window.
Dash through the third strike of her Void Flurry combo. Press [R2] just as she commits to that long lunge—you'll phase through the damage and land right behind her for a clean counter-hit.
Teleport Chains are her signature move. She vanishes with a dark flash, reappearing elsewhere in the arena to strike instantly. This can happen up to four times in a rapid sequence. Here's the trick most guides miss: the visual cue is fast, but the audio cue is your best friend. Listen for a distinct, pitch-shifted sound just before she materializes. This gives you the split-second needed to time a perfect [Y] parry. If you parry the first teleport strike, you'll often stagger her briefly, stopping the chain.
⚠️ Watch out: Her Air Riposte is a brutal counter to aerial aggression. If you jump directly above her, especially to pogo, she will often snap upward with a Void-infused stab. Avoid jumping over her unless she's clearly recovering from another move, like her Void Dive.
Your strategy here is patience. Don't chase her; let her come to you. Use your tools—Sharpdart to phase through her flurries, or ground traps like Tacks—to apply passive damage while you focus on dodging and watching for those audio cues. The goal is to whittle down her health while learning the rhythm of her chains, because Phase 2 is where she truly unleashes her power.
With these patterns mastered, you'll have the foundation to weather her initial onslaught. Let's move on.
Lost Lace Phase 2: Moulinet and Cross Slash Strategies
If you've survived Lost Lace's relentless opening salvos, congratulations—you've made it to the second phase. In Hollow Knight: Silksong, this is where the superboss truly unleashes her arsenal, swapping constant teleports for devastating area-of-effect attacks that demand perfect positioning and timing. This phase is a test of your composure, forcing you to read her tells and execute your dodges flawlessly.
Exploration and combat
Moulinet: The Spinning Void Guillotine
The first major threat is Moulinet. Lace will perform a spinning slash that extends massive Void tendrils, creating a hitbox that covers nearly half the arena. The visual cue is a distinct wind-up as she crouches low, her form blurring with dark energy.
Your survival options are clear but demanding. The safest method is to [L] move to the arena edge the instant you see her crouch, creating maximum distance from the spinning vortex. If you're caught mid-screen with no time to run, your best bet is to use a tool like Sharpdart to phase through the attack entirely. This is one of those moments where panic leads to a quick mask break—stay calm and commit to your escape route.
Moulinet often follows a teleport chain. If she vanishes and reappears close to you, immediately assume a Moulinet is coming and start creating space.
Void Dive and Cross Slash: Punish and Evade
Next come two attacks with opposing rhythms: one is a golden opportunity, the other a run-for-your-life hazard.
Void Dive sees Lace leap high before striking down with a sword plunged into the ground, triggering a large Void explosion after impact. While dangerous, this move creates your best damage window. As she descends, [A] jump + [Y] downward slash to pogo off her head just as she lands. Time it right, and you'll bounce safely away from the ensuing explosion while dealing solid damage. Greed for more than one or two hits, however, and you'll be caught in the blast.
Cross Slash is the opposite—pure evasion. Lace will mark a large X-pattern on the ground with her needles. A moment later, she teleports to the center of the X for a devastating cross-shaped explosion. Your only safe move is to [L] move to the corners immediately. Do not hesitate, and do not try to dash through it; the hitbox is enormous. The corners are your sanctuary.
Leveraging Ground Traps for Passive Pressure
With these high-damage attacks demanding your full attention, dealing consistent damage back can feel impossible. This is where the recommended Ground Traps strategy shines. Since Lost Lace, despite her teleports, still moves primarily along the ground, tools like Tacks or Sting Shards placed in her common pathways will rack up passive damage as she blinks into them. This allows you to focus entirely on survival while still chipping away at her health. It’s a strategy that rewards foresight over reaction speed.
⚠️ Watch out: Don’t place traps directly on top of yourself. Lay them in the arena's central lanes, then bait her into moving over them as you dodge her big attacks.
Mastering these tells—running from Moulinet, pogoing the Dive, fleeing to the corners for the Cross, and letting your traps do the work—is what separates a frantic struggle from a controlled victory. You've learned her rhythm; now it's time to dictate the pace of the final dance.
How to Unlock the Passing of the Age Secret Ending
You’ve conquered the void, saved Lace, and seen Hornet’s story reach its climactic conclusion. But in Hollow Knight: Silksong, the deepest secrets are reserved for those who look beyond the obvious. To witness the enigmatic Passing of the Age secret ending—a final, universe-spanning stinger—you must find a familiar, cryptic traveler one last time.
Official Silksong character art.
This isn't a new quest, but a journey you must complete before you face the final boss. First, you need to complete a specific Secret Wish located in a hidden ceiling area above Pale Lake. This unlocks the real objective: tracking down the elusive Mister Mushroom in all seven of his locations across Pharloom. You must find him in this exact order: Moss Grotto, Bone Bottom, The Marrow, Shellwood, Coral Tower, Putrefied Ducts, and finally, deep within The Abyss. Listen to his cryptic dialogue at each spot. If you’ve done this, and then defeat Lost Lace to unlock the Sister of the Void ending, you’ll be treated to an extra scene.
The Mister Mushroom in The Abyss requires some of the game's most precise platforming. Make sure you have all your movement upgrades, especially Silksoar, and be prepared for a tough climb in the darkness.
Here’s the crucial sequence: Complete the Secret Wish and the Mister Mushroom tour before you deliver the final blow to Lost Lace. When you then achieve the Sister of the Void ending—the one where the Knight and their Siblings appear to carry Hornet and Lace to safety—the game will immediately continue into the Passing of the Age epilogue. You’ll see Mister Mushroom depart Pharloom, followed by a simple but monumental “To Be Continued” screen, hinting at futures far beyond this kingdom.
This final secret ties Hornet’s journey into the broader tapestry of the Hollow Knight universe. It’s a perfect, mysterious capstone for completionists—a quiet nod that the story is far from over.