Hollow Knight: Silksong: A Beginner's Starter Guide

What is Silksong, and who is Hornet?

Hollow Knight: Silksong is a Metroidvania released by the Australian indie studio Team Cherry on September 4, 2025, for Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. The story follows Hornet, whom we knew from the first Hollow Knight as Hallownest's guardian princess: captured by shrouded figures, she's dragged to a new kingdom called Pharloom — a place built on pilgrimage and faith that rises vertically toward a gleaming Citadel at its peak; after escaping, she decides to climb this Citadel and learn why she was captured. Wikipedia

You don't have to have finished the first game — this adventure set in Pharloom is written to stand on its own, though a few details about who Hornet is come through a bit clearer if you've played the first game. Both games share the same core idea: an energy resource filled by Needle/Nail strikes is used both for healing and for attacking. In the first game this resource was called Soul (healed with Focus, spent on spells); in Silksong, Silk takes on the same dual role — it heals via Bind and turns into attacks via Silk Skills. The real difference is how central aggression is: the risky nature of earning Silk and of Bind (see below) forces you to stay on the offensive at all times.

Movement and combat basics

Hornet's core weapon is the Needle: she attacks with horizontal strikes and can block attacks when needed. If you hit an enemy, spikes, or certain objects with a downward strike while airborne, Hornet bounces and gains extra height — known in the community as "pogoing", this Needle bounce mechanic is key to dealing damage while changing your route by jumping over enemies. hollowknight.wiki

Your health is shown in Mask units, and your energy is shown by the Silk Spool just below the Mask icons in the top-left of the screen. Every strike you land with the Needle adds one thread of Silk to the spool; the spool's capacity increases with Spool Fragments you find scattered across Pharloom — every 2 fragments permanently adds 1 more thread to the spool. hollowknight.wiki

The most basic way to spend Silk is Bind: you spend a full Silk Spool (9 threads by default) to heal 3 Masks — replacing Focus from the first game, but now delivering three Masks instead of just one, this move makes Silk a real survival resource. hollowknight.wiki

The Crest system: Crest Explorer

Silksong's "class" system is Crests: each Crest changes Hornet's entire Needle moveset and determines which colored Tool slots (see the section below) you'll have. There are 7 usable Crests in total; Hunter is the default Crest equipped when you start the game, and the others unlock as the story progresses. Switching between Crests is completely free — rest at any Bench and change it anytime from the equipment menu, so don't hesitate to experiment. To increase a Crest's slot count, you'll need to collect Memory Lockets scattered across Pharloom. hollowknight.wiki, Fextralife

Click a Crest in the explorer below to open a gameplay summary and the things you should know in the panel.

Tools: Red, Blue, Yellow

Silksong's Tools replace the first game's Charm system — they serve the same "build diversification" purpose, but slot into colored slots tied to your Crest instead of a Charm slot. hollowknight.wiki

There are 6 Silk Skills in total; you unlock them by using Bind on statues scattered across Pharloom or by defeating certain enemies, then equip them at any Bench. <a href="https://hollowknight.wiki/w/Skills_and_Abilities_(Silksong)" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hollowknight.wiki</a>

Tips for beginners

1. Find the map first. When you enter a new region, make getting its map your first goal — maps are bought from the traveling merchant Shakra, and without one it's easy to lose your bearings.
2. Get into a hit-and-run rhythm. Landing one or two hits on an enemy and immediately retreating is a core tactic against both regular monsters and bosses; prioritize survival over dealing damage.
3. Practice the Needle bounce (pogo). Striking downward onto enemies leaves most monsters defenseless and grants you extra height/mobility — a move that's tough in the early hours but makes the game much easier once you've learned it.
4. Spend Silk sparingly in the early game. You won't need much Silk Skill use in the first regions; keep your spool mostly reserved for Bind, for moments where you can refill it quickly when needed.
5. Break your Cocoon when you die. When you die, a Cocoon is left where you fell and you respawn at your last Bench; breaking the Cocoon returns the Silk you lost and the Rosaries you dropped from your previous death — some players deliberately delay this as an emergency Silk source before a tough boss.
6. Strike walls and suspicious corners. Hitting a wall sometimes reveals a hidden room, secret passage, or a compartment holding Rosaries; also trigger every key/switch you spot out in the open.
7. Stockpile Rosaries (the currency), and protect them with a Rosary String. Rosaries replace the first game's Geo and are used to buy maps and items from Shakra; using the Rosary Strings you find across Pharloom reduces the risk of losing money on death before a long exploration or a tough section.
8. If you're stuck on one Crest, try another. A tough region or enemy group can feel much easier with a different Crest's playstyle (say, the speed-focused Wanderer or the ranged Shaman) — the switch is free, so there's nothing to lose by trying.

The tips in this section have been cross-checked against game8.co's starter guide.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to finish the first Hollow Knight before playing Silksong?

No, it's not required. This adventure set in Pharloom is written as a separate story that stands on its own; only a few past details about who Hornet is come through a bit clearer if you've played the first game.

Which platforms can I play Silksong on?

Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. Wikipedia

Can I go back if I pick the wrong Crest?

Yes. Switching Crests is completely free — rest at any Bench and switch to any other unlocked Crest from the equipment menu, anytime.

Does the first game's Charm system exist in Silksong?

Not directly. The build-diversification role of Charms is now shared between Tools and the Crest system; instead of a Charm slot, you have Red/Blue/Yellow/White slots tied to your Crest.

How do I unlock Silk Skills?

By using Bind on statues scattered across Pharloom, or by defeating certain enemies. There are 6 Silk Skills in total, and each can be equipped at any Bench once unlocked.