Hollow Knight Silksong Guide: Getting Started with Hornet
Key Takeaways
- Focus on exploration first – Silksong’s early game rewards curiosity more than combat. Many upgrades are hidden behind breakable walls or false floors.
- Learn Hornet’s new moves – Her aerial attacks and silk abilities are your main tools. Practice the dive and pogo mechanics early.
- Don’t rush the first boss – The Mossy Warden has a predictable pattern. Wait for his lunge, then punish with a charged slash.
- Use the map markers – There are no in-game hints for most secrets. Place markers on your map for anything you can’t reach yet.
Introduction
If you’ve played Hollow Knight, you know Team Cherry doesn’t handhold. Silksong is no different. You start as Hornet, stranded in the kingdom of Pharloom, with nothing but a needle and thread. The first few hours can feel overwhelming, but I’ve got you covered. This guide walks you through the opening areas, key abilities, and the tricks that separate early deaths from early victories.
Early Abilities You Should Master First
Hornet starts with a basic needle slash and a silk dash. But two moves become your bread and butter for exploration and combat:
- Silk Dive (downward thrust while airborne) – This lets you bounce off enemies and spikes. It’s your pogo stick. Practice it on the first few enemies in the Mossy Grove.
- Thread Pull – Grapple to certain glowing points. This is how you reach high ledges and secret rooms. You get it after the first mini-boss.
I recommend spending your first 15 minutes just bouncing on enemies. It sounds silly, but it builds muscle memory. Many players die later because they can’t aim the dive mid-air.
First Area Walkthrough: The Mossy Grove
The Mossy Grove is Silksong’s equivalent of Greenpath. It’s a vertical labyrinth of green tunnels and falling platforms. Here’s how to survive:
1. Head right from the starting cave. You’ll find a bench and a map vendor. Buy the map immediately – it costs 30 Geo (the in-game currency). Without it, you’ll get lost.
2. Look for cracked walls. They’re darker than normal surfaces. Slashing them reveals hidden rooms with Geo or health upgrades. I found a Lifeblood Cocoon behind one near the second bench.
3. Avoid the giant beetles early. They charge and deal two masks of damage. Just dash through their legs.
4. Reach the first lever room. There’s a locked gate. Pull the lever to open a shortcut back to the start. This is your first checkpoint.
First Boss Fight: Mossy Warden
This is your first real test. The Mossy Warden is a giant, moss-covered knight with a massive sword. He has three attacks:
- Overhead slam – slow, easy to dodge sideways.
- Horizontal sweep – covers 60% of the arena. Jump over it.
- Charge lunge – he rushes at you. This is your opening. Dash toward him just before he stops, then slash twice.
His health bar is 150 points. Each slash does 15 damage. That means you need ten clean hits. But here’s the trick: after his lunge, he staggers for one second. Use that time to get a charged slash (30 damage). That cuts the fight to five cycles.
Don’t panic if you get hit. He only deals two masks of damage, and there’s a lifeblood fountain in the room before the boss. Use it.
Hidden Areas You Don’t Want to Miss
Silksong is packed with secrets. Here are three I found in the first two hours:
- The Whispering Well – In the Mossy Grove, after the second bench, drop down a narrow shaft on the left. You’ll find a charm that increases dash distance by 20%. It’s a breakthrough for later platforming.
- The Silk Fountain – In the central hub area, break the floor tiles under the statue. A pool of silk restores your thread meter. Useful before boss fights.
- The Forgotten Nest – This is a late-early area accessed by a hidden passage in the first elevator shaft. It contains a pale ore (used to upgrade your needle). The enemies here are tough, but the reward is worth it.
Ability Comparison: Early vs. Mid-Game
| Ability | Early Game Use | Mid-Game Upgrade |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Silk Dive | Bounce on enemies, avoid spikes | Unlock dive attack damage boost after 3 consecutive bounces |
| Thread Pull | Grapple to ledges | Extend range by 50% with Silk Weaver charm |
| Needle Slash | Basic combat | Charged slash does 2x damage after 1.5 seconds |
Pro tip: Upgrade your needle as soon as you find pale ore. The damage increase from 15 to 22 per hit makes early bosses like the Mossy Warden much easier.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Skipping benches. I did this once and lost 200 Geo to a random spike pit. Always sit at benches when you see them. They’re your save points.
- Ignoring the map. Pharloom is bigger than Hallownest. If you don’t buy maps, you’ll wander for hours.
- Rushing bosses. Every boss in Silksong has a tell. Watch for the flash of light before an attack. Wait, then strike.
FAQ
Q: How long does it take to get the dash ability?
A: About 30 minutes. You find it in the Mossy Grove after defeating the first mini-boss (a giant spider). It’s in a chest behind a breakable wall.
Q: Are there any missable items in the early game?
A: No, but some areas become inaccessible after certain events. For example, the Whispering Well closes after you defeat the second boss. Grab the charm there early.
Q: What’s the best way to farm Geo early?
A: The Mossy Grove has a room with three respawning beetles near the first bench. Kill them, rest at the bench, repeat. You earn 45 Geo per minute. Save up for the Lantern (500 Geo) – it opens dark areas.