The Slab & Loddie – Complete Prison Escape Walkthrough

Introduction – Escaping The Slab Guide

This walkthrough covers The Slab prison escape in Hollow Knight: Silksong, including how to meet Pavo and Loddie, complete Loddie‘s straight pin minigame for a Tool Pouch upgrade, find all three keys (Indolent, Heretic, Apostate), locate The Slab map, and collect all items including the Mask Shard and Spool Fragment. Follow this step-by-step guide starting from Bellhart through your escape from The Slab.

For all Hollow Knight: Silksong guides and walkthroughs, visit our main walkthrough hub.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Estimated Time: 40-50 minutes
• Difficulty: Moderate (platforming + no gear section)
• Required Abilities: None initially (gear taken away)
• Major Rewards: 3 Keys, Tool Pouch expansion (from Loddie), Mask Shard, Spool Fragment, Shard Bundle
• Notable NPCs: Pavo, Loddie (minigame), Grindle
• Boss Fights: None (combat-light section)

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Bellhart Exploration

Reaching Bellhart from Widow’s Chamber

After beating Widow you will wake up in her chamber. Hit the switch and ring the bell to summon a bench. We are heading to the right. Step on the elevator in the next room.

Fast Travel Chamber and Bell Clearing

Once it reaches the bottom take the left path towards the entrance to Bellhart. Rest at the bench there. Speak to Pavo. Enter the fast travel chamber here, behind Pavo.

Learn more about fast travel mechanics in our complete Fast Travel guide.

Drop down and clear the bells in the bottom right corner.

Finding Rosaries in Bellhart

Drop down this path and then go left, take the first path up, then left again, jump over the gap to find a bag of Rosaries.

Be careful about dropping down the path here, there’s spikes at the bottom. Go to the right and take care of the large bell bug.

Down now and to the left is another bag of Rosaries.

Navigating Collapsing Floors and Spike Traps

Drop down and go to the left. Keep going till you get to the furthest wall on the left, drop down and stand in the small alcove here and take care of the large bell bug.

Be careful when treading here, the floor collapses to expose spikes regularly. There is one path leading down – take it. There are spikes down this chute too so float down.

Go to the left and hit the wall to reveal another shaft leading down.

Drop down and head to the exit on the left. Remember to pick up the Rosaries on the right. We are back in the Marrow.

The Marrow Section

Activating Switches and Following Pin Sigils

Jump to the other side and hit the switch.

Drop down the platforms now and you will see an unfamiliar sigil of 3 Pins marking a path.

Head down and enter the red door at the bottom. Rest at the bench, and speak to Loddie.

Loddie’s Straight Pin Challenge

After resting at the bench in The Marrow, you’ll encounter Loddie, who offers a pin-throwing minigame. This challenge is worth doing as it rewards a Tool Pouch expansion.

Challenge Requirements

• Entry Fee: 25 Rosaries per attempt
• Rules: Hit the target without missing 3 times
• Warning: Crossing the marker line disqualifies you immediately

Running low on Rosaries? Check our Rosary Farming Guide: Best Spots to Get Rosaries Fast.

Challenge 1: Tool Pouch Upgrade

Hit the target 15 times without missing 3 attempts to earn a Tool Pouch expansion.

Strategy Tips:

• Wait for the beetle to pause before throwing – there’s always a brief window when it stops
• Don’t rush your shots; timing is more important than speed
• The beetle follows predictable patterns, so watch one full cycle before starting

Challenge 2: Rosary Necklace

After winning the first challenge, Loddie offers a harder version. Hit the target 25 times to earn a Rosary Necklace. The entry fee remains 25 Rosaries.

Challenge 3: Unlimited Attempts

Following your second victory, Loddie introduces an unlimited challenge where you earn Rosaries based on how many targets you hit before missing 3 times. This becomes available for repeated attempts.

Towards Deep Docks

Once done, head out the door on the left. Once outside drop down and to the right. Go towards Deep Docks.

Deep Docks Area

Surviving the Ambush

The is an ambush waiting for you when you enter Deep Docks.

Finding the Third Mask Shard

Survive the encounter and head to the right for the third Mask Shard.

This is the third Mask Shard in the game, another was found in Shellwood.

Path to Far Fields

Hit the switch and exit this area. Drop down and head to the right. Go up to save at the bench and head to the right. Keep going towards Far Fields till you reach the last chamber before Far Fields.

Head up here. Take the right path.

Up to the next ledge and exit. Hornet will be captured in the next section.

Watch the cutscene. Button mash till you can get the cage to drop. You are now at The Slab.

Captured at The Slab – Prison Escape

Starting Without Tools or Weapons

You have no tools and no weapons. All the doors are locked. You will notice they have names – if you see one called “Indolent“, remember the location. Drop down for now. Take the left exit. In the next room, break the ceiling.

Navigating Cage Traps

Go up once the path clears, go left. Watch for the traps – they will cage you if you stand on them for too long. Go up then go left.

Finding the Key of Indolent

Avoiding Freezing Damage Outside

You can see the outside now. You will start to freeze if you stay out here too long. Drop down and take the path to the right. Avoid the fights here and jump down the hole.

Retrieving the Key from the Chain

Go to the left and you will find the Key of Indolent hanging from a chain.

Using Keys to Unlock Doors

Locating Apostate, Heretic, and Indolent Doors

Go back to the starting area. The door on the top right is ‘Apostate”.

The door on the left, inside the room is “Heretic”.

The door at the bottom left corner is “Indolent”

Use the key and go through. Drop down the hole immediately, the door to the right now is also “Indolent”.

Finding Grindle and The Slab Map

Use the key again. Go through the exit. In the next area, go up. Break the debris near the top and go around the enemy here to the bench.

Rest at the bench and speak to Grindle. Go to the right from here and go through the wall to a secret area with the map of The Slab on a husk.

Head back out and go down to find a lock marked “Heretic”.

This is for the trapdoor on the floor.

Discovering the Secret Flea Location

Go to the left and exit the area. In the next area enter the cell and you can find a Flea.

Go back out and to the right of the lock marked “Heretic” you found earlier.

Advanced Platforming Sections

Rotating Spike Switch Puzzles

At the end of the path in the next area, you will find a lock marked “Indolent”.

In this area, you can step on switches to activate rotating spikes. Use them to take out the enemies.

The flies here are very annoying to take out. Keep moving and eventually you will take care of them all.

Once they are done, go through the exit on the right. Outside again, go up the wall.

Climbing with Collapsing Platforms

As you go up here there is a tricky bit of platforming. A platform will stop your jump and crash you into the spikes.

Wall cling and lower yourself, and try to hit the open space beyond the platform and dash to the other side. Bound off the wall next to gain height and clear this section.

Secret Path with Rosaries and Shards

There is a secret path on the top left here with Rosaries and Shards inside and a path leading to the starting area.

Continue the climb and eventually you will exit the area.

Outdoor Freezing Section

Moving Between Flames for Warmth

You are outside now and will freeze if you stay without warmth for too long.

Make your way to the left and you will see a fire. Enemies are patrolling above.

Finding the Frayed Rosary String

Keep moving from flame to flame on the left. Eventually you will come to a locked door with a switch on the other side.

Go up from here. On the top you can find a Frayed Rosary String.

Unlocking the Switch Door

Move to the left from here and you will have come around to the other side of that locked door. Unlock it and head down the hole in the floor.

Keep going down and you will find a bench, rest and move to the right. Drop down and go left until you find a location above guards and you can attack.

Retrieving Your Gear

Obtaining the Key of Heretic

Take out your frustration on the guards here now that you have your gear back.

Take the Key of Heretic once they are all down. Go to the right and save at the bench. Open the lock to the right with the key.

Opening the Heretic Trapdoor

Remember the trap door with the lock marked “Heretic”? Go back there now.

Drop down. Hit the switch to open the next door and keep going down.

Fast Travel and Final Escape

Finding the Fast Travel Location

Take the exit to the left at the bottom. You will find the Fast Travel location here.

Apostate Lock and Bench Location

Go down and break the doors down to reach another lock marked with “Apostate”.

Drop down the opening here and keep going down till you reach the bench.

Mount Fay Connection Point

Rest and then go to the left to find the Travelling station. To the left of this path is Mount Fay. No point going there now so head back up. Once you are back out, go to the left.

Collecting Shard Bundle and Spool Fragment

Take the enemy out and pick up the Shard Bundle. Now go to the right and start climbing up and out.

In the next area, take the path to the left to find a Spool Fragment at the top. Get back to the Fast travel point and escape the Slab.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find Loddie in Hollow Knight Silksong?

Loddie is located in The Marrow section after you escape from The Slab area. Drop down the platforms marked with the Three Pins sigil, enter the red door at the bottom, and you’ll find Loddie near the bench. You need 25 Rosaries to participate in the challenge.

What do I get for beating Loddie’s challenge?

The first challenge (15 hits) rewards a Tool Pouch expansion. The second challenge (25 hits) gives you a Rosary Necklace. After that, you can replay unlimited times to earn Rosaries based on how many targets you hit.

Where are all three keys in The Slab?

The Key of Indolent hangs from a chain in the outdoor freezing section. The Key of Heretic drops from guards when you recover your gear in the lower area. Apostate doors unlock as you progress through the prison.

Where is The Slab map located?

The Slab map is found on a husk in a secret room. After resting at Grindle’s bench, go right and break through the wall to access the hidden area containing the map.

How do I escape The Slab in Silksong?

Collect the Key of Indolent from the outdoor area, navigate through locked doors, recover your gear from the guards to get the Key of Heretic, unlock the Fast Travel location, then climb through the exterior sections using fire to stay warm. Exit through the upper path after collecting the Spool Fragment.

Who is Pavo in Hollow Knight Silksong?

Pavo is an NPC you meet at Bellhart near the fast travel chamber, before entering The Marrow and encountering The Slab prison section.

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This concludes this part of the walkthrough for Hollow Knight: Silksong. Continue to the next area: Weavenest Cindril & Sinner’s Road walkthrough.

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