Sister Splinter Location & Complete Boss Strategy

Sister Splinter is a challenging vine boss located in Shellwood in Hollow Knight: Silksong. This guide covers her exact location, all attack patterns, health phases, and the best strategy to defeat her. You’ll also learn about the rewards including access to Upper Shellwood and the Cling Grip ability.

For more information about Hollow Knight: Silksong, check out the official website here.

Key Takeaways

• Location: Shellwood, right from the central Bench lift, across two platforms
• Difficulty: Moderate (add management is the challenge)
• Recommended Ability: Thread Storm for AOE clearing
• Boss Health: Requires multiple staggers to defeat
• Major Reward: Access to Upper Shellwood and Cling Grip ability
• Key Strategy: Prioritize clearing vines and Splinterbeaks before attacking the boss

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Sister Splinter Location

Reaching the Central Shellwood Bench

After activating the lift to the Bench in the central part of Shellwood, head right. Continue up the path and jump across two platforms to reach a passage leading left.

Navigating to the Arena

Follow the passage and pogo over the white flower, then keep running left until you reach the boss arena.

The image above marks the exact location of the boss on the map.

Sister Splinter Moveset Overview

Sister Splinter only has three moves which he keeps repeating in increasing intensity as the fight progresses. 

Three-Hit Combo Attack

Sister Splinter pounds the ground three times with one of her hands. The attack starts with her right hand, then the left, and ends with the right hand pound again. 

This one is easy to dodge if you dash towards her direction. So if she’s attacking using her right hand, dodge left and vice versa. If you’re quick, you can even squeeze in a jump attack during her hits. 

Summon Vines

Sister Splinter periodically summons stationary vines in the arena. It takes three needle attacks to break them. The boss’s attack can also break the vines. The number of vines summoned can vary. 

Summon Splinterbeaks

Sister Splinter summons one or two Splinterbeaks to the arena. It takes three needle attacks to eliminate them. Similar to the vines, they die when hit by Sister Splinter‘s attacks. But they are not stationary and will continue to track you if left alive. 

Battle Preparation

Recommended Abilities and Thread Storm Strategy

As you can see, Sister Splinter’s moveset isn’t the real problem in this fight. She only has one direct attack, and it’s very easy to dodge. What makes the battle challenging are the summons.

Both the vines and the Splinterbeaks can quickly overwhelm you, limiting your movement options in the arena. Because of this, your first priority should always be eliminating the adds as quickly and efficiently as possible

We recommend switching to the Thread Storm ability for this fight. While Silkspear is strong, the AOE of Thread Storm helps clear out vines and Splinterbeaks faster and from a safe distance, while also dealing damage to the boss. 

Combat Strategy

Opening Moves and Attack Timing

When the battle begins, jump attack the boss at the first opportunity. She will either start with her three-hit combo or disappear off-screen to use her Summon Vines attack.

Dodging Patterns and Positioning

If she starts with the three-hit combo, watch her hands closely to see when the attack is coming and dodge towards the boss.

Managing Vines and Splinterbeaks

For Summon Vines, look above for falling debris to know where the vines will appear. Break the vines as quickly as possible to make sure the arena is clean and free for you to move around in. 

Once her health drops, she begins summoning Splinterbeaks. The first time around, she will summon two minions from the ceiling on either side of the arena. You can spot falling debris when they are about to spawn. 

If you’re quick enough, you can take out the first Splinterbeak before it has a chance to attack. They float around the map and their attacks can take away two health bars if you get hit.

Thankfully, you can parry them to deflect the blow. However, it’s always better to take them out before you focus on the boss. 

Advanced Tactics

Baiting Summons and Maintaining Control

Baiting the summons into the boss’s attack is also a valid strategy. But it can be risky, especially when the arena also starts to fill up with vines. 

Stagger Opportunities and Safe Attacks

When you stagger Sister Splinter, she will fall to the ground giving you an opening to land three to four attacks. However, make sure you steer clear of her as she falls. Bumping into the boss will still take away two of your health bars.

Final Phase Strategy

Clearing the Arena and Staying Mobile

Around halfway through the fight, the boss will fill the entire arena with vines. Take them out as quickly as possible. You can cut down three to four vines before the boss reappears.  

Healing Windows and Finishing Moves

The rest of the fight is about managing your health, the arena, and avoiding getting hit. You’ll find plenty of opportunity to heal as long as you keep the arena clear of additional enemies.

If multiple Splinterbeaks or vines start to overwhelm you, don’t hesitate to use Thread Storm to clear them quickly.

The following video shows you our attempt at beating Sister Splinter:

Rewards for Beating Sister Splinter

Unlocking Upper Shellwood and Cling Grip Ability

Defeating Sister Splinter unlocks access to the upper section of Shellwood. This path leads to the next Ancestral Ability, Cling Grip, which is required to progress further in the story of Hollow Knight: Silksong.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Sister Splinter located in Hollow Knight Silksong?

Sister Splinter is located in Shellwood. After activating the lift to the central Bench, head right, continue up the path, and jump across two platforms to reach a passage leading left. Follow this passage and pogo over the white flower to reach her boss arena.

How much health does Sister Splinter have?

Sister Splinter has multiple health phases and requires several staggers throughout the fight. The exact HP value isn’t displayed, but you’ll need to damage her consistently across two main phases with increasing difficulty.

What reward do you get for beating Sister Splinter?

Defeating Sister Splinter unlocks access to the upper section of Shellwood, which leads to the Cling Grip ancestral ability. This ability is required to progress further in Hollow Knight: Silksong’s story.

How many phases does Sister Splinter have?

Sister Splinter has two main phases. In Phase 1, she uses her basic three-hit combo and summons vines. In Phase 2, she increases summon frequency and adds Splinterbeaks to the fight, making arena management more challenging.

What are the best tips for defeating Sister Splinter?

The best strategy is to switch to Thread Storm ability for better AOE damage against adds. Always prioritize clearing vines and Splinterbeaks before attacking Sister Splinter. Watch for falling debris to anticipate summons, and take advantage of stagger windows for safe damage.

How many times does Sister Splinter stagger?

Sister Splinter staggers multiple times throughout the fight. Each stagger gives you an opportunity to land 3-4 attacks safely. Be careful when she falls during stagger animations, as bumping into her still causes damage.

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This concludes our Sister Splinter boss guide for Hollow Knight: Silksong. For a complete walkthrough or related guides, be sure to check out our main hub for the game. 

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