Muhit Rahman lives off two things: gaming marathons and endless cups of tea. He writes guides, reviews, and occasionally forgets that real life doesn’t come with checkpoints. His favorite genres are Soulslike and Metroidvania, with Dark Souls III, Hollow Knight, and Dota 2 forever holding top spots on his all-time list.
Trobbio is a mandatory boss in Hollow Knight: Silksong fought in The Stage area, accessed through Whispering Vaults. This flamboyant butterfly boss rewards players with the Claw Mirror quest item, essential for story progression. This guide covers Trobbio’s location, complete moveset including Tornado Charge, Gas Grenade, Fireworks, and Gas Eruption attacks, plus winning strategies for both phases.
Trobbio Quick Reference
Boss Type: Mandatory Story Boss
Location: The Stage (via Whispering Vaults)
Closest Bench: Grand Bellway
Total HP: 700 (Phase 2 at 350 HP)
Phases: 2
Difficulty: Moderate
Main Attacks: Tornado Charge, Gas Grenade, Fireworks, Gas Eruption (Phase 2)
Reward: Claw Mirror (mandatory quest item)
Can Skip: No
Table of contents
Is Trobbio Required in Hollow Knight Silksong?
Yes, Trobbio is a required boss in Hollow Knight: Silksong. Defeating him rewards you with the Claw Mirror quest item, which is mandatory for progressing the main story. You cannot skip this boss fight or bypass The Stage area where he is located.
Trobbio Location
Accessing the Arena and Shortcut Setup
To reach the boss, you first need to travel through the Whispering Vaults, accessed via the Cogwork Core.
Just before the boss arena, you will find a switch on the left. Activating it opens a previously locked gate that connects to the Choral Chamber area. This creates a shortcut back to the Bench in Grand Bellway, making it easier to return if you die during the fight.
Closest Bench and Map Position
The closest Bench to Trobbio is in the Grand Bellway.
The image above marks the exact location of Trobbio’s arena on the map.
Trobbio Moveset Overview
Trobbio has three main attacks, but he often chains them together. When you enter the second phase, he gains one additional attack.Â
Tornado Charge and Flying AttacksÂ
Trobbio spins rapidly and charges across the stage toward the player. When he stops spinning, two additional tornadoes are released outward from where the attack ends.
You’ll notice two versions of this attack:
- Ground Version: Trobbio charges along the floor, bouncing between the two walls once before stopping.
- Aerial Version: Trobbio begins the attack in mid-air and dives onto the stage while spinning. He bounces off one wall, then ends the attack in the middle of the arena.
Gas Grenades and Fireworks Pattern
Trobbio launches three grenades onto the stage. Each grenade bounces once before floating to different spots. After a short delay, they explode, releasing gas fumes in two directions.
Trobbio jumps into the air and spreads his wings, turning the entire arena red for a brief moment. You’ll see some sparkling spores appear in the arena afterward that explode after a short delay. The only way to avoid damage is to make sure you’re not standing in the AOE of the spores.Â
Gas Eruption in Second Phase
Trobbio burrows under the floorboards and starts moving beneath the stage. Watch for the moving floorboard and smoke rising from the ground. The fumes will erupt after a short delay. The attack ends when Trobbio leaps back onto the stage, giving you a short opening to land a hit or two.
Movement and Behavior
Arena Mobility and Burrowing Patterns
Outside of his attacks, Trobbio is constantly on the move. He either jumps and flies across the arena with his wings or burrows under the stage to move to the opposite side. When he’s burrowed, you can watch the moving floorboard to know where he’ll appear.
Battle Strategy
Trobbio Health & Phase Breakdown
Total HP: 700
- Phase 1: 0-350 HP (50%)
- Phase 2: Begins at 350 HP, ends at 0 HP
Damage Values:
- Tornado Charge: 1 mask
- Gas Grenade: 1 mask per fume
- Fireworks: 1 mask per spore
- Gas Eruption: 1 mask
Opening Moves and Attack Windows
Like most boss fights in Hollow Knight: Silksong, the battle against Trobbio is all about positioning and finding safe windows to attack. He is quick and constantly moves around the arena, which can make it difficult to land clean hits.
When you first enter the arena, Trobbio rises slowly from below the stage. Use this time to charge a Needlestrike and land double damage right at the start of the fight.
Dodging Tornado and Flying Combos
Trobbio usually begins with the Tornado Charge. During this attack, you can pogo on his head for free damage twice as he bounces between the walls. Stay above him when the attack ends so you do not get hit by the two tornadoes he releases.
Another safe opening to attack is when Trobbio flies across the stage. You can land two to three jump attacks during his flight. But dodge away quickly and get some distance since he usually goes for a follow-up attack after this.
Positioning During Gas and Fireworks
When Trobbio starts using the Gas Grenade attack, focus on positioning first. You can hit the Grenades when they’re bouncing to push them away, but the timing can be tricky. It is much safer to find a spot where the gas won’t connect.
Make sure you keep an eye on the boss so that you can respond to a Tornado Dash.Â
The same rule applies when you’re up against the Fireworks attack. Positioning is always the first priority, and attack only if you find a lucky opening.Â
Countering Underground Attacks
If Trobbio dives under the stage, watch the floorboards carefully. You will see two lines of smoke where he is about to emerge. When he comes out, he gets locked in a brief pose, giving you the chance to land two safe hits before he starts another attack.
Second Phase Strategy
Avoiding Chain Attacks and Gas Hazards
In the second phase, Trobbio starts chaining his attacks more quickly. You’ll have to dodge multiple Gas Grenades at the same time, or even Gas Grenades chained with Fireworks. Despite this, the basic idea of the fight remains the same.Â
Punish Windows After Leap Back
He only gains one new attack during the second phase, Gas Eruption. When he uses this attack, watch the floorboards for smoke and avoid standing in those spots. Once he leaps back onto the stage, you can land a few free hits before repositioning.
The following video shows you our attempt at beating the boss:
Health and Healing Tips
Safe Healing Moments and Positioning
Managing your health is the most important part of this fight. Trobbio gives you plenty of opportunities to heal, and good positioning will let you avoid most of his attacks.
Focus on keeping your health topped off rather than being too greedy for damage. Take one or two safe pokes each time you see an opening, and eventually Trobbio will go down.
Rewards for Beating Trobbio
Claw Mirror and Story Progression
Defeating Trobbio gives players the Claw Mirror quest item. It’s a mandatory boss required for completing the story of Hollow Knight: Silksong.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you skip Trobbio in Silksong?
No, Trobbio cannot be skipped. He is a mandatory boss that blocks progress to later areas, and defeating him is required to obtain the Claw Mirror quest item needed for the main story.
How much health does Trobbio have?
Trobbio has 700 HP total and enters his second phase at 350 HP (50% health). Both phases must be completed to defeat him and claim your reward.
How many phases does Trobbio have?
Trobbio has two phases. The second phase begins at 50% health, where he gains the Gas Eruption attack and chains his existing moves more aggressively. His core moveset (Tornado Charge, Gas Grenade, Fireworks) remains the same but becomes more dangerous.
Where is the bench closest to Trobbio?
The closest bench to Trobbio is in Grand Bellway. Before fighting the boss, activate the switch on the left side of The Stage arena to open a shortcut gate connecting to the Choral Chamber area, creating a quick path back to the bench if you die.
What reward do you get for beating Trobbio?
Defeating Trobbio rewards you with the Claw Mirror, a mandatory quest item required for completing Hollow Knight: Silksong’s main story. This makes Trobbio a required boss encounter.
This concludes our Trobbio 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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Muhit Rahman lives off two things: gaming marathons and endless cups of tea. He writes guides, reviews, and occasionally forgets that real life doesn’t come with checkpoints. His favorite genres are Soulslike and Metroidvania, with Dark Souls III, Hollow Knight, and Dota 2 forever holding top spots on his all-time list.
