If you’re playing straight through the main storyline without exploring the side content or finishing every Wish, Hollow Knight: Silksong will end as soon as you defeat Grand Mother Silk at the end of Part 2. The credits roll, and you might think that’s all there is to see in the kingdom of Pharloom.
But that’s just barely scratching the surface. There’s an optional Act 3 you can unlock by meeting certain requirements. Once those are complete, you’ll receive a hidden Wish that leads you into Act 3 of the game.
So how do you unlock it? Here’s a complete breakdown of the steps and the requirements you’ll have to meet.
If you want to know more about Hollow Knight: Silksong, check out the official website here.
Table of contents
How to Unlock the Secret Quest (Silk and Soul)
The quest that opens up Act 3 in Hollow Knight: Silksong is called Silk and Soul. However, you won’t find it on any Wishboard or by talking to NPCs until certain conditions are met.
To unlock it, you need to first complete all the Wishboard quests available in the three main hubs: Bellhart, Bone Bottom, and Songclave. This also includes any related delivery quests tied to these zones, such as Songclave Supplies.
On top of that, you’ll also have to get the Flea Caravan to move to its last destination, Fleatopia, in the eastern part of Putrid Ducts. The Flea Caravan moves when you rescue a certain number of Fleas. There are a total of 29 Fleas in the game, and you have to rescue at least 20 of them for the Flea Caravan to move to the final location.
Once those requirements are complete, head back to the Bellhart Wishboard. You’ll now see a new Wish called Silk and Soul available to pick up.
How to Complete the Silk and Soul Wish
After picking up the Wish in Bellhart, travel to Songclave and speak to the Caretaker. She’ll tell you that she has an idea to remove the monarch without Hornet claiming the mantle. Run through her dialogue to receive a set of objectives from her. To finish the quest, you’ll need to collect four key items.
Maiden’s Soul
The first is the Maiden’s Soul, which you can get from the Chapel Maiden in Bone Bottom. She’s the first NPC you spoke to after defeating the Moss Mother at the start of the game.
From the Bone Bottom bench, head left until you run into her. Talk to her to get the quest item.
Hermit’s Soul
For this, go to the Bellway in Bellhart and enter the secret Bellvine Tunnel on the right. Drop to the lower floor and head left until you find the Hermit. Speak with him and he’ll hand over the item.
Seeker’s Soul
The Seeker’s Soul is found in Bilewater, specifically in the sub-region known as Bilehaven.
You’ll have to fight through a tough gauntlet of enemies, followed by a boss fight against Groal the Great. Once you’ve defeated them all, head left into the next room on the left and enter the house to claim the Seeker’s Soul.
The exact location is marked in the image above.
We managed to find the item even before picking up the quest. You can access Bilewater by breaking a wall on the right side of Sinner’s Rest. The breakable wall can be found in the spot marked in the image above.
Snare Setter
Travel to Weavenest Alta, located in Moss Grotto, and go down to the lower level. Run up the wall on the right, jump over to the left side of the room
Just before the pool of water, you’ll spot a secret passage above you. Use your double jump to reach it and keep climbing until you enter a large room.
The Snare Setter is waiting on a table inside.
Once you’ve collected all four items, return to the Caretaker at Songclave and deliver them. With that done, head to The Cradle.
Near the top of the zone, just before the bridge leading to the Grand Mother Silk fight, you’ll find the Caretaker waiting for you. Speak with her, and she’ll tell you to use your Needolin on the boss instead of Binding her.
Unlocking Act 3 in Hollow Knight: Silksong
Proceed to the boss arena and challenge Grand Mother Silk. Once you defeat her, you’ll see a new option to play the Needolin. Choose it and watch the cutscene play out.
The boss fight will end, and the credits will roll as usual. After the credits, you’ll be taken back to the main menu.
Choose Continue to see that your save file is now covered in black vines that look like the vines from the Abyss in the original game. Interact with the save file multiple times until the vines disappear.
When you load back in, you’ll see a new cutscene, and Act 3 will officially begin.
This concludes this guide for Hollow Knight: Silksong. If you want a complete walkthrough or more guides for the game, be sure to check out our main hub here.
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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.
