I still remember the first time I saw the Simple Key in Bone Bottom. Five hundred rosaries for a key felt like a scam. After dozens of hours in Hollow Knight: Silksong, I can tell you it is not. These keys unlock some of the most valuable rooms in Pharloom, from powerful tools to story moments you do not want to miss. There are four Simple Keys in the game. Each one is tied to a specific area, and each one opens a specific door. I will walk you through every location and every lock.

Quick Reference

?️ Simple Key
? Area
? Cost / Requirement

#1
Bone Bottom
500 Rosaries from merchant

#2
Songclave
650 Rosaries after Wandering Merchant quest

#3
Sinner's Road
Defeat chain-wielding enemy, need Cling Grip

#4
Sands of Karak
Need Clawline, reach far east bench

? Door
? Area
? Main Reward / Note

#1
Wormways
Sharpdart, Plasmium Phials

#2
Sinner's Road
Green Prince story

#3
Deep Docks
Flintslate, Act 3 path

#4
High Halls
Rosary Cannon, many Rosaries



Simple Key #1: Bone Bottom

The first Simple Key is sold by the merchant in Bone Bottom. It costs 500 rosaries. That price is brutal when you first arrive. I tried to grind early and quickly realized it was not worth it. My advice is to continue the adventure and return later. By the time you clear a few areas, 500 rosaries feels much more manageable. The key is always there waiting.



This key pairs perfectly with the Wormways door above Bone Bottom. I used my first key there and immediately got a good return.

Simple Key #2: Songclave

The second key is also sold by a merchant, but she is not available immediately. You need to complete the Wandering Merchant quest. Grab the quest from the Wishboard. Once Jubilana returns to Songclave, she will sell you the key for 650 rosaries.



This price is higher than the first key. Luckily, Songclave is next to the long Citadel corridor. I used that spot to farm rosaries quickly. After a short loop, I had enough cash without too much pain.

Simple Key #3: Sinner's Road

The third key is different. It is not bought. It is dropped by a large chain-wielding enemy in Sinner's Road. Before you try this, make sure you have the Cling Grip from Shellwood. Without it, you cannot reach the arena.



I climbed a massive shaft full of spikes. At the top, the enemy dropped from above. The fight was tough but fair. Take him out and he drops the key. This one felt earned.

Simple Key #4: Sands of Karak

The fourth and final Simple Key is in the Sands of Karak. You can only reach this area once you have the Clawline ability from the Underworks in Act 2. The area is harsh. I died several times to environmental hazards.

You need to platform across vine puzzles from the left side all the way to the right. It does not take too long to find the key. At the far east, there is a bench. Rest there and grab the key. It is a quiet reward after a stressful trip.

Door Location #1: Wormways

This is probably the first locked door you will find. It sits just below the Wormways entrance, above Bone Bottom. I headed west from Mosshome, crossed the gap, and went through the cave with the acid spitter. The door is right there.



Opening it reveals more of the Wormways area. You can find the Sharpdart and the Plasmium Phials inside. For me, this was the best early use of a Simple Key.

Door Location #2: Sinner's Road

While exploring Sinner's Road, I noticed the Green Prince sitting in a cell. He does not beg you to open the door. I opened it anyway. It is absolutely worth it.



Later, the Green Prince appears in the Citadel. You learn much more about his story there. This door is not about loot. It is about lore. I still think it is one of the most memorable unlocks in the game.

Door Location #3: Deep Docks

This door is familiar from the Deep Docks. But do not be fooled. This is not an early game area. The enemies will shred you without proper tools and preparation.



If you are prepared, the area offers great tools like the Flintslate. The area is necessary for Act 3 progression. However, you can also reach it through the Far Fields once you have the Clawline. So this Simple Key door ends up being a little redundant. I would not prioritize this key unless you want a shortcut or extra challenge.

Door Location #4: High Halls

The final locked door is easy to find in the High Halls area. It is just left of the bench and before the dreaded Forum fight. I remember the panic of that fight.



Inside the room, you can find a huge number of rosaries and the Rosary Cannon tool. This tool is fantastic. If you can grab it before the Forum fight, it can make a noticeable difference.

My Recommended Order

Not every Simple Key has the same value at every stage of the game. This is the order I would follow in 2026:

? Simple Key #1 from Bone Bottom — buy it after you have a comfortable rosary supply.

? Open the Wormways door for Sharpdart and Plasmium Phials.

? Complete the Wandering Merchant quest and buy Simple Key #2.

? Grab Simple Key #3 from Sinner's Road and free the Green Prince.

? Save Simple Key #4 for later, then decide between Deep Docks and High Halls.

Simple Keys may look like a money sink at first. But every single one opens something worthwhile. I learned the hard way that ignoring them only made backtracking more painful. If you are still exploring Pharloom, keep an eye out for these keys. They are small. They are expensive. They are worth it.

Finding the right path in Pharloom often comes down to knowing where to spend your limited resources. The same logic applies outside the game. Whether you are hunting for a new metroidvania to scratch that same itch or simply want to stock up on titles without breaking your budget, a little research goes a long way. After all, a well-spent rosary is no different from a well-spent dollar.

If you are anything like me, finishing a run through Pharloom usually means immediately looking for the next great adventure. That is why I like to check the best game deals before committing to a full-price purchase. You never know when a hidden gem is sitting at a fraction of its usual cost, just waiting for someone savvy enough to grab it.

For players working through Hollow Knight: Silksong in 2026, the Flea Caravan can seem like a modest errand at first. It asks Hornet to round up scattered fleas across Pharloom, but the activity sits much closer to the main path than its cheerful presentation suggests. Returning all the lost fleas to the Caravan is necessary to advance into Act 3, and tracking down every flea location also points toward an exclusive tool and one Pale Oil. The payoff, however, is not automatic. Hornet still has to win the Flea Festival by claiming the grand champion title in the Ecstasy of the End quest.

How to Trigger the Ecstasy of the End Quest

The quest becomes available only after the full flea hunt is completed. Once all fleas have been found, players should speak to the Fleamaster to receive the Egg of Flealia. This item is the key that opens the next step.



After obtaining the Egg of Flealia, Hornet should return to Bellhart's Wishwall. A new wish called the Ecstasy of the End will now be available there. Promise the wish, then travel back to Fleatopia in the Putrified Ducts area. Doing so begins the Festival of the Flea and unlocks the three required flea games.

The full trigger sequence can be summarized as follows:

Find every lost flea in Pharloom.

Speak to the Fleamaster and obtain the Egg of Flealia.

Return to Bellhart's Wishwall.

Locate and promise the Ecstasy of the End wish.

Go to Fleatopia in the Putrified Ducts to start the Festival of the Flea.

Completing the Ecstasy of the End Quest

Finishing the quest requires Hornet to achieve the highest score in all three flea games: Flea Juggle, Flea Dodge, and Flea Bounce. Beat every champion and Hornet earns the grand champion title.



Flea Juggle

Flea Juggle asks Hornet to keep falling fleas from touching the ground by hitting them upward. The game ends if three fleas land, and stepping off the stage also causes an immediate failure. Upward hits are preferred, but a normal sideways hit can be useful when a flea drifts too far outside the stage to reach with an upward strike. The score to beat is held by Grishkin at 30 points.

Flea Dodge

Flea Dodge places Hornet on two wooden platforms while fleas fly in from any direction. At times, one of the two platforms will fall, leaving less space to stand. The champion Vog has a high score of 65 points, meaning players must dodge a significant number of fleas. A useful detail is that a flea flying over Hornet's head still awards points as long as it passes by, so close dodges are not always necessary.



Flea Bounce

Flea Bounce is the final aerial challenge. Hornet must stay in the air and bounce over fleas to earn points. Touching the ground will end the game, so players should use all available abilities to maintain an airborne position. Vog is also the champion of Flea Bounce, with a high score of 42 points.



A quick reference for the three high scores is shown below:

Flea Game
Champion
Score to Beat

Flea Juggle
Grishkin
30

Flea Dodge
Vog
65

Flea Bounce
Vog
42

After all three high scores are beaten, Hornet earns the grand champion title. Completing the Ecstasy of the End quest is essential for players who want to secure the Pale Oil and continue deeper into the story. Because the Flea Caravan is tied to Act 3 progression, it is worth handling the flea search early so the Wishwall and Festival of the Flea are ready when needed.

Mastering the Ecstasy of the End quest is a rewarding milestone, but it also highlights how much content Hollow Knight: Silksong packs into every corner of Pharloom. For players who have yet to begin Hornet's journey or are looking to gift the game to a friend, finding a good price on the title can make the adventure even more enjoyable. Keeping an eye on current promotions and discounts is a smart way to grab games at the right moment.

Whether you're chasing the grand champion title or simply exploring Fleatopia for the first time, picking up the game at a fair price is always worth the effort. That's why many players regularly check DealNest game deals to stay updated on discounts for Hollow Knight: Silksong and other popular titles. With a little patience, you can secure the game at a bargain and dive into all the flea-filled challenges waiting in the Putrified Ducts.

After Hornet’s needle finally cut through the last pale thread of Pharloom in early 2026, I was certain I had wrung every drop of silk from Hollow Knight: Silksong. I was not even close. The game had been hiding tiny mechanical threads beneath its already dense map, and I only found them through accident, rumour, and stubborn backtracking. Some secrets are as quiet as a bell’s last harmonic fading into moss.



I watched the player count spike after the long-awaited release, so I assumed the community would surface every mystery within a week. But Pharloom keeps its secrets needle-thin, slipping through your awareness unless you press your ear to the wall.

?️ You Can Taunt Instead of Poking

The first hidden trick I learned saved me from countless cheap hits. By pressing down on the right stick, Hornet spends one spool of silk to taunt and draw nearby enemies toward her. It is like using a moth’s wingbeat to call predators rather than chasing them through brambles. Against climbing or flying enemies that hit as hard as Silksong’s nastiest bosses, this ability is a quiet lifesaver. I went an entire playthrough without realising it existed.



?️ The Bellhart Bench Cutscene

Bellhart already feels like a town stitched together with bad dreams, so I treated its bench as a safe pocket of air. I was wrong. There is a small chance, when loading a save at the Bellhart bench, that Hornet gets sealed in the same haunting webs that plague the town. It is a blink-and-you-miss-it scene, easy to miss depending on how quickly you beat the Widow. The moment felt like a nightmare slipping between the stitches of an otherwise ordinary rest.



? Ants Carry More Than Bodies

The ants in Hunter’s March are not just background dressing. I first noticed them dragging corpses away for food, which was unsettling enough. Then one of them stole a Rosary I had knocked loose and carried it off like a tiny hearse driver with no respect for my loot. They can also snatch placeable tools or useful shards you leave behind. It is comedic and infuriating in equal measure, and it taught me not to trust Pharloom’s smallest citizens.



? Enemies Listen When Hornet Plays

The Needolin is more than a mirror of Hollow Knight’s Dream Nail. If you play it near hostile bugs, many of them pause their attacks and briefly sing with you. It is a strange, almost tender reminder that something human remains in their ruined minds. Revisiting empty boss arenas can also uncover hidden NPC interactions. Characters like Nuu and the Chapel maid have new dialogue after their nearby battles end, and I never would have heard it if I hadn’t wandered back out of nostalgia.



⛪ The Bells Are Singing a Funeral Hymn

Once I activated a few Rosary benches, I noticed a familiar tune beneath the chime. It turns out the bell motif is drawn from Dies Irae, a Latin hymn for the dead. Pharloom is already a vertical graveyard of infected pilgrims, so the choice fits like a shroud. It also means the game hides its meaning in audio as often as it hides rooms behind breakable walls.



? Rumble Points the Way

I played much of Silksong on keyboard and missed vibration clues entirely. On a controller, the rumble grows stronger as you approach Bell Beast fast-travel stations. It is an invisible compass, helpful before the map fills in but easy to overlook if you play on PC without Big Picture mode. This is not a visual secret at all; it is a pulse in your palms.



? The Starting Area Is an Inverted Mirror

I had played Hollow Knight several times, yet I still missed how deliberately opposite Silksong’s opening is. Hornet arrives in Moss Bottom against her will, while the Knight entered Hallownest by choice. Their journeys move in opposite directions: one descending into a kingdom’s depths, the other climbing toward the ancient beings at Pharloom’s peak. It is a quiet structural rhyme that recontextualises the entire climb.



? Stardew Valley’s Creator Is Hiding in the Cast

One cameo broke my brain after the credits. Eric Barone, the developer of Stardew Valley, provided additional voices for Silksong. He has not confirmed which character he plays, but the theories have been running hot since release. It sounds like an odd pairing until you remember Barone had already contributed to Hollow Knight merchandise. Now every weirdly cheerful bug I meet sounds suspicious.



? Steel Soul Without Finishing the Story

Steel Soul mode is still brutal, but you do not have to beat Silksong once to unlock it. A riff on the Konami code in the extras menu opens the permadeath mode immediately. I tried it after learning the trick, and Pharloom responded by killing me in the first hour. At least the secret is easy to find, even if survival is not.



Quick Field Notes

Taunt: right stick, costs one silk spool, draws enemies.

Bellhart bench: rare load-in cutscene with webs.

Ants: steal corpses, Rosaries, tools, and shards.

Needolin: can make enemies sing, not just NPCs.

Boss arenas: revisit for Nuu and Chapel maid dialogue.

Bells: Dies Irae funeral motif.

Controller rumble: points to Bell Beast stations.

Starting area: Hornet’s climb mirrors the Knight’s descent.

Eric Barone: hidden voice cameo.

Steel Soul: unlock early from the extras menu.

Pharloom is not just another map: it is a vertical instrument that keeps playing long after you think the song is over. I am on my third run now, and I have stopped assuming I have seen everything.

Every playthrough seems to surface another detail, and the community is still peeling back layers months later. That kind of longevity makes Silksong an easy recommendation, especially for players who enjoy chasing secrets long after the credits roll. But jumping into Pharloom on multiple platforms — or hunting down the physical edition and its extras — can get expensive, which is why smart shoppers keep an eye on price drops before committing.

That is where DealNest comes in handy. By rounding up the latest discounts across gaming retailers, DealNest helps players stretch their budget without missing out on the hottest releases. Whether you are picking up Silksong for the first time or grabbing a second copy for a friend so you can compare notes on Bell Beast stations, checking for a good deal beforehand makes the whole hunt a little sweeter.

While pushing through Act 3 of Hollow Knight: Silksong, I noticed a new Hunt-type wish pinned to the Bellhart Wish Board. The citizens of Bellhart were clearly unsettled—they kept looking over their shoulders at dark, pulsing growths that had begun appearing in the surrounding areas. Their wish was simple: find someone brave enough to remove the Void Masses permanently. That request turned out to be the Dark Hearts quest. It did not take long to trigger, but tracking down enough Void Masses made me climb through almost every corner of Pharloom.

The trigger itself is straightforward once you have reached Act 3. I approached the Bellhart Wish Board and grabbed the wish. From that moment, Hornet's objective was to destroy 12 Void Masses. The reward promised for clearing the danger was a Mask Fragment, which is always useful for survivability. What surprised me was how many Void Masses actually exist—there are more than 40 scattered across Pharloom, but only 12 are required for the quest. That gave me plenty of freedom to pick a route close to Bellhart and avoid some of the more dangerous detours.

I started my search right outside Bellhart. From the hub, I headed right and took the elevator upward. After running left and climbing a few rocky ledges, I reached Shellwood. Under one of the wooden platforms I found my first Void Mass. The growth was dark, sticky, and seemed to cling to the surface like tar. A quick strike removed it.

I continued left and glided down beneath a cliff edge to find a second Void Mass. Staying on lower ground, I entered a larger chamber. Near the top of that area, next to a room entrance, a third Void Mass was stuck to the side of the wall. Venturing through a lower door to the left brought me close to the bench near Bone Bottom. In that horizontal room, another Void Mass clung to the ceiling, forcing me to jump and strike upward.

From Shellwood I made my way toward The Marrow. I also used the Needle to summon the baby Bell Beasts and returned to the Bellway, which allowed me to teleport closer to my next targets. Heading left from the Bellway and then down revealed a Void Mass tucked in a corner under a platform on the right. Gliding down to the bottom of a vertical room, I looked to the upper left corner and used the platforms to reach another one. Climbing to the top of that same vertical room, I went right and found a Void Mass on the roof near a red bulb. Further right, I flew past a bench—resting there helped because the enemies were starting to pile up—and found a Void Mass on the upper part of the area.

Deep Docks became the next major stop. I kept moving in the same direction and climbed the second vertical room. At the end, a Void Mass waited. Heading higher and turning left, I saw another Void Mass stuck to the side of a platform near the lava. That one was tricky because enemies guarded the area. I cleared them first and then used a plunge attack to scrape the growth off cleanly.

I briefly considered heading into Hunter's March. There is a Void Mass on the roof above two enemies not far from the entrance, but after checking my count I decided to skip it. If you want a safer route or need an extra one without going too far into Far Fields, Hunter's March is a reasonable option. However, I preferred to push forward.

Returning to Deep Docks, I went right into Far Fields. I climbed higher and moved into the next area, where a Void Mass was stuck to the top and surrounded by enemies. Defeating them before removing the mass made the task less frantic. Then I went back to the previous room, glided down to the lower section, and ran right. There, under one of the platforms near the lava, I found the final Void Mass I needed for my count.

By the time I destroyed twelve, I had explored a good chunk of Pharloom. The route I followed was not the only option, and I know I left many Void Masses untouched in more distant areas. That is one of the best parts of the Dark Hearts quest: you can mix and match based on your preferred path, your combat comfort, and whether you want to detour into optional regions.

Returning to Bellhart felt satisfying. I spoke with the quest giver, turned in the removed Void Masses, and completed the Dark Hearts quest. The reward was exactly what the board had promised—a Mask Fragment. For any player in Act 3, I would recommend picking up this wish early and keeping an eye out for the dark growths as you travel. Since only twelve are needed out of more than forty, the quest is manageable even if you skip the more hostile locations.

Quick trigger checklist:

Advance to Act 3.

Visit the Bellhart Wish Board.

Accept the Hunt-type wish called Dark Hearts.

Destroy 12 Void Masses anywhere in Pharloom.

Return to Bellhart and turn them in for a Mask Fragment.

A few tips that helped me:

Use plunge attacks when a Void Mass is attached to a platform or floor.

Clear nearby enemies before trying to remove a growth.

Rest at benches before enemy-heavy rooms.

Watch ceilings, corners, and the undersides of platforms, because the black growths blend into shadows.

Once you've cleared your board and collected that Mask Fragment, it's natural to start thinking about the next adventure. Many players I know like to keep a rotating backlog of games so they can jump straight from one quest to another. Hunting for good deals is part of that habit, and I've found it pays to compare prices before picking up a new title.

If you're looking to expand your library without overspending, you might want to check out cheapest steam keys at DealNest. Whether you're chasing another Metroidvania with similar exploration or want to switch genres entirely, grabbing a game at a solid discount makes the next adventure even easier to start. Happy hunting, and may your benches always be nearby.

Okay, listen. I have been spelunking through Pharloom since the Act 3 content landed in 2026, and if you are anything like me, you have probably stared at the Far Fields map, noticed that suspiciously blank corner, and thought, “Yep, there is a secret over there.” Good news: there absolutely is. Bad news: Silk Soar does not care about your feelings, and the route to the Far Fields secret area in Hollow Knight: Silksong will make you work for it. Here is how to actually get there without losing your needle, your patience, or your mind.

The Route: Karmelita, Silk Soar, and a Very Sneaky Ceiling

First things first: you need to be in Act 3. A decent chunk of Pharloom only opens up once you reach this chapter, and the Far Fields secret area is one of those additions. If you are still poking around Act 2, go advance the main story before you waste an afternoon jumping at walls.

When you are ready, travel to Hunter’s March. Specifically, find the statue of Karmelita. This is not just a fancy piece of scenery; it is basically your vertical launchpad. Use the Silk Soar Ancestral Art near the statue to leap upward into a hidden passage. I missed this the first time because I kept hugging the ground like a frightened grub. Do not be like me. Look up.

After you make the leap, keep moving to the right. You are aiming for the border between Hunter’s March and Far Fields. Eventually, you will unlock a shortcut that connects the two regions together. That shortcut makes future visits much less painful, so take a moment to appreciate it before the game throws another obstacle at you.

The Shortcut That Betrays You in Act 3

Here is the twist nobody warned me about: if you previously unlocked the shortcut between Deep Docks and Hunter’s March, do not expect to use it in Act 3. It will be closed, and you will stand there pressing buttons like a confused mosscreep.

To get back into Hunter’s March after the Act 3 changes, Hornet has to take the original route from The Marrow. Then, once you are on the Hunter’s March side, smash the boulder that is blocking the way. Yes, this means you have to redo a chunk of the pogo platforming. The saving grace is that Silk Soar lets you skip a large part of that platforming, so it is less “painful flashback” and more “mildly annoying detour.” Spin, leap, pray, and move on.



Far Fields Secret Area: Loot, Quests, and Sweet Rewards

Once you actually enter the Far Fields secret area, it opens up into a surprisingly busy little corner of Pharloom. This is not just a dead end with a single chest. There are real objectives here, and a few of them tie directly into your journey.

? Heart of the Wild

The big prize is the Heart of the Wild, one of the hearts required for the main quest. If you are hunting down essential pieces for progression, this is a stop you cannot skip. I recommend grabbing it as soon as you enter the secret area, because it is easy to get distracted by side paths and forget why you came.

? Sprintmaster Swift and the Fastest in Pharloom Wish

Take the easternmost route inside the secret area and you will eventually reach the home of Sprintmaster Swift. This is where you can fulfill the Fastest in Pharloom wish in Silksong. It is a nice little side objective that rewards you for exploring every edge of the map. I will not spoil the exact conversation, but let us just say Swift lives up to the name.

? Pilgrim’s Rest Connection

The hidden area can also be connected to Pilgrim’s Rest, which opens more routes on top of the existing Pilgrim’s Rest door. This is fantastic if you want to streamline travel across the region. Secret areas are always better when they create new shortcuts instead of just sitting there like a lonely room.



?️ The Hidden Hunter Quest

On top of everything else, the Hidden Hunter quest in Silksong also leads Hornet straight into the Far Fields secret area. If you are following that mission, you will end up here naturally, which is a nice bit of design. It turns the secret area from a random hidden nook into a meaningful destination for multiple story threads.



TL;DR for Tired Spiders

Objective
Location / Requirement
Reward or Purpose

Enter secret area
Karmelita statue + Silk Soar in Hunter’s March
Shortcut to Far Fields

Heart of the Wild
Far Fields secret area
Main quest heart

Fastest in Pharloom wish
Sprintmaster Swift’s home, easternmost route
Side quest completion

Pilgrim’s Rest connection
Hidden route inside secret area
Opens extra routes

Hidden Hunter quest
Leads Hornet to the secret area
Quest progression

At the end of the day, the Far Fields secret area is one of those Act 3 surprises that makes Pharloom feel bigger than it should. Just remember: check the statue, use Silk Soar, go right, and do not trust the Deep Docks shortcut. Good luck out there, fellow wanderer.

Exploring every hidden corner of Pharloom takes patience, but the payoff is always worth it — and that same mindset applies outside the game. Whether you’re looking for a new controller, Silksong merchandise, or a better gaming setup, the thrill of finding a great price feels a lot like uncovering that secret room behind the statue. So before you hit that checkout button, take a moment to find the best deal and make your coin stretch a little further. After all, saving a few bucks in the real world is its own kind of hidden treasure.

In Hollow Knight: Silksong, Hornet's expanding collection of Tools grants players flexibility for every combat and platforming challenge. Some Tools improve movement, others grant defensive benefits, and a few trade safety for raw damage output. The Barbed Bracelet falls into that last category. While most damage upgrades require tracking down Pale Oils and returning them to Bellhart, this hidden Yellow Tool increases Hornet's needle damage but also increases the damage she receives. For players exploring the 2026 builds of the game, the Barbed Bracelet remains one of the most debated Tools in Hornet's loadout.

How to Get the Barbed Bracelet

The Barbed Bracelet is hidden deep enough that players cannot grab it during the opening hours. The first requirement is reaching Shellwood and unlocking the Wall Jump ability. That means defeating Sister Splinter and then moving right from the boss arena to collect the ability. Without Wall Jump, the vertical climbs and spike-filled corridors leading to the bracelet are not accessible.

Once Wall Jump is available, travel to Greymoor Bellway Station. Head left and enter the first tower. From there, climb upward until a passage on the right appears. Follow that passage into the second tower, then continue moving right and take the passage on the right. This is where the platforming becomes tighter: from the elevator, pogo off the metal spikes on the left, float toward the right, and use a down slash on a ball to reach the top-right exit. The passage leads directly into Sinner's Road.

Inside Sinner's Road, ignore the imprisoned green mantis above and push far to the right. The route passes through a room filled with multiple Muckroaches. At the end of that room, do not take the path going upward. Instead, enter the cage and drop down carefully. After avoiding the spikes, players will find the Barbed Bracelet resting on top of a wooden raft.



How the Barbed Bracelet Works

The Barbed Bracelet is a Yellow Tool with a simple but risky effect. It increases Hornet's total damage output, and it also increases the damage she takes. That double-edged design makes it very situational. Because most players will have fewer than eight Mask Shards before reaching the endgame, the higher incoming damage often means that bosses can two-shot Hornet. This is especially dangerous in fights with fast combos or delayed attacks that are difficult to learn quickly.

Platforming sections are even more punishing with the bracelet equipped. Many enemies, wall spikes, and environmental traps already deal two Mask damage without any extra penalty. With the Barbed Bracelet equipped, a single mistake can send Hornet back to the bench in under a minute. For that reason, it is not recommended for blind exploration, difficult platforming gauntlets, or any boss fight where the player is still learning attack patterns.

That said, the Barbed Bracelet is not without value. Against predictable bosses where players are confident in their ability to avoid hits, the damage boost can shorten fights significantly. Fewer attack cycles mean less time in danger and more room for mistakes overall, which can offset the risk for skilled players.

Is It Worth Equipping?

The Barbed Bracelet has a clear niche, and it shines most when players are farming for Rosaries. On farming routes, taking one or two hits is common, but the bracelet allows Hornet to clear enemies much faster. Pairing the Barbed Bracelet with the Fractured Mask creates an especially effective setup, because the extra survivability lets players withstand three hits while still benefiting from the boosted damage. The result is a faster and safer farm loop.

The bracelet also has synergy with the Clawline ability once it is unlocked. Since the Barbed Bracelet increases Clawline damage as well, players can harpoon enemies and dash away repeatedly. This hit-and-run style makes most Rosary farming routes easier and noticeably shorter. Instead of committing to long melee trades, players can kill from range and reposition before enemies can respond.

? Best use cases: Rosary farming, predictable bosses, experienced players who rarely get hit

⚠️ Avoid using in: platforming-heavy areas, multi-phase boss fights, early-game loadouts

?️ Pairs well with: Fractured Mask, Clawline ability

Final Verdict

The Barbed Bracelet is a high-risk, high-reward Tool that rewards careful planning and confident play. It is not a universal best-in-slot item, and players who prefer a defensive or exploration-focused build should leave it unequipped for most of the game. However, once a farming route is established or a boss pattern is fully learned, the damage increase becomes a powerful tool for saving time and ending fights quickly.

For players exploring Hollow Knight: Silksong in 2026, the Barbed Bracelet is absolutely worth collecting once the route to Sinner's Road is open. The acquisition requires solid Wall Jump control and some precise spike pogoing, but the payoff for Rosary farming and confident boss kills makes the detour worthwhile.

Of course, an efficient build only matters if you actually have the game in your library. Players who enjoy fine-tuning their loadouts in Silksong often apply the same careful planning to how they buy games. Timing purchases around seasonal sales can make a big difference, and staying informed about the best ongoing offers is a smart habit for any PC player.

For those looking to expand their collection without overspending, keeping an eye on PC game discounts is a practical way to spot worthwhile deals early. A little patience between sales can free up budget for other indie gems while you keep mastering Hollow Knight: Silksong.

I still remember accepting the Queen’s Egg from Tipp and Pill as though someone had placed a glass bell inside my inventory—one wrong knock and the entire tone of the journey would change. The delivery to Styx in Sinner’s Road felt less like an ordinary errand and more like carrying a drop of molten gold through a corridor of thorns. Yet the rules are surprisingly forgiving: the Queen’s Egg has 4 HP and no time limit, unlike Courier’s Rasher. As long as Hornet takes no more than three hits, the delivery can happen at whatever pace suits you.

? Before departing, I made sure my shortcuts around Bellhart were open. A closed gate does not block the egg, but it forces a longer walk through spaces where Act 3 can turn a calm stroll into slow erosion. With shortcuts open, the route unspools neatly, like thread running through a loom. If they are closed, you will need to pause often, read the room, and resist the urge to dash through shadows.

The biggest change arrives in Act 3. Enemies wrapped in dark auras fire attacks that can land multiple times, and each multi-hit burst becomes a small hammer against that four-point buffer. A single mistake may not end the delivery, but two or three mistakes can strip away your margin in seconds. Still, because the Queen’s Egg has no timer, I found it better to wait for attack patterns than to force movement through dangerous air.



Through Greymoor to the Elevator

Once I left Bellhart, the route settled into a clear sequence:

Travel east into Greymoor and keep moving right until a wind current carries Hornet to a higher floor. The current is not hidden, but if I hurried into side rooms, the tunnel could feel like a knot of stone.



After passing through the hole, immediately jump onto the prison cell above and continue right across the chambers. The cell above the hole is the key clue. From there, Hornet can mantle upward and follow the rooms like chambers in a stone honeycomb. Turning left or wandering downward only adds unnecessary exposure.



Aim for the elevator that descends toward Halfway Home Inn. Climb onto the elevator, then leap to the right-side platform. The elevator is not just a way down; it is also a vertical spine. Jumping to the right platform is the moment the path begins rising toward Sinner’s Road.



Use the platforms and balloons to climb higher and find the hidden path into Sinner’s Road. On a calm run, the balloons form a staircase made of drifting lanterns. In Act 3, however, several of those lanterns are missing.

When I retraced this in Act 3, the platforms and balloons left gaps that felt like a half-erased charcoal sketch. The crossing became harder, but never impossible. Silence and careful jumps replaced momentum, and I treated each remaining platform as a small island of safety.

Inside Sinner’s Road

Inside Sinner’s Road, I kept right until the middle of the region. The climb upward through stacked cells and prison bars was the closest thing to scrambling through a ribcage, each ledge another bone that demanded patience. At the top hole, I continued right, ignoring the tempting path toward Bilewater. Going down instead brought me to the delivery chamber.



At the end, Styx waits beneath the weight of the road. Handing over the Queen’s Egg felt like setting down a borrowed heartbeat. The task may ask very little of your pace, but every step still matters, especially when Act 3 tries to turn the path against you.

Stage
Landmark
Caution

Bellhart to Greymoor
Wind current upper floor
Stick to the right

Elevator climb
Platforms and balloons
Missing platforms in Act 3

Sinner’s Road
Prison cells and top hole
Avoid Bilewater, dark aura attacks

Delivery chamber
End of Sinner’s Road
Styx awaits



While the Queen’s Egg delivery is a straightforward errand once you know the route, Hollow Knight: Silksong is full of optional quests and hidden collectibles that reward thorough players. If you are the kind of explorer who likes to track everything from Grush summons to Mossberry seeds, you might also appreciate keeping an eye on where to find reliable gaming resources without digging through scattered threads. Finding helpful guides and community tools in one place can save you time, so you can spend more of it in Pharloom rather than hunting for information.

Whether you are just starting Hornet’s journey or you are replaying the game to catch every secret, keeping up with new content and community updates is part of the fun. For those moments when you want to expand your collection of games or grab something new at a better price, checking out game deals today can be a convenient way to discover discounts across your favorite platforms. After all, a well-stocked backlog means you will always have another world to explore once you finish delivering the Queen’s Egg and stepping away from Sinner’s Road.

If you have been poking around the Citadel in Hollow Knight: Silksong, you have probably heard about the Conchcutter, and yeah, it is every bit as nasty as it sounds. I finally grabbed it in the second act after a few very sweaty attempts, and it immediately changed how I approached stubborn bosses. It is a red Tool that ricochets off walls and drills into anything unlucky enough to stand still. Honestly, using it feels like throwing a caffeinated pinball into a glass jar and just letting physics do the violence.



I think the biggest mistake I made was assuming the Conchcutter would be handed to me early. Nope. You need the Clawline ability and the Needle Strike from the Pinstress after the Great Conchflies fight. Without the Clawline, the Sands of Karak might as well be behind a stone zipper, because you cannot reach the upper path at all.

The Long Walk to Sands of Karak

Start from Blasted Steps and head north into the Sands of Karak. The route still holds up in 2026, although I would recommend bringing some healing items because the platforming can get prickly. Once you arrive, work your way upward with the Clawline. There are plenty of platforms that demand patience, but the geography is not hard to read.

As you climb, keep an eye out for the Stalactide. You can hit it from above to create a shortcut that will save you a horrific amount of time if you die. I hit it, watched it drop, and the whole route opened up like a bone-colored elevator shaft, which made backtracking much less annoying.

To the left of the second Stalactide is the Raging Conchfly boss arena. Do not go in lightly. Every single attack from that boss deals two mask damage, and it does not care about your feelings. Once its health gets low, it starts summoning smaller conflies that drill around the arena like angry little corkscrews. You suddenly have to split your attention between swatting minions and avoiding a giant shelled monster.



I found it easier to stay mobile and not get greedy. The boss punishes standing still, which is ironic because once you get the Conchcutter, you become the one who punishes stationary bosses. After the fight, keep moving forward to the far end of the Sands of Karak. Head inside the Coral Tower, and the Conchcutter is just lying there on the ground. No extra puzzle, no secret door. It is a relief after that boss.

What Makes the Conchcutter So Good

The Conchcutter is a high-damage Tool that bounces off walls. If you have extra Tool Pouch upgrades, you can carry quite a few into a boss fight. Against enemies that love to plant themselves while charging a big attack, this thing is a dream. Aim, throw, and it starts drilling into the boss like a furious little excavator.



I did some testing with a build, and the best combo for me was the Pollip Pouch plus the Quick Sling. That setup launches two Conchcutters at once and adds Venom to the mix. It is basically a double-barreled shell barrage, and it melts through large hitboxes. The trade-off is that you still need to manage spacing, because the Conchcutter wants walls and angles, not just a straight line.

It is also excellent for clearing obstacles in platforming sections. In Sands of Karak, while grabbing the Crustnut for the Great Taste of Pharloom, I ran into blocked paths that would have been a chore with regular attacks. The Conchcutter cleared them away in seconds. If you are exploring, keep one or two in reserve just for utility, not only combat.

Final Tip Before You Go

I will say this: do not sleep on the shortcut from the first Stalactide. You will probably revisit the area, and the climb back is not fun. With the Clawline, the shortcut, and a bit of patience against the Raging Conchfly, the Conchcutter is absolutely worth the detour. Once you have it, stationary bosses go from threats to target practice.

For players who like to be thorough, the preparation doesn't stop at in-game tools. Knowing when to buy — and when to wait — is its own kind of strategy. A quick look at a game price tracker like DealNest can show you exactly when a title drops, so your next adventure doesn't have to cost a fortune.

It's a small habit that pairs well with a meticulous play style. The same patience that helps you clear a brutal boss room can also help you land a great deal, which means more games in your backlog and less money spent chasing full-price releases.

When Hollow Knight: Silksong finally launched, longtime fans expected the same brand of melancholy and hidden weirdness that made the original Hollow Knight such a cult hit. In 2026, the game has been out long enough for players to compile maps, boss guides, and speedrun routes, yet some secrets still slip through the cracks. One of the creepiest and most missable easter eggs in Silksong is tucked inside Bellhart, and it is the kind of moment that can genuinely rattle a player who thought they had seen everything Pharloom had to offer.



Team Cherry built a reputation on secrets. The original Hollow Knight had players chasing thief Millibelle after she bolted with a hefty pile of Geo, and the game kept dropping lore bombs years after release. Silksong follows the same playbook. Even though the game has only been widely available for a little while, enthusiasts have already uncovered tucked-away rooms, hidden interactions, and strange dialogue flags. But Bellhart's unnerving surprise seems tailor-made for players who grind through the opening hours and call it quits at just the wrong moment.

A town frozen in silk

Bellhart stands out early in Silksong because it is one of the first places where the game's tone shifts from difficult platforming to quiet horror. When Hornet first reaches the settlement, a cutscene shows her reacting to a grim sight: the town's inhabitants are all hanging limply, wrapped in silk. It is a genuinely unsettling image, and it lingers even after the cutscene ends.



That alone would be enough to get under a player's skin. But if they decide to rest at the bench in Bellhart and then quit the game, the next launch is a different kind of nightmare.

The secret scene that catches players off guard

Instead of loading into a normal resting state, players are greeted by a hidden scene in which Hornet herself is strung up, just like the villagers she found moments earlier. The first instinct is usually to panic, but the way out is simple in theory: mash buttons until she tears free of the silk. In practice, it is disorienting enough to feel much worse than any boss fight.

The scene is not a game over, a trap, or a punishment. It is a pure easter egg, designed to make players squirm before letting them back into the game. For a series that loves to blur the line between player and character, it works a little too well.



Why so many players miss it

The requirements are narrow enough that most first-time players will never see the moment. Here is exactly what has to happen:

The player must reach Bellhart before saving the town.

They must rest at the specific bench inside Bellhart.

They must quit the game while resting there.

They must load the save again during that same window of progression.

If any of those steps are skipped, the secret scene simply does not trigger. Once Bellhart has been saved, the chance is gone for that playthrough. That time limit is what makes the easter egg so elusive. In typical Hollow Knight tradition, the game does not advertise the moment, and there is no tutorial hint nudging players to try it.

Condition
Result

Reach Bellhart before saving it
Cutscene shows villagers wrapped in silk

Rest at Bellhart bench and quit
Hidden scene on next load

Save Bellhart first
Easter egg window closes

Load save after triggering
Hornet is strung up; mash buttons to escape

A small scare with a big impact

What makes the Bellhart secret stand out is how personal it feels. Hornet is not witnessing someone else in danger; she is the one trapped, and the player is the one forced to free her. It is a quiet, clever piece of environmental storytelling that echoes the original game's best hidden moments. Plenty of players will finish Silksong without ever seeing it, and that is almost certainly the point.

For completionists, speedrunners, and lore hunters, this is one easter egg worth chasing before Bellhart's story resolves. It is a quick scare, a strange reload, and a reminder that Pharloom is watching — even when the game is not running.

??️✨

Hidden moments like this one are a big part of why Hollow Knight fans keep returning to the series. They reward curiosity, patience, and a willingness to poke at every corner of the map. The same mindset that drives players to discover the Bellhart easter egg often carries over to how they hunt for new games in the first place — waiting for the right moment, keeping an eye on prices, and jumping when the timing finally lines up.

For anyone still waiting to dive into Silksong or planning to revisit Pharloom on a fresh save, keeping track of the best offers can make the experience even sweeter. That is where DealNest game deals come in handy, helping players spot price drops and discounts without scouring the web all day. Much like the secret bench scene, catching the right deal at the right moment takes a little patience — but the payoff is worth it.

I never expected a simple badge to change how Hornet moves, attacks, and survives. But that is exactly what Crests do in Hollow Knight: Silksong. After too many hours wandering Pharloom in 2026, I finally tracked down all seven and earned that achievement. Here is my story.

Hunter Crest

This one starts with you. I did not have to find it. The Hunter Crest is equipped at the beginning of Hornet's journey. At first I thought it was basic. But it is the only Crest that can be upgraded.

Eva in Weavenest Atla can upgrade it twice. The upgrades depend on how many Memory Lockets I had used. I was hoarding a few, and after using them, Eva offered the upgrade. Fully upgraded, it gains a focus meter. That meter builds when I deal successful damage and makes my attacks hit even harder. If I get hit, it drops to zero. This Crest rewards a careful, dodge-focused playstyle. If you like Hornet's starting moveset, stick with it.



Reaper Crest

The Reaper Crest sits in Greymoor, just before the Moorwing fight. I found it in the Chapel in the far west, south of Yarnaby. It changes the main attack into a slow but heavy strike. I could even slash downward instead of diagonally. Binding also lets me steal silk wisps from enemies to charge the silk meter faster.

This crest made my run back to Moorwing less painful because grabbing a Crest acts as a hard save. If you are struggling with that fight, pick this up first.



Wanderer Crest

I loved the original Hollow Knight attack speed, so the Wanderer Crest was a joy. It allows extremely quick slashes but with far less range. If I judged distance correctly, fights ended fast. It also gives a powerful critical chance when my silk meter has silk.

To reach it, I went to the Chapel west of Bone Bottom Town. I needed the Cling Grip to climb a high wall in a ruined building at the far west. The Longclaw tool helps offset the short range.



Beast Crest

Honestly, I did not experiment much with this one. Its down attack is tricky, and pogoing feels essential in Silksong. It has passive lifesteal, which heals you when you damage enemies. That sounds great, but it also gets no blue tool slots, which hurts. I got it in the east of Hunter's March after taking down the Savage Beastfly.



Witch Crest

This one only becomes available in Act 2. It is tied to the Infestation Operation quest. I found a twisted bud in Bilewater from the Whispering Vaults exit, then spoke to Greyroot in Shellwood. Completing the quest let me fuse with the twisted bud.

The moveset double-hits enemies and builds silk quickly. The binding attack whips tendrils around for heavy damage. It took practice, but it became my pick for arena rooms like High Halls.



Architect Crest

I loved spamming Cogflies but always ran out. The Architect Crest fixed that. It turns the main weapon into a drill and lets me equip three red tools. I could craft more on the fly. The shard cost is high, but the payoff is worth it.

To get it, I needed 25 different tools. After that, the Architect Key appeared in the shop for 110 rosaries. I headed up and west from the Architect's location to enter a new area and bind the crest.



Shaman Crest

The last one is hidden in Act 3 and requires Silk Soar. It specialises in Silk Skills, giving them a damage multiplier. I could use up to three different skills at a time instead of more tools. With two blue slots, it pairs well with Volt Filament for lightning damage and Egg of Flealia to reduce skill silk cost at full health.

I headed far east of the ruined chapel, then silk soared through the ceiling in front of the lore tablet. I followed the path down and found the crest.





Quick Crest Overview

Crest
Location / Requirement
Playstyle

Hunter
Equipped at start, upgraded by Eva
Balanced, focus meter after upgrade

Reaper
Greymoor Chapel, before Moorwing
Slow heavy attacks, silk steal

Wanderer
Chapel west of Bone Bottom Town, need Cling Grip
Fast slashes, short range, crits

Beast
East Hunter's March, beat Savage Beastfly
Lifesteal, tricky down attack

Witch
Act 2, Infestation Operation quest
Double hits, tendril binding attack

Architect
25 tools, buy Architect Key for 110 rosaries
Drill weapon, 3 red tools

Shaman
Act 3, far east ruined chapel, need Silk Soar
Silk Skill focus, 2 blue slots

Now I have all seven. If you want that same sense of completion, just follow the path I took. Some crests demand patience. Others demand a specific tool or quest. But every one of them changes Hornet in a way that makes Pharloom feel new again.

Once you've unlocked all seven crests and felt that rush of discovery, you might find yourself hungry for more Hollow Knight experiences or even other metroidvania gems. Whether you're picking up the Silksong launch edition, grabbing a new controller for those precise Silk Soar inputs, or hunting down a used switch cartridge to revisit Hallownest, it's always worth checking a few stores before comitting. Prices can swing wildly between retailers just like a Wanderer's crit build, so taking a moment to compare prices here before checkout can leave you with extra rosaries in your pocket.

With every crest collected and Hornet's toolkit fully customised, your journey through Pharloom is complete. But the game never truly ends for collectors and completionists. If you're looking to expand your shelf with art books, figurines, or soundtrack vinyls inspired by Team Cherry's work, a quick price comparison is the smartest tool you can equip. After all, a true hunter always knows the value of every resource they gather.