A Hornet's Guide to Every Simple Key in Silksong

Find every Simple Key location and Simple Lock use in Hollow Knight: Silksong with this concise Pharloom guide.

I still remember the first time I saw a Simple Lock in Hollow Knight: Silksong. It was a smug little door in the Deep Docks, and I had no key. I had Rosaries, a needle, and a bad attitude, but none of that mattered. What good is a key if you forget where the lock is? And what good is a lock if you never find the key? As of 2026, Pharloom has not gotten any kinder, so I am writing down every Simple Key location and every Simple Lock use I have found, so you do not have to backtrack through a thousand crawling tunnels like I did.

Simple Keys are single-use, which is why I treat each one like a precious secret. There are only four in the game, and each one opens a specific door. If you waste one, you will feel it. So let us walk through the keys first, then the locks.

The Four Simple Keys of Pharloom

Key #
Location
Cost or Requirement
What to Remember

1
Bone Bottom
500 Rosaries
Buy from Pebb the merchant

2
Sinner's Road
Double jump or clawline
Top northeastern corner, survive the ambush

3
Sands of Karak
Quick traversal before the path vanishes
Far east bench, body of a dead bug

4
The Wandering Merchant quest
650 Rosaries
Find Jubilana, then unlock her at First Shrine

1. Bone Bottom: Pebb's Price

The first key is the easiest to understand and the hardest to afford early on. I walked up to Pebb the merchant in Bone Bottom, and he wanted 500 Rosaries. That felt like a fortune when I was still learning how to survive. I farmed, completed wishes, and scraped together the cost. If you are short, do not rush into every locked door you see. Trust me, the key is not going anywhere.

2. Sinner's Road: The Top-Floor Ambush

Sinner's Road taught me that vertical exploration is its own kind of horror. The second Simple Key sits in the top northeastern corner. You need the double jump or the clawline to cling to walls and climb to the top. Hit the lever to access the top floor, and then get ready. Hornet is ambushed by a big enemy. I died twice before I learned its rhythm, but defeating it rewards the key. Who would have thought a simple climb could turn into a boss fight?

3. Sands of Karak: A Dead Bug's Gift

The third key is a test of speed and nerve. In the Sands of Karak, I had to hit a branch and move quickly before the path disappeared. Once I was far east, I kept going in the same direction until I reached a bench with a body on it. I grabbed the Simple Key from the dead bug. It is grim, but in Pharloom, grim is just another word for Tuesday.

4. The Wandering Merchant: Jubilana's Final Key

The last key comes from The Wandering Merchant quest. I found Jubilana, then returned to the First Shrine to unlock her as a merchant. After collecting 650 Rosaries, I bought the Simple Key. It is expensive, but by this point you should have a decent Rosary route. If you do not, hunt down wishes and sell what you can spare.

Where to Use Every Simple Lock

Now for the part that actually matters. A key without a lock is just a shiny regret. Here is where I used each one.

Deep Docks: The Bellway Door

From the Deep Docks Bellway, head right to the lower door. Attack the lever to go down deeper and enter the path below the Forge Daughter. At the end, there is a locked door that reveals a huge part of the Deep Docks. You can access this area later from Far Fields after acquiring certain abilities, but using the Simple Key here gives you a head start with exploration. I chose the early route, and it paid off.

Sinner's Road: The Green Prince's Cage

In the vertical room right next to the bench where Shakra is singing in Sinner's Road, I found the Green Prince imprisoned in a cage. Climb a few cages, then glide down the left to access the Simple Lock. The NPC asks Hornet not to free him, but you have to do it to trigger his quest. Sometimes being a hero means ignoring good advice.

Wormways: The Alchemist's Assistant and Sharpdart

Upon accessing Wormways, keep going left while avoiding the falling worms until a door eventually appears. This opens more parts of the area, lets you complete the Alchemist’s Assistant quest, and unlocks the Sharpdart skill. That skill is hidden behind a Needolin door that can only be reached by using the clawline and double jump abilities.

Sharpdart is worth the trouble. It changes how you move and fight, and it makes some later platforming sections far less cruel.

High Halls: Rosary Cannon and Pale Rosary Necklace

The door in High Halls is easily accessed from the station location. Unlock the door and head inside to find an obstacle blocking the path leading up. Destroy and navigate the tunnels while avoiding the deadly wheels until you reach the end. There are two paths available. Head down first to get the Rosary Cannon, then go up to collect a lot of Rosaries and open a chest containing the Pale Rosary Necklace. I went up first once, and I regretted it. Learn from my mistake.

Final Thoughts

Simple Keys are not just items. They are choices. Each one forces you to decide which part of Pharloom you want to open early, and which part can wait. In 2026, with more players than ever crawling through Silksong, I still see the same question: where do I use this key? My answer is simple. Use it where it hurts least to wait, and where it helps most to explore now. For me, that meant Deep Docks first, then the Green Prince, then Wormways, and finally High Halls. Your path may differ, but at least now you know where every key hides. Good luck out there, and do not waste your Rosaries on regret.

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Borderlands 4 Reviews: A Redemption Arc or a Safe Bet?

Borderlands 4 review: Gearbox's looter-shooter fixes Borderlands 3's flaws with open-world gameplay, though its safe villain and story may feel dull.

I've been a Borderlands fan since the original, and like many of you, I was left feeling a bit... underwhelmed by Borderlands 3. The humor felt forced, the villains were annoying, and the story just didn't land. So when Borderlands 4 was announced, I was cautiously optimistic. Now that we're in 2026 and the dust has settled, the reviews are in, and it looks like Gearbox might have actually pulled it off. But is it the massive improvement everyone hoped for, or did they play it too safe? Let's dive in.

The Consensus: A Big Step Up from Borderlands 3

If you've been living under a rock, here's the scoop: Borderlands 4 is being praised as a course correction for the series. Our own review at Screen Rant boldly called it "the best game in the series so far." IGN said it's "the massive kick in the pants [the series] needed" after "fizzling somewhat with Borderlands 3." That's high praise, right? Even other outlets agree it's a step in the right direction, even if it's not perfect.

But here's where it gets interesting. GameSpot noted that Borderlands 4 fixing its predecessor's issues also works "to its detriment." They said, "Borderlands 4 is cranked so far in the other direction that the resulting game feels like a strange imitation of the series." Ouch. So, is it possible to overcorrect? Maybe. But from what I've seen, the core looter-shooter gameplay is still intact and satisfying, so I'm willing to forgive a little identity crisis.

The Villain Problem: Timekeeper vs. Handsome Jack

Let's talk about the elephant in the room: the antagonist. Borderlands 3 gave us the Twins, who were widely considered annoying and cringey. Borderlands 4 introduces The Timekeeper. According to GamesRadar, "The Timekeeper is a very safe antagonist – which is an improvement upon Borderlands 3's actively abrasive Twins, but still rather dull." So, not a home run, but at least he's not actively hated.

GameSpot added that "Borderlands 4 seems to do everything in its power to make sure that its characters cannot be hated." Is that a good thing? Well, after the Twins, maybe a safe, inoffensive villain is exactly what the series needed. It's like they said, "Let's not make everyone mad this time." And honestly, I'll take dull over grating any day.

Open World and Gameplay: The Real Star

The big advancement here is the open-world design. Reviews are celebrating it as a high point. I've always loved the semi-open areas of previous games, but a full open world? That sounds like a dream. The gameplay is making significant strides, and many reviewers note that the series' typically irreverent humor comes out in the side content, while the main story is a bit more dramatic. That balance might be the key to pleasing both old-school fans and newcomers.

Is It the Best in the Series?

Screen Rant's assertion that it's the best game in the series is particularly interesting, since Borderlands 2 has reigned supreme since 2012. Handsome Jack is a tough act to follow. The Timekeeper doesn't appear to be Handsome Jack-level compelling, but the gameplay iteration seems to have picked up the slack. So, can a game with a "safe" story and a "dull" villain still be the best? If the gameplay is that good, absolutely.

Let's break down the pros and cons as I see them based on the reviews:

Pros ✅
Cons ❌

Open-world design is a delight
Story is safe and unremarkable

Gameplay improvements are significant
Villain is dull compared to Handsome Jack

Humor is back in side content
Main story takes itself more seriously (could be good or bad)

Fixes many of Borderlands 3's issues
Overcorrection makes it feel like an imitation at times

My Take: Cautiously Optimistic

As a longtime fan, I'm excited. It sounds like Borderlands 4 is a hit, taking significant strides and making a concerted effort to fix its predecessor's issues. Will it dethrone Borderlands 2 in my heart? Only time will tell. But for now, I'm just happy that Gearbox seems to be listening to the fans. What do you think? Are you ready to dive back into Pandora (or wherever this one takes place)? Let me know in the comments!

🎮 So there you have it. Borderlands 4 might not be perfect, but it's a massive step in the right direction. And after the misstep of Borderlands 3, that's exactly what the series needed. Whether you're a veteran Vault Hunter or a newcomer, it sounds like there's plenty to love here. I know I'll be jumping back in.

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My Painful Journey Through Silksong's High Halls to the Conductor's Melody

Hollow Knight: Silksong High Halls guide details secrets, Clawline use, and mastering the brutal Conductor's Melody arena.

As I neared the end of Hollow Knight: Silksong, I found myself chasing the last of the three melodies needed to reach The Cradle. And of course, it was the Conductor's Melody that stood between me and the finale. Getting there meant surviving the High Halls and one of the most brutal enemy wave arenas I've ever faced—harder, in my opinion, than most dedicated boss fights in the game. So here's how I did it.

Accessing the High Halls

You reach the High Halls through the Choral Chambers. Exit out the top left side of the map, but don't bother unless you have the Clawline (grappling hook) ability. Trust me, you literally cannot explore this area without it. And if you want all the secrets, I'd also wait until you have the Faydown Cloak (double jump). I learned that the hard way.

High Halls Walkthrough + Secrets

After climbing the grappling hooks, you enter an area with a cascading stream running downward. Your goal is to go against the current. Stay out of the water by grappling and avoid enemies. The first foe is a sword-wielding bug called a Maestro with three little minions circling him. Jump attack between their gaps and leap over the minions he throws.

Next, you enter a room where you can either rise up via a rotating grapple or float down while popping into each room. The bottom room has a shard cluster—nothing special—so head up. You'll meet a floating enemy called a Minister. These are deadly and can deal two masks of damage if you get caught in their flurry. Use ranged tools if you have them, or aggro them, wait for their attack to end, then pogo a few times and repeat.

At the top, there's an exit that needs double jump. If you have it, check it out—it's a rough platforming sequence where you fight two Ministers while grappling up. Survive and you'll get a Spool Fragment. After that, drop back and head right to ascend further upstream. Fight another Maestro, but when two Ministers pop up, ignore them and gun for the exit on the right.

This takes you to an area where you can go up or down. Up leads to a chest full of Rosaries, so poke around quickly. Then carefully use your Drifter's Cloak to float down through gaps in the spikes below. Latch onto grapples and hang there to reveal gaps and gradually find a path down. You'll come to a room on the left—head inside.

Inside, there's a workbench where you can craft the Cogfly Tool if you have Craftmetal. This spawns little minions of your own in battle. It has a high shard cost but is very effective. After that, drop down the running waterfall and jump through to reveal a secret path. It has a shard cluster, but an enemy spawns in a tight space, so skip it if your health is low.

Head back out to the left and keep floating down. Avoid the enemy outside if you didn't kill them—they won't follow. Once you navigate the spikes, go into the left room to find a Frayed Rosary String in a giant baby stroller. Then head back out and down to find a Ventrica Station (unlock for 80 Rosaries) and a bench. You can also buy a map for 70 Rosaries.

The only unexplored area is the far end of the hall to your left. There's a shortcut back to the Choral Chamber, and further along is the battle arena from hell that stands between you and the Conductor's Melody. Good luck.

Preparing for the Conductor's Battle Arena

You could go in blind, but you'll have a bad time unless you prepare. None of this is essential, but it helps massively. Here's the Crest and Tool setup I used:

Slot
Tool
Why

Crest
Crest of the Reaper
Passively collect silk more consistently → heal more often

Red
Weavelight
Synergy with Reaper for silk generation

Blue
Warding Bell
Safety net when you can't heal

Yellow
Scuttlebrace
Extra maneuverability (interchangeable)

Yellow
Ascendant's Grip
Key for final phase—hang on walls indefinitely

Yellow
Threefold Pin
Great for crowd control each wave

Yellow
Cogfly
Passive damage from safety toward the end

The Ascendant's Grip is crucial. The mini-bosses can't hit you when you're hanging on the wall, giving you time to regroup and harpoon to safety.

How to Get the Conductor's Melody (Wave by Wave)

Okay, let's walk through this hell one wave at a time.

Wave 1: Envoy + two Reeds

Take out the flying enemies first by continuously pogoing in the air, then kill the Envoy between charge attacks. You can clear this without touching the ground.

Wave 2: Two Choristors

Their thread attack hits for two masks. Pogo when safe, but if they wind up for a stronger attack, dash across the room.

Wave 3: Reed, Bellbearer, Clawmaiden

Prioritize the Clawmaiden—it steals your silk and healing. Heal or use a silk skill immediately to avoid waste. Watch for bouncing bells from the Bellbearer.

Wave 4: Two Ministers

You know these from the High Halls, but now you have a solid floor. Take your time, carve openings, and don't pogo too much—they're more dangerous in the air. When one dies, a Clawmaiden appears. Use your silk and kill it fast.

Wave 5: Two Maestro minions

Focus one and clear it fast while watching for Cogfly attacks from the other side. Then the leftover is easy.

Mini-Boss 1: Choir Clapper

This hulking beast has four attacks: a slam that creates a light bubble AOE, a slam that creates a pulsing ground wave, a standard slam, and a jumping slam. The standard slam is most dangerous—harpoon or sprint away immediately. Use walls to avoid the bubble, hop toward them for the ground pulse and get a few hits, and when they jump, dash below and hit from behind. Practice makes perfect.

Wave 6: Two Reeds + one Bellbearer

Nothing new. Take the Bellbearer out first to avoid stray bells.

Wave 7: Two Bellbearers + one Reed

Same strategy. A Clawmaiden will pop in—kill it as fast as it appears.

Wave 8: Bellbearer + two Ministers

Take out the Bellbearer fast, then the Ministers are trivial on the ground.

Wave 9: Reed + Maestro

Use your Threefold Pin to kill the Reed fast, then deal with the Cogfly enemy.

Final Phase: Two mini-bosses together

This is a nightmare. Spam all your weapon tools immediately, then get to the top of the screen and hang on the wall. Use your grapple hook to reach the safest side, get a few hits, then climb the other wall and repeat. Once you clear one, come down and fight the other like the first mini-boss. Survive this, and you've cleared the arena.

Easier said than done, but I believe in you. The Conductor's Melody is worth every drop of sweat. 🎮💀

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How I Triggered the Trail's End Quest in Silksong: A Player's Guide

Trigger Hollow Knight Silksong's Trail's End quest with Shakra in Bilewater and earn the Throwing Ring.

I still remember the frustration of wandering through Bellhart's Wish Board, staring at empty slots, wondering why Shakra's plea for help never showed up. But after hours of trial and error, I finally triggered the Trail's End quest in Hollow Knight: Silksong — and let me tell you, the reward is absolutely worth it. If you're stuck like I was, here's exactly how I did it, step by step.

What Is the Trail's End Quest?

Trail's End is a Wayfarer-type quest, much like the My Missing Brother quest. Shakra, the wandering warrior, is searching for her master, and she asks Hornet — that's you — to meet her in the sewers near the Citadel, also known as Bilewater. Completing it rewards you with Shakra's gratitude and a powerful tool: the Throwing Ring. Sounds simple, right? But triggering it? That's where things get tricky.

How to Trigger the Quest

First things first: you need to grab the quest from the Wish Board in Bellhart. Of course, the Bellhart curse must be removed for the board to display any available quests, and you can only pick it up in Act 2. But what if the Trail's End quest just won't appear? I ran into that exact problem. Here's what solved it for me:

Locate Shakra and purchase all the map pieces if you haven't already. This is crucial — she won't offer the quest if you haven't bought her maps.

Complete the first and second batches of wishes already on the board. The game seems to gate new quests behind your progress.

Try acquiring some Melodies, like the Architect's and Vaultkeeper's, after defeating the Cogwork Dancers boss. I grabbed both, and the quest popped up shortly after.

Meeting Shakra in Bilewater

Once the quest is active, Shakra asks you to meet her in Bilewater to finally find her master. She can be found under a waterfall in the northeast part of Bilewater, along a path that only unlocks during the Trail's End quest. If you've already obtained the Key of Apostate by climbing Bilewater to reach Putrified Ducts, you're in luck — it's the exact same route. For those who haven't, start from the area's Bellway and go up, then turn right. You'll spot one of Shakra's rings, which Hornet can use to track the warrior's trail.

Step-by-Step Path (From My Own Playthrough)

Head right across the swamp into a long vertical room. Another ring appears here.

Use the double jump to go up, and use the vertical platforms to shield Hornet from enemy attacks. Climb higher to the room on the right.

Keep going in the same direction until another vertical room appears. Take advantage of the green bulbs and enemies to push yourself up with the clawline skill, landing on the higher left platform.

Use the same technique to go up towards the path that unlocks through the Trail's End quest, and cling to the wall.

Proceed forward along the path until you reach the waterfall where Shakra is with her master.

Here's a quick summary table I made for myself:

Step
Action
Tip

1
Grab quest from Bellhart Wish Board
Remove curse first, Act 2 only

2
Buy all map pieces from Shakra
Don't skip this!

3
Complete first two wish batches
Progress gates

4
Defeat Cogwork Dancers, get Melodies
Architect's & Vaultkeeper's

5
Follow rings in Bilewater
Use clawline & double jump

6
Reach waterfall, meet Shakra
Quest complete!

Why Bother? The Reward

After all that climbing, jumping, and dodging, you finally reach the waterfall. Shakra is there with her master, and the quest completes. Your reward? The Throwing Ring — a powerful tool that I've been using ever since. It's a game-changer for ranged combat, especially against flying enemies. Was it worth the headache of triggering the quest? Absolutely. 🎉

Final Thoughts

Silksong doesn't always make its quest triggers obvious. The Trail's End quest is a perfect example: you need the right map pieces, the right wish progress, and even specific Melodies. But once you know the steps, it's a breeze. So, have you triggered Trail's End yet? If not, what are you waiting for? Grab that quest, head to Bilewater, and give Shakra a hand. Trust me — you'll be glad you did.

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Whether you're filling the gap between Silksong sessions or finally clearing out your wishlist, it's worth checking what's on offer before you buy. A quick look at DealNest can save you enough to justify picking up that next adventure — no backtracking required.

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How I Beat Lumble the Lucky's Dice Game Every Time in Silksong

Beat Lumble the Lucky in Silksong's dice game with the 14-shake trick to earn Magnetite Dice, a tool that can negate damage.

Silksong is hard. Water is wet. The sky is blue. And I, a simple gamer with the reflexes of a sleepy grub, spent my first week getting absolutely folded by bugs that looked like they belonged in a plushie collection. Team Cherry even nerfed some early-game bosses after everyone screamed into the void, which was nice, but it did not stop me from walking into the Blasted Steps and immediately questioning my life choices. 🐛💀

The thing that eventually saved me was not skill. It was tools. Silksong gets a lot easier once you start building up Hornet's roster of tools, because they provide buffs, passive effects, and occasionally the kind of miracle that makes you whisper thank you to your screen. One of the best tools in the game has a chance of completely negating damage. Completely. As in, a boss hits you with a truck-sized attack and Hornet just shrugs. That tool is the Magnetite Dice. And getting it means beating Lumble the Lucky at his own dice game ten times. Ten. Times. 😵

Lumble the Lucky Is a Menace to My Wallet

A fair bit into your journey, you will reach the Blasted Steps. That is where you meet Lumble the Lucky, a stout bug who sits around waiting for someone to play dice with him. Hornet can be that someone. If you play normally, the result of your roll is completely random. You only know whether you won by Hornet's reaction after she throws the dice. That is already stressful, but here is the worse part: playing costs Rosaries, and you need ten wins to unlock Lumble's unique reward. Ten wins in a random dice game. My Rosary count wept. My patience packed its bags and left. 💸

The 14-Shake Trick That Saved My Sanity

Then I learned the cheese. According to the community, and later my own sweaty experimentation, you can guarantee a win by waiting until Hornet has shaken the dice exactly 14 times, then letting go at that precise moment. That is roughly four to five seconds of waiting, because the animation plays the same way every single time. It is not a myth. It is not a rumor born from one lucky night. It works. ⏱️🎲

Getting the timing down is a little tough. I missed it maybe five times before I found the rhythm. Then I won. Then I won again. Then I won ten times and felt like a genius who had outsmarted a fictional beetle. Here is the routine I used:

Step
What I did
Why it matters

1
Found Lumble in the Blasted Steps
He is waiting for a victim, I mean, a player

2
Started the dice game
It costs Rosaries, so focus

3
Watched Hornet shake the dice
Count every shake, not just the vibe

4
Released on shake number 14
This is the magic moment

5
Repeated ten times
Magnetite Dice, here I come

Magnetite Dice: The Reward for My Dice Crimes

Beating the dice game unlocks the Magnetite Dice. These dice have a chance of completely negating any damage Hornet takes. Fittingly, it is entirely luck-based and not guaranteed. But when it procs, it feels like the game itself blinked first. Against some of the truly tough late-game boss battles, that random save can be the difference between a triumphant scream and a defeated sigh. It is one of the best tools in Silksong, and I will die on that hill. Probably to a boss, but still. 🎲✨

A 2026 Check-In: Does the Cheese Still Work?

As of 2026, Silksong has had plenty of patches, plenty of discourse, and plenty of players discovering new ways to suffer. The 14-shake trick remains a beloved community shortcut. I have not heard of Team Cherry removing it, and honestly, I hope they never do. Some cheeses are not bugs. They are emergency snacks. 🧀

Should You Feel Bad About Cheesing Lumble?

No. Absolutely not. Silksong is a game that will happily kick you down a well, steal your lunch money, and then ask you to parry the well. If a dice minigame has a timing exploit, use it. Lumble is lucky. You are clever. That is fair. Besides, you are not cheating another player. You are cheating a fictional bug who probably has loaded dice anyway. Have you seen that guy's face? He knows something. 😤

So if you are stuck in the Blasted Steps, low on Rosaries, and dreaming of a tool that occasionally says no to damage, try the 14-shake method. Count. Breathe. Release. Win. Then go use your Magnetite Dice to survive whatever nightmare comes next. And if you miss the timing, well, at least you are not alone. We have all been out-lucked by a bug. 🐛🎲

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Hollow Knight: Silksong Twisted Bud Quest Guide: From Crying Bud to Witch Crest

Hollow Knight: Silksong Twisted Bud guide: find it in Bilewater, deliver it to Shellwood for the cursed Rite of Rebirth.

In the sprawling world of Hollow Knight: Silksong, few side quests are as bizarre and unsettling as the one involving the Twisted Bud. This living, crying item—yes, it actually cries every time the player opens their inventory, map, or quest log—sets off a chain of events that leads to dark rituals, a nasty curse, and ultimately a powerful reward. Even in 2026, with countless guides and patches, this quest remains a rite of passage for any serious player. So, how does one find this twisted little thing, and what exactly should be done with it? Let's break it down step by step.

Where to Find the Twisted Bud

First things first: the player must have reached Act 2 of the story or unlocked the Faydown Cloak in Mount Fay. While the cloak route is possible, it involves navigating poisonous lakes and tough enemies from Sinner's Road. A far easier path is to simply progress through Act 2 until reaching the Whispering Vaults. There, the player should find the first room with puzzle boxes, then strike the right wall near the ceiling with the Nail to reveal a secret passage. Inside, one can either grab a Memory Locket (highly recommended) or drop down to Bilewater.

Before descending, the player should rest on a Bench and convert all Rosaries into Rosary Strings—because the plan is to grab the bud and then deliberately die to escape Bilewater quickly. Equipping the red tool Cogfly helps with flying enemies. Once in Bilewater, the player should follow the left path until dropping into an area with multiple routes. The player should keep going left as far as possible, hitting walls to reveal secret passages. Eventually, the player will reach a dead-end room where a baby's desperate crying can be heard. Follow that sound to collect the Twisted Bud. Then, let an enemy defeat the player to return to the last Bench. Now, the player can check the menu: the bud will cry constantly, and it looks like something straight out of Bloodborne.

What to Do With the Twisted Bud

With the bud in inventory, the player should fast-travel to Bellhart, rest on the Bench, and again ensure no Rosaries are carried—convert them into Rosary Strings if needed. While in Bellhart, the player should talk to Pavo; he offers valuable lore about these living buds, explaining they were once common in Shellwood and used as offerings in dark rituals. After that, the player should head straight to Greyroot's cabin in Shellwood. However, this requires having completed her earlier quest, "Rite of the Pollip," which involves finding six Pollip Hearts in the region. Without that done, she won't accept the Twisted Bud.

Once the bud is delivered, the player should accept the "Rite of Rebirth" quest and brace for one of the weirdest cutscenes in the game. Shortly after, Hornet appears in a new, dark area within Shellwood, now cursed: she cannot heal, and her Crest and tools are gone. But fear not—this is temporary. The player should go all the way left to leave the dark area, then head up to find a shortcut leading to one of Shellwood's main bottom areas. From there, the player should walk right to reach Bellhart again, and use fast travel to Greymoor, where a doctor named Yanarby awaits.

How to Find Yanarby

In Greymoor, the player must locate Yanarby, a doctor exiled from Bellhart for her "strange methods." Her house sits on the upper western side of Greymoor, near where one first meets Garmond. From the fast-travel area, the player should go left until reaching a room inside the main structure filled with scissor-wielding enemies, moving platforms, and rats. The player should make their way up and enter the last room on the left. There, an area with vegetation and a bell enemy appears. The player should keep walking left to find Yanarby's house. Talk to her, explain Hornet's situation, and after some dialogue, accept the "Infestation Operation" quest.

How to Complete Infestation Operation Quest

Once the quest is accepted, the player should head straight to Sinner's Road. The player should go to the Halfway Home tavern, use the elevator, and climb the platforms until reaching the entrance. Rest on the Bench, then visit Benjin and Crull's cabin—the same duo who offer the cockroach guts quest. They have the item Yanarby needs, but they won't hand it over for free; the price is 260 Rosaries. This is where those Rosary Strings come in handy. If more Rosaries are needed, the player should return to Greymoor and farm enemies there, as they drop plenty of coins and the area is easier than Sinner's Road (especially since healing is disabled). After paying, the player should immediately return to Yanarby's house to watch Hornet finally get rid of those horrible tentacles.

The Infestation Operation Quest Rewards

Completing this quest does more than just remove the curse. It unlocks the Witch Crest, which grants Hornet sweeping swings reminiscent of a whip and allows her to drain life from enemies through twisted roots. This crest introduces a playstyle centered on unleashing a devastating attack with the Silk Bind, and it permits equipping three blue tools and two red ones. For many players, the Witch Crest becomes a favorite, offering a fresh way to approach combat.

To summarize the entire quest chain, here's a quick table:

Step
Location
Action

1
Whispering Vaults → Bilewater
Find and collect Twisted Bud

2
Bellhart → Shellwood
Talk to Pavo, deliver bud to Greyroot

3
Shellwood → Greymoor
Escape curse, find Yanarby

4
Sinner's Road
Buy item from Benjin and Crull for 260 Rosaries

5
Greymoor
Return to Yanarby, complete quest, get Witch Crest

So, is the Twisted Bud worth the trouble? Absolutely. Despite the crying, the curse, and the backtracking, the Witch Crest alone makes it one of the most rewarding side quests in Silksong. And in 2026, with the game's community still thriving, this quest remains a shared experience that every hunter should undertake. Just remember: no Rosaries, bring Cogfly, and don't panic when the bud starts wailing. 😉

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How I Unlocked Jubilana: The Wandering Merchant Wish in Silksong

Complete the Wandering Merchant wish in Hollow Knight: Silksong by finding Jubilana in Choral Chambers and unlocking Songclave.

I still remember the moment I dropped into Choral Chambers in Hollow Knight: Silksong. It was 2026, long after the game's release, and I was replaying Act Two on a fresh save. The golden halls hummed with danger, my needle felt under-upgraded, and I had one stubborn goal: complete the Wandering Merchant wish. I had heard it unlocked Jubilana, a trader with high-tier goods in Songclave, and I was not going to skip her.

The wish itself does not appear until Songclave exists. That is the first trap. You cannot simply wander into Choral Chambers and expect Jubilana to be waiting. You need to reach Act Two and beat the Last Judge to enter the Citadel. Before the main stretch of Choral Chambers, you must pass through the Underworks. By the time I stumbled out of those pipes and into the choir-lit city, I was already bruised. But the route was clear enough: head all the way to the right edge of Choral Chambers, climb upward, and look for an open space at the top.

There, I found the entrance to the First Shrine. Inside, I used my Silk Skills to clear away the thick silk blocking the way. The moment the last strand snapped, the Shrine opened and became Songclave. It felt like a small victory before the real hunt began. Outside the shrine, a wishboard waited. I took the Wandering Merchant request from it, and the objective appeared on my screen with a simple, tantalizing hint: find Jubilana, last seen in the bottom parts of Choral Chambers.

So I set off. The route to Jubilana is not long, but it is easy to overshoot if you are impatient. I started at the Choral Chambers bellway on the bottom right side. From the bellway, I exited to the vertical area on the left and began climbing. The first exit on my left looked tempting. I ignored it. Instead, I took the second exit as I went up. Then I kept moving left until I reached another large vertical area.

Here is where I nearly got lost. In that second vertical shaft, you want to go directly left and take the first exit you see. That exit leads to a small room with a dead end. It looks like a mistake at first. It is not. Two enemies guard the space. I defeated them both, and then I talked to Jubilana. The wish completed, and she was safe.

That was not quite the end of my curiosity, though. One of Jubilana's wares sits high up in that vertical area, and at first glance it looks like a double-jump puzzle. In 2026, most players know the trick, but I still enjoy it: bring a flying enemy close to that spot and downward strike it. The bounce launches you high enough to reach the ledge. It is a classic Silksong moment, turning a movement limitation into a combat opportunity.

After saving Jubilana, I returned to Songclave and found her selling her wares near the First Shrine. Seeing her set up shop was satisfying. She offers high-tier items, and for a mid-Act Two player, her stock can change how you approach the next few bosses. I picked up what I could afford and immediately felt stronger.

If I were giving advice to my past self, I would put it in a short checklist:

Step
What to do

1
Beat the Last Judge and enter the Citadel in Act Two.

2
Pass through the Underworks and reach Choral Chambers.

3
Go to the right edge, climb up, and enter the First Shrine.

4
Use Silk Skills to clear the silk and create Songclave.

5
Take the Wandering Merchant wish from the wishboard outside.

6
Start at the bottom-right Choral Chambers bellway.

7
Exit left into the vertical area and climb.

8
Ignore the first left exit; take the second.

9
Keep left to the next big vertical area.

10
Take the first left exit into the dead-end room.

11
Defeat the two enemies and talk to Jubilana.

12
Return to Songclave to shop near the First Shrine.

What I love about this wish is how much it rewards attention. It is not a boss fight. It is not a massive dungeon. It is a test of whether you have learned to read Choral Chambers. The bellway, the vertical shafts, the false dead end, the flying enemy trick—all of it feels like a compact lesson in Silksong's design. And the payoff is a merchant who stays with you.

In 2026, with so many guides and route maps available, it is easy to reduce a quest like this to a checklist. But I still recommend doing it slowly. Let yourself get turned around. Fight the two guards with your current build. Try the downward strike trick even if you have already unlocked double jump. The Wandering Merchant wish is short, but it captures everything I enjoy about Hollow Knight: Silksong: exploration, danger, and the quiet relief of finding a friendly face in a hostile city.

If you are stuck, remember the core path: Songclave first, wishboard second, bottom-right bellway third, dead-end room last. Save Jubilana, and she will be waiting near the First Shrine, ready to sell you the tools you need for whatever horror comes next. 🗡️

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It is a small thing, but it fits the same instinct this whole quest rewards: paying attention. You learned to read Choral Chambers instead of brute-forcing it, and you can read a store page the same way—know when a discount is real, know when to wait, know when to buy. DealNest just makes that part a little less tedious.

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Silksong Guide: Reaching Wisp Thicket and Defeating Father of the Flame

Wisp Thicket in Silksong: unlock the hidden Greymoor route, then beat Father of the Flame with this boss guide.

As of 2026, Wisp Thicket remains one of Hollow Knight: Silksong's most talked-about side destinations, a lantern-lit appendix to Greymoor that only opens after the player has pushed deep into the second act. It is not a place Hornet can simply stumble into during an early expedition. The area demands a specific movement upgrade, a difficult climb, and a boss fight that turns ordinary combat instincts upside down.

Prerequisites and Route to Wisp Thicket

The first requirement is the Double Jump ability, which is found atop Mount Fay. Mount Fay is a vertical gauntlet stitched from frost and impatience. Most sections are timed by exposure to cold winds, and Hornet will lose health if she lingers too long. Benches along the climb make the ascent far more manageable and can save considerable time. Players should also bring Rosaries to buy the map from Shakra and to unlock the first bench.

Once Double Jump is secured, the route continues through Greymoor. Hornet must head left toward the tower near the Bellway Station, climb all the way up, and exit through the passage on the right. That leads to a second tower. The player must climb again and this time exit through the left passage. This places Hornet in an area with numerous flying enemies and spikes below.

Fans must be activated repeatedly while crossing the gap. When the player reaches the section that allows upward movement, a Double Jump area leads to Wisp Thicket. Spikes are present, but Hornet can pogo off the ball and head right toward the bench. The bench serves as the main checkpoint for the area and the natural staging point for the boss.

Finding the boss is straightforward from there. From the bench, Hornet heads left and pogos the ball through the passage. An enemy shooting flame projectiles appears, and these projectiles home in on Hornet's location, so caution is required. Further left, past the fire brazier and a climbing section, another enemy waits. Immediately after it, two balls can be used to pogo left, and the boss arena comes into view.

A fast runback route is also available. The player can jump and clawline past the first enemy, swim through the water to avoid the brazier, and then jump and clawline past the second enemy. This route reduces the risk of losing health before the fight begins.

Father of the Flame Boss Guide

The Father of the Flame is less a duel than a demolition puzzle wrapped in a furnace. The boss's main body does not take damage from Hornet's needle attacks. Instead, the player must aim for the flame braziers hanging on the boss. There are four braziers, and each one can absorb multiple hits before breaking.

While Hornet attacks the braziers, the boss summons flame orbs that track movement and deal two masks of damage. The Magma Bell should be equipped for this fight because it reduces fire damage to one mask. However, it takes a few seconds to recharge after each hit, so players cannot rely on it endlessly.

A reliable strategy is to jump over a brazier and begin pogoing downward. After two or three down slashes, Hornet must jump away to avoid the projectile. As more braziers are destroyed, the boss starts spawning two fire orbs that shoot one after the other, leaving less time between attacks. Once all braziers are down, the second phase begins. Hornet must then aim for the caged fire in the middle while continuing to avoid the fire orbs.

Occasionally, the boss lets out a roar followed by multiple projectiles in all directions. During this attack, the best response is to stop attacking and focus entirely on dodging. When the boss is defeated, the player can collect the Wispfire Lantern Tool from its body.

Alternative Tools and Tactics

Players who struggle with the pogo method have a simpler option. The Delver's Drill Tool, found at the bottom of the Underworks near the entrance, can be used directly on top of a brazier. It destroys the brazier relatively quickly, and the animation can be canceled at any time to dodge incoming attacks. The same strategy works in the second phase, though the Drill goes straight down the middle, so damage must be applied little by little.

Other useful tools include:

Tool
Use

Sting Shards
Aim for the head during the second phase

Threefold Pin
Wide area makes it likely to connect

Magnetite Dice
Acquired from Lumble after winning a dice game; low trigger chance, but can prevent health loss

These options do not replace the core lesson of the fight, but they soften its edges. The Father of the Flame rewards patience, positioning, and a willingness to stop attacking when the arena becomes a storm of tracking projectiles.

What Else Is There to Do in Wisp Thicket

After the boss fight, Wisp Thicket still has more to offer. From the bench, Hornet can head right and encounter fire braziers that shoot homing flame projectiles. The player must climb all the way to the top, where a Bone Scroll can be found. That scroll can be sold to Relic Seeker Scrounge in Bellhart for Rosaries.

Further right, another platforming section awaits. This one rewards a Mask Shard, making it well worth the effort. To the left of the bench, just before the boss, a climbing section leads up to an area with a Craftmetal on the right. The path above leads to the bottom part of the Underworks.

Because Wisp Thicket sits very close to Greymoor, players can also descend and head right to find a path to Sinner's Road. That route connects to a much larger network of locations to the right, making Wisp Thicket a useful junction rather than a dead end.

For 2026 players revisiting Silksong or pushing through its second act for the first time, Wisp Thicket is a compact example of the game's design philosophy. It hides a demanding route, an unusual boss, and several meaningful rewards behind a single ability gate. The climb to Mount Fay tests endurance. The fight against the Father of the Flame tests adaptability. The rewards, from the Wispfire Lantern Tool to the Mask Shard and Craftmetal, make the detour more than worthwhile.

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Whether you’re restocking your backlog or looking for something to play between Silksong sessions, checking a dedicated deals hub first can keep your library growing without draining your wallet.

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Hell is Us: The Great Game That 2025 Buried (And I'm Still Sad About It)

Hell is Us, a grimdark semi-open-world action game, was crushed by Hollow Knight: Silksong's same-day 2025 launch. Horrible timing, brilliant game.

Ever shown up to a party only to realize you're wearing the same outfit as the host, but the host is a literal rockstar and everyone is screaming their name? That's basically Hell is Us in 2025. I played it, I loved it, and then I watched Hollow Knight: Silksong drop on the exact same day and absolutely obliterate the internet. Now it's 2026, and I'm still here, nursing a grudge and a save file. 😤

Hell is Us is Rogue Factor's greatest creative leap so far. It's a grimdark, semi-open-world action game that refuses to hold your hand. No map markers? Check. No quest arrows? Check. Just you, a weird drone, and a world that wants you dead. It's the kind of game that makes you feel smart when you figure something out, and then immediately stupid when you walk into an ambush. But that's the charm. It rejects traditional open-world design with passion and panache, as the reference article says. And I agree. It's respectable and fascinating.

But here's the thing: 2025 was an absurdly packed year. Every month felt like a new blockbuster. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2? Great, but forgotten. Death Stranding 2? Wild. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33? A masterpiece. And then there's Hell is Us, a brand-new IP with no established fanbase, launching into a hurricane. I'm not saying it's a tragedy, but it's definitely a 'what if' scenario.

Now, let's talk about the elephant in the room: Horizon. Remember Horizon Zero Dawn? Gorgeous game, new IP, launched five days before The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Five days! And then Horizon Forbidden West launched a week before Elden Ring. A week! Talk about bad timing. Here's a handy table:

Game
Release Date
Competitor
Competitor's Release Date

Horizon Zero Dawn
Feb 28, 2017
Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Mar 3, 2017

Horizon Forbidden West
Feb 18, 2022
Elden Ring
Feb 25, 2022

Hell is Us
Sep 4, 2025
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Sep 4, 2025

Notice a pattern? Hell is Us didn't just compete with Silksong; it shared the same birthday. And Silksong wasn't just popular—it literally broke Steam. I tried to buy it on launch day and got stuck in a queue longer than my morning commute. Meanwhile, Hell is Us was sitting there, looking cool, but nobody had time.

The real kicker? Hell is Us and Silksong appeal to the same demographic. We're talking grimdark, semi-open-world, no hand-holding, 'figure it out yourself' energy. If you love Silksong's obtuse Metroidvania structure and labyrinthine world design, you're probably the target audience for Hell is Us. But if you bounce off Silksong, you're not going to suddenly love Hell is Us. So there's no 'well, I'll just play the other one' escape hatch. It's a direct collision.

So where does that leave us in 2026? Hell is Us is a good game. Not a masterpiece, but an 8/10 that tries something different. It's not perfect—I could complain about the combat for hours—but it's memorable. And the Horizon games eventually found a strong foothold despite their stiff competition. Maybe Hell is Us can do the same. Maybe in a year or two, people will discover it on sale, or through word of mouth, and realize they missed out.

Or maybe it'll just be that game that got crushed by Silksong. Either way, I'm glad I played it. And hey, if you're one of the few who skipped Silksong (are you okay?), give Hell is Us a shot. It's weird, it's frustrating, and it's got a drone that beeps at you. What more do you want? 🤖

If you're planning to circle back to a game like this months later, timing the purchase can be almost as tricky as the game itself. Prices bounce between storefronts, regional discounts pop up without warning, and a good sale can disappear in a day.

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Hollow Knight: Silksong Guides That Saved My Shell in 2026

Hollow Knight: Silksong boss guides and map tips help players conquer this challenging, thrilling Metroidvania sequel.

I still remember telling everyone I’d mastered Hollow Knight. Then Hollow Knight: Silksong came along in 2025, and by 2026 it has officially become my favorite kind of humiliation. This game is a thrilling follow-up to the indie smash, but it is also a much tougher evolution of the formula. Even if you breezed through the first game without many issues, you will likely find yourself stuck on some challenges here. I know I did. So I pulled together the guide topics that actually helped me push forward, from brutal bosses to cryptic hunts, and I’ll keep this hub updated as the community discovers more. Grab your needle, sit by a Bellhart bench, and let’s talk about the parts that made me want to throw my controller—and then pick it back up. 🐝

Boss Guides ⚔️

Not every boss in Silksong is likely to trip you up, but things start intensifying toward the end of Act 1. That’s when the training wheels come off and the game asks whether you really understand Hornet’s mobility. The Last Judge is the wall I hit hardest. Between the runback and the actual fight, I lost an embarrassing amount of time. If you’re there too, check out video and tips for the runback in the Last Judge guide, which can save you a lot of time on one of the game’s trickiest platforming segments. Trust me, the shortcut alone is worth it.

I also learned that boss attempts go better when I stop treating every death as a skill issue. Sometimes I was missing a tool, a crest, or a simple timing read. Sometimes I just needed to sleep on it. The guide collection covers the community’s most-asked boss questions, so if you’re stuck on a specific fight, start there before you burn out.

Map Guides 🗺️

True to the Metroidvania genre, Silksong areas can be convoluted. It doesn’t help when they’re also full of challenging pogo jumps and environmental hazards that can make every step of exploration a threat. I’ve gotten lost in ways that felt almost artistic. My map guides for Hunter’s March and Bilewater will get you through two of the most infamous locations in the game, and my guide to the Slab explains how to access and escape a mid-to-late-game area as early as Act 1.

If you’re like me, you’ll try to brute-force your way through Hunter’s March and then wonder why your rosaries are gone. Don’t do that. Use the maps. Bilewater is another place where the environment is the real boss. The Slab, meanwhile, is a detour that can pay off early if you’re brave—or foolish—enough to poke around before the game expects you to.

Location Guides 🧭

Silksong’s quests, known as Wishes, task Hornet with tracking down all manner of objects. In some situations, you should also hunt out things that haven’t been requested, like the Silkeater Grubs that can end up saving some of your precious rosaries from being lost forever. I ignored them at first, and I paid for it. If you’re tired of traversing Shellwood to find the last Pollip Heart or listening for the sounds of Lost Fleas across the lands, these guides are for you.

What I love about this part of the game is how much it rewards curiosity. A random corner can hide a quest item, a hidden bench, or a NPC who changes everything. What I don’t love is combing the same room for the tenth time because I missed a ledge. So when I say the location guides are useful, I mean they respect your time without flattening the adventure.

Key Upgrades and Unlocks 💉

Whenever you’re hard stuck on something in Silksong, there’s a decent chance that an available upgrade could help out. They aren’t always easy to find, though. Seeking out the first needle upgrade or swapping out your crest can turn a boss fight from a nightmare into a manageable affair, so it’s worth making sure you’re always up-to-date. Pinmaster Plinney is one of those characters you should visit the moment you can. I put off a needle upgrade once, and the next boss made me feel like I was tapping the enemy with a spoon.

Crests are another rabbit hole. I stuck with one for too long because it felt safe, then switched and suddenly had the tools I needed. If a fight feels impossible, ask yourself: is this a skill problem, or is my build just wrong for this room?

Quick Guide Checklist 🏁

Problem
What I Check First

Boss keeps winning
Runback shortcuts, crest swap, needle upgrade

Lost in a region
Hunter’s March, Bilewater, or Slab map guide

Missing quest item
Pollip Heart, Lost Fleas, Silkeater Grubs

Low rosaries
Silkeater Grubs and safer exploration routes

Feeling weak
Pinmaster Plinney and available needle upgrades

Final Thoughts

Even in the best scenario, triumphing over Hollow Knight: Silksong’s ordeals won’t be easy. With the right guides at your side, however, you can see Hornet through all the way to the end. In 2026, I’m still playing, still dying, and still finding new reasons to love this beautiful, punishing sequel. If you’re stuck, you’re not alone. Take a breath, check the guide for the wall you’re facing, and get back in there. Hornet wouldn’t quit, and neither should you.

Once the credits roll, though, the itch doesn’t really go away — it just changes shape. You start hunting for the next punishing metroidvania, the next soulslike that will humble you all over again, and that hunt usually comes with a price tag attached. I’ve learned the hard way that paying full price for every game I’m curious about adds up fast, especially when half of them sit untouched while I’m still chasing one last collectible in something else.

That’s why I keep [game deals today]( bookmarked on DealNest. It’s a simple way to see what’s currently discounted before committing, so the next obsession costs a little less and the backlog stays a bit more affordable. If you’re the type who finishes one game and immediately needs another, it’s worth a look.

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McDonald’s China’s Black Myth: Wukong Mid-Autumn Feast Still Wows Fans in 2026

McDonald’s China and Black Myth: Wukong fused Mid-Autumn Festival tradition with gaming culture in a unique, buzzworthy 2025 campaign.

McDonald’s China turned the 2025 Mid-Autumn Festival into a gamer’s dream, partnering with Game Science’s Black Myth: Wukong for a limited-time campaign that blended mooncakes, merchandise, and Monkey King mythology. More than a year later, as 2026 unfolds, the collaboration remains a standout example of how a fast-food giant can tap into a blockbuster video game’s cultural power. Was it simply a clever marketing stunt, or did it reveal something deeper about the global appetite for Chinese gaming icons? The answer, according to fans and industry observers, is a bit of both.

A Festival Meets a Blockbuster

Black Myth: Wukong launched in August 2024 and quickly became a phenomenon for Chinese studio Game Science. The action-adventure title, which retells the timeless epic of Sun Wukong, won Best Action-Adventure at The Game Awards and continued to capture hearts well into 2025. Its success opened doors for mainstream brand partnerships, and McDonald’s China walked right through one of them.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, a holiday that celebrates the fall harvest when the moon is at its largest and brightest, was the perfect backdrop. Families and friends gather to gaze at the harvest moon, bake mooncakes, and decorate their homes with lanterns. McDonald’s decided to give customers the best of both worlds: the warmth of tradition and the thrill of a AAA game.

The Limited-Time Menu

In mid-September 2025, promotional materials from McDonald’s China began circulating on social media. Posters showed Sun Wukong alongside a slew of special meal deals. The menu was as playful as it was ambitious.

Item
Category
Description

Golden Crispy Chicken Egg Mooncake
Mooncake
A savory-sweet twist on the classic festival pastry.

Cheese Double Beef Black Gold Mooncake
Mooncake
A rich, beefy take with a black-gold finish.

Crispy Shrimp Nuggets
Savory
Golden bites designed to pair with the theme.

Curly Fries with dipping sauce
Side
Sauce described as 'as golden as treasure.'

Autumn Osmanthus-flavored Sparkling Milk Tea
Drink
Floral, fizzy, and seasonal.

Golden Egg Yolk Big Luck Flavor McFlurry
Dessert
A lucky blend of creamy ice cream and salted egg yolk.

Sesame Lava Pie
Dessert
Packed with egg yolk filling for a molten center.

For dessert lovers, the Golden Egg Yolk Big Luck Flavor McFlurry and the Sesame Lava Pie offered a sweet finish. The Autumn Osmanthus-flavored Sparkling Milk Tea added a floral note that felt distinctly festive. Even the curly fries came with a dipping sauce marketed as 'as golden as treasure,' a clear nod to Wukong’s mythical staff and golden headband.

Merchandise That Made Fans Jealous

The food was only half the story. McDonald’s China also rolled out exclusive merchandise, including a double-sided velvet lounge robe embroidered with the Monkey King holding a burger on his head. Certain locations decorated their restaurants to match the game, and pop-up shops offered tote bags, T-shirts, pins, and more.

For Western fans, the campaign felt like a cruel tease. One user on X wrote, 'We never get cool stuff in America!' The sentiment was echoed across social media, where images of the robe, the mooncakes, and the themed restaurants went viral. It was not just a promotion; it was a cultural moment.

Why the Collaboration Worked

Why did this particular crossover resonate so strongly? First, Black Myth: Wukong was not just a game; it was a national point of pride and a global breakthrough. Second, the Mid-Autumn Festival provided a natural storytelling hook. Third, McDonald’s leaned into scarcity and spectacle, offering items that customers could not get anywhere else. The combination created urgency, shareability, and a sense of belonging for fans.

It also reflected a broader trend. This was the latest overseas collaboration from McDonald’s to go viral, following the fast-food chain’s announcement that it would finally bring back Monopoly in the United States after nearly a decade. Brands are increasingly looking to gaming and pop culture for fresh energy, and Chinese audiences are responding to campaigns that respect their traditions while celebrating their modern entertainment exports.

What Comes Next in 2026?

As 2026 progresses, Game Science is already working on its next mythos-inspired game, Black Myth: Zhong Kui. Could another fast-food giant attempt a similar crossover? Will McDonald’s China revisit the Wukong universe for a future festival, or will the original campaign remain a one-time lightning strike? Those questions remain open.

What is clear is that the 2025 Mid-Autumn collaboration set a high bar. It showed that a burger chain and a blockbuster game can meet in a space where mythology, food, and fandom overlap. For players who missed the robe, the mooncakes, or the golden fries, the memory still stings. For McDonald’s and Game Science, it was a masterclass in turning a holiday into a headline.

In the end, the campaign was more than a menu. It was a signal that Chinese gaming has become a cultural force big enough to shape mainstream retail, even after the initial launch buzz has faded. And as Black Myth: Zhong Kui approaches, the industry will be watching to see which brand steps up next.

The fervor around such crossovers often spills into how players engage with the games themselves. After seeing Wukong’s likeness on a burger box or a velvet robe, some who hadn’t yet picked up the title felt a fresh urge to explore its world—and for many, that meant hunting for a deal before diving in.

That’s where a resource like DealNest comes into play. As a hub for discounted game codes, it helps players track down the [cheapest steam keys]( for Black Myth: Wukong and a wide range of other PC titles. Whether you’re chasing the latest mythos or revisiting older favorites, checking a dedicated deal aggregator before checkout can turn a passing curiosity into an affordable adventure.

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Silksong Curveclaw Guide: Hunter's March Secret Vendor and Act 2 Backup Route

Get Hollow Knight: Silksong's Curveclaw from Mottled Skarr in Hunter's March, with Act 2 route changes explained.

As of 2026, I have replayed Hollow Knight: Silksong enough times to treat Pharloom like a second home, and the Curveclaw is still one of the most satisfying tools I can slot into a crest. It is not a flashy ultimate ability; it is a small, arched sharpbone that I throw like a boomerang, and it bounces off flying enemies with the kind of crisp, petty satisfaction that makes me grin every time. If you are tired of Skarr gnats and other aerial pests hovering just beyond my needle range, this is the tool you want. Here is exactly how I got it, both before and after the Act 2 changes. 🪃

The Pre-Act 2 Route: Drifter's Cloak First

Before I could even think about buying the Curveclaw, I needed mobility. The key prerequisite is the Drifter's Cloak, which I earned by completing the Flexile Spines quest in Far Fields. Without that cloak, the air currents in Hunter's March are more tease than traversal. Once I had the cloak, I headed to the area marked on my map. Hunter's March sits between Bone Marrow and Far Fields, so most players will pass through it naturally unless they detour through Deep Docks.

Using the air currents, I floated my way to the top and found the entrance to the cave of the secret vendor, Mottled Skarr. Inside, I spotted a few ropes with Shards sticking out of them. The trick here is simple but easy to miss: hug the left wall and jump a few times. That opens a secret passageway leading to the Hunter's March secret vendor. After a brief platforming section, I finally reached Mottled Skarr.

The secret passage is less a doorway than a rumor in the rock—a whisper I had to press my ear against. 🕯️

At the vendor, I could purchase a host of items, but the one I wanted was the Curveclaw for 140 Rosary Beads. The description only becomes readable after purchase. Once I equipped it while resting on a bench, I could throw an arched sharpbone at both flying and grounded enemies. It is a wonderful complement to normal attacks, especially when a flying enemy thinks it has found a safe altitude.

Step
What I Did
Why It Matters

1
Completed Flexile Spines in Far Fields
Earned Drifter's Cloak

2
Entered Hunter's March
Area between Bone Marrow and Far Fields

3
Rode air currents to the top
Reached the vendor cave entrance

4
Hugged the left wall and jumped
Opened the secret passageway

5
Bought Curveclaw for 140 Rosary Beads
Added the boomerang tool to my arsenal

Act 2: When Mottled Skarr Is Dead

If you have reached Act Two of Silksong and progressed past the Underworks into the Coral Chambers, you will find that Mottled Skarr is dead, killed by an unknown attacker. That sounds like a dead end, but it is not. I still got the Curveclaw, and I did not have to travel far.

By this point, I had the wall jump ability, Cling Grip, so I could access the cavern above. I simply exited the cave into the open and used the wall climb ability on the surface right above the cave entrance. From there, I reached the floating platform. Then I moved to the cave on the left, where Skarr forces ambushed me inside.

After defeating all the enemies, the locked area opened up. I picked up the Curveclaw to the left of the cave, strapped to a rope. The dead vendor is like a clock with its hands torn off—the shop still exists, but the hour of easy purchase has passed. ⏳

Why the Curveclaw Still Matters in 2026

Post-launch patches have not changed the core appeal of the Curveclaw. In 2026, it remains a reliable answer to flying enemies that would otherwise force me into awkward jumps or risky needle swings. The boomerang arcs like a fishing line cast into a storm, hooking winged enemies and dragging them back into my rhythm. 🎣

It also works on grounded foes, which makes it more flexible than a strictly anti-air tool. I like to weave it between normal attacks when a fight gets crowded. It is not going to replace your primary damage, but it fills a specific, annoying gap in Pharloom's combat puzzle.

Quick Checklist

🗺️ Find Hunter's March between Bone Marrow and Far Fields.

🧥 Get Drifter's Cloak from the Flexile Spines quest in Far Fields.

🌬️ Use air currents to reach the top and enter the vendor cave.

🧗 Hug the left wall inside and jump to reveal the secret passage.

💰 Buy Curveclaw from Mottled Skarr for 140 Rosary Beads before Act 2.

🪦 If Mottled Skarr is dead, use Cling Grip above the cave entrance.

⚔️ Clear the Skarr ambush in the left cave and grab the Curveclaw from the rope.

Final Thought

I have seen a lot of players panic when they discover Mottled Skarr's corpse in Act 2. I did too, briefly. But Silksong rarely punishes you without leaving a thread to pull. The Curveclaw is still obtainable, and in some ways the backup route feels more like a classic Hunter's March secret: a wall, a jump, an ambush, and a reward strapped to a rope. If you are building a tool loadout for the later acts, I would not skip it. 🪃

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Silksong Twisted Bud Quest Guide: Remove Parasite and Get Witch Crest

Silksong Twisted Bud guide: find it in Bilewater, give it to Greyroot, survive the parasite curse, and earn a powerful Crest.

In the sprawling, perilous world of Silksong, few quests are as infamous as the Twisted Bud chain. This seemingly innocuous item, once picked up, sets off a series of events that can leave Hornet infested with a parasite, stripping away her core abilities. But for those who persevere, the reward is a powerful new Crest. Here's everything you need to know about the Twisted Bud, from acquisition to removal.

Locating the Twisted Bud

To get the Twisted Bud, players must first reach Bilewater. While it's possible to enter via Sinner's Road early in the game, the recommended route is through the Whispering Vaults, as it drops you practically on top of the item's location.

Enter the Whispering Vaults and make your way to the far bottom-right corner. Drop down into Bilewater, then go right and drop down again. Immediately go left to enter a dark room filled with twisting vines. The Twisted Bud sits in the top-left corner of this room.

Upon picking it up, the Twisted Bud begins its incessant screeching. Every time you open the inventory menu, you'll hear it crying, even on other tabs. Highlighting it in your inventory triggers a shriek. It's not immediately obvious what to do with it, let alone how to silence the annoying noise.

Giving the Bud to Greyroot

The Twisted Bud is tied to Greyroot, a strange NPC living in a hidden hut on the left side of Shellwood. Before Greyroot will take the Twisted Bud off your hands, you must complete its first quest, the Rite of the Pollip.

After completing that, talk to Greyroot again. It will ask Hornet to assist in 'the final rite.' Accept the Rite of Rebirth quest and continue through its creepy dialogue. Suddenly, Greyroot lashes out, crushing Hornet as the screen fades to black.

By accepting the Rite of Rebirth, Hornet becomes cursed with a parasite that removes her ability to heal or equip Tools. This is a major commitment—expect to spend an hour or two completing the chain. However, there's a silver lining: if you finish the game while infested, you'll earn the Cursed achievement.

Escaping the Chapel of the Witch

After being infested, mash the attack button to break free from the roots trapping Hornet. She'll find herself in the Chapel of the Witch, but something is wrong—she's now a host to the Twisted Bud parasite, which completely changes her moveset, removes equipped Tools, and disables healing and Silk generation.

To get rid of the parasite, players must embark on a multi-area quest chain. From the chapel's start point, escape the dungeon, then head left and upward to reach the lower section of Shellwood. Immediately go back to Bellhart and enter the Bellway Station. Look for a breakable wall to the right of the Call spot, then enter it to drop down into the bell tunnels below.

Go left upon landing and you'll find a pipe with the Bell Hermit inside. This NPC is important for several quests and knows how to remove the parasite. Talk to him to learn about Yarnaby, a surgeon exiled from Bellhart for his experiments.

Finding Yarnaby

To find Yarnaby, head to the right of Bellhart to enter Greymoor, then climb upward to reach the top-level rafters. Go left to the top-left corner of Greymoor to find a Locked Bellhome.

Walk up to it and Call Out—Yarnaby will respond from within. After Hornet explains the situation, he opens the door. Enter his bellhome and talk to him. Eventually, he offers the Infestation Operation quest.

Pick up Infestation Operation. Yarnaby talks about an upgrade to his extricator to break Hornet's shell open. He needs Steel Spines, and knows two bugs in Sinner's Road who can provide them.

Acquiring Steel Spines

From Yarnaby's bellhome, go all the way to the right until you reach the area above the Halfway Home. Unlock the elevator shortcut, then jump over the elevator and continue across until you reach a platform on the other side. Climb up to enter Sinner's Road.

In Sinner's Road, go all the way to the right of the first room, then go up one floor and look for an entrance on the right side, about midway up the tall room. Make your way to the top-left of this room and use a combination of movement skills to get to the top-right corner. The Clawline ability is incredibly useful here, as is the Faydown Cloak.

Enter the hut to meet Crull and Benjin. Talk to the duo, and they'll offer to part ways with their collected Steel Spines for 220 Rosaries. Either break a few Rosary Strings in your inventory or go back to Greymoor to farm Rosaries. You can also complete quests to earn large strings of Rosaries.

The Operation and the Witch Crest

Purchase the Steel Spines and make your way back to Yarnaby. Give him the spines, and a cutscene begins. Hornet is strapped down to an examination chair as a whirring, terrifying machine slowly advances toward her shell.

The screen fades to black as we hear Hornet's cries amidst brutal machinery, then the interwoven symbol of the Twisted Bud appears. The Twisted Bud shrieks for the last time, getting louder and brighter until it finally breaks and transforms into the Crest of the Witch.

With the Witch Crest equipped, Hornet's moveset becomes an improved version of her infested state. She swings a long-range whip, her dash and downward slash hit twice, and most importantly, she regains the ability to heal and generate Silk. When she uses Bind with the Witch Crest equipped, she blasts out tendrils that sap the health of any nearby enemies. If no enemies are around, she cannot heal.

Step
Location
Objective

1
Bilewater
Acquire the Twisted Bud

2
Shellwood
Complete Rite of the Pollip, then Rite of Rebirth

3
Chapel of the Witch
Escape and head to Bellhart

4
Bellhart
Find the Bell Hermit

5
Greymoor
Locate Yarnaby and accept Infestation Operation

6
Sinner's Road
Buy Steel Spines from Crull and Benjin

7
Yarnaby's Bellhome
Undergo the operation and earn the Witch Crest

The Twisted Bud quest is no walk in the park. It demands patience, skill, and a willingness to temporarily lose Hornet's core abilities. But for those who see it through, the Witch Crest offers a powerful new playstyle. Just remember: if you want the Cursed achievement, finish the game while still infested. Otherwise, cleanse yourself and enjoy your newfound power. 🐛⚔️🏆

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Silksong Fast Travel in 2026: Every Bellway and Ventrica

Silksong fast travel guide: unlock all Bellways and Ventricas, 12 Bell Beast Stations and 7 Citadel routes.

Hornet’s legs were never meant for endless walking. In the opening hours of Silksong, she dragged herself through Bone Bottom, her needle clicking against damp stone, until a low bell hummed somewhere below. That bell was the first Bellway—a fast travel system that would soon turn her grueling pilgrimage into a series of convenient hops. And let’s be honest, nobody wants to sprint across half a kingdom just to buy a new pin.

At the beginning, Hornet must get around the world with nothing but her spindly black legs until she discovers the Bellways. These stations allow instant travel between all unlocked fast travel locations. In Silksong, Bell Beast Stations and Ventricas are the primary forms of fast travel that players can engage with. The Bellways come first, opening relatively early, and they quickly become the backbone of any long exploration run.

To unlock the first route, players discover the Bellway in Bone Bottom, then free and subdue the Bell Beast in The Marrow. The creature—ancient, weary, and more than a little dramatic—bows its head once defeated, and from that moment on, its bells answer Hornet’s call. It is a strange partnership, but a practical one.

In total, there are 12 Bellways to discover in Silksong, including eight during Act 1 and four more in Act 2. Some are unlocked for free, but you may have to pay Rosaries for others. You know the drill: pay up, or walk. A few Bellway locations cannot be discovered until you reach Act 2, yet they still connect back to Act 1 areas, letting Hornet revisit prior zones more conveniently. That backward compatibility matters, because Pharloom has a habit of hiding secrets in places you thought you had finished with.

When Act 2 arrives, the Citadel introduces a new flavor of fast travel: Ventricas. These seven stations are found exclusively within the Citadel and Act 2 areas. You do not lose access to the Bellways—both fast travel systems co-exist and provide travel to different parts of the map. Each Ventrica costs 80 Rosaries to unlock upon discovery, except for the Terminus Ventrica, which can be accessed by any other Ventrica you discover. Well, mostly. The Terminus is the generous exception.

So, what does the full fast travel network look like in 2026? Here is a quick breakdown:

System
Total Locations
Act Availability
Cost
Notes

Bellway (Bell Beast Station)
12
8 in Act 1, 4 in Act 2
Varies; some free, some Rosaries
Connects back to earlier zones

Ventrica
7
Act 2 Citadel only
80 Rosaries each
Terminus Ventrica is the exception

Bellway quick facts 🐝🔔

12 Bell Beast Stations in total.

8 unlock during Act 1.

4 more appear in Act 2.

Some are free; others demand Rosaries.

They remain useful even after Ventricas arrive.

Ventrica quick facts 🏛️⚙️

7 Ventricas in total.

All are inside the Citadel and Act 2 areas.

Each costs 80 Rosaries, except Terminus.

Terminus can be reached through any other Ventrica.

Bellways and Ventricas co-exist, so Hornet never loses her old routes.

The Bell Beast snores at its stations, patient and slightly smug. The Ventricas hum their metallic tunes, waiting for a handful of Rosaries. Hornet, meanwhile, learns to weave through Pharloom like a needle through silk. The map stops feeling like a maze and starts feeling like a network—one bell at a time. ...

In the end, whether you are replaying Silksong in 2026 or diving in for the first time, knowing every Bellway and Ventrica location saves hours of backtracking. The game gives you two fast travel languages: the warm, beastly bells of the Bellways and the cold, mechanical pulse of the Ventricas. Hornet speaks both fluently. And really, that is what makes the journey bearable—and occasionally even pleasant.

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Silksong's First Patch Nerfed Two Bosses, But Pharloom Still Wants Me Dead

Hollow Knight: Silksong patch 1.0.28497 eases two early bosses, but traps and environmental damage remain the true difficulty.

I still remember the first time I stepped into Pharloom. It was 2025, the year Hollow Knight: Silksong finally launched, and I thought I was ready. I had beaten Hollow Knight. I had beaten its Pantheons. I had convinced myself that I understood Team Cherry's language of pain. Then a moss-covered brute knocked me into a pit of spikes, and I realized I understood nothing.

Now, in 2026, the first-ever Silksong patch, version 1.0.28497, is part of the conversation. It arrived on PC through the public beta branch before reaching consoles, and it does something I have mixed feelings about: it slightly reduces the difficulty of two early-game bosses, Moorwing and Sister Splinter. I get why. Silksong is harder than Hollow Knight on the whole, and that reputation has scared some players away. But as someone who has died to Sister Splinter more times than I can count, I do not think the bosses were ever the real problem.

Bosses Are Hard, But They Are Not Unfair

Let me be honest: Moorwing and Sister Splinter have killed me more times than I want to admit. I have blamed my controller. I have blamed the screen. I have blamed the phase transitions. But when I finally sat down and studied the fights, I realized that every boss in Silksong has a recognizable attack pattern. The game rarely, if ever, builds combos that feel impossible to escape. It punishes greed, panic, and impatience. It rewards observation, spacing, and the willingness to change your strategy.

That is the core loop. You make mistakes. You analyze your failures. You learn the tells. You try again. A nerf to two early-game bosses might help new players get past the first wall, and I can accept that. What I did not want was for Team Cherry to sand down the entire game. Fortunately, the patch leaves the most difficult parts of Silksong untouched.

The Traps Are the True Terror

The real difficulty of Silksong is not a boss arena. It is the environment. Traps and environmental damage are everywhere, and they do not care about your pride. I have won a thirty-fifth-attempt grudge match against a boss, only to walk into a forgotten pressure plate on the way back and die instantly. It is humiliating in the best possible way.

Traps come in every shape and size. A delayed pressure plate swings a massive bony scythe down at you. An enemy kidnaps you, steals your gear, and drops you into a late-game area before your time. Bilewater poisons your lungs. Hunter's March turns every spike and pogo jump into a test of nerve. The Slab, a giant prison complex, forces you to navigate without weapons while pressure plates close gates and spawn enemies. The first time I entered that room, I thought the game had broken. Then I learned that the room itself was the weapon. I lured enemies into traps, timed my movements, and turned the prison's cruelty against its guards.

That is unfair, annoying, and deadly on the first encounter. It is also exactly the kind of innovative design that makes Silksong special. I am glad the first patch did not touch it. Even environmental damage, which some players complain is too high, remains unchanged.

Pharloom's Economy Is Out of Control

The other great source of difficulty is the economy. Rosaries are the lifeblood of Pharloom, and the game is very good at taking them away. A single incomplete runback can erase every Rosary you have not yet strung into a necklace. Farming spots exist, but prices are high enough that you actively need to farm, or you will be left behind. Silksong charges you to unlock checkpoints, fast travel stations, and in one case, even the door to a merchant's shop. You spend your last few Rosaries on a crucial unlock, then find yourself too broke to buy anything useful.

The first patch does tweak this slightly. Courier deliveries, relics, and psalm cylinders now give more Rosaries, and some bench and Bellway prices have been reduced. That helps, but I suspect shop prices will stay high. The economy is part of Silksong's calculated difficulty, and it is not going anywhere.

Patch 1.0.28497 change
What I think

Moorwing and Sister Splinter difficulty reduced
Helpful for newcomers, but not the real hurdle

More Rosaries from deliveries, relics, and psalm cylinders
Welcome, yet still not enough to fix the grind

Some bench and Bellway prices reduced
A small mercy in a hostile land

Traps, environmental damage, and shop prices untouched
Exactly how I want it

I Hope Future Patches Keep Pharloom Dangerous

I do not want Silksong to become easy. Its difficulty can be crushing, but it is also the realization of an uncompromised vision. The game takes you on a journey of its own choosing. It forces you to adapt to combat, traps, and an economy that seems designed to keep you humble. If future patches keep reducing boss difficulty while ignoring the real challenges, I will be disappointed. I am glad the first patch does not address Silksong's biggest difficulty hurdles. I only hope the next patches follow suit.

For now, I will keep exploring Pharloom. I will keep dying to spikes I forgot about. I will keep farming Rosaries and cursing merchant prices. And I will keep coming back, because Silksong's cruelty is not a flaw. It is the point.

If anything, Pharloom has made me more conscious of how much real money goes into this hobby. Between base games, DLC, and the occasional indie gem that deserves support, a library can start to feel like its own Rosary grind. I have gotten pickier about what I pay full price for, and I have gotten much better at waiting.

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My First-Person Feast: Completing Great Taste of Pharloom in Silksong

Hollow Knight: Silksong’s Great Taste of Pharloom quest blends needle upgrades with epic culinary challenges for Hornet.

I thought upgrading Hornet's needle in Hollow Knight: Silksong would be as simple as sharpening a pencil. Then I met Loyal Mergwin in the Pharloom Citadel, and he turned a blacksmith's errand into a cross-continental tasting menu. In 2026, after many patches and countless deaths, the Great Taste of Pharloom quest remains one of the most memorable side stories in the game. This is how I, a lone hornet with a needle and a stubborn streak, gathered every ingredient and finally earned the Pale Oil. The quest was less a grocery list and more a chandelier I had to assemble while it was already falling.

Mossberry Stew: The Easy First Course 🍲

Mergwin's list begins with Mossberry Stew, and for once, the game offers mercy. I backtracked to Mosshome, the starting area, and spoke to the friendly Druid of the Moss Temple. If you have not completed his berry-picking quest, you may need to do that first. I had already done it, so he handed over the rare ingredient without much fuss. The reward for helping him earlier is a handy defensive tool, which made the backtrack feel less like a chore and more like visiting an old friend who happens to cook with forest magic.

Vintage Nectar: A Barkeep's Toll 🍷

Vintage Nectar sits at the Halfway Home in Greymoor, but Creige will not part with it for free. He demands 480 Rosaries, a fee that feels like paying a toll bridge to cross a river of wine. I farmed Rosaries in the Citadel and to the right of Greymoor, then stocked up on equipment and silk. The real trap comes after you pay: when you enter the cellar and try to grab the nectar, waves of Hunter's March enemies ambush you. Their movesets tested my memory and my patience. After surviving the ambush, I grabbed the Vintage Nectar and returned upstairs to give Creige a piece of my mind.

Courier's Rasher: The Nightmare Delivery 🥩

Courier's Rasher is the hardest part of the quest. It is Silksong's answer to Hollow Knight's Delicate Flower, and it punishes every careless step. First, I saved both Courier bugs through Bellhart's quest board, rescuing them from Greymoor and the Sinner's Road. They gave me the Rasher for free, but with a brutal condition: hand-deliver it to Mergwin under a strict time limit. You cannot use elevators or the Bell Beast, because fast travel instantly destroys the item. Taking damage, hitting walls, or falling from a great height also reduces its durability timer.

Carrying that Rasher felt like balancing a soap bubble on a needle tip through a bramble maze. I practiced the route several times before attempting a real run. The path I chose had the least chance of failure while still being fast. Compared to the Delicate Flower, Silksong is more forgiving: you can take roughly one to three hits depending on your speed and charms. I equipped movement boosters like the Silkspeed Anklets and Flea Brew, and I used the save-and-quit trick to return to Greyhart between attempts. If you feel discouraged, take breaks or gather other ingredients first.

Crustnut: Parkour Above the Blasted Steps 🌰

The Crustnut is the second-to-last ingredient, tucked in one of the farthest corners of the map. I traveled past the obstacles on the western side of the Blasted Steps and used the Clawline ability from the Underworks. I hooked onto the hanging rings left of the Pinstress' home, then parkoured upward into the Sands of Karak. The climb is painful: challenging jumps, aggressive enemies, and a hidden wall at the marked point. After breaking through, I faced more deadly environmental hazards. It took a few tries, but eventually I claimed the Crustnut.

Pickled Muckmaggot: Dinner with a Haunted Chef 🪱

The last ingredient, Pickled Muckmaggot, sends you back into the unforgiving Sinner's Road. Go straight after entering until you reach a hole in the ceiling that requires the Faydown Cloak. Climb up, and you will face a unique boss fight with a haunted chef. The Muckmaggot only drops upon their death. By this point in the game, I had enough upgrades to handle the fight without too much trouble. On the way back, I checked with Styx to farm Rosaries and save Silkeater bugs.

The Feast and the Pale Oil ⚔️

With every ingredient in my inventory, I returned to the Citadel and gave Mergwin the feast of his life. The reward is the Pale Oil needed to upgrade Hornet's needle a second time. But the quest is not over until you pay an additional 500 Rosaries to finish the upgrade. That final payment felt like finding the last puzzle piece under the couch after I had already flipped the table in frustration. Still, the boost was worth every Rosary, every death, and every failed delivery.

Here is a quick summary of the ingredients:

Ingredient
Location
Difficulty

Mossberry Stew
Mosshome, Moss Temple Druid
Easy

Vintage Nectar
Greymoor, Halfway Home
Medium

Courier's Rasher
Bellhart Courier bugs, timed delivery
Very Hard

Crustnut
Sands of Karak, past Blasted Steps
Hard

Pickled Muckmaggot
Sinner's Road, haunted chef boss
Medium

If you are attempting Great Taste of Pharloom in 2026, my advice is simple: do the Rasher last, practice your route, and bring patience. Silksong may be deadlier than its predecessor, but moments like this prove that its world is also richer, stranger, and more delicious.

After all those deaths and deliveries, you might be ready for a break—or a new challenge. If you're planning to pick up Silksong for yourself, or you want to dive into another punishing metroidvania, it's worth doing a little real-world reconnaissance before you spend your hard-earned cash.

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Silksong's No Double Damage Mod Is a Beautiful Trap

Hollow Knight: Silksong triple damage mod intensifies the double damage debate, challenging players with even harsher gameplay.

Let me start with a confession: I am not a masochist. At least, I did not think I was until I stumbled across a mod for Hollow Knight: Silksong called No Double Damage (But better). If you have spent any time in Pharloom since the game launched back in 2025, you already know the debate. Silksong is hard. Not just hard for a sequel, but hard in a way that makes the original Hollow Knight feel like a gentle warm-up. So when I heard someone had made a mod to remove double damage, I thought, finally, a mercy. Then I read the description. The mod removes double damage by making it triple damage instead. Yes, really. Cue the monkey's paw curling.

The Double Damage Debate That Refuses to Die

Since Silksong launched in 2025, its difficulty has been the main topic of conversation. And I do mean the main topic. Forget lore theories. Forget dreamnail-style mysteries. The real question on every player's lips was: why does everything hit for two masks? In the original Hollow Knight, most regular enemies and environmental hazards dealt one mask of damage. In Silksong, a lot more of them deal two. That changes everything. A simple mistake against a random fly can cost you a third of your health. A spike pit does not just sting; it ruins your day.

The developers did listen, at least a little. There was a patch that made some boss fights easier and reduced some Rosary costs for things like Bellway stations and benches. That helped. But the double damage stayed. For many players, that is the sticking point. It is not the bosses that break them; it is the ordinary rooms. It is the feeling that the world itself is out to get you.

So a modder named TheLima made a mod to fix that. The only thing is, the fix is a trap. No Double Damage (But better) does exactly what its name suggests, sort of. As the description says, it removes the boring double damage from the game by making it triple damage instead. I laughed when I read that. Then I winced. Then I checked the download count.

A Monkey's Paw Wish for Mercy

When the mod first surfaced, it had 888 unique downloads. How many of those people knew what they were getting into? How many saw the name, clicked install, and only later realized they had signed up for a harder game? That is anyone's guess. But I love that it exists. It is the perfect joke for a community that has spent months arguing about whether Silksong is too hard or just hard enough.

Now, you might be thinking: if you heal three masks at a time anyway, does triple damage really matter? After all, one heal can still recover a triple hit. So what is the difference? That is a fair question. On paper, it sounds almost balanced. In practice, it is not. Because healing takes time. Because you often get hit while healing. Because a triple hit can put you into one-shot range for the next attack. Because environmental hazards do not care about your heal timing. The mod does not make the game easier. It makes the game a different kind of cruel.

And that is the point. Some players do not want easier. They want spicier. They want a second run that feels dangerous again, but they are not ready for Steel Soul mode. You know, the permadeath mode that deletes your save if you die. That is a commitment. A triple damage mod is just a casual way to flirt with disaster. You can uninstall it when your hands start shaking.

The Modding Menu in 2026

By 2026, the Silksong modding scene has grown a lot. There are mods that genuinely make the game easier, like reducing double damage to a single mask. There are quality-of-life mods that add conveniences, tweak bench costs, or smooth out some of the more annoying systems. And then there are mods like this one, which exist because someone looked at a complaint and decided to answer it with a punchline.

Here is a quick breakdown I wish I had before I started browsing:

Mod style
What it does
Who it is for

Easier double damage
Reduces double damage to one mask
Players who want original Hollow Knight difficulty

Quality-of-life
Tweaks benches, Rosary costs, and other annoyances
Everyone, honestly

No Double Damage (But better)
Turns double damage into triple damage
Absolute lunatics

Steel Soul
Permadeath, one life, no mercy
Masochists and speedrunners

Speaking of speedrunners, they are the ones who prove the game is not too hard for everyone. A documented record of 1:17:05 was set just a week after release. Think about that. While I was still learning enemy patterns, someone had already beaten the whole game in under an hour and twenty minutes. That is not normal. That is a different species.

Would I Install It?

So, would I install No Double Damage (But better)? On my first playthrough, absolutely not. I value my controller. I value my blood pressure. But for a second run, when I already know the bosses and I want to feel that old fear again? Maybe. Maybe I would install it for one evening, die three times in the first area, and then uninstall it with a laugh.

That is the beauty of mods. They let you customize your suffering. You can make Silksong easier. You can make it harder. You can make it ridiculous. The only real question is: what kind of player are you? Are you the kind who wants a fair fight? Or are you the kind who looks at a triple damage mod and thinks, hmm, that sounds interesting?

If you are the latter, I will see you in Pharloom. I will be the one hiding behind a bench, healing three masks at a time, and wondering why everything hurts so much. 🩹💀

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Hollow Knight: Silksong Wailing Mother Quest Guide: Track and Defeat the Broodmother

Wailing Mother quest guide for Hollow Knight Silksong: track the Broodmother, get her eye, and finish this Grand Hunt.

Wishwall quests in Hollow Knight: Silksong have given players a reason to revisit Pharloom's safe areas long after the main path has moved on. Among these requests, the Wailing Mother quest stands out as a Grand Hunt that blends investigation, platforming, and a tense boss encounter. Assigned to the Songclave safe area in Choral Chambers, this wish sends Hornet into the Slab to silence a monstrous presence known only as the Wailing Creature. By the end of the hunt, that creature reveals itself as the Broodmother, and her eye becomes the proof needed to complete the quest. For players exploring Silksong in 2026, this guide covers every step, from unlocking the wish to turning in the final item.

🗺️ Quest Overview

Detail
Information

Quest Name
Wailing Mother

Quest Type
Grand Hunt

Quest Board
Songclave Wishwall in Choral Chambers

Objective
Track and slay the Wailing Creature, later known as Broodmother

Key Item
Broodmother's Eye

Turn-In Location
Songclave's Wishwall

Main Reward
Quest completion and Wishwall progress

The Wailing Mother is not a simple bounty. It asks Hornet to follow a trail of slime through one of Silksong's most oppressive regions, then survive a boss fight against a creature that overwhelms the arena with summoned flies. The quest adds depth to Pharloom's lore while giving players a challenging Grand Hunt that feels distinct from standard exploration.

🔓 Prerequisites and Wishwall Unlock

Before the Wailing Mother wish appears on the Songclave Wishwall, Hornet must complete several earlier requests. The first batch of wishes on that board, including Balm for the Wounded, must be finished. Players also need to advance far enough in the Act 2 main story. Without that progress, the Grand Hunt remains locked, and the Wishwall will not offer the Wailing Mother quest.

This structure encourages players to engage with the Wishwall system gradually. Each completed wish builds trust with Songclave and opens new opportunities. The Wailing Mother is one of the more substantial rewards for that ongoing commitment.

🧭 Reaching the Slab

Once the quest is active, Hornet must travel to the Slab. There are two reliable routes, and both use the Ventrica network and Bellway system.

Route One: First Shrine's Ventrica

Enter the First Shrine's Ventrica and teleport into the Choral Chambers. From there, climb a few floors until reaching the gate that leads outside the Choral Chambers and into the Slab.

Route Two: Grand Bellway's Ventrica

Use the First Shrine's Ventrica to teleport to the Grand Bellway's Ventrica. From that point, use the Bellway to teleport directly to the Slab, then climb from the bottom to the top.

Both paths work, but the second route can save time if the Bellway is already unlocked. The Slab is vertical and dangerous, so players should prepare for platforming, enemy encounters, and a fair amount of climbing.

🐌 Tracking the Wailing Creature

After getting the Wailing Mother quest, Hornet needs to track and slay the Wailing Creature in the Slab. The creature is later identified as the Broodmother, and she is located northwest of the Slab, almost on the highest floor. To find her, players should look for slime trails scattered all over the Slab area. These trails are the key to navigation, especially because the prison's layout can be disorienting.

The slime marks a path rather than a single room. Hornet will need to move upward through the Slab, checking side passages and upper platforms. Rushing can lead to missed turns or unnecessary damage. Taking time to scan for slime makes the hunt smoother and preserves resources for the boss.

🕳️ Inside the Broodmother's Chamber

When Hornet reaches the Wailing Mother quest chamber, a crack in the wall behind her becomes the true entrance. Interacting with it lets her enter the hole and progress through a linear path. Along the way, a couple of fly enemies such as Guardfly and Wardfly attempt to block progress. These foes are not the main threat, but they can drain health before the boss if players are careless.

After the fly enemies are dealt with, the Broodmother makes her appearance. The transition is sudden, and the arena leaves little room for mistakes. Players should enter the fight with full health and a clear plan.

⚔️ Boss Fight: Broodmother

The Broodmother fight is a test of crowd control and patience. She summons a lot of flies during combat, and if those summons are ignored, the arena becomes overwhelming quickly. Hornet should take out the flies as they appear, then look for openings to strike the Broodmother.

Helpful tactics include:

🪰 Prioritize adds. Clear the summoned flies before focusing on the boss.

🛡️ Avoid her attacks. Do not trade hits. Silk is better spent on healing or safe damage.

⏳ Wait for the right moment. Strike after her attacks end, not during them.

🧵 Use Hornet's mobility. Dash and air movement can create space when the arena gets crowded.

❤️ Retreat to heal. If the fly swarm grows too large, create distance and recover before re-engaging.

Defeating the Broodmother is not about raw speed. It is about controlling the room. Once the adds are managed, the boss becomes far more predictable, and Hornet can chip away at her health safely.

🎁 Reward and Turn-In

After slaying the Broodmother, Hornet receives the Broodmother's Eye. This item is the proof required by the Wishwall. To finish the quest, return to Songclave's Wishwall and deliver the eye. Turning in the Broodmother's Eye completes the Wailing Mother quest in Hollow Knight: Silksong.

Completing this Grand Hunt contributes to Wishwall progression and reinforces the connection between Hornet and Pharloom's survivors. It also rewards players who explore the Slab thoroughly and pay attention to environmental clues. For anyone working through Silksong's side content in 2026, the Wailing Mother quest is a memorable challenge that is worth seeing through to the end.

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Silksong Guide: How to Reach Sands of Karak and Find Shakra's Map

Reach the Sands of Karak in Hollow Knight: Silksong with this route guide: get Clawline, beat Great Conchflies, meet Pinstress, and climb up.

Reaching the Sands of Karak in Hollow Knight: Silksong is one of those late-Act 2 milestones that feels equal parts triumph and test of patience. The area sits behind a demanding platforming route, a duo boss, and a few ability checks, so players who rush in without Clawline or a healthy supply of Rosaries will likely find themselves backtracking. The good news is that the path becomes much clearer once players understand the intended sequence: obtain Clawline in the eastern Underworks through Whiteward, travel to the Bellway Station in Blasted Steps, float down near the left wall, defeat the Great Conchflies, meet the Pinstress, and then use Needle Strike and Clawline to climb into the Sands of Karak. As of 2026, this route remains one of the most memorable and mechanically demanding stretches in Silksong's second act.

Quick Route at a Glance

Step
Action
Important Detail

1
Acquire Clawline
Found in eastern Underworks, accessed through Whiteward

2
Reach Blasted Steps Bellway Station
Head right, then down

3
Descend carefully
Float throughout the fall and stay near the left wall

4
Enter first left passage
Leads to the Great Conchflies duo boss

5
Defeat Great Conchflies
Dodge both bosses and attack when they pop up

6
Head left after arena
Glide right to the Pinstress hut

7
Talk to Pinstress
Grants Needle Strike

8
Head left for grapple point
Harpoon and use Clawline to climb

9
Take top-left passage
Continue upward while avoiding wall bugs

10
Arrive in Sands of Karak
Hit yellow balls, use corals, find Shakra

Prerequisites and Preparation

The first hard requirement is the Clawline ability. It is located inside the eastern part of the Underworks, which players can access through Whiteward. Without Clawline, the later harpoon points and vertical traversal in this route simply cannot be completed. Players should also prepare for a boss fight, because the path to the Sands of Karak passes directly through the Great Conchflies arena.

Rosaries are another consideration. Shakra sells the Sands of Karak map for 90 Rosaries, and players who arrive with an empty purse may feel stuck. Fortunately, the area is not a dead end. There are quite a few shortcuts that lead to different locations, as well as a Bellway Station. Players can use the Bellway Station to travel to an area where farming is easier, collect a substantial purse, and then return to buy the map. That makes the journey less punishing than it first appears, especially for explorers who like to bank resources before committing to a long platforming run.

The Route to the Sands of Karak

Once Clawline is in hand, players should make their way to the Bellway Station in Blasted Steps. From there, the route begins by heading right and then down. The fall is long, and control matters more than speed. Players should float throughout the fall and stay near the left wall. The first passage they come across on the left will lead them to an area where they will face the Great Conchflies.

This is a duo boss fight, so awareness is everything. Players need to watch where both bosses are coming from and dodge them while finding windows to attack whenever they pop up. Greedy hits are dangerous here; the fight rewards patience, positioning, and clean dodges more than raw aggression. After the Great Conchflies are defeated, players should head left of the boss arena.

The next section is a small but satisfying traversal challenge. Players can basically glide all the way to the right and reach the hut where the Pinstress resides. Talking to the Pinstress grants the Needle Strike ability. From there, players should head left to find a grapple point they can harpoon at. By repeatedly using Clawline to make their way up, they will eventually need to go through the passage on the top left.

The climb continues upward, and this is where the wall bugs become a serious threat. They deal two mask damage, so trading hits is a bad idea. Players should keep their movement deliberate and avoid panicking when the platforming tightens. As they progress further, they will finally reach the Sands of Karak.

Inside the Sands of Karak

The Sands of Karak introduce a new layer of platforming built around yellow balls and coral. Players should hit the yellow ball in the area, which causes platforms to appear in front of them, as well as corals that they can down slash to make their way forward. After the second yellow ball, the platforms begin forming to the right and to the top left corner as well. The top left corner leads to a Memory Locket that players can pick up to increase the slots on their Crest. That reward alone makes the detour worthwhile, especially for players who want more flexibility in their build.

After grabbing the Memory Locket, players should head right. They will need to jump, float, and then harpoon to the wall, where they will find the yellow ball on top. Hitting the ball and going down causes platforms to form on the left. Players should then harpoon across the spikes and head up, then through the right passage. Here they will spot a new enemy. Towards the left, above them, is a room where Shakra is sitting at the end. Talking to Shakra allows players to buy the map for 90 Rosaries.

Tips for a Smoother Run

🧗 Use Clawline patiently. The route is built around it, and rushing often leads to unnecessary falls.

🛡️ Respect two-mask damage. The wall bugs in the climb are not worth trading hits with.

🪙 Farm Rosaries before the final stretch if the purse is light. The Bellway Station makes this practical.

🗺️ Buy the map from Shakra for 90 Rosaries. It makes later exploration in the Sands of Karak far less confusing.

💎 Grab the Memory Locket. Extra Crest slots are a long-term benefit.

⚔️ Learn Needle Strike. The Pinstress grants it before the hardest climbing begins.

Final Thoughts

The Sands of Karak is not just another map room in Silksong. It is a test of the movement vocabulary that Act 2 keeps expanding: Clawline, floating, harpooning, down slashing, and boss dodging all come together in one route. Players who prepare properly, defeat the Great Conchflies, speak with the Pinstress, and keep an eye out for Shakra will walk away with a new map, a Memory Locket, and a stronger understanding of Silksong's vertical design. For completionists and explorers alike, it is a journey worth taking.

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Silksong Guide: How I Found the Blasted Steps Map Before Act 1's End

Get the Blasted Steps Map in Hollow Knight: Silksong from Shakra for 70 Rosaries to survive sandstorms and worms.

After I defeated the Widow in Bellhart, I believed the worst was behind me. I was wrong. The next area in Hollow Knight: Silksong, Blasted Steps, greeted me with a howling desert of ravenous sand worms and wind that turned every jump into a gamble. In 2026, this biome still stands as the closing area of Act 1—unless you take the alternate path through Sinner's Road. If you are like me and value your Rosaries, you will want the Blasted Steps Map early.

Why? Because the Blasted Steps is not just another room. It is a highly vertical region with thick sandstorms, heavy winds, and dunes that hide worms ready to devour me instantly. One slip, and I was gone. The map does not make the wind stop, but it does keep me oriented when the screen fills with sand. What good is a map if you cannot reach the cartographer? That is the trick.

Where I Found Shakra

Like most maps in Silksong, the Blasted Steps Map comes from the cartographer Shakra. I found them in the right portion of the Blasted Steps, tucked inside a small cave. But reaching that cave is the challenge. The route from Shellwood is a test of patience and timing.

I started at the bench coming from Shellwood. From there, I headed left across a series of small platforms. I kept walking left until I reached a tunnel that slopes upward. This is where the Cling Grip ability—found in Shellwood—becomes essential. Without it, I could not scale the walls. I carefully wall climbed to the top of the shaft and moved right. Then I climbed upward and walked left until I came across another bench. From there, I continued left until I entered the Blasted Steps.

Now, what happens when the wind gusts hit mid-jump? I learned the hard way: they slow you down and push you toward the sand below, where the worms are eagerly waiting for their next meal. So I timed every jump, used the wind currents instead of fighting them, and kept moving right.

The Route to Shakra

After entering Blasted Steps, I continued right. I handled a series of jumps and wind currents until I faced a flying enemy with a red drill-like head. That enemy is a warning: the area is not playing around. I followed the path a little further, and there was Shakra waiting in a small cave.

I spoke to them, and I purchased the Blasted Steps Map for 70 Rosaries. Yes, 70 Rosaries. It felt expensive in the moment, but it saved me hours of blind wandering.

Item
Vendor
Cost
Location

Blasted Steps Map
Shakra
70 Rosaries
Right portion of Blasted Steps, small cave

Hazards I Faced

The Blasted Steps does not just throw wind and worms at you. I also ran into Great Conchflies, and eventually the Last Judge, the final boss of Act 1. That fight is brutal if you go in unprepared. I learned that picking up the Needle Strike charged attack from the Pinstress first makes these fights much easier. If you are struggling, do not rush the Last Judge. Get Needle Strike. It changes everything.

What makes the Blasted Steps so dangerous? The wind is not just visual. It affects your jump arcs, your dash timing, and your ability to land on small platforms. I often found myself drifting toward the dunes even when I thought I had a clean jump. The worms below are not forgiving. They devour you instantly, which means every mistake costs a full retry from the last bench.

Here is what I wish I had known before entering:

🌪️ Wind gusts can slow you mid-jump and push you into worm-filled sand.

🪱 Sand worms devour you instantly if you slip into the dunes.

🗺️ The map costs 70 Rosaries from Shakra.

🧗 Cling Grip is required to climb the upward tunnel from Shellwood.

⚔️ Needle Strike from the Pinstress helps against Great Conchflies and the Last Judge.

🪑 Benches are scarce, so plan your route before you commit to a long jump sequence.

Final Thoughts

Is the Blasted Steps Map worth 70 Rosaries? For me, absolutely. The area is vertical, disorienting, and unforgiving. Without the map, I would have missed Shakra's cave, fallen into worm sand, and probably rage-quit before Act 1 ended. With the map, I could plan my jumps, mark benches, and focus on the real threat: the Last Judge.

So if you are coming from Bellhart after the Widow, do not skip the cartographer. Head left from the Shellwood bench, use Cling Grip, climb the shaft, and keep moving until you reach Shakra. Buy the map. Then take on the Blasted Steps with confidence—or at least with fewer deaths than I had. In 2026, this route remains one of the most punishing and rewarding detours in Silksong's first act.

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