I Marked My Calendar for the WuWa 3.6 Livestream and Its Astrite Codes

WuWa 3.6 livestream codes and Wuthering Waves 3.6 details arrive Aug 7, 2026, with Qingxiao and Jingran plus 300 Astrite.

I have a ritual that begins long before a Wuthering Waves patch goes live: I clear a quiet hour, brew something too strong, and sit with my notebook like a lighthouse keeper cataloguing ships that never dock. On August 7, 2026, at 07:00 AM ET (UTC-4), that ritual returns for the Version 3.6 special program. The broadcast will look beyond Yangyang and Suisui, the sister pair who already left their mark on the roster, and it will introduce Qingxiao and Jingran. But I am not only here for the story. I am here for the WuWa 3.6 livestream codes, the small digital keys that unlock 300 Astrite before the update even arrives.

I learned a long time ago that livestream codes behave less like permanent gifts and more like frost on a kettle: they glitter for a moment, then vanish if you look away. That is why I keep a second screen open, my account already logged in, and my fingers ready to copy whatever Kuro Games reveals. The exact codes are not something I can pin to a board ahead of time; they drop during the broadcast, and the community races to redeem them. The reward is usually 300 Astrite in total, often split across a few codes. If you miss the stream, you might still catch a repost, but the clock is cruel.

The 3.6 program itself feels like a family reunion with a guest list I did not expect. Yangyang and Suisui already arrived as a sister pair, and their presence changed how I think about team building. Now Qingxiao and Jingran are stepping into the light. I have been reading every scrap of theorycrafting I can find, treating each new character like a cartographer drawing coastlines from a half-remembered dream. I want to know who they synergize with, what their best teams look like, and how their build guides will settle once the creators get their hands on the final numbers.

Here is the time zone table I scribbled into my notebook so I would not miss the opening minute:

Region
Local time

ET (UTC-4)
07:00 AM, August 7, 2026

PT (UTC-7)
04:00 AM, August 7, 2026

UTC
11:00 AM, August 7, 2026

London (BST, UTC+1)
12:00 PM, August 7, 2026

Berlin/Paris (CEST, UTC+2)
01:00 PM, August 7, 2026

Beijing (CST, UTC+8)
07:00 PM, August 7, 2026

Tokyo/Seoul (JST/KST, UTC+9)
08:00 PM, August 7, 2026

Sydney (AEST, UTC+10)
09:00 PM, August 7, 2026

I will be watching on YouTube, with Twitch open as a backup, because I have learned that chat moves like a tuning fork struck against a thundercloud during code drops. One moment the stream is calm, the next the entire chat is vibrating with redeemed confirmations. I keep my redemption screen ready in the game. My routine is simple:

🕒 Set an alarm for 06:45 AM ET so I am seated before the countdown ends.

📝 Keep a notepad open for any code that appears on screen.

⚡ Redeem immediately; do not wait for the stream to end.

💬 Watch the official chat for pinned messages and community confirmations.

🔁 Check the in-game mail and redemption menu if a code says it is already used.

Beyond the codes, I am also tracking the broader 3.6 picture. I want to know the current, next, and past banners so I can plan my pulls. I want the Jingran release date and time in Wuthering Waves, because a new character can rearrange an entire account. I want Qingxiao best teams and Qingxiao best build guides, because I would rather understand a character than blindly chase meta. And yes, I am already curious about the Wuthering Waves 3.7 livestream time and codes, because the hype train never really stops; it just changes tracks.

The 3.6 special program is more than a marketing beat for me. It is a shared moment, a live wire connecting players who are all waiting for the same small burst of Astrite. I will have my tea, my notebook, and my stubborn hope that this time I will redeem every code before the expiration timer turns them into ghosts. If you see me in chat, say hello. We will be there together, watching the sister pair's legacy expand and wondering what Qingxiao and Jingran will mean for our teams. And when the WuWa 3.6 livestream codes finally appear, I will grab them like a lighthouse keeper catching a signal across a dark sea: quickly, carefully, and with both hands.

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Thread Storm: The Silksong Skill I Almost Missed

Missed Hollow Knight Silksong's Thread Storm in Pharloom? This AoE silk attack shreds crowds—grab it in east Greymoor.

Listen, I'm a seasoned bug hunter. I've dodged, pogoed, and silk-dashed my way through countless metroidvanias. But Hollow Knight: Silksong? It humbled me. Not because of its bosses (okay, maybe a little), but because I spent roughly 20 hours wandering Pharloom before realizing I had completely missed one of Hornet's most satisfying abilities: the Thread Storm. 🤦‍♂️

I had just defeated Moorwing in Greymoor—back before the difficulty nerfs, mind you—and my ego was soaring. I was ready to charge into the next area, blissfully unaware that the east side of Greymoor held a secret so deliciously violent that it would become my favorite offensive tool in the entire game. Instead, I got sidetracked by shiny new zones and forgot to check my map. Classic me. So if you're reading this in 2026 and you've also been sleeping on the Thread Storm, pull up a chair. We need to talk.

The Thread Storm: A Love Letter to AoE Carnage

Getting the Thread Storm isn't exactly a walk in the park. It requires clearing out a bunch of crow-like bugs infesting the east side of Greymoor, followed by some well-timed pogo parkour. Yes, pogo parkour. The kind that makes you question your reflexes and your life choices. But once you snag it, oh boy. This AoE silk attack unleashes a flurry of whip-like slashes in a radius around Hornet. It's like a tornado of pain, and I am here for it.

Is it the most efficient tool in Hornet's arsenal? Probably not. But is it the most satisfying? Absolutely. There's something primal about spinning around and shredding a cluster of enemies that thought they could gang up on you. The Thread Storm doesn't just clear the room—it sends a message. And the best part? Repeatedly pressing the skill button extends the duration at no extra cost. You can keep the party going until your silk runs dry or your fingers cramp. Just be aware that after the initial stun wears off, you're left wide open to retaliation. Risk versus reward, baby.

Thread Storm vs. Silkspear: A Quick Comparison

Feature
Thread Storm
Silkspear

Damage type
AoE, multi-hit
Single-target, piercing

Crowd control
Excellent
Limited

Silk cost
Moderate
Low

Extendable
Yes (button mashing)
No

Cool factor
🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️
🕷️🕷️

As you can see, the Thread Storm wins on style points alone. But it's not just about looking cool. When paired with Hornet's tools—like AoE poison attacks or ranged traps—you can create deadly combos that melt enemies trying to avoid your silk attack. I've lost count of how many times I've trapped a group of bugs, popped a poison cloud, and then spun to win. It's a beautiful symphony of destruction.

Pharloom: A Metroidvania Playground of Secrets

Now, I know Silksong caught some flak early on for not rewarding players enough through boss charms or discoverable items. But let me tell you, the mid-to-late game more than makes up for it. Pharloom is absolutely overflowing with content. There are tools, crests, and secret paths everywhere. It's almost overwhelming—in the best way. The game takes its metroidvania inspirations and runs with them, thriving on backtracking and rewarding player creativity.

Take Shakra's purchasable waypoints, for example. They're a godsend. They remind you to return later with the right skills. But here's the thing: if you're like me and you miss something as crucial as the Thread Storm or an additional Crest slot, you'll kick yourself. I spent hours wandering around, wondering why certain fights felt harder than they should. Then I realized I had been ignoring a whole section of Greymoor. Facepalm. 🤦‍♂️

So here's my advice: leave no stone unturned. If you see a suspicious ledge, pogo up there. If you hear a faint sound, investigate. If a map area looks empty, it's probably hiding something. The game rewards curiosity just as much as combat skill. And with the 2026 updates and community discoveries, there's no excuse to miss out.

Backtracking: The Art of Feeling Dumb and Then Smart

Backtracking in Silksong is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it's tedious. On the other hand, it's incredibly satisfying when you finally unlock that ability you needed to reach a secret area. I've had moments where I felt like a genius for remembering a random ledge I couldn't reach 15 hours ago. Then I've had moments where I felt like a complete idiot for missing the Thread Storm for so long.

But that's the beauty of Pharloom. It's a world that respects your time and your intelligence. It doesn't hold your hand. It lets you experience the game at your own pace, which means you might miss things. And that's okay—as long as you eventually go back. The Thread Storm is just one example. There are countless other secrets, from hidden bosses to lore-rich environments that flesh out the 7 years of passion that went into this game.

Why You Shouldn't Sleep on Passive Abilities

Crests and Weaver Skills are powerful enhancements that can completely change your playstyle. I ignored them for way too long. Don't be like me. Experiment. Mix and match. Find what works for you. The Thread Storm might be my favorite, but there are plenty of other tools that are just as viable. The key is to explore, experiment, and never assume you've seen everything.

The Little Details That Make Silksong Shine

Even outside of tangible rewards, Silksong is packed with hidden details. Background NPCs, environmental storytelling, subtle animations—it's all there. These details help you gain a better understanding of Pharloom and the love that went into its creation. I've spent hours just watching enemies interact with each other or admiring the way light filters through the fungal forests. It's a game that rewards observation.

So if you're playing in 2026 and you haven't grabbed the Thread Storm yet, do yourself a favor. Head to eastern Greymoor. Clear out those crows. Do the pogo parkour. And then unleash hell. Your bug-hunting career will never be the same. And if you miss it? Well, at least you'll have a funny story to tell. Just like me. 🐛💥

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Silksong's Silkeater Grubs: A Lifeline for Lost Rosaries in Pharloom

Silksong’s Silkeater Grub is a vital Rosary-recovery lifesaver, with Styx offering the most reliable source in deadly Pharloom.

In the ruthless realm of Hollow Knight: Silksong, Pharloom has established itself as one of the most unforgiving settings in modern action-platforming. Even when compared with the infected Hallownest of the original Hollow Knight, the kingdom's economy is brutal. Benches, fast travel, tools, and weapons all demand significant amounts of Rosaries, and early-game players rarely have the luxury of wasting any. Death is not merely a setback; it creates a cocoon that holds lost Rosaries and silk, forcing a dangerous retrieval mission. As of 2026, the game's dedicated community continues to debate the best survival strategies, but one consumable item stands out as a quiet lifesaver: the Silkeater Grub.

The Silkeater Grub is a rare consumable that bypasses the usual cocoon recovery process entirely. When used from the inventory, it immediately returns all Rosaries lost upon the player's last death and instantly refills silk, functioning exactly like a regular cocoon. On its own, that effect is useful. In practice, however, the item becomes invaluable when death occurs in a deadly area or a location that cannot be exited easily, such as a boss arena. In those moments, a failed retrieval can lead to another death and the permanent loss of hundreds of farmed Rosaries. The Silkeater Grub removes that risk by delivering the lost currency and silk directly to the player, no matter where the previous cocoon remains.

Despite its obvious power, the Silkeater Grub is not a common find. Pharloom hides these items inside hanging nests, often tucked behind hidden passages or placed in out-of-the-way areas. Discovering one through exploration is a welcome surprise, but it is hardly a reliable farming method. The locations are limited, and players cannot depend on stumbling across a nest at the exact moment they need to recover a large sum of Rosaries. For that reason, the most consistent source of Silkeater Grubs has become a critical piece of Silksong knowledge.

That reliable source is Styx, an NPC found deep within Sinners Road. The entrance to this route sits just above the Greymoor rest stop, and reaching Styx requires traversing the entirety of Sinners Road, one of Pharloom's more dangerous stretches. The journey is not simply a walk; Sinners Road is populated by highly aggressive Muckroaches that punish careless movement. Once the player reaches Styx, however, the encounter changes the economics of Rosary recovery. After saving the Silk-producing bug from two Muckroaches, Hornet engages in a short conversation with him. Styx then offers to turn slain enemies into valuable silk spools that contain Silkeaters.

The process is straightforward but requires patience. After some time adventuring and killing enough enemies, returning to Styx's location yields another Silkeater Grub. This turns the Sinners Road trek into a periodic investment rather than a one-time reward. The runback can be annoying, especially for players who dislike retracing dangerous ground, but the payoff is substantial. A single Silkeater Grub can preserve hundreds of Rosaries, and those savings can be redirected toward benches, fast travel, tools, and weapon upgrades. In a game where every Rosary matters, that trade-off is difficult to ignore.

There is also a long-term upgrade for this system. Later in the game, players can find the Silkeater Queen item and deliver it to Styx. Doing so increases the output of Silkeater bugs that Styx produces, making the annoying runback even more worthwhile. This upgrade transforms Styx from a helpful optional NPC into a genuine resource engine. For players who have already mastered the route through Sinners Road, the Silkeater Queen delivery can secure a steady supply of emergency Rosary recovery items for the remainder of the playthrough.

Feature
Details

Item type
Consumable

Primary effect
Recovers all Rosaries lost on last death

Secondary effect
Instantly refills silk like a cocoon

Best use
Boss arenas, trap rooms, and areas with difficult exits

Rare source
Hanging nests behind hidden passages

Reliable source
Styx in Sinners Road, above Greymoor rest stop

Upgrade
Deliver the Silkeater Queen to Styx

For players planning their 2026 runs through Pharloom, the strategic value of Silkeater Grubs is clear. They are not merely a convenience item; they are insurance against the game's harshest punishment. The best approach is to treat them as emergency reserves. Using one after a minor death may feel wasteful, but saving them for a failed boss attempt or a lethal exploration mishap can prevent a devastating loss. Periodic visits to Styx should become part of any long-term route, especially once the Silkeater Queen has been delivered.

Stealth and movement are essential for making the Sinners Road trip tolerable. The Muckroaches are highly aggressive, and direct confrontation can quickly drain resources. Players who rely on evasion, careful positioning, and knowledge of enemy patrols can bypass many of the route's worst threats. That makes the journey to Styx less of a combat gauntlet and more of a risky supply run. The reward, however, justifies the effort. A stockpile of Silkeater Grubs means fewer desperate cocoon retrievals, fewer permanent Rosary losses, and more freedom to explore Pharloom's most dangerous corners.

In the end, Hollow Knight: Silksong continues to challenge players with an economy that punishes every mistake. The Silkeater Grub does not remove that challenge, but it softens one of its cruelest edges. By combining rare nest discoveries with Styx's repeatable service and the Silkeater Queen upgrade, players can build a safety net that protects their Rosaries and their progress. In a kingdom as hostile as Pharloom, that safety net is worth every dangerous step through Sinners Road.

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Little Nightmares 3 Co-Op: A Beautiful Nightmare I'd Rather Survive Alone

Little Nightmares 3's co-op mode amps up creepy Carnevale scares and frustrating puzzles. Co-op doubles the dread—and the pain.

I'll be honest: I was a total wuss when the original Little Nightmares came out. Too young, too jumpy, and way too attached to my blankie to appreciate being chased by a giant woman with a distorted face. But Little Nightmares 2? That one hooked me. It doubled down on everything the first game did right—bigger scares, trickier puzzles, and a story that punched me in the gut so hard I needed a lie-down. Mono's rug-pull ending and Six's surprisingly dark arc? Chef's kiss. Still, I remember the frustration: dying in one hit to basically everything, no guidance, endless respawns. It was a core part of the experience, sure, but it was always worth pushing through to see what fresh horror awaited.

Now it's 2026, and Little Nightmares 3 has been out for a while. I've finally gotten my hands on it—and let me tell you, adding a second player doesn't smooth out that frustration like you'd hope. In fact, it cranks the pain up to eleven. I played the co-op mode with a mate, and let's just say our friendship survived, but barely.

The Carnevale: A Damp, Dismal Delight

Super massive Games has nailed the creepy dollhouse vibe. The new protagonists, Low and Alone, find themselves in the Carnevale—a rain-soaked, rundown funfair that's neither fair nor fun. Dead bodies floating in apple-bobbing buckets? Check. A poor soul chained above a dunk tank that you have to sacrifice for the greater good? Double check. Even while cracking jokes with my co-op partner, the atmosphere was dark, satirical, and exactly what you'd expect from this series. I just wish I knew more about Low and Alone, but hey, exploring this awful world was enough to keep me hooked.

Co-Op Puzzles: Two Heads Are Worse Than One

Most of the puzzles revolve around teamwork—pushing doors together, pulling levers in sync, that sort of thing. Sounds lovely, right? Wrong. When you're playing solo and get stuck, you feel a bit daft but you move on. When you're playing co-op and both of you are stumped, it's a whole different ballgame of mutual guilt and quiet resentment. "Did you miss something?" "No, did you?" "I don't know!" Cue the endless respawns. The puzzles themselves are familiar to anyone who's played the first two games, but they're noticeably more frustrating here. The pace grinds to a halt, and you start wondering if your partner is secretly a noob or just pretending.

Combat: A New Twist That Sometimes Twists Your Nerves

Little Nightmares 3 introduces combat against smaller enemies, and it's actually a clever evolution. Low has a bow for long-range attacks, while Alone wields a big wrench for smashing stuff. In the Carnevale, we had Low shooting the heads off bloodthirsty dolls while Alone smashed their bodies—all while the headless torsos chased us around. It's basically another puzzle, which fits the series perfectly. But the one-hit kills and forced respawns? Bloody hell, they get old fast. Every mistake feels like a personal failure, and with two players, the blame game begins. I hope future enemies are a bit more forgiving, because right now, combat is more stressful than scary.

The Monster Encounters: Where Co-Op Really Hurts

The signature encounters with each stage's horrifying main freak are undoubtedly the best part of Little Nightmares. Sneaking around, barely escaping, your heart in your throat—it's pure tension. But with another player, that tension evaporates and is replaced by sheer annoyance. Figuring out the Carnevale creep's very specific patterns and then executing a timed puzzle while staying hidden took us dozens of tries. Every death felt like it was our fault, and the endless respawns sucked all the fear out of the room. Imagine doing that with a loved one who's not as good at games as you. Yikes. It's a recipe for a domestic.

Final Thoughts: A Nightmare Worth Having, But Maybe Alone

Maybe in the full game, these annoyances feel minor. After all, my mate and I jumped into a random section without much experience. But the frustration is real, and it's baked into the co-op design. I still love the tone, the atmosphere, and the sheer creativity on display. Super massive has captured the series' vibe perfectly. But its signature cooperative feature? So far, it's something I'll be avoiding. I'd rather face Low and Alone's nightmare solo, thank you very much. That way, when I die for the hundredth time, I only have myself to blame. And honestly? That's the Little Nightmares way.

There's a practical angle to all this too. Whether you end up dragging a friend along or braving the Maw-like corridors by yourself, the last thing you want is to pay full price for something that might send you back to the lobby in twenty minutes. Keeping the entry cost low makes the whole experiment easier to stomach, especially if your co-op partner bails after the third wipe.

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Hollow Knight: Silksong's Rosary Bead Sound Is a Tiny Masterclass in Audio Design

Hollow Knight: Silksong’s Rosary Beads deliver wildly satisfying sounds, turning tiny currency caches into unforgettable player rituals.

In an industry that often prizes visual fidelity and cinematic spectacle, sound design remains one of the most quietly powerful tools in a developer's arsenal. Hollow Knight: Silksong, the long-awaited sequel to Team Cherry's 2017 metroidvania classic, understands this principle intimately. Since its release, players and critics have praised composer Christopher Larkin's score, but the game's true audio magic often lies in the smallest interactions—the sprint across a metallic platform, the pogo bounce off an enemy's shell, and, most memorably, the cascade of Rosary Beads hitting the ground.

Among Silksong's vast library of hand-crafted sound effects, the Rosary Bead deposit has emerged as a fan-favorite. These strange strings hang from floor to ceiling in mossy tunnels, adorned with deep-red beads. They are not mere set dressing; they are currency caches. Striking the rope sends a handful of beads tumbling to the floor, and each one produces a light 'twang' followed by a satisfying 'tap' as it touches stone. The beads rattle gently as they roll, creating a two-second rhythm that many players describe as oddly cathartic.

For many players, an early encounter in a mossy tunnel becomes a core memory. The string is peculiar, stretching from floor to ceiling with a series of deep-red beads dangling from it. Even before fully understanding Silksong's currency system, instinct takes over. The player hacks at the rope. What follows is a small avalanche of beads, each strike producing a handful of falling spheres. The light 'twang' of the string gives way to a crisp 'tap' sound effect, with each bead rattling gently as it first touches and rolls along the ground. The satisfaction compounds with every new bead that hits the floor. The cathartic rhythm of the interaction burrows deep into the brain.

From that point forward, every Rosary Bead deposit becomes the site of a personal ritual. Players find the deposit, lean forward in their chairs, and revel in the sound of each individual bead hitting the ground in quick succession. It is not just a noise; it is a tiny ceremony of wealth acquisition.

Yet the love for these deposits goes far beyond acoustics. It is also about what the sound represents. To put it lightly, Silksong's economy is not balanced to perfection. Most bosses do not drop Rosary Beads. Most benches cost beads to unlock. In-game items and upgrades are expensive to purchase. Given Silksong's difficult nature, many players end up losing more beads than they pick up. These Rosary Bead deposits are one of the only reliable sources of wealth in the entire game, and they are a bit of a rarity. So whenever a deposit is found, the player is not merely enjoying the literal sound of beads hitting the floor. They are enjoying the rare feeling of earning a valuable resource. They are celebrating the fact that they will finally be able to purchase that one tool they have wanted since first finding the Forge Daughter in Deep Docks many hours ago.

The audio design of the Rosary Bead deposit works on several levels. The following table breaks down its components and their effects.

Audio element
Description
Player response

Rope twang
Light, string-like snap
Signals cause and effect

Bead tap
Crisp, wooden tap
Delivers immediate satisfaction

Rolling rattle
Gentle clatter
Extends the reward after impact

Rapid succession
Overlapping taps and rattles
Creates a rhythmic, almost musical loop

This layered approach is why the sound has become iconic. It is short, repeatable, and never fatiguing. It rewards attention without demanding it. It turns a mundane action into a moment of delight. In 2026, the conversation around Silksong's audio design continues to grow. Content creators have isolated the Rosary Bead sound for ASMR-style videos. Modders have jokingly replaced other sound effects with it. Speedrunners have optimized routes around bead deposits, and casual players still pause to listen. The sound has become a cultural shorthand for Silksong's blend of challenge and reward.

Sound design is often overlooked in favor of shiny graphics, intense action, and emotive stories, but it is no less important. Audio reinforces every moment of gameplay and can easily be the difference between a good game and a great one. Hollow Knight: Silksong is home to stellar audio design, and the Rosary Bead deposit is proof that even a two-second interaction can become unforgettable. It is a tiny masterclass in tactile feedback, economic relief, and the strange pleasure of hearing small objects hit the ground. 🎧✨

That same attention to detail extends to how players build their libraries, too. Just as a single bead deposit can shape a route through Hallownest's ruins, the price you pay for a game shapes whether a journey is even worth starting. For those who want to experience the kind of care poured into Silksong's soundscape without straining their budget, comparing storefronts matters more than ever. If you're looking for titles with the same level of craft, checking [cheapest steam keys]( on DealNest is a practical first step.

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Hollow Knight: Silksong - Sister Splinter Boss Guide: Abilities, Phases, and Reward

Beat Sister Splinter in Hollow Knight: Silksong with top Shellwood tactics, loadout tips, and the Cling Grip reward.

In the sprawling, treacherous region of Shellwood in Hollow Knight: Silksong, players will inevitably cross paths with a formidable foe: Sister Splinter. This boss guards the path to the invaluable Cling Grip ability, which allows Hornet to climb walls and traverse the world with greater ease. As of 2026, with the game fully released and players exploring every corner of Pharloom, Sister Splinter remains a significant early challenge. Without proper preparation, her relentless slams, spiked vines, and summoned minions can quickly overwhelm even the most seasoned adventurer. This guide breaks down the optimal loadout, phase-by-phase tactics, and the ultimate reward for defeating this arachnid menace.

Recommended Abilities and Tools

Before entering the arena, players should ensure they have unlocked the Reaper Crest and Thread Storm ability from Greymoor. These two tools are game-changers for this fight. Additionally, the Sting Shard tool provides valuable area-of-effect damage. While any familiar setup can work, this trio offers a balanced mix of defense and aggression.

Tool/Ability
Purpose

🗡️ Reaper Crest
Generates more silk after healing, enabling frequent Thread Storm usage.

🌪️ Thread Storm
Parries and kills Splinterbark enemies, and destroys multiple Spiked Vines at once.

💥 Sting Shard
Deals AoE damage, pressuring the boss and mobs while gathering silk.

The Reaper Crest ensures a steady silk supply, which is crucial for maintaining offensive pressure. Thread Storm not only clears mobs but also helps break the vines that clutter the arena. Sting Shard adds extra chip damage when players need to keep their distance. Together, they form a solid, aggressive loadout that mitigates the boss's resource-denial tactics.

Phase 1: Slams and Spiked Vines

Sister Splinter's first phase is deceptively simple. She clings to the ceiling and performs three consecutive slams on the ground where the player stands. Each slam has a deceptively large hitbox—roughly the size of her head upon landing—so players must position themselves further away than they might expect. After each slam, her hands remain vulnerable for a brief moment; attacking them immediately deals extra damage to the boss. This is the primary way to chip away at her health.

After the triple slam, Sister Splinter retreats into the ceiling and summons Spiked Vines that erupt downward. These vines deal contact damage and can trap players in dangerous positions. Each vine requires three hits to destroy, and players can typically take down one before Sister Splinter returns. It is wise to focus on the vine that blocks the largest portion of the arena, as opening up space is critical for dodging the next barrage of slams. By consistently jumping to hit her body and striking her hands after each attack, players can stun her quickly, opening a window for massive damage.

Phase 2: Splinterbark Reinforcements

Once enough damage is dealt, Sister Splinter enters her second phase. She screeches from the ceiling, summoning Splinterbark enemies to aid her. These minions approach with a devastating spinning attack; if both hit simultaneously, they can shred Hornet's health. This is where Thread Storm shines. A single use of the ability parries their spin and instantly kills them, while also damaging Sister Splinter if she is nearby.

After the initial two Splinterbarks are dealt with, Sister Splinter rejoins the fight and will frequently summon one more minion. Players should kite the Splinterbark toward the boss and unleash Thread Storm to eliminate it while dealing heavy damage to Sister Splinter herself. The key to this phase is relentless aggression: hitting the boss as much as possible generates silk for more Thread Storms, which in turn clear minions and damage the boss. This loop can quickly stun her again or push her into the final phase.

Phase 3: The Arena Closes In

The final phase is a test of spatial awareness and resource management. Sister Splinter locks off major sections of the arena with seven Spiked Vines. Players cannot destroy all of them in time, but a single Thread Storm breaks four at once—the ideal opening move. Alternatively, basic attacks can break at least two to create dodging room. After the initial lockdown, Sister Splinter may immediately summon three more vines to replace the broken ones, or she may launch an attack right away. If she summons more, it is best to save Thread Storm for when she calls another Splinterbark, killing the mob and clearing vines simultaneously. If she queues an attack, destroy the closest vine first to gain breathing room.

This cycle repeats until she is defeated. She will continue to summon mobs and vines while performing ground slams, gradually shrinking the safe zone. With enough pressure and smart ability usage, players can overcome anything she throws at them. While it is possible to win without the recommended loadout, this setup makes the fight significantly more manageable.

Reward: Cling Grip

Defeating Sister Splinter does not immediately grant a visible reward like some other bosses. Instead, players must head to the left of the boss arena and climb to the top of the room. There, they will find the Cling Grip ability. This allows Hornet to climb walls and traverse the world with newfound freedom, opening up previously inaccessible areas in Shellwood and beyond. It is an essential upgrade for any player looking to fully explore Pharloom.

With the right tools and a bit of practice, Sister Splinter becomes a memorable but conquerable foe. Her fight teaches valuable lessons about resource management and arena control that will serve players well throughout the rest of Hollow Knight: Silksong. So sharpen your needle, prepare your crest, and show this spider who is boss.

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My Complete Journey Through Hollow Knight: Silksong's Choral Chambers

Hollow Knight: Silksong Choral Chambers guide: navigate the Citadel with key shortcuts, maps, treasures, and Lace fight tips.

I still remember crawling out of The Underworks after beating the Last Judge, only to be swallowed by the gilded nightmare of the Choral Chambers. If you skipped The Mist, this is likely your first real taste of the Citadel, and it is overwhelming. The halls are huge, the enemies are aggressive, and the secrets are packed into every ceiling and floor. As of 2026, this area remains one of the most complex zones in Hollow Knight: Silksong, so I want to walk you through the path I took, the shortcuts I opened, and the treasures I refused to leave behind.

Lower Left-Side Halls 🧭

When I popped out of the hole at the top of the Underworks, I immediately headed left and found a free bench. That bench felt like a miracle. Further left, a big circular room offered a shortcut to the Grand Gate, but I went up and around instead. I activated a lever, grabbed a few shards from the obscured hatch on the left, and climbed higher for beads and a preview of the Ventrica Station. It was blocked from my side, so I kept moving right and paid for the map. That map changed everything. After opening a floor hatch, I dropped into a den of easy spiders, climbed out, and walked past dead Citadel residents until Lace appeared. She taunted me, the corpses rose, and I had my first real fight in the area. ⚔️

Central Left-Side Halls

The enemies here are not terrible, but I learned to respect the ones with red on their clothing. They swing wide or throw projectiles that caught me more than once. Since this is not a locked combat room, I left when my health got low. I entered the bottom right room and found an elevator blocked by a very particular key. I made a mental note and returned to the tall room. I platformed up, swatted away a sword enemy, and broke a window on the left. At first it looked empty, but I jumped up the wall and looted a dead body for a Rosary Bead. Back in the main tall room, I headed up and to the upper left exit, where enemies and Rosaries waited. The top was blocked, so I continued left.

Far Left-Side Halls

After fighting through more enemies, I took the left door, jumped across spikes, and chose to drop down instead of visiting The Slab. That drop led me to the Citadel Spa. It looked disappointing at first, just a couple of showerheads, but I broke the floor in the first room. Beneath it was an underground steam pipe system. No hidden items, but it contained an entrance to the secret area of the spa. That route connects the leftmost side of the map to the middle and became very convenient for a later quest. I then headed left, fought silk-strung enemies, hit a lever, and went down. I grabbed Rosaries, entered a big room through its upper right segment, and let the optional enemies spawn. I left or beat them, dropped down and right, and found a chest packed with Rosaries. Further down and right, I finally activated that Ventrica Station. Once it became my hub for the Citadel, I understood why these stations are a godsend. 🛎️

Large Left-Side Drop

I opened the shortcut and returned to the tall room where I had taken a left to the Ventrica Station. Heading up, I entered the upper left exit and found Silk dispensers. Not useful. Up the timed platforms, the next room had bells and a pressure plate. I had to repeat the pattern they rang out. If you do not want to memorize it, here is the cheat sheet I used:

Pattern
Bell order (left to right)

First
1, 5, 4, 6

Second
3, 6, 5, 1, 7

Third
2, 4, 6, 3, 5, 1

After that, I received a Cogheart Piece. Up more timed platforms, I headed right and had to jump with strict timing while dodging an enemy. I lured the enemy to the starting platform, killed it, then jumped across for my prize. Up even more timed platforms, the top left entrance had a winged swordsman guarding Grindle. There was nothing else in the room, but everyone loves Grindle, right? 🪶

Central Left-Side Drop

At the top right room, I dropped down and fought the genuinely tough enemies. I jumped left for extra Rosaries as a reward, then timed my jumps to the right into another massive room. I broke the wall directly to the right, dropped for Silk, and acknowledged the big saw blades I could not pass. I fell down carefully, avoiding the golden spikes, and broke the cracked wall on the right. That let me flick a lever, go back up, soar past the saws, and save a flea. I returned to the bottom, opened a shortcut to the tall room that started this whole route, and headed right into a cramped hallway. Past the tattered curtains, I found a fly-infested room, went up, and glimpsed rare Pale Oil. I could not break that wall yet, so I went to the top right, grabbed a Silkeater, and left. Falling back down the tall room and going right, I finally reached the top right entrance and another bench. 😌

Lower Middle Halls

From that bench, I headed right, opened the hatch, and prepared for spiders and steam. Every path here coalesces at the bottom right and leads into a long, straightforward hall. I went left first to open a shortcut to the left-side halls. The area to the right had moving cogs and a flying mechanical bug, but it was light work. The end of the hallway was packed with enemies that love heavy blows. I used a few hit-and-run attacks and cleared them.

Lower Right-Side Halls

As soon as I entered the room on the right, I dropped all the way down and opened the Grand Bellway. I bought the bench and the Ventrica Station beside it. This was incredibly handy, because trekking out of the Citadel and back to the rest of Pharloom is arduous. The room up and to the left was not special. I dodged spikes, took out two thieves, and broke cocoons for a Silkeater. I also entered the door above the Bellway, but there was only a little lore. Further up, I broke glass blocking an entrance marked by three pins. Inside was another Pale Oil teaser and an easy way to escape enemies. I pogoed off bells, entered another dark cramped hallway, and found a big lever that turned a massive wheel with a hole in it. I turned it to go vertically and wall jumped up. I could head left for Silk dispensers, but who cares? 💰

Upper Right-Side Halls

I pogoed off more bells and opened the top right door. The hallway required a few well-timed dashes, but it was straightforward. At the other end, I found a very big, regal-looking chapel. I went inside, rang the bell, enjoyed the free bench, and came outside to be chewed out by an old man. This began the town of Songclave, which gradually gains residents as you progress. At the very rightmost part of Songclave, I found the White Key. It opens the elevator we found long ago and leads to a smaller, separate area. For now, I headed back left and climbed all the way up. At the top, I activated another Ventrica station, which was incredibly useful throughout most of Act 2. I went down and left across an extremely long hallway with a glass floor and several beefy guards. A well-timed dive kick can bounce over them, but they drop a ton of money, so I tried killing them. Continuing left, I found an upper entrance I could not access without wings, and I headed down to unlock a shortcut. Be careful: going much further left throws you into the Cogwork Dancers boss fight. I geared up first, defeated them, opened the Cogwork Core, and headed to the upper left.

Upper Left-Side Halls

With those guards dispatched, I entered the top left area. I could go left, since the route upwards was locked, or descend to explore more of the Choral Chambers. I chose to descend first. The top two gates on the right are shortcuts out of the Cogwork Core, so I ignored them. I entered the top left gate by dropping in from above, and the lower left gate was already unlocked. Further down, I found two more gates. I could bypass the right gate by going underneath, but I could not find a way around the left gate. I dropped down, ran across the huge dining hall, and found the Royal Mergwin, who tasked me with a massive quest for Pale Oil. I opened the shortcuts, then climbed back up to the room left of the Cogwork Dancers, behind a breakable wall. There, I started a big vertical platforming challenge on timed platforms and opened a treasure chest. My reward was seeing Grindle. This is much easier if you wait until you have wings. Further left, I found rings to grapple onto and climb. They led into High Halls proper and let me unlock the shortcut I had seen earlier. I grabbed the bench, and from there I had plenty of new places to explore, all connected to these chambers.

The Choral Chambers can feel like a maze, but once I opened the Ventrica stations, shortcuts, and benches, it became the beating heart of the Citadel. My advice is simple: buy the map early, respect the red-clothed enemies, solve the bell puzzle, and do not rush the Cogwork Dancers. Take the area one hall at a time, and you will turn this gilded labyrinth into your new home base. 🧵

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Silksong Guide: How to Open the Ornate Lock and Beat The Unravelled

Hollow Knight: Silksong's Whiteward lock hides The Unravelled boss; find the Surgical Key with Clawline to open it.

As of 2026, Hollow Knight: Silksong continues to reward curious players who stray from the critical path, and few optional secrets are as easy to miss as the ornate lock mechanism hidden inside Whiteward. The device sits behind a keyhole, silent and unexplained, during Act 2. Because it is not tied to the main story, the game offers no tutorial, no marker, and no obvious hint about what lies beneath. So how does a traveler turn that stubborn lock into a doorway? The answer requires a return trip, a late-game movement ability, and a key that most players will overlook on their first pass through the Citadel.

A Locked Door in Whiteward

The journey begins during the climb to the top of the Citadel. To enter Whiteward, players need the White Key, which is found in the top-right part of the Citadel in Songclave. After collecting it, they can ring the bell in the First Shrine if they wish, then return to the elevator and ride it down. Once inside Whiteward, they should take the left passage. There, the ornate lock mechanism waits, demanding a keyhole item that is not yet in the inventory. At this point, the correct move is simple: ignore it and continue the main story.

Progression eventually leads to the Underworks, where players earn the Clawline ability on the eastern side. This tool is the missing piece. Without it, the Surgical Key cannot be reached, and the lock remains a decorative mystery. With it, the optional boss arena becomes accessible.

Finding the Surgical Key 🔑

After acquiring Clawline, players should return to Whiteward. The route is specific. They need to make their way to the right, just before the drop into the lava pit that leads into the Underworks. Up above that area, a secret passage is hidden on the top level. Going left from there reveals an enemy and a grapple point. By using Clawline on that point, players can trigger an item drop: the Surgical Key.

It is a small detour with a large payoff. The key must then be carried back to the ornate lock mechanism. Inserting it causes the floor underneath to open, dropping the player directly into The Unravelled's boss arena.

The Unravelled Boss Fight

The Unravelled does not begin as a solo duel. The encounter opens with a single enemy. Once that enemy is defeated, two more spawn. Only after those additional foes are dealt with does the actual boss make his appearance. It is a layered fight, and players who waste resources on the first wave may find themselves struggling before the main event even starts.

The boss has only three attacks in his arsenal, but each one punishes careless positioning. He deals two mask damage, so contact is costly. Players should avoid standing on the ground where he emerges. The Unravelled usually opens with a charge attack. The good news is that he can be attacked during this move. The safer response is to jump and dash out of the way, then strike him from behind before he dives into the ground.

After reemerging, he will either perform another charge or launch projectiles that can be hit. As he takes enough damage, he begins summoning spears from the ground before diving back down. In the later stages, he can start a charge attack while the spears are still active. That overlap is the real threat. Keeping calm, maintaining distance, and punishing only safe openings will carry the fight.

Phase
What Happens
Player Response

Opening
One enemy appears
Clear it quickly

Second Wave
Two enemies spawn
Manage spacing and silk

Boss Intro
The Unravelled enters
Avoid his emergence point

Charge
Boss rushes across arena
Jump, dash, hit from behind

Projectiles
Boss fires hittable shots
Strike them or dodge

Spears
Ground spears appear
Stay mobile, avoid charging boss

Reward
Silk Heart
Collect and exit

Why the Reward Matters

Defeating The Unravelled grants a Silk Heart. For completionists and players chasing every upgrade, this makes the ornate lock worth opening. It is not required for the main story, but it is another example of Silksong hiding meaningful rewards behind environmental puzzles and ability gates.

So is the detour worth it? For anyone who enjoys the game's exploration, yes. The lock mechanism is a reminder that not every secret announces itself. Sometimes the only hint is a keyhole, a hidden passage, and the patience to come back later with the right tool.

Quick Recap ✅

Reach Whiteward in Act 2.

Get the White Key from Songclave in the Citadel.

Ride the elevator down and find the ornate lock on the left passage.

Continue the story until Clawline is obtained in eastern Underworks.

Return to Whiteward and go right before the lava pit drop.

Find the top secret passage, go left, and use Clawline on the grapple point.

Collect the Surgical Key and unlock the mechanism.

Defeat The Unravelled's waves and boss.

Claim the Silk Heart.

In 2026, this remains one of the more satisfying optional secrets in Silksong. The path is obscure, the boss is dangerous, and the reward is permanent. For players who thrive on discovery, that combination is exactly what makes the hunt worthwhile.

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Little Nightmares 3: Supermassive's Charming Horror Co-op Adventure

Little Nightmares 3 delivers chilling co-op horror as Supermassive Games guides Low and Alone through the Nowhere.

Little Nightmares 3 was a big deal for Bandai Namco when it launched in 2025, and now in 2026, it's clear that the gamble paid off. The first two games, developed by Tarsier Studios, are cult classics of the horror genre. But with Tarsier moving on to a new IP, the sequel had a lot riding on its itty-bitty shoulders. Add to that the long-awaited introduction of full co-op gameplay, two new protagonists, and a whole set of new nightmares, and the stakes were higher than ever. Thankfully, new developer Supermassive Games—already well known in the horror space thanks to The Dark Pictures and Until Dawn—was up to the task. From early impressions, Little Nightmares 3 brilliantly captures the series' vibe, and now that it's out, fans can experience the chilling journey for themselves.

A New Developer, A Familiar Nightmare

Taking over from Tarsier was no small feat. Producer Coralie Feniello admits it was "very stressful" when you put it that way, but overall, the team felt pretty good. "The build you've just played, it's already pretty stable," she laughs. "I'm really happy with the work that the team has done, even as they're still fixing stuff to make sure that players have the best experience possible." Supermassive Games inherited a legacy, but they didn't take long to win fans over. Feniello, a fan of the series since before working on it, started her journey with Little Nightmares 2. "It's been interesting replaying Little Nightmares 1 and 2 to make sure that the third game keeps its DNA," she says.

The pressure was equal parts excitement, she notes. And that pressure was like a tightrope walk over a pit of hungry shadows—one misstep could have shattered the series' delicate charm. But Supermassive managed to balance nostalgia with innovation.

Meet Low and Alone

One of the most striking changes is the introduction of two new playable characters: Low and Alone. They are two best friends stuck in the Nowhere, trying to find their way out. As is tradition for the series, not much is known about them yet, but their visual design speaks volumes. Feniello reveals that they started with the shape. "In the series, you're quite small and it's very dark, so you need to have something that your eyes will catch. For Low, it has been the beak, and for Alone, it's the pigtails. The colours are very important because, just like with Six, we want the children to be a light in the dark world."

The bright colours—Alone with green and orange, Low with blue—make them stand out against the gloom, like two vibrant koi fish swimming through a sea of ink. Fans have already fallen in love with the pair, which is a relief for Feniello, who admits following Six and Mono was stressful.

Co-op: A Long-Requested Feature

The biggest gameplay addition is online co-op, allowing two players to control Low and Alone simultaneously. This was heavily influenced by player feedback. "When we released Little Nightmares 2, we did some surveys on players, and they said that the most requested feature was co-op," Feniello says. "It was also something we had in mind—that's why we had AI co-op in Little Nightmares 2 with Six. Here, it's a whole other step with online co-op and single-player, since you basically need to have the design three times."

However, the game controversially won't feature couch co-op. Feniello explains it was a design choice: "In Little Nightmares, each room—we call them rooms because they basically are—they use a dollhouse camera. If you cut the 2.5D camera in half, it would destroy all of the design of those spaces." So the decision was made to preserve the game's unique perspective, even if it disappointed some fans.

Single-Player: The Atmospheric Experience

For those who prefer to brave the nightmares alone, single-player is still an option, with an AI partner controlling the other character. Feniello says single-player is "mostly different in terms of the atmosphere. It might be a bit closer to what you experienced in Little Nightmares 1 and 2. The atmosphere kicks in because you're not talking with someone, but at the same time, the AI will also be there. I really like the way when the AI isn't directly with you, how you feel even more fragile than when you are with them."

That fragility is a feeling that long-time fans will appreciate.

Charming Horror: The Series' DNA

Atmosphere is the cornerstone of Little Nightmares, and Feniello perfectly describes the tone: "On our side, we talk about charming horror, which I think really fits the series. The fact that you have these children who are quite cute in that world, but everything else is so very dark. I think that the contrast between those two is what makes Little Nightmares."

This contrast is like a music box playing a lullaby while the house burns down—unsettling yet mesmerizing. Supermassive has clearly understood this balance.

A Standalone Story with Easter Eggs

Unlike Little Nightmares 2, which directly followed the first game, Little Nightmares 3 is designed as a standalone story. "We are focusing on the story of Low and Alone," Feniello says. "It's obviously a bit different with new characters. If you are a big fan of the franchise and you have been listening to our podcasts, reading some of the transmedia stuff, and replaying Little Nightmares 1 and 2, then you'll be able to find Easter eggs and make connections. I'm not sure that every player will be able to do that, since it's its own story—you don't need to play the others to enjoy it, but you'll definitely have some stuff to look for."

So newcomers can jump right in, while veterans will find hidden treats.

Final Thoughts

Little Nightmares 3 is a worthy continuation of the series, blending familiar scares with fresh ideas. Supermassive Games has proven they can handle the franchise with care, and the addition of co-op opens up new ways to experience the horror. Whether played alone or with a friend, the game's charming horror will grip players from start to finish. Now that it's available, there's no excuse not to step into the Nowhere and face the nightmares.

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Silksong: Balm for the Wounded — I Saved Sherma and All I Got Was This Spool Fragment

Silksong Balm for the Wounded guide: track Sherma through Whiteward, start in Songclave, and survive enemy waves.

Ah, the Whiteward. The place where hope goes to get a haircut and never comes back. If you are playing Silksong in 2026 and you have finally reached the Citadel, congratulations. Act 2 is less of a guided tour and more of a haunted museum where every exhibit wants to stab you. And if you have met Sherma, the adorable pilgrim bug, you already know you would follow him into a nightmare. Which, spoiler alert, is exactly what this quest asks you to do.

How to Start Balm for the Wounded

First, you need Songclave. Ring the Grand Bell in the top-right of the Choral Chambers. Later, come back and the area has become a Town hub with a Wishwall. Pick up the White Key to the right of the Grand Bell, then unlock and explore the Whiteward. After that, return to Songclave. Sherma should be among the pilgrims. Talk to him. Then leave and come back later. Of course he is gone. Did you expect the cute one to stay safe? No. Pick up Sherma's quest on the Wishwall: Balm for the Wounded. Then head back down to the Whiteward to save him.

Finding Sherma in the Whiteward

From Choral Chambers, enter Whiteward. Sit at the bench on the right side of the first room to save your location. Then jump down the shaft. Do not drop all the way down. Take the first exit on the right. Follow the path right, drop down the hole, and you will land on a trackable object. Interact with it to Track Sherma. Now follow the trail. Is it creepy? Yes. Is it also weirdly beautiful? Also yes.

The trail initially leads Hornet right through a room filled with giant masked enemies wielding scissors. These are not arts-and-crafts scissors. They are the kind that make you reconsider your choices. Track the second object on a platform between spikes in this long room. This continues Sherma's trail, leading you further right. Avoid the enemies again, then follow the trail upward. The trail will lead to a room you can enter. Go in, then break the breakable wall on the right side. Inside, you will find Sherma.

The Rescue and the Enemy Waves

Talk to Sherma. He is shivering in fear. He has seen the brutality and faith-challenging horrors of the Whiteward. He says he found healing supplies, got trapped, and then started to hear moans in the dark. Poor little guy. After a moment, a variety of challenging enemies appear in waves. Of course they do.

Here is how I handled them:

Enemy Type
How to Fight
Why

Three flying enemies with tentacle-like silk strands
Use Silk Skills and Tools
They are hard to get close to and hit with the Needle

Two scissor-wielding enemies
Use pogo attacks, downward slashes in mid-air
Avoid their rapid attacks, which deal two masks of damage

Defeat the three flying enemies first if you can. They are annoying little sky gremlins. Then focus on the two scissor enemies. Pogo them. Bounce on their heads like you are playing a very violent game of hopscotch. Do not get greedy. Their attacks hurt. A lot. Two masks of damage is not a suggestion. It is a warning.

After defeating the waves, you have successfully saved Sherma. He will return to Songclave. But not before giving Hornet something he found while looking for supplies.

Reward: Spool Fragment

For finding Sherma and saving him from the horrors of the Whiteward, he rewards Hornet with a Spool Fragment.

Hornet can combine 2x Spool Fragments to increase her maximum Silk by 1 bar. Is that worth fighting through a haunted hospital full of scissor monsters? If you use Silk Skills often, absolutely. If you do not, well, you still saved a cute bug. That counts for something.

Final Thoughts

So, would I do Balm for the Wounded again in 2026? Yes. Would I complain the entire time? Also yes. The Whiteward is a masterclass in dread, and Sherma is a masterclass in making you care about a tiny fictional bug. If you are stuck, remember: sit at the bench, take the first right, track the trail, break the wall, and pogo the scissors. And if you hear moans in the dark, maybe do not investigate alone.

Now go get that Spool Fragment. Sherma believes in you. I believe in you. The scissor monsters do not, but their opinion does not matter. 🧵✨

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Where to Get Choir Cloaks in Silksong: A 2026 Guide

Cloaks of the Choir in Silksong: farm 15 Choir Cloaks fast in Choral Chambers, unlock Songclave, and complete this rewarding wish.

In 2026, Hornet's pilgrimage through Pharloom remains one of the most talked-about journeys in gaming, and Songclave still offers its quiet, desperate wishes. Among them is Cloaks of the Choir, a gathering quest that asks for 15 Choir Cloaks. It sounds simple enough, does it not? Yet the Citadel's choir does not part with its garments willingly. To finish this wish, Hornet must first unlock Songclave, then hunt specific enemies in the Choral Chambers. Here is how the quest unfolds, step by step.

🗺️ Unlocking Songclave and the Wishwall

Songclave does not exist until Hornet rings the Grand Bell in the top-right of the Choral Chambers. Before she can do that, she must defeat the Cogwork Dancers. After the bell is rung, leaving and returning later reveals that the Grand Bell has transformed into Songclave, a town hub. The Caretaker may insist that helping pilgrims is pointless, but Hornet can still make a difference.

At the Songclave Wishwall, Hornet should pick up the Fine Pins quest first. Fulfill that wish, turn it in, then leave and return once more. A new Wish will appear on the board: Cloaks of the Choir. Promise to fulfill it, then head back into the Choral Chambers.

⚔️ Which Enemies Drop Choir Cloaks?

Not every choir member carries a spare cloak. Enemies with a white hood and a gold sigil, such as the Reed or Choristor, do not drop them. The quest specifically requires Choir Cloaks from three foes:

Enemy
Where It Appears
Notes

Choir Flyer
Around chandeliers and upper platforms
Fast, airborne, and easy to miss with grounded attacks.

Choir Pouncer
Near chandeliers and ledges
Leaps toward Hornet; defeat it before it lands over spikes.

Choir Hornhead
Lower areas of the farming room
Tougher, grounded, and worth the extra care.

🧵 Best Choir Cloak Farming Spot

The best place to farm Choir Cloaks in Silksong is the tall room to the left of the entrance to the Whiteward, just beneath the dining hall where Hornet can pick up the Great Taste of Pharloom quest. From Songclave, make your way to this location, then sit at the bench just to the top-right of the room.

All three enemies that drop Choir Cloaks spawn in this room. Pouncers and Flyers hover on and around the chandeliers up above, while a Hornhead patrols down below. Defeat them, reset the room by sitting on the bench to the top-right, and repeat until Hornet has all 15 Choir Cloaks.

⚠️ A Warning About Spikes

There is one cruel catch. Quest Items, including Choir Cloaks, are destroyed on contact with damaging ground. If Hornet defeats an enemy while it is above spikes, the cloak can be lost before it is ever collected. Is that not the Citadel's way? Patience and positioning matter more than raw speed. Lure enemies away from hazards or strike from a safe angle.

🏆 Rewards for Completing Cloaks of the Choir

Once Hornet has 15 Choir Cloaks, return to the Wishwall in Songclave and turn them in. The Cloaks of the Choir quest completes, and the reward is a Heavy Rosary Necklace. Heavy Rosary Necklace items are worth 220 Rosaries. For a simple gathering quest, that is not bad at all. Plus, defeating the required enemies while hunting for cloaks will naturally earn a few hundred extra Rosaries along the way.

💰 Final Tips for 2026 Players

Unlock Songclave first by ringing the Grand Bell after the Cogwork Dancers.

Complete Fine Pins before expecting Cloaks of the Choir to appear.

Farm the tall room near Whiteward and use the top-right bench to reset.

Avoid killing cloak-bearing enemies over spikes.

Turn in all 15 cloaks at the Songclave Wishwall for the Heavy Rosary Necklace.

So, is the Cloaks of the Choir quest worth the trouble? For Rosary-hungry pilgrims in 2026, the answer is a quiet yes. It is a straightforward farm with a solid payout, and it gives Hornet one more way to make Songclave a little brighter in a kingdom that rarely offers kindness.

Silksong's economy rewards players who think like careful collectors: wait for the right moment, avoid losing value to hazards, and never pay more than you have to. That same mindset carries over surprisingly well into how many Hollow Knight fans build out their libraries between runs, especially with the sequel's popularity pushing more people toward the genre's wider catalog of metroidvanias and soulslikes.

If chasing Rosaries in Pharloom has left you wanting more adventures without draining your wallet, it helps to know [where to buy cheap games]( before the next sale cycle hits. DealNest gathers discounted titles and price drops in one place, so you can grow your backlog for less than the cost of a Heavy Rosary Necklace — no spikes, no lost loot, just savings worth collecting.

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Silksong: I Unlocked the Choral Chambers Stage Door and Fought Trobbio

Unlock Silksong's Stage door in Choral Chambers by routing through Whispering Vaults to beat Trobbio.

I still remember the first time I laid eyes on that locked door in Choral Chambers. It was just above the Grand Bellway, bottom-right of the zone, and I could see a golden lever mocking me from the other side. Hornet could not reach it. No amount of wall-clinging, dash-slashing, or desperate pogo tricks would do the job. That door is the entrance to The Stage, and behind it waits Trobbio, an acclaimed thespian who wants to use his theatrical performance to 'rouse the soul of this one great land.' If you are playing Silksong in 2026, this little detour is still one of the most rewarding side paths in the game. Let me spill the tea on how I got through it.

Why Bother With The Stage?

Beating Trobbio is not just about bragging rights. Once he is down, you get much safer access to the Whispering Vaults and the top-right side of the Underworks. The Grand Bellway bench is practically right below the boss room, so it becomes a convenient fast-travel anchor. In a game like Silksong, where a single wrong step can send you back to the last bench with a bruised ego, that is huge. It is the difference between a leisurely stroll and a sweaty-palmed gauntlet every time you need to pass through.

The Long Way Around

The lever that opens the Stage door is on the far side. You cannot reach it from Choral Chambers. Period. You have to go all the way around through the Whispering Vaults and enter the boss room from the right side. Here is the route I used, step by step.

Step
What To Do
Danger Level

1
From the Cogwork Dancers arena (where the three ancient statues now sit after you beat the boss), head down into the Cogwork Core.
Low

2
Carefully navigate to the right side of the room. If you do not have the shortcut unlocked, go all the way down, then around the bottom of the central wall.
Medium

3
Continue right, pogo-ing across more gears, until you enter a room with a lever.
High

4
Hit the lever to turn the gigantic wheel-gate horizontal. This connects the top of Choral Chambers to the Bellway area below.
Low

5
Continue right to enter the Whispering Vaults.
Medium

6
Attack boxes to push them along tracks in the background, then continue into the room on the right.
High

7
In the enormous, labyrinthine room, aim for the exit on the left about two-thirds of the way down.
Very High

8
Dodge flame-tossing enemies, gigantic armored bugs, and rapid slashing enemies while solving box puzzles.
Very High

9
Continue left, then drop down into the top layer of The Stage.
Medium

10
At the end of the hallway, drop down near the door. Do NOT enter the boss arena yet. Hit the lever to unlock the locked door to The Stage.
Low

11
Go back to the Grand Bellway and sit on the bench to set your respawn point.
Breathe

That last step is not optional. I repeat: do not be a hero. If you skip the bench and die to Trobbio, and you sat at any bench on the way through the Cogwork Core or Whispering Vaults, you will have to make a much longer trek back. Trust me, I learned that the hard way. My pride still has not recovered.

Whispering Vaults: Box Puzzles and Bullet Hell

The Whispering Vaults section is no joke. Those box puzzles are cute until you are getting peppered by flame projectiles and rushed by armored bugs the size of a small house. I found that patience is the real weapon here. Push the boxes one at a time, keep your distance from the slashing enemies, and do not get greedy with hits. If you are using a spell-heavy build, save your Silk for emergency healing. If you are a pogo purist, may the odds be ever in your favor.

The labyrinthine room is the worst offender. It is huge, and the exit you need is on the left, about two-thirds down. I marked it on the map image above because I got lost twice. Twice! In 2026, with all the guides and patches, I still managed to take the scenic route through every wrong hallway. Do not be like me. Keep an eye on the map, hug the left side when you can, and drop down only when you are sure.

The Final Lever and Boss Prep

Once you drop into the top layer of The Stage, you are almost there. Follow the hallway left, drop down near the door, and hit that lever. The locked door in Choral Chambers now opens from the other side. Now go back to the Grand Bellway bench. Sit. Relax. Maybe stretch your fingers. Then return to The Stage and show Trobbio what a real performance looks like.

Trobbio himself is a theatrical nightmare. He is fast, he is flashy, and he loves to punish greedy attacks. I will not spoil his full moveset, but bring your best tools: a fully upgraded needle, plenty of Silk, and maybe a shield charm if you have one. The reward is worth it: safer access to the Whispering Vaults and the top-right Underworks, plus the satisfaction of wiping that smug grin off his face.

So there you have it. The locked door in Choral Chambers is not a bug, a tease, or a developer prank. It is a gateway to one of Silksong's most memorable boss fights and a major convenience shortcut. In 2026, this route is still the way to go. Now go unlock that Stage door, and do not forget the bench. Your future self will thank you. 🎭🗡️

Speaking of rewards that are worth the wait, there is one other place where a little patience pays off: buying the game itself. If you have been holding off on picking up Silksong, or you want to grab it on a second platform for a co-op run, prices bounce around constantly between storefronts, and refreshing five tabs during every seasonal sale gets old fast. That is exactly the gap [game price tracker]( fills over at DealNest — it keeps an eye on listings across the major stores so you can see at a glance whether the current deal is genuinely the lowest it has been, or just marketing noise dressed up as a discount.

Grabbing a copy at the right moment is the same instinct as sitting on that bench before a boss fight: a tiny bit of foresight that spares you a much longer, more painful trek later. So whether you are buying your first copy or double-dipping, it is worth a quick look at DealNest before you hit checkout.

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The Silksong Platinum Trophy Is Already in a Few Players' Hands

Hollow Knight: Silksong's platinum trophy demands brutal speedruns and 100% completion. Only 0.06% of players earned it.

I still remember the first time I booted up Hollow Knight: Silksong. It was September 2025, and like everyone else who had waited nearly seven years, I thought I was ready. I was not. The tight platforming, the diagonal bounce, the enemies that rip away two masks with a single hit — Silksong didn't just meet my expectations; it shoved them off a cliff. Now, in 2026, I can look back at that launch week with a mix of awe and embarrassment. Awe because a handful of players did something impossible. Embarrassment because I'm still stuck on Widow.

It took less than a week for some extremely skilled Hollow Knight: Silksong players to 100 percent the game and earn its uber-difficult platinum trophy. I know that sounds like a flex, and it is. But it's also a terrifying statement about how high the skill ceiling goes. I truly believed it would take months before anyone fully completed Silksong. Instead, the first platinum holders appeared while most of us were still learning enemy patterns and mourning our Geo.

The trophy list itself is a monster. To get the platinum, you don't just need to finish the game. You need to beat it in under five hours for a speedrun trophy. You need to clear it 100 percent for another. And then, because that isn't enough, you need to combine those two challenges: 100 percent completion in under 30 hours. That last one sounds like a personal attack. I've spent longer than 30 hours just staring at boss arenas, wondering if my controller is broken or if I am.

I've been checking the PlayStation trophy tracking website PSNProfiles over the past few days since Silksong first released — after its extended hiatus on PlayStation, no less — eager to see if anyone had managed to get its platinum. Today I found out that a few skilled players have managed to nab it. According to PSNProfiles, a mere 0.06 percent of Silksong players on PlayStation have managed to see everything the game has to offer, or at least everything needed for the trophy. Over on SteamDB, that number drops to just 0.01 percent of players. Those numbers are so small they feel like rounding errors. They are not. They are monuments to dedication.

Here's a quick look at what the platinum demands, because seeing it in a list makes my hands hurt:

Challenge
Requirement
My reaction

Speedrun
Beat the game in under 5 hours
😅 Absolutely not

Completionist
100 percent the game
😭 Maybe in a decade

Combined run
100 percent in under 30 hours
💀 No thanks

Platinum
All of the above
🏆 God-tier patience

Good thing PlayStation players don't have to complete Steel Soul for the platinum. I've seen what Steel Soul does to people. It turns confident bug-slaying heroes into trembling shells who pause the game to breathe. I respect anyone who even attempts it, let alone finishes it.

Personally, I think getting the platinum in under a week is a bit soon for a game we waited nearly seven years for. But that's probably just the jealousy talking. I'm still stuck on Widow, and every time I think I've learned her patterns, she reminds me that I have not. So when I see that 0.06 percent on PlayStation or 0.01 percent on Steam, I don't just see a trophy. I see someone who mastered the diagonal bounce, memorized every boss, optimized every route, and probably sacrificed sleep, meals, and maybe a controller or two.

In 2026, Silksong is still a game that demands respect. The platinum remains rare, and for good reason. It isn't just about beating a hard game; it's about beating it perfectly, quickly, and thoroughly. That combination is brutal. For most of us, simply reaching the credits is an achievement. For those few platinum holders, it's a badge of insanity — the good kind. I'm jealous, impressed, and slightly worried about them. Mostly impressed, though.

Maybe one day I'll get past Widow. Maybe one day I'll see the credits. But the platinum? I'll leave that to the Silksong gods. They've earned it.

Not all of us are chasing platinum trophies, though. Plenty of players are still waiting for the right moment to even start Silksong — or looking to pick up Hollow Knight first, or a few other metroidvanias to fill the gap while they work up the courage to face Widow. That's where a bit of patience pays off in a different way. Instead of grinding routes and memorizing boss patterns, you can spend a few minutes checking whether the game is discounted on one storefront versus another, and put the savings toward a spare controller for the inevitable rage-quit.

If you'd rather compare before you commit, a [game price comparison]( makes it easy to see where Silksong and similar titles are cheapest across platforms, so you're not overpaying just because you clicked the first store in your search results. Whether you're hunting a platinum or just hunting a bargain, knowing the going rate beforehand is a small win that doesn't require five hours of speedrunning to earn.

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How I Found and Used the Snare Setter in Hollow Knight: Silksong

Snare Setter in Hollow Knight Silksong: locate this Red Tool in Weavenest Atla after Needolin and Faydown Cloak for boss control.

I almost missed the Snare Setter on my first journey through Hollow Knight: Silksong. It is a Red Tool hidden inside Weavenest Atla, an area east of Moss Grotto, and the route only opens after you have the Needolin and the Faydown Cloak. Because that means backtracking with a mid-game double jump, many players skip it entirely. In 2026, with Pharloom's secrets widely discussed, I still think this trap tool deserves a permanent slot for boss fights.

🕸️ What the Snare Setter Actually Is

The Snare Setter is a Red Tool that places a medium-sized silk rune on the ground. When an enemy walks near it, the rune explodes and deals damage. It starts with eight charges by default, and it does not demand rare resources to refill; regular Shell Shards are enough. That makes it easy to restock at benches or vendors before a difficult encounter.

Detail
Information

Tool type
Red Tool

Location
Hidden area inside Weavenest Atla

Access requirements
Needolin and Faydown Cloak

Default charges
8

Replenishment
Shell Shards

Best role
Boss arenas and zone control

🗺️ My Route Through Weavenest Atla

Weavenest Atla sits east of Moss Grotto, the starting region of Silksong. To get inside, I played the Needolin in front of the locked door. Once inside, the path to the Snare Setter is short but easy to fumble if you are not paying attention.

Enter Weavenest Atla and activate the teleporter to reach the lower level.

Use Cling Grip to climb the wall on the right.

Jump across the gap and enter the chamber to the left.

Walk left until you reach the water.

Use Cling Grip again to reach the top, then turn right.

Pick up the Snare Setter from the pedestal and add it to your inventory.

The first time I entered this hidden area, I was so focused on the tool that I nearly walked past two other upgrades. Do not make the same mistake. From the bottom right corner of Weavenest Atla, you can claim a Hunter Crest Upgrade. Below the Snare Setter's pedestal, you can also find a Spool Fragment, which increases your Silk capacity.

💥 How I Use the Snare Setter

When I equip the Snare Setter, I treat it like a patient hunter's tool. I place runes along the ground before a boss charges, during a stagger window, or near arena edges where I expect the boss to dash. The rune explodes when an enemy comes close, so the damage happens without me needing to swing my Needle. That is valuable when a boss has a fast pattern and I want to keep my movement clean.

It works against normal enemies too, but I rarely rely on it for basic exploration. Against common foes, a quick Needle strike is faster and cleaner. The Snare Setter shines when the battlefield is chaotic, when a boss moves around a lot, or when I want to soften a target before committing to melee.

⚔️ Snare Setter vs Tacks

Functionally, the Snare Setter resembles the Tacks Tool, which works like caltrops. Both are ground-based traps, but they behave differently in boss fights. Tacks struggle to deal meaningful damage to bosses that move around constantly. The Snare Setter can still punish those mobile bosses because its rune explodes on proximity. The tradeoff is efficiency: the Snare Setter generally deals less damage per hit than other options, so it is not a pure damage tool. It is a control tool that adds pressure.

Tool
Trap style
Boss performance
Damage efficiency

Snare Setter
Silk rune that explodes near enemies
Strong against mobile bosses
Lower damage per hit

Tacks
Caltrops
Weak against highly mobile bosses
Better for stationary or small targets

🧠 Practical Tips for 2026

🕸️ Place runes before a boss enters the arena or after a phase transition.

💥 Use Shell Shards to refill charges before long boss attempts.

🧭 Revisit Moss Grotto and Weavenest Atla after getting the Faydown Cloak.

🎯 Pair trap placement with safe Needle pokes rather than standing still.

🛡️ Do not ignore the Hunter Crest Upgrade and Spool Fragment in the same area.

🗡️ For normal enemies, save charges and use your Needle unless you are setting up a crowd.

In my current 2026 playthrough, the Snare Setter is not the flashiest Red Tool, but it is one of the most tactical. It rewards planning, map awareness, and a little patience. If you are willing to backtrack to Weavenest Atla with the Faydown Cloak, you will gain a trap that can turn a frantic boss arena into a field of your own making. For me, that is more than enough reason to keep it equipped.

Chasing every Tool and upgrade in Silksong means racking up a fair amount of playtime, and for many players that journey starts on PC. If you prefer to build your collection on Steam, keeping an eye on discounts can stretch your budget further, especially when DLC or bundled titles go on sale. That is where a reliable [steam sale tracker]( like DealNest comes in handy, letting you follow price drops without refreshing store pages yourself.

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Silksong Speedruns: How Runners Are Breaking the Game in 2026

Hollow Knight: Silksong speedrunning is shattering records, with sub-hour runs, brutal glitches, and rare achievements defining its fierce 2026 scene.

I still remember the first time I booted up Hollow Knight: Silksong. The gorgeous hand-drawn art, the haunting music, and the brutal difficulty that made me question my sanity. That was back in 2025, and nearly a year later, I'm still slowly making my way through the game, dying to the same bosses over and over. But while I'm struggling, a whole community of speedrunners has turned Silksong into their personal playground, and the records they're setting are nothing short of mind-boggling.

Back when the game first launched, it didn't even take a full week for speedrunners to start posting sub-two-hour runs. I remember reading about Onaku setting an any% record of 1:46:47, and just hours later, BlueSR smashed that with a blistering 1:26:20. I was still fumbling around the first area, and these people were already finishing the entire game in less time than it takes me to decide on a charm build. The official leaderboard wasn't even live until October 2025, but that didn't stop the community from pushing each other to insane limits.

Now, in 2026, the scene has only gotten crazier. The leaderboards are fully active, and the any% world record has been pushed well below the one-hour mark. I've watched streams where runners pull off pixel-perfect movements, abuse obscure glitches, and chain together boss fights like they're playing a rhythm game. BlueSR eventually achieved that deathless run he was gunning for, and the competition is fiercer than ever. It's like watching a completely different game from the one I'm playing.

What's fascinating is that Silksong actively rewards speedrunning, just like its predecessor. There are two achievements tied to finishing quickly: Speed Completion, for 100% completion in under 30 hours, and Speedrunner, for simply beating the game in under 5 hours. When the game first came out, both were achieved by well under 1% of players. Speedrunner sat at 0.1%, while Speed Completion was so rare it rounded to 0%. Even now, in 2026, those numbers haven't risen much—the game is just that punishing.

Here's a quick breakdown of the speed-related achievements and their rarity:

Achievement
Requirement
Completion Rate (2025)

Speedrunner
Finish in under 5 hours
0.1%

Speed Completion
100% in under 30 hours
~0%

Steel Soul
Finish in permadeath mode
~0%

And remember, Steel Soul mode itself is unlocked only after finishing the game normally or by using a well-known code. It's a permadeath challenge that makes every mistake fatal. The fact that some players are speedrunning that is both inspiring and terrifying.

To put things in perspective, the original Hollow Knight ended with an any% glitchless world record of 30:49. That's less than 31 minutes for a game that took me dozens of hours to complete. Silksong's current records make finishing in under 5 hours look like a leisurely stroll. And as runners develop new techniques and grow more familiar with the game's intricate systems, those times will only drop further.

As for me? I'm still chipping away at my 100% completion run. I've consulted guides, watched walkthroughs, and even tried a few speedrun strats myself—only to die spectacularly. The difficulty is no joke, and the idea of doing it all in under 30 hours feels impossible. But that's what makes the speedrunning community so impressive. They take a game that feels insurmountable and turn it into a science.

So while I'll probably never set a world record, I'll keep watching from the sidelines. Every new run is a reminder of what's possible when skill, dedication, and a little bit of madness come together. And who knows? Maybe one day I'll finally beat that third boss. 🏃‍♂️🎮

Watching all these runs has had an unexpected side effect: my wishlist keeps growing. Between Silksong, the original Hollow Knight, and a handful of other metroidvanias that streamers keep recommending mid-run, I've caught myself hunting for deals far more often than I'd like to admit. Chasing a 30-hour completion time is one thing—paying full price for every game in the genre is another budget entirely, especially when you want a copy on more than one platform.

That's the part of the hobby nobody talks about in a world record video. If you're the type who wants to follow along, run the same routes, or just see how the current records compare to your own attempts, it helps to keep an eye on [game price comparison]( before you commit. DealNest makes that easy, pulling together listings across stores so you can spot a discount instead of blindly hitting the buy button. It won't shave minutes off your run, but it will leave a little more room in the wallet for the next challenge.

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Lies of P: A Soulslike Phenomenon That Redefined Voice Acting and Stole Our Hearts

Lies of P and its Overture DLC became Soulslike titans; actors reveal the craft behind their beloved roles.

You know that feeling when a game comes out of nowhere and just grabs you by the collar? That was Lies of P for me. Back in 2023, I remember seeing the trailer and thinking, 'Another Pinocchio-inspired Soulslike? Sure, why not.' But then I played it, and wow. It wasn't just another clone; it had soul—pun intended. Fast forward to 2026, and the game, along with its DLC Overture, has cemented itself as a titan in the genre. And recently, I had the chance to chat with four of the actors who brought this world to life: Aliona Baranova (Veronique), Alix Wilton Regan (Lea), Rasmus Hardiker (Gemini), and Joseph Balderrama (Arlecchino). Let me tell you, it was a ride.

When Lies of P first launched, it was a gamble. A new IP from a relatively unknown studio, Neowiz, and a dark twist on a children's tale. But the buzz was immediate. Steam player counts climbed for five straight days, and critics couldn't stop praising its tight combat and haunting atmosphere. It became the most beloved non-FromSoftware Soulslike, and its DLC, Overture, which dropped in 2025, smashed records within hours. An 85 on Metacritic? That's top-tier. And the actors? They saw it coming.

The Phenomenon That Is Lies Of P

"I'm never normally sure if something is going to be successful," Rasmus Hardiker admits, "but I had so much fun doing this, I could tell it was going to be a really good game." Joseph Balderrama echoes that: "It felt like the whole package. The creative team was so good: the visuals, the sound, all of it. Everyone was just at the races with it." That kind of confidence is infectious, and it's why Aliona Baranova and Alix Wilton Regan jumped at the chance to join the DLC. "I don't really say no to many auditions," Baranova laughs, "but this one was a no-brainer." Wilton Regan, a veteran of Mass Effect and Dragon Age, was equally hooked. "She was described as tough on the outside, soft on the inside, but what I loved was she was called a lazy genius," she says. "I was like, 'I've got this.' Well, I'm lazy, and a mild genius."

Baranova actually auditioned for Wilton Regan's role first, losing out to the more experienced actor, before finding Veronique. "I just remember thinking, 'Wow, what an incredible character.' I haven't had a chance to play someone like that. And her scenes are so intense. You can't go half-hearted. I knew I had to really commit, and sound like I'm 6'6". I think I'm believably that tall," she jokes. The character descriptions were detailed, with rich histories and psychology, which helped the actors "learn to love the character." But that depth can be a double-edged sword. "You can't distill two pages of notes," Wilton Regan says. "You have to cherry-pick your moments, constantly adapt and refocus your energy."

Getting Into Character

The preparation for video game acting is unique. Often, scripts arrive the day of recording, or the day before at the earliest. For Balderrama, that's freeing. "I've got a new habit with TV and film where I don't look at the script until the week before. That's what make-up is for." Hardiker takes it further: "I prefer not even having the script and just going in the booth on the day. You'll only ever have one chance to do that. I'm reacting as I'm learning what's happening—that's about as real as it gets." Baranova, however, admits she has "a lot to learn" from the others, but she has a secret weapon at home: her partner, Jennifer English (Baldur's Gate 3, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33). "If you had someone at home who was known for brilliant performances, you would be silly not to ask them. I definitely did that for Veronique."

For Baranova, the jump from Baldur's Gate 3 NPCs to a 6'6" warrior was jarring. "On Baldur's Gate, I played a comic relief squirrel for 40 minutes. This was the most physical role I've ever done. I lost my voice afterwards, as you can imagine." Wilton Regan, on the other hand, is no stranger to strong leading women—she's voiced the Female Inquisitor in Dragon Age: Inquisition, Alt Cunningham in Cyberpunk 2077, and Aya in Assassin's Creed Origins. But Lea offered something new: "They wanted a lot of rage from me, a lot of very deep, primal emotion. That's what I like to explore as an actor. That's kind of what I get off on, I guess." Balderrama, returning as Arlecchino, was just happy to be more than a voice: "I was just psyched that I wasn't disembodied anymore. That was a big plus for me."

A Shift In The Gaming Landscape

The industry is changing. Smaller studios are producing some of the best games, from Baldur's Gate 3 to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to Lies of P itself. "These big franchise stories are saturated," Balderrama says. "People are desperate to experience something they haven't done 150 times. That's only going to come from underdog devs, because they're the ones that don't have the constraints." Baranova agrees: "Audiences are definitely becoming fatigued. Unique visions that games like Lies of P have brought are important. It's a Korean game, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is Czech, Clair Obscur is French; it's exciting to get stories from parts of the world we're not necessarily used to."

But there's still a long way to go for female representation. Wilton Regan praises games like Baldur's Gate 3 and Dragon Age: The Veilguard for their inclusive leads, but behind the scenes, change is slow. "If you have a male character and a female character, very often the man will do the full performance capture and the woman will be brought in simply to replace his lines. That's a terrible choice. A woman would not fight a 7-foot-5 man the same way a male counterpart would." She recalls pre-Covid days where she was given exactly 4.2 seconds to say a line, with no room to make it her own. "The talent comes when you make it your own, but we're constrained. You have to find a way to prove your brilliance within these constraints."

Baranova adds, "You're not treating your players as observant enough. They think that when a male actor records mo-cap, then it's just replaced with a female voice that the audience isn't going to notice. It's so obvious when a woman is walking with her shoulders locked and her hips not moving. It really irks me." Wilton Regan also calls out marketing: "The male character choice will still often be the default on the poster, or the man's voice in the trailer. We need to get women's voices in there. It's not that complicated to have one pass with the female voice, and one with the male voice."

We've come a long way from when the industry was reluctant to cast powerful leading women, but there's still work to do. With actors like Wilton Regan, Baranova, and English proving their worth, it's hopefully only a matter of time. As for Lies of P, it's more than a game—it's a testament to what happens when you take risks, trust your instincts, and let a puppet sing. And I, for one, can't wait to see what Neowiz does next. 🎭

For players who care about the direction the industry takes, the act of choosing what to play is never neutral. Every purchase signals what kind of stories, performances, and risks are worth funding. That doesn't mean every game has to be a full-price leap of faith, though—finding a good deal can make it easier to explore beyond the familiar.

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Why Silksong's Enemy Gauntlets Fix a Classic Soulslike Flaw

Hollow Knight: Silksong blends metroidvania exploration with soulslike combat, using inescapable enemy gauntlets to make every fight a lesson.

Like many players, I came to Hollow Knight: Silksong expecting a masterclass in metroidvania design. I got that, but I also got a game that understands something most soulslikes overlook. Silksong is defined by constant backtracking, powerful movement abilities, and steady, meaningful progression, putting it in conversation with Blasphemous, Ender Lilies, Metroid, and Castlevania. Yet it also owes a huge debt to Demon's Souls and Dark Souls. The bonfire-like checkpoints, the corpse-running mechanic, the grimdark world full of characters slowly going insane, the brutal boss battles that reward pattern learning and i-frame dodging after upgrades—all of it is here. But there is one area where Silksong excels, not just against its predecessor but against some of the best soulslikes ever made.

The Soulslike Shortcut I Used to Take

A typical soulslike splits into two broad categories: boss battles and exploration sections filled with lower-level enemies. Those fodder foes can be tough, acting as mini challenges before the area boss. This structure has served the genre well, but it has one glaring shortcoming. Players can simply avoid these lower-level enemies en route to the boss, especially on subsequent attempts once they know the layout. Have you ever sprinted past a dozen hollows, dogs, or soldiers just to throw yourself at a boss again? I know I have. In Dark Souls, that is not the ideal way to play, but it is possible. In Hollow Knight: Silksong, it is virtually impossible.

Inescapable Gauntlets Change Everything

Silksong adopts a structure similar to classic FromSoftware games, but it punctuates many areas with inescapable enemy gauntlets. The fodder-type foes of the area converge on me in a coordinated attack. Often, defeating this onslaught is the only way to progress to the next area, and there is usually no option for escape either. If I repeatedly run past these same enemies during exploration sections, then I will be ill-equipped to face them in the gauntlet. I will not have learned their attack patterns or weaknesses. So why does this matter? Because it turns every enemy placement into a lesson.

I remember the first time I tried to rush through a later area. I had mastered Hornet's movement, or so I thought. I dashed past a cluster of enemies, only to hit a locked arena. The gate slammed shut. Suddenly, I was surrounded. I panicked, wasted my silk, and died. On my next attempt, I slowed down. I studied each enemy type in the rooms before the gauntlet. I learned which ones lunge, which ones spit projectiles, and which ones punish greedy attacks. By the time I reached the arena again, I was ready. That is the genius of Silksong's design.

Combat Design Makes It Work

On its face, the formula of exploration passages plus basic enemy gauntlets is simple. But it only works because of Silksong's sterling combat design. To beat a series of enemies, I need a solid grasp on my movement and attack styles. I must identify openings, clock safe moments to heal, and get parry timing right. The only feasible way to do this without being immediately overwhelmed is to engage with these same enemy types before the gauntlet. That makes me better prepared. It also makes the world feel dangerous in a way that few soulslikes manage. I cannot treat enemies as scenery. They are part of the challenge, not just speed bumps on the way to a boss.

Here is a quick comparison of how Silksong handles common soulslike elements:

Soulslike Convention
Typical Implementation
Silksong's Twist

Checkpoints
Bonfires reset enemies
Bench-like checkpoints, but gauntlets reset too

Corpse runs
Retrieve lost currency
Retrieve your cocoon and silk

Fodder enemies
Often skippable
Forced into arenas, cannot skip

Boss learning
Pattern recognition
Gauntlets teach patterns before boss

Difficulty
Brutal but fair
Brutal, fair, and relentlessly educational

Why This Respects My Time and Skill

Some players might argue that forcing enemy gauntlets is too punishing. I understand that. Silksong is not an easy game. But it is certainly conquerable, given the right level of attention and effort. This tough but rewarding design is par for the course for most soulslikes. The option to simply run past fodder enemies, most of whom will never be seen again, has always been a bit awkward. It makes enemy placement feel disposable. Silksong fixes that. By reincorporating fodder-type enemies within boss-like challenge arenas, it ensures that none of its enemies, nor its enemy placements, go to waste.

In 2026, after multiple playthroughs and post-launch updates, I still find myself appreciating this design more than ever. I no longer see a room full of enemies as an obstacle to sprint past. I see it as a classroom. I see it as a chance to sharpen my parries, test new tools, and prepare for the inevitable ambush ahead. Does that make Silksong harder than Dark Souls? In some ways, yes. But it also makes every victory feel earned. And that is exactly what I want from a modern metroidvania-soulslike hybrid.

So if you are like me and you used to run past every enemy on the way to a boss, Silksong will break that habit. It will punish you, teach you, and then reward you. And once you clear a gauntlet without taking a hit, you will understand why this game sidesteps a problem that has haunted soulslikes for years. It turns fodder into fundamentals. That is not just good design. It is essential design.

That hunger for the next challenge tends to arrive the moment the credits roll. Suddenly you are scrolling storefronts at 1 a.m., comparing the price of every metroidvania-soulslike hybrid that might scratch the same itch, only to find the same game listed at wildly different prices depending on the platform, the region, and whether a sale is quietly running. Keeping track of that manually is its own kind of grind, and not the rewarding kind.

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How I Reached the Memorium in Silksong: Map Location and Route Guide

Find the Memorium in Hollow Knight: Silksong with this concise route guide, covering required abilities and the 70-Rosary map.

Hey, fellow Hornet fans! If you are lost in the Citadel and keep hearing about a mysterious place called the Memorium, I have got you covered. I spent way too many hours wandering the lower corridors of Hollow Knight: Silksong before I finally figured out the exact route, and I want to save you from that same headache. In 2026, with the current version of the game, the path is still the same, and the map is still sold by the same machine for 70 Rosaries. So grab your Needle, make sure your Pins, Quill, and Compass are ready, and let us get you to the Memorium.

Prerequisites Before You Start

Before you even think about reaching the Memorium, you need three key movement tools: the Clawline, the Double Jump, and the Faydown Cloak. Without them, you will hit a wall, literally.

Tool
Where to Get It
Why You Need It

Clawline
Eastern side of the Underworks
Required to climb Mount Fay and reach the peak

Double Jump
Peak of Mount Fay
Needed to reach the upper ledge near Songclave and the Memorium

Faydown Cloak
Late-game Citadel area
Lets you float and reach the final entrance above Songclave

I know that sounds like a lot, but trust me, each ability opens up the Citadel in a big way. If you are missing any of these, go back and grab them first. The Memorium is not going anywhere, but your patience might.

Step 1: Climb Mount Fay for the Double Jump

Start by making your way to Mount Fay. The climb to the peak is no joke. You will face tough platforming, aggressive enemies, and a few moments where you will question your timing. That is why the Clawline from the eastern side of the Underworks is mandatory. Once you have it, use it to grapple and pull yourself up the mountain.

At the very top, you will earn the Double Jump ability. This is the game-changer. With Double Jump in your possession, you can finally reach the upper areas of the Citadel that were previously out of reach.

Step 2: Head to Songclave in the Top Left of the Citadel

Once you have Double Jump, travel to the top left of the Citadel to reach the Songclave. If that name sounds familiar, it is because this is the same location where you would have acquired the White Key needed to access Whiteward. From Songclave, head left. You will pass two powerful enemies. They are not pushovers, so either fight them carefully or run past if you are confident in your dodging.

After you get past them, look above you. There will be an area that is only accessible with the Faydown Cloak. Use your Double Jump and the Faydown Cloak to go up. That is your entrance to the Memorium. Congratulations, you made it!

Step 3: Find the Memorium Map for 70 Rosaries

Reaching the Memorium is only half the battle. The map for this area is not hard to find, but it is easy to miss if you take the wrong path. From the entrance of the Memorium, head right first to access the Bench. Rest there if you need to. Then go outside the room and head up to make your way through the passage on the right. This area has multiple enemies, and at the end you will run into a Rhinoguard. That big guy can hit hard, so be ready to dodge or burst him down.

Once the Rhinoguard is dealt with, head left through the passage. Now go down and to the right when you spot the sign. You will find a machine that sells the Memorium map for 70 Rosaries. Buy it, and your map will be updated. I cannot stress enough how useful this is, especially if you plan to explore every corner of the Memorium and the areas it connects to.

What If You Do Not Have 70 Rosaries?

We have all been there. You reach the map seller and realize your wallet is empty. Do not panic. If you do not have any Rosaries on you, your best option is to go left of the map to the Bench, rest, and then head down. To your right will be two powerful enemies. They are tough, but you can kill them to farm the Rosaries needed for the map. It might take a few runs, but it is a reliable way to get the 70 Rosaries without wandering too far.

After You Buy the Map

After acquiring the map, you have a couple of choices. You can head right through the secret passage to reach Putrified Ducts, or you can head left, which leads to multiple breakable walls and ultimately the Bench. I recommend buying the map first, then exploring. That way you will not get lost when you push deeper into the Memorium or into Putrified Ducts.

Quick Tips for Navigating the Memorium

🧭 Always equip your Compass so you can see your position on the map.

📌 Use Pins to mark the map seller, the Bench, and the secret passage to Putrified Ducts.

🪶 Update your map with the Quill whenever you enter a new room.

💰 Farm Rosaries from the two enemies near the Bench if you are short on currency.

⚔️ Do not ignore the Rhinoguard. It guards the route to the map seller, and it can catch you off guard.

🪑 Rest at Benches often. The Memorium can be punishing if you rush in without full health.

Final Thoughts

Reaching the Memorium in Hollow Knight: Silksong is a rite of passage. It requires you to conquer Mount Fay, earn the Double Jump, navigate the top left of the Citadel, and use the Faydown Cloak to reach the hidden entrance above Songclave. The map itself costs 70 Rosaries, but it is worth every single one. I hope this guide saves you from the aimless wandering I went through. Now go out there, Hornet, and make the Citadel your own. Happy exploring! 😊

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Whether you are stocking up on metroidvanias or keeping an eye on the next big indie release, a little patience can save you real money. DealNest keeps things simple by collecting current Steam deals in one place, so you can spend less time checking prices and more time exploring places like the Memorium.

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Hollow Knight: Silksong Fine Pins Quest: My Fast Farming Guide

Hollow Knight Silksong Fine Pins quest guide: farm Choristor and Reed in Choral Chambers for 10 Fine Pins fast.

Have you ever spent an entire evening chasing a random drop in Hollow Knight: Silksong, only to watch your prize tumble into a spike pit? That was me with the Fine Pins quest in 2026. As a wanderer in Pharloom, I thought I had seen every annoying enemy the Citadel could throw at me. Then I met the pin-wielding choirbugs, and I learned that patience is not just a virtue here. It is a farming strategy.

The Fine Pins quest is technically a Hunt, and it asks you to collect 10 Fine Pins from some of the most irritating enemies in the Choral Chambers. The drop is random, so luck matters. But after several failed runs, I found a loop that let me finish the whole thing in about 10 minutes. Here is exactly how I did it.

How I Started the Fine Pins Quest

First, you cannot even see this quest until you have defeated the Cogwork Dancers boss. This double boss waits in the Cog Core area of the Choral Chambers region. If you are following the main story, you will naturally run into them. I still remember the clanking rhythm of that fight. Once the Cogwork Dancers fall, do not leave the arena immediately. Keep walking to the right until you reach Songclave.

Songclave is a small village that feels similar to Bone Bottom and Bellhart, but when I first arrived, it was almost empty. The only NPC there was the Caretaker, who explained that this place used to be a safe haven. To bring it back to life, you need to enter the large and only building in the area. Inside, interact with the machine and provide 80 Rosaries. That activates the First Shrine bell.

After that, leave Songclave, rest at the nearest Bench, and return. The village will finally have more people, and a brand-new Wish Board will appear with fresh quests. One of them is the Fine Pins quest. I accepted it immediately. I also strongly recommend taking the Wandering Merchant quest while you are there, because it is another useful side objective in the region.

Where to Find Choristor and Reed

Fine Pins drop from two specific enemies: the Choristor and the Reed. Both use a pin as their main weapon, and both can take up to seven or eight hits to kill. They are not boss-level threats, but they are fast, aggressive, and usually surrounded by buddies. That combination makes them very, very annoying.

You can find Choristor and Reed while exploring the Choral Chambers, especially in rooms with a vertical structure. They almost never fight alone. Your goal is simple on paper: defeat them and hope they drop a glowing Fine Pin. You need 10 in total, so random exploration can waste a lot of time.

Enemy
Movement
Main Threat
My Strategy

Choristor
Walks
Quick pin attacks and nearby allies
Kill first

Reed
Flies
Erratic aerial pressure
Kill second

My Best Farming Spot

Instead of running randomly around the Choral Chambers, I used one perfect room. It is the vertical chamber at the far right of the map, near two Benches and east of the Citadel Spa. This room has a bunch of chained platforms and several Choir enemies that get in your way while you climb up or down. It also contains our two wanted buddies: the Choristor and the Reed.

My strategy was to stay at the top of this room, near the Bench, and defeat the Choristor and Reed hanging around the upper platforms. The tricky part is that you do not want them, or the Fine Pin, to fall to the ground or onto the side spikes. If that happens, the loot disappears. I learned that the hard way.

So, what is the fix? Lure them to the center of the platform while hitting them. Jump and strike their heads sequentially. I recommend defeating the Choristor first because he walks, then leaving the flying Reed for later. It sounds difficult, but it becomes a piece of cake once you get the rhythm.

After defeating them, check if they dropped anything. If not, head right to the Bench, rest a little, and come back. The enemies in this specific area respawn endlessly, so you can repeat the loop without traveling across the map. I found all 10 Fine Pins in 10 minutes tops using this method.

The Fine Pins Quest Rewards

Once you have 10 Fine Pins, go back to Songclave and interact with the Wish Board to deliver the loot. Your prize is a Rosary Necklace, which immediately gives you 120 Rosaries. If you are in need of more Rosaries to spend in Pharloom, this is a pretty lucky reward.

Is the Fine Pins quest worth the frustration? In my opinion, yes. The drop rate can be cruel, and the Choristor and Reed are not fun to fight in crowded rooms. But with the right vertical chamber and a Bench nearby, the grind becomes short and almost relaxing. Just remember: keep the enemies centered, protect the loot, and never let a shiny pin fall into the spikes. If I can do it in 10 minutes, so can you. 😄

If there is one thing this quest teaches, it is that patience plus the right tool beats blind effort every time. That same mindset is worth applying beyond the game: instead of buying a title the moment it catches your eye, you can wait for the price to drop and let someone else do the watching for you. That is exactly where a [steam sale tracker]( like DealNest comes in handy, keeping an eye on discounts so you never miss the moment a wishlisted game finally hits the number you were hoping for.

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