Ultimate Bell Beast Fast Travel Guide Silksong March 2026

How do you fast travel in Hollow Knight: Silksong? Fast travel in Silksong requires unlocking the Bell Beast station system by defeating the Bell Beast boss in The Marrow area after obtaining the Silkspear ability from Mosshome.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share everything I’ve learned about Silksong’s fast travel system from my extensive playthrough of the complete Hollow Knight Silksong guide, including boss strategies, station locations, and optimization tips that most players miss. As someone who’s mastered the original Hollow Knight’s achievement system, I understand how crucial efficient movement becomes for thorough exploration.

Guide Section	Key Benefit	Skill Level
Prerequisites & Setup	Unlock fast travel system	Beginner
Bell Beast Boss Strategy	Defeat boss efficiently	Intermediate
Station Discovery Tips	Find all travel points	All Levels
Advanced Optimization	Speed up game progression	Expert

What Are Bell Beast Stations in Silksong?

Bell Beast stations serve as Silksong’s primary fast travel network, functioning similarly to the beloved Stagway system from the original Hollow Knight. After spending dozens of hours exploring Pharloom, I’ve found these stations are absolutely essential for efficient navigation across the game’s expansive interconnected world. Unlike the grub-hunting expeditions in the original that required careful backtracking, Silksong’s vertical design makes fast travel even more crucial.

The system works through magical bell-themed transport points scattered throughout Pharloom. Each station is marked by distinctive three rightward-pointing chevrons (>>>) that you’ll spot on walls near station entrances. In my experience, these visual markers become second nature once you know what to look for, similar to how I learned to identify the various metroidvania progression gates across different games.

Prerequisites: Getting the Silkspear from Mosshome

Before you can even think about unlocking fast travel, you’ll need to acquire the Silkspear ability. I learned this the hard way during my first playthrough when I wandered aimlessly trying to access Bell Beast stations without the proper tool. The progression system here mirrors what I’ve seen in other Hollow Knight content where specific abilities gate major systems.

The Silkspear is located in Mosshome, one of Silksong’s early-to-mid game areas. To obtain it:

1. Navigate to Mosshome’s central chamber where you’ll find a distinctive glowing pedestal
2. Defeat the mini-boss guarding the Silkspear (typically a silk-wrapped enemy)
3. Approach the pedestal and press the interact button to claim your new ability
4. Practice using R1 (PlayStation/PC) or RB (Xbox) to activate the Silkspear’s cutting power

The Silkspear isn’t just for accessing the Bell Beast – it’s crucial for cutting through silk barriers throughout Pharloom. I’ve discovered countless secret areas and shortcuts by slashing every silk obstruction I encounter, much like how understanding Silksong’s combat mechanics opens up new tactical possibilities.

Finding and Freeing the Bell Beast in The Marrow

Once you have the Silkspear, your next destination is The Marrow, located in the top-right section of the map. The journey there tests your platforming skills and mechanical understanding, requiring mastery of concepts I’ve detailed in my comprehensive Silksong mechanics guide.

When you reach The Marrow, look for a large chamber containing the Bell Beast wrapped in thick silk bindings. This imprisoned creature appears dormant at first, but don’t let that fool you – freeing it triggers one of Silksong’s most memorable boss encounters.

To free the Bell Beast:

1. Approach the silk-wrapped creature carefully
2. Hold R1/RB to charge your Silkspear
3. Release to slash through the silk bindings in one powerful strike
4. Immediately prepare for combat as the Bell Beast awakens aggressively

Bell Beast Boss Fight Strategy: Three-Phase Breakdown

The Bell Beast fight caught me off guard initially, but after mastering its patterns, I’ve developed a reliable strategy for each phase. This boss tests your positioning, timing, and resource management across three distinct combat phases, similar to the challenging encounters detailed in my complete Silksong enemies guide.

Phase One: Learning the Basics (100% Health)

During the first phase, the Bell Beast uses two primary attacks that I’ve learned to counter effectively:

Ground Charge Attack: The beast rushes across the arena horizontally. I’ve found jumping and air-dashing provides consistent evasion. Time your jump just as it begins moving for optimal positioning.

Bell Slam: A vertical leap followed by a ground pound that creates shockwaves. Stay mobile and position yourself at mid-range to punish the recovery animation with 2-3 hits.

My strategy for phase one involves staying patient and learning the audio cues. The Bell Beast makes a distinctive rumbling sound before each charge – once you recognize this tell, the fight becomes significantly more manageable.

Phase Two: Increased Aggression (70-80% Health)

At approximately 70-80% health, the Bell Beast introduces its signature Bell Burst attack. This move launches multiple metal projectiles in a spread pattern that initially seemed impossible to dodge consistently.

Here’s my proven counter-strategy:

• Position yourself in the arena’s corners when you see the wind-up animation
• The projectiles follow predictable arcs that rarely reach corner positions
• Use this safe zone to build Silk meter for powerful counterattacks
• Rush in immediately after the barrage ends for 3-4 guaranteed hits

Phase Three: Bell Fall Chaos (50% Health)

The final phase introduces the devastating Bell Fall attack, where debris rains from above while the beast continues its assault pattern. Many players panic here, but I’ve discovered staying calm and methodical ensures victory.

Critical phase three tips from my experience:

• Watch for falling shadow indicators before debris lands
• Maintain corner positioning whenever possible
• Only attack during clear openings between Bell Fall waves
• Save Silk abilities for emergency dodges rather than offense

The entire fight typically takes 3-5 minutes once you understand the patterns. I’ve beaten it with basic equipment, proving gear isn’t as important as pattern recognition and positioning.

Unlocking the Bell Beast Station Network

After defeating the Bell Beast, you’ll receive a notification that fast travel has been unlocked across Pharloom. This moment felt incredibly rewarding after the challenging boss encounter, opening up the entire game world for efficient exploration.

The victory also provides:

• Access to all discovered Bell Beast stations immediately
• A special bell charm that highlights nearby undiscovered stations on your map
• Increased movement options for backtracking to collect missed items

Finding and Using Bell Beast Stations

Throughout my playthrough, I’ve located approximately 15-20 Bell Beast stations across Pharloom. Each station shares common identifying features that become obvious once you know the signs.

Visual identification markers:

• Three rightward-pointing chevrons (>>>) on nearby walls
• Distinctive bell-shaped architecture around entrances
• Soft chiming sounds audible from several screens away
• Golden ambient lighting different from standard area illumination

To use a station, simply approach and press the interact button. The fast travel menu displays all unlocked stations with helpful area names. I recommend activating every station immediately upon discovery – you never know when backtracking becomes necessary, especially when following the comprehensive exploration strategies I’ve outlined in my Silksong era analysis.

Station Optimization Tips for Efficient Exploration

After extensive testing, I’ve developed strategies for maximizing the Bell Beast network’s efficiency:

Prioritize Central Hub Stations: Focus on unlocking stations in central areas first. These provide the most routing flexibility for both progression and completionist collecting.

Audio Cue Awareness: Train yourself to recognize the distant chiming sound. I’ve discovered multiple hidden stations by following audio cues rather than visual exploration alone.

Map Annotation: Mark discovered but inactive stations on your map for efficient return trips once fast travel unlocks.

Speedrun Routing: For repeated playthroughs, I’ve found skipping certain optional stations actually saves time if they’re in dead-end areas, similar to optimization techniques I’ve developed for the original Hollow Knight speedrunning.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Through multiple playthroughs and community discussions, I’ve identified frequent errors players make with Silksong’s fast travel system:

• Attempting Bell Beast without preparation: Stock up on health upgrades and practice combat mechanics before this fight
• Ignoring station discovery: Don’t rush through areas – thoroughly explore to find all stations early
• Panic jumping during Bell Fall: Calculated movement beats frantic evasion every time
• Forgetting Silkspear charging: Hold the button fully to ensure silk cutting succeeds

Comparison with Hollow Knight’s Stagway System

As someone who spent hundreds of hours with the original Hollow Knight, I appreciate how Team Cherry evolved the fast travel concept. The Bell Beast stations feel more integrated into Silksong’s lore while maintaining the convenience we loved about Stagways. Understanding this evolution helps contextualize Team Cherry’s development philosophy throughout both games.

Key improvements I’ve noticed:

• Stations appear more frequently than Stagway stops
• No payment required for individual station unlocking
• The boss-gate system adds meaningful progression milestones
• Visual and audio cues are clearer for station discovery

However, I do miss the charming Last Stag character and his dialogue. The Bell Beast system trades personality for pure functionality, though it fits Silksong’s distinct atmosphere perfectly.

Advanced Techniques and Speedrun Strategies

For players seeking optimal progression, I’ve discovered several advanced techniques through experimentation and community collaboration:

Pre-Boss Station Marking: Before fighting the Bell Beast, explore thoroughly and mark all station locations. This enables immediate fast travel network establishment post-victory.

Silk Management During Boss: Conservative Silk usage in phases one and two leaves resources for emergency phase three evasion.

Corner Camping Strategy: While seemingly passive, corner positioning during projectile phases minimizes damage and creates consistent counterattack windows, a technique I’ve refined through my experience with other challenging Silksong encounters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you unlock fast travel before beating Bell Beast?

No, defeating the Bell Beast is mandatory for activating the fast travel network. I’ve tested multiple sequence breaks, but Team Cherry designed this as a hard progression gate. The good news is that once unlocked, all previously discovered stations become immediately accessible.

How many Bell Beast stations are there total?

Based on my complete playthrough and community mapping efforts, there appear to be between 15-20 stations throughout Pharloom. Some remain hidden behind late-game abilities or secret passages. The exact count varies as speedrunners continue discovering new routing options.

Is the Silkspear required for anything else besides freeing the Bell Beast?

Absolutely! The Silkspear serves multiple purposes throughout your journey. I use it constantly for cutting silk barriers blocking secret areas, accessing shortcuts, and revealing hidden collectibles. Consider it an essential exploration tool beyond just the Bell Beast encounter.

What happens if you die during the Bell Beast fight?

Death during the boss fight respawns you at the nearest bench with the Bell Beast reset to full health. However, any items or upgrades collected remain in your inventory. I recommend placing a Bindingseal (Silksong’s equivalent to Hollow Knight’s Dream Gate) near the boss arena for quick returns.

Conclusion

Mastering Silksong’s Bell Beast station system transforms the entire gameplay experience. What initially seems like a daunting boss gate becomes a rewarding milestone that opens up Pharloom for thorough exploration. Through my extensive testing and refinement of these strategies, I’ve found the three-phase boss fight becomes almost rhythmic once you understand the patterns.

Remember to acquire the Silkspear from Mosshome first, prepare adequately for the Bell Beast encounter, and thoroughly explore for station locations throughout your journey. The fast travel system represents one of Silksong’s most crucial progression elements, and mastering it early dramatically improves your overall experience.

For more comprehensive coverage of Silksong’s mechanics and progression systems, check out our complete database of all Silksong bosses and enemies to prepare for every encounter Pharloom throws your way.