Complete Pollip Hearts Locations Guide Silksong (March 2026)

To complete the Rite of Pollip quest in Hollow Knight: Silksong, you need to find and collect 6 Pollip Hearts hidden behind purple blooms throughout Shellwood. Three hearts require the Cling Grip ability obtained after defeating Sister Splinter. Deliver all hearts to Greyroot to receive the powerful Pollip Pouch reward that releases poisonous spores when striking enemies.

After spending countless hours exploring the enchanting world of Shellwood in Hollow Knight: Silksong, I discovered one of the most rewarding collection quests in the game – the Rite of the Pollip. This quest had me scouring every corner of the area, hunting for six elusive Pollip Hearts hidden behind beautiful purple blooms. If you’re struggling to find these hearts or wondering if the Pollip Pouch reward is worth the effort, I’ll share everything I’ve learned from my multiple playthroughs and the community’s best strategies.

What makes this quest particularly challenging is how it teaches you to master Silksong’s advanced platforming mechanics. Unlike the Mossberry collection quest, which focuses on exploration skills, the Rite of the Pollip will test your wall-jumping precision and timing mastery. Trust me, after completing this quest, you’ll be a significantly more skilled player overall.

How to Start the Rite of the Pollip Quest – Prerequisites and Requirements

Before you can begin collecting Pollip Hearts, you’ll need to find Greyroot, an NPC located in the southwestern part of Shellwood. I initially walked right past him on my first playthrough – he’s easy to miss if you’re not looking carefully. When you speak to Greyroot, he’ll explain that he needs six Pollip Hearts from around Shellwood to complete a powerful ritual.

Here’s what you absolutely need to know before starting: three of the six hearts require the Cling Grip ability. I made the frustrating mistake of trying to collect all hearts immediately and wasted over an hour attempting impossible jumps. The Cling Grip ability lets you cling to and jump up vertical surfaces, which you’ll obtain after defeating Sister Splinter boss. If you’re new to Silksong’s core mechanics, I strongly recommend getting comfortable with basic wall-jumping before attempting this challenging quest.

The visual cue for finding hearts is brilliantly designed – look for walls covered in small purple flowers. When you get close, you’ll see distinctive purple petals floating in the air. This environmental storytelling is something Team Cherry excels at, and it makes exploration feel organic rather than following waypoint markers.

Complete Pollip Heart Locations Walkthrough – All 6 Hearts Found

Pollip Heart 1 – The Tutorial Heart (No Special Abilities Required)

The first heart is intentionally easy to find – it’s directly above Greyroot’s location. After talking to him, simply climb the wall to your left and you’ll spot the purple bloom. Break through it to collect your first heart. I appreciate how the developers placed this one so close, giving you immediate feedback on what to look for throughout Shellwood’s vast areas.

Pollip Heart 2 – The Vertical Climb Challenge

From Greyroot, head northeast until you reach a tall vertical shaft with multiple platforms. The second heart is hidden behind purple flowers on the right wall, approximately halfway up the climbing section. You don’t need Cling Grip for this one, but the platforming can be particularly tricky for newer players. My advice: take your time with the jumps and don’t rush the sequence. I’ve seen many players in the Discord community mention falling repeatedly here because they tried to speed through it.

Pollip Heart 3 – The Flower Bounce Timing Test

This heart gave me the most trouble initially, and based on extensive community discussions, I’m definitely not alone in this struggle. Located in the eastern section of Shellwood, you’ll need to bounce on white flowers to reach a purple bloom high on the wall. The trick I learned from experienced speedrunners is to maintain a consistent rhythm – press the attack button just before touching each flower, not after contact. Think of it like a metronome: bounce, attack, bounce, attack. Once you get this precise timing down, it becomes much more manageable.

The purple bloom for this heart is particularly well-hidden behind dense foliage, so look carefully for those floating purple petals. I passed by this location three times before finally noticing it!

Pollip Heart 4 – First Cling Grip Required Location

Now we’re getting into the hearts that absolutely require the Cling Grip ability. This one is found in the northwestern area of Shellwood, on a steep vertical wall that’s completely impossible to climb without the ability. Once you have Cling Grip mastered, it’s relatively straightforward – climb up using the grip technique, break the bloom, collect the heart. What I love about this placement is how it encourages you to revisit areas with new abilities, showcasing classic Metroidvania design principles.

Pollip Heart 5 – The Hidden Chamber Discovery

The fifth heart requires both Cling Grip mastery and some serious exploration skills. In the central-upper area of Shellwood, look for a narrow vertical passage with purple flowers visible at the very top. You’ll need to wall-jump up using Cling Grip, then break through the bloom to find a small hidden chamber containing the heart. I missed this one entirely on my first playthrough because the entrance is so expertly concealed within the environment.

Pollip Heart 6 – The Bellhart Route Secret

The final heart has the most interesting access point – you actually need to approach it from Bellhart, the area adjacent to Shellwood. From Bellhart’s main path, look for climbable vines on the right wall. This leads to a passage back into Shellwood where the purple bloom awaits. Many players get confused here because they’re looking for the heart within Shellwood’s main boundaries, but this clever placement forces you to think outside the conventional area limits.

Optimal Collection Strategy and Speed Tips for Efficient Completion

After completing this quest multiple times and discussing advanced strategies with the community, I’ve developed the most efficient collection route. First, grab hearts 1, 2, and 3 before getting Cling Grip – these don’t require the ability and can be collected early in your playthrough. After defeating Sister Splinter and obtaining Cling Grip, return systematically for hearts 4, 5, and 6 in that exact order, as it creates the most logical path through the area with minimal backtracking.

If you’re using the fast travel system, you can significantly reduce backtracking time between distant locations. The Bell Beast station near Shellwood’s entrance makes returning to Greyroot much quicker after collecting the more remote hearts.

The Pollip Pouch Reward – Complete Analysis and Combat Applications

After delivering all six hearts to Greyroot, you’ll receive the Pollip Pouch, a tactical tool that releases poisonous spores when you strike enemies. In my extensive combat testing, this tool is particularly effective against groups of smaller enemies and synergizes beautifully with the Straight Pins weapon. The poison damage over time effect has saved me in numerous encounters, especially in areas with swarms of aggressive enemies.

Compared to rewards from other collection quests like the Flexile Spines quest, the Pollip Pouch offers more tactical variety in combat situations. It’s not essential for main progression, but it definitely makes certain challenging combat scenarios much more manageable and strategic.

Troubleshooting Common Problems and Player Difficulties

If you’re having trouble with the flower bouncing section (heart #3), practice the pogo technique in a safe area first before attempting the actual sequence. The timing window is more forgiving than it initially seems – the key is developing consistency rather than focusing on speed. For players struggling with Cling Grip wall-jumping mechanics, remember that you need to hold the grab button while pressing jump, not release it. This was a mistake I made constantly when first learning the mechanic.

Some players report difficulty distinguishing purple blooms from Wood Wasp hives in the environment. The difference is in the particle effects – Pollip Heart locations have distinctive floating purple petals, while Wood Wasp hives have a more static, aggressive appearance. When in doubt, approach slowly and look for the characteristic petal animation.

Final Thoughts on the Rite of Pollip Quest

The Rite of the Pollip quest exemplifies what makes Hollow Knight: Silksong special – it combines exploration mastery, platforming skill development, and environmental storytelling into a genuinely rewarding experience. While it’s more challenging than some other collection quests in the game, the skills you’ll develop and the useful Pollip Pouch reward make it absolutely worth completing. Plus, there’s something deeply satisfying about finding all six hearts and seeing Greyroot complete his mysterious ritual. If you’re looking for more help with Silksong’s challenges, check out our complete Silksong guide for comprehensive coverage of every quest and secret in the game.