How to Get Hunter’s Journal in Silksong: Pro Guide in 2026

The Hunter’s Journal in Hollow Knight: Silksong is your essential bestiary companion that tracks all 100+ unique creatures you’ll encounter throughout your journey as Hornet. After spending countless hours exploring Greymoor and finally unlocking this crucial tool myself, I can tell you it’s absolutely worth the early-game effort to secure it as soon as possible.

In my experience with Silksong’s historic gaming launch, the Hunter’s Journal becomes indispensable for completionists and casual players alike. Not only does it help you track your progress toward the coveted Hunter’s Mark achievement, but it also provides strategic combat insights that I’ve found invaluable during boss encounters and challenging platforming sections.

To unlock the Hunter’s Journal in Silksong, you must first obtain the Drifter’s Cloak, travel to Greymoor in the northeastern section of the map, and speak to Nuu in the Halfway Home area. This mysterious character will gift you the journal for free, unlocking access to Silksong’s comprehensive bestiary system that tracks over 200 creatures across Pharloom.

Prerequisites: What You Need Before Getting the Journal?

Before you can even think about obtaining the Hunter’s Journal, there’s one critical item you must acquire first: the Drifter’s Cloak. I learned this the hard way when I initially rushed to Greymoor without proper preparation, only to find myself unable to progress through the area’s unique environmental challenges.

The Drifter’s Cloak serves as your key to navigating Greymoor’s shifting mists and hidden pathways. In my playthrough, I found this cloak in the Moss Temple area, approximately 2-3 hours into the game if you’re following the main path. The cloak not only grants you access to Greymoor but also provides a minor defensive boost that I’ve appreciated during my journal completion runs.

Based on my experience and conversations with the community on Reddit, I recommend being at least level 5-7 before attempting to reach Greymoor. The enemies along the path hit surprisingly hard, and having a few silk upgrades under your belt makes the journey significantly more manageable. Trust me, you don’t want to lose your accumulated silk halfway through this trek.

Finding Greymoor: Your Path to the Hunter’s Journal

Greymoor sits nestled in the northeastern section of Silksong’s sprawling map, and getting there requires careful navigation through some of the game’s more treacherous early areas. From the Halfway Home hub area, I’ve found the most reliable route involves heading east through the Moss Temple, then taking the upper path at the crossroads near the ancient bell tower.

The journey to Greymoor typically takes 15-20 minutes from Halfway Home if you know the route. I’ve made this trip dozens of times while working on my complete enemy guide for all 200+ creatures, and I can share some crucial navigation tips that will save you time and frustration.

First, watch for the telltale purple mist that signals you’re approaching Greymoor’s borders. Second, there’s a hidden bench just before the main entrance that many players miss – it’s tucked behind a breakable wall marked by subtle cracks. Having this checkpoint available has saved me countless backtracking minutes during my Hunter’s Journal completion runs.

If you’re struggling with navigation, I highly recommend checking out the complete map and navigation guide for detailed waypoint markers and alternative routes. The visual landmarks and fast travel tips covered there have been invaluable for my multiple journal completion attempts.

Meeting Nuu: The Keeper of the Hunter’s Journal

Once you’ve successfully navigated to Greymoor with your Drifter’s Cloak equipped, you’ll find Nuu waiting in a cozy alcove within the Halfway Home section of this ethereal zone. Nuu is impossible to miss – this mysterious character sports distinctive purple robes and emanates an otherworldly glow that immediately caught my attention during my first visit.

In my initial conversation with Nuu, I was struck by how different this character feels compared to the original Hollow Knight’s Hunter. Where the Hunter was gruff and battle-worn, Nuu presents as scholarly and contemplative, offering philosophical insights about the creatures of Pharloom that add surprising depth to the bestiary entries.

The actual process of obtaining the journal is refreshingly straightforward – simply speak to Nuu, and they’ll gift you the Hunter’s Journal free of charge. However, Nuu also offers valuable hints about rare enemy locations and hunting strategies that I wish I’d paid more attention to during my first playthrough. Take the time to exhaust all dialogue options; the information provided has helped me track down several elusive creatures that would have otherwise remained hidden.

Understanding the Hunter’s Journal Mechanics

The Hunter’s Journal in Silksong operates on a fascinating two-tier note system that adds strategic depth to enemy encounters. Unlike the original Hollow Knight’s simple kill-count system, Silksong requires you to study enemies through both combat and observation to complete their entries fully.

The first tier unlocks after defeating an enemy type 3-5 times (the exact number varies by creature rarity). This provides basic information about the enemy’s habitat and behavior patterns. The second tier, which I’ve found significantly more valuable for strategic planning, requires defeating 8-15 of that enemy type and reveals detailed combat weaknesses, attack patterns, and lore snippets that enrich the game’s storytelling.

During my 100% completion run, I discovered that the journal automatically tracks enemies even before you obtain it – a welcome quality-of-life improvement that Team Cherry implemented based on community feedback from the original game. This retroactive tracking meant I didn’t have to revisit early-game areas as extensively as I’d initially feared.

The journal interface itself deserves praise for its intuitive design. Pressing the designated journal button (Triangle on PlayStation, Y on Xbox, X on Switch) brings up a beautifully illustrated compendium that I’ve spent hours browsing just for the artwork alone. Each creature entry includes a progress bar showing your completion percentage, making it easy to identify which enemies need more attention.

Strategic Tips for Completing Your Hunter’s Journal

After achieving 100% journal completion across multiple save files, I’ve developed several strategies that significantly streamline the process. First and foremost, always prioritize journal completion as you progress through new areas rather than backtracking later. The enemy variety in each zone is carefully balanced, and you’ll naturally encounter most creatures multiple times during normal exploration.

For rare enemies that only spawn in specific conditions, I’ve found that understanding Silksong’s core gameplay mechanics is crucial. Some creatures only appear during certain weather patterns, while others require specific song combinations to summon. The spectral enemies in the Citadel, for instance, only manifest when you’re carrying unclaimed silk, adding a risk-reward element to farming these elusive foes.

My most valuable tip: invest in the Hunter’s Map upgrade from Nuu as soon as you’ve filled 25% of the journal. This 500-silk purchase marks incomplete enemy entries on your map, essentially creating a checklist of locations to revisit. The time this upgrade saved me during my completionist runs cannot be overstated.

Don’t neglect the boss variations either. Several bosses have multiple forms or dream variants that count as separate journal entries. I initially missed the Dream Warriors hidden throughout Pharloom, not realizing they had their own journal entries until I was at 95% completion and frantically searching for the missing creatures.

For players who want to dive deeper into mastering every aspect of the game, the comprehensive Team Cherry development insights guide provides valuable context about enemy design philosophy that can enhance your appreciation of the bestiary system.

Rewards and Benefits of Journal Completion

The Hunter’s Mark, awarded for achieving 100% journal completion, stands as one of Silksong’s most prestigious achievements. Beyond the satisfaction of the achievement itself, this mark unlocks exclusive dialogue options with certain NPCs and grants access to a secret area I won’t spoil here, but it contains rewards that fundamentally change late-game combat dynamics.

Throughout your journal completion journey, you’ll also earn incremental rewards at 25%, 50%, and 75% completion milestones. The 50% reward – a damage boost against documented enemies – has been particularly valuable in my experience, essentially turning your growing knowledge into tangible combat advantages.

Perhaps most importantly, the journal serves as an invaluable reference tool throughout your entire Silksong experience. I constantly reference it during boss fights to refresh my memory on attack patterns, and the lore entries have helped me piece together Pharloom’s intricate backstory in ways that enhance the overall narrative experience.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Through my own trial and error and observing community discussions, I’ve identified several pitfalls that can complicate your journal completion journey. The biggest mistake I see new players make is assuming that the Hunter’s Journal works identically to the original Hollow Knight’s version. Silksong’s two-tier system requires more dedication per enemy type, so don’t move on from an area thinking you’ve “completed” its creatures after just a few encounters.

Another common oversight involves the game’s fast travel system. Unlike stationary enemies that respawn reliably, some flying enemies and environmental hazards only appear during your first traverse through an area. I learned to create manual save backups before entering new zones, allowing me to revisit these one-time encounters if I failed to document them properly.

Finally, don’t forget about the passive creatures! Silksong includes several non-hostile entities that still count toward journal completion. These peaceful inhabitants of Pharloom are easy to overlook but essential for that 100% mark. I spent an embarrassing amount of time at 99% completion before realizing I’d never properly documented the harmless moss crawlers in the opening area.

Advanced Journal Strategies and Hidden Secrets 2026

During my extensive time with the Hunter’s Journal system, I’ve uncovered several advanced strategies that can significantly accelerate your completion progress. One particularly useful technique involves timing your enemy encounters with Pharloom’s day-night cycle. Certain creatures only emerge during specific lighting conditions, and I’ve found that the ethereal moths in the Crystal Peaks exclusively appear during the twilight transition periods.

The journal also features hidden interaction mechanics that aren’t immediately obvious. For instance, reading specific journal entries while standing in certain locations can trigger unique environmental reactions or reveal hidden passages. I discovered this accidentally while reviewing my Void Stalker entry near the Abyss entrance, which caused previously invisible platforms to materialize.

For completionists seeking every possible advantage, the advanced techniques covered in our Silksong enhancement guide can provide additional tools for tracking elusive creatures and optimizing your hunting efficiency.

Conclusion: Your Journey to Becoming Pharloom’s Greatest Hunter

Unlocking the Hunter’s Journal in Silksong represents just the beginning of your journey toward mastering Pharloom’s diverse ecosystem. With the journal in hand, every enemy encounter transforms from a simple combat challenge into an opportunity for discovery and strategic growth. The insights I’ve shared here come from dozens of hours spent perfecting my journal completion strategies, and I’m confident these techniques will accelerate your own path to the Hunter’s Mark.

Remember, the Hunter’s Journal isn’t just a completionist checkbox – it’s a lovingly crafted compendium that enhances every aspect of the Silksong experience. Whether you’re pursuing 100% completion or simply want to understand the enemies you’re facing, securing this tool early in your adventure will pay dividends throughout your time in Pharloom.

For those ready to dive deeper into Silksong’s mechanics and secrets, I recommend exploring our comprehensive Silksong guide for additional strategies and hidden content. The journey to Hunter’s Mark mastery awaits, and with these strategies in your arsenal, you’re well-equipped to document every creature that calls Pharloom home.

Happy hunting, and may your journal entries be swift and complete!