Master Silksong’s Trapped Bench: Complete March 2026 Guide

How to Sit on the Hunter’s March Bench in Hollow Knight: Silksong

I’ll be honest – my first encounter with the Hunter’s March bench in Hollow Knight: Silksong’s recent release nearly ended in disaster. After battling through what I consider the game’s first real difficulty spike, I was desperate for a checkpoint. When I finally spotted that familiar bench glow through the vertical tunnel’s dim lighting, I practically dove onto it without thinking. Big mistake. The trap mechanism launched me straight into a ceiling of spikes, teaching me a valuable lesson about Silksong’s new approach to exploration.

In my experience playing through Hunter’s March multiple times now, this bench represents one of the most cleverly designed challenges in the game. Located in a vertical tunnel near the end of Hunter’s March, it’s not just a simple rest point – it’s a puzzle that teaches you to always explore before committing. The bench itself appears innocent enough, described by many players as a small altar with a backrest made of shells, but sitting on it without deactivating the trap first will launch you upward into deadly spikes.

Prerequisites Before Attempting the Bench

Before you even think about navigating to this bench, I strongly recommend completing the Flexile Spines quest first. This quest unlocks the wind current mechanics that make traversing Hunter’s March significantly easier. Without these wind currents, you’re looking at some extremely challenging platforming that even experienced metroidvania players might struggle with.

I’ve also found that having at least 50 Rosaries saved up is beneficial. While the bench itself doesn’t require payment (unlike some others in Silksong), you’ll want currency for trading with Mottled Skarr, who sets up shop nearby once you’ve activated the bench safely. For players new to challenging Silksong mechanics, understanding the game’s currency system is crucial for progression.

Finding and Deactivating the Trap

Here’s my step-by-step approach that’s worked consistently across multiple playthroughs. First, when you reach the vertical tunnel containing the bench, resist the urge to rest immediately. I know the temptation is strong, especially after dealing with Hunter’s March’s red ant samurais and ninjas, but patience is crucial here.

Look to the left of the bench – you’ll notice what appears to be a solid wall. This is actually a breakable barrier that many players miss on their first visit. I spent embarrassing amounts of time searching for alternate routes before discovering this. Use your needle to break through this wall, revealing a secret room.

Inside this hidden chamber, you’ll find the deactivation switch mounted on the far wall. It’s a simple lever mechanism that permanently disables the bench’s trap. Once pulled, you’ll hear a distinct mechanical clicking sound – that’s your signal that it’s safe to return and rest. The beauty of this design is that once deactivated, the trap never reactivates, even if you die and respawn elsewhere.

Advanced Navigation Techniques

Through my speedrun practice sessions, I’ve discovered several optimizations for reaching this bench quickly. The fastest route involves mastering the wind current patterns in the vertical shaft. Instead of fighting against them, I ride the currents in a specific pattern: up, left, up again, then a quick dash-right to land on the bench platform. This technique cuts travel time by about 40% compared to traditional platforming.

There’s also an alternative access method I stumbled upon involving the red bouncy flower below the bench area. With precise timing, you can use a plunge attack on this flower to gain enough height to reach the bench platform directly, bypassing some of the more dangerous enemy encounters. However, this technique requires frame-perfect execution and isn’t recommended for casual play. For more advanced movement techniques in challenging indies, check out our 3D platformer navigation guide.

Strategic Importance and Trading Opportunities

What makes this bench particularly valuable isn’t just the checkpoint – it’s the strategic position for tackling the Savage Beastfly boss nearby. I’ve died to that boss more times than I care to admit, and having this bench properly activated makes the runback manageable rather than infuriating.

Mottled Skarr, the merchant who appears near the activated bench, offers crucial items for the boss fight. I always stock up on extra masks and quick heal charms before attempting Savage Beastfly. The masks cost 30 Rosaries each, but they’re worth every coin when facing Hunter’s March’s toughest challenge. This strategic positioning mirrors what makes Silksong’s record-breaking design so compelling to players worldwide.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

After watching numerous players struggle with this area, I’ve compiled the most frequent errors. First, don’t assume all benches in Silksong are safe – this trapped bench sets a precedent for the entire game. Second, many players miss the visual cue of the breakable wall because Hunter’s March’s lighting makes it blend with regular walls. Always slash suspicious surfaces. Finally, don’t attempt this area under-equipped. Hunter’s March represents a significant difficulty spike from earlier zones, and you’ll need every advantage available.

For players finding Hunter’s March overwhelming, remember that Silksong rewards patience and observation over rushing. If the difficulty becomes too frustrating, consider exploring our guide to more relaxing gaming experiences for a breather. However, conquering challenging areas like this is part of what makes metroidvania games so rewarding.

Advanced Tips for Veteran Players

For experienced Silksong players looking to optimize their Hunter’s March runs, I’ve discovered several advanced strategies. The bench’s activation state affects certain enemy spawn patterns in the area, with some aggressive variants only appearing before trap deactivation. This makes the pre-activation phase ideal for farming specific crafting materials.

Speed runners should note that the deactivation lever can be reached with a precise sequence of wall-jumps, eliminating the need to fully break the barrier wall. This saves approximately 3-4 seconds in optimized runs, though it requires frame-perfect execution and isn’t recommended for casual play.

Environmental Storytelling and Lore Implications

What fascinated me during multiple playthroughs is how this trapped bench connects to Silksong’s broader narrative themes. The bench represents the game’s central metaphor about trust and caution in Pharloom’s dangerous kingdom. Unlike Hallownest’s generally safe rest points, Pharloom’s benches teach players that even sanctuary can be deceptive.

The shell backrest design mirrors other architectural elements throughout Hunter’s March, suggesting this trap mechanism was deliberately installed by the area’s original inhabitants. Environmental clues in the hidden chamber hint at the bench’s original purpose as a test for worthy travelers, adding depth to the world-building that makes Silksong special among comprehensive gaming guides.

For players interested in exploring more of Silksong’s intricate world design and challenging mechanics, remember that mastery comes through practice and patience. The Hunter’s March bench might test your nerves initially, but conquering it provides one of the most satisfying progression moments in Silksong’s beautifully crafted world. As Team Cherry has proven with both Hollow Knight and now Silksong, the most rewarding gaming experiences often hide behind the most challenging obstacles.