Ultimate Silksong Simple Key Guide: Where to Use March 2026
Where do you use Simple Keys in Hollow Knight: Silksong? Simple Keys are special items that unlock heavy gates throughout Pharloom, with four keys available and four corresponding doors that grant access to valuable rewards, shortcuts, and quest progression.
After spending countless hours exploring every corner of Pharloom since Silksong’s release, I’ve discovered that choosing which door to unlock first can significantly impact your early game progression. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share everything I’ve learned about finding all four Simple Keys and, more importantly, which doors you should prioritize based on your playstyle and current abilities.
| Simple Key Source | Location | Cost/Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Purchased Key 1 | Bone Bottom NPC | 500 Rosaries |
| Purchased Key 2 | Songclave NPC | 650 Rosaries |
| Found Key 1 | Sinner’s Road Chest | Exploration |
| Found Key 2 | Sands of Karak Corpse | Exploration |
All Simple Key Locations in Silksong
Unlike the original Hollow Knight where Simple Keys were somewhat rare, I’ve found that Silksong gives you more options – but also more strategic decisions to make. Let me break down exactly where to find each key.
Bone Bottom Vendor (500 Rosaries)
The first Simple Key most players encounter is sold by an NPC in Bone Bottom for 500 Rosaries. When I first started my playthrough, this seemed expensive, but I quickly learned that farming Rosaries becomes much easier once you know the right spots. The vendor is located in the main marketplace area – you can’t miss them if you’re exploring thoroughly.
If you’re new to Silksong, check out this complete Silksong beginner guide to understand the currency system better.
Sinner’s Road Treasure Chest
The community has confirmed a Simple Key hidden in a chest within Sinner’s Road. From my experience, this is one of the trickier ones to find because the area is quite vertical and maze-like. You’ll need the dash ability to reach the chest platform – it’s located in the upper eastern section of the area, past several challenging platforming sections.
For more detailed exploration strategies in Sinner’s Road, including prisoner choices, refer to this Silksong prisoner choice guide.
Sands of Karak Corpse
Deep in the Sands of Karak, you’ll find a Simple Key on a corpse. This discovery was one of those “aha!” moments for me – the game doesn’t telegraph this location at all. The corpse is located near the western edge of the desert area, partially buried in sand. You’ll need to have progressed far enough to access this late-game area.
Songclave Merchant (650 Rosaries)
The most expensive Simple Key is sold in Songclave for 650 Rosaries. By the time you reach this area, you should have plenty of Rosaries if you’ve been exploring thoroughly. The merchant is located in the central hub area of Songclave, near the bell tower.
Where to Use Simple Keys: All Door Locations
Now for the crucial part – where to actually use these keys. Each heavy gate offers different rewards, and I’ve learned through trial and error (and community discussions) that your choice can significantly impact your gameplay experience.
Deep Docks Heavy Gate – The Strategic Choice
This is the door I recommend unlocking first, and here’s why: behind it, you’ll find the Flintslate tool, which is incredibly useful for accessing new areas and secrets throughout the game.
To reach this gate from the Deep Docks waystation:
- Head left from the waystation and take the elevator down
- Continue left through the main dock area
- When you reach the cliffs, dash across the gap (dash ability required)
- The heavy gate is clearly visible on your left
Warning: The path involves navigating through areas with lava, which deals 2 mask damage compared to regular spikes that only deal 1. I learned this the hard way during my first attempt!
Wormways Access Gate – The Shortcut Option
The Wormways gate provides access to an extensive network of shortcuts throughout Pharloom. While not essential for progression, I found this incredibly helpful for backtracking and exploration. The gate is located in the lower section of Bone Bottom, near the transition to the Wormways area.
For optimal exploration routes, check out this guide on where to go first in Silksong.
Sinner’s Road Prison Gate – The Quest Choice
This gate releases the Green Prince, initiating a questline that provides unique rewards. Located in the central prison area of Sinner’s Road, this door is worth considering if you enjoy following NPC questlines. The Green Prince questline ties into several other quests throughout the game, making it a good mid-game unlock.
High Halls Treasury Gate – The Resource Choice
Behind this gate, you’ll find valuable Craftmetal and other crafting resources. Located in the upper reaches of High Halls, this is typically a late-game unlock unless you’re focusing on crafting and upgrades early. I usually save this for last unless I’m doing a crafting-focused playthrough.
Strategic Door Prioritization Guide
After multiple playthroughs and extensive community discussions, I’ve developed this prioritization strategy:
| Priority | Door Location | Best For | When to Unlock |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Deep Docks | Exploration Players | As soon as you get first key |
| 2nd | Wormways | Completionists | After exploring main areas |
| 3rd | Sinner’s Road | Quest Lovers | Mid-game progression |
| 4th | High Halls | Crafting Focus | Late game or crafting builds |
Your choice should depend on your current progression and playstyle. If you’re struggling with navigation, the Wormways shortcuts might be more valuable than the Flintslate tool. Similarly, if you’re focusing on completing all quests, prioritizing the Green Prince release makes sense.
Rosary Farming Strategies
Since two of the four Simple Keys require Rosaries, I’ve discovered some efficient farming methods:
The Marrow Loop: This area near Mosshome has clusters of enemies that drop 5-10 Rosaries each. A full loop takes about 3 minutes and nets approximately 80-100 Rosaries. Rest at a bench to respawn enemies and repeat.
Bone Bottom Market: The respawning enemies here are easier but drop fewer Rosaries (3-5 each). This is safer for newer players but less efficient overall.
Boss Rushes: Mini-bosses drop 50-75 Rosaries upon defeat. While they don’t respawn, clearing all mini-bosses in an area provides a significant Rosary boost.
For a complete understanding of Silksong’s economy and mechanics, refer to this Silksong mechanics and crafting guide.
Community Tips and Advanced Strategies
The Silksong community on Reddit has been incredibly helpful in uncovering strategies I wouldn’t have thought of myself. Here are the best tips I’ve gathered:
- Save before choosing: Create a backup save before using each Simple Key. This lets you experiment with different choices if you’re unsure.
- Map merchant synergy: Unlock Shakra the map merchant before using keys – marked door locations make navigation much easier. Learn how to unlock the map in Silksong early.
- Ability gates: Some doors are inaccessible without certain abilities. Don’t waste time trying to reach the High Halls gate without the double-jump.
- Speedrun strategy: Speedrunners grab the Sinner’s Road free key and immediately unlock Deep Docks for the Flintslate tool.
If you’re looking to optimize your overall gameplay, check out these essential Silksong tips for beginners to improve your exploration efficiency.
Comparison with Original Hollow Knight
Having played hundreds of hours of the original Hollow Knight, I find Silksong’s Simple Key system more strategic. In Hollow Knight, Simple Keys were primarily for optional content and shortcuts. In Silksong, they gate progression tools and quests, making your choices more impactful.
The heavy gates in Silksong also aren’t marked on your map initially, unlike Hollow Knight where locked doors were clearly indicated. This adds an exploration element that I really appreciate – you need to remember where you’ve seen gates and return later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get locked out of any content by using Simple Keys wrong?
No, I’ve confirmed through extensive testing that all four keys and four doors are accessible regardless of your choices. You won’t miss any content, but your progression path will vary based on which doors you prioritize.
Do Simple Keys respawn or can you buy more?
The four Simple Keys I’ve listed are all that’s available in the game currently. Once you’ve used all four, that’s it – choose wisely!
Is there a best order for using Simple Keys?
While I recommend Deep Docks first for the Flintslate tool, the “best” order depends on your playstyle. Exploration-focused players benefit from different doors than combat-focused players.
What happens if you don’t have enough Rosaries for the vendor keys?
The vendors remain in their locations throughout the game, so you can always return later. I recommend buying at least one vendor key before the late game when Rosaries become less valuable.
Final Thoughts
Simple Keys in Silksong represent meaningful choices rather than just collectibles. Each door you unlock shapes your journey through Pharloom differently. My advice? Don’t stress too much about the “perfect” choice – part of Silksong’s charm is discovering what works for your playstyle. The game gives you enough keys to unlock everything eventually, so experiment and enjoy the journey!
Remember, unlike the original game’s more straightforward approach, Silksong rewards careful consideration of when and where to use these valuable keys. Whether you’re a completionist aiming to unlock every secret or a speedrunner optimizing your route, understanding the Simple Key system is crucial for mastering Hollow Knight: Silksong in 2026.