Ultimate Where to Go First in Silksong Guide 2026

Where should you go first in Hollow Knight: Silksong? Start by completing the Moss Grotto tutorial area, defeat Moss Mother, then head to Bone Bottom to meet key NPCs and acquire essential tools like maps from Shakra.

After spending countless hours exploring Pharloom since Silksong’s launch on September 4, 2026, I’ve discovered the optimal progression route that’ll save you from the frustration I experienced during my first playthrough. Unlike the original Hollow Knight where you could wander aimlessly, Silksong rewards strategic early-game decisions that fundamentally impact your entire journey. Trust me, I learned this the hard way after restarting three times before finding the perfect path.

Area Priority	Key Rewards	Difficulty Level
Moss Grotto Tutorial	Basic abilities, Rosary Beads	Beginner
Bone Bottom Town	Maps, NPCs, Silk Spear	Easy
The Marrow Exploration	Advanced tools, shortcuts	Intermediate

Starting Your Journey: Moss Grotto Mastery

When I first loaded into Silksong, the immediate difference from playing as the Knight hit me hard. Hornet’s movement feels completely different – she’s faster, more agile, but also more demanding to control. The Moss Grotto serves as your training ground, and I cannot stress enough how important it is to master every mechanic here before moving forward.

If you’re new to the series, I recommend checking out our Ultimate Hollow Knight DLC Guide to understand the franchise’s progression philosophy. The approach to area mastery remains consistent between games, making this foundational knowledge invaluable for your Silksong journey.

Essential Movement Techniques in Moss Grotto

The first thing that threw me off was Hornet’s diagonal strike. Unlike the Knight’s straightforward nail swings, Hornet attacks at an angle when airborne. I spent my first hour just practicing this mechanic because it’s crucial for the pogo technique you’ll need throughout the game. To properly pogo, you need to hold down and attack while in mid-air – timing is everything. I found that practicing on the floating Mosscreeps in the second room provides the perfect training opportunity.

During my exploration of Moss Grotto, I discovered three hidden Rosary Bead caches that most players miss on their first run. The first is behind breakable vines in the third room – you need to attack them three times. The second requires a precise pogo chain off two enemies to reach a high ledge near the ceiling. The third, and this one took me forever to find, is accessible by breaking through a false floor in the room before Moss Mother. Listen for the hollow sound when you walk – that’s your cue to strike downward.

Your First Boss Fight: Moss Mother Strategy

Moss Mother taught me a valuable lesson about Silksong’s combat: aggression pays off. Unlike Hollow Knight where patience often won battles, Hornet generates Silk through combat, encouraging an offensive playstyle. When fighting Moss Mother, I discovered that staying close and using Hornet’s Gossamer Storm (hold attack button) shreds through her health while generating maximum Silk for healing.

The fight has three distinct phases I’ve identified through multiple encounters. Phase one involves simple charge attacks – dodge through them, not away. Phase two introduces projectile moss balls that I initially struggled with until realizing you can destroy them mid-air for extra Silk. Phase three combines both patterns with increased speed. My winning strategy? Stay aggressive during phases one and two to build Silk reserves, then play defensively in phase three while using that stored Silk for healing.

For players who struggled with the original game’s boss battles, our Ultimate Hollow Knight 100% Trophy Guide covers similar combat strategies that translate well to Silksong’s more aggressive system.

Bone Bottom: Your First Real Exploration Hub

After defeating Moss Mother and ascending into Bone Bottom, the game truly opens up. This vibrant town serves as your first major hub, and the decisions you make here determine your progression efficiency for the next several hours. Through trial and error across multiple playthroughs, I’ve identified the optimal sequence of activities.

Critical NPCs You Cannot Miss

My biggest mistake in my first playthrough was rushing through Bone Bottom without talking to everyone. Sherma the gatekeeper needs you to open a specific door – do this immediately as it unlocks a crucial shortcut. The door is located in the eastern section of Bone Bottom, marked by distinctive bone pillars. Opening it not only helps Sherma but grants you access to a secret area containing 200 Rosaries and a Wanderer’s Pin that increases movement speed by 10%.

Next, locate Fleamaster Mooshka near the market area. This eccentric character offers the first Tool crafting tutorial, something I completely missed initially and suffered for it. Tools in Silksong function differently than Charms in Hollow Knight – they’re active abilities you craft and upgrade. Mooshka teaches you to craft the Straight Pin, which extends your attack range by 15%. The materials needed are found in the rooms adjacent to his location, so explore thoroughly.

Understanding the crafting system becomes crucial as you progress deeper into Pharloom. Our Ultimate Hollow Knight Silksong Mechanics Guide provides comprehensive coverage of the Tool system and how it revolutionizes the traditional Metroidvania formula.

The Map Situation: Finding Shakra

Here’s something that frustrated me immensely until I figured it out: Cornifer doesn’t exist in Silksong. Instead, you need to find Shakra in The Marrow section of Bone Bottom. She sells not just maps but also the Quill and Compass equivalents. The path to Shakra requires navigating through the lower section of Bone Bottom, past the suspended cage platforms. I recommend having at least 350 Rosaries saved up to buy the map, Quill, and Compass in one trip – returning multiple times wastes valuable time.

Pro tip I learned the hard way: Unlike Hollow Knight where you could muddle through without a map, Silksong’s verticality and interconnected areas make navigation nearly impossible without proper cartography. I spent three hours lost in The Marrow’s lower sections before finally purchasing the map and realizing I’d been going in circles.

The Silk Spear Quest: Your First Major Objective

After establishing yourself in Bone Bottom, your primary goal should be acquiring the Silk Spear. This isn’t just another Tool – it’s a game-changer that unlocks multiple areas and provides combat options I wish I’d had earlier. The quest involves multiple steps that the game doesn’t explicitly outline, so let me save you the confusion I experienced.

Locating the Silk Spear Components

First, you need to find the Shard Pendant Tool in the western section of The Marrow. It’s guarded by a mini-boss called the Grub Mimic – don’t let the name fool you, this isn’t a friendly grub. The Mimic has a grab attack that dealt 2 masks of damage to me initially. The key is maintaining distance and using ranged Silk attacks. Once defeated, the Shard Pendant allows you to gather special shards needed for the Spear.

With the Pendant equipped, backtrack through Moss Grotto’s upper sections (yes, you need to return there) to collect Gleaming Shards from specific crystalline enemies. You need exactly 6 shards, and they only drop when enemies are killed with the Pendant equipped. I made the mistake of killing them without it first time around and had to wait for them to respawn.

For those familiar with the original game’s backtracking mechanics, our Ultimate Hollow Knight Grubs Guide demonstrates similar careful exploration techniques that apply perfectly to Silksong’s shard collection system.

Crafting and Using the Silk Spear

Return to Bone Bottom’s crafting station with your shards. The Silk Spear costs 6 Gleaming Shards plus 500 Rosaries – expensive but absolutely worth it. Once crafted, the Spear serves multiple purposes I’ve discovered through experimentation. Beyond its obvious combat applications (incredible reach and damage), it can activate distant switches, break specific walls marked with spear symbols, and most importantly, free the Bell Beast.

The Bell Beast liberation is crucial for efficient travel. Located in the eastern reaches of Bone Bottom, this creature is trapped behind Spear-locked gates. Freeing it establishes Silksong’s fast travel system – something I desperately needed after getting lost in the sprawling lower areas multiple times.

Advanced Movement Techniques for Early Game Success 2026

Now let me share the movement techniques that transformed my Silksong experience from frustrating to fluid. Hornet’s moveset differs fundamentally from the Knight’s, and mastering these differences early prevents hours of struggle later.

The transition from the Knight’s methodical approach to Hornet’s aggressive style can be jarring. If you’re struggling with the adjustment, consider exploring our guide to Ultimate Challenging Open-World Games which covers similar high-skill gameplay adaptations across multiple titles.

The Bind System vs Soul Healing

Silksong replaces Soul with Silk, and Bind replaces Focus. The crucial difference I discovered? You can Bind while airborne. This changes everything about combat positioning. During my Moss Mother rematch on a second playthrough, I healed mid-jump to avoid her ground pounds – impossible in Hollow Knight. However, Binding consumes 3 full Silk spools compared to Focus’s gradual Soul drain, demanding more aggressive play to maintain healing resources.

I’ve developed a combat rhythm that works consistently: three aggressive combo attacks to fill Silk, retreat to medium range, jump-Bind if needed, then re-engage. This pattern kept me alive through challenging encounters that initially seemed impossible.

Mastering Hornet’s Unique Dash

Hornet’s dash travels further than the Knight’s but has a longer recovery window. Initially, this got me killed repeatedly until I adapted my timing. The key insight? You can cancel dash recovery with an attack. Dash forward, immediately attack to cancel the recovery animation, then dash again. This technique, which I call dash-canceling, effectively doubles your mobility in combat.

Another discovery: Hornet’s dash has slight vertical movement when used on slopes. In The Marrow’s angled passages, I found you can dash upward along inclines to reach platforms that seem inaccessible. This opened up several secret areas containing rare upgrade materials.

Resource Management: Rosaries, Silk, and Shell Shards

After restarting multiple times, I’ve learned that early game resource management determines your entire progression curve. Unlike Hollow Knight’s straightforward Geo system, Silksong features multiple currencies with specific uses.

Rosary Optimization Strategy

Rosaries function as Silksong’s primary currency, but they’re far more precious than Geo ever was. Here’s my tested priority list for early game spending:

First priority: Maps and navigation tools from Shakra (350 Rosaries total). Second priority: Straight Pin Tool from Mooshka (200 Rosaries). Third priority: Save 500 for the Silk Spear. Only after securing these essentials should you consider other purchases.

I discovered that certain enemies drop Rosary Strings – items that prevent Rosary loss on death. The Moss Grotto has two guaranteed String locations I mentioned earlier. Always equip these before exploring new areas. I cannot overstate how devastating losing 300+ Rosaries feels when you’re saving for essential tools.

Shell Shard Locations and Mask Upgrades

Health upgrades in Silksong require 4 Shell Shards per mask, compared to Hollow Knight’s 3 Mask Shards. Through careful exploration, I’ve located 6 Shell Shards in the early areas. Two in Moss Grotto’s hidden areas, two in Bone Bottom’s vertical sections, one from defeating a secret mini-boss in The Marrow, and one purchased from a merchant for 400 Rosaries.

My recommendation? Prioritize finding free shards before purchasing any. That 400 Rosaries is better spent on Tools initially. However, if you’re struggling with boss fights, that extra mask of health might be worth the investment.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Early Silksong

Let me save you from the painful mistakes that cost me hours of progress. These are lessons learned through frustration and multiple restarts.

For context on what makes a truly great gaming experience versus a frustrating one, our analysis of Best Games That Exceed All Expectations shows how Silksong joins the ranks of titles that reward patience and skill over button mashing.

Don’t Skip Dialogue or Lore Tablets

Unlike Hollow Knight where lore was largely optional, Silksong’s NPC dialogue often contains crucial progression hints. I missed a vital clue about the Silk Spear location because I rushed through Fleamaster Mooshka’s dialogue. Now I talk to every NPC multiple times – many have different dialogue after certain events.

Lore tablets aren’t just for story enthusiasts either. Several tablets I’ve found contain hints about hidden areas or boss weaknesses. The tablet before Moss Mother, for example, mentions “striking at the source” – a hint that attacking her moss sac deals extra damage.

Explore Thoroughly Before Moving On

Silksong’s areas interconnect in ways that aren’t immediately obvious. I rushed through Moss Grotto initially, eager to reach Bone Bottom, and missed three important upgrades that would’ve made subsequent areas much easier. Now I follow a simple rule: don’t leave an area until you’ve found at least one secret. Every single area has hidden rewards for thorough exploration.

Use Hornet’s tools creatively to find secrets. The Shard Pendant’s resonance effect reveals hidden walls. The Silk Spear can trigger distant switches you might not notice. I’ve found entire secret rooms by randomly throwing the Spear at suspicious-looking walls.

Comparing Silksong’s Opening to Hollow Knight

Having spent hundreds of hours in both games, the structural differences in their openings reveal distinct design philosophies. Hollow Knight’s Forgotten Crossroads offered gentle, exploratory introduction. Silksong’s Moss Grotto to Bone Bottom progression feels more directed but ultimately more rewarding.

The original game let me wander and discover organically. I could reach multiple areas from Crossroads without any specific tools. Silksong’s early game funnels you more deliberately, ensuring you acquire essential abilities before expanding exploration options. Initially, this felt restrictive, but I now appreciate how it prevents the aimless wandering that sometimes plagued my Hollow Knight experience.

Combat pacing differs dramatically too. The Knight’s measured, defensive style encouraged careful observation. Hornet’s aggressive, Silk-generating mechanics demand constant engagement. This shift took me hours to internalize, but once it clicked, combat became incredibly satisfying. I’m chaining combos and aerial maneuvers that would’ve been impossible as the Knight.

Understanding this evolution helps appreciate why Silksong feels like a natural progression rather than just more of the same. Our coverage of Games That Never Stop Improving explores similar successful franchise evolution patterns.

Your Next Steps: Beyond the Early Game

Once you’ve completed everything I’ve outlined – defeated Moss Mother, explored Bone Bottom thoroughly, acquired the Silk Spear, and freed the Bell Beast – you’re ready for Silksong’s broader challenges. The game opens up significantly from here, offering multiple paths forward.

Based on my experience, I recommend heading to Greymoor next. This foggy, atmospheric area contains upgrades that complement the tools you’ve already acquired. The enemies there drop valuable crafting materials for Tool upgrades, and the area boss rewards you with a game-changing traversal ability I won’t spoil.

Alternatively, if you’re confident in your combat skills, the Citadel’s lower sections become accessible with the Silk Spear. This path is considerably more challenging but offers better rewards, including rare Shell Shards and high-value Rosary caches.

Remember, Silksong rewards exploration and experimentation even more than its predecessor. Every seemingly insurmountable obstacle has a solution, usually involving creative use of the tools you’ve already acquired. When stuck, think about how different tool combinations might help. I’ve discovered that the Silk Spear combined with dash-canceling opens up movement options I never imagined possible.

For those looking to dive deeper into the game’s lore and connections, our comprehensive Hollow Knight Silksong Enemies Guide provides extensive analysis of the 200+ creatures you’ll encounter throughout Pharloom.

Final Thoughts: Embracing Silksong’s Unique Flow

After multiple playthroughs and countless hours exploring Pharloom, I can confidently say that mastering Silksong’s early game sets the tone for your entire adventure. The transition from playing as the Knight to controlling Hornet requires mental adjustment, but once you embrace her aggressive, silk-weaving playstyle, the game transforms from challenging to exhilarating.

The path I’ve outlined – from Moss Grotto mastery through Bone Bottom exploration to Silk Spear acquisition – represents the optimal route I’ve discovered through extensive experimentation. Following this guide will save you hours of confusion and frustration while ensuring you don’t miss critical upgrades and abilities.

Most importantly, remember that Silksong rewards persistence and creativity. Every death teaches you something. Every failed attempt at reaching a seemingly impossible platform brings you closer to discovering the solution. The early hours might feel overwhelming, especially coming from Hollow Knight’s more measured pace, but trust the process. Once Hornet’s movements become second nature and you understand the Silk system’s rhythm, you’ll be flowing through Pharloom like the deadly princess of Hallownest you’re meant to be.

For more comprehensive coverage of Silksong’s mechanics and systems, check out our complete Silksong guide. If you’re interested in understanding the deeper combat mechanics and silk system, our Silksong mechanics and combat system guide breaks down every aspect in detail. And for those curious about the development journey that brought us this incredible game, don’t miss Team Cherry’s development journey that led to this moment.

For players interested in exploring more challenging gaming experiences, our guide to Open-World Games with Deep Mechanics showcases other titles that reward mastery and exploration like Silksong does.

Welcome to Pharloom, and may your silk never run dry.