Hollow Knight Silksong Crests: Unleash Hornet's True Potential

Last Updated: October 11, 2025

Hey there, fellow adventurers! Remember the thrill of discovering a new charm in Hollow Knight that totally changed your playstyle? That feeling has multiplied in Hollow Knight Silksong, which launched on September 4, 2025! Today, we're diving deep into one of the most exciting core features: the mysterious and powerful Silksong crests. These aren't just shiny trinkets; they're game-changers that let you seriously shake up Hornet's combat style. Players have been tailoring her attacks to perfectly suit their preferences, whether they prefer a fast-paced aggressor or a methodical strategist. We'll explore where to find these coveted relics, hidden within ancient temples across the sprawling land of Pharloom, and discuss how they empower players to tackle even the most formidable bosses. Get ready to customize, strategize, and dominate!

The Heart of Combat: What Are Silksong Crests?

So, let's get down to brass tacks: what exactly are these Silksong crests, and why have they generated so much excitement? They are the core of Hornet's combat customization. In the original Hollow Knight, charms offered passive bonuses or altered existing abilities. Silksong crests take this concept and elevate it, directly offering a way to switch up Hornet's combat style entirely. This isn't just a minor tweak; it's a fundamental shift in how players approach every enemy encounter and boss battle in Pharloom.

For many, this system is incredibly exciting! It allows for experimentation with different playstyles. Sometimes players want to be a nimble, hit-and-run expert, and other times they crave the satisfaction of a heavy-hitting, tanky approach. The fact that Silksong crests fundamentally alter Hornet's combat is a huge win for replayability and personal expression. It means that one player's journey through Pharloom might look very different from another's, purely based on the crests they find and equip.

The Grand Hunt Across Pharloom: Where to Find Them

Players quickly learned that these powerful crests aren't just lying around in the open. Oh no, Team Cherry knows how to make us work for our treasures! These crests are looted from their corresponding temples found throughout Pharloom. This immediately conjures images of epic exploration, delving into ancient, forgotten structures, solving environmental puzzles, and perhaps even facing unique temple guardians.

Pharloom itself has proven to be a truly massive and diverse kingdom, much like Hallownest was. Traversing its various regions, from lush forests to scorching deserts or crumbling ruins, all in search of these vital temples, fills players with a sense of adventure. It's that classic Metroidvania loop we all adore: see a seemingly inaccessible area, gain a new ability (or crest!), and then loop back to unlock its secrets. Players have been poring over the in-game map, marking down potential temple locations, and planning their routes. There's nothing quite like that feeling of discovery when you finally breach a hidden temple's entrance after hours of exploration!

Customization Done Right: Tailoring Hornet's Offense

Here's where things get interesting regarding how much freedom players have. While it's not possible to mix and match each attack to make a build from scratch, there's still a deep level of personalization. Instead, upgrade paths and tool slots offer a way to tailor the Silksong experience. This has proven to be a smart design choice, preventing an overwhelming amount of options while still providing meaningful choices.

Crests provide a foundational combat style, and then chosen upgrade paths and tools allow players to specialize within that style. For example, one crest might make Hornet more agile, while another focuses on raw power. Then, tool choices – perhaps a rapid-fire projectile or a defensive shield – and further upgrades to those tools, fine-tune that core crest's approach. It's less about building a character from the ground up with individual attack components, and more about selecting a robust combat archetype and then enhancing it with strategic choices. This keeps the game balanced while still empowering players to feel unique.

Strategic Advantage: Exploiting Openings and Conquering Bosses

One of the most compelling aspects of these crests is their potential for tactical advantage. They can help players exploit an opening in the attack pattern of an especially tricky boss. This is music to any Metroidvania fan's ears! We all know Hollow Knight-style boss fights are all about learning patterns, finding windows, and executing flawless dodges and attacks. Imagine struggling against a boss whose attacks are just a bit too fast for a current setup. A new crest that gives Hornet a wider attack arc, or perhaps a tool that stuns enemies, could be the exact edge needed to turn the tide.

Many players have experienced situations in similar games where a particular boss, like a giant spider-like creature, had a tiny opening after a massive slam. Standard attacks were just too slow to capitalize effectively. With Silksong's crest system, players immediately seek out something that boosts attack speed or provides a quick-dash attack to get in, do damage, and get out. The ability to swap out a crest (and presumably tools/upgrades) before a boss fight is the ultimate strategic layer, encouraging experimentation and rewarding players who understand both the boss and their own chosen combat style.

The Journey's Pacing: Overcoming Progression Walls

As players have discovered, one doesn't simply waltz into Pharloom and grab all the crests right away. Reaching some of these perks requires passing certain points in the game. This includes needing to beat the Silksong Widow boss or unlocking the Silksong Dash. This is not surprising for a Metroidvania, but it's good to have confirmation of these specific roadblocks.

Hitting a progression wall can sometimes be frustrating, right? You see that tantalizing path, but a giant boss or a missing movement ability stands in your way. But honestly, that's part of the charm! It forces players to master the current tools at their disposal, explore other avenues, and truly earn their progression. Beating the Widow boss isn't just about bragging rights; it unlocks new areas and potentially new crests that further evolve Hornet's capabilities. Similarly, finally acquiring the Silksong Dash doesn't just make traversal easier; it opens up entirely new sections of the map where forgotten temples and their precious crests lie hidden. It adds to the sense of accomplishment, making each new crest feel truly earned.

The Enduring Appeal: Discovery, Experimentation, and Replayability

Ultimately, the system of Silksong crests has proven to be a cornerstone of the game's depth and replayability. The journey of pushing through the land of Pharloom, discovering hidden temples, and unearthing these powerful relics is a core part of the experience. It's not just about finding them, but about the experimentation that follows. Which crest works best for your playstyle? How do you combine it with your chosen tools and upgrade paths to create the ultimate Hornet build?

Many players have already dived in and tried out countless combinations. The prospect of multiple playthroughs, each with a different crest at its core, is incredibly appealing. It means that even after conquering Pharloom once, there are plenty of reasons to return and experience Hornet's adventure from a fresh combat perspective. It’s that feeling of endless discovery and mastery that keeps us coming back to games like these.

What are your thoughts on this system now that the game is out? Do you prefer a game that lets you mix and match every single ability, or do you like the idea of core combat styles augmented by tools and upgrades? Have you hit a progression wall in Silksong that felt particularly brutal, but ultimately rewarding? Let's chat about it in the comments!