Silk Skills
Spoiler‑light overview. We cover what Silk Skills are, how to unlock and equip them, and practical picks for early and mid‑game without route spoilers.
What Are Silk Skills?
Silk Skills are powerful, silk‑consuming abilities Hornet can equip and trigger in combat. Think of them as Silksong’s version of “spells”: they cost Silk (the same resource you bind/heal with), so timing matters. You can equip one Silk Skill at a time and swap at a bench.
Key notes
- Equip at benches: open the Equipment/Crest screen and select the Silk Skill slot.
- Costs Silk: most known Silk Skills cost roughly a single chunk (4 pips) per use.
- Synergy: Crests like the Shaman Crest can empower Silk Skills; Blue tools and Weavelight can help regenerate Silk faster.
How To Unlock Silk Skills
Silk Skills are found as progression rewards or at Weaver‑themed sites/shrines after key encounters, exploration, or tasks.
General tips
- Follow main progression in early regions (e.g., Mosshome/Greymoor) and check side rooms with idols or shrines.
- After bosses or notable set‑pieces, loop back through nearby offshoots — many skills are tucked just beyond story gates.
- Activate benches when nearby; being able to swap and test skills right away helps you learn matchups.
All Silk Skills (current list)
The following Silk Skills are documented on the Hollow Knight Wiki (last checked: 2025‑09‑11). Silk costs are per cast.
| Skill | Summary | Silk |
|---|---|---|
| Silkspear | Throws the needle forward, piercing enemies in a line. | 4 |
| Thread Storm | Swirls thread around Hornet, damaging nearby foes. | 4 |
| Cross Stitch | Wrap the needle in silk to parry, then counter. | 4 |
| Sharpdart | Rush through enemies in a fast, piercing strike. | 4 |
| Rune Rage | Sew rending runes onto foes to shred over time. | 4 |
| Pale Nails | Spin thread talons that home in on enemies. | 4 |
Best Early Picks (Practical Use)
- Silkspear (universal): Reliable burst to finish low‑HP enemies, lines up bosses during punish windows, and clears hazards across lanes.
- Thread Storm (melee brawler): Excellent when enemies swarm or hug your hitbox; pair with damage‑on‑heal or brief AoE effects.
- Cross Stitch (parry players): Powerful if you consistently time counters; skip if you prefer proactive pressure.
How To Equip & Swap
- Rest at any bench.
- Open the Equipment/Crest screen and move the cursor to the Silk Skill slot.
- Choose the skill and confirm. You can only equip one at a time.
Tip: If you’re testing, place a bench loop near your target fight so you can iterate quickly.
Build & Crest Synergies
- Shaman Crest: Further empowers Silk Skills; ideal for Silk‑centric setups.
- Weavelight + Hunter Crest: Faster Silk regeneration pairs nicely with frequent casts.
- Blue/Yellow Tools: Passive safety nets (e.g., bind protection, resource pull) let you spend Silk more aggressively.
FAQ
- How many Silk Skills can I equip? One at a time, swapped at benches.
- Do they replace Tools? No. Tools are separate equipment types; Silk Skills are active, Silk‑spending abilities.
- Are Silk Skills mandatory? A few are progression‑critical; most expand options and make specific encounters easier.
Sources
- Hollow Knight Wiki — Tools & Skills (Silksong): https://hollowknight.wiki/w/Category:Tools_and_Skills_(Silksong)
- Nintendo Life — Silk Skills & Ancestral Arts: https://www.nintendolife.com/guides/hollow-knight-silksong-every-silk-skill-and-ancestral-art
Open Interactive Map (All Areas)
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