Understanding Needle Upgrades in Hollow Knight: Silksong
The Needle is Hornet's primary weapon in Hollow Knight: Silksong, and upgrading it provides one of the most significant combat improvements available early in the game. Unlike charms or temporary bonuses, Needle upgrades permanently increase your base damage output, making every attack more effective. This fundamental enhancement affects not only standard attacks but also many Silk abilities, creating a compound benefit that grows more valuable as you unlock advanced combat techniques.
Key Upgrade Benefits:
- Permanent damage increase - All attacks become more powerful
- Skill synergy - Many Silk abilities scale with base Needle damage
- Combat efficiency - Enemies die faster, reducing resource consumption
- Quality of life - Less time spent in combat, more time exploring
The Needle Upgrade System
How Needle Upgrades Work
Upgrade Mechanics:
- Flat damage increase - Each upgrade adds a specific amount to base attack damage
- Skill integration - Abilities like Silkspear benefit from increased base damage
- Permanent enhancement - Upgrades persist through death and area transitions
- Progressive system - Multiple upgrade tiers with increasing requirements
Impact on Combat:
- Reduced hits-to-kill - Most enemies die in fewer attacks
- Resource efficiency - Less Silk needed for combat encounters
- Boss fight improvements - Shorter encounter times and safer damage windows
- Exploration benefits - Clear areas faster, spend more time discovering
Upgrade Tiers Available
First Upgrade: Sharpened Needle
- Cost: Free from Pinmaster Plinney
- Availability: After freeing Bellhart from Widow
- Effect: Significant base damage increase
- Prerequisites: Defeat Widow, access to Bellhart
Second Upgrade: Oil-Enhanced
- Cost: Rare Oil (quest item)
- Availability: After first upgrade, Oil quest initiated
- Effect: Further damage enhancement
- Prerequisites: Sharpened Needle, Oil acquisition
Prerequisites and Preparation
Story Progression Requirements
Essential Progression:
- Reach Shellwood via the main story path from Far Fields → Greymoor
- Access the bell tunnels - Requires Cling Grip (Wall Jump)
- Navigate to Bellhart - Progress through Shellwood's vertical challenges
- Defeat Widow - The boss fight that liberates Bellhart
Combat Preparation for Widow
Recommended Preparation:
- Full health - Maximum masks before attempting the boss fight
- Healing items - Carry 3-4 healing consumables for safety
- Movement abilities - Wall jumping is essential for arena navigation
- Combat experience - Practice basic attack patterns and timing
Widow Fight Strategy Overview:
- Phase recognition - Learn Widow's different attack patterns
- Arena utilization - Use the environment for positioning advantages
- Patience focus - Wait for clear damage windows rather than rushing
- Healing timing - Only heal during long animation sequences
Post-Victory Requirements
After Defeating Widow:
- Bellhart becomes accessible - Town NPCs resume normal activities
- Pinmaster Plinney available - The craftsman can now upgrade your Needle
- Safe exploration - Bellhart is no longer hostile territory
- Shop access - Various vendors become available for purchases
Finding Pinmaster Plinney in Bellhart
Identifying Plinney's Workshop
Visual Landmarks:
- Three white pins above the door - Distinctive shop sign marking
- Bellhouse architecture - Located in a traditional Bellhart building
- Upper area positioning - Typically found in the elevated sections of town
- Crafting sounds - Audio cues of metalworking from inside
Navigation Tips:
- Explore systematically - Check each building for the distinctive pin sign
- Ask other NPCs - Some townspeople may provide directions
- Look for elevated areas - Plinney's workshop is often positioned higher in town
- Follow crafting sounds - Audio cues can guide you to the workshop
Workshop Location Details
Precise Location:
- Building type: Bellhouse with craft workshop setup
- Identifying features: Three white pins above the entrance
- Area context: Within Bellhart's main settlement area
- Accessibility: Available after Widow is defeated and Bellhart is freed
Step-by-Step Upgrade Process
Phase 1: Liberating Bellhart
- Progress through Shellwood - Navigate the area using wall jumping abilities
- Locate bell tunnels - Find the passage system leading to Bellhart
- Reach Widow's arena - Navigate to the boss encounter location
- Defeat Widow - Complete the boss fight to liberate the town
- Verify town liberation - Ensure NPCs are active and non-hostile
Phase 2: First Upgrade (Sharpened Needle)
- Enter Bellhart - Explore the now-safe town area
- Locate Pinmaster Plinney - Find the workshop with three white pins
- Enter the workshop - Approach Plinney inside his crafting area
- Initiate conversation - Speak with Plinney to access upgrade options
- Select "Sharpen Needle?" - Choose the upgrade option when prompted
- Confirm the upgrade - Accept the free first enhancement
- Verify damage increase - Test attacks to confirm improved damage
Phase 3: Second Upgrade Setup
- Continue conversation - Speak with Plinney again after first upgrade
- Learn about Oil requirement - Plinney explains the need for rare Oil
- Begin Oil quest - Start looking for the special crafting material
- Plan return trip - Note Plinney's location for future visits
First Upgrade: Sharpened Needle
What the Upgrade Provides
Damage Enhancement:
- Base attack increase - Flat improvement to all standard attacks
- Skill synergy - Abilities like Silkspear benefit from higher base damage
- Compound benefits - Improvement affects all damage-dealing actions
- Permanent enhancement - Effect persists throughout the entire game
Immediate Combat Impact
Enemy Encounters:
- Reduced hits-to-kill - Most standard enemies die in fewer attacks
- Resource conservation - Less Silk needed for combat encounters
- Time efficiency - Clear areas faster, more time for exploration
- Confidence boost - Combat becomes more manageable and less threatening
Boss Fights:
- Shorter encounters - Higher damage reduces fight duration
- Safer damage windows - More damage per opportunity means fewer risks needed
- Resource management - Less total time in combat means better Silk/health preservation
Testing the Upgrade
Verification Methods:
- Enemy comparison - Test on familiar enemies to see damage difference
- Skill testing - Try Silkspear or other abilities to confirm enhancement
- Combat efficiency - Notice faster clear times in familiar areas
- Damage numbers - If visible, observe increased damage values
Second Upgrade: The Oil Quest
Understanding the Oil Requirement
Quest Mechanics:
- Rare material - Oil is a special crafting component not found commonly
- Quest initiation - Begins automatically after first upgrade conversation
- Exploration requirement - Oil must be found through area exploration
- Variable location - Oil placement may depend on progression or exploration path
Oil Acquisition Strategy
Search Methodology:
- Systematic exploration - Check areas thoroughly for hidden items
- Merchant investigation - Some vendors may sell or trade Oil
- Quest completion - Oil might be a reward for completing specific tasks
- Environmental clues - Look for hints about Oil locations in dialogue or lore
Preparation for Oil Quest:
- Mark Plinney's location - Ensure you can return easily with Oil
- Continue progression - Oil may become available in later areas
- Check with other NPCs - Some characters might provide Oil-related information
- Explore thoroughly - Hidden areas often contain rare crafting materials
Strategic Benefits and Usage
Combat Optimization
Immediate Applications:
- Standard combat - All regular encounters become more efficient
- Boss preparation - Higher damage makes challenging fights more manageable
- Resource management - Faster kills mean better Silk and health conservation
- Exploration safety - Confident combat enables deeper exploration
Long-term Value
Progression Benefits:
- Compound improvements - Damage increase affects all future abilities
- Skill unlocks - Some advanced techniques may require minimum damage thresholds
- Area access - Higher combat efficiency enables access to challenging zones
- Completion goals - Essential for optimal completion routes and speedruns
Integration with Other Upgrades
Synergy Opportunities:
- Health upgrades - Combine with Mask Shard collection for balanced progression
- Movement abilities - Enhanced combat complements improved traversal
- Silk abilities - Many advanced techniques scale with base Needle damage
- Charm combinations - Weapon upgrades enhance charm effectiveness
Advanced Tips and Optimization
Combat Technique Enhancement
Improved Strategies:
- Aggressive playstyles - Higher damage enables more offensive approaches
- Skill combinations - Experiment with Silkspear and other enhanced abilities
- Enemy prioritization - Focus on threats that benefit most from increased damage
- Resource allocation - Spend less Silk on basic combat, more on exploration
Efficiency Maximization
Time Management:
- Faster area clears - Reduced combat time increases exploration efficiency
- Streamlined farming - Currency and resource collection becomes quicker
- Boss preparation - Shorter fights mean more attempts per session
- Route optimization - Plan paths around enhanced combat capabilities
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Upgrade Process Errors
- Delaying the upgrade - Don't wait to claim the free Sharpened Needle
- Missing Plinney - Thoroughly explore Bellhart to find the workshop
- Ignoring the Oil quest - Start looking for Oil immediately after first upgrade
- Poor preparation - Ensure Widow is defeated before expecting access
Combat Application Mistakes
- Overconfidence - Enhanced damage doesn't make you invincible
- Neglecting defense - Still prioritize avoiding damage over dealing it
- Resource waste - Don't use enhanced damage as excuse for sloppy combat
- Strategy stagnation - Continue learning new techniques despite improved damage
Progression Errors
- Single-upgrade focus - Balance Needle upgrades with other character improvements
- Area rushing - Don't skip content just because combat is easier
- Oil neglect - Actively search for Oil rather than hoping to stumble upon it
- Return planning - Remember Plinney's location for second upgrade
Frequently Asked Questions
Upgrade Process Questions
Q: Is the first Needle upgrade really free? A: Yes, Pinmaster Plinney provides the Sharpened Needle upgrade at no cost once Bellhart is liberated. This makes it one of the best early-game investments.
Q: Can I miss the Needle upgrade permanently? A: No, once Bellhart is freed, Plinney remains available throughout the game. You can return for upgrades at any time.
Q: Does the upgrade affect all of my attacks? A: Yes, the Sharpened Needle increases base damage, which affects standard attacks and many Silk abilities that scale with weapon damage.
Technical Questions
Q: How much damage increase does the first upgrade provide? A: The exact damage increase varies, but it's substantial enough to noticeably reduce hits-to-kill for most enemies. Test on familiar enemies to gauge the improvement.
Q: Do Needle upgrades stack with other damage bonuses? A: Yes, Needle upgrades provide base damage increases that stack multiplicatively with percentage-based bonuses from charms and other sources.
Q: Will the upgrade affect skills I haven't learned yet? A: Many future Silk abilities scale with base Needle damage, so early upgrades benefit techniques you'll learn later in the game.
Strategy Questions
Q: Should I upgrade the Needle before collecting health upgrades? A: The free first upgrade should be claimed immediately when available. For the Oil-based second upgrade, consider your playstyle and current needs.
Q: Is it worth delaying progression to search for Oil? A: Don't halt all progression, but keep an eye out for Oil during normal exploration. It may become available naturally through continued play.
Q: How important are Needle upgrades compared to other improvements? A: Needle upgrades provide fundamental combat improvements that benefit every aspect of the game. They're among the most valuable character enhancements available.
Q: Can I complete the game without Needle upgrades? A: While possible, Needle upgrades significantly improve the experience. The free first upgrade has no downside and should always be claimed.
Integration with Overall Progression
Early Game Strategy
Immediate Priorities:
- Defeat Widow - Unlock access to Bellhart and Plinney
- Claim free upgrade - Get Sharpened Needle immediately
- Begin Oil search - Start looking for second upgrade materials
- Test enhanced combat - Experiment with improved damage output
Mid Game Planning
Continued Development:
- Oil acquisition - Actively search during normal exploration
- Combat mastery - Learn to leverage enhanced damage effectively
- Synergy exploration - Combine with other upgrades for maximum benefit
- Skill integration - Practice enhanced Silk abilities
Long-term Goals
Advanced Applications:
- Completion runs - Essential for efficient 100% completion
- Challenge modes - Higher damage crucial for difficult encounters
- Speedrun techniques - Faster combat enables optimized routing
- Experimental builds - Foundation for testing advanced character builds
Related Guides and Resources
Essential Prerequisites
- Widow Boss Fight Strategy - Complete guide to defeating Widow
- Wall Jump Unlock Guide - Required for accessing Bellhart
- Shellwood Navigation - Area guide for reaching Widow
- Combat Fundamentals - Foundation skills for boss fights
Complementary Upgrades
- Health Upgrade Guide - Mask Shard collection for balanced progression
- Rosary Farming Guide - Currency for other upgrades and purchases
- Silk Abilities Overview - Skills that benefit from enhanced Needle damage
Advanced Applications
- Combat Optimization Guide - Leveraging enhanced damage effectively
- 100% Completion Route - Efficient progression with all upgrades
- Boss Fight Strategies - Using enhanced damage in major encounters
Sources
- Video guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfSDu5mhrlg
- Community testing of upgrade mechanics and damage scaling
- Launch-window writeups referencing Plinney's location, first-upgrade cost, and Oil quest
- Player optimization strategies for combat enhancement
Open Interactive Map (All Areas)
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