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Hollow Knight Silksong Silk Skills, Abilities, Ancestral Arts, and Location Guide
2025-09-18
In Hollow Knight: Silksong, Hornet’s journey is shaped by unlocking Ancestral Arts, abilities, and Silk Skills. These upgrades not only open new paths and puzzles but also give you the combat tools to survive Pharloom’s toughest bosses. If you are looking for Hollow Knight Silksong tips to find these skills you are in luck, this guide details every ancestral art and silk skill, with Hollow Knight Silksong ancestral art ability location and methods for obtaining them so you can progress smoothly without missing anything.
Table of Contents
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Hollow Knight Silksong Ancestral Arts and Abilities
Hollow Knight Silksong Ancestral Arts form Hornet's foundational toolkit, enabling access to new Hollow Knight Silksong ancestral art locations, puzzles, and fights. They are permanent once acquired and often story-mandatory.
So here are the Hollow Knight Silksong abilities with ability locations and the exact methods for obtaining them.
Swift Step (Dash)
|
Ancestral Art/Ability |
How to Obtain |
Location |
Notes |
|
Swift Step (Dash) |
Bind the statue after exploding an orange blob on the ceiling to access a hidden passage. |
Deep Docks: Northern section, past the elevator and lava platforms with jumping skeletons; head left in the revealed room. |
Early unlock after initial biomes; opens shortcuts and Rosary Benches. Prerequisite: None. |
Swift Step Ancestral Art Location Map
Cling Grip (Wall Grab)
|
Ancestral Art/Ability |
How to Obtain |
Location |
Notes |
|
Cling Grip (Wall Grab) |
Bind the statue after progressing through the area post-boss. |
Shellwood: Top northern area, after defeating Sister Splinter boss; exit left, strike flowers downward to ascend near the idol. |
Accessed via Haunted Bellhart after Greymoor's Moorwing; essential for vertical paths. Prerequisite: Swift Step recommended. |
Cling Grip Ancestral Art Location Map
Needolin
|
Ancestral Art/Ability |
How to Obtain |
Location |
Notes |
|
Needolin |
Defeat the Widow boss. |
Bellhart: Central arena during Act 1; use Cling Grip to reach the fight. |
Unlocks Citadel entry and side paths like Moss Grotto bottom; requires three melodies for The Cradle. Prerequisite: Cling Grip. |
Needolin Ancestral Art Location Map
Clawline (Grappling Hook)
|
Ancestral Art/Ability |
How to Obtain |
Location |
Notes |
|
Clawline (Grappling Hook) |
Bind the statue at the end of a lava gauntlet. |
Underworks (Cauldron): East from Whiteward entrance; bottom lava room, through magma paths with bomb enemies and disappearing platforms, into a ring-filled chamber. |
Transforms gap-crossing and combat pulls; key for late areas. |
Clawline Ancestral Art Location Map
Needle Strike (Charge Attack)
|
Ancestral Art/Ability |
How to Obtain |
Location |
Notes |
|
Needle Strike (Charge Attack) |
Agree to train with the Pinstress NPC. |
Blasted Steps: Far west house; speak after area entry. |
Enhances melee against armored foes; non-consumable. Prerequisite: None. |
Needle Strike Ancestral Art Location Map
Drifter's Cloak (Glide)
|
Ancestral Art/Ability |
How to Obtain |
Location |
Notes |
|
Drifter's Cloak (Glide) |
Complete the Seamstress' Flexile Spines wish quest. |
Far Fields: Fulfill the request involving rare beast hunts. |
Aids open-area puzzles; obtained mid-game. Prerequisite: Basic mobility. |
Drifter's Cloak Location Map
Faydown Cloak (Double Jump)
|
Ancestral Art/Ability |
How to Obtain |
Location |
Notes |
|
Faydown Cloak (Double Jump) |
Play Needolin near an ancient tuning mechanism. |
Mount Fay: Northernmost point; enter west from The Slab's Bellway, climb vertical paths with spikes using prior arts, then east to the top. |
Late mobility boost; use Clawline on lifeforms for Silk recovery. Prerequisite: Cling Grip, Swift Step, Clawline, Needolin. |
Faydown Cloak Ancestral Art Location Map
Silk Soar (Super Jump)
|
Ancestral Art/Ability |
How to Obtain |
Location |
Notes |
|
Silk Soar (Super Jump) |
Bind the statue in a deep pit as part of main story. |
The Abyss: Rightmost hole, drop down; Weavenest Absolom area during Act 3. |
Unlocks all Pharloom heights, including Mask Shards and Lockets; mandatory for endgame. Prerequisite: Act 3 progression. |
Silk Soar Location Map
Beastling Call
|
Ancestral Art/Ability |
How to Obtain |
Location |
Notes |
|
Beastling Call |
Defeat the Bell Eater boss. |
Choral Chambers: Below Grand Bellway during Act 3 summon attempt. |
Backtracking aid; Act 3 only. Prerequisite: Act 3. |
Beastling Call Location Map
Sylphsong
|
Ancestral Art/Ability |
How to Obtain |
Location |
Notes |
|
Sylphsong |
Bind Eva after crest collection. |
Weavenest Atla: East of Mosshome; reward post-Act 3 quests. |
Survival enhancer; requires all seven upgraded Silksong crests. Prerequisite: All crests, Act 3. |
Sylphsong Location Map
Elegy of the Deep
|
Ancestral Art/Ability |
How to Obtain |
Location |
Notes |
|
Elegy of the Deep |
Complete the Spell Seeker main quest. |
Unspecified; unlocked during Act 3 storyline. |
Lore and secret utility. Prerequisite: Act 3, Needolin. |
Hollow Knight Silksong Silk Skills
Silk Skills in Hollow Knight: Silksong are optional combat abilities equipped at benches (up to slots via crests), consuming Silk for effects like piercing or AoE. They enhance the Needle in fights against Pharloom's 200+ foes and 40+ bosses.
There are six total Silk Skills, discoverable via exploration or secrets.
Silkspear
|
Silk Skill |
How to Obtain |
Location |
Notes |
|
Silkspear |
Follow the mandatory path. |
Mosshome: Northwest Bellway from Shakra, west of the three-arrow sign. |
Early staple; unmissable for progression. Prerequisite: None. |
Silkspear Skill Location Map
Thread Storm
|
Silk Skill |
How to Obtain |
Location |
Notes |
|
Thread Storm |
Climb to the area's peak, defeating a crow miniboss. |
Greymoor: Northeast top; start at Halfway Home, right to chain platforms, ascend with balloons. |
Crowd control; shortcut exit right after. Prerequisite: Cling Grip for ease. |
Thread Storm Skill Location Map
Cross Stitch
|
Silk Skill |
How to Obtain |
Location |
Notes |
|
Cross Stitch |
Defeat The Phantom miniboss. |
Exhaust Organ: Via Sinner's Road and The Mist. |
Defensive timing skill; high reward in boss patterns. Prerequisite: None specific. |
Cross Stitch Skill Location Map
Sharpdart
|
Silk Skill |
How to Obtain |
Location |
Notes |
|
Sharpdart |
Bind the statue after platforming. |
Weavenest Kahn: West Wormways side; or Wormways requiring Needolin door and Clawline traversal. |
Evasive offense; dodges attacks mid-use. Prerequisite: Needolin, Clawline. |
Sharpdart Skill Location Map
Rune Rage
|
Silk Skill |
How to Obtain |
Location |
Notes |
|
Rune Rage |
Defeat the First Sinner secret boss with the Key of the Apostate. |
The Slab: Enter via Putrefied Ducts' Bilewater using the key. |
Boss and add clearer; exploration-heavy. Prerequisite: Key item. |
Rune Rage Skill Location Map
Pale Nails
|
Silk Skill |
How to Obtain |
Location |
Notes |
|
Pale Nails |
Bind Grand Mother Silk's arm after her defeat; climb using vents. |
The Cradle: Act 3 top area, near Memorium; ascend Cogwork Core and Cradle. |
Multi-target homing; late-game. Prerequisite: Silk Soar, Act 3. |
Pale Nails Skill Location Map
Conclusion
With this guide, you now know how to unlock every Hollow Knight Silksong Skill, Ancestral Art, and ability to expand Hornet’s power and explore Pharloom to its fullest. Take the time to track them down, master their use, and watch your combat options grow. And if you’d like to make those long sessions of discovery more comfortable, let OSLink stream Silksong from your PC to your phone so you can keep exploring anywhere.
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