Hollow Knight: Silksong Secrets – The Ultimate Player’s Guide to Pharloom
If you thought Hollow Knight was challenging, wait until you dive into Hornet’s adventure in Pharloom. This sprawling, vertical kingdom is packed with hidden areas, tricky mechanics, and elusive collectibles that can make or break your journey to 100% completion.
As someone who loves digging into secrets in games, I’ve compiled a guide full of practical tips, strategies, and secret locations to help you master Silksong without losing your sanity—or your masks.
Let’s get into it.
Mastering Hidden Mechanics Before Exploring Pharloom
Silksong isn’t just about swinging your needle around—it rewards players who understand its hidden systems. These mechanics aren’t always explained by the game, but they can make exploring much safer and more efficient.
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1. The Silk-Taunt (Shout) Mechanic
Hornet’s shout, activated with the Right Stick (V key on PC), is more than just a fun animation. You can:
- Break up enemy formations to prevent being swarmed
- Lure flying enemies into traps
- Trigger reactions from certain NPCs who respond with unique songs
It’s a subtle but powerful tool that changes how you approach fights and exploration.
2. Aerial Binding
Unlike the Knight in the original game, Hornet can use her healing Bind ability mid-air. This is essential in Pharloom, where many areas deal 2 mask damage instantly. Trying to heal on the ground in high-damage zones is basically a death sentence, so master mid-air healing early.
3. Butterfly Pathfinding in The Mist
Getting lost in “The Mist” can be frustrating. Luckily, the game gives subtle hints: follow the butterflies. Approach them with your needle, and they will guide you toward the correct exit.
Hidden Areas and Secret Biomes
Pharloom is massive—nearly 30 unique biomes, double the original game. Many of these areas are so well-hidden that even experienced players can miss them. Here are a few standout zones:
| Secret Area | How to Access | Key Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| The Underworks | After defeating Last Judge or via hidden path in Sinner’s Road | Two isolated Lost Fleas |
| The Drizzle | Breakable wall near Nameless Town’s main building + Super Jump | Surreal, endless flatlands |
| Sinner’s Road | Navigate destructible walls and hidden cells | Hidden NPC Free Crat, Broken Bench for Path of Nightmares |
Sinner’s Road Tips:
- The hidden flea NPC Free Crat triggers multiple late-game quests.
- The Broken Bench costs 150 Rosaries to repair but is crucial for surviving advanced platforming challenges.
Steel Soul Secret Questline
If you’re brave enough to tackle Steel Soul mode, a special questline opens up. Completing it rewards you with powerful items and a secret boss fight.
How to Start
Locate a destructible wall behind Sharpened Steps. A mysterious NPC tasks you with finding a “missing vassal”.
Quest Highlights
- Visit Bone Lowlands, Far Fields, and a secret balcony in Putrified Ducts
- Rewards include a Summoned Savior boss fight and an infinite consumable regenerating 120 Shell Shards
Summoned Savior Boss Strategy
- Inflicts 2 masks per hit, so equip Swift Step and Faydown Cloak
- Tentacle/Harpoon attacks: dash or sprint away
- Black spheres and void swords: stay medium-range, jump/dash as spheres hit the ground
- Spinning blade phase: create as much distance as possible
- Quick aerial slashes or Three-fold Pin tool work best for low-health finish
Advanced Puzzle Solutions
Cogwork Core Musical Puzzle: Focus on aligning the top pillar first. Once it’s in the “double note” position, lower pillars will follow more easily.
Shakra’s Final Mapping Quest: After purchasing all 17 maps, Shakra unlocks a final quest in Bilewater, required to reach the “Silk and Soul” endgame.
100% Completion Checklist
Hitting 100% in Silksong requires attention to both collectibles and story quests. Here’s a practical checklist:
- Souls to Collect: Seeker’s Soul (Bilewater), Maiden’s Soul (Moss Grotto), Hermit’s Soul (Bellhart)
- Needle Upgrade: Access high-tier smiths in Mount Fay using the Faydown Cloak
- Flea Caravan: Make sure the Flea Caravan reaches Fleatopia in Putrified Ducts
Secret Items Quick Reference
| Item | Location | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Key #1 | Bone Bottom (Merchant Pebba) | 500 Rosaries |
| Wispfire Lantern | Wisp Thicket | Defeat Father of the Flame |
| Rune Rage Skill | The Slab | Key of Apostate |
| Secret Mode (Steel Soul) | Main Menu | Up, Down, Up, Down, L, R, L, R |
Finding the Remaining 20 Lost Fleas
There are 30 Lost Fleas total. Rescuing them all unlocks the Fleafriend Achievement and moves the Flea Caravan to its final destination. Here’s a summary for Fleas #11–30:
| Flea # | Region | Location / Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Bellhart | Shellwood, top-right elevator; defeat Sister Splinter first |
| 12 | Wormways | Break wall in central shaft, defeat flying enemy |
| 13-14 | Blasted Sands | #13 near Citadel entrance, #14 central corridor; pogo off enemies |
| 15 | Hunter’s March | Top-left of first vertical chamber; beat Skarrgard miniboss |
| 16 | Sinner’s Road | Right-hand destructible cell |
| 17-18 | The Slab | #17 central-left past prison cells, #18 above Mount Fay bench (Double Jump) |
| 19 | Mount Fay | Break fake ceiling near peak; Double Jump required |
| 20-22 | Bilewater | #20 Exit tower left, #21 lower-right (Snitchfly guarded), #22 fake ceiling upper-right |
| 23-24 | Choral Chamber | #23 leftmost vertical chamber, #24 break wall + ride wind current |
| 25-26 | Whispering Vaults | #25 move blocks to far-right, #26 hidden path toward Songclave |
| 27 | Underworks | Near Citadel Lift, navigate lava corridors |
| 28 | Memorium | Top corridor past lightning machines (Big Flea!) |
| 29 | Wisp Thicket | Break ceiling near flame lantern |
| 30 | Putrefied Ducts | Find NPC Vog behind breakable wall |
Final Thoughts
Pharloom is a masterclass in exploration and design. Every secret, from hidden NPCs to the elusive Summoned Savior, rewards curiosity and patience. My personal favorite? The Drizzle—a surreal flatland that feels like wandering through a dream, completely optional but visually unforgettable.
If you’re aiming for true 100% completion, don’t rush. Take your time with the Fleas, master mid-air healing, and keep an eye out for destructible walls—they’re everywhere. And remember: sometimes the best rewards come from simply exploring, not just ticking off achievements.
Whether you’re a die-hard Hollow Knight fan or a newcomer looking to experience Silksong in all its glory, this guide will help you navigate Pharloom’s many challenges while uncovering every secret the game has to offer.
