Acts
Hollow Knight: Silksong is broken into three Acts, each denoted by an introductory title card. Each Act has its own set of story objectives that Hornet must complete to progress to the next Act (except in the case of the SAVE: The Threadspun Town, OPEN: Grand Gate and SEARCH: Silent Halls objectives). Ongoing objectives appear on the Tasks menu in the INVENTORY.
Act 1: Pharloom
The first Act of the game begins directly after the opening cutscene, and focuses on Hornet's journey to the Citadel. Hornet acquires her first objective after speaking to the Chapel Maid.
| Objective | Description | Task | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
SEEK: The Great Citadel |
Ascend through the lands of Pharloom and reach the Citadel at the kingdom's peak. | Reach the Citadel. |  |
|
SAVE: The Threadspun Town |
Break the silken curse ensnaring the town of Bellhart. | Defeat Widow to free the town of Bellhart. |  |
|
OPEN: Grand Gate |
Awaken the old bells throughout the lands. | Journey to the five Bellshrines throughout lower Pharloom and ring them to unlock the Grand Gate. |   |
Act 2: Citadel of Song
The second Act begins upon entering the Citadel after defeating the Last Judge or Phantom. Hornet must explore the Citadel and learn the Threefold Melody to reach the very top of the kingdom, known as the Cradle. When achieving the Weaver Queen or Twisted Child endings, Act 2 is the final act of the game.
| Objective | Description | Task | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
SEARCH: Silent Halls |
Venture inside the Citadel and confront the veiled bugs. | Confront Lace within the Choral Chambers. |  |
|
|
ASCEND: Pharloom's Crown |
Scale the Citadel and confront the one who haunts the lands of Pharloom.
After defeating the Cogwork Dancers: Learn the Threefold Melody and open the path to the Citadel's crest. After learning the Threefold Melody: Rise above the Citadel and confront the one who haunts the lands of Pharloom. |
Explore the Citadel and open the way to the Cradle. |   |
|
LEARN: Conductor's Melody |
Search the gilded heights of the Citadel for the melody of the Conductors.
Required for ASCEND: Pharloom's Crown |
Learn the Conductor's Melody within the High Halls. |  |
|
LEARN: Architect's Melody |
Search the mechanised core of the Citadel for the melody of the Architects.
Required for ASCEND: Pharloom's Crown |
Learn the Architect's Melody within the Cogwork Core. |  |
|
LEARN: Vaultkeeper's Melody |
Search the cloistered wing of the Citadel for the melody of the Vaultkeepers.
Required for ASCEND: Pharloom's Crown |
Learn the Vaultkeeper's Melody within the Whispering Vaults. |   |
|
|
DEFEAT: Pale Monarch |
Confront the one who haunts the lands of Pharloom. | Defeat Grand Mother Silk. |  |
| Accessible after completing Silk and Soul | ||||
|
DESTROY: Soul Snare |
Scale the Citadel and ensnare its monarch in a deadly trap. | Defeat Grand Mother Silk with the Needolin. |  |
Act 3: Abyss
Entering the third Act requires completing the Silk and Soul wish and subsequently defeating Grand Mother Silk with the Needolin. After the Snared Silk ending and credits, the save profile can be reopened to begin Act 3.
Pharloom has been infected with the Void, and Hornet must journey into Pharloom's Abyss to confront Grand Mother Silk alongside Lace. Completing Act 3's main questline and defeating its final boss, Lost Lace, concludes the final ending of Hollow Knight: Silksong.
Notable Changes
Several major changes occur when entering Act 3:
- Various passageways are blocked off and new ones become accessible.
- Various enemies and bosses can become afflicted by the Void, enhancing their movesets, health, and attacks.
- Void Masses spawn.
- Bone Bottom is almost completely destroyed, with only the Bellways remaining. A Survivor's Camp is erected in the Marrow where the Flea Caravan used to be.
- The Wormways become overrun with Plasmium.
- Haunted enemies no longer have a visible "puppet string" effect when they react to the Needolin. (The sound cue still plays.)
| Objective | Description | Task | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
SEEK: After the Fall |
Discover the fate of Pharloom. | Escape the Cradle. | — |
|
|
SEEK: Awaiting the End |
Confront the Caretaker and his family in the Ruined Chapel beside Bone Bottom. | Make it to the Ruined Chapel in Moss Grotto. |  |
|
DEFEAT: Beast in the Bells |
Descend into the bellway and defeat the hostile creature within. | Defeat the Bell Eater and save the Bell Beast. |  |
|
|
SEEK: The Dark Below |
Find aid in Deep Docks to access its diving bell and descend beneath Pharloom.
After speaking to Ballow: Use the diving bell in Deep Docks to descend beneath Pharloom. After using the diving bell to enter The Abyss: Reach the source of the black threads within the Abyss. |
Find a way to enter the Abyss. |    |
|
|
ASCEND: Return to Pharloom |
Escape the Abyss. | Find a way to leave the Abyss. |  |
|
|
SEEK: Spell Seeker |
Return to the Snail Shamans in the Ruined Chapel beside Bone Bottom. | Speak to the Snail Shamans within the Ruined Chapel. | |
|
|
SEEK: The Old Hearts |
Enliven and acquire the old hearts of Pharloom. | Collect 3 of the following items: | |
|
CLAIM: Heart of Might |
Claim the Encrusted Heart.
Required for SEEK: The Old Hearts |
Defeat Crust King Khann and collect the Encrusted Heart. |  |
|
CLAIM: Heart of the Woods |
Claim the Pollen Heart.
Required for SEEK: The Old Hearts |
Defeat Nyleth and collect the Pollen Heart. |  |
|
CLAIM: Heart of the Wild |
Claim the Hunter's Heart.
Required for SEEK: The Old Hearts |
Defeat Skarrsinger Karmelita and collect the Hunter's Heart. |  |
|
DESCEND: Last Dive |
Dive into the void and cut Pharloom free. | Return to the Abyss and defeat Lost Lace. |  |
Trivia
- The SEARCH: Silent Halls map marker is placed in Cogwork Core, but the objective will only progress if Lace is encountered in Choral Chambers.
- In an interview, Ari Gibson stated that "Act 3 stuff we worked on at the very end. But all of those areas we knew were going to exist, or were slated to exist.[1] This is supported by the early Silksong maps shown at ACMI, as The Abyss and other Act 3-exclusive content first started appearing in maps dated to 2022.[2] William Pellen revealed in the same interview that Acts were not "named formally" in earlier stages of development.[1]
- Act 3 was much harder prior to release, getting its difficulty later nerfed.[3]
Names in other languages
Act 1: Pharloom
| Language | Name | Meaning/Explanation |
|---|---|---|
 Brazilian Portuguese
|
ATO 1: FIARLONGO | ACT 1: FIARLONGO, Fiarlongo is the name of Pharloom in Portuguese, combination of fiar (to spin thread) and longo (long). |
 French
|
ACTE 1: PHARLOOM | ACT 1: PHARLOOM |
 German
|
AKT 1: PHARLOOM | ACT 1: PHARLOOM |
 Italian
|
ATTO 1: LUNGITELA | ACT 1: FARWEB |
 Japanese
|
第１章: ファールーム Dai 1 shō: fārūmu |
Chapter 1: Pharloom |
 Korean
|
1장: 팔룸 1jang: pallum |
Chapter 1: Pharloom |
 Russian
|
АКТ 1: ФАРЛУМ AKT 1: FARLUM |
ACT 1: PHARLOOM |
 Simplified Chinese
|
第一幕: 纺络 Dì yī mù: Fǎngluò? |
Act 1: Pharloom |
 Spanish
|
ACTO 1: TELALEJANA | ACT 1: FARWEB |
 Internal name
|
ACT_1
|
|
Act 2: Citadel of Song
| Language | Name | Meaning/Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Brazilian Portuguese
|
ATO 2: CIDADELA DA CANÇÃO | ACT 2: CITADEL OF SONG |
| French
|
ACTE 2: CITADELLE MÉLODIEUSE | ACT 2: MELODIOUS CITADEL |
| German
|
AKT 2: SANGESZITADELLE | ACT 2: CITADEL OF SONG |
| Italian
|
ATTO 2: CITTADELLA DEL CANTO | ACT 2: CITADEL OF SONG |
| Japanese
|
第２章: 唱歌のシタデル Dai 2-shō: shōka no shitaderu |
Chapter 2: Citadel of Song |
| Korean
|
2장: 성채의 노래 2jang: seongchaeui norae |
Chapter 2: Citadel of Song |
| Russian
|
АКТ 2: ЦИТАДЕЛЬ ПЕСНИ AKT 2: CITADEL' PESNI |
ACT 2: CITADEL OF SONG |
| Simplified Chinese
|
第二幕: 圣歌城堡 Dì èr mù: Shènggē chéngbǎo? |
Act 2: Castle of Hymn |
| Spanish
|
ACTO 2: CIUDADELA MELODIOSA | ACT 2: MELODIOUS CITADEL |
| Internal name
|
ACT_2
|
|
Act 3: Abyss
| Language | Name | Meaning/Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Brazilian Portuguese
|
ATO 3: ABISMO | ACT 3: ABYSS |
| French
|
ACTE 3: LES ABYSSES | ACT 3: THE ABYSS |
| German
|
AKT 3: ABGRUND | ACT 3: ABYSS |
| Italian
|
ATTO 3: ABISSO | ACT 3: ABYSS |
| Japanese
|
第３章: アビス Dai 3-shō: abisu |
Chapter 3: Abyss |
| Korean
|
3장: 심연 3jang: simyeon |
Chapter 3: Abyss |
| Russian
|
АКТ 3: БЕЗДНА AKT 3: BEZDNA |
ACT 3: ABYSS |
| Simplified Chinese
|
第三幕: 深渊 Dì sān mù: Shēnyuān? |
Act 3: Abyss |
| Spanish
|
ACTO 3: ABISMO | ACT 3: ABYSS |
| Internal name
|
ACT_3
|
|