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.

	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. The Marrow Far Fields Greymoor Bellhart Shellwood	Journey to the five Bellshrines throughout lower Pharloom and ring them to unlock the Grand Gate.	Bellshrines

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
	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 mechanized 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 an ending cutscene and a credits roll, 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.)

	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: Encrusted Heart Pollen Heart Hunter's Heart Conjoined Heart
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.