Hornet’s path twists sharply as Act 3 begins-new enemies strike harder, secrets emerge from forgotten corners, and choices grow sharper than any needle. Here’s how to seize the advantage before the kingdom shifts against you.
Hollow Knight: Silksong Act 3 requirements
Act 3 becomes available after finishing the main quest line of Act 2 and meeting specific progress conditions tied to character upgrades and story events. Players must have completed all regional boss encounters and acquired the final needle enhancement. Access to the third act is triggered once Hornet returns to Pharloom’s central tower, where new dialogue sequences and objectives appear. Keeping key items from earlier acts is necessary, as they influence which areas open first during Act 3’s introduction.
To start Act 3, you do not need to be a completionist. However, you do need to complete a majority of the quests, find most of the lost fleas, and reach the end of the Act 2.
The exact specifics to start Act 3 are not known, but the consensus is that you need to do the following:
- Complete a majority of the wishes on the wish boards in Bone Bottom, Bellhart, and First Shrine.
- Move the flea caravan to the Pale Lake in the Putrified Ducts.
- Learn the Threefold song by finding the Vaultkeeper’s, Architect’s, and Conductor’s Melody.
- Unlock your Bellhome in Bellhart.
In doing so, you’ll unlock the “Silk and Soul” quest on the wish board in Bellhart.
In our experience, the above wasn’t enough to unlock the quest. After we completed the “Crawbug Clearing” quest in Greymoor, we unlocked the “Silk and Soul” quest in Bellhart.
In case that isn’t enough, here are all the quests we completed in addition to all the wishes on the wish boards:
- Berry Picking (Mosshome)
- The Lost Fleas (The Marrow)
- Flexile Spines (Far Fields)
- Bugs of Pharloom (Greymoor)
- Pinmaster’s Oil (Bellhart)
- Crawbug Clearing (Greymoor)
- Rite of Rebirth (Bilewater/Shellwood)
- Infestation Operation (Greymoor)
- Roach Guts (Sinner’s Road)
- Great Taste of Pharloom (Choral Chambers)
‘Silk and Soul’ quest walkthrough
This guide begins right after you enter Act 3, directing you toward the path that leads to Silk Song’s climactic areas while avoiding backtracking. Expect a mix of platforming challenges and quick combat encounters that test timing, wall jumps, and rune usage, with optional shortcuts revealed as you explore. Prioritize restoring health before major boss windows, and keep an eye out for environmental cues that indicate hidden routes or safe zones. As you progress, you’ll unlock new abilities and revelations that redefine how you approach subsequent sections.
To start the quest, you’ll need to complete an assortment of tasks that we’ve listed above. Afterward, you’ll find the “Silk and Soul” quest on the wish board in Bellhart.
Visit the Caretaker at the First Shrine who will then send you off to find four items:
- Maiden’s Soul – The Chapel Maid in Bone Bottom
- Hermit’s Soul – The Hermit found below Bellhart
- Seeker’s Soul – In a hut after defeating Groal the Great in Bilewater
- Snare Setter – On a bench in Weavenest Atla
For a more detailed explanation on where to find each item, check out the sections below:
Maiden’s Soul
The Maiden’s Soul can be retrieved from the Chapel Maid in Bone Bottom. Head to the western side of Bone Bottom to find the Chapel Maiden wandering around, and interact with her to receive the Maiden’s Soul.
If you can’t find her here, she may be just below you in Moss Grotto.
Hermit’s Soul
The Hermit’s Soul is given to you by the Hermit who lives underneath the Bellhart Bellway. When you’re in the Bellhart Bellway, drop down to the lowest floor, and head to the right to find a secret wall. After you drop down, continue to the left to find the Hermit.
Seeker’s Soul
The Seeker’s Soul can be found in a hut immediately after you defeat Groal the Great in Bilewater. As soon as you leave the arena where you fought Groal, there will be a house you can enter. Inside, you’ll find the Seeker’s Soul.
Snare Setter
The Snare Setter is found in Weavenest Alta, which is found on the right side of Moss Grotto. Play your Needolin at the entrance to unlock the door and head inside. If you’ve already been here before, you can take the elevator down. If not, you’ll need to head all the way to the right and hit the silk spools to activate the power inside. Then, you can return to the powered elevator and head down.
After you’ve ridden the elevator, wall jump to the second floor by jumping off of the right wall, and proceed to the left. As soon as you enter the area with plants, double jump upwards to find a secret hole in the ceiling. Make your way up and head to the right to find Snare Setter waiting for you on a chair.
List the specific wishboard quests needed for Act 3
Complete all wishboard quests in Bone Bottom, Bellhart, and Songclave (First Shrine) to trigger the Silk and Soul quest for Act 3. Guides note that while not every single wish is mandatory, most must be finished, including key ones tied to Shakra’s maps and Bellhome unlock.
Bone Bottom Wishes
Finish these to progress:
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Repairs
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Garb of the Pilgrims
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Volatile Flintbeetles
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A Lifesaving Bridge
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An Icon of Hope (final donation quest).
Bellhart Wishes
Complete all except possibly Silver Bells and Cloaks of the Choir:
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Pinmaster’s Oil
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Building Up
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Strengthening
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Trail End (Shakra-related)
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Queen’s Egg (deliver to Styx in Sinner’s Road)
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Talk to Pavo after for Bellhome key.
Songclave Wishes
Prioritize Sherma and Jubilana questlines:
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Balm for Wounded
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Survivor’s Camp Supplies
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Others like Alchemist’s Assistant are optional but recommended.
Additional quests like Flea Caravan relocation (22+ fleas), Threefold Melody, and Shakra’s full inventory often tie into wishboard triggers. Check boards frequently as new ones appear.
Which Wishboard quests count as Wayfarers quests
Wayfarer Wishes are a specific category of Wishboard quests in Hollow Knight: Silksong focused on locating or helping lost NPCs, items, or optional bosses during exploration.
Act 1 Wayfarers
These early quests appear on Bone Bottom, Bellhart, or Songclave boards:
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The Lost Fleas (Mooshka/Flea Caravan: Guide fleas to safety).
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Pinmaster’s Oil (Bellhart NPC: Retrieve Pale Oil from Citadel).
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My Missing Courier (Frey/Bellhart: Find Tipp in Shellwood).
Act 2 Wayfarers
These unlock mid-game and tie into Act 3 progression like Silk and Soul:
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My Missing Brother (Tipp/Bellhart: Rescue Pill in Greymoor/Sinner’s Road).
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Balm for the Wounded (Sherma/Songclave: Track to Citadel Whiteward).
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The Wandering Merchant (Songclave: Find Jubilana in Choral Chambers).
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The Lost Merchant (Songclave: Locate Jubilana in Citadel Memorium).
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Rite of Rebirth (Shellwood NPC: Bind Twisted Bud).
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Infestation Operation (Greymoor NPC: Get Steel Spines for Yarnaby).
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Trail’s End (Bellhart: Track Shakra in Bilewater).
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Final Audience (Songclave: Meet Second Sentinel).
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Silk and Soul (Caretaker/Songclave: Gather soul components).
Act 3 Wayfarers
Endgame examples include:
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Fatal Resolve (Pinstress/Blasted Steps: Defeat in battle).
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Pain, Anguish and Misery (Citadel Stage).
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Hero’s Call (Blasted Steps Bellway).
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Ecstasy of the End (Fleatopia high scores).
Many Wayfarers are required for Act 3 triggers, unlike other categories (Gather, Hunt).
