On September 11, 2025, the world of indie gaming was abuzz with fresh insights and in-depth guides for Hollow Knight: Silksong, the much-anticipated sequel to the beloved metroidvania masterpiece. With its labyrinthine world and enigmatic quests, Silksong has kept players on their toes, and recent publications from PC Gamer, Polygon, and IGN Africa have shed crucial light on the game’s most puzzling challenges and customization options.
For many, unlocking Act 3 in Silksong has been a point of confusion and speculation. According to a detailed breakdown by PC Gamer, the pathway to Act 3 is neither as convoluted nor as completionist as some fans feared. Contrary to rumors swirling in online forums, players do not need to finish every single quest or hunt down every lost flea scattered throughout Pharloom. Nor is it necessary to complete every town quest or defeat the final boss before acquiring the pivotal “Silk and Soul” quest.
So, what exactly must players do? The answer is a carefully curated checklist of tasks, each tied to the game’s key towns and their unique challenges. Players are required to complete most of the wish wall quests for Bone Bottom, Bellhart, and Songclave. However, there are notable exceptions within each set, so a bit of discernment is required. The journey also involves moving the Flea Caravan to its final position at the Pale Lake in the Putrified Ducts—a feat that involves tracking down approximately 22 fleas, including some elusive ones like the giant flea in Memorium, Kratt in Greymoor, and Vog in the Putrified Ducts. Once the Pale Lake is discovered, players must inform Fleamaster Mooshka to progress.
But that’s not all. The next step is a musical one: collecting the Architect, Conductor, and Vaultkeeper melodies. These melodies grant access to the final boss arena, The Cradle, where the ultimate test awaits. Upon fulfilling these conditions, the Caretaker of Songclave will offer the “Silk and Soul” quest. Completing this quest and vanquishing Grandmother Silk is the final act required to unlock Act 3, opening up new narrative and gameplay horizons.
The specifics of the required quests are a mix of mainline and side content, but PC Gamer provides a town-by-town breakdown. In Bone Bottom, players must tackle quests such as Bone Bottom Repairs, A Lifesaving Bridge, Garb of the Pilgrims, Volatile Flintbeetles, The Terrible Tyrant, and An Icon of Hope. Defeating the Skull Tyrant, witnessing the town’s funeral, and speaking to the leader to receive the Hornet Statuette are also necessary steps.
Bellhart’s list includes Restoration of Bellhart, My Missing Courier, Silver Bells, My Missing Brother, Bone Bottom Supplies, Savage Beastfly, and Bellhart’s Glory. One standout is the “Trail’s End” quest, which involves tracking down the map-seller Shakra across numerous regions and acquiring maps either in the field or back in town. Players will also need to interact with Pavo, Bellhart’s iconic bell ringer, to secure their Bellhome.
Songclave’s requirements are equally intricate. Quests like Fine Pins, Strengthening Songclave, The Lost Merchant, The Wandering Merchant, Cloaks of the Choir, and Balm for the Wounded must be completed. The “Final Audience” quest is a highlight, involving the collection of Cogwork Heart pieces and reviving the Second Sentinel, followed by encounters in the Choral Chambers. Of course, the “Silk and Soul” quest itself is the capstone of this region’s journey.
For those worried about missing obscure side tasks, the guide reassures that a handful of courier quests and Grand Hunts (such as the Wailing Mother) are not strictly necessary for progression. Still, some players may choose to complete these for the sake of thoroughness or personal satisfaction. The article also lists several other quests—Berry Picking, Flexile Spines, Bugs of Pharloom, and more—that, while optional, offer their own rewards and world-building.
One quest that’s generated its fair share of head-scratching is “Silver Bells,” and Polygon has stepped in to demystify it. Available from Bellhart’s wish board after completing “The Threadspun Town” (which itself requires defeating Sister Splinter in Shellwood and Widow in Bellhart’s tunnels), “Silver Bells” tasks players with finding eight silver bells hidden in Bellhart’s northern and southern tunnels. The catch? Their appearance is random, and the tunnels reset each time a player exits to another region or rests at a bench. This means persistence—and a bit of luck—are key. On average, it took Polygon’s team about five full trips through each tunnel (ten in total) to collect all eight bells, though individual experiences may vary.
The reward for this scavenger hunt is 120 rosary beads, which can be spent on a memory locket in Bellhart’s shop. This locket expands the number of tools a player can equip on their chosen crest, offering a strategic edge for those taking on tougher challenges. For those not ready to spend the beads immediately, the shop also offers rosary bead strings—safe storage for hard-earned currency, even in the face of untimely defeat.
Of course, not every player is content with the game’s default level of challenge. For those seeking to tailor their experience—whether to make things easier or simply to experiment—IGN Africa has published a comprehensive guide to installing mods and cheats on the PC version. The article explains how to download and set up BepInEx, a popular modding framework, and how to use it to enable features like god mode, infinite rosaries, and double damage. Importantly, the guide also covers the crucial step of backing up game saves, ensuring that modding mishaps don’t lead to lost progress.
These guides collectively underscore the vibrant and collaborative nature of the Hollow Knight community. Whether players are seeking to unlock new acts, conquer tricky side quests, or customize their journey with mods, there’s a wealth of knowledge and support at their fingertips. The game’s intricate design rewards both methodical completionists and adventurous tinkerers, ensuring that each player’s path through Pharloom feels uniquely their own.
With so much to explore and discover, one thing is clear: Hollow Knight: Silksong continues to captivate and challenge, drawing players deeper into its haunting, beautiful world with every new secret revealed.
