Beat the Citadel: A Fast, Foolproof Route to Reach the Top in Hollow Knight: Silksong
If you’re trying to reach the top of the Citadel in Hollow Knight: Silksong, this walkthrough lays out the concrete steps you need — from escaping Moss Grotto to entering Act 2 — with the movement abilities and key objectives called out along the way.
- Act 1 overview
- Reach Bone Bottom village
- Unlock Bellways (fast travel)
- Dash in the Deep Docks (Swift Step)
- Gliding through Far Fields (Drifter’s Cloak)
- Reach Bellhart
- Free Bellhart and prepare for Blasted Steps
- Blasted Steps to the Citadel
- Act 2 overview
- Entering the Choral Chambers
- Learn the Threefold song (three melodies)
- Get Clawline (harpoon) in Underworks
- Vaultkeeper’s Melody
- Architect’s Melody
- Constructor’s Melody
- Finish — credits and Act 3 unlock
Hollow Knight: Silksong Act 1 walkthrough overview
Act 1 begins in Moss Grotto and ends when you reach the Citadel and enter Act 2. Along the way you’ll pick up several movement techniques and unlock five bells that are required to open the gate to the Citadel.
For this guide, the route taken is through Blasted Steps (the map-marked and commonly used path). Key movement and tools you will obtain include Silkspear, Swift Step, and the Drifter’s Cloak, plus benches and Bellways (fast travel nodes).
Reach Bone Bottom village
After escaping your cage in Moss Grotto, make your way up and out. You’ll face the boss Moss Mother early on. Defeat her, continue upward, and you will arrive at Bone Bottom village where you can rest on a bench and speak with NPC pilgrims.
Unlocking Bellways
Bellways are Silksong’s fast travel nodes. To unlock them you’ll need to find Shakra the cartographer and buy maps, then free a Bell Beast by obtaining Silkspear in Mosshome and using it to release the beast.
After defeating the Bell Beast you receive a Silkheart, Bellways unlock, and you can fast-travel between discovered bells.
Dash in the Deep Docks
Deep Docks contains the Swift Step technique, which grants sprinting and a dash (including an air dash). To get it, go through the room with Shakra, follow the route up and right, defeat waves of ants, and collect Swift Step in the indicated chamber.
Gliding through Far Fields
Next, head to Far Fields. There you can unlock the Drifter’s Cloak by completing the Seamstress’s quest (“Flexile Spines”) in her floating house. Drifter’s Cloak lets you glide and use air currents to reach higher areas like Greymoor.
Reaching the haunted town of Bellhart
In Greymoor, ring the regional bell and travel to Bellhart either by finding five lost fleas and joining their caravan or by defeating the boss Moorwing. Both methods lead to the same entrance outside Bellhart.
Freeing the town of Bellhart
Bellhart is trapped in silk and must be freed to access shops and another bell. Required steps are: enter Shellwood and defeat Sister Splinter, unlock Cling Grip (wall jump), and defeat Widow while completing “The Threadspun Town” quest.
Going through Blasted Steps to reach the Citadel
Leave Bellhart via the top-left exit to enter Blasted Steps. This area tests dash, glide, and wall-jump skills while you climb a sandworm-filled vertical region. Along the route you must activate five bells; the Citadel gate requires all five to open.
At the top you will encounter Last Judge before the gate. Defeat Last Judge to enter the Citadel and trigger Act 2.
Hollow Knight: Silksong Act 2 walkthrough overview
Act 2 centers on the Citadel. Your primary objective there is to learn the Threefold song by acquiring three melodies, which then let you access the elevator to the top. Key areas include Choral Chambers, Cogwork Core, Underworks, Whispering Vaults, and the High Halls.
Entering the Choral Chambers
From the Grand Gate you can reach Choral Chambers by either taking scale platforms and breaking a wall (quick route) or using the elevator and Underworks (longer route). The long route yields more materials and a map, so it’s recommended for completeness.
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Learning the Threefold song
At Cogwork Core you’ll defeat the Cogwork Dancers and find three statues that require you to learn three different melodies. Each melody unlocks part of the Threefold song needed to open the elevator to the Citadel’s top.
Finding the harpoon in the Underworks
The Clawline (harpoon) is found in The Cauldron inside Underworks. To get there, navigate Cogwork Core, enter Whispering Vaults, defeat Trobbio at The Stage, ride the elevator to Underworks, then complete a lava obstacle course to reach The Cauldron and obtain Clawline.
Vaultkeeper’s Melody
Underworks hides the Sacred Cylinder near a fallen Vaultkeeper above the elevator shaft. Take the Cylinder to Vaultkeeper Cardinus in the Whispering Vaults (look for the sign with the pointy-hat bug), play it on your Needolin, and you will learn the Vaultkeeper’s Melody.
Architect’s Melody
The Architect’s Melody is at the top-right of Cogwork Core. Expect one of the hardest platforming sections in the game to reach the area with four rotatable pillars made of music-note panels. Rotate the panels so each pillar shows one coherent image; completing all pillars grants the melody.
Constructor’s Melody
The Constructor’s Melody is in the High Halls, reached from the top-left of Choral Chambers. You’ll face the Forum gauntlet — multiple waves and two Choir Clappers — and can recruit help from NPCs encountered in the Songclave to make this fight easier. Defeating the Conductor unlocks the final melody.
Reaching the credits of Hollow Knight: Silksong
Return to Cogwork Core and play the Threefold song at the statues to unlock the elevator. Lace awaits at the top; defeat her to continue on to The Cradle and face Grandmother Silk. Defeating Grandmother Silk triggers the credits.
After credits you can pursue Act 3 content; however, Act 3 requires completing most sidequests and collecting many fleas and items before it becomes available.
