Unlock Hornet’s Full Moveset: Exact Locations for All 15 Abilities in Hollow Knight: Silksong
If you’re working through Hollow Knight: Silksong and want every ability location at a glance, this guide lays out every Silk Skill and Ancestral Art with where to pick them up — no fluff, just facts. Read on, and you’ll know exactly which bosses or areas to visit next to expand Hornet’s moveset and traversal options.
- All Silk Skills — six combat abilities and where to find each one.
- All Ancestral Arts — nine movement and utility abilities and their locations.
- Quick notes — tips on progression requirements and when abilities unlock.
All Silk Skills in Hollow Knight: Silksong
Silkspear
Location: Top of Mosshome in Bone Bottom. From The Marrow, take the northwestern exit and climb to the room with the Weaver statue that grants the ability.
Thread Storm
Location: Top right of Greymoor. First complete the bird gauntlet inside the house on Craw Lake, hit the switch to release balloons, then pogo up to the Weaver statue that gives Thread Storm.
Cross Stitch
Location: Exhaust Organ in Bilewater. You unlock it after defeating Phantom in the steam-filled area reached through The Mist.
Sharpdart
Location: West side of Wormways behind a Weaver-etched door. You need Needolin and Clawline to reach the statue on the left side of the room.
Rune Rage
Location: Reward for defeating the First Sinner in The Slab. To access that fight you must get Faydown Cloak and the Apostate’s Key from the Putrified Ducts, then collect the Key of Indolent and the Key of Heretic to reach the sealed cage where the First Sinner waits.
Pale Nail
Location: Act 3 reward. After unlocking Silk Soar, return to the Choral Chambers path where you originally landed, use Silk Soar to reach higher holes in ceilings, continue to the stage where you fought Lace and then to Grandmother Silk’s area. Interact with the arm in the rubble to gain Pale Nails.
All Ancestral Arts in Hollow Knight: Silksong
Swift Step
Location: Top of Deep Docks. After ascending the Shakra chamber, hit the explosive orange rock in the top right, clear the ant gauntlet, then drop left to the Weaver statue that grants Swift Step.
Drifter’s Cloak
Location: Reward for completing the “Flexile Spines” wish in the Far Fields. Speak to the Seamstress in the floating house, collect spines from Hokers, and return to receive the cloak.
Cling Grip
Location: Near the top of Shellwood. Enter via Bellhart and traverse the right half of Shellwood, passing a pogo gauntlet and Sister Splinter. Cling Grip enables wall climbing and wall jumps.
Needolin
Location: After defeating Widow and completing “The Threadspun Town” quest in Bellhart. Needolin lets you use the needle to stun foes briefly, open Weaver doors, and understand other characters. Later it unlocks additional functions like the Beastling Call and Elegy of the Deep.
Needle Strike
Location: Given by the Pinstress in her floating house in the northwest Blasted Steps. Needle Strike is a chargeable attack: hold the attack button to build power and release for a stronger hit.
Clawline
Location: Inside The Cauldron in the Underworks. Enter the Underworks from Whispering Vaults, traverse the south lava area, and find the Weaver statue on a lava bed that grants Clawline — a grappling-hook style tool usable on rings, surfaces, and certain enemies.
Faydown Cloak
Location: Top of Mount Fay. You must climb through the mountain using previously unlocked movement abilities and stop at warming checkpoints. The cloak grants a double jump.
Silk Soar
Location: Found in the Abyss during Act 3. Interact with the Weaver statue in the bottom right of the Abyss to learn Silk Soar, which performs a super jump by launching the needle upward and pulling Hornet to the ceiling if it hits.
Sylphsong
Location: Reward for collecting every crest and unlocking all crest slots. Afterward, bind with Eva in Weavenest Alta to obtain Sylphsong, which fully regenerates your silk spool when you sit on a bench.
Quick notes
Abilities are split between combat (Silk Skills) and traversal/utility (Ancestral Arts). Therefore, some areas require specific movement skills before you can reach certain Silk Skills or bosses. Also, several abilities unlock only after completing quests or defeating named bosses; for example, Needolin requires beating Widow and finishing the “The Threadspun Town” wish.
Finally, if you want visual help while exploring, look for in-game Weaver statues at the stated locations to claim each ability. Good luck, and enjoy unlocking Hornet’s full toolkit.
