Upon exploring Bilewater in Hollow Knight: Silksong, players may find the area less than inviting. Once you’ve navigated the Bellway, it’s understandable to desire an immediate exit. Yet, for the adventurous souls, a hidden gem awaits: The Mist.
The entrance to this enigmatic fog-laden realm, teeming with specters, is situated just to the left of the Bellway in Bilewater. However, the path through The Mist is anything but straightforward; disorientation is common, and danger lurks at every corner.
Falling back to the beginning when you stumble, confronting the shrieking Wraiths, and navigating the confusing layout can be frustrating. Nevertheless, there exists a strategy amidst the chaos.
This guide aims to illuminate your journey through The Mist and unlock pathways that will enhance your combat skills, enabling you to parry effectively and access areas potentially beyond your current prowess.
The Mist
Upon entering The Mist, it’s crucial to note that the layout is randomized each time, making precise navigation challenging. Thankfully, your Cocoon consistently reappears near the entrance, offering a small respite in your exploration.
To discover the exit, look for glowing butterflies scattered throughout the area and play your Needolin. This action will cause the butterflies to ascend, guiding you toward the proper exit once your music concludes.
However, timing your play is key, as the Wraiths will relentlessly pursue you. For a smoother experience, consider equipping Straight Knives or another ranged weapon, like the Cogflies.
Defeat any Wraiths obstructing your path, maintain your footing, and create enough room to play your melody. As you identify the correct exits, you’ll encounter a straight path indicating you’re progressing accurately, eventually leading you to the Exhaust Organ.
Exhaust Organ
Upon entering the Exhaust Organ, expect an unwelcome greeting from the maggot-infested waters characteristic of Bilewater. While this unpleasantness lasts only for the first room, you must dive in and head left to progress.
Leap to the center and enter the building ahead. From there, ascend the platforms on your left, navigate up the wall, and carefully cut the bench free from its web. Move towards the right and time your jumps with the intermittent rush of steam from the pipes.
The right-hand pipes follow a relatively straightforward route: ascend to the right, move up and left, then slide down to the left. Advance further, break the middle pipe, and play your Needolin near the ominous tube for additional lore if you desire.
Climbing the middle tube, slide down to the right and execute a wall jump up the other tube, making your way to the final tube. Collect some silk on your right, and if you’re up for a challenge, head left to prepare for a fight.
Phantom
Facing the Phantom, a formidable adversary well-versed in the longnail technique, can be a test of your combat skills. She’ll frequently lunge at you, maintaining a vigilant guard, making it wise to avoid striking when she’s defensive.
However, by timing your approach after she parries, you can jump and evade her attack, putting her in an advantageous position for counterattacks. This strategy can help you easily conquer the first phase.
In her second phase, the Phantom unleashes devastating laser attacks that engulf much of the arena. Strangely, this is her most manageable assault. Simply dash away, sidestep the bright pillars, and retaliate after the hitboxes dissipate.
Dodge her needle toss, position yourself centrally, and avoid her movements across the floorboards to maintain an upper hand. Finish the encounter by executing a simple QTE, leading to the rewarding unlock of the Parry skill.
Flea
Before departing to the Underworks, don’t overlook a critical detail in the Exhaust Organ. From the boss arena, head right, fall down, then proceed left, moving up and diagonally to make a jump across a gap.
In this silk-laden chamber filled with tubes, venture past the thread-wrapped cylinders into a hidden area, where you can drop down and exit through the left door. Navigate carefully across the floating platforms to avoid falling.
Upon reaching the far left, leap over the infested waters to rescue a concerned Flea. Now that your essential quest is complete, you can make the most of your newly acquired Parry skill!
How to Parry
Parrying in Silksong deviates from traditional mechanics, necessitating an overview. Firstly, you cannot parry at will. The Cross Stitch is a Silk Skill that consumes four bars of Silk, but the advantages it offers are substantial.
For a brief moment, Hornet adopts a parry stance when Cross Stitch is activated. If she gets hit during this time, she will initiate a unique slashing animation, a distinct characteristic to be aware of.
While blocking a projectile prevents damage, it may not guarantee a hit on nearby enemies if the projectile lands slightly away from them. Thankfully, Cross Stitch’s hitbox is expansive, ensuring it connects if you are within close proximity of the target.
Moreover, after completing a parry, Hornet enjoys a fleeting moment of invulnerability. This allows you to maneuver away quickly after executing a successful parry, minimizing the risk of taking additional damage.
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