Hollow Knight: Silksong is an expansive game filled with numerous secret areas, many of which are cleverly hidden within the furthest reaches of the map. One such area that players might overlook is the Putrified Ducts. Upon entering Bilewater, the experience can be off-putting enough that one might feel tempted to retreat to the comforts of the Moss Grotto to live a quieter, hermit-like existence.
Despite its somewhat intimidating appearance, the Putrified Ducts offer a wealth of incredible upgrades for Hornet. This area features valuable tools, important keys, and even a Pale Oil essential for enhancing your needle. It may seem compact, but you’ll find that it is teeming with content (albeit accompanied by frustrating enemies).
Equip yourself with some Flea Brew as you prepare for the journey ahead—there’s no doubt that fully exploring what this area has to offer will challenge your skills.
How to Access the Putrified Ducts
Entering Bilewater
To access the Putrified Ducts, players can choose from two challenging paths. If you’ve pushed through Bilewater, you may confront the notorious Groal the Great. This encounter can be particularly tedious due to the lengthy return journey that follows the battle rather than the difficulty of the fight itself.
Upon overcoming Groal, you unlock the southern half of the Putrified Ducts, gaining access to a slew of exciting content.
From the Memorium
Alternatively, to experience all that the Putrified Ducts has to offer, discovering the entrance from the Memorium is essential. But be warned: unless you complete the Lost Merchant quest and save Jubilana, this passage remains hidden.
After defeating the Drapelord, venture eastward to climb the wall and break through a hidden barrier to unveil a new path.
Proceed right, navigating through a large sewer filled with broken bridges while avoiding the formidable Barnaks and Ductsuckers. The hanging tendrils can ensnare you, making it imperative to stay on your toes, especially with the ever-looming threat from the Spit Squits—my personal nemesis.
Eventually, you’ll arrive at a significant vertical chamber. Here, the top right exit leads to a Bellway Station, while the middle left grants access to the area map—though you’ll have to let a Barnak capture you to reach it.
The Broodfeast Challenge
Should you enter through the Bilewater entrance, you’ll discover a large hut situated above the water in the southwestern chamber. Inside resides the Huntress, who will request that you collect the following items:
- Seared Organs
- Shredded Organs
- Skewered Organs
You can acquire these organs by defeating any nearby enemy with specific tools. For simplicity, the suggested tools include: Seared Organs with the Flintslate, Shredded Organs with the Cogwork Wheel, and Skewered Organs with the Sting Shards.
Once you’ve gathered all the required items, return to the Huntress, who will reward you with the Longclaw tool, an invaluable asset when paired with the Crest of the Wanderer.
Unlocking the Key of the Apostate
In the tunnel located above the Huntress’ dwelling, you’ll discover the Apostate Key. Surprisingly, it isn’t found within the Slab—don’t waste your time searching there like I did! Trust me on this.
This key will grant you access to face a hidden boss—the First Sinner—from whom you can obtain the Rune Rage Silk Skill. Additionally, there’s also a Mask Shard waiting near the top of the main vertical room.
Exploring Fleatopia
Locating Vog
To find Vog, the Flea, traverse across the expansive horizontal chamber, southeast of the Bellway Station. Upon reaching the end, ascend the platforms, then backtrack and break through a concealed wall to reach the upper level of the room, ultimately progressing upward.
In the next room, proceed right and allow yourself to be captured by a Barnak to access a challenging platforming segment. Use the Barnaks to propel upwards until you reach the chamber housing Vog, who will sell you details of all other flea locations. While this information comes at a price, it is crucial for your next endeavors.
Participating in the Flea Games
After visiting the area and collecting at least 20 fleas (from the available 30), you can transport them to the Pale Lake. If you want to trigger the event, however, you must return every single flea.
Successfully capturing all fleas rewards you with the Egg of Flealia tool, which enables you to use silk skills at a reduced cost when at full health. When combined with the Shaman Crest, this could set you up for a powerful pseudo-magic build.
Once the festivities commence, you will have the chance to engage in three mini-games. Achieving high scores will earn you a Pale Oil, which can be utilized to upgrade your Needle to its ultimate form. The challenges and required scores are as follows:
- Flea Juggle (30) — Bounce the fleas in the air with your needle and score a point after hitting each three times.
- Flea Dodge (65) — Evade rushing fleas using the surrounding platforms; earn one point for each flea that passes by.
- Flea Bounce (42) — Execute a downward slash on the fleas to stay airborne as long as possible.
Upon achieving high scores in each game, a celebration will begin, culminating in rewards that include rosaries and a coveted Pale Oil. Absolutely worth the effort!
The Passing of the Age
Once you acquire the Silk Soar ability, return to Fleatopia and continue traversing right across the water. Eventually, an ascent on the wall will introduce you to a rocky ledge with a shaft of light. Soar upward to discover a mushroom zone that evokes memories of the Fungal Wastes.
Engage with Mister Mushroom at his final spot to witness his departure. Completing the game afterward will earn you a concluding cutscene and, naturally, an achievement as a reward for your efforts.
Missed Collectibles
Craftmetal Discoveries
As you venture into Pale Lake, continue traveling as far right as possible. Eventually, you will stumble upon a small room containing a piece of Craftmetal at its end.
Although it may appear that the Trail’s End quest spans across the Putrified Ducts due to the unique rock formations and pristine waters below the Pale Lake, rest assured that this zone is, in fact, part of Bilewater.
Acquiring the Guardian’s Memento
To obtain the Guardian’s Memento, you must first defeat Seth, located just before the Nyleth encounter, situated west of the Grand Gate broken elevator.
After defeating Seth, he will venture off to explore Pharloom. You must seek him out in these locations before he transitions to Fleatopia:
- Greymoor
- Shellwood
- Grand Gate
Once you’ve located Seth in all these regions, he will settle in Fleatopia and set his personal scores in the Flea Games. Yes, that means further challenges await you.
Seth will have achieved the following scores: 55 in Flea Juggle, 95 in Flea Dodge, and 68 in Flea Bounce. While you may not struggle with Flea Dodge, the others will certainly test your patience and skill.
Once you outperform his scores, converse with him to receive the Guardian’s Memento. You can return to your house in Bellhart to display it proudly on your wall.
Finding the Wreath of Purity
To locate the Wreath of Purity, return to the area where you were pulled up by the Barnak to access Vog, and this time head east. You will enter a spacious room featuring a dilapidated building reminiscent of structures belonging to the Pinstress and Seamstress in both the Blasted Steps and Far Fields.
Collect the Wreath of Purity, which grants you the ability to eliminate annoying silk-draining maggots once per visit to a bench.
Discovering the Rosary Room
Finally, once you’ve obtained the Wreath, proceed far left and jump into the gap in the western wall. Here, you will encounter a small room containing three rosary rocks, totaling 80 rosaries. Continue left and destroy the door to emerge back in the main vertical chamber, situated just below the Bellway.
With this final room explored, you will have completely cleared the Putrified Ducts. Now all that’s left is to dispatch those pesky enemies to complete your Hunter’s Journal. I believe you’ll be relieved to bid farewell to this foul area!
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