Once you advance to Act 3 of Hollow Knight: Silksong, brace yourself for intense challenges, particularly when confronting the formidable Skarrsinger Karmelita. Positioned in a hidden corridor in the eastern section of the Far Fields, her lair is only reachable through the perilous Hunter’s March.
Karmelita is not merely another boss; she stands out as one of the most demanding adversaries in the entire game due to her remarkable speed and agility. Personally, I encountered her first among the three necessary bosses and suffered greatly—she has undoubtedly been the most challenging opponent for me. Fortunately, the lessons learned will aid you in avoiding my mistakes.
Locating Skarrsinger Karmelita in Hollow Knight: Silksong
As mentioned, defeating Skarrsinger Karmelita is essential in Act 3 of Hollow Knight: Silksong, necessary for unlocking various game endings. However, locating her requires a few preliminary steps. First, you need to have activated Act 3 and visited The Abyss to acquire the Silk Soar ability, which essentially functions as a super jump.
After unlocking this ability, make your way to Hunter’s March via The Marrow’s entrance; the alternative paths are temporarily blocked. Look for an area with a prominent statue (where NPC Gilly was previously encountered in Acts 1 and 2).Utilize your Silk Soar ability to discover a hidden route above.
This pathway leads to a new section within the Far Fields, ultimately bringing you face-to-face with Karmelita. She awaits in a cave where you must play the Needolin to trigger the boss battle, causing Hornet to become unconscious and transporting the fight into a “dream” state.
Essential Preparations for the Skarrsinger Karmelita Battle
Preparing for the Skarrsinger Karmelita encounter is crucial given her incredible agility that increases as the fight progresses. This necessitates a high level of awareness of your surroundings, as the chaos can escalate rapidly.
To enhance your chances of success, arm yourself with valuable tools and curate a build that allows for effective dodging and defense. I recommend equipping the Reaper Crest to utilize two Tools of each type—red, yellow, and blue.
For offense, make use of the Cogfly (craftable at a workbench in the High Halls), Pollip Pouch (obtained through the “Rite of the Pollip” quest), and Tacks (from the “Roach Guts” quest).This setup enables you to continuously attack Karmelita, aided by minions and damaging pin sets.
Defensively, ensuring you can move swiftly is vital; equip the Injector Band (found on a Whiteward table) and the Silkspeed Anklets (earned by sprinting through Weavenest Cindril in the Far Fields).
For your remaining slots, opt for the Magnetite Dice (acquired from Lumble the Lucky in Blasted Steps) and the Weighted Belt (available from the Mort merchant in Far Fields).This combination offers better stability and a 10.1% chance of blocking attacks.
Make sure you also equip some passive abilities: Swift Step (dash, unlocked in Deep Docks), Drifter’s Cloak (glide, acquired in Far Fields), Faydown Cloak (double jump, unlocked in Mount Fay), and the aforementioned Silk Soar (super jump, acquired in The Abyss).
Importantly, the Skarrsinger Karmelita encounter occurs in a “dream” context, ensuring you won’t lose any Rosaries if defeated, nor will you be sent back to a Bench. Instead, you respawn at the place where Hornet plays the Needolin to begin the confrontation. Tools wasted during the bout aren’t counted against you, making each attempt potentially beneficial in the absence of penalties.
Defeating Skarrsinger Karmelita in Hollow Knight: Silksong
Phase One
Before directly confronting the Skarrsinger Karmelita, you must first contend with waves of “common enemies.” However, don’t underestimate these foes, as they can quickly become overwhelming.
You’ll face three rounds of aggressive red ants, with the last pair proving to be particularly formidable. To tackle these encounters effectively, align yourself centrally within the arena and utilize your double jump to counter aerial threats.
Avoid using your Tools initially; rely instead on your own skills. Nevertheless, if the red ants prove too troublesome, consider deploying one Cogfly to assist. Patience is key; rushing the fights may deplete your HP prematurely, leaving you unprepared for Karmelita.
Phase Two
Upon defeating the red ants, you will finally engage with Skarrsinger Karmelita. As she ceases her singing, prepare for battle.
Start by activating a Cogfly, positioning slightly left of center, and laying Tacks to the right. This strategy inflicts immediate damage on her appearance. Focus on dodging her attacks rather than relying heavily on your Tools.
Maintain your distance, avoiding her four attack styles and only countering when openings arise. Allow Karmelita to dictate the pace of the battle; rushing in could lead to swift defeat due to the power of her attacks.
Take note: when she screams or appears stunned, her attack speed and frequency will heighten, potentially launching two to three projectiles toward you. This is when you should unleash your Tacks and activate your Cogflies to maximize damage.
Stay vigilant, dodging while counterattacking only in the most favorable situations, and maintain this strategy until her health is depleted.
Rewards for Conquering the Skarrsinger Karmelita
Not only will you feel the great accomplishment of defeating one of the most challenging bosses in Hollow Knight: Silksong, but you will also earn the Hunter’s Heart, an essential item required to advance through Act 3.
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