Many players share a common sentiment about Hollow Knight—the Deepnest area was a daunting and often frustrating part of the game. In contrast, Hollow Knight: Silksong introduces the Wormways, which, while reminiscent of Deepnest, are far less convoluted. Kudos to Team Cherry for this design choice!
Despite its smaller size, the Wormways still contain some critical items and encounters. Whether you’re a fan of intricate mazes or prefer straightforward paths, you’ll eventually have to navigate these narrow tunnels filled with skittering creatures. If you approach this area equipped with the right tools and knowledge, you’ll make your exploration much smoother, especially since it becomes accessible relatively early in the game.
One of the advantages of this region is that it’s challenging to face death, thanks to the infinite silk provided by the falling worms that continue to spawn. So, if you’re anxious about losing your rosaries, rest assured. With this guide at hand, you’ll be more than ready for your journey!
Exploring the Location and Acquiring the Map
Your initial encounter with the Wormways will likely happen after dropping down from the western Shellwood exit, although there are actually two main entrances: one located above and another below. I highly recommend venturing in through the upper entrance first, as you will quickly find the map merchant in the first series of chambers. Given how labyrinthine the area can be, acquiring the map is essential. Don’t forget to have 70 Rosaries handy for this purchase!
Moreover, slightly before reaching Shakra, keep an eye out for the Dead Bug’s Purse in one of the rooms. This item can be incredibly useful if you often find yourself dying and losing rosaries. Please note that if you’re playing a Steel Soul run, the purse will be replaced by the Shell Satchel.
Before diving deep into the worm-infested grotto, consider acquiring a simple key. Near the bottom of the primary vertical chamber in the Wormways, there’s a door that requires unlocking to explore the rest of the area. You can purchase this key from the merchant in Bone Bottom for 500 rosaries, or you can snag a free one from Sinner’s Road.
Additionally, there is a breakable wall at the bottom of the Wormways that leads to the BoneGrave region, where you can find the Crest of the Wanderer.
Fulfilling the Wishes
Alchemist’s Assistant
In the Wormways, you will encounter two main wishes to complete. If you’re rushing through, it’s possible to overlook these. Both wishes are assigned by Professor Zylotol, who resides in his private chamber at the upper part of the Wormways. For his first task, he requires you to extract three phials of Plasmium from the cocoons found in the tunnels.
Once you complete this task, you will be rewarded with a Plasmium phial, which grants a slight health boost when injected.
Advanced Alchemy
When revisiting the Wormways in Act 3, you’ll be greeted by a transformation: the entire area becomes infused with Lifeblood or Plasmium, casting a blue hue over everything and altering the local wildlife.
Once again, speak to the Professor, who will ask you to bring him 10 samples of corrupted blood. Using the same phial from the previous quest, defeat local enemies to acquire their blood samples. This may require some precise timing, though.
If you find this challenging, make your way down to the bottom left of the area, where you’ll encounter Professor Zango, a miniboss. He is relatively easy to defeat, and you can collect a substantial number of blood samples by attacking him with the Phial.
Upon returning after collecting the samples, you’ll earn an item that provides unlimited Plasmium, eliminating the need for refills.
Discovering Weavenest Karn
Once you acquire the Needolin and the Clawline ability, journey to the far west of the Wormways to access Weavenest Karn. Despite what you may think, the Faydown cloak is not necessary to make the jump in front of the main entrance—good timing will suffice.
This area is quite short, featuring a few jumps and some enemies to dodge, yet valuable rewards await at the end. Here, you will gain the Sharpdart ability, which is my favorite silk skill in the entire game.
The Sharpdart allows you to dash through foes while inflicting multiple hits, making it especially effective when paired with items like the Volt Filament. This combination is perfect for eliminating airborne enemies clustered together, particularly in the High Halls Gauntlet fight.
If your goal is to complete the Hunter’s Journal, the Weavenest Karn is a prime location for farming Groms. Use your Sharpdart to dispatch them before they touch the ground.
Collectables You Might Have Overlooked
Mask Shard
Just below the door where you inserted the simple key lies a breakable wall concealing a mask shard. This shard can be obtained very early in the game, even before acquiring the simple key.
Lost Flea
Located just above the locked trapdoor, near the simple key door, you can find a breakable wall on the eastern side within the large vertical chamber. Break down this wall, proceed to the next room, and you’ll encounter a lost flea in need of assistance!
Memory Locket
Head southwest to the expansive chamber to find a Memory Locket at the end of a lengthy tunnel system.
Beast Shard
As you navigate this area, you might come across the imposing Craggler positioned in the long eastern corridor beyond the south entrance. If you zoom past him initially, consider circling back to eliminate him for good.
Hide beneath the platforms while he attacks and emerge to unleash rapid jump strikes. Alternatively, using a Cogfly or Wispfire lantern can deal passive damage. After inflicting enough damage, the Craggler will explode, rewarding you with a beast shard for your effort. This grants you 140 shards for crafting! That’s a worthwhile bounty!
After clearing this room, you’ll notice a new enemy, the Cragglite, will spawn. Be sure to defeat several of these for the Hunter’s Journal later.
Leave a Reply