After conquering the last elevator in Hollow Knight: Silksong and besting Lace once more, you find yourself standing face to face with Grand Mother Silk, a formidable opponent in her intricate glory. The question remains: are you truly ready for this encounter? This battle will undoubtedly challenge your skills.
However, your readiness may depend on the extent of your exploration throughout the game. For most seasoned players of Hollow Knight, this encounter might feel reminiscent of the fight against the first Radiance. For many, this suggests that the conclusion is not what it seems.
Regardless, be prepared; Grand Mother Silk has a few attacks that could catch you off guard. Let’s delve into the combat strategies to effectively defeat her.
Preparing for the Fight
Before you engage, ensure you have a good number of masks and some needle upgrades. With solid preparations, this battle can be relatively quick. Personally, I found it easier than the Swarm fight in the Forum and even the skirmish against Lace.
If, however, you choose to focus solely on the main storyline without exploring optional quests, you might find this battle considerably more difficult.
Understanding Physical Attacks
First things first—acquiring the best possible needle is essential. I personally secured three upgrades: one from defeating the Widow in Bellhart, a Pale Oil from the Citadel, and another Pale Oil obtained through completing the Great Taste of Pharloom Wish.
Strategizing with Yellow and Blue Tools
The selection of tools can significantly determine the difficulty level of your encounter. While Yellow Tools hold limited importance, I always use the Weighted Belt, which allows for more reliable attacks without the risk of being pushed back.
When it comes to Blue Tools, consider equipping the Fractured Mask, which grants a safeguard against fatal hits, effectively providing an extra mask. The Injector Band can enhance healing speed, while the Reserve Bind offers additional healing options. My personal favorite is the Pollip Pouch, which bolsters our next crucial weapon.
Utilizing Red Tools
Among the Red Tools, the Cogfly stands out for its ability to inflict significant damage while you focus on dodging. When combined with the Pollip Pouch, your Cogfly can also cause poison damage.
I enhance my Cogflies to maximize their damage potential through all four Crafting Kit upgrades. The result is undeniable—as demonstrated in my fight video, they are remarkably effective.
If the Cogfly isn’t your style, consider trying a Flea Brew for expedited attacks or the Flintslate for increased firepower. Alternatively, the Voltvessel can help you catch Grand Mother Silk off guard while she is stationary.
The Path Back to Battle
Fortunately, the run back to confront Grand Mother Silk is straightforward. First, ensure you unlock the shortcut located at the top of the right vertical shaft, leading to the main chamber. From there, simply navigate up the platforms, ascend the far left wall, and make your way to the lengthy boss platform.
I timed the return journey: from the bench in the Terminus, you can reach the boss in a mere 30-35 seconds, which is quite generous compared to other boss run-backs you’ve encountered before.
Deciphering Grand Mother Silk’s Attacks
Phase 1: Initial Engagement
Throughout this battle, it’s crucial to keep a constant watch on Grand Mother Silk’s pins. With a total of six, they remain active during most of the clash. Stay alert for openings where you can dash through and prioritize aerial movement.
Your attacks must focus on her abdomen, utilizing upward swipes or side slashes while airborne. The Clawline ability is particularly useful for traversing the arena and slipping through pins to land a few hits.
|
Attack Name |
Description |
How To Avoid |
|---|---|---|
|
Six Pin Skewer |
Grand Mother Silk’s pins illuminate and attempt to attack from the side or above, in varying order. |
Look for gaps between the pins to dash or float through. Be aware that dodging the horizontal pins can be more challenging, yet you’ll learn quickly. |
|
Sweeping Slash |
The boss glides sideways, showcases her claws, and sweeps across the arena as her pins descend. |
Position yourself at the edge of the arena to evade this attack effectively. Alternatively, you can jump over, but be cautious of the overhead pins. |
|
Thread the Needle |
This perilous attack involves a full-screen crisscross of silk threads. Being ensnared will cause significant damage—up to 3 masks! |
Look for openings and remain still while it unfolds. You may need to hang in the air briefly to dodge it. |
Phase 2: Escalation
After inflicting enough damage, Grand Mother Silk will retreat beneath the stage, prompting a cascade of rocks from the ceiling to fall. Initially dash away from the falling debris, then return to the center of the arena as more rocks descend.
This is typically when I deploy my tools since I know I’m halfway through the fight. Deploy two Cogflies to inflict damage during this transition phase. While this second phase mirrors the first, the tempo accelerates and introduces a few new attacks.
Be on high alert for the Thread the Needle attack, which may happen immediately after the transition.
|
Attack Name |
Description |
How To Avoid |
|---|---|---|
|
Ground Spikes |
While there are gaps on the ground, you can either pogo off the spikes or dash past them during her movements. Mastering aerial movement will significantly aid your survival. |
|
|
Rock Slide |
During moments when silk descends, more rocks may fall like in the phase transition. |
Maintain constant movement to avoid being caught off guard. You’ll have early warnings for this attack. |
Successfully dodging these attacks will lead to Grand Mother Silk’s defeat. Utilize your binding ability to finish her off and enjoy the concluding cutscene. Congratulations! You have triumphantly completed Hollow Knight: Silksong!
Or have you?
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