As you embark on your adventure in Hollow Knight: Silksong, especially when traversing the vast halls of the Citadel and delving into the Choral Chambers, you will eventually encounter a grand, deserted dining area. This unique location houses an elderly man named Mergwin, who is devotedly serving his master.
Mergwin is a steadfast companion you will get to know quite well, as you will be making multiple visits to him throughout your journey. He entrusts you with a quest to gather ingredients for his master, which leads you on an exciting exploration across the kingdom.
Welcome to the Great Taste of Pharloom quest. This task will encourage you to roam the kingdom and will reward you with a valuable item: Pale Oil. Although the quest may come off as straightforward, several challenging elements complicate the venture. I’m here to guide you through every part of this quest, providing details on essential preparations, item locations, and strategies to overcome obstacles along the way.
Prerequisites
Before jumping into the quest, make sure to have the following tasks completed if you haven’t done so already. Assuming you’re in the top left corner of the Citadel, you may have addressed most of these, but any confusion might stem from overlooking these requirements:
- Locate Mosshome, Greymoor, Bellhart, Sands of Karak, and Sinner’s Road.
- Finish the Berry Picking quest given by the Druid in Mosshome.
- Rescue both Couriers by completing the My Missing Courier quest and the My Missing Brother quest.
- Acquire the Clawline to effectively navigate the Sands of Karak.
- Obtain the Faydown Cloak to reach your destination in Sinner’s Road.
Mossberry Stew
The first item you need is quite simple to obtain. Mergwin hints that it’s a recipe from the Druids; to get started, head over to the Druid in Mosshome, request a small drop of soup, and she will gladly assist you. There’s no rush to deliver this item back, so you can proceed at a comfortable pace.
Vintage Nectar
Next, you’ll be on the lookout for Vintage Nectar, commonly described as an antiquated, age-appropriate essence. Your destination is the Halfway House in Greymoor, where a vendor named Creige will sell you a bottle for the steep price of 480 Rosaries.Ensure you have enough currency before making your way down.
Expect a swarm of aggressive rats when you reach the cellar, but fear not—the combat at this point in the game isn’t overly challenging. Lure them out and take care of them before grabbing the Vintage Nectar bottle and heading back.
Courier’s Rasher
This quest part can pose a significant challenge, as delivering the package from Bellhart is time-sensitive. Finding the Couriers is relatively easy, but you must deliver the rasher within five minutes, and it deteriorates quickly especially if you sustain damage.
I’ve prepared a dedicated guide that explains the optimal route to navigate through Bellhart to Mergwin in the Citadel. A video accompanies this, demonstrating how to traverse the lower sections of Shellwood through four room transitions, up through Blasted Steps, and using the Spa in the Citadel to reach your destination with little time to spare.
To make this journey more manageable, equip yourself with the Silkspeed Anklets for an extra burst of speed and the Weavelight to maintain your momentum.
Crustnut
Next, we venture to the Sands of Karak to acquire the Crustnut. Be ready for treacherous paths and spiky traps, as this area is notoriously difficult. Approach it from the left or navigate upwards past the Thief’s den located in the Blasted Steps.
Once you reach the central vertical drop, head to the left-most room, directly above Shakra’s usual position. Exercise caution while dodging spikes—utilizing a long weapon crest can greatly aid your journey.
By using smart grappling techniques and avoiding enticing spikes, you should secure the Crustnut successfully. Only one more item remains before you can return to Mergwin.
Pickled Muckmaggot
The Pickled Muckmaggot may seem both straightforward and challenging to obtain. Venture to Sinner’s Road, positioning yourself to the right of the cages on your map, using your wings to access previously unreachable areas.
This next stage activates a battle with the Disgraced Chef Lugoli. Consult our detailed guide on how to defeat this opponent. The encounter can be quite tough, so consider bringing your strongest crest, set pieces like Sting Shards for controlling crowds, and your Parry silk skill will also be invaluable.
While the parry techniques require some prior exploration—such as navigating The Mist and engaging with the butterflies—once acquired, the skill provides ample opportunity to react to Lugoli’s patterns in combat, albeit with limited escape options.
Defeating Chef Lugoli rewards you with a Pickled Muckmaggot. With all the ingredients collected, it’s time to return to the Citadel and present them to Mergwin.
Getting an Upgrade
Upon delivering the final ingredient to Mergwin, his master will graciously emerge to enjoy his meal, and you will witness the shimmering, delectable Pale Oil emerge. Now, there’s but one task left at hand.
Make your way to Bellhart and acquire 500 Rosaries for a nail upgrade—an investment you won’t regret. This final enhancement simplifies challenging encounters, making the effort of your Rasher delivery feel worthwhile, if only just.
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