As you approach the climactic finale in Hollow Knight: Silksong, the objective becomes starkly evident following your descent into the abyss: you must rescue Lace from the grasp of the void. Despite Hornet’s and your awareness of the formidable challenge that lies ahead, the desire to save her fuels your journey.
Lace finds herself ensnared by her own self-loathing, immersed in the very void you previously subdued her godlike mother with. The third encounter with her morphs into an exhilarating showdown, characterized by chaotic waves of void particles and relentless assault tactics, forcing players into constant motion.
Fortunately, this confrontation marks the final boss battle in the game, meaning you will likely possess a comprehensive arsenal of tools and upgrades alongside considerable experience taking on difficult foes. This battle is undoubtedly among the toughest, landing securely in the top 3 hardest bosses in Silksong.
In this guide, I will detail my personal build used to conquer Lost Lace, providing an in-depth analysis of her attack patterns, effective counterstrategies, and tips on how to navigate the onslaught of void during the climactic third phase.
My Loadout
While I will share the tools I found effective, it’s crucial to remember that my loadout is simply one approach and may not align with your playstyle. If you excel with a different combination of gear, I encourage you to stick with that.
That said, the necessity of the yellow tools, notably Magnetite Dice and Cling Grip, cannot be overstated. The Magnetite Dice serve as a safeguard, occasionally absorbing damage at critical moments. Meanwhile, the Cling Grip allows you to cling to walls, crucial for evading imminent waves of attacks.
For my personal setup, I utilize the combination of Multibinder, Injector Band, and the Warding Bell for swift healing, which proves invaluable during this encounter. However, those favoring a more aggressive strategy might prefer the Claw Mirrors instead.
Among the red tools, I have opted for the Cogfly as it delivers reliable damage effortlessly, allowing me to maintain focus on survival during the intense third phase. While I included Sting shards in my setup, I found little utility for them during the battle.
I’ve chosen Cross-Stitch as my Silk Skill, as Lace’s attack patterns allow for effective parrying. However, during my successful run, I opted not to use this skill, preferring to reserve my silk for healing instead.
Before entering the fight, ensure you collect every Mask Shard and obtain all four Needle upgrades. While this may require some extra effort, the payoff is significant, potentially saving you from many headaches in the ensuing struggle.
Phase One
As the confrontation commences, Lace’s attack style will remind you of her second encounter, albeit intensified with the void’s influence. Each of her assault methods has a counter-strategy, and I will detail how to evade and retaliate against them.
One notable attack is the dual-lunge dash, where she swiftly lunges, trailing waves of void tendrils. If you maintain distance, her third move will almost always be another lunge, but if you get closer, she may throw a punch or jump into the air for an aerial dive.
Keeping your distance is advantageous, ensuring she defaults to a lunge that leaves her vulnerable after completing the third. This opens a window for retaliation, allowing you to capitalize on her moment of weakness.
When she teleports and draws back her arm, prepare for the void tendrils attack—a straightforward chance to strike back effectively. Position yourself behind her to maximize damage during this opening.
If she leaps above, use an upward slash as she descends, positioning yourself strategically to capitalize on her next attack. If she attempts to parry, your best response is to jump and dash towards her, effectively bypassing both aerial and grounded counters.
The remainder of Phase One comprises standard slashes, techniques you’ve likely adapted to by this point. Maintain vigilance, avoid excessive aggression, and await her scream, signaling the transition to the next phase.
Phase Two
The second phase doesn’t drastically alter combat mechanics, but be prepared for a more significant influence from the void, blending her regular attacks with additional void-based maneuvers.
When she raises her arms, void tendrils will erupt from the ground. Observe the visual signals to evade them, but stay alert, as Lace’s heightened activity during this attack can swiftly punish negligence.
At times, she adopts the hollow knight behavior, erupting void orbs from her chest. The safest evasion method is to remain grounded, prompting an excellent opportunity for counterattack once you master dodging her projectiles.
Throughout this phase, prioritize awareness of the battlefield, as tendrils can emerge mid-attack. With effective positioning and counter-attacks, transitioning to the final phase should be manageable.
Intermission
Between Phases Two and Three, Grand Mother Silk will release a scream as she breaks free from her bindings, causing tremendous waves of void to surge from either side of the arena.
This scenario also occurs in Phase Three. While dodging requires quick reactions—using your Faydown Cloak to evade each wave—there’s room for clever maneuvering. I often employ the Super Jump to latch onto the ceiling and stall with the grapple and floating cloak until this phase concludes. Alternatively, using Cling Grip to adhere to the wall simplifies the task enormously.
Regardless, it’s prudent to practice dodging the waves conventionally, as their hitboxes are less daunting than they seem. You can run along the top layer and effortlessly avoid damage as you enter the final phase.
Final Phase
As the battle reaches its climax, Lace will burst from the ground and emit a blood-curdling screech before sinking back into the void. You can assert damage during her descent, but it’s a tricky maneuver reserved for skilled players.
In this phase, expect her attack speed to increase dramatically, and the cooldown between strikes significantly reduces. I advise unleashing two or three Cogflies while waiting for opportunities to strike Lace safely.
This portion may appear visually chaotic; a good strategy is to jump and hover momentarily until you hear the audio cue for her next attack. Furthermore, consider disabling Screen Shake if it proves distracting.
When she generates black and white circles overhead, promptly retreat to the ground. These circles conjure projectiles that are incredibly accurate, so resist the urge to rush for damage during their active period.
Lace can also generate large, white-aura circles that deal substantial damage if you get caught within them. As she tends to emerge from the last one she activates, ensure you punish her the instant she exits, and carefully avoid the shockwave that follows.
Despite the speed increase, her other attack patterns remain unchanged. Maintain your original strategy, but adapt to strike only once or twice during openings, as she is faster and requires precise timing.
After her defeat, your mission concludes with one essential task: retrieve Lace’s newly void-free body, allowing Grand Mother Silk to bestow her strength upon you as you ascend from the void, cradling Lace in your arms. This final segment is virtually foolproof, yet it’s worth noting as a conclusion to your arduous journey.
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