Your quest to uncover the Old Hearts in Hollow Knight: Silksong has commenced, and you’re about to face some formidable challenges. This game certainly doesn’t hold back; however, some encounters can be navigated with relative ease if you’re well-prepared.
One notable moment involves locating two bosses hidden behind a secret passage from the Grand Gate. The first is Seth, a formidable guardian keeping you from the heart, and the second is Nyleth, a spectral figure who embodies memory. While both bosses require skill, Nyleth presents some particularly intricate mechanics worth analyzing.
How to Reach Nyleth
For those who haven’t ventured to this boss yet, let me guide you on how to find her. The section on your map may appear obscured, leading some to believe she’s located within the blasted steps, which is a misunderstanding.
Start your journey at the Choral Chambers Ventrica Station. From there, descend to the Grand Gate and navigate to the bottom of the scale platform where a previous lift once stood. Use your Silk Soar ability to ascend through the ceiling, following a narrow path that leads to the elevator shaft.
Once inside the vertical shaft, look for a breakable area halfway down the left wall. Smash through the vines below to access the main chamber. Proceed through a flower maze, which will ultimately guide you to a lengthy hallway heading west. Defeat Seth to unlock the pathway to facing Nyleth.
Don’t forget to activate the bench located to the right of the elevator shaft. The activation will require 15 Rosaries, but this is a one-time cost.
Preparing for the Battle
Understanding Memory Mechanics
As you prepare for this confrontation, note that this is a memory fight. This means you will combat the boss in a reminiscence of the past, granting you unlimited use of your red tools without the need for recrafting after waking up. Keep this in mind when planning your tool loadout. One significant benefit of this encounter is that there’s virtually no runback, allowing for a more aggressive play style.
However, be cautious; items like the fractured mask won’t automatically repair once you wake up. Unless it’s your first attempt, you’ll need to return to a bench for repairs. Given the brief duration of this fight, focus on offensive tools rather than those designed to extend the battle, such as the Multibinder or Reserve Bind.
Choosing Your Crest Wisely
During this fight, mastering your pogo technique is essential. In the second phase, spikes will be present on the walls and ground, making landing difficult—this adds an interesting layer to the combat dynamic.
I recommend equipping a crest that features a vertical downslash, such as the Crest of the Wanderer or the Crest of the Reaper. These are user-friendly and eliminate the need for complex mid-air maneuvers as required by the Hunter or Beast crests. Of course, this choice can be subjective, as many players favor the diagonal attacks.
Recommended Tools
Consider utilizing tools that operate autonomously, as you’ll have limited opportunity to aim during the fight. A build centered around pseudo-summoning is particularly effective in this scenario. For instance, I found success with the Cogfly and the Pollip Pouch, which inflict damage independently while you concentrate on dodging.
Additionally, you might explore the Wisp Thicket for the Wispfire Lantern, a blue tool that allows you to summon fiery wisps that target enemies automatically. These tools enable you to deal extra damage without requiring additional input.
If you’re struggling with your pogo technique, acquiring the Longclaw can improve your downward attack range. Lastly, equipping the Ascendant’s Grip yellow tool is crucial for maneuvering effectively.
Understanding Nyleth’s Attack Patterns
Phase 1 Mechanics
(You can view a complete fight against Nyleth in the video above.)
Nyleth appears to have less health than many other bosses, likely due to the rapid frequency at which you can hit her. This dynamic is intensified by the necessity of clinging to walls throughout most of the engagement, turning the arena itself into a challenge.
During this phase, become accustomed to extended airborne periods and refine your pogo skills, which you should have already developed during your time in Hunter’s March. Should you land on the spikes, a temporary platform will materialize to re-engage you in the fight.
Employ a strategy of dashing in for quick strikes followed by retreating to a wall. Use your clawline to rapidly close the distance and dodge Nyleth’s overwhelming AoE attacks. Below are the main movements Nyleth employs:
|
Attack Name |
Description |
How To Avoid |
|---|---|---|
|
Orbs of Thorn |
Three thorns emerge from the ground, hovering briefly before descending. |
Avoid the smoke plume indicating their trajectory; consider hitting the thorns towards Nyleth for free ranged damage. |
|
Pollen Blast |
This frequent attack manifests as a large yellow circle around Nyleth that explodes, inflicting damage. |
Dash or clawline to the opposite side of the room as soon as you spot the yellow circle forming. |
|
Flower Dash |
Nyleth lowers her head, charges up, and then dashes across the arena, inflicting damage upon contact. |
When you see her head drop, double jump with your cloak towards the wall she originated from to avoid the attack. |
|
Blade Slash |
Nyleth crouches briefly and then strikes, creating large blades that surge through the air. |
This dodge is tricky due to a tight window for reaction; try to back dash immediately upon noticing her lowered head. |
During Phase 1, you can often remain close to Nyleth and strike away, dodging only when necessary. However, things escalate significantly in Phase 2.
Adapting to Phase 2
As Phase 2 begins, all platforms will vanish, requiring you to remain glued to the wall for the remainder of the encounter. This is where the importance of having the Ascendant’s Grip becomes apparent.
You must now rely heavily on your pogo skills. Thankfully, the expanded arena grants you the ability to float over her head during her Pollen Blast, instead of retreating completely to the opposite wall.
This phase doesn’t introduce many new mechanics, but Nyleth becomes faster and more aggressive. It’s crucial to play defensively and create space from her; sticking too close significantly raises your risk. The variations in her attacks also become more challenging; her Orbs of Thorn expand to five thorns instead of three, and she may employ her Flower Dash twice in quick succession.
Pay close attention for this new attack featured in this phase:
|
Attack Name |
Description |
How To Avoid |
|---|---|---|
|
Pollen Projectiles |
Nyleth releases yellow blobs of pollen across the arena. |
Maintain your position on the opposite wall and navigate up and down as necessary to avoid them. |
Despite the heightened difficulty in Phase 2, the battle remains short. With the “summoner” build previously discussed, you can conclude this fight in just over a minute. Upon defeating Nyleth, collect the Pollen Heart that awaits you as a reward.
Congratulations! You’ve successfully eliminated one heart from your quest. However, keep in mind that Nyleth is likely the most straightforward of the three Heart bosses; the subsequent encounters will truly test your skills!
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