Acts

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Hollow Knight: Silksong is broken into three Acts, each denoted by an introductory title card. Each Act has its own set of story objectives that Hornet must complete to progress to the next Act (except in the case of the SAVE: The Threadspun Town, OPEN: Grand Gate and SEARCH: Silent Halls objectives). Ongoing objectives appear on the Tasks menu in the INVENTORY.

Act 1: Pharloom

The first Act of the game begins directly after the opening cutscene, and focuses on Hornet's journey to the Citadel. Hornet acquires her first objective after speaking to the Chapel Maid.

Objective Description Task Location
Image SEEK:
The Great Citadel 		Ascend through the lands of Pharloom and reach the Citadel at the kingdom's peak. Reach the Citadel.
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Image SAVE:
The Threadspun Town 		Break the silken curse ensnaring the town of Bellhart. Defeat Widow to free the town of Bellhart.
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Image OPEN:
Grand Gate 		Awaken the old bells throughout the lands.

After activating five Bellshrines: Return to the Grand Gate and open the way to the Citadel.

Journey to the five Bellshrines throughout lower Pharloom and ring them to unlock the Grand Gate.
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Image
Bellshrines

Act 2: Citadel of Song

The second Act begins upon entering the Citadel after defeating the Last Judge or Phantom. Hornet must explore the Citadel and learn the Threefold Melody to reach the very top of the kingdom, known as the Cradle. When achieving the Weaver Queen or Twisted Child endings, Act 2 is the final act of the game.

Objective Description Task Location
Image SEARCH:
Silent Halls 		Venture inside the Citadel and confront the veiled bugs. Confront Lace within the Choral Chambers.
Image
Image ASCEND:
Pharloom's Crown 		Scale the Citadel and confront the one who haunts the lands of Pharloom.

After defeating the Cogwork Dancers: Learn the Threefold Melody and open the path to the Citadel's crest.

After learning the Threefold Melody: Play the Threefold Melody before the statues at the Citadel's heart.

After playing the Threefold Melody: Rise above the Citadel and confront the one who haunts the lands of Pharloom.

Explore the Citadel and open the way to the Cradle.
Image

Image
Image LEARN:
Conductor's Melody 		Search the gilded heights of the Citadel for the melody of the Conductors.

After learning the Conductor's Melody: The Conductor's Melody has been learned.

Required for ASCEND: Pharloom's Crown

Learn the Conductor's Melody within the High Halls.
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Image LEARN:
Architect's Melody 		Search the mechanised core of the Citadel for the melody of the Architects.

After learning the Architect's Melody: The Architect's Melody has been learned.

Required for ASCEND: Pharloom's Crown

Learn the Architect's Melody within the Cogwork Core.
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Image LEARN:
Vaultkeeper's Melody 		Search the cloistered wing of the Citadel for the melody of the Vaultkeepers.

After finding the Sacred Cylinder: Find a means to play the Sacred Cylinder within the Whispering Vaults.

After learning the Vaultkeeper's Melody: The Vaultkeeper's Melody has been learned.

Required for ASCEND: Pharloom's Crown

Learn the Vaultkeeper's Melody within the Whispering Vaults.
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Image
Image DEFEAT:
Pale Monarch 		Confront the one who haunts the lands of Pharloom. Defeat Grand Mother Silk.
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Accessible after completing Silk and Soul
Image DESTROY:
Soul Snare 		Scale the Citadel and ensnare its monarch in a deadly trap. Defeat Grand Mother Silk with the Needolin.
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Act 3: Abyss

Entering the third Act requires completing the Silk and Soul wish and subsequently defeating Grand Mother Silk with the Needolin. After the Snared Silk ending and credits, the save profile gets covered with black threads, and after a few presses on it, the profile can be reopened to begin Act 3.

Pharloom has been infected with the Void, and Hornet must journey into Pharloom's Abyss to confront Grand Mother Silk alongside Lace. Completing Act 3's main questline and defeating its final boss, Lost Lace, concludes the final ending of Hollow Knight: Silksong.

Notable Changes

Several major changes occur when entering Act 3:

  • Various passageways are blocked off and new ones become accessible.
  • Various enemies and bosses can become afflicted by the Void, enhancing their movesets, health, and attacks.
  • Void Masses spawn.
  • Bone Bottom is almost completely destroyed, with only the Bellway remaining. A Survivor's Camp is erected in the Marrow where the Flea Caravan used to be.
  • The Wormways become overrun with Plasmium.
  • Haunted enemies no longer have a visible "puppet string" effect when they react to the Needolin. (The sound cue still plays.)
Objective Description Task Location
Image SEEK:
After the Fall 		Discover the fate of Pharloom. Escape the Cradle. —
Image SEEK:
Awaiting the End 		Confront the Caretaker and his family in the Ruined Chapel beside Bone Bottom. Make it to the Ruined Chapel in Moss Grotto.
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Image DEFEAT:
Beast in the Bells 		Descend into the bellway and defeat the hostile creature within. Defeat the Bell Eater and save the Bell Beast.
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Image SEEK:
The Dark Below 		In Deep Docks, find a way to descend beneath Pharloom.

After finding the diving bell: Find aid in Deep Docks to access its diving bell and descend beneath Pharloom.

After speaking to Ballow: Use the diving bell in Deep Docks to descend beneath Pharloom.

After using the diving bell to enter the Abyss: Reach the source of the black threads within the Abyss.

Find a way to enter the Abyss.
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Image ASCEND:
Return to Pharloom 		Escape the Abyss. Find a way to leave the Abyss.
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Image SEEK:
Spell Seeker 		Return to the Snail Shamans in the Ruined Chapel beside Bone Bottom. Speak to the Snail Shamans within the Ruined Chapel.
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Image SEEK:
The Old Hearts 		Enliven and acquire the old hearts of Pharloom.

After acquiring three Old Hearts: Bring the old hearts to the Snail Shamans in the Ruined Chapel beside Bone Bottom.

Collect 3 of the following items:
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Image CLAIM:
Heart of Might 		Claim the Encrusted Heart.

After claiming the Encrusted Heart: The Encrusted Heart has been claimed from Crust King Khann.

Required for SEEK: The Old Hearts

Defeat Crust King Khann and collect the Encrusted Heart.
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Image CLAIM:
Heart of the Woods 		Claim the Pollen Heart.

After claiming the Pollen Heart: The Pollen Heart has been claimed from Nyleth.

Required for SEEK: The Old Hearts

Defeat Nyleth and collect the Pollen Heart.
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Image CLAIM:
Heart of the Wild 		Claim the Hunter's Heart.

After claiming the Hunter's Heart: The Hunter's Heart has been claimed from Skarrsinger Karmelita.

Required for SEEK: The Old Hearts

Defeat Skarrsinger Karmelita and collect the Hunter's Heart.
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Image DESCEND:
Last Dive 		Dive into the void and cut Pharloom free. Return to the Abyss and defeat Lost Lace.
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Creation and Development

According to the Bloomberg News journalist Jason Schreier, who met and interviewed Team Cherry in August and November 2025, Team Cherry "always knew [Silksong] was going to be this upward journey from Pharloom to the Citadel and then to the Abyss where the world is destroyed. They knew it was going to have these three acts." Schreier also said that they "worked on each act successively", and that doing so "helped them kind of have this structure in their minds and make it feel more fun".[1] This is supported by Gibson being quoted in the November interview as saying "Act 3 stuff we worked on at the very end. But all of those areas we knew were going to exist, or were slated to exist."[2] The Abyss and other Act 3-exclusive content first started appearing in maps dated to 2022.[3] However, William Pellen is quoted in the interview as saying that the Abyss postgame was conceptualized before Acts were formally named, possibly implying they initially only internally existed.[2] Additionally, Act 3 was much harder prior to release, getting its difficulty later reduced for balancing reasons.[4]

Trivia

  • The SEARCH: Silent Halls map marker is placed in the Cogwork Core, but the objective will only progress if Lace is encountered in the Choral Chambers.

Update History

Names in other languages

Act 1: Pharloom

Language Name Meaning/Explanation
Image Brazilian Portuguese ATO 1: FIARLONGO ACT 1: FIARLONGO
Fiarlongo is the name of Pharloom in Portuguese, a combination of fiar (to spin thread) and longo (long).
Image French ACTE 1: PHARLOOM ACT 1: PHARLOOM
Image German AKT 1: PHARLOOM ACT 1: PHARLOOM
Image Italian ATTO 1: LUNGITELA ACT 1: FARWEB
Image Japanese 第１章: ファールーム
Dai 1 shō: fārūmu? 		Chapter 1: Pharloom
Image Korean 1장: 팔룸
1jang: pallum 		Chapter 1: Pharloom
Image Russian АКТ 1: ФАРЛУМ
AKT 1: FARLUM 		ACT 1: PHARLOOM
Image Simplified Chinese 第一幕: 纺络
Dì yī mù: Fǎngluò? 		Act 1: Pharloom
Image Traditional Chinese 第一幕: 紡絡
Dì yī mù: Fǎngluò?
Image Spanish ACTO 1: TELALEJANA ACT 1: FARWEB
Image Internal name ACT_1

Act 2: Citadel of Song

Language Name Meaning/Explanation
Image Brazilian Portuguese ATO 2: CIDADELA DA CANÇÃO ACT 2: CITADEL OF SONG
Image French ACTE 2: CITADELLE MÉLODIEUSE ACT 2: MELODIOUS CITADEL
Image German AKT 2: SANGESZITADELLE ACT 2: CITADEL OF SONG
Image Italian ATTO 2: CITTADELLA DEL CANTO ACT 2: CITADEL OF SONG
Image Japanese 第２章: 唱歌のシタデル
Dai 2-shō: shōka no shitaderu 		Chapter 2: Citadel of Song
Image Korean 2장: 성채의 노래
2jang: seongchaeui norae 		Chapter 2: Citadel's Song
Image Russian АКТ 2: ЦИТАДЕЛЬ ПЕСНИ
AKT 2: CITADEL' PESNI 		ACT 2: CITADEL OF SONG
Image Simplified Chinese 第二幕: 圣歌城堡
Dì èr mù: Shènggē chéngbǎo? 		Act 2: Castle of Hymn
Image Traditional Chinese 第二幕: 聖歌城堡
Dì èr mù: Shènggē chéngbǎo?
Image Spanish ACTO 2: CIUDADELA MELODIOSA ACT 2: MELODIOUS CITADEL
Image Internal name ACT_2

Act 3: Abyss

Language Name Meaning/Explanation
Image Brazilian Portuguese ATO 3: ABISMO ACT 3: ABYSS
Image French ACTE 3: LES ABYSSES ACT 3: THE ABYSS
Image German AKT 3: ABGRUND ACT 3: ABYSS
Image Italian ATTO 3: ABISSO ACT 3: ABYSS
Image Japanese 第３章: アビス
Dai 3-shō: abisu 		Chapter 3: Abyss
Image Korean 3장: 심연
3jang: simyeon 		Chapter 3: Abyss
Image Russian АКТ 3: БЕЗДНА
AKT 3: BEZDNA 		ACT 3: ABYSS
Image Simplified Chinese 第三幕: 深渊
Dì sān mù: Shēnyuān? 		Act 3: Abyss
Image Traditional Chinese 第三幕: 深淵
Dì sān mù: Shēnyuān?
Image Spanish ACTO 3: ABISMO ACT 3: ABYSS
Image Internal name ACT_3

References

  1. ↑ Why Hollow Knight: Silksong Took Seven Years To Make on YouTube
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Makers of 'Silksong' Aren't Done Just Yet
  3. ↑ Early Hollow Knight: Silksong Maps
  4. ↑ Live stream VOD discussing conversation with Matthew Griffin (5:22:10)
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