Needle Strike
The Needle Strike is an Ability that Hornet acquires in Hollow Knight: Silksong. It allows Hornet to charge up and release a stronger version of her regular attack based on her equipped Crest.
Function
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Needle Strike is charged by holding down ATTACK. White particles appear around Hornet when it is charging, and a glowing effect once it is ready. It can be held indefinitely, including between rooms, unless Hornet takes damage or is otherwise interrupted, like by entering a body of water. Releasing Needle Strike in the air suspends Hornet at the same height until the animation ends. This attack can only be aimed left or right. Needle Strike generates 1 strand of Silk when most enemies are struck. For the Hunter Crest specifically, 2 strands of Silk are generated if both hits connect with an enemy.
Needle Strike changes depending on the equipped Crest:
- Hunter Crest: Hornet attacks with 2 consecutive strikes forward. Deals 1.4x Needle damage per swing, for 2.8x damage in total, granting 1 Silk each.
- Reaper Crest: Hornet jumps up slightly and attacks above herself in a wide arc. Deals 2.5x Needle damage.
- Wanderer Crest: Hornet dashes forward and makes 5 quick jabs forward. Deals 0.6x Needle damage per hit, for 3x Needle damage in total.
- Beast Crest: Hornet leaps forward, and attacks above and in front of herself. Deals 2.5x Needle damage, or 3x Needle damage in fury state.
- Witch Crest: Hornet spins and attacks all around herself, similar to Cyclone Slash in Hollow Knight. Starting at 2 hits, it can be extended to 6 hits by tapping the ATTACK button. Deals roughly 0.8x Needle damage per hit, up to 4.8x Needle damage in total if all hits of the extended attack land.
- Architect Crest: Hornet moves forward, then attacks with a large drill-like strike that hits 5 times. Deals 0.6x Needle damage per hit, for 3x Needle damage in total.
- Shaman Crest: Hornet fires a large wave that travels a moderate distance forward. Deals 2.3x Needle damage.
The damage of Needle Strikes multiplies with other Needle damage increases, such as the Evolved Hunter Crest's Focus, Beast Crest's Fury, and Flintslate.
Needle Strike can instantly destroy Gurr the Outcast's traps, and most breakable walls.
Pin Badge lowers the charge time of Needle Strikes by 40%, from 1.35 seconds to 0.8 seconds.[Missing reference]
How to Acquire
The Needle Strike can be acquired after speaking with Pinstress in Blasted Steps. When Hornet first meets the Pinstress, she asks Hornet to train with her, after which Hornet gains the ability.
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Location in the Blasted Steps
Trivia
- The 1.0.27535 and 1.0.27776 versions of Silksong playable on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch respectively, which are older than the PC launch version (1.0.28324), have the Needle Strike be named Focus Strike.[1]
- Despite not initially being done, Needle Strikes gave Silk in the Hollow Knight: Silksong Xbox trailer.[2]
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Silksong Xbox trailer
Update History
- 1.0.28650 (Patch 2):
- The Needle Strike was changed to give Silk upon hitting an enemy; 1 strand for most, 2 if both Hunter Crest strikes land.
- Adjusted damage boost that Flintslate applies to Needle Strikes from +10 per hit to +50% per hit.
- Reduced number of hits dealt by the Architect Crest's Needle Strike from 7 to 5.
- 1.0.28891 (Patch 3): Adjusted Needle Strike damage depending on Crest.
- 1.0.29280 (Patch 4): Fixed Beast Crest's Needle Strike sometimes gaining unintended height when performed in the air.
Names in Other Languages
| Language | Name | Meaning/Explanation |
|---|---|---|
 Brazilian Portuguese
|
Ataque de Foco | Focus Attack |
 French
|
Attaque de précision | Precision Attack |
 German
|
Nadelstreich | Needle Strike |
 Italian
|
Attacco Concentrato | Concentrated Attack |
 Japanese
|
強針撃 Tsuyo hari geki |
Strong Needle Attack |
 Korean
|
집중 타격 Jipjung tagyeok |
Concentrated Strike |
 Russian
|
Сфокусированный удар Sfokusirovannyj udar |
Focused Strike |
 Simplified Chinese
|
蓄力斩 Xùlì zhǎn? |
Charged Slash |
 Traditional Chinese
|
蓄力斬 Xùlì zhǎn? | |
 Spanish
|
Golpe concentrado | Concentrated Strike |
 Internal name
|
SKILL_CHARGESLASH
|
|
