Hollow Knight: Silksong wastes no time pulling you into Pharloom’s labyrinthine world. While Hornet’s main journey is packed with combat and exploration, some of the best rewards actually come from early side quests—known in-game as Wishes. Completing these quests not only introduces you to memorable NPCs but also grants tools, trinkets, and shortcuts that make the challenging early hours far more manageable.
This guide breaks down the most rewarding early side quests in Silksong, where to find them, and what you’ll gain by finishing them.
What Are Wishes in Silksong?
Unlike traditional quest markers in other RPGs, Silksong calls its side quests Wishes. Once completed, you’ll see the phrase “Wish Granted” on your screen. These quests range from simple fetch tasks to long-term challenges and hidden objectives. Rewards vary but often include Trinkets, Tools, currency (Rosaries), and shortcuts that ease exploration.
1. Berry Picking (Bone Bottom)
- Starting NPC: Moss Druid
- Location: North of Bone Bottom
- Reward: Druid’s Eye Trinket
One of the first Wishes you’ll encounter, Berry Picking asks you to collect three Mossberries for the Moss Druid. Mossberries are easy to spot—they glow green and are sometimes attached to enemies or tucked into tricky platforming spots.
When you return with three, you’ll receive the Druid’s Eye, a Trinket that restores a portion of Hornet’s Silk whenever she takes damage. If you keep bringing back extra Mossberries later, Moss Druid will pay you in Rosaries, Silksong’s main currency.
2. Freeing Grindle (Unmarked Wish)
- Location: The Marrow, prison cell
- Reward: Straight Pin Tool
Silksong borrows from its predecessor’s Soulslike design, including mysterious NPC encounters. In The Marrow, you’ll discover Grindle trapped in a cell. You can choose to free him by breaking the bars or ignore him—but either way, he eventually escapes.
Inside the cell lies the Straight Pin, a ranged Tool functioning like throwing knives. It doesn’t require Silk to use, making it one of the earliest and most reliable offensive options.
3. The Lost Fleas (The Marrow)
- Starting NPC: Mooshka and companions
- Location: The Marrow (mid-section)
- Reward: Flea Brew Trinket + Resting Point
This quest introduces you to Mooshka, a traveler searching for their lost fleas. At least one flea is hidden in each early biome—The Marrow, Hunter’s March, Deep Docks, Far Fields, and Greymoor.
Finding and returning five fleas unlocks a resting spot near Haunted Bellhart, giving you a much-needed checkpoint. You’ll also receive the Flea Brew, a Trinket that temporarily boosts Hornet’s attack and movement speed.
4. Bugs of Pharloom (Greymoor – Halfway Home)
- Starting NPC: Nuu
- Location: Halfway Home, Greymoor
- Reward: Bestiary (ongoing progress)
One of the longest Wishes, this side quest begins when you meet Nuu, an alien-like NPC who wants to build a bestiary. Accepting this quest gives you a record of every enemy and boss you defeat, similar to a Pokedex.
Progress takes the entire game, but starting early means you won’t need to backtrack to re-fight older enemies.
5. Collecting Simple Keys (Unmarked Quest)
- Reward: Access to hidden routes and loot
Simple Keys function as unlocks for secret doors scattered around Pharloom. Early on, you can purchase one from Pebb in Bone Bottom for 500 Rosaries. Though expensive, they are always worth buying.
One early door in Deep Docks opens to a challenging sub-area with hidden loot. Make a habit of buying Simple Keys whenever available, and take notes on locked doors you encounter for later return trips.
6. Volatile Flintbeetles (Bone Bottom Quest Board)
- Starting Location: Quest Board in Bone Bottom
- Reward: Memory Locket
Unlocked a bit later, this Wish tasks you with tracking down Flintbeetles. They leave scrap trails, turning the mission into a Monster Hunter-style tracking quest. The first targets can be found in The Marrow.
Defeating three Flintbeetles yields Flintgems, which you trade for a Memory Locket. This item expands your Crest capacity, letting you equip more Tools or Trinkets and diversify your build.
Key Benefits of Early Side Quests in Silksong.
Completing these early side quests in Silksong gives you:
- Survivability boosts (Druid’s Eye, Mask Shards).
- Offensive options (Straight Pin, Flea Brew).
- Exploration tools (Memory Locket, Simple Keys).
- Lore and world-building through quirky NPCs and Pharloom’s secrets.
For a game as challenging as Silksong, these quests can make the difference between frustration and smooth progression.
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Hollow Knight: Silksong rewards curiosity. Every NPC, locked door, or glowing collectible may lead to a quest that changes how you approach combat and exploration. Prioritize Wishes like Berry Picking, The Lost Fleas, and Volatile Flintbeetles, and never pass up an opportunity to buy Simple Keys or hunt down Mask Shards. Play Now!
