Hollow Knight: Silksong is designed as a Metroidvania, meaning backtracking and revisiting older areas is a natural part of progression. Many players wonder how they can return to Act 1 after moving forward into later acts. The good news is that the game provides multiple ways to go back to Pharloom’s earlier regions, though some methods require specific tools, benches, or fast-travel unlocks.
Act 1 concludes once you reach the Citadel by passing through either the Blasted Steps or the more challenging Sinner’s Road. After defeating the Last Judge (or Phantom, if you took the alternate route), you automatically transition into Act 2. From there, your focus shifts to the Citadel and its surrounding biomes.
See also: Hollow Knight Silksong Boss Guide: All 44 Bosses, Locations & Rewards
However, progression does not permanently lock you out of Act 1 areas. Pharloom’s design ensures that you can return to earlier regions to complete quests, unlock benches, or pick up missed items.
Methods to Return to Act 1
1. Using Bellways (Fast Travel System)
- Bellways function like the Stagways in the first Hollow Knight.
- If you activated all bell benches in Act 1 (Bone Bottom, The Marrow, Deep Docks, Far Fields, Greymoor, Bellhart, Shellwood, etc.), you can quickly warp back once you’ve advanced into Act 2.
- This is the most reliable way to revisit Act 1 locations and pick up missed crests, shards, or side quests.
2. Backtracking on Foot
- Even after entering Act 2, most paths between areas remain open.
- You can physically retrace your route from the Grand Gate or Choral Chambers back down through the Underworks and reconnect with The Marrow or Bone Bottom.
- This method is longer but useful if you missed activating a Bellway.
3. Using Quests and Wishes
- Certain quests naturally guide you back to Act 1. For example:
- “Save the Threadspun Town” requires returning to Bellhart after completing Shellwood.
- Collectible hunts (Mask Shards, Crests, Relics) often push you to revisit older zones.
- These story beats help integrate Act 1 backtracking into the game’s flow, so you rarely feel “locked out.”
4. Dream Sequences and Captures
- Some dream-like events and captures can place you back in earlier zones (such as The Slab, which is connected to Act 1 but discovered later).
- These moments aren’t traditional backtracking, but they let you interact with Act 1 content from a new angle.
Why Return to Act 1?
Revisiting Act 1 isn’t just for completionists — it’s often essential:
- Upgrades: Tools like the Cling Grip or Drifter’s Cloak open previously unreachable passages.
- Boss Rewards: Optional bosses in Act 1 drop items and skills useful in tougher Act 2 encounters.
- Shops & NPCs: Vendors like Pinmaster Plinney in Bellhart let you upgrade your Needle, making later bosses more manageable.
- Secrets & Lore: Pharloom’s worldbuilding is layered, and Act 1 holds hidden pieces of dialogue and lore that change once certain quests are completed.
Quick Tips for Returning to Act 1
- Always activate benches and Bellways before leaving an area — they’re your lifeline for returning later.
- Keep Rosaries stocked, as activating benches and stations costs currency.
- If you’re missing progress triggers in Act 2, check if you overlooked a bench or NPC interaction back in Act 1.
- When exploring late in the game, prioritize picking up Mask Shards, Spool Fragments, and Needle upgrades from earlier zones before challenging harder bosses.
Returning to Act 1 in Hollow Knight: Silksong is not only possible but encouraged. Pharloom is interconnected, and new movement skills like Swift Step, Cling Grip, and Drifter’s Cloak transform familiar areas with new routes. Whether you’re hunting collectibles, finishing NPC quests, or simply soaking in the atmosphere, Act 1 remains relevant well into the later acts of the game. Play Now!
