The world of Hollow Knight: Silksong is full of optional challenges, but few stand out like The Unravelled, a hidden encounter tucked deep within Whiteward. This boss is not only a test of your patience and precision but also a gateway to one of the game’s most valuable rewards: the Silk Heart.
Where to Find The Unravelled
The Unravelled resides in Whiteward, an area of the Citadel that becomes accessible in Act 2 once you’ve acquired the White Key. The key can be purchased from Jubilana or found on a body near the Citadel’s right edge.
Once you unlock Whiteward, you’ll need the Surgeon’s Key to access the fight. This key is hidden in an upper section of Whiteward, behind a secret passage marked by orange furnace light. Using the Clawline, you can dangle from a ring to open a chute that drops the corpse holding the key.
The key unlocks an ornate lock just above the boss arena. Before entering, activate the nearby bench to set a convenient respawn point—you’ll be grateful for it if things go wrong.
Pre-Fight: Enemy Waves
Before the boss itself appears, you’ll need to clear two waves of enemies:
- First wave: a single flying foe.
- Second wave: a ground enemy paired with another flyer.
Dispatch them quickly. If the grounded enemy lingers, it will extend its body and spin dangerously around the arena, forcing you into risky dodges.
Clearing these waves brightens the arena and sets the stage for the real battle.
Phase One – Charge and Cadavers
Once the husks fall, the arena shakes and The Unravelled bursts forth. The fight begins with two key attacks:
1. Charge Attack
- Tell: The boss leans forward, head pulling back before lunging.
- Effect: A lightning-fast dash across the arena, dealing double damage if it connects.
- Counter: Jump as it charges, then use a downward strike to both evade and score a hit.
2. Cadaver Spit
- Tell: The boss retracts its head and inflates its midsection.
- Effect: Launches two corpse projectiles that attempt to predict your movement.
- Counter: Create distance and jump once to clear the spread. Staying mobile helps avoid surprise angles.
Tip: The boss’s golden mask prevents damage from direct overhead strikes, so use hit-and-run tactics. Land safe hits after dashes or projectile volleys rather than rushing in.
Phase Two – Spears in the Ground
After enough damage, The Unravelled retreats underground and summons another wave of land enemies. Clear them, and the arena changes: spears begin bursting from below.
Changes in the Second Phase
- Spear Summons: White lines on the ground telegraph where spears will emerge. They rise, hover briefly, then slam downward.
- Projectile Upgrade: Now fires three cadavers instead of two.
- Charge Variant: May trigger spears when colliding with a wall.
During this phase, your focus shifts from pure boss dodging to constant movement. The spears force you to reposition, and they’ll often overlap with charges or projectiles, creating layered hazards.
Phase Three – Relentless Assault
At lower health, the fight intensifies. After another stagger and a wave of husks, The Unravelled speeds up and increases the frequency of spear summons. In this stage, it’s less about memorizing patterns and more about endurance—surviving the barrage while capitalizing on the brief recovery windows after each major attack.
Recommended Loadout
While you can approach this fight with many builds, certain tools and crests make it smoother:
- Silk Skill – Thread Storm: Excellent for clearing husk waves quickly, freeing your focus for the boss.
- Tools:
- Flintslate for stronger needle damage during openings.
- Cogfly to chip damage from afar.
- Injector Band for faster healing in tight spots.
- Claw Mirror for added offensive pressure.
- Crests:
- Reaper Crest to increase range and Silk gain.
- Witch Crest if you prefer AoE bursts for mob control.
Mobility is more valuable than greed—equip gear that supports survival and precise damage.
Loot and Rewards After the Fight
Defeating The Unravelled earns you a Silk Heart, one of only three in the game. This powerful item restores Silk automatically when your spool empties, giving you more freedom to use abilities like Needolin and other Silk-dependent skills.
It’s a significant mid-game upgrade and well worth the challenge.
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Quick Tips for The Unravelled Boss
- Memorize tells. The ground rumbling or a sudden head tilt are signs of incoming attacks.
- Punish the charge. It’s the safest damage window; get one or two hits, then back off.
- Respect projectiles. Don’t rush in—avoid first, retaliate second.
- Stay mobile in Phase 2+. Spears always drop at predictable spots—never linger where glowing lines appear.
- Use mob waves smartly. These breaks can be a chance to heal or rebuild Silk reserves.
The Unravelled isn’t the flashiest boss in Silksong, but it’s a cleverly designed endurance test. With deceptive hitboxes, mob interruptions, and layered hazards, it demands patience over aggression. Once you learn its rhythms and bring the right tools, the fight transforms from overwhelming to rewarding—and the Silk Heart prize makes the effort worthwhile.
If you’re venturing through Whiteward, don’t skip this encounter. It’s one of the defining mid-game battles of Hollow Knight: Silksong. Play Now!
