Reaching Act 3 in Hollow Knight: Silksong isn’t just about finishing the story — it’s about uncovering the game’s true ending. While Act 2 seems like the finale after defeating Grandmother Silk, there’s a hidden layer that only opens if you meet certain conditions. Act 3, often called “The Abyss,” expands Pharloom with tougher enemies, new secrets, and a deeper look into Hornet’s journey.
Act 3 is the continuation of Hornet’s story after the apparent ending of Act 2. You’ll see credits roll when you “bind” Grandmother Silk, but this is not the true ending. The alternate path begins when you trigger the Silk and Soul quest — a late-game challenge that reshapes Pharloom.
To access it, you must complete key side objectives across multiple settlements, move the Flea Caravan to its final location, and retrieve four special items used in the final ritual.
Step-by-Step Guide to Unlock Act 3
The path to Act 3 requires patience, exploration, and completion of several interconnected tasks. Here’s what you need to do:
1. Complete the Main Story up to Act 2
You must reach and defeat Grandmother Silk at the end of Act 2. Don’t worry about your ending choice just yet — you’ll revisit this fight once you meet the conditions for the new act.
2. Finish the Wish Board Quests
Each major settlement — Bone Bottom, Bellhart, and Songclave — has a Wish Wall (or bounty board) containing tasks known as Wishes. You’ll need to complete most, if not all, of these to unlock the Silk and Soul quest.
Common examples include:
- Bone Bottom: Bone Bottom Repairs, A Lifesaving Bridge, The Terrible Tyrant
- Bellhart: Restoration of Bellhart, My Missing Brother, Bellhart’s Glory
- Songclave: Fine Pins, Strengthening Songclave, Balm for the Wounded
While some minor quests can be skipped, completing every Wish guarantees the quest trigger.
Tip: Check each settlement’s Wish Board frequently, as new wishes appear after you finish earlier ones.
3. Move the Flea Caravan to Fleatopia (Putrified Ducts)
The Flea Caravan advances as you rescue Lost Fleas scattered throughout Pharloom. Their final destination, Fleatopia, unlocks once you’ve rescued at least 25 out of 30 fleas.
Speak to Fleamaster Mooshka after finding enough fleas. If he agrees to move the caravan to the Putrified Ducts (Pale Lake area), you’ve met this condition.
4. Obtain the Bellhome in Bellhart
After restoring Bellhart and completing its major quests, talk to Pavo, the bell-hatted NPC. He’ll give you the Bellhome Key, granting you a home in Bellhart. This is a required milestone before the Silk and Soul quest becomes available.
5. Learn the Threefold Melody
You’ll need to collect the Architect, Conductor, and Vaultkeeper Melodies to access The Cradle — the final boss area of Act 2. These melodies are tied to exploration and optional boss encounters.
Once acquired, you’ll unlock full access to the endgame area and progress toward Act 3 conditions.
How to Start the Silk and Soul Quest
Once all prerequisites are met, return to Songclave and interact with the Caretaker. He’ll offer a new Wish titled Silk and Soul. Accepting it begins the final chain leading to Act 3.
The Caretaker will instruct you to retrieve four spiritual items scattered across Pharloom — these are crucial to ensnaring Grandmother Silk.
Silk and Soul Quest – All Four Item Locations
Each item is hidden in a significant area and guarded by puzzles or bosses. Here’s where to find them:
1. Maiden’s Soul
Location: Bone Bottom
Head to the western chapel where you first met the Chapel Maid early in the game. Speak with her again to receive the Maiden’s Soul.
2. Hermit’s Soul
Location: Bellhart
From the Bellhart Bellway, drop down to the lowest level. Move right through a hidden wall to reach the Hermit’s chamber. Talk to him to receive the Hermit’s Soul.
3. Seeker’s Soul
Location: Bilewater
After defeating Groal the Great in the Bilewater region, exit the arena and enter the nearby hut to obtain the Seeker’s Soul.
This is one of the harder steps due to the toxic hazards and enemy density in this zone.
4. Snare Setter
Location: Weavenest Atla (Moss Grotto area)
Play your Needolin at the entrance door to unlock it. Inside, ride the elevator down and use wall jumps to access a hidden ceiling passage on the right. You’ll find the Snare Setter resting on an altar.
Completing Silk and Soul – Unlocking Act 3
Return to the Caretaker in Songclave with all four items. He’ll confirm that the trap is ready for Grandmother Silk. Then, head to The Cradle and defeat the final boss once again.
This time, instead of choosing Bind, play the Needolin to trigger the Soul Snare. This action traps Grandmother Silk and unlocks the “Snared Silk” achievement.
After the cutscene:
- The credits will roll again.
- When you return to the main menu, your save file will be wrapped in black silk strands.
- Select your file repeatedly to break the tendrils — Act 3: The Abyss will begin automatically.
What Changes in Act 3
Once you enter Act 3:
- Enemies across Pharloom become more aggressive and powerful.
- Some regions feature altered layouts and new enemy types.
- Certain collectibles (like Mask Shards and Spool Fragments) only appear during this phase.
- You can still reach 100% completion, so no content is permanently locked out.
Pro Tip: If you’re aiming for completion or upgrades, explore and gather items before triggering Act 3 — the difficulty spike is significant.
Unlocking Act 3 in Hollow Knight: Silksong is the ultimate reward for players who’ve fully immersed themselves in Pharloom’s mysteries. It combines exploration, side quests, and narrative closure into one satisfying finale. Completing the Silk and Soul quest doesn’t just open a new act — it transforms the world around you, challenging even seasoned Metroidvania fans to push their skills to the limit.
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Whether you’re hunting the true ending or chasing 100% completion, the journey to Act 3 is a test of patience, mastery, and heart — much like Hornet herself. Play Now!
