When Hollow Knight released in 2017, it quickly earned a reputation for being both punishing and rewarding. Every strike mattered, every dodge required precision, and even the earliest enemies could cut players down if they weren’t careful. Yet compared to its long-awaited sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong, the original almost feels like a warm-up.
One early boss encounter in particular highlights just how much harder Silksong is compared to its predecessor—the Bell Beast.
How the Bell Beast Sets the Tone
By the time players reach the Bell Beast in Silksong, they’ve already had a taste of the game’s faster enemies, tighter platforming, and double-damage mechanics. But this towering silkworm-like creature in The Marrow serves as the game’s first major skill check.
Unlike Hollow Knight’s early bosses, the Bell Beast doesn’t hesitate or telegraph with long pauses. From the moment the fight begins, it rushes across the screen, fills the arena with bouncing projectiles, and forces players to chain movement techniques like pogoing and upward slashes to survive.
Where the Gruz Mother of Hollow Knight had just a handful of easily-avoided attacks, the Bell Beast demands mastery of multiple mechanics all at once. And unlike the Gruz Mother’s gentle chip damage, a single Bell Beast hit strips away two Masks, meaning two or three mistakes are enough to send Hornet back to the last bench.
Key Challenges in the Bell Beast Encounter
The Bell Beast introduces several mechanics that feel like a leap forward in difficulty design:
- Full-screen dashes: The boss covers the arena in seconds, forcing quick reactions.
- Mandatory pogo attacks: Players must pogo off its back mid-dash to stay airborne and avoid damage.
- Vertical slashes: To punish its jumps, Hornet needs to master the upward slash, something not all players rely on early.
- Falling projectiles: Bouncing bells linger in the arena, creating layered hazards that limit safe zones.
For many players, this marks the first moment where button-mashing or basic dodging is no longer enough—adaptation and precision become mandatory.
How the Bell Beast Highlights Silksong’s Increased Difficulty
The Bell Beast doesn’t just hit harder or move faster—it also acts as a progression gatekeeper. Defeating it unlocks Silksong’s version of fast travel, something that was far more accessible in the first game.
In Hollow Knight, players only needed to discover the first Stagway and pay a small Geo fee. In Silksong, however, fast travel is locked behind victory over the Bell Beast, meaning the game directly ties a core convenience mechanic to overcoming a punishing boss.
This design choice is symbolic of Team Cherry’s overall philosophy for the sequel: progression is earned through mastery, not just exploration.
Comparing to Hollow Knight’s Early Bosses
The contrast between the Bell Beast and Hollow Knight’s Gruz Mother is stark:
| Aspect | Gruz Mother (Hollow Knight) | Bell Beast (Silksong) |
|---|---|---|
| Attack Variety | 2 simple moves | Multiple fast, complex patterns |
| Damage Output | 1 Mask per hit | 2 Masks per hit |
| Required Techniques | Basic dodging | Pogoing, upward slashes, precise timing |
| Reward for Victory | Progression item/Geo | Unlocks Fast Travel |
Where Hollow Knight eased players into its mechanics, Silksong expects proficiency much earlier, making the learning curve noticeably sharper.
See also: Silksong: How to Reach Act 2 and Defeat The Last Judge
The Bell Beast encapsulates everything that makes Silksong tougher than its predecessor: high damage, layered attack patterns, forced mastery of advanced mechanics, and the locking of essential features behind its defeat.
For veterans of Hollow Knight, this challenge is exhilarating—a reminder that Team Cherry isn’t softening its vision. But for newcomers, the Bell Beast may feel less like a stepping stone and more like a brick wall.
Either way, the fight ensures that by the time players leave The Marrow, they’ll understand exactly what Silksong demands: precision, patience, and persistence. Play Now!
