Hollow Knight: Silksong puts you in control of Hornet, a fast and agile fighter navigating the dangerous kingdom of Pharloom. While her speed and abilities make her deadly in combat, enemies and traps can quickly wear down your health. Knowing how to heal effectively is essential to surviving the game’s tough encounters.
This guide breaks down every healing method in Silksong, how they work, and strategies for making the most of them.
Healing with Bind
The primary way to heal in Silksong is through Bind, a core ability available right from the start of the game.
- Silk Gauge: Below Hornet’s health bar (represented by masks), you’ll see a small gauge. This gauge fills up as you strike enemies or certain objects in the environment.
- Activating Bind: Once the gauge is completely full, hold down the Bind button to begin the healing animation. Hornet channels her Silk and restores up to three masks of health.
- Risk vs. Reward:
- Bind consumes the entire Silk bar, no matter how much health you’re missing.
- Hornet is vulnerable during the animation. If she gets hit before the action finishes, the healing fails, and the Silk is lost.
- The animation is fairly quick compared to Hollow Knight’s Soul healing, but you still need to time it carefully.
Pro Tip: If you’re only missing one or two masks, it may be better to hold off on healing until you’ve lost more health, since the full Silk bar is always spent.
Tools That Improve Healing
As you progress, you can acquire items that make Bind safer and more efficient:
- Warding Bell: Provides protection while Hornet channels Bind, helping you avoid interruptions.
- Multibinder: Available from Frey after completing the My Missing Courier quest, this tool enhances your healing efficiency, letting you recover more reliably in combat.
These items turn risky mid-fight healing into a more manageable strategy, especially against bosses.
See also: Pinmaster’s Oil Quest Silksong Guide: How to Find Pale Oil and Upgrade Needle
Resting on Benches
Scattered across Pharloom are benches, which act as both healing stations and checkpoints:
- Full Recovery: Sitting at a bench restores Hornet’s entire health bar.
- Checkpoint System: If Hornet falls in battle, she respawns at the last bench she rested on.
- Unlocking Benches: Some benches are free, while others require Rosaries to unlock. Always carry at least 30 Rosaries so you’re not caught off guard.
- Bench Markers: Shakra sells a bench marker tool for 60 Rosaries that automatically adds benches to your map, making navigation easier.
Whenever you spot a bench, rest there—you’ll heal completely and secure your progress.
Healing Through Mask Shards
Beyond Bind and benches, Mask Shards offer another way to improve survivability:
- Collecting four Mask Shards increases Hornet’s maximum health by one mask.
- When you complete a set of four shards, Hornet’s health is fully restored as a bonus.
Exploring thoroughly to find Mask Shards is a long-term investment that pays off in both durability and free heals.
Best Healing Strategies in Silksong
Healing in Silksong isn’t just about knowing how—it’s about timing and resource management. Keep these tactics in mind:
- Pick Safe Moments: Look for windows of opportunity—after dodging an attack, or when an enemy is briefly stunned.
- Use Mid-Air Healing: Unlike Hollow Knight, Hornet can activate Bind in mid-air, adding flexibility during intense fights.
- Balance Silk Usage: Silk is not just for healing—it also powers Hornet’s offensive abilities. Decide whether to heal or use a special move based on the fight.
- Plan Around Benches: Explore with awareness of nearby benches so you can fall back to heal if needed.
Healing in Hollow Knight: Silksong is a deliberate mechanic that rewards smart play. Bind gives you a powerful way to restore health mid-battle, but at the cost of Silk and vulnerability. Benches offer guaranteed safety, while Mask Shards steadily increase your endurance.
By mastering the timing of Bind, unlocking supportive tools, and making use of benches and shards, you’ll keep Hornet alive long enough to conquer Pharloom’s toughest challenges. Play Now!
