How to start Act 3 in Hollow Knight: Silksong

After you view the credits for Hollow Knight: Silksong for the first time, you might think that you’ve completed the game, but what if I told you there was an Act 3?

Starting Act 3 might rack your brain harder than any puzzle, boss, or obstacle course in all of Silksong as its requirements are a little hazy. However, to get to the true ending of Silksong, it’s necessary to see Act 3 for yourself.

Here’s how to start Act 3 in Hollow Knight: Silksong and how to complete the “Silk and Soul” quest.

Update (Dec. 18): We’ve added some additional context on how to reach Act 3 to this guide.

Hollow Knight: Silksong Act 3 requirements

To start Act 3, you do not need to be a completionist. However, you do need to complete a majority of the quests, find most of the lost fleas, and reach the end of the Act 2.

The exact specifics to start Act 3 are not known, but the consensus is that you need to do the following:

Complete a majority of the wishes on the wish boards in Bone Bottom, Bellhart, and First Shrine.
Move the flea caravan to the Pale Lake in the Putrified Ducts.
Learn the Threefold song by finding the Vaultkeeper’s, Architect’s, and Conductor’s Melody.
Unlock your Bellhome in Bellhart.

In doing so, you’ll unlock the “Silk and Soul” quest on the wish board in Bellhart.

In our experience, the above wasn’t enough to unlock the quest. After we completed the “Crawbug Clearing” quest in Greymoor, we unlocked the “Silk and Soul” quest in Bellhart.

In case that isn’t enough, here are all the quests we completed in addition to all the wishes on the wish boards:

‘Silk and Soul’ quest walkthrough

Image: Team Cherry via Polygon

To start the quest, you’ll need to complete an assortment of tasks that we’ve listed above. Afterward, you’ll find the “Silk and Soul” quest on the wish board in Bellhart.

Visit the Caretaker at the First Shrine who will then send you off to find four items:

Maiden’s Soul — The Chapel Maid in Bone Bottom
Hermit’s Soul — The Hermit found below Bellhart
Seeker’s Soul — In a hut after defeating Groal the Great in Bilewater
Snare Setter — On a bench in Weavenest Atla

For a more detailed explanation on where to find each item, check out the sections below:

Maiden’s Soul

Hornet standing beside the Chapel Maid in Silksong.

The Maiden’s Soul can be retrieved from the Chapel Maid in Bone Bottom. Head to the western side of Bone Bottom to find the Chapel Maiden wandering around, and interact with her to receive the Maiden’s Soul.

If you can’t find her here, she may be just below you in Moss Grotto.

Hermit’s Soul

Hornet standing next to the Hermit in Silksong.

The Hermit’s Soul is given to you by the Hermit who lives underneath the Bellhart Bellway. When you’re in the Bellhart Bellway, drop down to the lowest floor, and head to the right to find a secret wall. After you drop down, continue to the left to find the Hermit.

Seeker’s Soul

Hornet standing outside of a house in Bilewater in Silksong.

The Seeker’s Soul can be found in a hut immediately after you defeat Groal the Great in Bilewater. As soon as you leave the arena where you fought Groal, there will be a house you can enter. Inside, you’ll find the Seeker’s Soul.

Snare Setter

The Snare Setter is found in Weavenest Alta, which is found on the right side of Moss Grotto. Play your Needolin at the entrance to unlock the door and head inside. If you’ve already been here before, you can take the elevator down. If not, you’ll need to head all the way to the right and hit the silk spools to activate the power inside. Then, you can return to the powered elevator and head down.

Hornet jumping into a secret hole in the ceiling in Weavenest Alta in Silksong.

After you’ve ridden the elevator, wall jump to the second floor by jumping off of the right wall, and proceed to the left. As soon as you enter the area with plants, double jump upwards to find a secret hole in the ceiling. Make your way up and head to the right to find Snare Setter waiting for you on a chair.

After you collect all four, return to the Caretaker who will tell you that the trap has been set for Grandmother Silk. Defeat the final boss, and instead of binding, make sure to use your Needolin. From there, the next time you open your save file, you’ll start in Act 3.