Silk Item Guide

Silk fuels Hornet's abilities in Hollow Knight: Silksong, filling the same role that SOUL served for the Knight in the original game.

Silk Item Description

On the HUD, Silk appears as a bar of individual strands. Hornet begins with nine strands and can expand the meter to a maximum of fifteen.

How to Use Silk and Abilities

Silk powers Bind—restoring three masks—and a suite of combat and movement techniques:

Combat Abilities

#### Grapple (2 Silk)

Hornet spends two strands to hurl the Needle. A thread anchors her to the impact point, pulling her to enemies or terrain while dealing damage. Connecting with a target refunds Silk, allowing repeated use as long as she maintains the resource.

#### Gossamer Storm (5 Silk)

This aerial technique consumes five strands, lashing silk threads outward in a damaging sphere reminiscent of Thorns of Agony. It does not refund Silk.

#### Silk Spear (4 Silk)

Four strands extend a thread that whips the Needle out and reels it back rapidly, slicing through multiple foes without restoring Silk.

#### Parry (4 Silk)

Spending four strands lets Hornet parry an incoming blow and counter with a dash. The animation hides the cost, but the Silk bar still drops.

#### Silk Dash (3 Silk)

Three strands enable an invulnerable dash that damages anything in Hornet's path, with no Silk refund.

Other Uses

#### Battle Stance (1 Silk)

Hornet can spend a single strand on her iconic battle stance—she bows forward while a strand twirls around her Needle. If she lacks Silk, the animation plays without the thread.

Acquiring Silk

Attacking Enemies

Each successful Needle strike restores one strand of Silk.

Silk Spindles

Silk Spindles, scattered across Pharloom, release three strands per hit until they deplete. They function similarly to Hollow Knight's Soul Totems.

Webs

Webs appear in Moss Grotto, draped over vine sets. Each web grants three strands, hinting at Weaver handiwork.

Silk Item Properties

• •Starting Amount: Nine strands
• •Maximum Amount: Fifteen strands
• •HUD Representation: Individual strand meter
• •Primary Use: Fuels abilities and healing
• •Restoration: Earned via combat or environmental interactions

Related Items for Silk

• •[SOUL](/items/soul) – Hollow Knight's analogous resource
• •[Needle](/weapons/needle) – Hornet's primary weapon used with Silk skills
• •[Bind](/abilities/bind) – Healing technique powered by Silk

Silk Item Notes

Silk mirrors the SOUL system by enabling offense, defense, and healing, pushing players to stay aggressive to keep the gauge filled.