A Guide to All Endings in Hollow Knight: Silksong

The world of Pharloom is a kingdom ensnared by a mysterious curse, and Hornet's journey to its peak can conclude in several dramatically different ways. Your choices, particularly in key quests and the final confrontation, will determine the fate of the kingdom and Hornet herself. This guide covers the requirements for all five main endings, plus one secret cutscene.

Ending 1: Weaver Queen

This is the most direct ending to achieve but also one of the darkest.

How to Unlock:

1. Progress through the main story until you reach the final boss, the Grand Mother of Silk, at the Citadel's peak.
2. Defeat the Grand Mother of Silk.
3. After the battle, you will be given an option. Choose to "Bind" her, using your ability to absorb her power.

Outcome:Hornet absorbs the entirety of the Silk Mother's power, becoming the new monarch of Pharloom—the Weaver Queen. Her appearance changes, reflecting her immense new strength. However, the kingdom is not freed. It remains bound by silk, now under Hornet's control, and it is implied that she will eventually be consumed by the very power she sought to control.

Ending 2: Snared Silk (Leads to Act 3)

This ending is the first step toward achieving the game's true ending. It requires completing a major side quest before the final boss.

How to Unlock:

1. Before confronting the final boss, begin the "Silk and Soul" questline given by the Caretaker.
2. Collect the three powerful soul items and the ancient Weaver tool as directed by the quest.
3. Once you have the items, return to the Caretaker to prepare a special trap.
4. Defeat the Grand Mother of Silk. Instead of binding her, the trap will activate.

Outcome:The trap creates a portal to the Void, dragging the Grand Mother of Silk into it. As she is pulled in, she grabs Hornet, but Lace intervenes to save her, sacrificing herself to the Void along with her mother. With the source of the silk gone, the kingdom is freed, but Hornet falls from the collapsing Citadel. This concludes the main game and unlocks Act 3, a post-game chapter required for the next ending.

Ending 3: Sister of the Void (True Ending)

This ending can only be achieved after completing the "Snared Silk" ending and playing through Act 3.

How to Unlock:

1. In Act 3, your goal is to descend into the Abyss and rescue Lace.
2. First, you must obtain the Everbloom, a special flower that can repel the Void. You can acquire it by accessing a hidden memory related to the White Lady from Hollow Knight.
3. With the Everbloom in your possession, travel down into the Void Lake and enter the massive cocoon where the Silk Mother is holding Lace.
4. Inside, you must fight and defeat a Void-corrupted version of Lace to cleanse her.
5. Upon Lace’s defeat, the Knight, now the Lord of Shades, and the other Vessels will emerge from the Void of Hallownest to rescue both Hornet and Lace, pulling them back to the surface.

Outcome:This is the most hopeful ending. The kingdom of Pharloom is completely freed from the control of both the Silk and the Void. The Grandmother of Silk is gone, Lace is purified and saved, and Hornet is freed from her burden.

Ending 4: Twisted Child

This is arguably the worst possible ending in the game, resulting from following a different side quest.

How to Unlock:

1. Locate the witch-like NPC, Greyroot, and begin her quest, the "Rite of Rebirth."
2. Find the key quest item, the Twisted Bud, in the Bilewater area.
3. Return the Twisted Bud to Greyroot. She will capture Hornet, using her as a host for the creature to be reborn. Hornet will become infected.
4. While infected, proceed to the Citadel and defeat the Grand Mother of Silk.

Outcome:With both Hornet and the Silk Mother weakened from their battle, the parasite inside Hornet emerges and consumes them both. It merges their power to complete its rebirth, transforming the area into a nightmarish landscape of writhing roots.

Extra Ending: Passing of the Age

This is a secret post-credits scene rather than a main ending.

How to Unlock:

1. Find the enigmatic Mister Mushroom in all of his hidden locations across Pharloom and listen to all of his dialogue.
2. Complete the game and achieve any of the other endings.

Outcome:After the credits roll, a final cutscene will play, showing Mister Mushroom launching himself into the stars. The screen fades to black with the words "To Be Continued," hinting at a larger cosmic story.