Location of Sister Splinter in Hollow Knight: Silksong
Sister Splinter is found at the summit of Shellwood, situated west of Bellhart and east of the Blasted Steps. Upon entering Shellwood from Bellhart, proceed left into a spacious area with water below and ascend the platforms until you reach the upper left exit. Along this route, you’ll pass a Pollip Heart needed for the “Rite of the Pollip” quest, but it can be ignored for now.
The next chamber contains a bench sign, but reaching it requires you to drop into an arena and defeat some foes. Afterward, continue upward, bypass the left exit, and spend 80 rosary beads to unlock the initial Shellwood bench.
From here, the path is straightforward. Exit left, descend via the elevator, and exit left again. In the following room, you’ll find Shakra, who sells the Shellwood map for 70 rosary beads. Leave through the left exit, skip the next left exit, and climb up. If you have 60 rosary beads, use the top-left exit to enter Shellwood’s bellway and activate it. Otherwise, head right and follow the path upwards and rightwards, which loops you back to the upper part of the bench room.
Avoid dropping down. Instead, climb up and move right, activating the elevator before you leave. This shortcut makes returning to the boss much easier if you need to attempt the fight again. The room to the right of the elevator requires some platforming over white blossoms, and beyond it lies Sister Splinter’s arena.
Sister Splinter’s Attack Patterns
Sister Splinter employs three main attacks, each becoming more frequent as the battle advances:
- Thorn Summon: She conjures two vertical thorn ropes stretching from ceiling to floor. Sister Splinter vanishes before this move, but you can spot where the thorns will appear by watching for rustling patches on the ceiling. Break these ropes with Hornet’s needle. While Sister Splinter can destroy them herself with a punch, relying on this is not recommended.
- Three-Hit Punch Combo: Her sole direct assault involves a trio of punches, signaled by a shine on the fist she’ll use first. The punches strike downward and at an angle, depending on which fist is used. The safest dodge is to move to the same side as the attacking fist to avoid getting caught.
- Splinterbark Summon: Sister Splinter brings forth two Splinterbark creatures—small, airborne bugs that whirl toward Hornet, dealing significant damage if they connect. Parrying them while spinning sends them flying back. Ideally, eliminate them before they approach, using upward attacks as they descend.
Preparation Tips
Preparation is minimal for this fight. The essential tool is Straight Pins; the rest depends on your ability to dodge and handle the enemies Sister Splinter summons. Unlike the Moorwing encounter, no allies will assist you here. Rest at the bench near Shakra to minimize the trek back if you need to retry.
The battle starts with Sister Splinter alternating between her punch combo and occasional thorn summons. Attack upward after she repositions or finishes her combo—these are the safest moments. Be careful not to jump too high to avoid contact damage. After taking enough hits, Sister Splinter will drop to the floor, giving you a brief window to attack.
Once you deal sufficient damage, she will summon two Splinterbarks. It’s unlikely you’ll defeat both before one reaches you, so focus on eliminating one and use ranged attacks like Silkspear or Straight Pins for the other.
If timed well, you can dispatch both Splinterbarks before Sister Splinter resumes her attacks. From this point, she typically summons one Splinterbark at a time, though their frequency increases during the final phase. Attack them from below as they enter, then refocus on Sister Splinter.
The last stage of the fight begins with another howl, after which Sister Splinter increases the frequency of thorn ropes and Splinterbark summons. Keep clearing obstacles and attacking her when safe opportunities arise.
Rewards for Victory
Defeating Sister Splinter yields no direct rewards. However, her defeat grants access to the wall jump ability, unlocking new areas for exploration, including locations back in Bellhart.