Moorwing Mayhem: How to Tame Silksong's Airborne Annoyance (or Just 'Cheese' It, I Won't Tell)
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Moorwing in Hollow Knight: Silksong is proving to be a surprisingly tough early-game boss, but fear not, because beyond learning its tricky moves, there's a cheeky 'cheese' method involving the Crest of the Reaper that'll have you bypassing its aerial antics with glorious, albeit slightly dishonourable, ease.
Right, so you’ve been battling the elusive, the infuriating, the downright *pesky* Moorwing in Hollow Knight: Silksong, eh? Don't even try to deny it – word on the digital streets is this airborne menace has been turning even the most seasoned Hornet-wielders into a pile of sad, defeated Silk. I've been tinkering with this one, and bloody hell, it’s wilder (and tougher!) than it first appeared, especially for an Act 1 boss. It's almost like Team Cherry decided to drop a mini-final-boss in our laps just to see us squirm. But fear not, fellow wanderers of Pharloom, because while this beastie has earned its stripes as one of the trickiest early challenges, there's a certain… *unorthodox* method we can employ. Think of it as finding a secret backdoor in a highly secure magical dungeon. And credit where credit’s due, a huge shout-out to Marloes Valentina Stella over at Polygon for first shining a light on this bug-squashing wisdom.
### Where in Pharloom is This Feathered Fiend?
Before you can defeat Moorwing, you, well, have to find it. Our aerial antagonist lurks in the southwest corner of **Greymoor**. If you’ve just meandered out of Far Fields through that enormous vertical chamber and popped into Greymoor, your first port of call is to head left. Keep going until you hit the cozy (and surprisingly helpful) **Halfway Home** where you’ll bump into Creige and Nuu. This spot is key, mate, as it’s got the closest resting bench to the upcoming brawl. Stock up on Silk, maybe take a little nap, you know the drill.
From Halfway Home, continue your westward trek until you stumble upon an area with platforms dangling from thick, heavy chains. See that opening on the left side? Drop into it like it’s a portal to untold riches, then keep pushing left. And there you have it: Moorwing, waiting to introduce itself with a barrage of pain. Charming, isn’t it?
### Moorwing's Ballet of Bullying: The Moveset Breakdown
To conquer this foe, you gotta know its moves. It’s like learning a new spell’s incantations – half the battle is just knowing what’s coming. Moorwing's got a few tricks up its non-existent sleeves:
* **Dive Bomb:** This is Moorwing turning into a feathery missile, rocketing at you from either left or right. It's quick, it's brutal. Your best bet? A swift jump and dash in the opposite direction. If you’re feeling extra spicy and your reflexes are sharper than a freshly honed needle, try a downward attack right above it as it passes. Risky, but oh-so-satisfying.
* **Claw Attack:** A blink-and-you’ll-miss-it swipe of pure nastiness. This one is deceptively hard to dodge, which is always fun, right? The tell-tale sign is Moorwing briefly opening its mouth as if it’s letting out a blood-curdling shriek just before the strike. You *might* be able to land a hit from the side during this, but frankly, those claws are a no-go zone. Better to play it safe here, unless you’re feeling particularly lucky.
* **Orb Shooting (Single & Double):** Moorwing’s got a talent for conjuring energy orbs and rolling them across the floor. They charge up in its claws for a split second – your cue to jump! If you’re speedy, a quick leap over the single orb can let you land a few hits. After its first 'faint' (or phase change, if you prefer less dramatic terms), Moorwing ups its game to **two orbs**. You'll need to jump twice, and watch out, the second one loves to loop around for a full circle. So, a moment of patience before dashing in for your counter-attack.
* **Double Circling Orb Attack (The Bowtie of Doom):** This gem also pops up after Moorwing takes its first big hit. Two orbs, shot upward, one left, one right, which then gracefully (or menacingly, depending on your perspective) circle down before zipping off to the other side. Think of it like a lethal bowtie pattern. Again, two jumps required: one for the orb on your side, one for the one crossing over. Jump *towards* Moorwing after the second orb passes, and you should have a small window to land some damage.
### Gearing Up for Glory (or at Least Survival)
Preparation is half the battle, mate. Given Moorwing’s penchant for diving, tools like **Straight Pins** or **String Shards** are your mates here; they make hitting this aerial pest a fair bit easier. For crests, the **Crest of the Reaper** is a solid choice, granting extra Silk – perfect for more frequent healing or dishing out those Silkspear attacks. If you’re a **Crest of the Wanderer** devotee, just be mindful that those claw attacks might feel even harder to avoid due to its shorter range.
To really butter up your defence while using Silk, equip the **Warding Bell**. It’s like a temporary shield spell. If you’re not rocking the Crest of the Reaper, then consider the **Druid's Eye**, which gives you Silk when you take a hit. It's a bit of a grim silver lining, but hey, every bit helps, right?
And here’s a bit of delightful weirdness: you can actually enlist some mates, **Garmond and Zaza**, to help out. Yes, you read that right. It’s like gathering your adventuring party, only they need to see you get thrashed first. Classic heroic trope, honestly. Find them northeast of Moorwing. Speak to them, let Moorwing hand you your backside (it's essential, trust me), then return to the chamber above Moorwing’s arena. They’ll have relocated there, ready for another chat. Speak to them again, and boom – they’ll join your next fight. Who doesn't love a bit of NPC backup?
### The 'Cheese': When You're Tired of Playing Fair
Alright, my fellow digital wizards, if your patience is wearing thinner than a single strand of Silk and you're ready to embrace the glorious chaos of an exploit, pull up a chair, because we're about to bend reality just a smidge. This is the **'cheese' method**, and it almost guarantees victory, albeit with a tiny asterisk.
First, the main hurdle: you absolutely need the **Crest of the Reaper** for this to work effectively. The Crest of the Wanderer *can* technically work, but it’s like trying to hit a fly with a wet noodle – significantly harder. To snag the Crest of the Reaper, you need to clear the **Chapel of the Reaper**, located north of Moorwing's arena. Instead of dropping down to the boss, continue left and jump upwards, past that rather unsettling corrupted pilgrim with the giant scissors. Go left once more, and you’re in the Chapel. Navigate its nooks and crannies, claim your prize at the top, and then hotfoot it back to Moorwing's arena.
Once you’re back at the arena entrance, spawn Moorwing by entering as usual. But instead of engaging in an honourable duel, **run to the right**. Use the wind current there to propel yourself back to where you entered the area. Moorwing, ever the eager beaver, will follow you right up. Now, here's the magic trick:
In the corner to your left, just below the entrance you came through, use a **downward attack**. Yes, you heard me. You can hit Moorwing *through the floor*! It's an ideal situation, isn't it? You can dish out damage, but Moorwing can't touch you. It’s like finding a secret, invincible vantage point in a chaotic spell battle. Make sure to jump up and attack immediately after landing, as the window for hitting it before you land again isn’t massive. And for the love of all that is holy, **do not accidentally jump through that gap in the top right**, or you’ll reset the entire boss fight. Trust me, you don’t want to go through all that again.
### The Spoils of Victory (or Cheesy Triumph)
Now, for the rewards. And this is where my gentle skepticism kicks in, because directly from Moorwing itself? You get… nothing. Zilch. Nada. No shiny trinkets, no legendary weapon drops. It’s a bit like casting a powerful spell and getting a puff of smoke. But don't despair! Defeating Moorwing *does* grant you access to **Bellhart**, a rather 'cursed' town that becomes quite lovely once you complete the **'The Threadspun Town'** quest. So, while the immediate gratification is low, the long-term payoff for opening up new content and quests is definitely worth the effort. Or the cheese. Either way, progress is progress!
So there you have it, mate. Whether you duke it out like a true warrior or embrace the glorious, reality-bending 'cheese,' Moorwing shall fall. Now go forth and conquer Pharloom, or at least survive its early acts!
Tags: Hollow Knight: Silksong, Boss Guide, Metroidvania, Gaming Tips, Exploit
Original article: Polygon