Silksong's Cling Grip: The Wall Jump That'll Make You Question Reality (and Your Sanity)
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Unlocking the essential wall-jump (Cling Grip) in Hollow Knight: Silksong isn't a walk in the park; it's a proper pilgrimage through perilous regions, boss gauntlets, and tricky platforming challenges, designed by Team Cherry to make you truly earn your vertical freedom. This guide, based on Polygon's insights, dives into the chaotic journey and how to finally snag that crucial ability.
Right, so you've been wandering Pharloom, no doubt admiring the intricate cobwebs and probably cursing the sheer verticality of the place. You've hit a wall, literally, and thought, 'There has to be a better way than just falling, right?' And you, my curious comrade, would be absolutely correct. There's a proper wizard's trick to scaling those impossible surfaces, a little something called the Cling Grip – effectively, the wall jump – and *bloody hell*, getting it is an adventure in itself.
I've been tinkering with the whispers from the deepest corners of Pharloom, sifting through the digital tea leaves, and it turns out this isn't just a simple 'pick it up off the floor' situation. Oh no, Team Cherry, bless their brilliant, sadistic hearts, have made acquiring this fundamental traversal ability a bit of a pilgrimage. It's like they've crafted a mini-quest just for this, daring you to earn your vertical freedom. And fair dinkum, it's worth it, mate. Imagine finally reaching those tantalizingly out-of-reach ledges – pure magic, that is.
Now, the Cling Grip, one of the Ancestral Arts (sounds suitably ancient and powerful, doesn't it?), is tucked away at the very top of Shellwood. For those of you who haven't quite mapped out every nook and cranny of Pharloom in your head yet (give it time, you will), Shellwood is that region chilling out west of Greymoor and Bellhart, and north of Bone Bottom and The Marrow. It's not exactly a stroll through the park, mind you. Expect winding paths, more enemies than a bug convention, and bosses that'll test your mettle. But hey, what's a good adventure without a bit of peril, eh?
Before you even think about setting off, do yourself a solid: bring at least 100 rosaries. Trust me, you'll want to grab that Shellwood map the moment you see it, and a resting bench later on is a sanity-saver. You don't want to be caught out in the wilderness with a broken compass and no place to snooze. It's like forgetting your spellbook on an important dungeon crawl – just bad form.
Your grand expedition kicks off in Greymoor. Head west, past that cozy little spot called Halfway Home (Nuu and Creige's place – give 'em a wave, if you're feeling sociable, though they're probably busy). Your first major hurdle? The Moorwing boss, lurking in the bottom left. Don't underestimate this chap; they're not just a pretty face. Take 'em down, clear your path, and consider it your first proper test for the Cling Grip quest.
After that, keep pushing west through Bellhart. Now, the local NPCs here might be a bit tight-lipped until you've sorted out 'The Threadspun Town' quest, but don't fret about that just yet. Just make sure you hit that resting bench – your future self will thank you – and push on into Shellwood. This place opens up into a large, sprawling area with platforms galore. Your goal here is to hug the left wall until you can't go any further, then begin a delightful platforming puzzle, bouncing right and then back up to the left to find your exit. While you're at it, slaughter a few of the smaller critters to fill that Silk bar. You'll need it. Why? Because you're about to drop into a boss arena, and this one's a bit of a curveball.
Instead of one hulking brute, you're facing a gauntlet of smaller, but no less irritating, enemies. Think of it as Team Cherry's way of saying, 'Welcome to the party, here's a taste of everything!' Wave one: two poisonous flowers. Hit 'em quick (twice if you're feeling zippy), then *scoot* before they burst with toxic goodness. Wave two: two stick bugs with daggers. These chaps are a nuisance. Downward attacks or a well-placed tool are your friends. Wave three: two stick bugs *and* a poisonous flower. This is where it gets spicy. Lure the stick bugs away, focus the flower, then deal with the rest. Once that chaotic ballet is over, make sure to unlock the resting bench just above the arena before you duck out the western exit. Trust me, you'll want it.
Next up, you'll take an elevator down, then head west to find Shakra and finally, *finally*, purchase that Shellwood map. This is your first major piece of magical parchment, revealing the labyrinth ahead. From there, it's a delightful hop-and-slash across white flowers using your downward attack. Continue upwards on the left side of the next room, then east, ignoring everything until you hit a room with two paths: up and down. Go up. You'll find an elevator that whisks you straight back to that lovely resting bench. Take a quick nap, then head up again and exit to the right. See? No more flower-hopping for you, champ!
Your next stop on this grand tour? The Sister Splinter boss arena. Keep heading east until the path says 'no more,' then head up, left, and jump across more white flowers to a left exit. Sister Splinter is a graceful, yet deadly, foe, mostly using downward slash attacks from the ceiling. Be ready to dash, exploit those attack windows, but absolutely *leg it* when she draws her claws back. She's also got a penchant for summoning thorny branches to block your escape and will call in minions to make your life a living nightmare. Reserve your tools and Silk-consuming attacks for those minions – they're the real problem-causers. Dispatch them swiftly, or you'll find yourself stuck in a thorny mess with Sister Splinter raining down pain.
After that triumph, continue west. You're almost there, I promise! You need to exit the next room on the top left, so a bit of dropping down, moving left, and then following those white flowers upwards again. Cross a body of water, smash through some blocking branches, and keep pushing left. When you hit the left wall, go upward and to the right, breaking more blocked doorways, and exit this room in the top right.
And there it is, mate. Just ahead of you, a large, inviting doorway. Interact with it, and like a spell finally clicking into place, you'll obtain the Cling Grip ability. The feeling is glorious, isn't it? That newfound freedom. No longer are you bound by the mere act of jumping *once*. Now, you leap against a wall, and with another press of that jump button, you defy gravity, propelling yourself even higher. The world of Pharloom just opened up in a whole new dimension.
It's a proper journey, this one, filled with trials and triumphs. But that's Team Cherry for you – never just handing out the goodies without a bit of a challenge. And honestly, wouldn't have it any other way, would we? Now go forth, wall-jump to your heart's content, and maybe, just maybe, accidentally discover a new secret area by blowing a hole through reality with your newfound vertical prowess. Happy climbing, mate!
*(Original source of the guide details: Polygon)*
Tags: Hollow Knight: Silksong, Metroidvania, Action-Platformer, Guide, Team Cherry
Original article: Polygon