Unleash Your Inner Hornet: Decoding Silksong's Power-Packed Crests & Where to Sniff 'Em Out
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Dive into the deep end of *Hollow Knight: Silksong*'s build variety with a closer look at its enigmatic Crests, which fundamentally transform Hornet's combat style and abilities, promising a truly dynamic gameplay experience.
Right, so you've been waiting for Silksong like I've been waiting for my coffee to make itself this morning (still waiting, mate). And while we all drool over every little snippet and pore over every gameplay demo, there’s one aspect that’s got my digital antennae twitching: the Crests. These aren't just trinkets you pick up; they're essentially your fighting philosophy, your core build, the very essence of how Hornet navigates the deadly ballet of Pharloom. Think of it like swapping out your entire spellbook and getting a whole new set of fundamental magical properties. Pretty wild, eh?
I’ve been tinkering with the early whispers and official teasers about these Crests, and bloody hell, the potential for build variety is just *chef's kiss*. Each one fundamentally changes Hornet's combat style, her binds (which seem to be the new flavour of healing/silk-spending abilities), and even the types of tools you can equip. It's like Team Cherry accidentally blew a hole through reality and found a whole new dimension of character customisation. The only catch? These powerful artifacts are, naturally, fairly well hidden. You didn't expect a power-up this chunky to just be lying around, did you?
So, grab your imaginary needle, because we're diving deep into the known locations and intriguing mechanics of *Hollow Knight: Silksong*'s Crests. Fair warning: this news sounds like a simple list at first glance, but stick with me, because it's about to get interesting – and maybe a little bit chaotic.
### The Heart of the Swarm: Hunter Crest
Ah, the humble beginnings. You start with the **Hunter Crest**, which feels right, doesn't it? Hornet, the hunter, the protector. But don't let its 'default' status fool ya; this little beauty can be upgraded, transforming from a basic blade into a focus-hungry powerhouse. Initially, you'll need to unlock something called the Needolin – sounds like a magical flute, probably is – then head to the southeastern corner of Moss Grotto. Play your tune, unlock the weaver's door, and deep within the Weavenest Alta, you'll find Eva. She’s the one who’ll juice up your Hunter Crest.
Once upgraded, every attack grants focus, which in turn amps up your damage. It’s a classic high-risk, high-reward gambit: land your hits, get stronger; get hit yourself, and *poof*, all that hard-earned focus vanishes faster than my hopes of finding a perfectly balanced build on my first try. Keep an eye on the white bar next to your masks to track your focus – it's your new best friend, or your worst enemy if you're as clumsy as I am. Find all seven crests, and Eva will give it *another* upgrade, increasing your focus bar size. Starts with a balanced set of coloured slots (red, blue, yellow, white), and gains more upon full unlock, making it a versatile foundational choice.
### Nostalgia Trip: Wanderer Crest
Fancy playing Silksong like it's, well, *Hollow Knight*? The **Wanderer Crest** is your ticket. Found in the Chapel of the Wanderer in Bonegrave (to the left of Moss Grotto), this crest lets Hornet mimic the Knight’s attack patterns. It’s a fair dinkum ode to the original, and if you’ve got enough silk, your attacks even get a small chance of dealing critical damage. Who doesn't love a good critical hit? Getting there involves a bit of platforming wizardry, possibly using Swift Step and a simple key, or for the more adventurous, Cling Grip and the Drifter's Cloak to glide across the rooftops. This one starts with a red, two yellow, and a white slot, eventually gaining two blue and a yellow, leaning into perhaps a more defensive or skill-oriented playstyle.
### For the Aggressive Bug: Beast Crest
If your idea of problem-solving involves getting up close and personal, the **Beast Crest** is calling your name. Tucked away in the Chapel of the Beast in the southeastern corner of Hunter's March, you'll need the Drifter's Cloak (found in Farfields) to ride an air current up to it. Inside, prepare to duke it out with the Savage Beastfly. Defeat it, and this crest is yours.
Its bind, instead of healing directly, is replaced with lifesteal. Use your bind, and you enter a 'fury state' – increased range, speed, and damage. Plus, your attacks will heal one mask per hit, up to three masks total per bind. It’s for those who prefer to solve problems with extreme prejudice and a healthy dose of chaos. Two red and a white slot to start, then two more yellow upon unlock – clearly built for maximum offensive output.
### The Arc of Retribution: Reaper Crest
Found in the Chapel of the Reaper on the west side of Greymoor, getting this crest means navigating a gauntlet of critters you just faced on the way in. The **Reaper Crest** shifts your attacks to be slower, but adds a cool arc, which sounds like it could open up some interesting positional play. Its bind is the real kicker, though: normal healing, but for about 10 seconds afterwards, hitting enemies creates silk balls. Collect 'em, and you’ll fill your spool, ready for another bind in no time. It’s a bit like mastering a boomerang made of pure silk – tricky at first, but incredibly rewarding once you get the rhythm. Starting with a balanced red, blue, yellow, and white, and gaining another set upon full unlock, it feels like a crest for the strategically minded brawler.
### The Tunnelling Terror: Architect Crest
Turning Hornet into a tiny, furious tunnelling machine, the **Architect Crest** is found in the Underworks. First, you need the Clawline ability (from The Cauldron) and then purchase the Architect's Key from the Twelfth Architect for 110 rosaries. These chaps are found by grappling your way through The Cauldron area. Once you've got the key, follow a series of switches and paths to the Chapel of the Architect. No boss here, just claim your prize!
This crest turns all your attacks into drill attacks, which can be charged for longer range and extra damage. The bind? Same, but now you can use silk to *craft new tools* by holding Up and the bind key. What happens if I try to craft a tool that *isn't* a tool? What if I accidentally craft a miniature Black Egg Temple? The possibilities! It starts with three red slots, zero blue, zero yellow, and zero white – a clear indicator for a heavy damage-dealing, tool-centric build, gaining two blue and two yellow slots later for versatility.
### The Cursed Path: Witch Crest
Ah, the **Witch Crest**. Sounds innocent, doesn't it? Well, buckle up, buttercup, because this one’s got 'accidental reality-tear' written all over it. This crest is unlocked after a *long* quest chain involving the 'Twisted Bud' – a perpetually crying baby found in Bilewater after completing the 'Rite of the Pollip' quest in Shellwood. Taking this wailing bundle to Greyroot will curse you, swapping your moveset, taking away all your tools, and preventing healing. It’s the gaming equivalent of finding a really cool, obviously cursed artifact and thinking, 'Yeah, I can handle this.'
You'll need to see Yarnaby, a surgeon in Greymoor, but here’s a delicious tidbit: there's an achievement for reaching the credits while cursed! After Yarnaby, you're off to find Steel Spines from Crull and Benjin in Sinner's Road. Complete that, return to Yarnaby, and the Witch Crest is yours. With it, your downward and dash attacks strike twice, perfect for weaving in and out of battle. But the real game-changer is the bind: no immediate heal. Instead, it deals AoE damage, healing one mask for each enemy hit. A high-risk, high-reward, morally questionable choice, just how I like it. One red, one blue, one white to start, then two blue and one red upon full unlock, suggesting a more magical or tactical playstyle.
### The Spell-Slinger: Shaman Crest
For the bug who likes to keep their distance and throw metaphorical fireballs, the **Shaman Crest** is your go-to. Found in the Ruined Chapel in Act 3, you’ll need the Silk Soar ability (unlocked naturally in Act 3). Return to the chapel, find a tiny hole in the ceiling with sunlight peeking through, super jump, and the Shaman Crest is yours. Easy peasy, right?
This crest gives your attacks extra range, sending out wave projectiles with every needle swing. More importantly, it empowers your Silk Skills, making them hit harder. Its bind, however, is a bit unique: Hornet *must* be touching the ground to heal. If she's airborne, it propels her downward until she lands. It’s a fascinating blend of ranged offense and tactical positioning for healing. Zero red, blue, or yellow slots to start, but *three* white slots, then two blue upon unlock – clearly built for maximum spellcasting synergy.
### The Extra Pockets: Vesticrest
Finally, we have the **Vesticrest**, which acts as additional tool slots regardless of the crest you've chosen. Think of it like finding an extra pocket for your magical mischief, giving you more flexibility for your builds. You can unlock two Vesticrest slots by chatting with Eva in the Weavenest Alta, the same legend who upgrades your Hunter Crest.
The requirements are a bit hazy, like trying to predict what my cat will knock off the shelf next, but the general consensus is: unlock four crests with at least 12 slots open for the yellow Vesticrest slot, and five crests with at least 20 slots open for the blue one. It's an incentive to hunt down all those glorious crests!
### The Grand Unveiling
So there you have it, mate. From aggressive brawlers to cunning mages, Silksong is clearly gearing up to let us forge our own path through Pharloom with these amazing Crests. It's not just about finding the shiny bits; it's about choosing *who* Hornet becomes, which mechanics resonate with your playstyle, and how you want to approach the challenges ahead. The depth here looks absolutely fantastic, promising countless hours of experimentation and discovery. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to try and manifest a release date with some chaotic magic. Don't worry, I'll try not to break reality *too* much this time.
Tags: HollowKnight, Silksong, Metroidvania, GamingNews, Builds
Original article: Polygon