Struggling to find the elusive Apostate Key in Hollow Knight Silksong? You're not alone. Many explorers venture deep into the stark, stone halls of The Slab, convinced the key must be hidden within its confines. However, the secret to obtaining this crucial item lies in a completely different, more foreboding region of Pharloom. This comprehensive guide will detail exactly where to find the Apostate Key and how to use it to unlock a vital shortcut.
Why the Apostate Key is Essential
The Apostate Key is your ticket to a significant quality-of-life improvement in The Slab area. It unlocks a specific door that creates a permanent shortcut, allowing you to bypass a lengthy and potentially hazardous initial route. Finding it is a top priority for efficient exploration and completion.
Prerequisite: The Faydown Cloak
Before you can even attempt to retrieve the Apostate Key, you must first obtain the Faydown Cloak. This vital movement upgrade, which functions as a double jump, is found at the very peak of Mount Fay. Without it, the paths to the key remain inaccessible.
Apostate Key Location: The Putrefied Ducts
Contrary to initial logic, the Apostate Key is not located in The Slab. Instead, you must journey to the toxic underbelly of Pharloom: the
Putrefied Ducts.
There are two primary routes to reach this hazardous zone. Choose the path that best suits your current progress and map knowledge.
Route 1: Through the Memorium (Choral Chambers)
This path integrates exploration of the beautiful yet dangerous Choral Chambers.
Journey to Songclave: Begin your trek from the town of Songclave, heading along the path that leads toward the Cogwork Dancers boss arena.Ascend to Memorium: Along this route, you will find a vertical shaft allowing you to jumpupward into the Memorium, the highest section of the Choral Chambers.Navigate the High Path: Proceed to the right, traversing the top of a vast bridge. Stay alertfor aggressive aerial foes and keep an eye out for Jubilana, a merchantNPC you can rescue in this area.Enter the Ducts: At the end of this eastern path, a final upward jump will grant you entry into the Putrefied Ducts.Descend and Explore: Work your way down the main shaft. At the bottom, head left and then ascend to a higher platform before moving left again.Claim Your Prize: A large enemy will charge you here. Dispatch it, continue left, and you will find a breakable cage. Shatter it to claim the Apostate Key.
Route 2: Through Bilewater
For those familiar with the boggy depths of Bilewater, this can be a more direct approach.
Start at the Bench: Begin from the Bench located near where you defeated Groal the Great, the main boss of Bilewater.Scale the Spiked Wall: From this Bench, head left and use your Faydown Cloak to carefully double-jump up a wall adorned with dangerous spikes.Face the Ambush: At the top, take the left path. Be prepared for a hostile creature to burst forth and attack. Defeat it to proceed safely.The Final Jump: Carefully jump across to an adjacent platform. Here, you will find the same breakable cage containing the Apostate Key.How to Use the Apostate Key
With the key firmly in your possession, return to The Slab. Your destination is high up on the right-hand side of the area.Navigate upward through the chambers until you can jump onto a platformon the far right. Here, you will find the locked door that hasconfounded your progress.
Using the Apostate Key on this door unlocks a brilliant shortcut. This newpassage allows you to access The Slab directly, saving you from arepetitive and inconvenient initial journey every time you return. It’san essential unlock for any Hornet looking to master the maps ofPharloom and conquer the challenges that lie within.
Platform(s): Microsoft Windows PC, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4 PS4, PlayStation 5 PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Developer(s): Team Cherry
Publisher(s): Team Cherry
Release date: 4 September 2025
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