Hollow Knight: Silksong expands the beloved Metroidvania world with vast, interconnected realms to explore. One of the most intriguing early-game areas is Shellwood, a region shrouded in mystery and crucial for progression. This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step breakdown of how to reach Shellwood, detailing the path from Greymoor, the bosses you must conquer, and the invaluable movement ability that awaits you there.
Shellwood's Place in Your Silksong Journey
Shellwood is not just another location on the map; it's a pivotal hub that acts as the third major region you'll encounter after beginning your adventure westward from the starting area of Greymoor. It serves as a gateway to deeper parts of the kingdom of Pharloom and is famously the location where Hornet acquires the vital
Cling Grip ability, allowing her to scale certain walls and access new heights. Reaching it is a key milestone that significantly opens up the game's exploration.
Prerequisites: What You Need Before You Begin
Your journey to Shellwood is gated by one primary objective:
defeating the Greymoor boss, Moorwing. This formidable foe guards the passage to the neighboring region of Bellhart, which is the direct corridor to Shellwood. Ensure you are well-equipped with healing items and have upgraded your needle skills before attempting this battle. There are no specific key items required aside from the skills you gain from overcoming this challenge.
Step-by-Step: The Route from Greymoor to Shellwood
1. Start at the Greymoor Halfway HomeYour journey begins at the Halfway Home, a safe-haven tavern in the heart of Greymoor. Here, you can speak with the resident Beetle for clues about your next steps and, crucially, use the bed on the right to restore your health and save your progress. This is your last chance to prepare before heading into more dangerous territory.
2. Journey West and overcome an AmbushUpon exiting the tavern to the west, you'll immediately be thrust into combat. A group of enemies, including a Thread Raker and two Dreg Catchers, will ambush you. Clear this room efficiently to proceed. This encounter emphasizes the need for combat readiness on the path ahead.
3. Bypass the Locked Gate
Continuing west, you'll soon hit a seemingly insurmountable obstacle: a massivelocked gate at the border of Greymoor. The solution isn't to find a keybut to find a path above it. Returnto the previous room, use your agility to ascend to the highestramparts, and head left. After dispatching a few Silk Snipper enemies,you'll find yourself on a wooden platform directly above the gate.
Here, use the Drifter’s Cloak to carefully and slowly drop down on the opposite side. Once there, you can open the gate from this side, creating a permanent shortcut forfuture backtracking.
4. The Moorwing Boss Fight
With the gate behind you, you will confront Moorwing. This boss is a test of your reflexes and pattern recognition. Stay mobile, learn its attacktelegraphs, and strike when openings appear. Victory here isnon-negotiable; it is the key that unlocks the rest of your journey.
5. Traverse Bellhart to Your Destination
After the cutscene following Moorwing's defeat, you will enter the hauntedwoods of Bellhart. This area itself is worth exploring, but yourimmediate goal is to the west. The path from Bellhart to Shellwood isthankfully linear and does not require another boss fight. We highlyrecommend purchasing the Bellhart region map from Shakra, the Map Merchant, to navigate easily and avoid unnecessary detours. A straight pathwestward will lead you directly to the entrance of Shellwood.
What Awaits You in Shellwood?
Upon arrival, you'll discover a unique biome with new challenges, enemies,and secrets. Most importantly, this is where you will find the Cling Grip ability. This upgrade is essential for unlocking previously unreachable areas in both new and old regions, embodying the classic Metroidvanialoop of gaining new powers to explore further.
Pro Tips for a Smooth Journey
- Map Your Route: Always buy the latest map from Shakra. Knowing the layout of Bellhart will save you time and health.
- Grind for Geo: Ensure you have enough currency (Geo) to purchase maps and vital supplies before leaving the safety of the Halfway Home.
- Master the Drifter's Cloak: The controlled descent is crucial for bypassing the locked gate and will be a valuable skill throughout the game.
Reaching Shellwood is a rewarding accomplishment that marks a significant pointin your Silksong adventure. By following this guide, you can navigatethe challenges efficiently and unlock the new abilities and explorationopportunities that define this incredible game.
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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