The journey of Hornet through the haunted kingdom of Pharloom is fraught with peril, demanding incredible strength and resilience. To brave the deepest horrors, such as the Abyss, she must first empower herself with the essence of fallen warriors. One of the most crucial upgrades is the
Heart of Might, also known as the
Encrusted Heart. This powerful item is a testament to pure strength, but claiming it requires conquering one of the game's most grueling gauntlets: the Coral Tower.
This comprehensive guide will detail every step to find the Heart of Might, navigate the treacherous Sands of Karak, and emerge victorious from the memory of the Coral Tower.
Locating the Coral Tower in the Sands of Karak
Your quest begins in the
Sands of Karak, a vast and desolate area. To find the entrance to the Coral Tower:
Begin your journey from the Blasted Steps stag station.Progress relentlessly to the right, traversing the harsh desert landscape.You will eventually spot the distinct, organic structure of the Coral Tower piercing the horizon.The tower itself features a unique platforming mechanic centered around striking special organic branches. Hitting these causes them to grow rapidly, creating temporary platforms essential for ascending the structure.
Navigating the Coral Tower and Unlocking the Shortcut
The initial climb is a puzzle in itself. A crucial pro-tip is to unlock a shortcut to save yourself immense frustration for potential retries.
- In the first major vertical shaft, look for a path that can be opened from above. This is your future shortcut.
- To unlock it, you must first reach the top the long way. Drop to the very bottom of the eastern shaft.
- Strike the branch at the base and then execute a rapid series of jumps and climbs to follow its growth upward.
- Upon reaching the top, head left. You will find a destructible rock formation above a bridge. Shatter it to create a permanent shortcut, allowing you to bypass the majority of the platforming on subsequent attempts.
Continue left, using all of Hornet's acrobatic skills—like the Silk Soar and Clawline—to cross large gaps. The final branch leads to a wall; cling to it, leapto a higher ledge, and Clawline to the left to finally discover thetower's main entrance.
Inside, you'll find a slumbering warrior surrounded by enemies. Beforeinteracting with him, be sure to find the hidden bench for respite. Tothe right of the main chamber, a concealed doorway leads to this safehaven where you can heal and save your progress.
Once prepared, approach the warrior and play the Elegy of the Past with your needle. This ritual transports Hornet into the spectral memory of the Coral Tower, where the true challenge begins.
Conquering the Coral Tower Gauntlet
The memory of the Coral Tower is a brutal series of arena combatchallenges. There are no puzzles here—only wave after wave of relentless enemies designed to test your combat mastery.
Arena Tips and Strategy:
- Silk Management: During the fights, a large, white, jellyfish-like enemy willoccasionally appear. Striking it restores your Silk, providing crucialresources for healing or using powerful Tool attacks.
- Essential Tools: The Cogfly is immensely valuable here, as it can automatically target and damageenemies, especially when enhanced with venom. Other area-control Toolscan help manage the overwhelming crowds.
- The Ascendant's Grip: For the third arena fight, the Ascendant's Grip charm is highly recommended. It prevents Hornet from sliding downwalls, which is vital when the arena floor becomes completely covered in hazardous spikes. This charm can be purchased from the WanderingMerchant after completing her questline.
The Gauntlet Breakdown:
First Arena: A straightforward but demanding wave-based fight. Use this to learn enemy patterns and conserve health.Second Arena: The difficulty ramps up as red spikes begin to cover sections of the ground mid-fight, limiting your movement space.Third Arena: The most platform-intensive battle. Spikes will quickly cover almostthe entire floor, forcing you to fight from the walls. The Ascendant'sGrip is a lifesaver here.Fourth Arena: A tense battle on three moving platforms. One platform willperiodically break and regenerate, demanding constant awareness of yourpositioning.
Crucial Shortcut: After completing the third fight, head to the top of the next room anddestroy a rock to create a shortcut directly from the main bench outside the memory. This means if you fail a subsequent attempt, you canrestart from the fourth arena, skipping the previous three battles.
Defeating Crust King Khann for the Encrusted Heart
After the fourth arena, use Silk Soar to ascend into the final chamber. Here, you will face the guardian of the heart: Crust King Khann.
This boss is immensely powerful and agile. His key attacks include:
- Summoning sharp spikes from the ground and walls across the arena.
- Performing high, damaging jumps to crush Hornet.
Patience is key. Focus on dodging his explosive attacks and only strike when you see a clear opening. Utilize your Silk to heal when safe and usepowerful Tools to chip away at his health from a distance.
Upon his defeat, the Crust King will yield the Encrusted Heart. Claim your prize to complete the Heart of Might quest, granting Hornetthe immense strength needed to face the darkest challenges that lieahead in Pharloom.
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
▶
Other Articles Related
How to Get the Crest of the Beast in SilksongMaster the art of the Hunt and claim your prize. Our guide reveals how toobtain the Crest of the Beast, a key item for unlocking new paths andabilities in Hollow Knight: Silksong.
How To Get The Heart Of Might In SilksongUnlock Hornet's truepower. Learn how to get the Heart of Might charm in Silksong to increase your damage output and conquer the toughest bosses of Pharloom.
How to Get the Curveclaw in SilksongLearn how to find and acquire the Curveclaw, a key tool for traversal and combat in HollowKnight: Silksong. Master its uses to access new areas.
How to Get to Wisp Thicket in SilksongExplore the path to Wisp Thicket in Hollow Knight: Silksong. Thisguide covers the route, potential obstacles, and how to unlock thismysterious, glowing forest area.
How To Get Wispfire Lantern In SilksongMaster the art of acquiring the Wispfire Lantern in Hollow Knight: Silksong.This guide reveals the essential tool for illuminating dark paths anduncovering Hallownest's deepest secrets.
How to Get the Curvesickle Tool in SilksongLearn how to find the Curvesickle, Hornet's signature weapon inSilksong. Our guide reveals its location and how to acquire thisessential tool for exploration and combat.
How To Get Cogfly Tool In SilksongDiscover how to find and unlockthe Cogfly tool in Hollow Knight: Silksong. Get tips on its location and what this useful item does for Hornet on her journey.
How to Get the Architect Crest in SilksongLearn the precisesteps to find and obtain the elusive Architect Crest in Hollow Knight:Silksong. Unlock new paths and secrets with this essential key item.
How to Get to Weavenest Atla in Silksong?Explore the path to Weavenest Atla in Hollow Knight: Silksong. Discoveressential tips, routes, and secrets to navigate this mysteriouslocation.
How to Customize Vehicles in Borderlands 4Master vehicle customization in Borderlands 4! This guide covers weaponupgrades, cosmetic skins, and performance mods to dominate the openworld in your ultimate ride.
How To Get Pale Nails Skill In SilksongUnlock the Pale Nails skill in Slay the Spire. Our guide revealsthe exact steps to find the Strange Spoon relic and defeat the secretCorrupted Heart to upgrade your Nails.
How to Get to Ultimate Vault Hunter Level 5 in Borderlands 4Level up fast with our guide on how to reach UVHM 5 in Borderlands 4. Getexpert tips on the best XP farms, optimal gear, and strategies toconquer the new endgame.
How to Get the Curveclaw in SilksongLearn how to find and acquire the Curveclaw, a key tool for traversal and combat in HollowKnight: Silksong. Master its uses to access new areas.
How to Get to Wisp Thicket in SilksongExplore the path to Wisp Thicket in Hollow Knight: Silksong. Thisguide covers the route, potential obstacles, and how to unlock thismysterious, glowing forest area.