Silksong: How to Unlock Dash

How to Unlock Dash in Silksong

By Daniel Hidalgo | 2025-09-09 08:35:42
Exploration is the very heart of the adventure in Hollow Knight: Silksong. As Hornet journeys through the haunted kingdom of Pharloom, players will constantly discover tantalizing pathways and hidden chambers that are just out of reach. Gaining new movement abilities is the key to unlocking these secrets, and one of the most crucial early-game upgrades is the powerful Dash, known in-game as Swift Step.
This guide will provide a detailed, step-by-step walkthrough on how to find this essential tool, explain its advanced mechanics, and show you how it will transform your traversal and combat capabilities.

Why the Dash Ability is a Game-Changer


Before we dive into the "how," it's important to understand the "why." The Dash is more than just a movement skill; it's a fundamental game mechanic that opens up the world of Pharloom. It allows you to:
  • Access new areas by crossing wide gaps.
  • Evade enemy attacks and dangerous environmental hazards with precision.
  • Navigate platforming challenges that were previously impossible.
  • Maintain momentum and fluidity in combat, making you a much more formidable warrior.

Step-by-Step: How to Find the Swift Step Ability


Acquiring the Dash is a primary objective in the early hours of your playthrough. Follow these steps to secure this vital upgrade.
  • Journey to the Deep Docks: Your quest begins by navigating to the Deep Docks sub-region. This area is found on the lower-right quadrant of the game's first major biome, The Marrow.
  • Locate the Bellway and Bench: As you explore the eastern sections of the Deep Docks, you will find a Bellway fast travel point and a Bench. Both require a currency called Rosaries to activate. It is highly recommended to unlock the Bench here to create a convenient respawn point.
  • Ascend and Confront the Ants: From the Bench, make your way upward using a series of platforms. This path is guarded by hostile Red Ants, so be prepared for a fight. Clear the room and exit through the top.
  • Navigate the Crossroads: You will emerge into a new area with a sealed bone gate to your right. Ignore this for now and head left. This path will lead you into a combat encounter with several enemies. Defeat them to proceed.
  • Clear Your Path and Discover the Weaver: In the next chamber, you'll notice a volatile, explosive substance on your right. Strike it to clear a obstacle, creating a new shortcut. Now, head to the left. Here, you will finally discover a friendly Weaver NPC. Interact with this character, and they will grant Hornet the Swift Step ability.

    • Mastering the Dash and Sprint Mechanics


    Simply having the ability is just the beginning. Mastering its use is key to conquering Pharloom.


    • How to Dash: On a standard controller, press RT (Xbox) / R2 (PlayStation). PC players using a keyboard will press the C key by default. The beauty of the Dash is that it can be executed both on the ground and, crucially, mid-air, allowing for last-second corrections to avoid falling into spikes or to extend your jump distance.
    • Unlocking the Sprint Function: The Swift Step ability has a powerful secondary function: sprinting. By simply holding down the Dash button (RT/R2/C), Hornet will break into a continuous,high-speed sprint. This is invaluable for quickly backtracking throughpreviously explored areas and evading large groups of enemies.
    • Unlimited Stamina: A fantastic quality-of-life feature is that sprinting has no stamina bar or cooldown. You can run indefinitely without any penalty, making traversal across vast maps a breeze.
    • Combat Integration: Sprinting isn't just for movement. Attacking while in a full sprint will execute a unique dashing attack, adding a new, dynamic layer to Hornet's combat repertoire and allowing for hit-and-run tactics against tougher foes.


    With the Swift Step ability now in your possession, a significant portion of Silksong’s world has just opened up. Revisit old locations, challengepreviously unbeatable enemies with new confidence, and continue yourjourney to the top of Pharloom with unmatched speed and agility.


    Tags: Silksong
    Platform(s): Microsoft Windows PC, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4 PS4, PlayStation 5 PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
    Genre(s): Metroidvania
    Developer(s): Team Cherry
    Publisher(s): Team Cherry
    Engine: Unity
    Release date: 4 September 2025
    Mode: Single-player
    Age rating (PEGI): 7+
    Video preview▶


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