Silksong: How to Upgrade Needle

How to Upgrade Needle in Silksong - Increase Damage

By Ambar Jimenez | 2025-09-09 10:01:05

Pinmaster Plinney, Pale Oil, and the Path to Sharpened Power

In the early hours of Hollow Knight: Silksong, Hornet’s Needle can feel underwhelming. Enemies take a surprising number of hits to fall, and bosses often feel like damage sponges. It’s easy to wonder if you’ve missed an upgrade or if the game is simply tuned for endurance. The good news? You can upgrade Hornet’s Needle—but you’ll need to push through a sizable chunk of the game before the opportunity arises. This guide walks you through how to increase Needle damage, where to find the elusive Pinmaster Plinney, and what materials you’ll need for future upgrades.

🧵 Why Needle Upgrades Matter

Hornet’s Needle is her primary weapon, and while Tools and Silk Skills offer variety, raw Needle damage is essential for sustained combat. Upgrading the Needle not only increases base damage, but also improves synergy with certain combat abilities like Silkspear and Rage Spike.

🛠️ How to Unlock the First Needle Upgrade

To upgrade the Needle, you’ll need to reach Bellhart, a cursed town that becomes accessible after defeating Moorwing in Greymoor. From there:

  • Head left from the Moorwing boss room.
  • Navigate through Shellwood, a dense biome filled with vertical platforming and environmental puzzles.
  • Defeat Sister Splinter, a mini-boss guarding the path forward.
  • After the fight, continue left to find a Weaver statue.
  • Bind in front of the statue to unlock the Cling Grip ability, which allows Hornet to grab and climb walls.

    • Use Cling Grip to traverse the rest of Shellwood and reach the Widow boss fight, located directly above Bellhart near the upper elevator exit.

    🕸️ Defeating Widow and Freeing Bellhart

    Widow is a multi-phase boss that tests your mobility and crowd control. Once defeated:

    • Bellhart is freed from its curse.
    • NPCs and vendors return to town.
    • The Wishwall activates, offering side quests.
    • Most importantly, Pinmaster Plinney becomes available.

    Look for a building with a Pin sign above the door near the top of town. Inside, you’ll meet Plinney, a quirky craftsman who offers to sharpen Hornet’s Needle for free as thanks for saving Bellhart.

    After a short cutscene, you’ll receive the Sharpened Needle, which boosts Hornet’s base damage and improves the effectiveness of certain Needle-based abilities.

    🧪 How to Get the Second Needle Upgrade

    Once you’ve received the first upgrade, speak to Plinney again. He’ll mention a special material called Pinmaster’s Oil, which he needs to perform a second upgrade.

    Where to Find Pinmaster’s Oil

    Pinmaster’s Oil is a rare item found in the Citadel, a sprawling late-game zone filled with puzzles, vertical shafts, and elite enemies. The oil itself is a variant of Pale Oil, a recurring upgrade material in Silksong.

    Known Pale Oil locations include:

    • Whispering Vaults – Hidden behind a moving platform puzzle.
    • Choral Chambers – Locked behind a Wish quest called Great Taste of Pharloom.
    • Festival of the Flea – A late-game event that rewards Pale Oil after completing three minigames.

    Once you’ve acquired a Pale Oil, return to Plinney in Bellhart. He’ll perform the second upgrade, further increasing Needle damage andunlocking new combat interactions.

    📈 Future Needle Upgrades

    While only two upgrades are confirmed early on, Silksong hints at additional enhancements tied to Wishes and rare materials. These may include:

    • Hivesteel Needle – A rumored third-tier upgrade with increased range and stagger.
    • Shining Needle – A variant that adds critical hit chance or elemental effects.

    As you progress through Pharloom, keep an eye out for new Wishes onthe Wishwall and rare crafting items tucked away in hidden chambers.

    🧠 Tips for Maximizing Needle Efficiency

    • Pair with Silkspear – This ability scales with Needle damage and offers ranged pressure.
    • Use Rage Glyphs – Rage Spike and Lingering Pain benefit from higher base damage.
    • Upgrade early – The first Needle upgrade is free and available as soon as Bellhart is liberated. Don’t delay.

    Upgrading Hornet’s Needle is one of the most impactful decisions you’ll make in Silksong. It transforms combat from a slow grind into a fluid dance of precisionand power. Whether you’re slicing through mobs or facing down Pharloom’s toughest bosses, a sharpened Needle is your best ally.

    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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