Silk Skills or Abilities in Hollow Knight Silksong refer to special skills possessed or obtainable by Hornet. Abilities can range from active skills usable in and out of combat, as well as passive effects that will help Hornet traverse the landscape of Pharloom and get the better of her opponents. Little is currently known about Hornet's abilities, but this page will be updated once more information becomes available. For all Ancestral Arts, please check our Ancestral Arts page.
Hollow Knight Silksong Silk Skills Guide
How to Unlock Skills in Silksong
Hornet in Hollow Knight: Silksong has a range of unique skills she can use. Each of these skills has a unique function and has their own path to unlock. Skills can be unlocked by Hornet using Bind on the idols found at different locations. Some skills can be acquired by defeating certain bosses. Keep in mind that you have to be thorough on your gameplay as some skills can be totally skipped if you were not able to find them.

How to Equip Skills in Silksong
Once you've unlocked a Skill, you'll have to head to a Bench to equip it. Take note that Skills, along with Tools and Crests can only be equipped on Benches. The unlocked Skill can then be equipped in the Crest Menu. Each Skill requires a white crest slot indicated by a white circle.

How to Use Skills in Silksong
After equipping an ability, you can now see it in the game HUD. It is the white circle next to the Silk meter. You can use Hornet's skills by pressing the default key [F] for PC and [R1] for PlayStation. Each skill consumes Silk from the Silk meter so you have to be mindful when to use it. Hornet's Silk can be replenished however by striking enemies or obtaining Silk hearts.
How to Use Skills Effectively in Silksong
Skills or Abilities in Hollow Knight: Silksong offers a wide range of uses. They can be used to defeat opponents more easily or be used during exploration. To use Skills effectively, you have to be mindful on what Skills to use when facing opponents. Some Skills offer better damage when you're facing against multiple enemies. Often times it can be used to reach hovering enemies or when you're trapped in a corner.

All Silk Skills in Hollow Knight Silksong
![]()

Silkspear
Deadly Weaver technique. Throw the needle forward with force amplified by coiled Silk.

Thread Storm
Deadly Weaver technique. Cast the needle in a whirl of Silk around oneself, lashing foes.

Cross Stitch
Deflective technique of a creature spun from thread. Bind Silk around the needle to deflect enemy attacks and instantly strike back.

Sharpdart
Deadly Weaver technique. Pierce through enemies in a blur of blade and Silk.

Rune Rage
Forgotten Weaver technique. Sew rending runes upon one's enemies.

Pale Nails
Technique taken from the primal source of Silk. Spin talons from thread that seek out enemies.
All Silksong Silk Skills Comparison Table
Name |
Ability Function |
How to Get |
|---|---|---|
|
Attack by throwing the needle forward. Silk will be expended. |
|
|
Attack by whipping a storm of Silk around. |
|
|
Block incoming attacks and immediately counter with a quick strike |
|
|
Create sharp talons of Silk that automatically fly toward and strike enemies. |
|
|
Mark enemies with Silk runes that tear into them, dealing continuous damage. |
|
|
Dash forward in a blur, releasing a Silk blade that pierces through multiple enemies. |
|
Anonymous
AnonymousTEAM CHERRY! GIVE US NEW SPELLS IN SEA OF SORROW AND MY LIFE IS YOURS!

Anonymous
Anonymousi need to know how to get the ability to get double jump but it dosent say ):

Anonymous
AnonymousAll of these are mid compared to Descending Dark and Abyss Shriek besides pre-nerf Thread Storm.

Anonymous
Anonymous
AnonymousI binded grandmother silk and didn't get pale nails also binding her doesn't require silk soar unless it's something above her fight?

AnonymousPale Nails and Cross Stitch are definitely the winners here.
Silk Spear, Thread Storm, and Sharpdart are solid options.
Rune Rage is the most inconsistent and has a painfully long cast time.
AnonymousDamage values for all skills with and without Shaman Crest :
Thread Storm: from 16x5 hits + 7x5 hits (when extended), 80/115 total dmg, to 26x5 + 18x5 hits, 130/220 total dmg.
Silkspear: from 63 to 74
Pale Nails: from 63 to 96
Cross Stitch: from 52 to 92
Sharpdart: from 57 to 67
Rune Rage: Bit harder to know, as multiple circles hitting the same enemy seem to lower the damage every time, but at least the very first hit goes from 61 to 69.
Note this has been tested with a fully upgraded needle and I do not know if the skills scale with your needle upgrade level.
AnonymousSilkspear, imo, gets outclassed by tools.
Silk storm is completly fucking amazing. Deals an absurd amount of damage and destroys fliers.
The parry is absurd as well. It deals a lot of damage. Note: be careful when you parry because after the parry you have very few i-frames so some enemies may hit you with an attack.
Sharpdart is nice. Good I-Frames. I personally didn't use it much because I prefer the others.
Pale nail is probably op. I may be wrong. It just deals too much damage and the tracking is very good.
Haven't unlock the other one.
Anonymous
Anonymous
AnonymousSharpdart is in the weaver nest to the left in the Wormways, and Rune Rage in The Slab behind the apostate key door, you need to jump up in the room after the door, then head to the right, then down.

Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymouscan't we put ones we know here? i mean. We know hornet can wall run.







Lets go wanderer
0
+10
-1