As players explore the map of Hollow Knight: Silksong, they will gather two currencies: Rosaries and Shell Shards. Similar to the original, the game doesn’t give the player much information on what the currencies are for or how to use them.
However, using your currency is crucial to succeeding in Hollow Knight: Silksong. They can make you stronger, open up fast-travel points, create save benches, and more.
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To make your journey more manageable in Hollow Knight: Silksong, this guide explains all currencies in the game, including how to get and spend them.
Hollow Knight Silksong: Rosaries Explained
Rosaries are the main currency in Hollow Knight Silksong and are what you’re going to use to purchase anything from the merchants in the game. This includes tools, Mask Shards, Craftmetal, Keys, Rosary Strings, maps, and much more.
In addition to being able to purchase all goods from merchants with Rosaries, this currency is also used to unlock fast-travel stations and save benches. Fast-travel stations generally cost 80 Rosaries, while benches run for 50 Rosaries.
How to Get Rosaries
There are a couple of ways to get Rosaries in Hollow Knight Silksong. For starters, they are dropped by bug enemies after defeating them in combat. Another way to get Rosaries is by exploring the world and finding strings of Rosaries hanging from the ceiling.
These strings are generally in really well-hidden locations and will require the player to search everywhere if they plan on claiming as many Rosaries as possible. There is also a chance to encounter destructible deposits that contain Rosaries.
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When players first reach Greymoor, they will be introduced to the String Rosaries mechanic. This helpful system, which can be accessed via the gold contraption at the entrance of Greymoor, allows players to stash Rosaries from their “wallet” to their inventory screen.
In other words, this can be used to avoid losing all Rosaries when dying. The worst thing that can happen is to die with a ton of Rosaries, and then die again before you can get back to your death spot and claim them all. Stringing Rosaries prevents this terrible situation from happening.
Hollow Knight Silksong: Shell Shards Explained
The second form of currency in Hollow Knight: Silksong is Shell Shards, which are mostly used for combat purposes.
Shell Shards act as the resource to refill the combat Tools’ gauge. For example, the Straight Pin combat tool, which is acquired very early on in a playthrough, has a meter shown right underneath the health bar. Once this bar depletes, the Straight Pin can’t be used anymore.
However, once you rest at a save bench, the gauge will fill again, drawing from your Shell Shards deposit.
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Shell Shards can also be used at the Wish board in Bone Bottom. As you progress through the game, the board will sometimes have “Wishes,” which are mini side quests, and some of them will ask you to donate a certain amount of Shell Shards.
For example, the Lifesaving Bridge wish asked me to donate 300 Shell Shards to help rebuild a bridge in the nearby area.
How to Get Shell Shards
Shell Shards are easier to find than Rosaries as they are much more abundant. Shell Shards are dropped by all enemies in the game.
Additionally, players can find Shell Shards by destroying deposits found throughout the entire map. Similar to the original game’s Geo deposits, Shell Shard deposits are hard to find and tucked away in hidden locations.
I wouldn’t worry too hard about going out of your way to find Shell Shards. You constantly get a ton by simply playing the game.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 91/100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- September 4, 2025
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood
- Developer(s)
- Team Cherry
- Publisher(s)
- Team Cherry










- Engine
- Unity
- Franchise
- Hollow Knight
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- PC Release Date
- September 4, 2025
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- September 4, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
- September 4, 2025
- Nintendo Switch Release Date
- September 4, 2025
- Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date
- September 4, 2025
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Genre(s)
- Metroidvania, Action, Adventure, Soulslike
- Wiki