Hollow Knight: Silksong: Act III Transition, The Abyss & Endings Guide
Trigger Act III in Hollow Knight: Silksong by gathering the Maiden's Soul, Hermit's Soul, Seeker's Soul, and Snare Setter tool, then choosing Needolin after defeating Grand Mother Silk. Collect the Diving Bell Key in Deep Docks to enter the Abyss and unlock Silk Soar.
While completing the base storyline ends after defeating Grand Mother Silk at the peak of the Great Citadel, completing the Silk and Soul questline transforms Pharloom into an apocalyptic, void-corrupted world state known as Act III. Entering Act III unlocks the deepest biomes, ultimate mobility skills, and the true final boss confrontation.
How do you trigger the Act III world state transition?
Collect four critical quest items in Act II, then choose the Needolin interaction prompt instead of Bind after defeating Grand Mother Silk.
To trigger the transition into Act III, complete the Silk and Soul questline by collecting:
- Maiden's Soul: Rewarded for completing the Weaver Shrine trial in Shellwood.
- Hermit's Soul: Found in a hidden vault behind Sinner's Road.
- Seeker's Soul: Given by Pavo after completing all Bellhart restoration wishes.
- Snare Setter Tool: Crafted at the Deep Docks forge after delivering rare ore schematics.
Upon defeating Grand Mother Silk at the Citadel peak, a prompt appears over her body. Select the Needolin option instead of Bind. This activates the Soul Snare, tearing open a Void portal that drags Grand Mother Silk and Lace down into the depths, collapsing Pharloom into Act III.
Choosing Bind after Grand Mother Silk awards Ending 1 (Weaver Queen) and rolls credits without triggering Act III. Selecting Needolin unlocks Ending 2 (Snared Silk) and permanently shifts your save file into Act III.
How do you access the Abyss and acquire Silk Soar?
Obtain the Diving Bell Key from Gallow in Deep Docks during Act III to ride the diving bell down into the Abyss biome.
Once Act III begins, the world state becomes void-corrupted, marked by dark vines covering your save slot icon. Enemies deal a minimum of two masks of damage, and environment hazards intensify.
Follow these steps to explore the Abyss:
- Meet Gallow in Deep Docks: Speak with Gallow to receive the Diving Bell Key.
- Descend the Shaft: Operate the mechanical diving bell in the lower docks to reach the Abyss floor.
- Explore Weavenest Absolom: Navigate through void currents to reach the central Weavenest shrine.
- Acquire Silk Soar: Claim the ultimate mobility skill, allowing Hornet to fly vertically through volcanic hot-air streams and boost past previously impassable vertical shafts.
| Act III Objective | Key Location | Required Item / Skill | Unlocks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trigger Act III | Citadel Peak | 3 Souls + Snare Setter (Needolin) | World collapse & Act III state |
| Enter The Abyss | Deep Docks Lower Shaft | Diving Bell Key (from Gallow) | Abyss biome access |
| Unlock Silk Soar | Weavenest Absolom | Defeat Void Guardians | Vertical flight through thermal drafts |
| Challenge Lost Lace | Abyss Core Shrine | Silk Soar + All Old Hearts | True Final Boss & Ending 4 |
How do you defeat Lost Lace and achieve the True Ending?
Defeat Lost Lace in Weavenest Absolom by using Silk Soar to match her vertical void mobility and dodging her double-damage void slashes.
Lost Lace serves as the true final boss of Act III, wielding corrupted void attacks and rapid teleports:
- Vertical Current Combat: Use Silk Soar to ride upward hot-air streams during her floor-covering void waves.
- Void Needle Thrusts: Lost Lace strikes with multi-hit void combos that deal two masks of damage per hit. Parry her initial lunge frame or dash through her with Sprint Dash.
- Phase 2 Overdose Setup: Equip the Plasmium Phial or Witch Crest to maintain health generation during her relentless aggression phase.
Defeating Lost Lace completes Ending 4 (Sister of the Void), providing the canon conclusion to Hornet's journey through Pharloom.
Equip the Shaman Crest or Reaper Crest in Act III. Extended attack range and vertical shockwaves allow you to hit Lost Lace safely while she hovers inside void currents.
Can I still complete Act III if I chose Bind at Grand Mother Silk?
Yes. Reloading your save file after Ending 1 places you at the bench before Grand Mother Silk, allowing you to choose Needolin on your second attempt.
What is Silk Soar used for outside the Abyss?
Silk Soar lets you climb volcanic shafts in Greymoor and Coral Tower to discover hidden Act III bosses and secret achievement rooms.
Why do enemies deal two masks of damage in Act III?
Act III introduces void corruption across all biomes, boosting enemy health pools and doubling baseline attack damage.