Find all 10 Muckroaches in Hollow Knight Silksong’s Roach Guts quest. Complete location guide, farming strategy, and Tacks tool analysis for maximum efficiency.
Hunting down creepy crawlers might not sound appealing, but the Roach Guts quest in Hollow Knight: Silksong offers one of the most powerful early-game tools as a reward. If you’re willing to get your hands dirty tracking down 10 Muckroaches in the grimy depths of Sinner’s Road, you’ll walk away with Tacks – a devastating area-control tool that can completely change how you approach boss fights.
I’ve completed this quest multiple times across different playthroughs, and I’m here to share the most efficient farming routes, hidden Muckroach locations, and strategic insights that will save you hours of unnecessary grinding.
Starting Your Muckroach Hunt: Finding Crull and Benjin
Before you can start collecting Roach Guts, you’ll need to track down the quest givers in one of Silksong’s more atmospheric locations.
Quest Location Details:
Where: Sinner’s Road, top-right section Requirements: Cling Grip (Wall Jump) and Drifter’s Cloak (Float) Landmark: East of the broken Sinner’s Road bench
The journey to reach Crull and Benjin is actually a mini-puzzle in itself. From the main room in Sinner’s Road, you’ll need to:
- Use Cling Grip on the left wall to climb up
- Navigate the floating spikes with careful pogo timing
- Deploy Drifter’s Cloak to float across to their secluded hut
Once you’re inside their humble dwelling, both bugs will enthusiastically ask you to help with their “pest problem.” Accept their request, and you’ll officially begin hunting for 10 Roach Guts – though trust me, you’ll want to collect more than just the required amount.
The Ultimate Muckroach Farming Strategy
After testing various farming routes, I’ve discovered the most efficient method that minimizes risk while maximizing your collection rate.
Prime Farming Location: The Underground Tunnel
The Setup:
- Rest point: Sinner’s Road bench (critical for respawning enemies)
- Target area: Long tunnel directly beneath the bench
- Enemy count: 3 Muckroaches per cycle
- Respawn method: Exit right, return to reset enemies
Step-by-Step Farming Route:
- Establish your base at the Sinner’s Road bench – this becomes your reset point
- Exit through the right passage and drop down to the tunnel floor
- Turn left immediately to enter the prime hunting ground
- Locate the three Muckroaches:
- Two patrolling the ground level
- One positioned on top of the metal cage
- Eliminate all three and collect the Roach Guts that drop
- Return to the bench to respawn the enemies and repeat
Pro Farming Tips:
- Always clear all three Muckroaches before resetting – partial clears reduce efficiency
- The cage-top Muckroach sometimes requires precise positioning to reach
- Keep track of your Roach Guts count to avoid over-farming
- Each cycle takes approximately 45-60 seconds with practice
Alternative Location: The Upper Tunnel
While exploring Sinner’s Road, you’ll discover an upper tunnel containing four Muckroaches in relatively close proximity. However, I’ve found this location significantly less efficient due to:
Environmental Hazards:
- Additional enemy types that slow down farming
- More complex navigation requirements
- Increased risk of taking unnecessary damage
- Longer reset cycles between farming runs
When to Use the Upper Route:
- If you’re already exploring that area naturally
- When the lower tunnel feels repetitive
- For players who enjoy more challenging farming scenarios
Maximizing Your Roach Guts Collection
Here’s something most guides won’t tell you: collect more than just the required 10 Roach Guts. While the quest only requires 10, having extras provides several advantages:
Strategic Benefits:
- Trading opportunities with other NPCs later in the game
- Crafting materials for certain upgrade paths
- Insurance against accidentally using or losing some
- Completion satisfaction for thorough players
I typically farm 15-20 Roach Guts during my first serious farming session, which has saved me multiple return trips in subsequent playthroughs.
Tacks Tool Analysis: Your Reward Breakdown
Once you’ve delivered 10 Roach Guts to Crull and Benjin, you’ll receive Tacks – a Red Tool that fundamentally changes battlefield control strategies.
Tacks Mechanics Deep Dive:
Basic Stats:
- Tool Type: Red (Combat)
- Charges: 6 per rest
- Deployment: 4-5 caltrops per use
- Damage: ~50% of a standard Needle strike per caltrop
- Refill Cost: 8 Shell Shards per charge
Combat Applications:
Against Bosses: The Tacks truly shine during boss encounters, particularly against ground-based opponents with predictable movement patterns. I’ve found them incredibly effective against:
- Slow-moving bosses that spend time in specific areas
- Multi-phase encounters where you can pre-place traps
- Bosses with charge attacks that force them through caltrop fields
Area Control: Think of Tacks as creating temporary hazard zones. By strategically placing multiple sets, you can:
- Force enemies into disadvantageous positions
- Create safe corridors for healing or repositioning
- Establish damage-over-time zones for passive boss damage
Advanced Tack Strategies
Layering Technique: Since each use deploys 4-5 caltrops, overlapping deployments in key chokepoints can create devastating damage zones. I’ve successfully used this strategy during the Savage Beastfly boss fight to incredible effect.
Resource Management: With Shell Shards being valuable currency, consider your Tacks usage carefully. The 8 Shell Shards per charge refill adds up quickly, so reserve them for challenging encounters rather than standard exploration.
Integration with Your Overall Build
The Tacks work exceptionally well when combined with other early-game tools and abilities:
Synergistic Combinations:
- Pair with movement abilities like Swift Step dash for hit-and-run tactics
- Combine with defensive tools for safer caltrop placement
- Use alongside needle upgrades for hybrid combat approaches
Build Considerations:
- Aggressive players: Use Tacks for area denial while maintaining pressure
- Defensive players: Create safe zones and control enemy movement
- Balanced players: Supplement standard combat with strategic trap placement
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
During my multiple playthroughs, I’ve observed several common pitfalls that slow down quest completion:
Farming Inefficiencies:
- Partial clearing: Always eliminate all Muckroaches before resetting
- Poor routing: Stick to the optimal lower tunnel unless specifically exploring
- Over-farming: While having extras is good, don’t spend hours collecting 50+ Roach Guts
Combat Errors:
- Tacks placement: Don’t waste charges on easy enemies during exploration
- Resource management: Plan Shell Shard expenditure carefully
- Tactical mistakes: Remember that Tacks are area control, not direct damage tools
Quest Completion and Beyond
Once you’ve successfully delivered your 10 Roach Guts to Crull and Benjin, take a moment to appreciate what you’ve accomplished. The Tacks tool will serve you well throughout your Silksong journey, particularly as you progress into more challenging areas like Greymoor and beyond.
Post-Quest Opportunities:
- Experiment with Tacks in various combat scenarios
- Explore advanced tool combinations
- Continue your progression through Act 2 content
Final Thoughts and Next Steps
The Roach Guts quest represents one of Silksong’s more engaging side objectives – it requires exploration, combat skills, and strategic thinking while offering a genuinely useful reward. The Tacks tool becomes particularly valuable as you progress into areas with more challenging enemy encounters and complex boss fights.
Ready to continue your Silksong adventure? Explore the game on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, or Xbox.
For more strategic insights, check out our guides on essential beginner tips and early game quest priorities. The world of Pharloom has much more to offer, and every quest completed brings you closer to mastering Hornet’s deadly arsenal.
Happy hunting, and may your Roach Guts collection be swift and your Tacks placement strategic!
