Hollow Knight Silksong After Bell Beast: Complete Progression Guide

Complete guide to where to go after beating the Bell Beast in Hollow Knight: Silksong. Covers new areas, bosses, quests, abilities, and optimal progression paths through Pharloom.

Table of Contents

The World Opens Up – Choose Your Path Wisely

Beating the Bell Beast marks Silksong’s transition from linear tutorial to open-world exploration. Suddenly, you have multiple paths available, new abilities to master, and choices that affect your progression route through Pharloom.

After extensively mapping all post-Bell Beast content and testing different progression orders, I’ll show you the optimal exploration sequence, which objectives to prioritize, and how to efficiently tackle the seven major opportunities that open up after this pivotal boss fight.

The Bell Beast Victory Aftermath

What Just Unlocked

Defeating the Bell Beast provides:

Fast travel system (Bellways) fully operational
Access to eastern areas beyond the boss arena
New zones with different environmental challenges
Advanced ability locations for enhanced traversal
Major boss encounters that gate further progression

Bell Beast Victory TL;DR: Fast travel unlocked → eastern areas open → new zones available → boss gates ahead

The Bell Beast Victory Aftermath Grindle Free Prisoner Straight Pin Tool

Strategic Approach to New Content

Don’t try to do everything at once. The post-Bell Beast content is designed for strategic progression:

Some paths require specific abilities obtained elsewhere
Resource costs can be significant for certain upgrades
Boss difficulty varies dramatically between different encounters

Priority 1: Free Grindle (Information Merchant)

Navigation to the Prison

From the Bell Beast arena:

Continue right past the boss room
Ring the giant bell in the next chamber
Keep heading right through connecting rooms
Enter the large room with red spherical growths
Strike downward on red growths to bounce in facing direction

Navigation TL;DR: Boss arena → ring bell → continue right → red bounce room

Finding the Prison

In the red growth room:

Navigate to bottom-right corner using bounce mechanics
Hit the lever to extend platforms down the chasm
Descend the chasm but skip first right exit (leads to boss)
Look for building with circle-and-lines sign (prison symbol)

Prison Location TL;DR: Bottom-right of bounce room → extend platforms → descend → skip first exit → find prison sign

Grindle Benefits

Inside the prison:

Jump to second level to find Grindle in his cell
Hit cell door to break it and free him
Collect Straight Pin tool from platform above Grindle
Establish information trading relationship

Grindle’s Services:

Trades secret information for increasing Rosary costs
Reveals upcoming areas and boss details
Provides strategic intelligence for difficult encounters

Grindle TL;DR: Free prisoner → get Straight Pin tool → unlock information trading

Priority 2: Deep Docks Access and Mapping

Reaching the Deep Docks

From Grindle’s prison:

Exit prison and continue down the chasm carefully
Drop into transition room between The Marrow and Deep Docks
Head to far right (avoid lava – 2 masks damage)
Navigate through pipe system in connecting rooms

Deep Docks Access TL;DR: Prison → down chasm → transition room → avoid lava → through pipes

Essential Deep Docks Purchases

Find the elevator at pipe room end with 30 Rosary bench (worth the cost for save point).

Shakra’s New Location:

Moved from The Marrow to Deep Docks entrance
Deep Docks Map: 50 Rosaries
Vendor Pins: 80 Rosaries
Ring Marker: 40 Rosaries

Budget consideration: 170 Rosaries total for complete Deep Docks mapping setup.

Deep Docks Mapping TL;DR: Find Shakra → buy Deep Docks map (50R) → consider pins for navigation

Priority 3: Unlock Wishwall Quests (Bone Bottom)

Fast Travel Back to Base

Use your new Bellways system:

Find Deep Docks Bellway station (left of Shakra)
Fast travel back to Bone Bottom
Check Flick’s completed Wishwall for new quests

Wishwall Access TL;DR: Deep Docks Bellway → fast travel to Bone Bottom → check completed Wishwall

Available Wishwall Quests

Bone Bottom Repairs Quest:

Requirement: Donate 200 Shell Shards
Reward: Visual improvements to Bone Bottom (cosmetic but satisfying)
Timeline: Progressive updates as Flick works on repairs

Garb of the Pilgrims Quest:

Requirement: Collect 12 Pilgrim Shawls from Pilgrim enemies
Reward: Rosary String (valuable death-proof currency)
Strategy: Collect passively during exploration rather than dedicated farming

Wishwall Quests TL;DR: 200 Shell Shards for repairs → 12 Pilgrim Shawls for Rosary String

Priority 4: Meet the Forge Daughter (Crafting System)

Forge Location Navigation

From Deep Docks Shakra:

Go right to next room
Take first exit down near entrance
Continue through connecting rooms using elevators
Reach bottom-right corner
Beat enemy waves then continue right

Forge Access TL;DR: Shakra → right → first exit down → elevators to bottom-right → beat enemies

Forge Daughter Services

The Forge Daughter unlocks:

Crafting system using Rosaries and Craftmetal
Tools, traps, and specialized equipment
Environmental resistance items

Essential early craft: Magma Bell (if you have Craftmetal)

Reduces lava damage from 2 masks to 1 mask
Reduces fire surface damage throughout Deep Docks
Significantly improves area survivability

Forge Daughter TL;DR: Unlocks crafting → Magma Bell reduces lava damage → essential for Deep Docks

Priority 5: Acquire Swift Step Ability

Swift Step Location Route

From Deep Docks Shakra:

Go upward from entrance area
Navigate to top-right of upper room
Continue right through fiery surface areas
Walk on fire (safe but don’t linger)
Go up at room end, continue upward past flying red ants

Swift Step Route TL;DR: Shakra → up → top-right → through fire areas → up past red ants

Challenge Room and Ability

Final Swift Step acquisition:

Stop at bench room (costs 30 Rosaries – worth it for save point)
Jump up into new zone, go left
Complete enemy wave challenge room
Continue left and drop down carefully
Find exit left, enter room, go to far left
Interact with Weaver statue to get Swift Step

Swift Step Mechanics:

Hold right trigger to dodge into sprint
Works in mid-air for enhanced mobility
Jump at sprint end for extended distance catapult

Swift Step TL;DR: Challenge room → left → down → far left → Weaver statue → sprint ability

Priority 6: Choose Your Boss Path

Two Major Boss Gates

Post-Swift Step, you face two progression-blocking bosses:

Ant Guardian (Hunter Guardian/Skull Ant):

Location: Above Grindle’s prison in The Marrow
Access: Fast travel to The Marrow → prison bench → room left → upward
Unlocks: Hunter’s March area
Difficulty: Moderate – good test of current abilities

Lace:

Location: Right side of Deep Docks
Access: Deep Docks Shakra → directly right → Swift Step to upper lever
Unlocks: Far Fields area
Difficulty: Challenging – significant skill check

Boss Choice TL;DR: Ant Guardian unlocks Hunter’s March → Lace unlocks Far Fields → choose based on difficulty preference

Recommended Boss Order

For most players: Ant Guardian first

Easier encounter helps build confidence
Hunter’s March provides additional resources and experience
Better preparation for Lace encounter

For experienced players: Either order works

Lace first provides immediate access to Far Fields content
More challenging but opens advanced progression

Priority 7: Far Fields and the Seamstress

Reaching the Seamstress (After Lace)

Far Fields navigation:

Use Swift Step to bypass most ant enemies
Head to far right of initial Far Fields room
Continue right to next room
Navigate to bottom-right (avoid lava pit)
Go right → down past air vents

Far Fields Navigation TL;DR: Swift Step past enemies → far right → next room → bottom-right → avoid lava

Seamstress Location and Services

Finding the Seamstress:

Find Shakra for Far Fields Map (50 Rosaries)
Enter alcove halfway down the pit (below Shakra)
Drop down → navigate right through lava-filled room
Note deactivated golem in background (future content hint)
Reach open-air area with air vents and balloon platforms
Platform right → loop back → enter floating house

Seamstress Services:

Offers cloak improvement (“something far more buoyant”)
Provides Flexile Spines quest (leads to Drifter’s Cloak)
Gateway to advanced traversal abilities

Seamstress TL;DR: Find in balloon house → cloak improvements → Flexile Spines quest → Drifter’s Cloak

Optimal Progression Strategy

Recommended Order Summary

Free Grindle → information access + Straight Pin
Deep Docks mapping → essential navigation
Wishwall quests → long-term collection goals
Forge Daughter → crafting access + Magma Bell
Swift Step ability → enhanced mobility
Ant Guardian → easier boss + Hunter’s March
Lace → challenging boss + Far Fields
Seamstress → Flexile Spines quest + cloak upgrades

Optimal Order TL;DR: Grindle → mapping → quests → crafting → Swift Step → Ant Guardian → Lace → Seamstress

Resource Planning

Budget for post-Bell Beast progression:

Deep Docks setup: ~170 Rosaries
Bench unlocks: 90 Rosaries (3 benches × 30 each)
Far Fields map: 50 Rosaries
Total recommended: ~310 Rosaries

Shell Shard goals:

Wishwall quest: 200 Shell Shards
Crafting materials: Variable based on desired items

Common Progression Mistakes

Rushing Boss Encounters

Don’t immediately challenge Lace or Ant Guardian:

Swift Step ability significantly improves boss fight mobility
Magma Bell helps with environmental damage
Resource preparation prevents frustrating repeated attempts

Ignoring Resource Collection

Don’t skip Rosary and Shell Shard collection:

Many upgrades require significant currency investment
Wishwall quests provide long-term goals worth pursuing
Information from Grindle can save time and prevent mistakes

Poor Fast Travel Usage

Utilize Bellways system effectively:

Plan efficient routes between distant objectives
Use fast travel for resource collection and merchant visits
Don’t walk long distances when fast travel is available

Your Post-Bell Beast Adventure Awaits

The Bell Beast victory transforms Silksong from guided tutorial into strategic exploration. Each path you choose influences your capabilities for future encounters, making progression order surprisingly important.

Essential post-Bell Beast checklist:

✅ Free Grindle for information trading
✅ Map Deep Docks with Shakra’s services
✅ Start Wishwall quests for long-term goals
✅ Meet Forge Daughter and craft Magma Bell
✅ Acquire Swift Step for enhanced mobility
✅ Choose boss path based on difficulty preference
✅ Find Seamstress for cloak upgrades

Master this progression and you’ll efficiently unlock Pharloom’s deeper mysteries while building the skills and equipment needed for even greater challenges ahead.

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