Where to Go After Bell Beast in Hollow Knight: Silksong (Complete Progression Guide)

The Bell Beast Victory — What You Actually Unlocked

Your Rewards

Defeating the Bell Beast gives you two major unlocks:

• Silk Heart — a passive upgrade that automatically regenerates one notch of Silk when your spool is fully depleted. This significantly changes how aggressively you can spend Silk in combat without fear of running dry.
• Bellways fast travel — the Bell Beast itself becomes your mount across Pharloom’s Bellway network, similar to the Last Stag in the original Hollow Knight. The first station in The Marrow is unlocked automatically.

After the fight, a short platforming sequence leads to the Silk Heart pickup floating above the arena. Don’t miss it — interact with the silk orb to enter the brief challenge and claim it before moving on.

Bell Beast Victory TL;DR: Grab the Silk Heart → fast travel unlocked → eastern areas open → boss gates ahead

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 first
• 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:

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

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

Finding the Prison

In the red growth room:

1. Navigate to the bottom-right corner using bounce mechanics
2. Hit the lever to extend platforms down the chasm
3. Descend the chasm — skip the first right exit (it leads to a boss)
4. Look for the building with the 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 the second level to find Grindle in his cell
• Repeatedly attack the cell bars to break them and free him
• Collect the Straight Pin tool from the platform above Grindle’s cell — a throwing weapon useful for ranged combat and for free damage at the start of the Skarrgard boss fight ahead
• Rest at a bench and return to find Grindle in the main room, where he becomes a merchant

Grindle’s Services:

• Sells general information and secrets for Rosaries — useful background intel on areas and bosses
• Appears later in other areas as you progress through Pharloom
• Worth freeing purely for the Straight Pin tool even if you don’t buy his secrets

Grindle TL;DR: Break cell bars → get Straight Pin tool → bench rest → Grindle becomes vendor

Priority 2: Deep Docks Access and Mapping

Reaching the Deep Docks

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

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

Essential Deep Docks Purchases

At the pipe room end, find an elevator leading to a shrine — it costs 30 Rosaries to form a bench and save point. Worth every Rosary given the challenges ahead.

Shakra’s New Location:

• Shakra has moved from The Marrow to the Deep Docks entrance — look for her rings on the platforms and follow the singing
• Deep Docks Map: 50 Rosaries
• Vendor Pins: 80 Rosaries — marks merchant locations
• Ring Marker: 40 Rosaries — marks tough enemies
• Bellway Pins: 60 Rosaries — marks fast travel stations

After buying the Deep Docks map, go left of Shakra to find and unlock the Deep Docks Bellway station — this connects you to the fast travel network immediately.

Deep Docks Mapping TL;DR: Find Shakra → buy Deep Docks map (50R) → unlock Bellway left of Shakra

Priority 3: Unlock Wishwall Quests (Bone Bottom)

Fast Travel Back to Base

1. Use the Deep Docks Bellway station (left of Shakra)
2. Fast travel back to Bone Bottom
3. Check Flick’s completed Wishwall for new available 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 storage
• Strategy: Collect passively during normal 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:

1. Go right to the next room
2. Take the first exit down near the entrance
3. Continue through connecting rooms using elevators
4. Reach the bottom-right corner
5. Beat the 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 the crafting system:

• Crafts tools, traps, and specialized equipment using Rosaries and Craftmetal
• Environmental resistance items critical for Deep Docks survival

Essential early craft: Magma Bell (requires Craftmetal)

• Reduces lava damage from 2 masks to 1 mask
• Also reduces fire surface damage throughout the Deep Docks
• Significantly improves area survivability — a high-priority craft if you have Craftmetal

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

Priority 5: Acquire Swift Step Ability

Swift Step Location Route

From Deep Docks Shakra:

1. Go upward from the entrance area
2. Navigate to the top-right of the upper room
3. Continue right through fiery surface areas (fire surfaces are safe to walk on briefly — don’t linger)
4. Go up at room end, continue upward past the flying red ants

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

Challenge Room and Ability

1. Stop at the bench room — costs 30 Rosaries, worth it as a save point
2. Jump up into the new zone and go left
3. Complete the enemy wave challenge room
4. Continue left and drop down carefully
5. Find the exit left, enter the room, go to far left
6. Interact with the Weaver statue to receive Swift Step

Swift Step Mechanics:

• Hold the sprint input to dodge into a sprint
• Works in mid-air for enhanced mobility
• Jump at the end of a sprint for an extended-distance catapult effect
• Critical for bypassing enemies in Far Fields and for boss fights ahead

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

Priority 6: Choose Your Boss Path

Two Major Boss Gates

With Swift Step acquired, two progression-blocking bosses await:

Skarrgard (Hunter’s March Guardian / Skull Ant):

• Location: The Marrow, just above Grindle’s prison near the entrance to Hunter’s March
• Access: Fast travel to The Marrow → prison bench → take the room above
• Unlocks: Hunter’s March area
• Difficulty: Early-game mini-boss — manageable with Swift Step and Straight Pin throws during its roar

Lace:

• Location: Right side of the Deep Docks
• Access: Deep Docks Shakra → go directly right → use Swift Step to reach the upper lever
• Unlocks: Far Fields area
• Difficulty: Significant skill check — a recurring antagonist with multiple rematches throughout the game

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

Recommended Boss Order

For most players: Skarrgard first

• Easier encounter that builds combat confidence
• Hunter’s March provides additional resources and experience
• Better preparation for the harder Lace encounter
• Use the Straight Pin from Grindle’s cell for free damage during Skarrgard’s roar

For experienced players: Either order works

• Lace first provides immediate access to Far Fields content
• More challenging but opens the Seamstress and advanced cloak progression

Priority 7: Far Fields and the Seamstress

Reaching the Seamstress (After Lace)

Far Fields navigation:

1. Use Swift Step to bypass most of the ant enemies
2. Head to the far right of the initial Far Fields room
3. Continue right to the next room
4. Navigate to the bottom-right (avoid the lava pit)
5. 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

1. Find Shakra for the Far Fields Map (50 Rosaries)
2. Enter the alcove halfway down the pit below Shakra
3. Drop down → navigate right through the lava-filled room
4. Reach the open-air area with air vents and balloon platforms
5. Platform right → loop back → enter the floating house

Seamstress Services:

• Offers cloak improvements for enhanced buoyancy and traversal
• Provides the Flexile Spines quest, which leads to the Drifter’s Cloak — a major upgrade that unlocks new movement options
• Gateway to advanced traversal abilities and late-game progression

Seamstress TL;DR: Balloon house in Far Fields → cloak improvements → Flexile Spines quest → Drifter’s Cloak

Optimal Progression Strategy

Recommended Order Summary

1. Claim Silk Heart → interact with silk orb after Bell Beast fight
2. Free Grindle → information access + Straight Pin tool
3. Deep Docks mapping → find Shakra, buy map, unlock Bellway
4. Wishwall quests → start long-term Shell Shard and Pilgrim Shawl collection
5. Forge Daughter → crafting access + Magma Bell if you have Craftmetal
6. Swift Step ability → enhanced mobility from Weaver statue
7. Skarrgard → early-game boss gate → Hunter’s March
8. Lace → challenging boss → Far Fields
9. Seamstress → Flexile Spines quest + Drifter’s Cloak path

Optimal Order TL;DR: Silk Heart → Grindle → mapping → quests → crafting → Swift Step → Skarrgard → Lace → Seamstress

Resource Planning

Budget for post-Bell Beast progression:

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

Shell Shard goals:

• Wishwall repairs quest: 200 Shell Shards
• Crafting materials: Variable based on desired items from the Forge Daughter

Common Progression Mistakes

Missing the Silk Heart

Many players walk right past the Silk Heart after the Bell Beast fight. After the boss goes down, a large Silk orb appears — interact with it, complete the short climbing challenge, and grab it. The passive Silk regeneration it provides changes how you play for the rest of the game.

Rushing Boss Encounters

• Swift Step significantly improves boss fight mobility — get it before attempting Lace
• Magma Bell helps with environmental damage — craft it before deep Deep Docks exploration
• The Straight Pin from Grindle’s cell is specifically useful in the Skarrgard fight — free damage during its roar

Ignoring Resource Collection

• Many upgrades require significant currency — don’t rush past enemy and cache clearing
• Wishwall quests provide long-term goals worth starting early
• Information from Grindle can save time and prevent costly mistakes

Poor Fast Travel Usage

• The Bellways system is free once unlocked — use it constantly
• Plan efficient routes between distant objectives rather than walking
• Always check if a Bellway station exists near your destination before running the whole way

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:

• ✅ Claim the Silk Heart from the silk orb above the arena
• ✅ Free Grindle and collect the Straight Pin tool
• ✅ Map Deep Docks with Shakra and unlock the Bellway station
• ✅ Start Wishwall quests for long-term Shell Shard and Shawl goals
• ✅ Meet Forge Daughter and craft the Magma Bell
• ✅ Acquire Swift Step from the Weaver statue
• ✅ Defeat Skarrgard (Skull Ant) to unlock Hunter’s March
• ✅ Defeat Lace to unlock Far Fields
• ✅ Find the Seamstress in Far Fields for the Drifter’s Cloak path

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

Related Guides:

• Challenge Button Guide
• Frayed Rosary String Guide
• Silksong Maps & Navigation
• Fast Travel Bellways System
• Flexile Spines Quest Guide
• Essential Beginner Tips

Official Silksong Links:

• Official Website
• Steam Store Page
• Nintendo Switch Edition
• PlayStation Store
• Xbox Store