Learn how to get Curveclaw in Hollow Knight Silksong. Find Mottled Skarr in Hunter’s March, unlock the secret vendor, and get this powerful boomerang tool.
Why Curveclaw Deserves a Spot in Your Arsenal
The Curveclaw stands out among Hollow Knight: Silksong’s diverse tool collection as the ultimate solution for aerial harassment. While most tools excel in specific situations, Curveclaw’s boomerang mechanics make it incredibly versatile for both crowd control and precision targeting. Its ability to bounce off flying enemies creates unique tactical opportunities that transform how you approach multi-enemy encounters.
What caught my attention during testing was how Curveclaw changes your spatial awareness. Instead of positioning yourself directly under flying enemies, you start thinking in arcs and trajectories—it’s almost like adding a puzzle element to combat.
Understanding Curveclaw’s Combat Applications
Core Mechanics Breakdown
Boomerang Trajectory: The Curveclaw launches in an arced path, creating a distinctive flight pattern that can hit multiple targets on both the outbound and return journey.
Target Interaction: When the projectile connects with flying enemies, it bounces off them while dealing damage, potentially chaining to nearby aerial threats.
Versatile Targeting: Despite being designed for flying enemies, Curveclaw also damages grounded foes, making it useful in mixed combat scenarios.
Strategic Combat Applications
Flying Enemy Management:
- Multi-target elimination – One throw can clear several flying enemies
- Safe distance engagement – Attack aerial threats without positioning directly underneath
- Predictable patterns – Flying enemies often cluster, making them ideal Curveclaw targets
Crowd Control Potential:
- Area denial – The return trajectory can catch enemies trying to flank you
- Combo potential – Use Curveclaw to soften targets before engaging with needle attacks
- Resource efficiency – Single tool use can affect multiple enemies
Act 1 Acquisition: The Mottled Skarr Route
Prerequisites for Hunter’s March Access
Essential Ability: Drifter’s Cloak Before attempting to reach the Curveclaw, you must complete the Flexile Spines quest in Far Fields. This quest rewards you with the Drifter’s Cloak, which provides the air current navigation abilities essential for reaching Mottled Skarr’s location.
Recommended Preparation:
- 140 Rosary Beads for the Curveclaw purchase
- Combat readiness for Skarr enemies in Hunter’s March
- Basic platforming skills for the secret vendor approach
Navigating Hunter’s March Safely
Understanding the Region: Hunter’s March sits strategically between Bone Marrow and Far Fields, serving as a natural progression route unless you opt for the Deep Docks alternative path. The area is heavily infested with Skarr enemies—ant-like creatures that patrol in organized groups.
Enemy Management Tips:
- Skarr movement patterns are predictable but aggressive
- Group encounters are common—avoid attracting multiple squads simultaneously
- Use terrain advantages to funnel enemies into manageable engagements
Reaching the Secret Vendor Location
Phase 1: Air Current Navigation Use the Drifter’s Cloak to ride air currents upward toward the cave entrance. The positioning can be tricky initially, but the air currents provide consistent lift once you understand the timing.
Phase 2: Secret Passage Discovery Upon entering the cave area, look for ropes with protruding Shards. The secret passage requires specific positioning:
- Hug the left wall consistently
- Jump multiple times while maintaining wall contact
- Look for the concealed entrance that leads to the vendor area
Phase 3: Platforming Challenge The path to Mottled Skarr involves a brief but precise platforming sequence. Take your time—rushing often leads to falls that require complete restart.
Purchasing from Mottled Skarr
Vendor Inventory Overview: Mottled Skarr stocks various valuable items, but Curveclaw at 140 Rosary Beads represents one of the most combat-significant purchases available.
Tool Description Mystery: Interestingly, Curveclaw’s description remains encrypted until after purchase. This design choice adds mystery to the acquisition but can make pre-purchase evaluation difficult.
Equipment Process: After purchasing, visit any bench location to equip Curveclaw and test its “arched sharpbone” projectile mechanics.
Act 2 Alternative: Post-Mottled Skarr Acquisition
The Vendor’s Unfortunate Fate
Upon reaching Act 2 and progressing into the Choral Chambers, players discover that Mottled Skarr has been killed by unknown attackers. This story development initially appears to lock players out of Curveclaw acquisition, but Silksong provides an alternative route.
Requirements for Act 2 Method
Essential Ability: Cling Grip By Act 2, you should have acquired the wall jump ability (Cling Grip), which becomes crucial for accessing the elevated cave system above Mottled Skarr’s former location.
Step-by-Step Act 2 Acquisition
Phase 1: Vertical Navigation
- Exit the cave where Mottled Skarr’s body was discovered
- Use Cling Grip on the surface directly above the cave entrance
- Climb to reach the floating platform – this requires confident wall jumping skills
Phase 2: Combat Encounter Navigate to the cave on the left of the elevated area. Upon entering, you’ll face a Skarr ambush—multiple enemies attacking in coordinated waves.
Combat Strategy for Skarr Forces:
- Crowd control priority – Prevent being surrounded
- Use area attacks if available to manage multiple enemies
- Maintain mobility to avoid concentrated fire
- Focus on elimination over evasion – the area locks until all enemies are defeated
Phase 3: Curveclaw Recovery After clearing all Skarr enemies, the previously locked area opens. Locate the Curveclaw attached to a rope on the left side of the cave. This placement suggests it belonged to a fallen Skarr warrior, adding narrative weight to the acquisition.
Optimal Integration Strategies
Crest Compatibility Analysis
Curveclaw’s effectiveness varies significantly depending on your equipped crest. Consider these synergies:
High-Mobility Crests:
- Enhanced positioning for optimal throw angles
- Quick repositioning for follow-up attacks
- Improved aerial control during boomerang flight
Damage Enhancement Crests:
- Increased projectile damage makes each throw more impactful
- Potential for one-shot eliminations on weaker flying enemies
- Better crowd clear efficiency
Combat Integration Techniques
Opening Engagement Strategy:
- Assess enemy composition – prioritize flying threats
- Position for optimal arc coverage – consider both outbound and return paths
- Launch Curveclaw at the densest cluster of aerial enemies
- Follow up with conventional attacks on survivors
Mid-Combat Applications:
- Breathing room creation when overwhelmed by flying enemies
- Combo setup for enemies weakened by boomerang damage
- Area control during tactical repositioning
Advanced Usage Tips and Techniques
Trajectory Mastery
Arc Prediction: Understanding Curveclaw’s flight path becomes crucial for maximizing effectiveness. The boomerang follows predictable physics, allowing experienced players to hit enemies around corners or behind obstacles.
Bounce Mechanics: When Curveclaw hits flying enemies, the bounce direction depends on the angle of contact. Learning to predict these bounces enables intentional ricochet targeting.
Resource Management
Tool Usage Efficiency: While Curveclaw doesn’t consume limited resources, it has cooldown periods between uses. Plan your throws for maximum impact rather than spamming the ability.
Situational Awareness: Curveclaw excels in specific scenarios but shouldn’t replace fundamental combat skills. Use it to complement your core moveset rather than as a primary attack method.
Where to Experience Curveclaw Combat
Ready to master the boomerang mechanics? Get Hollow Knight: Silksong on your platform:
- PC Gaming: Steam Store
- Nintendo Players: Nintendo Switch Store
- PlayStation Users: PlayStation Store
- Xbox Gamers: Xbox Store
Final Thoughts: Mastering the Arc
Curveclaw represents Silksong’s thoughtful approach to tool design—each implement feels distinct and serves specific tactical purposes. The boomerang mechanics add a layer of spatial reasoning to combat that rewards players who think beyond direct confrontation.
What makes Curveclaw particularly satisfying is how it transforms annoying encounters with flying enemies into engaging tactical puzzles. Instead of struggling to position yourself under aerial threats, you start thinking about angles, bounces, and crowd control opportunities.
Whether you acquire it through Mottled Skarr’s shop or recover it from fallen Skarr warriors, Curveclaw offers a unique combat experience that grows more rewarding as you master its mechanics. The tool exemplifies how Silksong’s design philosophy extends beyond simple damage dealing into creative problem-solving.
Expanding your tool collection? Check out our complete guide to all tools in Silksong or learn about Hunter’s March navigation to safely explore this challenging area.
