Get the upgraded Curvesickle tool in Act 3! Complete guide to finding Curveclaw, reaching Far Fields target range, and upgrading your anti-air combat capabilities in Hollow Knight Silksong.
The Anti-Air Solution You’ve Been Waiting For
Flying enemies in Hollow Knight: Silksong represent one of the most persistent combat challenges throughout your journey. While ground-based foes follow predictable patterns, aerial opponents demand specialized tools and tactics. The Curvesickle tool represents the ultimate solution to this problem, transforming your anti-air capabilities from adequate to exceptional.
Understanding Tool Progression in Silksong
Why Tools Matter More Than Equipment
Silksong’s tool system emphasizes adaptability over raw power. Rather than simply finding stronger versions of the same equipment, tools encourage tactical thinking about encounter types and environmental challenges.
Tool Philosophy:
- Situational optimization – Different encounters demand different tools
- Strategic swapping – Success comes from using the right tool at the right time
- Progressive enhancement – Some tools have upgrade paths that maintain familiarity while improving effectiveness
The Curvesickle exemplifies this design philosophy perfectly, providing meaningful improvement over the Curveclaw while maintaining the same core mechanics.
Prerequisites: Your Journey to Curveclaw
Phase 1: Reaching Hunter’s March
Navigation Route: Start from the Marrow and head to the top-right section. The path above where you free Grindle leads to one of Silksong’s more challenging encounters.
The Ant Guardian Challenge: This boss fight serves as a significant skill gate. Without the dash ability, the encounter becomes exponentially more difficult. The dash-in-and-out strategy transforms this from a test of endurance into a manageable tactical challenge.
Pro tip: If you’re struggling with this encounter, consider improving your dash mechanics before attempting the fight.
Phase 2: Meeting Shakra and Navigating the Bench Trap
The Infamous Trapped Bench: The Hunter’s March bench trap represents one of Silksong’s most memorable environmental hazards. The lever to the left of the bench disables the trap, transforming a health-draining liability into a safe rest point.
Why This Design Matters: The trapped bench teaches players to examine their environment carefully rather than assuming safety. This lesson becomes crucial for surviving Act 3’s more complex challenges.
Phase 3: Curveclaw Acquisition Routes
Primary Route: Mottled Skarr Purchase Head up from the bench area and take the left passage to find Mottled Skarr’s shop. This NPC offers the Curveclaw tool for purchase using Rosaries.
Alternative Route: Combat Acquisition If Mottled Skarr is deceased (common in Acts 2 and 3), exit the shop room and head up to find another left passage. Defeat the Ant Guardian and flying enemy to claim the Curveclaw without cost.
Strategic Timing: The alternative route’s availability makes timing less critical, but early acquisition provides more opportunities to master the tool’s mechanics before upgrading.
Act 3 Access: The Long Game Preparation
Major Prerequisites
Wish Completion: All available wishes must be completed before Act 3 access becomes possible. This represents a significant time investment but ensures you’ve experienced most of Silksong’s content systems.
Bellhome Access: Gaining access to Bellhome housing requires completing specific questlines and demonstrates community integration.
Flea Collection: Finding all Fleas represents one of Silksong’s most demanding completionist challenges, requiring thorough exploration and environmental awareness.
Why These Requirements Matter
The extensive prerequisites ensure that players attempting the Curvesickle upgrade have substantial experience with Silksong’s systems. This prevents the upgrade from being wasted on players who haven’t yet mastered the base tool’s mechanics.
The Upgrade Process: Far Fields Target Range
Location and Setup
Navigation: From the Far Fields Bellway Station, use the air stream to ascend and enter the room with targets visible outside.
Environmental Design: The target range’s design immediately communicates its purpose. Four hanging targets and a shy NPC create an obvious puzzle scenario that encourages experimentation.
The Four-Target Challenge
Positioning Strategy: Success depends on finding the optimal position where a single Curveclaw throw can hit all four targets simultaneously. This requires understanding the tool’s trajectory and spread pattern.
Technical Requirements:
- Curveclaw equipped – The challenge specifically requires this tool
- Spatial awareness – Understanding projectile patterns and target positioning
- Patience – Finding the perfect position may require multiple attempts
The NPC Interaction: Once you successfully hit all targets, the previously hidden NPC emerges and requests your Curveclaw. This represents a trust-based exchange that’s unusual in Silksong’s generally hostile world.
The Exchange Protocol
Giving Up Your Tool: Handing over the Curveclaw represents a leap of faith. The NPC’s request creates temporary vulnerability as you lose your anti-air capabilities.
The Waiting Period: Leaving and resting at a bench introduces a time element that builds anticipation. This pause suggests the NPC is working on something significant during your absence.
The Reward: Returning to find the Curvesickle waiting demonstrates the upgrade’s value. The improved tool represents the NPC’s gratitude and craftsmanship.
Curvesickle vs. Curveclaw: The Upgrade Analysis
Mechanical Improvements
Wider Range: The increased area of effect transforms the tool from precision-required to area-denial capable. This change makes it significantly more forgiving against groups of flying enemies.
Enhanced Effectiveness: The improved performance isn’t just about numbers—it changes how you approach aerial combat encounters fundamentally.
Maintained Usability: Despite the improvements, the core mechanics remain identical. Players who mastered Curveclaw can immediately leverage Curvesickle’s benefits without relearning techniques.
Strategic Applications
Anti-Air Superiority: The Curvesickle establishes air superiority in encounters where flying enemies previously created persistent threats.
Crowd Control: The wider range makes it effective against multiple aerial targets simultaneously, reducing the time and resources needed to clear areas.
Exploration Enhancement: Improved flying enemy management makes exploration more efficient and less stressful, particularly in areas with high aerial enemy density.
Optimal Usage Strategies
When to Prioritize Curvesickle
Flying Enemy Dense Areas: Regions with multiple aerial opponents become significantly more manageable with the upgraded tool equipped.
Boss Encounters with Aerial Phases: Several Silksong bosses include flying attack patterns that the Curvesickle handles more effectively than alternatives.
Exploration Efficiency: When traversing areas known for flying enemy encounters, the Curvesickle reduces interruption and resource consumption.
Tool Rotation Strategy
Encounter Assessment: Quickly evaluate upcoming challenges to determine optimal tool selection before engaging.
Situational Switching: Don’t hesitate to swap tools between encounters based on enemy types and environmental factors.
Resource Conservation: Using the right tool for each situation reduces silk consumption and healing requirements over time.
Integration with Combat Builds
Synergistic Combinations
Anti-Air Focus Builds: Combine Curvesickle with other tools that complement aerial combat for maximum effectiveness.
Balanced Approach: Use Curvesickle as part of a flexible toolkit that adapts to various encounter types throughout exploration.
Specialized Applications: Reserve Curvesickle for specific challenging areas while using other tools for general exploration.
Platform Availability
Ready to upgrade your anti-air arsenal? Hollow Knight: Silksong is available on:
The Evolution of Combat
The Curvesickle represents more than just a tool upgrade—it symbolizes your growth as a player and your mastery of Silksong’s systems. The extensive prerequisites ensure that only dedicated players reach this enhancement, making it feel genuinely earned.
The upgrade process itself, involving trust and community interaction with the target range NPC, adds narrative weight to what could have been a simple item exchange. This design choice reinforces Silksong’s themes of connection and mutual aid even in hostile environments.
For players struggling with flying enemies throughout their journey, the Curvesickle provides satisfying resolution to a persistent challenge. The wider range and improved effectiveness transform previously frustrating encounters into manageable obstacles, allowing you to focus on exploration and story progression.
The tool’s design also demonstrates Silksong’s commitment to meaningful progression. Rather than simply providing higher numbers, the Curvesickle addresses specific player pain points while maintaining familiar mechanics that reward existing skill.
Mastered the Curvesickle and ready for more advanced tools? Explore our complete tools guide or check out Act 3 progression strategies to continue optimizing your Silksong experience.
