How to Unlock Dash in Hollow Knight: Silksong (Swift Step Guide)

Getting tired of slow, methodical platforming in Hollow Knight: Silksong? The Dash ability—officially called “Swift Step”—is one of the most game-changing mobility upgrades you’ll unlock, and thankfully, it’s available relatively early if you know where to look.

This ability doesn’t just speed up traversal; it fundamentally changes how you approach combat, exploration, and those tricky platforming sections that seem just out of reach. Let me walk you through exactly how to get it, plus some advanced techniques that’ll make you feel like a movement master.

Why Swift Step Changes Everything

Before we dive into the how-to, let’s talk about why this ability is such a big deal. Swift Step isn’t just a simple dash—it’s actually two abilities rolled into one:

Quick Dash: A burst of speed that works on the ground or in midair, perfect for dodging attacks or crossing gaps Sprint Mode: Hold the button down to run continuously at high speed with no stamina limitations

This dual functionality makes Swift Step incredibly versatile. You’ll use it for everything from avoiding boss attacks to quickly backtracking through familiar areas. Plus, it opens up entirely new platforming routes that were previously impossible to reach.

Step-by-Step: Getting to Deep Docks

The Swift Step ability is hidden in Deep Docks, which is located in the bottom-right section of The Marrow area. Here’s your route:

Prerequisites You’ll Need

• Access to The Marrow (part of normal story progression)
• Some Rosaries for activating certain mechanisms
• Basic combat skills (you’ll face several enemy encounters)

The Journey to Deep Docks

1. Navigate to The Marrow’s bottom-right section – This should be accessible through normal progression
2. Look for the Deep Docks entrance – It’s clearly marked and leads to a distinctly different environment
3. Prepare for aquatic-themed enemies – Deep Docks has its own enemy types, so don’t be surprised by new threats

Pro tip: If you’re having trouble finding The Marrow or accessing this area, our Far Fields progression guide covers the general area flow and can help you understand where you should be in the game.

Navigating Deep Docks: The Swift Step Route

Once you’re in Deep Docks, here’s your path to the Swift Step ability:

Finding the Upper Right Area

Head to the upper-right section of Deep Docks. You’ll encounter:

• A Bellway (activatable transport using Rosaries)
• A bench (also requires Rosaries to use)

The bench serves as a good checkpoint for this section, so activate it if you have the Rosaries to spare.

The Platforming Challenge

From the bench area, head upward using the available platforms. You’ll face multiple red ant enemies during this climb—they’re aggressive but manageable with basic combat techniques. Keep climbing until you can exit through the top of the room.

The Split Path Decision

Once you reach the upper area, you’ll see two paths:

• Right path: Leads to a closed bone gate (likely requires a different ability or item)
• Left path: Your destination, but it’s guarded by multiple enemies

Choose the left path and prepare for a group encounter. The enemies here are tougher than the individual ants you faced earlier, but they’re guarding something valuable.

The Final Stretch

After clearing the enemies on the left path:

1. Drop down into the room below
2. Attack the exploding lava on the right side – This creates a shortcut back to the bench (always nice to have an escape route)
3. Head left to find the Weaver – This NPC will grant you the Swift Step ability

The Weaver encounter is straightforward—just interact with them to receive your new power.

Mastering Swift Step: Controls and Techniques

Now that you have the ability, let’s talk about how to use it effectively:

Basic Controls

• Controller: R2 or RT button
• Keyboard: C button
• Works in midair: Yes! This is crucial for advanced platforming

Advanced Techniques

Sprint Mode: Hold down the dash button instead of tapping it. This activates continuous high-speed movement with no stamina cost. It’s perfect for:

• Crossing large areas quickly
• Backtracking through explored regions
• Building momentum for tricky jumps

Combat Dashing: The quick dash is excellent for:

• Dodging enemy attacks with precise timing
• Closing distance on ranged enemies
• Escaping dangerous situations

Aerial Mobility: Using Swift Step in midair opens up new platforming possibilities:

• Crossing wider gaps than normal jumps allow
• Reaching higher platforms by combining with other moves
• Quick direction changes during combat

Combat Integration

Attack animations change when you’re in sprint mode, which can be useful for certain combat situations. Experiment with this to see how it affects your preferred fighting style.

What Swift Step Unlocks

With this new ability, several previously inaccessible areas become available:

Immediate benefits:

• New platforming routes in areas you’ve already visited
• Faster travel between discovered locations
• Enhanced combat mobility

Long-term advantages:

• Access to secret areas that require dash movement
• Better performance in later boss fights
• Foundation for even more advanced movement abilities

This is a perfect time to revisit earlier areas and look for paths that seemed just out of reach before. Many secrets in Silksong are designed with movement abilities in mind.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t forget about sprint mode: Many players only use the quick dash and miss out on the continuous running ability. Remember, holding the button down gives you unlimited speed.

Practice aerial dashing: The midair component is what makes this ability truly powerful. Spend some time getting comfortable with air dashes in a safe area.

Watch for enemy patterns: Some enemies are specifically designed to counter dash movement. Don’t rely on it as a universal solution to every encounter.

For more tips on avoiding common pitfalls, check out our guide on the Hunter’s March bench trap.

Planning Your Next Steps

With Swift Step unlocked, you’re ready to tackle more challenging content. Consider these follow-up activities:

Exploration priorities:

• Revisit earlier areas for newly accessible secrets
• Look for movement-based challenges in Deep Docks itself
• Plan routes to other major abilities that build on Swift Step

Combat applications:

• Practice dash timing against different enemy types
• Experiment with dash-attack combinations
• Use sprint mode to reposition during longer fights

Resource gathering:

• Use your new speed to efficiently collect items like Mossberries
• Complete quests that require backtracking, such as exploring different areas for valuable items

The Bigger Picture

Swift Step represents a turning point in Silksong’s progression system. It’s one of the first abilities that truly changes how you interact with the world, rather than just adding new combat options. This design philosophy continues throughout the game, with each new ability building on previous ones to create increasingly complex movement possibilities.

The fact that it’s available relatively early (compared to similar abilities in the original Hollow Knight) suggests that Team Cherry wants players to experience this enhanced mobility for most of their journey. Take advantage of it!

Ready to experience the enhanced mobility yourself? Pick up Hollow Knight: Silksong on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, or Xbox.

Ending Thoughts

Swift Step might seem like a simple ability on the surface, but mastering its dual functionality—quick dashes and continuous sprinting—will dramatically improve your Silksong experience. The combination of enhanced combat mobility and exploration possibilities makes this one of the most satisfying abilities to unlock in the early game.

Take some time to really get comfortable with both modes of the ability. The muscle memory you build now will serve you well in the challenging encounters ahead. And don’t forget to revisit old areas—you’ll be amazed at how many secrets were hiding just out of reach!