If you’ve made it to Act 2 in Hollow Knight: Silksong and are exploring the Citadel, you’ve probably stumbled upon some challenging quests that require specific item collection. The Fine Pins quest is one of those “grind it out” challenges that can feel overwhelming at first – but with the right strategy, it’s actually one of the more manageable collection quests in the game.
This quest essentially asks you to become a pin collector, hunting down 10 Fine Pins from specific enemies in the Citadel. While it might sound straightforward, there are some important tricks and optimal farming spots that can save you tons of time and frustration.
Starting the Fine Pins Quest in Songclave
Before you can even think about collecting Fine Pins, you’ll need to unlock access to this quest. Here’s what you need to do:
Prerequisites:
- Beat the Last Judge boss
- Progress into Act 2 of the story
- Ring the Grand Bell to transform the area into Songclave
Once you’ve completed these steps, head to Songclave in the upper-right section of the Citadel. You’ll find a Wishwall that spawns near the Caretaker – this is where you can pick up the Fine Pins quest along with other available wishes.
The transformation from the unnamed location to Songclave is actually pretty cool from a lore perspective. The Grand Bell essentially “awakens” this area, turning it into a hub for various quests and NPCs. It’s one of those moments where Silksong really shows off its world-building chops.
Understanding Fine Pins: What You’re Looking For
Fine Pins aren’t just lying around waiting to be picked up – they’re weapons carried by specific enemy types in the Citadel. These silver, thin weapons are wielded by two particular enemy classes that you’ll need to hunt down:
Reed Enemies
These are the flying Disciples of the Choir that will quickly become your nemesis during this quest. They sport white masks and gold breastplates, and they’re incredibly annoying to deal with. Reed enemies can:
- Throw their pins directly at Hornet
- Perform rapid diving attacks
- Execute quick thrusting maneuvers while flying
Pro tip: Reed enemies are particularly frustrating because of their mobility. Try to corner them or wait for them to dive before attacking – this gives you a better window to land hits without taking damage.
Choristor Enemies
The ground-based variant of pin-wielding enemies, Choristors wear white masks and grey capes. While they can’t fly like Reed enemies, they make up for it with:
- Surprisingly long-range stabbing attacks
- Jumping attacks that can catch you off guard
- More predictable movement patterns
Between the two, Choristors are generally easier to farm since they’re grounded, but both enemy types have roughly the same drop rates for Fine Pins.
The Best Fine Pins Farming Location
Here’s where this guide gets really valuable – the optimal farming spot is the tall room directly left of the Grand Bellway in the Choral Chambers sub-zone. This location is perfect because:
- Convenient enemy spawns: You’ll find a Choristor on the bottom floor right next to the Bell Beast Station exit
- Reed accessibility: A Reed enemy flies in the area above the Choristor
- Easy reset: You can quickly respawn enemies by leaving and re-entering the room
- Safe collection: The room layout makes it easier to collect dropped pins without environmental hazards
This farming spot saves you from running all over the Citadel hunting down random Reed and Choristor enemies. Instead, you can focus on a controlled environment where you know exactly what to expect.
Important Fine Pins Collection Mechanics
Before you start your farming session, there are some crucial mechanics you need to understand:
Drop Rate Reality Check
Fine Pins are NOT guaranteed drops from these enemies. Based on community testing and personal experience, the drop rate appears to be around 50%. This means you’ll likely need to kill 20+ enemies to collect your 10 Fine Pins – so don’t get discouraged if you’re not getting pins from every kill.
Manual Collection Required
Unlike some items that automatically go to your inventory, Fine Pins must be manually picked up. You need to walk over to the dropped pin and interact with it. This adds a bit of strategy to your farming approach.
Environmental Hazard Warning
Here’s a critical tip that can save you major frustration: Fine Pins will be destroyed if they touch spikes or other damaging surfaces. Always try to lure enemies away from hazardous areas before delivering the killing blow. Nothing’s worse than finally getting a pin drop only to watch it disappear into spikes.
Efficient Farming Strategy
Based on the mechanics above, here’s the most efficient approach to farming Fine Pins:
- Enter the tall room left of Grand Bellway
- Clear out both the Choristor and Reed enemy
- Collect any dropped Fine Pins immediately
- Exit and re-enter the room to respawn enemies
- Repeat until you have 10 Fine Pins
This process typically takes 15-20 minutes if you’re focused and efficient. Some players report faster times with good RNG, while others might need a bit longer if the drops aren’t cooperating.
Fine Pins Quest Reward: Heavy Rosary Necklace
After collecting all 10 Fine Pins, return to the Wishwall in Songclave and fulfill the wish. Your reward is a Heavy Rosary Necklace, which is actually pretty valuable:
- Instant 220 Rosaries when broken
- Death-proof item – won’t be lost if you die
- Immediate currency boost for other purchases
The 220 Rosaries is a significant amount that can fund multiple rosary bead upgrades or merchant purchases. It’s particularly useful if you’re working on needle upgrades or trying to stock up for upcoming tool acquisitions.
Additional Tips for Success
Combat Approach
- Focus on positioning rather than aggressive attacks
- Use the environment to your advantage when possible
- Don’t rush – it’s better to take your time and avoid damage
- Consider your healing strategy before starting the farming session
Time Management
- Set realistic expectations – this quest takes time
- Take breaks if you get frustrated with RNG
- Combine with other activities – you can work on this while exploring the Citadel for other objectives
The Fine Pins quest is definitely one of those “patience required” challenges in Silksong, but the reward makes it worthwhile. Plus, the combat practice against Reed and Choristor enemies will prepare you for tougher encounters later in the game.
Ready to start your pin collecting adventure? You can get Hollow Knight: Silksong on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, or Xbox. Good luck with your farming, and may the RNG gods smile upon your Fine Pin drops!
