Master the sneaky Fourth Chorus boss in Hollow Knight Silksong with our beginner-friendly guide. Learn the secret trigger, attack patterns, and two winning strategies.
If you’ve been exploring the Far Fields in Hollow Knight Silksong and suddenly found yourself face-to-face with a massive, ground-destroying boss out of nowhere, congratulations – you’ve met the Fourth Chorus! This sneaky side boss is notorious for catching players completely off guard, and honestly, that’s exactly what makes it so memorable.
Unlike most bosses that politely wait for you to approach their lair, Fourth Chorus has a much more dramatic entrance. Think of it as Silksong’s way of saying “surprise!” right when you think you’re safe.
What Makes Fourth Chorus Special?
Fourth Chorus isn’t your typical boss encounter. It’s what I like to call a “story boss” – one that’s directly tied to your progression through the game world. The fight doesn’t just happen because you walked into a boss room; it happens because you’ve literally gotten yourself into a situation where you need to face it to continue.
This design choice is brilliant because it creates genuine tension. You’re not mentally preparing for a boss fight – you’re just trying to navigate the world when suddenly the ground starts shaking and this massive creature emerges.
Finding and Triggering the Fourth Chorus
Here’s where things get interesting. The Fourth Chorus location is in the southern part of Far Fields, but here’s the catch – you can’t actually fight it the first time you visit.
The Setup:
- Head south in the Far Fields region
- You’ll reach a point where Hornet gets stuck (you’ll need the Drifter’s Cloak to proceed normally)
- Since you don’t have it yet, you’ll need to find another route
- Complete the Flexile Spines quest – this is crucial as it gives Hornet floating abilities
- Return to that southern area with your new powers
The Surprise: As you’re making your way back out with your newfound abilities, Fourth Chorus decides it’s had enough of your trampling around and emerges for battle. The ground literally gives way beneath you, and suddenly you’re in a fight for your life.
Pro tip: Save your Soul before heading back through this area. You’ll want to be at full health when this surprise boss fight begins.
Understanding Fourth Chorus’s Attack Patterns
Fourth Chorus might look intimidating, but its attack pattern is actually quite predictable once you know what to expect. Think of this boss as having two main “moods”:
Attack #1: The Sweep
This is Fourth Chorus’s bread-and-butter move. It performs a horizontal sweep across the battlefield. The timing is fairly generous – a simple jump will get you over it. The key is not to panic and jump too early or too late.
Attack #2: Ground Destruction
This is where Fourth Chorus gets nasty. It slams the ground, causing sections of the platform to disappear temporarily. What makes this particularly challenging is that the boss spams this ability, gradually reducing your standing room until you’re basically platform-hopping on tiny islands.
Why this matters: The shrinking battlefield isn’t just about making movement harder – it’s about psychology. As your safe space shrinks, it’s natural to feel pressured and make mistakes. Stay calm and remember that the platforms do regenerate.
Strategy #1: The Direct Approach (Recommended for Beginners)
The most straightforward way to beat Fourth Chorus is to target its heads directly. Yes, heads plural – this boss has multiple targeting points on its head area.
Your main tool: The upward attack (Attack + Up direction). This is absolutely essential for this fight.
The rhythm:
- Position yourself below or near Fourth Chorus’s head
- Press Attack + Up to perform an upward strike
- Immediately jump to reach higher head segments
- Repeat while managing the boss’s attacks
Movement tips:
- Stay mobile – never sit still for more than a second
- Use your dash ability to quickly reposition when the ground disappears
- Don’t get tunnel vision on the head; always be aware of incoming attacks
The beauty of this strategy is its simplicity. You don’t need perfect timing or advanced techniques – just persistence and basic attack/movement skills.
Strategy #2: The Environmental Kill (Advanced but Satisfying)
Here’s where Fourth Chorus gets really interesting. In its final phase (after you’ve damaged it twice), the boss fight arena changes dramatically.
What happens: Two wind currents appear on either side of the battlefield. These aren’t just for show – they’re your ticket to an alternative victory.
The environmental kill method:
- Damage Fourth Chorus twice using the direct approach
- Look for the wind currents that appear on both sides
- Use these currents to float up and around the boss
- Target the explosive lava rocks positioned on each side of the arena
- Destroy both rocks to trigger the central rock to fall
- Watch as the falling rock delivers a massive blow to Fourth Chorus’s head
Why try this method?
- It’s incredibly satisfying to pull off
- Gives you a break from the intense close-quarters combat
- Demonstrates Silksong’s environmental storytelling and mechanics
- Makes you feel like you’ve “outsmarted” the boss
Personal note: The first time I discovered this environmental kill, I felt like I’d uncovered a secret. It’s these kinds of “aha!” moments that make Silksong special.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Mistake #1: Panic jumping When the ground starts disappearing rapidly, it’s tempting to jump frantically. Instead, plan your jumps and look for the most stable platforms.
Mistake #2: Ignoring the wind currents Even if you’re going for the direct approach, those wind currents in the final phase can help you reposition safely.
Mistake #3: Not using upward attacks Some players try to damage Fourth Chorus with regular horizontal attacks. The upward attack is much more effective for reaching the head area.
Mistake #4: Fighting when low on health Since this boss appears unexpectedly, you might not be at full health. If you’re struggling, don’t be afraid to restart from your last save if you haven’t made much progress.
What This Fight Teaches You
Fourth Chorus is more than just a boss fight – it’s a masterclass in several Silksong mechanics that you’ll use throughout the game:
- Environmental awareness: Learning to use terrain and environmental elements as weapons
- Upward combat: Many future encounters will require you to attack upward effectively
- Platform management: Dealing with disappearing or unstable ground becomes important later
- Surprise encounters: Silksong loves its unexpected moments, and this prepares you for that
Your Victory Rewards
So what do you get for all that trouble? Fourth Chorus isn’t just about the satisfaction of victory (though that’s pretty sweet). Beating this boss:
- Unlocks your escape route from the southern Far Fields area
- Teaches crucial movement skills you’ll need for tougher encounters ahead
- Reveals environmental combat mechanics that become essential in later areas
- Builds confidence for handling Silksong’s signature surprise encounters
The real reward isn’t an item or power-up – it’s the knowledge that you can handle whatever Silksong throws at you next. Plus, you’ll have a great “remember when I first fought Fourth Chorus” story to tell other players!
Final Thoughts
Fourth Chorus represents everything that makes Hollow Knight Silksong’s boss design brilliant. It’s not just about reflexes or memorizing patterns – it’s about adaptability, environmental awareness, and staying calm under pressure.
Whether you choose the direct head-targeting approach or go for the satisfying environmental kill, remember that both methods are completely valid. The game gives you options for a reason, and part of the fun is discovering which approach feels right for your playstyle.
Most importantly, don’t get discouraged if you don’t beat Fourth Chorus on your first try. This boss is designed to surprise you, and surprise encounters are naturally harder than ones you can prepare for. Take it as a learning experience, and remember – every Hollow Knight boss feels impossible until suddenly it doesn’t.
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Good luck, and may your nail stay sharp!
