Find the hidden Snare Setter tool in Hollow Knight Silksong’s Weavenest Atla. Complete location guide with requirements, strategy tips, and boss fight applications.
TL;DR
The Snare Setter is a Red Tool hidden in Weavenest Atla’s upper section. Requires Wall Climb (Cling Grip) and Faydown Cloak (Double Jump) to access. Creates explosive silk runes that damage enemies – excellent for boss fights where you can litter the arena with traps. Found via teleporter, climb right wall, jump to hidden upper area.
The Snare Setter represents one of Hollow Knight: Silksong’s most strategically rewarding Red Tools, but finding it requires patience, progression, and a willingness to revisit familiar territory with fresh eyes. This explosive trap-setting tool transforms how you approach both exploration and combat encounters.
What makes the Snare Setter particularly interesting is how it rewards players for thorough re-exploration. Many newcomers to Silksong rush through early areas without realizing that mid-game abilities unlock entirely new sections filled with powerful upgrades. This tool perfectly exemplifies that design philosophy.
Essential Requirements for Snare Setter
Mandatory Abilities
- Cling Grip (Wall Climb): Essential for vertical navigation
- Faydown Cloak (Double Jump): Required to reach the hidden upper area
- Needolin: Needed to access Weavenest Atla initially
Recommended Preparation
- Complete initial Moss Grotto exploration
- Unlock fast travel system for efficient backtracking
- Stock up on healing items for potential combat encounters

Step-by-Step Snare Setter Location Guide
Finding Weavenest Atla
Location: East of Moss Grotto
Access Method: Play Needolin in front of the locked door
Weavenest Atla serves as an excellent example of Silksong’s interconnected world design. What initially appears as an inaccessible door becomes a gateway to valuable upgrades once you’ve progressed sufficiently.
Navigating to the Snare Setter
Step 1: Activate the Teleporter Enter Weavenest Atla and immediately locate the teleporter mechanism. This device transports you to the lower level, setting up the vertical navigation sequence that leads to your prize.
Step 2: Climb the Right Wall Use your Cling Grip to scale the wall on the right side. This ability transforms previously impossible climbs into accessible pathways, demonstrating why backtracking becomes so rewarding in Silksong.
Step 3: Cross to the Left Chamber Jump across the gap and enter the chamber on your left. This transition represents a crucial navigation point – many players miss the subsequent steps by not exploring thoroughly.
Step 4: Locate the Water Feature Walk left until you encounter the water. This landmark serves as your reference point for spotting the hidden area above.
Step 5: Identify the Hidden Upper Section Look up carefully – you’ll notice a previously inaccessible area that becomes reachable with your double jump ability. This hidden section represents the core of Silksong’s progression-gated design.
Step 6: Execute the Double Jump Sequence Use your Faydown Cloak to reach the hidden area, then employ Cling Grip to climb to the top. Turn right to locate the tool pedestal.
Step 7: Claim Your Prize Pick up the Snare Setter from its ceremonial pedestal, officially adding this explosive tool to your arsenal.
Additional Treasures in Weavenest Atla
Hunter Crest Upgrade
Location: Bottom right corner of Weavenest Atla
Value: Enhances tracking and combat capabilities
Don’t leave without securing this crest upgrade. It significantly improves your hunting efficiency and provides valuable combat bonuses for future encounters.
Spool Fragment (Silk Upgrade)
Location: Area below the Snare Setter
Function: Increases maximum silk capacity
This upgrade directly complements the Snare Setter’s functionality by providing more resources for trap deployment. The strategic synergy between these items showcases thoughtful level design.
Mastering Snare Setter Combat Applications
Core Mechanics
Function: Creates explosive silk runes on the ground
Charges: 8 default charges
Resource Cost: Only requires Shell Shards for replenishment
Trigger: Proximity-based enemy detection
Boss Fight Strategies
Arena Control: The Snare Setter excels in boss encounters where you can litter the fighting area with explosive traps. This creates a web of damage zones that bosses inevitably trigger during their movement patterns.
Positioning Tactics:
- Place traps in high-traffic boss movement areas
- Create defensive perimeters around healing spots
- Use terrain chokepoints to maximize trigger probability
Synergy Opportunities: Combine with other tools like the Curveclaw for enhanced battlefield control, or integrate with needle upgrades for comprehensive combat strategies.
Standard Enemy Applications
While effective against regular enemies, the Snare Setter often represents overkill for standard encounters. Your needle typically provides more efficient damage-per-engagement for routine combat situations.
Optimal Use Cases:
- Dense enemy clusters in tight corridors
- Ambush preparation in challenging areas
- Resource conservation during extended exploration sequences

Comparative Tool Analysis
Snare Setter vs. Tacks (Caltrops)
Mobility Advantage: Unlike Tacks, the Snare Setter effectively damages highly mobile bosses that might otherwise avoid ground-based hazards. The explosive radius compensates for precise positioning requirements.
Damage Efficiency Trade-off: While less efficient in damage per hit compared to Tacks, the Snare Setter’s reliability against mobile targets often makes it the superior choice for dynamic encounters.
Strategic Applications:
- Tacks: Better for stationary or predictable enemy patterns
- Snare Setter: Superior for mobile, unpredictable boss fights
Advanced Snare Setter Techniques
Trap Placement Psychology
Understanding enemy AI patterns allows for predictive trap placement. Study boss movement sequences to identify optimal trap positions before engagement begins.
Resource Management
With eight charges available, consider your charge allocation strategy:
- Reserve 2-3 charges for emergency defensive situations
- Use 3-4 charges for aggressive arena control
- Maintain 1-2 charges for unexpected opportunities
Integration with Exploration
The Snare Setter proves valuable during challenging exploration sequences where enemy encounters can overwhelm unprepared players. Strategic trap placement creates safe zones for healing and planning.
Why the Snare Setter Matters
This tool represents more than just another combat option – it embodies Silksong’s philosophy of rewarding thorough exploration with game-changing capabilities. Successfully obtaining the Snare Setter demonstrates mastery of:
- Progressive ability integration
- Environmental awareness and hidden area detection
- Strategic backtracking with new capabilities
- Combat versatility and tool synergy

Planning Your Weavenest Atla Expedition
Optimal Timing
Visit Weavenest Atla once you’ve unlocked both required abilities but before tackling major boss encounters. The Snare Setter significantly enhances your options for challenging fights ahead.
Exploration Efficiency
Combine this expedition with other early game objectives to maximize your progression efficiency. Consider linking with nearby tool acquisition routes.
Download Silksong:
The Snare Setter exemplifies everything compelling about Silksong’s design: hidden treasures that reward exploration, tools that transform combat strategy, and progression systems that make revisiting familiar areas feel fresh and rewarding. Master its acquisition and application, and you’ll have gained both a powerful tool and valuable insight into Silksong’s deeper mechanical systems.