If you’ve been playing Hollow Knight Silksong for a while, you’ve probably noticed that healing can be a risky business. Unlike the original Hollow Knight where you could heal one mask at a time, Hornet’s Silk-based healing system restores three masks at once – but leaves you completely vulnerable during the lengthy animation. Enter the Warding Bell, a game-changing Tool that might just save your life more times than you can count.
Let me walk you through exactly where to find this essential piece of equipment and why it should be at the top of your priority list.
Why the Warding Bell is a Game-Changer
Before we dive into the location details, let’s talk about why this Tool is so crucial. Silksong’s healing system is a double-edged sword – you get more health per heal, but you’re stuck in a long animation that screams “please hit me” to every enemy in the area.
The Warding Bell solves this problem elegantly. When equipped, it creates a protective barrier around Hornet during her Bind healing animation. If an enemy attacks you while healing, you won’t take any damage (though the animation will be interrupted). Even better, if you get hit right at the end of the healing animation, you’ll still receive the health restoration AND avoid the damage entirely.
The math is simple: Without the Warding Bell, interrupted heals mean wasted Silk and no health gain. With it, you get protection that can mean the difference between success and failure in challenging encounters.
Step-by-Step Location Guide
Getting to the Warding Bell requires some serious progression through Silksong’s world, so don’t expect to grab this early in your adventure.
The Journey to Far Fields
First, you’ll need to make substantial progress through the game world. The path involves:
- Complete exploration of The Marrow – This underground area needs to be thoroughly explored
- Navigate through the Deep Docks – Head right through this area (check our Deep Docks guide for detailed navigation tips)
- Defeat Lace – This boss encounter is mandatory for progression
- Continue right after the Lace fight – Keep pushing eastward until you reach Far Fields
If you’re struggling with the journey to Far Fields, our Far Fields progression guide covers all the details you need.
Finding the Warding Bell in Far Fields
Once you’ve reached Far Fields, here’s your step-by-step route to the Warding Bell:
Step 1: Get Your Bearings Look for the vertical room with upward-flowing airstreams. This is your landmark area and the starting point for finding the bell.
Step 2: Grab the Map First (Highly Recommended) Before hunting for the Warding Bell, head right from the airstream room into the small chamber ahead. You’ll find Shakra here, selling the Far Fields map. While this costs some Rosaries, having the map makes navigation infinitely easier. For help with spending decisions, check our merchant buying priority guide.
Step 3: Rest and Prepare There’s a Bench and Bellway point right above Shakra’s location. You’ll need to pay some Rosaries to access them, but it’s worth it for the health restoration and fast travel point.
Step 4: Navigate to the Bell Location
- Return to the main vertical room with airstreams
- Head down to the very bottom
- Go left when you reach the bottom
- Enter the small room on the left (it looks like a dead end, but it’s not!)
Step 5: The Hidden Path This is where many players get stuck. The room appears to be empty, but look up and to the right. You can actually jump up to a hidden ledge where you’ll find the Warding Bell resting on a corpse.
Pro tip: If you’re having trouble with the jump, make sure you have your dash ability unlocked – it makes accessing this area much easier.
How to Use the Warding Bell Effectively
The Warding Bell occupies one of your blue Tool slots, so you’ll need to make a strategic choice about what to replace. In most cases, this should be an easy decision – the defensive utility of the Warding Bell outweighs almost any other blue Tool you might have.
Combat Applications
- Boss fights: Essential for longer encounters where you need multiple heals
- Exploration: Allows for safer healing when you’re not sure what enemies are nearby
- Challenge areas: Invaluable in areas with aggressive or numerous enemies
- Learning new areas: Provides a safety net while you’re figuring out enemy patterns
When the Protection Kicks In
The bell’s protection activates the moment you begin the Bind healing animation. The timing is forgiving – even if an attack lands in the final frames of your heal, you’ll still get both the health restoration and damage immunity.
Important note: While you won’t take damage, the healing animation will still be interrupted by enemy attacks. The bell protects your health, not the animation itself.
Strategic Considerations
When to Prioritize Getting the Warding Bell
- You’re struggling with boss encounters that require multiple heals
- You find yourself frequently interrupted while healing during exploration
- You’re attempting challenging areas or optional content
- You want to play more aggressively knowing you have healing protection
Tool Slot Management
Since the Warding Bell takes up a blue Tool slot, consider what you’re giving up. Most players find the trade-off worthwhile, but if you heavily rely on a specific blue Tool for your playstyle, you might want to experiment with different loadouts.
For more insights on optimizing your Tool choices, our crafting guide covers various Tool combinations and strategies.
Why This Tool Matters for Your Silksong Experience
The Warding Bell represents one of Silksong’s most thoughtful design choices. It acknowledges that the new healing system, while more efficient, creates new vulnerabilities. Rather than forcing players to simply “get good” at finding safe healing spots, the game provides a Tool that lets you maintain aggressive positioning while still having access to reliable healing.
This is especially important for players coming from the original Hollow Knight, where healing strategies were quite different. The bell serves as a bridge between the old system’s flexibility and the new system’s efficiency.
Additional Tips for Far Fields Exploration
While you’re in Far Fields hunting for the Warding Bell, consider tackling some other important tasks:
- Map completion: Shakra’s map is essential for thorough exploration
- Bench locations: There are several rest points scattered throughout the area
- Resource gathering: Far Fields has some excellent Shell Shard and crafting material locations
- Side quests: Several NPCs in this area offer valuable rewards
The Far Fields area is substantial, so having your movement abilities fully upgraded will make exploration much smoother. If you haven’t already, make sure you’ve unlocked all available movement options.
The Bottom Line
The Warding Bell isn’t just another Tool – it’s a fundamental game-changer that transforms how you approach combat and exploration in Silksong. The protection it provides during healing can turn impossible encounters into manageable challenges and risky exploration into confident advancement.
Yes, getting to Far Fields requires significant progression through the game, but once you have access to this Tool, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it. The investment in reaching this area pays dividends not just for the Warding Bell itself, but for all the other resources and progression opportunities that Far Fields provides.
Remember: in a game where every heal counts and every mistake can be costly, having reliable protection during your most vulnerable moments isn’t just helpful – it’s essential.
Essential Next Steps:
- Far Fields Progression Guide – Complete walkthrough for this crucial area
- Deep Docks Navigation Guide – Get through this challenging area to reach Far Fields
- HP and Silk Upgrade Guide – Maximize your survivability for the journey ahead
- Shell Shard and Tool Pouch Guide – Ensure you have enough resources for upgrades
Additional Helpful Resources:
- Merchant Buying Priority Guide – Make smart spending decisions with limited Rosaries
- Dash and Movement Abilities – Essential abilities for accessing hidden areas
- Crafting and Tool Strategies – Optimize your Tool loadouts
- Rosary Management Guide – Understanding Silksong’s currency system
- Maps and Navigation – Never get lost in Pharloom
- Fast Travel System – Efficient movement around the world
For New Players:
- Complete Beginner’s Guide – Start your Silksong journey right
- Essential Tips for New Players – Avoid common mistakes
External Resources:
