How to Cheese Moorwing in Hollow Knight Silksong – Easy Strategies & Skip Methods

Moorwing represents one of the more frustrating roadblocks in Hollow Knight: Silksong’s early progression. This aerial boss guards the western exit from Greymoor, and for many players, it becomes a significant difficulty spike that can halt progress toward Shellwood and Act 2.

While there’s certainly honor in learning Moorwing’s patterns and defeating it through skill alone, sometimes you just want to get past this obstacle and continue your adventure.

This guide focuses on unconventional methods to deal with Moorwing – from safe spot cheese strategies to complete skip techniques. Whether you’re struggling with the boss’s mobility, frustrated by repeated deaths, or simply want to explore alternative approaches, these methods can help you bypass one of Silksong’s more challenging early encounters.

Before we dive into the cheese methods, it’s worth noting that these strategies exploit specific positioning and game mechanics that may not have been intended by the developers. However, they’re perfectly legitimate ways to progress through the game using the tools and abilities available to you.

Understanding Moorwing’s Challenge

Moorwing poses unique difficulties that make traditional combat approaches challenging:

Key challenges:

• High mobility that makes consistent hits difficult
• Aerial attack patterns that require precise timing
• Limited safe healing opportunities during the encounter
• Environmental hazards that restrict movement options
• Fast attack sequences that punish positioning mistakes

These factors combine to create a boss that tests players’ mobility, timing, and patience. For players still developing these skills, cheese strategies offer a way to progress while building confidence for future encounters.

The Reaper Crest Cheese Method: Safe Spot Strategy

The most reliable cheese method involves exploiting a positioning advantage using the Reaper Crest’s unique properties. This approach transforms a chaotic aerial battle into a controlled, methodical encounter.

Prerequisites for the Cheese

Before attempting this strategy, ensure you have:

• Reaper Crest equipped (essential for the downward arc attack)
• Access to Halfway Home bench in Greymoor for quick returns
• Basic understanding of air current mechanics in the boss area

Setting Up the Cheese Position

Initial setup:

1. Rest at Halfway Home bench and equip the Reaper Crest
2. Navigate to the Moorwing encounter area
3. Approach Moorwing to trigger the boss fight and get it moving
4. Immediately run to the right once combat begins

Positioning sequence: 5. Ride the air currents upward toward your original entry point 6. Face the left wall at the elevated position 7. Wait for Moorwing to fly directly underneath your position 8. Execute downward arc attacks when the boss passes below

Why This Method Works

The Reaper Crest’s downward arc attack has specific properties that make this cheese effective:

Reaper Crest advantages:

• Heavy arcing slashes with extended reach
• Downward attack range that can hit enemies below elevated positions
• Extra Silk generation from successful hits
• Consistent damage output from a safe position

Positioning benefits:

• Complete safety from Moorwing’s attack patterns
• Predictable boss movement underneath your position
• Consistent hit opportunities as Moorwing follows its flight path
• No environmental hazards to worry about

Execution Tips for Consistent Success

Timing considerations:

• Wait for clear positioning before attempting downward strikes
• Don’t rush the attacks – Moorwing will cycle back around
• Maintain your elevated position throughout the encounter
• Be patient – this method takes longer but guarantees safety

Common mistakes to avoid:

• Moving too early from the safe position
• Attempting regular attacks instead of downward arcs
• Getting impatient and dropping down to engage normally
• Forgetting to equip Reaper Crest before starting the encounter

Complete Skip Methods: Bypassing Moorwing Entirely

For players who want to avoid the Moorwing encounter altogether, there are several potential skip methods that can provide alternative routes to Shellwood.

Method 1: Simple Key Alternative Route

This skip involves accessing the boss area from an unexpected direction, potentially bypassing the encounter trigger entirely.

Requirements:

• Simple Key (purchasable for 500 Rosaries at Bone Bottom shop)
• Knowledge of alternative routing through Greymoor
• Basic progression through connected areas

Strategy:

1. Purchase a Simple Key from the Bone Bottom vendor
2. Follow alternative routing to access the western area from a different angle
3. Use the Simple Key to unlock the gate that bypasses the normal approach
4. Enter the boss area from the left instead of the traditional right-side approach

Important note: This method essentially reverses your approach to the area, potentially avoiding the combat trigger that activates when entering from the standard direction.

Method 2: Flea Caravan Displacement

This more complex skip involves completing a specific quest chain that temporarily occupies Moorwing’s spawn location.

Requirements:

• Access to The Marrow area
• Completion of Fleamaster Mooshka’s quest
• Collection of five Lost Fleas throughout the area
• Proper quest timing relative to other progression

Process:

1. Locate Fleamaster Mooshka in The Marrow
2. Find and collect all five Lost Fleas scattered throughout the area
3. Complete the quest to activate the Flea Caravan
4. Check Moorwing’s normal location – the Caravan may occupy the space
5. Use this window to pass through without triggering the boss encounter

Caveats and considerations:

• Temporary effect – the Caravan may move, causing Moorwing to respawn
• Quest timing matters – other progression may affect this method’s reliability
• Not guaranteed – community reports suggest this works sometimes but not always
• Backup plan needed – be prepared with alternative strategies

Strategic Considerations for Each Method

When to Use the Cheese Method

Best situations for Reaper Crest cheese:

• Struggling with traditional combat approaches
• Want to minimize risk while learning boss patterns
• Limited healing resources for repeated attempts
• Prefer methodical, controlled encounters

When to Attempt Skip Methods

Ideal conditions for skipping:

• Multiple Simple Keys available for experimentation
• Completed necessary prerequisites for alternative routes
• Want to explore different progression paths
• Experienced with unconventional routing

Progression Context and Consequences

Understanding how these methods fit into your overall Silksong progression helps inform your decision about which approach to take.

Post-Moorwing Progression

Successfully dealing with Moorwing (through any method) opens up:

• Access to Shellwood via the western exit
• Threadspun Town quest in Haunted Bellhart
• Progression toward Act 2 and the Citadel
• Additional upgrade opportunities in later areas

Skill Development Considerations

While cheese methods provide immediate progression, consider the long-term implications:

Benefits of cheese strategies:

• Reduced frustration and maintained momentum
• Confidence building through successful progression
• Resource conservation for later challenges
• Alternative problem-solving experience

Potential drawbacks:

• Missed combat experience that could help with future bosses
• Reduced familiarity with aerial combat mechanics
• Possible over-reliance on cheese methods for difficult encounters

Backup Strategies and Contingencies

Since cheese methods don’t always work perfectly, having backup plans ensures you can still progress regardless of circumstances.

If Cheese Methods Fail

Fallback options:

• Traditional combat approach using our complete Moorwing boss guide
• Ability upgrades through other Greymoor areas
• Resource gathering for better equipment and healing items
• Skill practice in safer areas before returning

Preparation for Future Encounters

Use your Moorwing experience (regardless of method) to prepare for later challenges:

• Practice aerial combat in safer environments
• Experiment with different Crest combinations
• Master movement abilities that will help with future bosses
• Build resource reserves for upcoming difficult areas

Community and Ethical Considerations

The Silksong community has varying opinions about cheese strategies and skips. Some players view them as creative problem-solving, while others prefer traditional combat approaches.

Considerations for your playthrough:

• Play style preference – there’s no “wrong” way to enjoy the game
• Time constraints – cheese methods can help maintain progress momentum
• Learning objectives – consider what you want to gain from each encounter
• Future challenge preparation – balance immediate progress with skill development

Whatever approach you choose, remember that Silksong is designed to be challenging but fair. These alternative methods exist within the game’s systems and represent valid approaches to overcoming obstacles.

Ready to tackle Moorwing using these strategies? You can put these methods to the test in Hollow Knight: Silksong on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, or Xbox. Whether you choose the methodical cheese approach or attempt a complete skip, you’ll be one step closer to reaching Shellwood and continuing your journey through Pharloom!