Learn how to get the Shaman Crest in Hollow Knight Silksong Act 3. Complete guide with Silk Soar requirements, location walkthrough, and upgrade options.
TL;DR
The Shaman Crest is Silksong’s most powerful crest, available only in Act 3 after acquiring Silk Soar ability. Go to Bone Bottom’s light hole, enter the Ruined Chapel, use Silk Soar at the lore marker to break through the ceiling, destroy three breakable walls, and claim the crest from a destroyed statue. Allows equipping three Silk Skills simultaneously.
The Shaman Crest represents the pinnacle of Silksong’s crest system – a game-changing equipment piece that fundamentally alters combat capabilities and strategic options throughout Hollow Knight Silksong. Available exclusively in Act 3 and locked behind significant progression requirements, this crest transforms Hornet into a versatile powerhouse capable of devastating enemy encounters.
Understanding both the acquisition process and strategic applications of the Shaman Crest becomes crucial for players seeking to maximize their effectiveness during Silksong’s most challenging late-game content.
Understanding the Shaman Crest: Ultimate Power and Versatility
The Shaman Crest breaks conventional equipment limitations by allowing unprecedented flexibility in skill loadout configuration, making it the most coveted crest in Silksong.
Core capabilities:
- Triple Silk Skills – Equip three different Silk Skills simultaneously
- Blue tool synergy – Enhanced effectiveness with tools like Volt Filament
- Boss encounter dominance – “Hot knife through butter” combat effectiveness
- Strategic versatility – Adaptable to multiple combat scenarios and playstyles
Power level consideration: The description of this crest as “ridiculously overpowered” reflects its genuine impact on game balance – it represents a significant step up from other equipment options.
Prerequisites: The Path to Act 3 Access
Shaman Crest acquisition demands completion of Silksong’s most challenging progression sequence, requiring both story advancement and specific ability mastery.
Essential requirements:
- Act 3 unlock – Complete the secret act access requirements
- Silk Soar ability – Advanced movement skill from The Abyss depths
- Abyss exploration – Successfully navigate one of Silksong’s most dangerous areas
- Combat proficiency – Survive the challenges leading to Act 3 content
Progression reality: These requirements represent dozens of hours of gameplay and mastery of virtually every skill and ability in Silksong’s arsenal.
Act 3 Unlock Context
Act 3 access requires the most extensive preparation of any content in Silksong, involving multiple rare items and quest completion.
Act 3 prerequisites include:
- Four souls collection – Including the Seeker’s Soul from Bilewater
- Silk and Soul Wish fulfillment – Complex quest chain completion
- Advanced story progression – Resolution of major narrative elements
- The Abyss navigation – Successful exploration of the final region
This extensive requirement list means Shaman Crest acquisition represents true end-game achievement rather than mid-game progression.
Silk Soar: The Gateway Ability
The Silk Soar ability serves as both prerequisite and tool for accessing the Shaman Crest, representing advanced movement capabilities earned through Abyss exploration.
Silk Soar mechanics:
- Ceiling breakthrough – Break through environmental barriers above
- Extended mobility – Enhanced movement options in vertical spaces
- Secret area access – Reach previously inaccessible locations
- Input combination – Hold jump + harpoon button simultaneously
Acquisition location: Silk Soar is found in The Abyss depths, requiring successful navigation through Silksong’s most challenging and dangerous environment.
Step-by-Step Acquisition: Ruined Chapel Route
The Shaman Crest’s location in the Ruined Chapel requires systematic navigation through a familiar area using newly acquired abilities.
Starting Point: Bone Bottom Navigation
Begin the acquisition sequence from established infrastructure for convenient access and resource management.
Initial navigation:
- Head to Bone Bottom Bellway – Establish fast travel access point
- Move left from the Bellway station
- Locate the hole with ray of light – Distinctive visual landmark
- Drop down into the illuminated opening
- Enter the doorway to Ruined Chapel on your left
Landmark identification: The ray of light serves as an unmistakable visual cue, making this location easily recognizable even among Bone Bottom’s various passages and structures.
Ruined Chapel: Silk Soar Application
The chapel interior requires specific ability usage to access previously unreachable areas through environmental manipulation.
Chapel navigation sequence:
- Head to the far right of the chapel interior
- Stand in front of the lore marker – Positioning is crucial for success
- Use Silk Soar by holding jump + harpoon button (S on PC, L2 on PlayStation, LT on Xbox, L on Switch)
- Propel through the ceiling – Break through the environmental barrier above
- Continue to the right after ceiling breakthrough
Critical technique: The Silk Soar application at the lore marker specifically breaks through the ceiling above, creating access to previously sealed areas of the chapel structure.
Path Navigation and Wall Destruction
The route beyond the ceiling breakthrough requires both navigation skills and combat application for environmental manipulation.
Progression sequence:
- Follow the revealed path systematically
- Destroy three breakable walls using slash attacks during your progression
- Maintain forward momentum while identifying destructible barriers
- Apply combat techniques to environmental obstacles
Wall destruction technique: Standard slash attacks effectively destroy the breakable walls, though precise targeting may be required depending on wall positioning and accessibility.
Final Approach: The Destroyed Statue
The Shaman Crest’s resting place presents a ceremonial conclusion to the challenging acquisition sequence.
Crest claiming process:
- Drop down into the area containing the destroyed statue
- Stand in front of the statue – Position for interaction range
- Hold down the appropriate button to initiate claiming sequence
- Tap the Bind button repeatedly – Complete the unlock ritual
- Receive the Shaman Crest – Confirm successful acquisition
Ritual significance: The binding process creates a ceremonial feel appropriate for acquiring Silksong’s most powerful crest, emphasizing the achievement’s importance.
Crest Slot Configuration and Upgrades
The Shaman Crest’s full potential requires understanding its slot system and available upgrade paths through additional items and NPCs.
Default Configuration
Initial Shaman Crest acquisition provides a strong foundation with room for strategic expansion.
Starting setup:
- Three white slots unlocked – Immediate triple Silk Skill capability
- Upgrade potential – Additional slots available through progression
- Flexible configuration – Adapt loadout to specific encounter needs
The three white slots alone provide significant power increases compared to standard crest limitations.
Memory Locket Upgrades
Memory Lockets unlock additional blue slots, expanding the crest’s versatility for tool-based strategies.
Blue slot benefits:
- Two additional blue slots via Memory Locket usage
- Enhanced tool synergy – Coordinate with blue tools like Volt Filament
- Strategic flexibility – Balance between skills and tools based on needs
Resource requirement: Memory Lockets represent significant investments, so consider upgrade priorities based on your preferred combat approach.
Eva’s Vesticrests: Maximum Expansion
Eva in Weavenest Atla provides the final upgrade components for achieving the Shaman Crest’s complete potential.
Vestircrest upgrades:
- One yellow slot addition – Expand tool variety options
- One additional blue slot – Further enhance tool-based strategies
- Maximum customization – Complete access to all slot types
Location reminder: Weavenest Atla requires specific navigation and story progression, coordinating well with other end-game objectives.
Strategic Applications: Combat Dominance
The Shaman Crest transforms combat encounters through unprecedented skill combinations and strategic flexibility.
Triple Silk Skill Synergies
Combining three Silk Skills simultaneously creates combat capabilities far beyond normal equipment limitations.
Synergy examples:
- Offensive combinations – Multiple damage-dealing skills for overwhelming attacks
- Defensive coordination – Protective abilities layered for enhanced survival
- Utility integration – Movement and combat skills working in concert
- Adaptive loadouts – Quick switching between encounter-specific configurations
Blue Tool Integration
The Volt Filament and similar blue tools achieve maximum effectiveness when supported by the Shaman Crest’s expanded slot system.
Tool synergy benefits:
- Enhanced electrical effects – Volt Filament coordination with multiple skills
- Resource efficiency – Tools and skills supporting each other’s effectiveness
- Tactical depth – Complex strategies unavailable with standard equipment
End-Game Context and Progression Value
Shaman Crest acquisition marks true mastery of Silksong’s progression systems and combat mechanics.
Achievement significance:
- Complete progression milestone – Represents mastery of virtually all game systems
- End-game preparation – Essential equipment for final challenges
- Strategic culmination – Maximum flexibility for tackling diverse encounters
- Completionist achievement – Ultimate goal for thorough players
The crest’s Act 3 exclusivity means its acquisition coincides with access to Silksong’s most challenging and rewarding content.
Available across Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox, Silksong’s progression system rewards persistence and skill development with tools like the Shaman Crest.
Final Thoughts: The Ultimate Achievement
The Shaman Crest represents the convergence of Silksong’s progression systems – story advancement, ability mastery, exploration achievement, and strategic understanding all combine to unlock this ultimate equipment piece.
Its description as “ridiculously overpowered” reflects genuine game-changing capabilities that justify the extensive requirements for acquisition. The crest doesn’t just provide incremental improvements – it fundamentally alters how you approach combat encounters and strategic planning.
Master the path to Act 3, acquire Silk Soar through Abyss exploration, and claim the Shaman Crest from its ceremonial resting place. With three Silk Skills active simultaneously and expanded tool integration options, you’ll wield power that transforms even the most challenging encounters into manageable confrontations.
The journey to the Shaman Crest tests every skill developed throughout your Silksong adventure, but the reward validates every challenge overcome along the way.
