I still remember the first time I stepped into Hallownest...

Five years later, Pharloom pulls me back with the same magnetic dread. Let me tell you, the wait was agonizing, but boy, was it worth it. Team Cherry, a tiny team that built both Hollow Knight and Silksong, has crafted something monumental, and in 2026 it's finally in our hands. This is a game that began as DLC and blossomed into a full-fledged title, and the trust the community placed in these developers has paid off in spades.

Pharloom: A World That Breathes

Pharloom doesn't just exist; it exhales. Every corner feels alive, and yet the kingdom is laced with an underlying rot. This is a Metroidvania that rivals FromSoftware's worlds when it comes to lore and environmental storytelling. The biomes work in tandem with the overarching hierarchy of Pharloom, and the sheer amount of subtle nudges tucked into the environment is staggering.



The residents of Pharloom bring the world to life with their comical interactions, especially when they bounce off Hornet's stone-faced stoicism. It's hard not to smile when a bubbly NPC tries to befriend a protagonist who responds with silence and a blank stare. The game is massive—over forty hours if you want to uncover every side quest and secret. You can technically finish in ten to twenty hours, but honestly, that would be a crime. The hidden content is some of the best stuff here.

Combat: A Dance With Punishment

Silksong is no slouch when it comes to difficulty. This is a challenging game, and it will test everyone. Most bosses hit for two masks of damage for every slip-up, meaning every movement, dodge, and parry must be mastered down to the slightest adjustment. That might sound brutal, and it is, but the majority of battles are genuinely memorable.

Still, there are moments when the design feels a little unfair. For instance, running into a stunned enemy's hitbox still deals full damage, and some bosses passively float near Hornet, cornering her in spots where dodging their body is nearly impossible even when they aren't attacking. The hitboxes themselves can also be finicky—sometimes too large, sometimes not large enough. It's a minor frustration, but it does rear its head during tense fights.

That said, the variety in combat is incredible. Tools and crests scattered throughout the world drastically change how you approach each situation. Experimentation is encouraged, and that, combined with easily overlooked secrets and multiple endings, ensures the game feels replayable long after the credits roll. Honestly, I've got to hand it to Team Cherry—they know how to keep me coming back.

Boss fights worth remembering

Unforgettable encounters that feel woven into the setting

A handful of weaker battles with tacked-on mobs and only two mechanics

Flexible build options let you tackle challenges in different ways



Platforming: Tight, Yet Sometimes Slippery

And then... there's the platforming. For the most part, it works beautifully—especially when you're using new abilities to revisit old areas. That's the heart of any Metroidvania, and Silksong nails that sense of progression. But the controls can occasionally get in the way. Hornet sometimes aims in the wrong direction for pogo jumps or dashes, and I've lost count of the inputs that simply didn't register, leaving me vulnerable in vital spots. It's a shame because the platforming puzzles are genuinely creative, but the precision required can feel like a crapshoot.

Presentation: A Beautiful, Decaying Dream

The presentation is nothing short of jaw-dropping. The 2D visuals give life to a depressing yet vibrant world, and each character is dramatically different from the next. The same can be said for every biome, from lush forestry to putrid backwater sewers. The level of detail is unmatched, with the smallest secrets hidden in the impressively detailed dressings of the world.

Audio is equally stellar. Characters speak only in occasional fragments of a fictional language, but that only adds charm while you read their dialogue. The boss music is FromSoftware-grade, and the sound effects emanating from Hornet pull you right into the derelict atmosphere.

Final Thoughts

Pros
Cons

? Gorgeous, interconnected world
⚔️ Occasional unfair hitboxes

? Stunning audio design
?️ Platforming inputs can feel unresponsive

? High replayability and experimentation
? Some boss mechanics feel tacked on

? Memorable encounters and NPCs
? Contact damage can frustrate

Silksong had enormous shoes to fill, and it fills them with style. The world is absolutely gorgeous, the biomes vary significantly, and the amount of exploration on offer is unmatched. The presentation, both visual and audio, nails the atmosphere. Yes, the tight controls can frustrate—especially when inputs vanish at critical moments—and there are questionable combat design choices. But despite those issues, Hollow Knight: Silksong is a game for the ages. In true Metroidvania fashion, it will have you coming back for more, and honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way.

If this review has piqued your curiosity and you're eager to explore Pharloom for yourself, it's smart to shop around before pulling the trigger. Games often drop in price across different platforms and regions, and savvy players know that a few minutes of research can save a significant chunk of change.

That's where a reliable game price comparison tool like DealNest comes in handy. It aggregates current offers from multiple retailers, so you can find the best deal on Hollow Knight: Silksong without having to manually browse every store. With the right price secured, you'll be free to lose yourself in one of the most memorable Metroidvanias in years.

Let me be real with you: Groal the Great is one of those bosses that made me question every life choice that led me to Bilewater. This big, grouchy lump lives in the top area of Bilewater, a swampy, dark corner of Pharloom that feels like it was designed by someone who really wanted to test your patience. Poison lakes everywhere, enemies that hit like trucks, platforming that punishes every slip, and on top of that, the nearest regular Bench is a whole journey away. Honestly, the runback alone was enough to make me want to throw my controller out the window.

But here's the thing — I didn't beat this fight by being some flawless, god-tier player. I beat it by preparing like a lunatic and then cheesing the absolute life out of it. If I can do it, so can you. Let me walk you through exactly how I turned this nightmare into a quick, satisfying victory.



Where to Find the Big Grump

You'll find Groal the Great in the top area of Bilewater. If you haven't been there yet, Bilewater is accessed from Greymoor and the Whispering Vaults, and it's the kind of place that makes you glad you packed extra patience. Before you even think about exploring it, make sure you've unlocked these passive abilities:

Swift Step — unlocked in Deep Docks

Drifter's Cloak — unlocked in Far Fields

Clawline — unlocked in The Cauldron

Cling Grip — unlocked in Sheelwood

Faydown Cloak — unlocked in Mount Fay

I cannot stress this enough: do not try to wander into Bilewater before you have all of those. I did it once, just to poke around, and I couldn't even buy the map. It was miserable. Once you have the full kit, though, the big guy is waiting for you as you make your way up through the region.



Pack Your Cheese Toolkit

This is the fun part. To completely trivialize Groal the Great, you need to stack a few specific tools and upgrades. Here's what I used:

Reaper Crest — lets you equip two of each tool color (two Red, two Blue, two Yellow). We need all the slots we can get.

Fractured Mask or Weavelight — I went with Fractured Mask for the extra life, but Weavelight is also great since it helps you regenerate Silk faster. Bilewater's poison will eat your Silk if you're not careful.

Cogfly — your little mechanical friend that flies out and annoys bosses for you.

Curveclaw or Conchcutter — a long-distance damage dealer. I used Curveclaw because it just feels satisfying to spam.

Pollip Pouch — automatically adds poison to your weapons. Beautiful.

For Yellow tools, I took the Compass (the runback is weird and I hate getting lost) and the Weighted Belt. These aren't strictly required, but they made my life easier.

You'll also want to upgrade your Needle twice with the Pinmaster. For that, you need two Pale Oils — one from the Whispering Vaults, and one from the "Great Taste of Pharloom" quest. And if you really want to squeeze out every drop of damage, grab all four Crafting Kits. You can buy three of them (one from the Forge Daughter in Deep Docks, one from the Twelfth Architect in Underworks, and one from Grindle in Blasted Steps), and the fourth comes from the "Crawbug Clearing" quest.



The Secret Bench Nobody Talks About

Most players think there's only one Bench in Bilewater. They are wrong, and this secret saved my sanity. There's a hidden Bench much closer to Groal the Great's arena, and once you know the route, the runback becomes way more tolerable.

Here's exactly how to reach it:

Make your way up through Bilewater until you find a dark area with several hanging pilgrims.

Head right into the narrow corridor with traps.

Keep moving right, even when the path starts going up, and intentionally drop into a pool of poisonous water.

Break the hidden wall on your right and follow the secret passage. There are no enemies here, just poison water.

Keep progressing left until you find the Bench.

From that Bench, it still takes a couple of minutes to reach the boss arena, but compared to the regular Bench, it's a breath of fresh air. On your way there, just run past every enemy and don't stop to fight. Before fully entering the arena, stop at the entrance and climb the wall above you — there's a hidden spot with extra Silk that's perfect for a quick heal.

Phase 1: The Endurance Test from the Swamp

The first phase isn't even Groal the Great himself. It's a bunch of Bilewater's most annoying regular enemies, thrown at you in waves. This part is all about staying calm and not getting poisoned.

Here's the order of enemies and how to handle them:

Wave
Enemies
Strategy

1
Two moss enemies that spit poison
Watch the bubbles in the ground to predict where they'll pop up. Jump on one's head and hit it three times, then repeat for the second.

2
Two floating moss enemies with spears
Same bubble trick, but they jump a bit higher. Wait for the right moment, then strike each one quickly.

3
Three exploding flies
Move to the side to avoid the spike ambush, then hit each fly three times. Easy, but don't get greedy.

4
One of each moss enemy
Same head-bouncing strategy. After both are down, run to the side again because the spike ambush comes back twice.

5
Two flies and one moss enemy
Mix the strategies. Stay patient, don't panic, and clean them up.

Once the last wave is done, the real show starts.



Phase 2: The Actual Cheese

Now for the good part. As soon as Groal the Great appears screaming in the arena, plant yourself in one of the corners and activate all your Cogflies. Then start throwing Curveclaw (or Conchcutter) at him with zero mercy. Just keep throwing.

He's going to try to ruin your day with poisonous bubbles, a swallow attack, and some nasty shiny projectiles when he gets upset. All you have to do is jump to avoid his moves and keep the ranged damage flowing. The Cogflies will do their little robot thing, the poison from Pollip Pouch will tick away, and before you know it, the big guy crumples.

Seriously, this fight went from "I hate this game" to "wait, that's it?" in about fifteen seconds. It was glorious.

What You Get for Your Trouble

Defeating Groal the Great feels amazing on its own, but you also get the Seeker's Soul, which you need for the "Silk And Soul" quest. Plus, you open up the path to the Putrified Ducts, which is another delightful little corner of Pharloom. But that's a story for another day.



So there you have it. Grab your tools, find the secret Bench, clear those first waves with a cool head, and then absolutely melt the boss with your ranged cheese setup. You've got this — and if you don't, at least you'll have a great story about the time you threw a bunch of Cogflies at a swamp monster.

Once you've toppled Groal the Great and explored every last corner of Pharloom, that familiar itch sets in: you want more games that test your patience, reward your persistence, and make you shout at the screen in the best way possible. But great games add up fast, and not everyone has an endless budget for new adventures.

That's where a little smart shopping comes in handy. Before you pull the trigger on your next purchase, it's worth checking out a steam deal finder like DealNest to catch the best discounts on indie gems and big titles alike. With the right deal, you can grab your next obsession for a fraction of the price — and maybe even find another hidden gem that gives you the same rush as finally putting Groal in his place.

Look, I’ll be straight with you: I spent a hot minute assuming Cross Stitch was just another fancy sewing term in Silksong. Then Phantom rinsed me so hard I started questioning my thumbs. If you want Hornet to parry like a boss and delete enemies with a counterattack, here’s the whole shebang ?️.

? What Cross Stitch Actually Does

Cross Stitch is a parry-and-counterattack skill. Compared with the basic deflect—which just cancels an incoming attack with Hornet’s needle—Cross Stitch is the big sister: time it right and you will swat the incoming attack aside, then immediately slam back with a powerful counter. It’s a defensive player’s dream, but the timing window is tight enough that button-mashing will get you nowhere fast. Trust me, I tried.



?️ The Road to the Exhaust Organ

First things first: Cross Stitch drops after beating the Phantom boss inside the Exhaust Organ. That area sits in the mid-game, on the route to the Citadel for Act Two. My route looked like this:

Start in Greymoor.

Leave through the entrance in the top-right corner to reach Sinner’s Road.

Trudge through the muckroach-infested swamps—bring patience, not bug spray.

Climb your way to the top-left of Sinner’s Road.

Slip into The Mist, which is where things get weird.

Area
What You’re Doing

Greymoor
Exit top-right to Sinner’s Road

Sinner’s Road
Push through the muckroach swamp and go top-left

The Mist
Follow the fireflies after playing the Needolin

Exhaust Organ
Platform up the steaming exhausts to Phantom



?️ Surviving The Mist Without Losing Your Marbles

The Mist is a special kind of rude: no map, and normal navigation just loops you around like a bad dream. The only way through is to find a group of fireflies—those white glowing bugs—and play the Needolin near them. They will flutter off into the distance. Follow them. Rinse and repeat through a few sections, and eventually you will pop out at the entrance to Exhaust Organ.





If you are stuck, don’t panic: the fireflies are basically your GPS, except they are tiny, glowing, and completely uninterested in your frustration.

? Phantom Boss: Small, Angry, and Embarrassingly Fast

Once you hit Exhaust Organ proper, you need to do some platforming up the steaming exhausts. It’s not brutal, but one mistimed jump can send you back to the bottom for another lap, so keep your eyes peeled.



At the top, you will wander into a boss room and meet the Phantom. Let me warn you: she is petite, fast, and absolutely miserable to pin down. Her strikes come fast, so dodge first and poke only when you see an opening. Greed will kill you here faster than my last attempt to “just get one more hit in.”



? The Cool Parry Moment

After you finally beat Phantom, the game treats you to a very slick cutscene. You will need to press the action button to parry her final attack and land the lethal blow. Miss it? No need to cry—just catch the timing and finish the job. Once the boss goes down, Cross Stitch unlocks immediately.

✅ Final Thoughts

Cross Stitch is one of my favorite unlocks for defensive players and anyone who loves parry mechanics from other action games. It makes combat feel crisp, and it rewards good timing with a very satisfying counter. Just remember: the skill is only as good as your reactions. So go get it, and try not to let Phantom turn you into a sewing project.

Unlocking Cross Stitch is just one of those small victories that makes Silksong such a joy to explore. The journey through The Mist and the fight against Phantom are a true test of patience and timing, but the payoff is a move that makes every subsequent encounter feel more controlled. Whether you're a veteran of the first Hollow Knight or a newcomer drawn in by the buzz, these are the moments that make the game worth every hour you sink into it.

If you haven't yet picked up Hollow Knight: Silksong, there's no better time to dive in. You can find the cheapest steam keys at DealNest, a handy place to compare prices and save a bit of Geo before starting your own pilgrimage to Cross Stitch. After all, why pay full price when you can keep your wallet as sharp as your parry timing?

I never expected a feathery cloak to rewrite the way I moved through Pharloom, but Hollow Knight: Silksong has a habit of hiding its best mobility tools behind freezing climbs and spike-lined detours. The Faydown Cloak, Hornet's double jump upgrade, sat at the top of Mount Fay, and after several shivering attempts, I finally brought it home. If you want that extra aerial lift without losing your mind to the cold, here is exactly how I got there, what I needed beforehand, and why the reward is worth every rosary I spent.



The Clawline Before the Cloak

Before I could even think about Mount Fay, I needed the Clawline. That little tool made Hornet's movement feel completely different, but it also meant a detour into the Citadel. I picked up the White Key from the Songclave area, then descended into the depths beneath the Choral Chambers. The Clawline was waiting in the heart of the Whiteward area, and once I had it, I finally felt ready for the climb ahead.

With the Clawline secured, I made my way to the Slab on the left side of the Choral Chambers. If you have already discovered the Bellway fast travel point there, that saves a lot of walking. I exited the Bellway to the left and used the Clawline to sail across a series of hooks, which dropped me right into Mount Fay. That was where I met Shakra sitting near a bench. I rested there immediately and bought the map from her since I had enough Rosaries to spare.



❄️ The Freezing Ascent

The actual climb was a trial of cold, spikes, and careful jumps. I headed left from Shakra's bench and used the platforms to reach the exit above to the right. Outside, the cold was brutal. I definitely lost some health before I reached the first warm area, but Hornet can tank a little frost.

At the top of that first climb, I went inside and kept left. The frigid lake crossing was the first real test. I had to Clawline off enemies while moving fast enough not to freeze. I fell once, but instead of giving up, I kept using the Clawline and bouncing off enemies until I scrambled to safety.

After the lake, I found a sign pointing to a bench. There was a breakable wall below the exit, and cracking it open revealed a bench. The current cost to unlock it is 60 rosaries, down from the 90 it demanded in earlier builds, so one Rosary string handled it. I rested there and exhaled.



Then came the trickiest part. During the next outside ascent, I had to resist double-tapping the jump button too fast. If you start floating with your cloak too early, you lose the full height of the pogo boost. Clawlining enemies gave me the extra jump without needing a second press, so I used that as much as I could.

I eventually reached an upper right platform and floated down through a spiky corridor toward another warm pocket. From there, I kept Clawline jumping between enemies. I also broke a wall on the right that opened a shortcut back to the starting bench. That shortcut was comforting, but I really did not want to die and redo the whole climb.

In the area above, I broke a wall to my left and found another bench. I rested there before the final push. The last platforming ascent was nerve-wracking. I leapt into the next area, moved left over spikes, and took an air current upward. Speed mattered because the cold could freeze me fast. At the top, I went right, inspected the tuning mechanism, and played my Needolin. The large avian creature appeared, and just like that, I received the Faydown Cloak.



? How the Double Jump Feels

With the Faydown Cloak equipped, a second press of the jump button while airborne gives Hornet a full double jump. If I press and hold again after that, she slows her fall, which makes platforming feel significantly more forgiving. The cloak also keeps Hornet warm, which would have been more useful during the climb than after it.

This upgrade opened up new routes and made some tough Act 2 fights much easier. Before I left Mount Fay, I descended the leftmost slope and found the Mask Maker NPC. I did not receive any items from that meeting, but it was worth it just to meet the character. Later, I learned you can accept a difficult delivery quest for that NPC, so I made a mental note to return.

Mount Fay tested my patience, but earning the Faydown Cloak changed Hollow Knight: Silksong for me. If you have the Clawline and enough Rosaries for the benches, the climb is absolutely worth conquering.

If you're just starting your own run through Silksong or picking up the game for the first time, it helps to know where to look for a good price before you dive into the cold peaks of Mount Fay. I always check DealNest game deals whenever I'm about to buy a new title, since price drops and limited-time discounts can make a big difference when you're budgeting your gaming backlog.

That way, you can spend less time worrying about the cost and more time mastering that tricky double-jump timing — and trust me, once you get the hang of it, there's no feeling quite like soaring across the kingdom of Pharloom.

The kingdom of Pharloom is full of dangerous detours and quiet requests, and few side tasks in Hollow Knight: Silksong capture that balance as well as the Advanced Alchemy quest. This mission begins deep in the third act, after Hornet has already begun to understand the strange, shifting politics of the Citadel and the tunnels beneath it. Players who venture into the Wormways will find a claustrophobic region filled with scraping claws, spitting creatures, and a secret chamber that tests their preparation. The walkthrough below describes the entire quest from the initial key hunt to the final hidden encounter.

?️ Gaining Access to the Wormways

The Wormways are not an area that Hornet can simply stumble into. A Simple Key is required to open the way, and these keys are hidden in several locations across Pharloom and the Citadel. Explorers who have been thorough in the early and middle acts will often have one on hand, but those who do not may need to retrace their steps through previously cleared districts. Before setting out, it is wise to stock up on healing items and to check the current tool loadout, because the enemies inside are aggressive and the secret boss at the end can punish careless movement.

Once inside the Wormways, the atmosphere shifts immediately. The tunnels twist downward, damp stone gives way to organic-looking walls, and the sounds of hidden creatures echo from above and below. This is the setting for one of the more unusual alchemy-related tasks in the game.

? Revisiting Alchemist Zylotol

Players who completed the Alchemist’s Assistance quest in Act 1 or Act 2 will already be familiar with Alchemist Zylotol. When Hornet returns to him during the Advanced Alchemy quest, however, he is almost unrecognizable. The alchemist has been experimenting on himself in a desperate attempt to become a direct source of Plasmium. His altered appearance is unsettling, but his request is straightforward enough. He offers to refill Hornet’s Plasmium reserve, which is useful for those who rely on Rosaries, and then hands over a special tool.



The Needle Phial is a small extraction device used to draw Plasmified Blood from living creatures. It functions less like a container and more like a charged weapon. Hornet must equip it, approach an enemy, and hold the input until a distinct click is heard. Releasing at that moment rips the Plasmified Blood out of the target and kills it in the process.

? Collecting Plasmified Blood in the Depths

Descending from Zylotol’s location leads to two main types of hostile creatures. One is a burrowing enemy that can spit projectiles and charge across the floor with little warning. The other clings to the ceiling and attacks from a distance, making it difficult to reach with ordinary melee strikes. Both are dangerous, but both are also viable targets for the Needle Phial.

The extraction process requires patience. A player cannot simply tap the button and expect success. Instead, the phial must be charged while near an enemy, and the charge can be interrupted if Hornet takes a hit. This raises a practical question: how should a player handle two enemy types at once? The safer approach is to eliminate the ceiling spitter first, since its ranged attacks can interrupt the charging sequence. The burrowing enemy can then be baited into a charge, dodged, and struck during its recovery.

This extraction must be completed ten times. It is not necessary to collect all ten samples in one trip, although the enemies do respawn if Hornet leaves and returns. Players who struggle with the timing may want to clear a small room, extract from one creature, and retreat to a safer ledge before repeating the process. The click sound is the most important cue; once it is heard, release the input immediately.

? The Reward: Plasmium Gland

After ten successful extractions, Hornet can return to Alchemist Zylotol and hand over the gathered Plasmified Blood. His wish is fulfilled, and in return he grants the Plasmium Gland. This permanent reward is far more useful than a simple trinket. It allows the crafting of new Plasmium Phials without the need to spend existing reserves.



For any player who combines Rosaries with Plasmium tools, the Plasmium Gland represents a significant shift in resource management. Instead of scrounging for refills or rationing every last drop, Hornet can craft Plasmium Phials more freely, opening up more aggressive or more experimental playstyles in the back half of Silksong.

⚔️ The Hidden Encounter Beneath the Wormways

Before leaving the Wormways, curious explorers should head to the bottom left of the area. There, a breakable wall sits on the left side of a lower chamber. Breaking through reveals a hidden passage that leads to a secret boss encounter. The fight itself is not mandatory, and its difficulty depends heavily on which tools the player has equipped at that point. Those with upgraded needles, strong Plasmium phials, and a full supply of healing items will likely find it manageable, while underprepared players may be caught off guard by the enclosed arena.

Is the hidden boss worth the extra risk? For completionists and players who enjoy uncovering Silksong’s many buried secrets, the answer is almost certainly yes. The Wormways hold more than Plasmified Blood; they hold a quiet piece of Pharloom’s stranger history, tucked behind cracked stone and guarded by something that does not want to be found.

The Advanced Alchemy quest is a compact but memorable part of Hollow Knight: Silksong’s third act. It combines a disturbing NPC arc, a timing-based extraction mechanic, and an optional hidden fight into a single underground excursion. With a Simple Key, a steady hand, and a willingness to listen for the click of the Needle Phial, Hornet can complete the task and leave the Wormways with a rare reward and a new understanding of the alchemist’s obsession.

Completing the Advanced Alchemy quest is a satisfying milestone, but it is just one of many secrets baked into Silksong’s sprawling map. Between the lore, the boss fights, and the steady gear progression, Hornet’s journey offers far more content than a single trip through the Wormways can reveal, which is part of why the game holds up so well across dozens of hours of exploration.

Players who are still on the fence about adding Hollow Knight: Silksong to their collection may want to check the game deals today at DealNest to see if the price has dropped to a more tempting range. Finding the game at a discount makes the investment in Pharloom’s many mysteries easier to justify, and the hours spent hunting down Plasmified Blood will feel all the sweeter when the price tag is a little lighter.

Silksong is stuffed with enough optional sorrow to fill a quiver of needles, but few side stories hit as hard as the Green Prince quest. This melancholy mantis does not hand out a wish slip or spam a quest marker; he simply waits behind a locked door, radiating the kind of tragic energy that screams free me and I’ll make you cry later. For players wondering whether to spend a Simple Key on his cell, the short answer is yes—assuming they enjoy secret kingdoms, rhythm-flavored boss fights, and one of the most poignant rewards in the game. By 2026, most of the player base has dried their tears enough to write guides, so here is how to start the Green Prince quest in Silksong and reach Lost Verdania.



Step One: Free the Sad Bug and Track Him Across Two Acts

First, Hornet needs to reach Sinner’s Road, an area that already smells faintly of bad decisions and rusted locks. The Green Prince is trapped behind a locked door, and freeing him requires a Simple Key. These keys are sold by various vendors, but they can also drop from boss rewards or incidental Wishes, so players rarely need to grind too hard. The cell itself sits on the top-right side of the room; platform over and drop down to find the royal prisoner.

Once the door creaks open, players should exhaust all of his dialogue. This is the official start of the unofficial quest chain—no quest log entry, no marker, just a sad mantis and a leap of faith. After disappearing, the Green Prince will appear in three sequential locations: two in the Choral Chambers and one on the far right of Greymoor. He will not move to the next spot until the previous one has been visited, so curious players should follow the melancholy breadcrumbs in order.

Order
Location
Requirement
What the Green Prince does

1
Choral Chambers, left of Citadel Spa
After prison escape
Chat about the Citadel and shared mistrust

2
Choral Chambers, left ledge of Cogwork Dancers arena
After defeating Cogwork Dancers
Kneel by a defeated Dancer and reveal his wish

3
Far right of Greymoor
After both Choral Chambers visits
Mourn his fallen kingdom and mark the spot





At the second location, the Green Prince kneels beside one of the Cogwork Dancers. He reveals that his wish was for these mechanical performers to be destroyed, making the conversation both a lore dump and a subtle hint that this mantis has a complicated relationship with his own past. Hornet and the Green Prince even share a moment of mutual annoyance with the Citadel, which is about as close to bonding as this game allows.

Step Two: Enter the Green Prince’s Memories With the Elegy of the Deep

After the third meeting in Greymoor, players should mark that location on their map. The Green Prince will stand amid the ruins and mourn his once-great kingdom, and at first it looks like a dead end. However, once Act 3 begins and Hornet descends into the Abyss, she can learn a special song called the Elegy of the Deep. Returning to the Greymoor spot with this ability is the key to unlocking the next phase.

Walk up to the Green Prince and perform the Elegy of the Deep. If done correctly, the world peels back into memory and the ancient, verdant land of Verdania opens up, showing the mantis kingdom at the height of its power instead of the crumbling ruins players have been staring at for two acts.



Step Three: Complete Lost Verdania

Lost Verdania is not a quick zip-through. This ethereal mantis kingdom is full of glowing orbs of light, and each one helps the Green Prince recall a fragment of his past. The more orbs players collect, the more of the zone becomes visible and accessible. To reach the area’s climax, players need to complete six glowing orb challenges, including unlocking the Shrine on the far right of the zone.

At the top of the tall room on the right side of Lost Verdania waits the Clover Dancers boss fight. Like the earlier Cogwork Dancers, these foes move with a beat, but there is a crucial twist: Hornet can only damage the Green Prince, not his ghostly partner. In the first phase, the choreography is clear, but the second phase splits the pair apart, forcing players to track two movement patterns at once. After the second phase falls, a slow-motion cutscene rewards players with a striking white-silhouette image of Hornet cutting down the Green Prince.





Rewards and Why You Should Care

When Hornet wakes from the memory, the tragedy lands hard. The Green Prince is dead, embracing the armor of his partner in what many players call the most heartbreaking scene in Silksong. For completing Lost Verdania, Hornet receives the Conjoined Heart. This is not just a sad souvenir; it is a powerful alternative. Players can use the Conjoined Heart in place of any of the three required Hearts to complete The Old Hearts quest. Anyone struggling with the Heart of the Wild, Heart of the Woods, or Heart of Might now has a beautiful, sorrowful shortcut.



All in all, the Green Prince quest is entirely optional, but skipping it means missing one of Silksong’s finest examples of environmental storytelling and the chance to swap a difficult Heart requirement for a reward earned through memory and melancholy. In 2026, the route still works as described, so grab a Simple Key, follow the sad mantis, and prepare to feel something.

For players who haven't yet wandered into Pharloom, experiencing this quest firsthand is well worth the time investment. Silksong is available across PC, Nintendo Switch, and other platforms, and its base price has remained steady since launch. However, digital storefronts regularly rotate their discount schedules, and physical copies occasionally surface at retailers with significant markdowns.

Before you set off to find the Simple Key and follow the sad mantis through the frozen temple, it doesn't hurt to make sure you're getting the best deal on your copy. If you're shopping around for Silksong or any other title in your backlog, you can compare prices here to see which storefront is currently offering the lowest price in your region.

For decades, Pontiac seemed to do no wrong. The brand built honest, fast, and affordable muscle cars, from the golden-era GTO to the Trans Am made famous by Bo "Bandit" Darville and KITT in Knight Rider. By the late 2000s, though, Pontiac was fighting for relevance. Then came a car that should have changed everything: the 2008–2009 Pontiac G8 GXP. It was effectively a four-door Corvette, a rear-wheel-drive muscle sedan with real global ability. Yet it arrived just as the automotive world was about to collapse.



Could a practical family sedan really deliver supercar-level excitement? Anyone who experienced the G8 GXP knew the answer was yes. Under the hood sat the same 6.2-liter LS3 V8 found in the Corvette, producing 415 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque. Buyers could choose a Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual or a Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic. The chassis was not a lazy straight-line setup either. Pontiac gave the GXP a Nürburgring-tuned FE3 suspension with MacPherson front struts and a multi-link rear, plus larger Brembo brakes. The result? A 0–60 mph sprint in 4.5 seconds and a quarter-mile pass in 13 seconds at 105 mph. For context, that was not far off the V10-powered E60 BMW M5.



At $39,995 when new, the G8 GXP massively undercut comparable German performance sedans. It could seat four adults in real comfort, offered genuine amenities, and still carried subtle menace. The hood nostrils blended neatly into the design, while side skirts, a rear spoiler, GXP badges, and 19-inch wheels wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tires completed the look. This was not the wild, plastic-clad Pontiac styling of the early 2000s. Instead, the G8 GXP looked confident, mature, and quietly aggressive.



Under the skin, the G8 GXP was essentially a re-engineered Holden Commodore from Australia. That was no bad thing, since those cars had dominated the Australian performance scene for decades. The GXP came about because Bob Lutz went looking for exciting global GM products that could be adapted for American buyers. The result was a genuine world-market muscle sedan, with the practicality of an Australian family car and the heart of an American sports car.



So why is the G8 GXP so rare today? Timing, pure and simple. The 2008 financial crisis devastated car sales, and General Motors was teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. Pontiac sold roughly 37,000 standard G8s, but only 1,829 were GXPs. That makes the GXP one of the rarest mainstream muscle cars of its era. Launching a high-performance sedan in that economic climate was a bit like showing up to a somber occasion completely overdressed. The car was brilliant, but the market simply was not ready for it.



By 2026, the G8 GXP has become a bittersweet modern classic. The Hagerty Valuation Tools data from 2025 puts a typical 2009 model at around $24,700. That is not a huge amount of money for such a rare and important muscle car, especially when you consider what it represented for Pontiac. A tidy 2009 GXP with 113,000 miles even sold for about $20,500 on an online auction site, proving that clean examples still trade hands for reasonable money.

Metric
Value

Original MSRP in 2008
$39,995

Typical used value in 2025
$24,700

2008 BMW M5 used value in 2025
$14,720

Recent high-mileage GXP sale
$20,500

Could there be an even crazier version? Absolutely. The G8 GXP SLP Firehawk Supercharged took everything good about the standard GXP and added serious heat. SLP fitted a TVS 1900 supercharger with Eaton internals, a cold-air intake, a PCM tune, a new exhaust system, and progressive-rate springs. The result was between 500 and 550 horsepower and a 0–60 mph time of around 4.0 seconds. That is supercar territory in a four-door sedan. In good condition, a 2009 SLP GXP Firehawk was valued at $40,700 according to 2025 Hagerty data.



In the end, the G8 GXP proved that Pontiac could still build a world-class performance sedan. It had the power, the chassis, the practicality, and the value. Could it have saved Pontiac under different circumstances? Perhaps. But the brand never got the chance to find out. Instead, the G8 GXP became a fitting farewell: a rare, fast, and deeply capable muscle sedan that deserved far more time in the spotlight than it ever received.

For modern enthusiasts, the G8 GXP's legacy lives on not just in the metal but in the digital world as well. From Gran Turismo to Forza, its virtual presence lets fans experience that V8 rush without the collector's premium. And for those who like to build their dream garage — both real and digital — hunting for good deals is part of the fun. Whether you're saving up for a real GXP or just loading up your sim racing library, keeping an eye on prices is key. That's where a reliable game price tracker comes in handy, helping you snag the best titles at the right moment so you can spend more time behind the wheel and less time overpaying.

When players step back into the sprawling kingdom of Pharloom in 2026, the Crawbug Clearing Wish quest remains one of those sneaky tasks that is easy to overlook. Hornet's journey through Hollow Knight: Silksong is packed with optional content, but this particular side quest acts as a quiet gate: completing every Wish in the first two Acts is required to unlock the hidden Act 3 through the Silk and Soul Wish. That makes the hunt for Ragpelts far more valuable than a simple checklist chore. The good news is that once players understand where to pick up the mission and how to cycle one simple farming spot, collecting 25 Ragpelts becomes a quick detour rather than a frustrating grind.



? How to Unlock the Crawbug Clearing Wish

The first step is finding the right board. The Crawbug Clearing Wish is accepted from the Wishwell bulletin board in Bellhart, a small stop that sits naturally along the route between Shellwood in the west and Greymoor to the east. Players who are moving through the story will likely pass this spot, but it can still be missed if they avoid reading the board. Inspecting the Wishwall lets Hornet accept the objective immediately, which asks for at least 25 Ragpelts.



Once the quest is active, players should visit Creige, the NPC in the Halfway Home located near the center of Greymoor. Creige is the actual quest giver and offers useful context about the Craws, the flying creatures tied to the Wish. Talking to this character before farming the Ragpelts is worth the time because it clarifies why these enemies are causing trouble in the area.

? Where to Find and Farm Ragpelts

Ragpelts are dropped by Crawbugs, the flying enemies that appear in various rooms around Greymoor. The tricky part is that Ragpelt drops are not guaranteed. Players could hunt these creatures across multiple screens and still come up short, which makes the quest feel tedious without a plan. Fortunately, there is a much better method.

The easiest farming spot is directly above the Halfway Home, exactly where Creige can be found. From the right exit of the Halfway Home, players can climb the nearby platforms to reach the roof of the building. On that rooftop, two Crawbugs always appear. This creates a tight, repeatable loop:

Leave the Halfway Home through the right exit.

Climb the platforms to the roof.

Defeat the two Crawbugs.

Collect any Ragpelts they drop.

Return inside the Halfway Home.

Go back to the roof to respawn the enemies.

By repeating this cycle, players can accumulate the required 25 Ragpelts much faster than wandering around Greymoor. The key is patience and a quick attack pattern, because even with the convenient rooftop farm, Ragpelt drops still rely on some luck.



? Rewards and the Aftermath of Crawbug Clearing

When Hornet has gathered enough Ragpelts, returning to Creige completes the Crawbug Clearing Wish. The reward is a Spare Crafting Kit, which upgrades the existing Crafting Kit. This is a meaningful boost because crafted tools deal increased damage, improving ranged attacks, traps, and other equipment that Hornet can use during the rest of the journey through Pharloom.

Quest Detail
Information

Quest Name
Crawbug Clearing

Accepted From
Wishwell bulletin board in Bellhart

Key NPC
Creige in the Halfway Home

Objective
Collect 25 Ragpelts

Enemy Source
Crawbugs in Greymoor

Best Farming Spot
Roof above the Halfway Home

Reward
Spare Crafting Kit

There is also a satisfying world-state change after the quest is finished. If players leave the area and return later, Creige will have used the Ragpelts to build a massive scarecrow. That creation drives off the Crawbugs entirely, turning the Halfway Home area into a safe, relaxed spot. It is a small but welcome effect, especially for anyone who wants to catch their breath before moving toward the hidden Act 3 content.

For completionists and story hunters alike, the Crawbug Clearing Wish is a prime example of how Hollow Knight: Silksong rewards close attention to optional objectives. The mission starts as a simple request for Ragpelts, but it connects to the larger mystery of Act 3 and offers one of the more useful crafting upgrades in the game. With the rooftop farming loop near Creige, players can knock out this side quest in no time and return to the wider adventure.

Just as the Spare Crafting Kit makes Hornet’s journey through Pharloom easier without requiring a huge investment of time, smart players often look for similar value in their own gaming setups. A great tool, platform, or title at a bargain price can completely change how a game feels, and the same logic that drives an efficient Crawbug farm can guide someone toward more affordable ways to expand their collection.

For anyone who wants to keep their adventures going without burning through their wallet, knowing where to buy cheap games is a useful edge. DealNest gathers the best deals across platforms, so players can spend less time hunting for discounts and more time hunting for Ragpelts—or whatever the next challenge happens to be.

Last week, in my 2026 run of Hollow Knight: Silksong, I stood before Bellhart's Wishwall and accepted a Gather wish that sounded simple enough: find Silver Bells. The prompt mentioned tunnels above and below Bellhart, so I slid through one route, climbed out the far side, and found nothing. That first empty-handed trip felt like combing a spiderweb for dew at noon—everything looked right, but the thing I wanted had already evaporated.



What makes this Gather quest different is that Silver Bells do not sit in one reliable spot. They spawn somewhat randomly, most often in hall areas where Hornet can scoop them up. The Wishwall's instruction is more of a compass heading than a map, so knowing the two tunnel entries is the real key.

Area
Access
Notes

Upper tunnels
Elevator to the right of Bellhart, then upward from Widow's arena; or enter from Shellwood
Bells often appear in open hall spaces

Lower tunnels
Right of the Bellway; go to the station's far end and attack the wall
Floors may collapse, spikes, Bell Hermit nearby

Upper Tunnels: The Bronchial Path

The upper tunnels coiled above Bellhart like the bronchial branches of a sleeping beast. I took the elevator to the right of town first, then climbed upward from the arena where I had fought Widow. That route folded back into the tunnels I already knew, and I could also slip in from Shellwood. Each pass through those arteries felt different because bell spawns are not guaranteed. I would attack a few enemies, check the wide hall sections, exit into Shellwood, then immediately turn around and run the same route again. On a second pass, the Silver Bells would sometimes appear exactly where the first pass had been empty, as if the tunnels only offered their chimes after I had looked away.

Lower Tunnels: A Cat's Cradle of Brittle Floors

The lower tunnels beneath Bellhart were a cat's cradle strung with brittle floor panels. Accessing them meant heading to the right of the Bellway, entering the station, walking to the far end, and striking the wall until it opened. The passage eventually yawned toward The Marrow. Down there, I had to move with more care because some floor sections dropped out under Hornet's feet, and spikes waited below like punctuation marks at the end of a bad sentence.

I broke every wall and ceiling I could reach to open shortcuts, which made return navigation faster. It also revealed the Bell Hermit tucked just under the Bellway. He is not the warmest NPC in Silksong, but he is at least worth visiting if you are already down there.



After collecting eight Silver Bells across both levels, I made my way back to Bellhart and granted the wish at the Wishwall. The reward was a Rosary Necklace loaded with 120 Rosaries.

Before granting the wish, I settled into a rhythm: upper loop twice, lower dig once, then back to the Wishwall. On my third attempt I had all eight bells. The randomness never fully vanished, but the layout stopped feeling like a maze and started feeling like a loose script. If you miss a bell, don't panic; treat it as an invitation to break another wall or take another pass.

Was It Worth It?

Honestly, if all you want is Rosaries, farming enemies can fill that same purse faster. But if you are determined to clear every Wish in Hollow Knight: Silksong, this one is manageable once you understand the trick. The upper tunnels are best treated as a loop: run, exit, re-enter. The lower tunnels are best treated as a careful dig: break walls, test floors, and keep an eye on the ceiling. With a little patience, the Silver Bells stop feeling like a phantom and start sounding like a very small, very stubborn chorus. For a completionist, that small chorus is enough.

That same quiet patience carries over when building a library outside Hallownest. Between long farming sessions, many players keep a mental wishlist and wait for the right moment to strike on a new title. Instead of paying full price on a whim, I like to set up a careful watch on product pages and catch a drop the instant it comes. That is exactly why I started using this price tracking tool while I hunted for the Silver Bells. It does the repetitive checking for me, so I can spend my time breaking walls and testing floors rather than refreshing store pages all evening.

The best finds always reward a bit of patience. If you are the kind of player who enjoys a well-earned outcome, tracking prices alongside your play sessions keeps the hunt satisfying long after the Wish is complete.

The Deep Docks of Hollow Knight: Silksong have never exactly been a wellness retreat, but by 2026 the Forebrothers Signis & Gron have become the area's fiery mic drop. The fight is a gorgeous two-boss ballet full of spears, lava falls, and the occasional flying rock with a grudge. The cruel part is that reaching the Forebrothers requires a surprise treasure hunt before the first hit even lands. A player must hand over a rare Simple Key, crawl through a hidden lower passage, and remember to equip the Magma Bell. The reward, aside from a very sweaty victory, is access to a whole new slice of the map. So yes, the hassle is worth it—just maybe do some breathing exercises first.



? Before the Brawl: Three Items That Save Your Shell

Before any stabbing begins, Hornet should assemble a small but critical shopping list.

Magma Bell: bought from the Forge Daughter.

Clawline: acquired in the Underworks.

Simple Key: the one truly mandatory item for opening the lower Deep Docks door.

The Simple Key is the real gatekeeper. The locked door in question sits under the Forge Daughter, just east of the Deep Docks main bench. Without it, the Forebrothers might as well be two angry legends on a postcard.



?️ How to Actually Find the Fire Boys

Once the door is open, a player must navigate the entire lower area until reaching the Far Fields connection. In the bottom right corner of that room, a ring waits for the Clawline. Using it opens a secret door to an even deeper level. From there, the path continues west into a tall chamber with a cooling lava floor and a bucket of cooling flintstone. Before pressing onward, climb up to unlock a shortcut back to the Deep Docks bench. Future attempts will thank you for this.



Once the shortcut is open and the Magma Bell is equipped, continue west past the flintstone bucket. Signis will be hanging out with some lesser enemies. At first they scatter, leaving Hornet to fight Signis alone. It is almost polite. It will not last.

⚔️ Phase One: Signis, the Annoying Twin

Two lava falls dominate the sides of the arena. If the Magma Bell is not active, those pillars deal two masks of damage. That is less of a warning and more of a personality test. The same pillars can instantly kill reinforcements and deflect Gron's spear throws, so they are both hazard and very angry helper.



The first phase is all about learning Signis's moveset. His Twinflint Toss is the standout because it gives Hornet time to land hits or heal midair. Reinforcements like Smokerock Sifters and Flintstone Fliers will eventually crash the party, and they should be killed first. Pushing them into the lava falls is not just efficient—it is deeply satisfying. The Magma Bell also reduces damage from the brothers' weapons, as long as Hornet does not eat every single hit. If healing becomes necessary, jumping high into the air is usually the safest bet, though flying enemies can make that risky.



? Phase Two: Gron Joins the Party

After Signis is staggered twice, he calls in Gron, and the duel becomes a 2v1 family reunion. Gron is direct: jump attacks, big cues, and plenty of opportunities to dash out of the way. The real problem is the projectile crossfire. Gron threatens the vertical axis while Signis threatens the horizontal axis. A smart player notes where Hornet was standing when Signis jumped. That position tells them where the spear will fly, which gives just enough time to plan a dodge.



Focusing attacks on Signis is the cleanest strategy. Dispatch him quickly and the fight shifts into its final stage, where Gron gets no new moves but the arena itself starts misbehaving.

? Final Phase: Floor Is Lava, Emotionally

Lava descends intermittently in the center of the arena. The solution is simple: pick one side of the arena and bully Gron personally. Use an angled diagonal jump to avoid his Spear Plunges instead of dashing. This keeps Hornet out of the center nonsense and turns the finale into a manageable one-on-one beatdown.



? So What Does a Player Get?

Beating the Forebrothers does not hand over a shiny trinket immediately. Instead, it unlocks a bench near a shortcut door back to the main Deep Docks, a path to a Memory Locket, and a path to the Diving Bell. That last one matters for a special Act Three quest, so the long-term payoff is real. The Forebrothers are a furnace of a fight, but for players willing to do the legwork, they are one of the best reasons to explore every hidden corner of the Deep Docks.

Fights like this one are exactly the kind of challenge that makes players crave more games with deep combat and intricate boss design. Whether it's another action platformer, a punishing roguelike, or a sprawling metroidvania, the hunt for the next memorable duel rarely stops with a single playthrough.

Expanding that library doesn't have to strain a budget, though. Checking DealNest is a practical way to find the cheapest steam keys for the next adventure, leaving more room in the wallet for the DLCs and soundtracks that follow.