Bellhart’s silkbound townsfolk are freed by defeating Widow in the chambers above town. This walkthrough shows the quickest way to reach that fight, the one prerequisite you need, and what Bellhart offers once the curse is lifted in Hollow Knight: Silksong.

Prerequisite: Get Cling Grip in Shellwood

You’ll need the wall-climb ability (Cling Grip) from Shellwood to reach the boss above Bellhart. If you haven’t cleared Shellwood yet, do that first.

Step 1: Enter Shellwood from Haunted Bellhart and progress until you reach the central elevator and mid-zone bench. Activate the bench to establish a local checkpoint.

Step 2: Push deeper into Shellwood’s upper paths to the area gated by a mini-gauntlet and vertical platforming. Take time to learn enemy timings; this area previews the precision needed later.

Step 3: Defeat the area boss (Sister Splinter). The fight emphasizes staying close to punish commitments and clearing hazards to reclaim space.

Step 4: Claim the Cling Grip ability. This unlocks wall-climbing, which is required to navigate the tunnels above Bellhart.

Route to Widow (the boss above Bellhart)

With Cling Grip acquired, you’ll approach Widow from the Shellwood side to access an ideal bench shortcut and a safer entry to the boss room.

Step 1: From the right-side Shellwood bench, ride the elevator up and head into the adjoining right-hand section. Use wall-climb to ascend where vertical progress is blocked by tall shafts.

Step 2: Break any thin bell “walls” you encounter to open paths. These destructible barriers are your sign you’re on the correct route toward Bellhart’s upper tunnels.

Step 3: In the tall corridors, clear or bypass winged furms that patrol vertically. Removing them prevents corridor blockages and makes controlled descents safer.

Step 4: When you reach a vertical pit with spikes and a winged furm, wait for the enemy to rise before dropping. Hug ledges as you descend to avoid spike damage.

Step 5: Follow the next winged furm downward into a left-side opening and break the bell wall there. Watch for small bells falling from above as you progress.

Step 6: Before dropping into the boss shaft, take the left passage you’ve just opened to loop back and unlock the nearby Shellwood bench shortcut. This creates a fast run-back for subsequent attempts.

Step 7: Return to the boss shaft and drop in to enter Widow’s chamber. Make sure you’re healed and have silk available before the plunge.

Widow fight — simple plan that works

Widow’s arena fills with bells and falling obstacles. Your goal is to control space, punish predictable pulls, and avoid ceiling hazards during ground scurries.

Step 1: Set your nearest respawn at the bench you opened via the Shellwood loop. This minimizes downtime between attempts and keeps the boss run consistent.

Step 2: When Widow pulls thread from above, step into range for quick hits, then dash out as the bell drops. Bells bounce before disappearing; smacking them away buys space.

Step 3: When Widow scurries across the floor, look up for the delayed falling obstacles that follow her path. Jump into a safe gap and glide horizontally until the sequence ends.

Step 4: Watch for brief recovery windows after more committal attacks. Move in for fast, controlled hits rather than extended combos that risk trades.

Step 5: If you struggle with damage output, favor a faster attack crest. Sustained strings of quick hits help capitalize on short punish windows and keep bells from boxing you in.

Step 6: Use pogo hits on bouncing bells when it’s the safest way to reposition. Only do this with clear sightlines; clipping a second bell can cause avoidable trades.

Step 7: Bind after the fight when prompted to complete the sequence. This finalizes the win and triggers the post-fight reward scene.

Rewards and what opens in Bellhart

Defeating Widow breaks the town’s silken curse, grants a new ability, and reopens Bellhart’s services.

Step 1: Collect Needolin. This needle-and-silk instrument is used at specific gates and doors you’ll encounter later, expanding route options.

Step 2: Return to Bellhart. Vendors reopen, the Wish Board becomes available, and you can access shops for upgrades and supplies.

Step 3: Visit the smithing service to polish your needle. This increases damage so common enemies go down in fewer hits, speeding clears and reducing chip damage over time.

Step 4: Start Bellhart wishes for early gains. The following tasks are nearby, straightforward, and provide useful tools or currency.

  • My Missing Courier: The courier is in Bone Bottom, in the vertical shaft above town. Completing this unlocks new shop inventory, including Multibinder for two-stage healing.
  • Silver Bells: Collect eight bells that spawn in tunnels above and below Bellhart. Open the lower tunnels by striking the fragile wall in the fast travel room’s lower-right.
  • Crawbug Clearing: Accept in Bellhart, then speak to Creige in Greymoor’s Halfway Home. The Craw Lake area to the far right is the most efficient place to farm Ragpelts.
  • My Missing Brother: The second courier is found in Sinner’s Road (above Halfway Home in Greymoor). Completing deliveries later awards solid Rosary payouts; avoid damage to preserve packages.
  • Restoration of Bellhart (Donate): Donate 250 Rosaries at the Wishwell to kick off repairs in town. This is available once Bellhart is active; progress is not immediate but contributes to town improvements.

Optional prep and safety tips

Small adjustments dramatically improve consistency during the route and the boss.

Step 1: Buy the Shellwood and Bellhart maps from the cartographer when available. Clear visibility on vertical paths makes the bench loop and boss drop-in trivial to repeat.

Step 2: Prioritize a mask increase and at least one craft upgrade before extended attempts. Extra survivability and tool damage reduce attrition and shorten fights.

Step 3: Bank excess Rosaries when possible. This mitigates losses during the learning phase and keeps shop unlocks within reach after the fight.

Once Widow falls and Bellhart wakes up, the town becomes a reliable mid-game hub for upgrades and quick tasks. Clear a few wishes right away to strengthen your kit for the next leg.