Hollow Knight: Silksong hides multiple finales behind optional quests and a late-game pivot that turns Act 2’s finale into the on-ramp for an entirely new act. If you’re chasing the “true” ending (Sister of the Void), you’ll need to set up a trap in Act 2, then clear a tougher, reshaped Pharloom in Act 3. Below is the cleanest route to that outcome, along with what unlocks the other endings. Spoilers throughout.

Note: you can safely read this for requirements. Specific story beats are kept light where possible. If you’d rather go in cold, start with a standard clear and come back later.

Every Silksong ending at a glance

  • Weaver Queen — standard Act 2 ending
  • Snared Silk — Act 2 trap ending that opens Act 3
  • Sister of the Void — true ending (Act 3)
  • Twisted Child — cursed Act 2 ending (missable)
  • Passing of the Age — extra ending stinger layered onto Sister of the Void

You can see several of these on a single save by reloading after credits. However, once you trigger Snared Silk and the game transitions into Act 3, the other Act 2 endings are locked for that file. Plan your order accordingly.

Standard route (Weaver Queen)

This is your baseline clear. Reach the Act 2 final boss (Grand Mother Silk), defeat her, then choose to bind. You’ll see Weaver Queen roll and credits. There’s also an alternate cutscene variant tied to this outcome that shows Silk’s control spreading beyond the arena; it doesn’t have its own achievement and the trigger isn’t yet well defined.

The Act 3 pivot (Snared Silk)

Snared Silk isn’t a finale so much as a detour into the real endgame. You’re going to prep a trap with Songclave’s caretaker, then spring it after the same Act 2 boss. Typical triggers players have confirmed include:

  • Clear all Wish boards in Bone Bottom, Bellhart, and Songclave (and commonly, a handful of freeform NPC Wishes).
  • Advance the Flea Caravan to its final camp in the Putrified Ducts (expect to collect a lot of fleas; talk to the Fleamaster after milestones to move the caravan).
  • Unlock Hornet’s bellhome in Bellhart (speak to town leadership once you’ve done their board).

When the caretaker starts hinting “it’s almost time,” you’ll be offered the Silk and Soul Wish. Collect four items to arm the snare:

  • Maiden’s Soul — from the Chapel Maid (early-game NPC).
  • Hermit’s Soul — from the Bell Hermit beneath Bellhart (enter the bellway building, break the lower-right wall).
  • Seeker’s Soul — defeat the Bilewater boss in Bilehaven (long stretch with no bench and a multi-wave arena on the way).
  • Snare Setter — Weavenest Atla, in a hidden ceiling room above the bench (enter via the Needolin door in Moss Grotto; double jump required).

Hand these to the caretaker, then refight Grand Mother Silk. This time, play the Needolin prompt instead of binding. You’ll “end” Act 2 as a void portal takes hold, but the world fractures and Act 3 begins on your save slot.

The true ending (Sister of the Void)

Act 3 reshuffles Pharloom and raises the difficulty: enemies hit harder, some bellways are blocked by bosses, and new questlines appear. Your critical path is straightforward thanks to new markers, but the fights are demanding.

To unlock the true finale:

  • Accept The Old Hearts Wish from the Snail Shamans in the Moss Chapel.
  • Claim three “heart” trials at marked locations:
    • Heart of Might — Coral Tower in the Sands of Karak (break the large stalactite outside the arena to create a shortcut; expect multiple enemy waves).
    • Heart of the Woods — access via the Grand Gate elevator: soar to the upper section, crawl the vents, then break a left wall into the shaft.
    • Heart of the Wild — enter Far Fields by soaring from Hunter’s March to a statue room; there’s a small save room just before the boss.
  • Proceed with the “Last Dive” objective to the true final boss. Finish this fight and escape the void to trigger Sister of the Void.

Cursed route (Twisted Child)

This alternate Act 2 ending is missable and must be done before Snared Silk moves the game to Act 3. The setup:

  • Find the Twisted Bud in Bilewater (commonly accessed after progressing a local Wishline).
  • Bring it to Greyroot in Shellwood to undergo a ritual and become cursed. While cursed, you can’t use your silk toolkit and healing is extremely limited.
  • Do not complete the Infestation Operation Wish; it cures the curse and permanently locks this ending on the file.
  • Defeat Grand Mother Silk while cursed to see Twisted Child.
Tip: if you’ve already cured the curse or started Act 3 on a file, you’ll need to use an earlier autosave or a new playthrough for this ending.

Secret stinger (Passing of the Age)

Passing of the Age is an extra cutscene that plays after Sister of the Void if you’ve finished a separate Wish in Act 3. Start by finding the Wish in a secret space above the Pale Lake, then track Mister Mushroom through seven locations across Pharloom (one of these asks for precise platforming). When you’ve done the route, finish the true final boss again to get the added scene.

Suggested order to see everything on one file

  • Weaver Queen (standard bind) — locks nothing; establishes a credit-bearing clear.
  • Twisted Child (cursed) — do this before any cure, and before Snared Silk starts Act 3.
  • Snared Silk (trap) — spring the caretaker’s plan to shift the world to Act 3.
  • Sister of the Void (true) — clear The Old Hearts and Last Dive.
  • Passing of the Age — complete the Wish, then replay the true finale once to append the stinger.

FAQ and practical notes

  • Can I miss the true ending? No. If you’ve triggered Snared Silk and entered Act 3, the remaining steps to Sister of the Void are all within that act.
  • Do I have to 100% the game for Snared Silk? In practice, players report Silk and Soul appears after clearing all three main Wish boards, advancing the Flea Caravan to the Putrified Ducts, and securing your Bellhart home. Some additional NPC Wishes may still be required depending on your progression.
  • Where’s the Bell Hermit? Inside Bellhart’s fast travel building; break the lower right wall.
  • How tough is Bilehaven’s boss for Seeker’s Soul? Expect a long trek without benches, a multi-wave arena warmup, and then the boss. Stock up before entering.
  • What changes in Act 3? Tougher enemy stats and patterns, bellway ambush bosses that reopen fast travel when defeated, and a main quest that’s more explicitly marked on the map.

What to do first if you’re starting fresh

  • Play once for familiarity and take the bind prompt to see Weaver Queen. You’ll reload just before the boss afterward.
  • If you want the cursed ending, secure Twisted Bud and visit Greyroot before doing anything that might cure the affliction. Beat the boss while cursed.
  • Commit to Snared Silk: clean up Wish boards in Bone Bottom, Bellhart, and Songclave; move the Flea Caravan to the Ducts; grab your Bellhart home; gather the four Silk and Soul items; then play the Needolin after the boss to open Act 3.
  • Follow Old Hearts and Last Dive to close out Sister of the Void, then mop up Passing of the Age.

Haven’t bought the game yet? The official site for Hollow Knight: Silksong lists current platforms and storefront links.

Why this structure works

Silksong leans into flexible progression but gates the largest narrative swing behind a specific Act 2 choice. Treat Act 2 as a fork: either bind to roll credits, or lay the snare to flip the board and see the real end. That keeps the standard finale available for first-time players, while letting completionists go deeper without grinding to 100% for a subtle flag. The cursed route is the one true missable; everything else can be layered with a little planning.

If you’re going for all outcomes, keep an eye on permanent actions: curing the curse, and committing the save to Act 3. Everything else rewinds with the post-credits reload.