Hollow Knight Silksong brings players into the dangerous world of Pharloom as Hornet. When you explore this new world, enemies become harder and more dangerous. Your starting weapon will not be strong enough to handle the tough enemies you will meet later in the game.
So, making your Needle stronger is one of the most important things you can do to stay alive. Without better weapon damage, even basic enemies will take too many hits to kill. This makes fights longer and more risky than they need to be.
How to Find the Needlesmith in Hollow Knight Silksong

The Needlesmith works differently in Hollow Knight Silksong compared to the first game. You will not find this important person early in your adventure. Instead, you must complete certain quests and go through certain areas before you can upgrade your weapon.
First, you will need to finish the “An Artsbug’s Hardships” quest in the Capital area. This quest is part of the main story and you cannot skip it. The quest will take you to the right places and let you upgrade your weapon. Without doing this quest, the Needlesmith will stay locked.
Removing the curse in Bellhart opens up another upgrade spot. This gives you more ways to heal and heal faster and weapon improvements as you play. Both places offer the same basic upgrade services, so you can pick whichever one is easier to reach from where you are.
The Deep Docks area also has Smiths, but these only sell new items and gear. They cannot upgrade your Needle, so do not waste time looking for weapon upgrades there. Focus on the main quest areas instead.
Why Needle Upgrades Matter in Hollow Knight Silksong
Weapon upgrades become needed very quickly in the game. Basic attacks that worked fine in the starting areas will feel weak against stronger enemies which is why your damage needs to keep up with the significantly harder difficulty in the later areas.
The game wants you to fight aggressively, especially since you need to get more Silk fast by attacking enemies. Stronger weapon damage means you can kill enemies faster and get more Silk for your abilities. This creates a good cycle where better damage leads to better resource management.
Tips for Finding Needle Upgrade Materials in Hollow Knight Silksong

Getting the materials you need for Needle upgrades requires careful exploring and fighting preparation. The world of Pharloom holds many secrets and hidden areas that have valuable upgrade parts. If you explore the areas well and find an adequate amount of resources, it’ll prove to be more valuable than rushing through the main path.
Enemy drops play a big role in getting upgrade materials. Different enemy types drop different items, so you need to fight many types of enemies to collect everything you need. Learning how to get Rosaries early will help you buy materials from shops when drops are not enough.
Some upgrade materials are hidden in secret areas that need special abilities to reach. You might need to go back to earlier areas once you have new movement options or tools. This makes exploring feel rewarding even after you have been to an area before. Fighting skills also matter when getting materials. Enemies that are tough to kill often drop better rewards. This gives you access to better drops and more upgrade chances.
Planning your path through Pharloom with upgrades in mind will save you time and effort. Know where the Needlesmith locations are and work toward reaching them quickly. This approach will keep your damage good as enemies get stronger throughout your journey in Hollow Knight Silksong.