Hollow Knight Silksong features tougher enemies that require more hits to defeat compared to the original game. Hornet’s needle serves as her primary weapon throughout the adventure, making upgrades essential for survival.
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
To upgrade your needle in Hollow Knight Silksong, you need to find Pinmaster Plinney in Bellhart and bring him specific materials for additional improvements. The first upgrade is free, but subsequent upgrades need Pale Oil from the Citadel area.
How to Find Pinmaster Plinney in Hollow Knight Silksong
To find Pinmaster Plinney in Hollow Knight Silksong, you must first defeat the Widow boss to free Bellhart, then go to the upper right section of the town and look for a building with three white pins above the door. However, reaching him requires significant story progression as players must complete several steps before accessing his services.
To reach Bellhart, travel left from the Moorwing boss area and continue through Shellwood. You will need to defeat Sister Splinter to unlock the Cling Grip ability, which allows Hornet to grab and jump up walls. This skill is necessary to navigate the remaining sections of Shellwood and reach the entrance to the Widow boss fight. Having the best skills equipped will make these boss encounters much easier.
The Widow boss can be found directly above Bellhart, near the upper elevator exit close to the central bench. Once you defeat this boss, all of Bellhart’s residents return to normal, and the town’s vendors and NPCs become available for interaction.
How to Locate the Pinmaster’s Workshop in Hollow Knight Silksong
After freeing Bellhart, head to the upper right section of the town. Look for a building with three white pins above the door or a pin sign marking the entrance. This is Pinmaster Plinney’s workshop. Inside, you will find the needlesmith who offers to sharpen Hornet’s needle completely free as thanks for saving the town.
How to Get Additional Needle Upgrades in Hollow Knight Silksong
This process is similar to upgrading the nail in the first game. To upgrade your needle, you must find Pinmaster Plinney in the town of Bellhart.
The first upgrade is free after you free the town. For later upgrades, you will need to find a rare material called Pale Oil.
How to Get the First Needle Upgrade in Silksong
To get the first needle upgrade, you need to save the town of Bellhart. To do this, you must defeat the Widow boss, which can be found in a room above Bellhart. After you defeat the Widow, the cursed thread that was holding the town captive will disappear. You can then go to Bellhart and find Pinmaster Plinney in a bellhouse with three pins above the door. He will thank you for saving the town by sharpening your needle for free, giving you the first upgrade.
How to Get the Second Needle Upgrade in Silksong
After getting the first upgrade, speak to Pinmaster Plinney again. He will tell you that he needs a special item called Pale Oil to sharpen your needle further. He will give you the quest “Pinmaster’s Oil”. You will not be able to get this item right away. The first Pale Oil is located in the Whispering Vaults. Once you have it, return to Plinney and give it to him. He will then give you your second needle upgrade.
How to Get the Third Needle Upgrade in Silksong
To get the third needle upgrade, you will need to find more Pale Oil. The next Pale Oil can be found by completing the quest “The Great Taste of Pharloom” for Loyal Mergwin in the Choral Chambers. This quest is a long one that has you finding five unique dishes from all over the world. Once you have completed the quest and received the Pale Oil, give it to Pinmaster Plinney for your third upgrade.
How to Get the Last Needle Upgrade in Silksong
The fourth and final needle upgrade also requires you to find more Pale Oil. You can find more Pale Oil in different areas of the game, like the Blasted Steps. After you find another Pale Oil, return to Pinmaster Plinney in Bellhart, and he will give you the final upgrade for your needle.
Completing all four needle upgrades significantly increases Hornet’s combat effectiveness throughout her journey. These upgrades become essential for surviving the increasingly difficult enemies and challenging boss encounters found in the later areas of Hollow Knight Silksong.
Tips for Finding Needle Upgradesin 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 high as enemies get stronger throughout your journey in Hollow Knight Silksong.
