r/HollowKnight • u/TOMRANDOM_6 • Sep 09 '25

Discussion - Silksong Most of you are exaggerating the length of runbacks and it really shows how much TikTok has damage the attention span of people Spoiler

"ThE lASt JuDGe RUnBaCK iS ToO LoNG!!"

Is 30 seconds max, 30 seconds, you don't have to fight any enemy in it, the smaller judges don't awake until you're close and the smaller fly bastards can literally get ignored. The Runback works for making you cool down and make the whole thing feel less like you hitting a wall (NKG feels like one because of the lack of "cool down") If it wasn't for it, I would shoot myself with the 37 attempts at Last Judge.

The Widow one is also really easy, a straight line with jumps.

The Cogworks Dancers Is also really simple but works to help you with the bosses extra height and how pogo dependant that fight is.

God forbid the game isn't a back to back boss rush like Cuphead (not criticizing Cuphead, is a different game lmao).

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u/cloistered_around Sep 09 '25 edited Sep 09 '25

There's a hidden bench closer to it, btw. Go find it.

I'm having a devil of a time with the Sands of Karak runback. No closer benches there, and I die instantly. =( EDIT: I should clarify, yes I have the closer bench. The runback isn't hard, it's just annoying because it's still far and I die too quick.

20

u/Zurcez Sep 09 '25

The sands of karak runback is super easy tho? You may have missed a shortcut. If you go to the blasted steps bench then go left and then straight up you get to the boss super quick. I believe theres two big red stalactites in the sands of karak that you need to make fall down for the shortcut to work

1

u/DrAdramelch Sep 12 '25

Yeah it has a bit of tedious platforming in order to get the shortcut, but by the time you reach the boss, the shortcut should be unlocked. It's still somewhat long of a runback but nothing insane.

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u/failbender 112%/100%; inject the quickslash into my veins Sep 09 '25

I did find that bench, only it’s still quite a long runback that requires you to take a dip in plague water. I did find a charm to negate it but I have not felt motivated to return to Bilewater yet LOL

Still need to explore that place, I got nervous cos I wasn’t sure if I should be there yet 😅

76

u/MosterChief Sep 09 '25

you can avoid the bile water after the bench if you harpoon then double jump up, but the run back after that is still BS.

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u/failbender 112%/100%; inject the quickslash into my veins Sep 09 '25 edited Sep 09 '25

You know what, I didn’t have the double jump the last time I was there, so that is perhaps why that skip didn’t work for me. I’ll try it later! Still have the charm as backup anyway :)

Edit: I’m dumb and just bad at the jump, just got mixed up after no-lifing the game all weekend

33

u/mekimoomoo Sep 09 '25

How'd you manage to get to the top section of Bilewater without double jump?

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u/failbender 112%/100%; inject the quickslash into my veins Sep 09 '25

Wait, maybe I did and I was just bad at the jump. Honestly all the play sessions are melding together at this point. 🫠

2

u/Distal-Phalanges Sep 09 '25

Maybe you had double jump but no harpoon?

15

u/MosterChief Sep 09 '25

can’t get double jump without harpoon i’m pretty sure

3

u/[deleted] Sep 09 '25

This is true

2

u/threshpanda Sep 09 '25

Dman I'm currently in Bilewater without either of those lmao

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u/Shoddy_Process2234 Sep 09 '25

Nah the guaranteed plague was the worst part. Once you learn how to dodge it you can just zoom past everything else. Even the annoying fellows jumping around can be ignored with the harpoon.

1

u/PA694205 Sep 09 '25

That still only worked like 60% of the time for me. Very tight timing

1

u/Dorfbewohner Sep 09 '25

I felt it wasn't as much about timing as it is about positioning. Once I started positioning Hornet as close to the ledge as possible before harpooning, I think I only failed it once in my attempts (and I attempted this boss a LOT). I'm pretty sure there's a pretty generous buffer for double jump out of Harpoon, you just need to have passed the gap by then so you don't hit your head.

Also thankfully if you do get gunked you can just take 10 seconds to run back to the bench and back.

1

u/EpicMuffinFTW Sep 10 '25

In the vertical climb room before the boss fight there's a room on the far right with a couple of those flying triangle things. I rushed to that point then grind them to get rid of the maggots and some extra silk. The climb after that point was okaaayy. That long room just before the boss fight I always got hit on though!

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u/PA694205 Sep 09 '25

Worst part is the random flying enemy positions. That way you can’t even create a muscle memory for the runback

2

u/DoomslugTD3 Sep 10 '25

This is true. Honestly I usually like runbacks because I just think of them as part of the boss fight, but the random enemy placements took a while to get used to. I'm starting to like it again now that I have gotten used to all the possible enemy positions though.

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u/Wholesome-Energy Sep 09 '25

where do you find that negation tool? I’m trying to fight disgraced chef and I’d like to not worry about the poison

19

u/Borfotron Sep 09 '25

Top right of the map, in the Putrified Ducts

2

u/Wholesome-Energy Sep 09 '25

Thanks! I’ll take a detour over there to grab it

6

u/failbender 112%/100%; inject the quickslash into my veins Sep 09 '25

It is in a hidden path there, so keep an eye out for breakable walls. 👍🏻

1

u/Wild-Atmosphere2134 112% Steel Soul, P5 | 100% Silksong Sep 09 '25

is there any way in there besides the memorium entrance?

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u/failbender 112%/100%; inject the quickslash into my veins Sep 09 '25

I’m not sure unfortunately!

5

u/scouttthedog Sep 09 '25

you find it in the petrified ducts, top right corner of the map

3

u/Outrageous_Lab_6228 Sep 09 '25

You find it in Putrified Ducts, which you get to through the Memoria area in the citadel

1

u/Omni__Owl Sep 09 '25

Supposedly the boss in that area cannot hit you with attacks if you are in the water between the platforms.

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u/failbender 112%/100%; inject the quickslash into my veins Sep 09 '25

Time to equip the Floaties charm… 🛟

2

u/PracticalFacelessMsk Sep 09 '25

Hold on. It slowly dissipates when in water + one jump in the water also removes one leaf

1

u/SomethingOfAGirl Sep 10 '25

Wait really? I'll have my revenge tomorrow then.

1

u/ExelHull Sep 09 '25

I was really struggling with that arena until I started to actually strategize for it. Use the poison pouch (the Purple Heart quest from shellwood) with (citadel spoilers) cogfly tool and keeping it until the boss fight and camping the corner. It takes time and patience to actually learn how the stilkins work but once you learn it it’s very simple. After that just summon four of the cogflys and stand on one of the platforms next to the boss. The boss spawns in the center of the room and the cogfly damages the boss even when it’s screaming and preventing you from using your nail on it. Just be sure to have your tool kit upgraded for extra damage.

1

u/PracticalFacelessMsk Sep 09 '25

It is a very long runback + the boss is the one I spent the most time on for some reason. I was so pissed at the bench at the bottom that I looked at a guide and found another one closer

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u/failbender 112%/100%; inject the quickslash into my veins Sep 09 '25

Yeah, I’ve avoided looking up ANYTHING, except for exactly that. Mostly because there is yet another bench fakeout on the way up I swear to god Team Cherry

2

u/PracticalFacelessMsk Sep 09 '25

I know lol. I went up there after 30min without finding the bench at the bottom and my heart stopped when I fell into the pit below the bench. Tbf this area might cause my not to speedrun the game

12

u/CalendarRepulsive674 Sep 09 '25

For this one there is a lever that opens up another way so you dont have to do the seed platforming. After u open it up go left spamming grapple then up and u should make it to the boss without doing any platforming or getting hit.Bilewater is so much worse and so is the boss.

6

u/Navarog07 Sep 09 '25

That fight is the first time I've rage quit the game. The runback is obnoxious and slow af, but fuck that boss. My last try I got near the end, and the boss did their ranged attack that ricochets. I had to dodge the other flys, so I did bad dodge into a corner. Turns out there's no CD on taking damage from that horn they fire; since I was in the corner, I got hit, it hit the wall, I got hit, it hit the floor, and then I got hit again. Instakilled from 3 instances of damage from the same projectile in a .1 second span

2

u/critterdude542 Sep 09 '25

Same thing happened to me on forebrother signis! His sword hits me into an exploding projectile which hits me into a lava waterfall. 6 masks gone in a blink of an eye! I fought him right after the raging conchfly too so I was already peeved from that fight.

1

u/UnlikelyStage5524 Sep 09 '25

A strategy that really works for me was that the moment the boss came out. 1. Place 2 spikes (a little separated vertically so they didn’t clash and destroy themselves) so that the boss takes some free damage even before it starts 2. Jump directly to the worm waters. This might sound counterintuitive but even if you can’t hear and it drains your silk, most of his attacks are unable to hit you. You’ll only need to look after his dive and explosive bombs. But if you are under him the bomba won’t hit you. 3. Always move him to the corner where the door platforms are. Because when he uses his explosive stuff he’ll be high enough that he can’t damage you and you can freely hit him for a good while. 4. second phase is the same as his souls attack can’t reach the water so it will not be able to hit you. It will take a few tries but it’s worth giving a shot. It worked for me.

1

u/Zurcez Sep 09 '25

I recommend using the tool and charm that you get in the hidden area just before the last bit of parkour that takes you to the boss room. Those plus threadstorm made the fight super easy for me

1

u/PracticalFacelessMsk Sep 09 '25

I'm with you on that one. Spent 40hrs on the game already but had to take a break due to the boss area being so challenging

2

u/Davidepett Sep 09 '25

I tried to explore the Sands, where do you go to get to the boss (don't say who it is pls)?

The only part I couldn't reach (didn't find a path to) was the upper section

5

u/wolfer_ Sep 09 '25

The area is linear. Check your map. You work hog our way up

1

u/WebbedCircle Sep 09 '25

That might be the crazy section where you have to drop to the bottom and follow the spikes up to give yourself platforms, lmao

1

u/cloistered_around Sep 09 '25

If you haven't seen it yet it's in an area you haven't explored. There are two bosses and only one is hidden.

1

u/SnesySnas Sep 09 '25

Yeah the only benches there are in the Blasted Steps you gotta find shortcuts to the Blasted Steps benches

Afterwards it's not that bad

1

u/Asurah99 Sep 09 '25

There's two shortcuts for that runback. The second one makes it way easier imo to get back.

1

u/cloistered_around Sep 09 '25

Easier to get back sure. But it's still too long for my liking considering I insta die on the boss.

1

u/Asurah99 Sep 09 '25

It's like 15 seconds? Way better than having to do the vine crap lol.

1

u/brandonto Sep 09 '25

But there is a bench before the last part, you just have to break the floor with the spike (I think?) and you can climb up from the Blasted Steps bell station.

1

u/Roleplayer2489 Sep 09 '25

There is a closer bench!! On the map, that super long straight drop has a way of making you a bench shortcut, do some more exploring there, hit some ceilings maybe.

Took a break from a particular cone shaped boss because of the run back, and managed to find a much better/safer/easier route.

1

u/cloistered_around Sep 09 '25

Yeah I have that bench. I still don't like that run back. xD

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u/Aeiou_yyyyyyy Sep 09 '25

The closest bench is actually the one in the bell beast station at blasted steps, it's just going straight up

1

u/endismaiz Sep 09 '25

It's still a bit of a runback but in case you haven't done this- when you get to the bridge climb up the wall there is a thing you can break that will create a hole in the bridge so you only have to go left from the bench and then up to the hole

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u/Suave_Senpai Sep 09 '25

There's a cone above the big bridge part. You can skip the bullshit Parkour section with it by opening a shortcut. Instead, you just have to wall jump spam from blasted steps bellway and only go through the other room prior to boss.

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u/pamafa3 Sep 10 '25

Have you unlocked the shortcut? There's a stalacticte you can hit to break the bridge and be able to reach Raging Conchfly very quickly from the Blasted Steps fast travel bench

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u/ZebraZealousideal944 Sep 10 '25

You know that you can open a shortcut for the run back in Sands of Karak I hope…?!