Hollow Knight Silksong walkthrough: Part 21 (Whispering Vaults) (original) (raw)
Wondering where to go first in the Whispering Vaults of Hollow Knight: Silksong? If you've reached the Whispering Vaults, then your overarching objective in Silksong is clear - gather the three pieces of the Threefold Melody and play them in the Cogwork Dancers' arena. One of those Melody pieces - the Vaultkeeper's Melody - is found deep within the Whispering Vaults, and you'll need to do a lot of platforming and fighting to get there.
In Part 21 of our Hollow Knight: Silksong walkthrough, I'll guide you step by step through the entirety of the Whispering Vaults, saving errant Lost Fleas, collecting Mask Shards, and even obtaining the Pale Oil for upgrading Hornet's weapon along the way.
Want the walkthrough for a different area of the game? Check out our Hollow Knight: Silksong walkthrough hub!
Whispering Vaults walkthrough steps:
- Open the shortcut up to Songclave.
- Obtain the Silkeater.
- Meet Vaultkeeper Cardinius.
- Rescue the Flea atop the west room.
- Obtain the Pale Oil for Plinney.
- Collect the nearby Mask Shard.
- Rescue the Flea above Songclave.
- Drop into Bilewater for the Twisted Bud.
- Exit Bilewater.
- Obtain the next Cogheart Piece.
- Defeat Trobbio on The Stage.
- Obtain the Sacred Cylinder.
- Return to Cardinius to learn the Vaultkeeper's Melody.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
1. Open the shortcut up to Songclave.
Your base of operations while delving into the Whispering Vaults will be Songclave itself, but first we need to find the easy way up to the settlement. From the entrance to the Whispering Vaults, head along to the right and jump over the gap in the next room.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
Here you'll find a slumbering Scrollreader - a big, beefy enemy that's nonetheless fairly easy to out-range and kill with the tried and tested dash-in-attack-dash-out strategy.
Head to the far right-hand side of the path, and you'll see a rather phallic object protruding diagonally out from the ceiling above you. Strike it to make it point downwards, so that you can reach it with a jump and wall-climb upwards.
Once you're up there, walk a little to the left, past the ledge above you, and you'll be able to pay 70 Rosaries to obtain the Whispering Vaults map.
After that, go back and jump onto the ledge, and attack the wall above you to open a shortcut right into Songclave. Rest at the Bench, and then dive back down into the Whispering Vaults.
2. Obtain the Silkeater.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
Drop down the hole to the left of the Scrollreader, and then drop down again. You'll be faced with a flying Lampbearer enemy - I find these are more trouble than they're worth to fight, so just ignore it and run over to the right, past the Drapemite that spawns.
Make your way down the ledges, and you'll see a signposted exit on your right - but ignore it for now. Head to the left now that you're on ground level, and jump over to the left-hand wall above you. Climb up a bit, and then jump over to the small ledge to your right. Strike upwards at the underside of the large block above you, and you'll send it upwards.
Follow the block up to where it now rests, and use it to reach the upper ledge to your right. From here, you can jump over to the exit on the right-hand side - an exit slightly higher up than the signposted one you saw before.
In the next room, break the wall on the far side and wall-climb up the secret area beyond to find a Silkeater in its egg, hanging from the ceiling.
3. Meet Vaultkeeper Cardinius.
Back out of the Silkeater room, and hit the lever on the floor below you to open a trapdoor downwards. Drop down the trapdoor for an easy path back to the signposted right-hand exit below. Head through it now.
Go past the area with the gramophone, and climb the wall directly upwards before jumping off to the left. Up here you'll find a Bench to rest at. You can also walk straight through the wall to the left of the Bench, and then attack the ground beneath you at the bottom of the hole for a shortcut back down.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
Head to the right of the gramophone area again, this time to the very end of the path, and climb upwards. At the top you'll be able to loot a Psalm Cylinder.
Head back to the gramophone, and you'll be interrupted by a new NPC - Vaultkeeper Cardinius. Give him the Psalm Cylinder for some music to play in the gramophone, and exhaust his dialogue for some more information about the Vaultkeeper's Melody you're here to find.
4. Rescue the Flea atop the west room.
Exit Cardinius's room, and head all the way to the left and drop down to the lower level of the main shaft. You'll be ambushed by a Vaultkeeper jumping down from the ceiling; kill it and then jump up over the box to your right to keep descending the shaft.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
Again, there's an exit to your right down here, but don't take it yet. Instead, head to the left, and when you get to the end, use the ledge above you to jump up to where the block is. Hit the block to get it out of the way, offering an easier path up and down the shaft from now on. Then drop down and head through the lefthand doorway.
In the room beyond, there's a breakable wall at the far left side. This leads to a lever, but all the lever does is spawn lots of Vaultborn enemies in this main room, so I wouldn't bother activating it. Back in the main room, make your way up to the ledge above you, and kill the Scrollreader to your right.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
You can then jump over to the far right-hand ledge and continue climbing upwards from there. You'll find another Scrollreader further up, and a Lampbearer too. Use tools to kill them without trouble, and then use the wall to your left to climb up to the moveable block.
The idea now is to keep hitting this same block along its tracks so that it reaches the very top of the room. Follow its path after each hit, and once it's at its final resting point you can leap off it to the right-hand side to rescue a captive Flea in a cage.
5. Obtain the Pale Oil for Plinney.
Now comes an exciting part: it's time for a weapon upgrade!
From the top of the Flea room, head over to the left-hand side and drop down to the exit about a third of the way up the left wall. The room beyond is a puzzle room involving lots of those same moveable blocks, but it's not too hard. There are no "wrong" moves - every time you hit a block, it's the right thing to do.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
Completing the puzzle allows you to reach an exit to the left, which leads back into the Choral Chambers. In fact, you're in the Pale Oil room from before, and now you can reach it! Collect the Oil, and hit the lever to open the trapdoor down below.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
I strongly encourage you now to immediately head down the adjoining Choral Chambers shaft to the Grand Bellway, fast travel to Bellhart, and hand the Pale Oil over to Pinmaster Plinney for your next weapon upgrade.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
Once that's done, you can make your way back to the Grand Bellway and then fast travel to the First Shrine so you can drop back into the top of the Whispering Vaults via Songclave.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
6. Collect the nearby Mask Shard.
Make your way back down the Whispering Vaults, and this time take the right-hand exit opposite the doorway that led you to the Flea and the Pale Oil. Head through the empty room and into the area beyond.
There are plenty of moveable boxes in this room once again, but there's no need to move any of them yet. Drop down the right-hand side, and follow the block's tracks as they verge off to the left. Jump over the block, and then exit through the bottom-left doorway.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
In the dark corridor that follows, hit the ceiling halfway along to open a passage upwards. Climb to the top, and then hit the moveable block above you to shove it higher. Follow it up and out into that first empty room of this path. Now you can use the block to reach the upper ledge, where you can collect your next Mask Shard.
7. Rescue the Flea above Songclave.
Head back into the room with multiple (as yet untouched) moveable blocks. Attack the one in front of you to squish a whole load of enemies in very satisfying fashion. Then jump up and strike the block above you to move it to the right.
With both those blocks now on the right, stand on the lower one and strike the upper one to move it higher. Then move the lower one back to the left so you can climb up.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
On the upper ledge you'll find a number of enemies on the left, including a Scrollreader. Kill them all, and then attack the block above you for a way upwards. Climb up onto that same block and you'll reach a cache of Rosaries - but beware of the Giant Drapemite that spawns behind you.
Now, head over to the right-hand block, stand on it, and jump at the wall above you and to the right. There's a well-hidden passage here you can climb into.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
Follow the path upwards and you'll see it diverge, with one path going further up and another path going to the right. Take the upper path, and exit to the left. This path will take you to a Pilgrim's body that you can loot for a Memory Locket. Then head back down and take the right-hand path.
Ahead of you is a Clawline hook hanging from the ceiling. Before you use it, attack the wall at the right-hand side to reveal a Shard cache. Now use the Clawline on the hook to activate a path directly beneath you. Drop down it, and try to avoid the saws.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
Make your way through this mini obstacle course of moving saws, and then drop down the hole where the terrain gets rockier. As you descend, be aware - there are two paths to take after the first couple of rows of spikes. The first path is just to keep descending downwards, which will lead into Bilewater. The second path is to grab the wall on your left and climb upwards. Take this second path. Be aware that as you cling onto this wall, a boulder will drop from above, so prepare to dodge it.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
Jump over the spikes and keep climbing until you get back into saw territory. At the top is a lever you can pull to pass through a narrow vertical shaft and reach the left-hand side. From here, drop off the left edge and float past the spikes and saws to reach a lower ledge.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
On this ledge is a wheel, and a pressure plate. Spin up the wheel to unleash an air current upwards, and then press on the pressure plate to unlock the entire shaft. Then ride the air current up to the very top, and hit the lever to exit upwards.
You're now back in Songclave, or near enough. From your starting ledge, head to the next ledge over, and then grab the wall on your right and climb all the way up through a brief parkour course. At the very top, you'll find a well-hidden Flea to rescue.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
Drop back down after rescuing the Flea. Your next task will see you return the way you came down that hidden air current shaft, but before you do that, fight your way across to the far left-hand side and take the Psalm Cylinder at the end of the path. You can also flick the lever here to open a shortcut back to the very start of the Whispering Vaults.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
8. Drop into Bilewater for the Twisted Bud.
Head back to the right, and hit the lever to drop down into the air current shaft. Take the second exit to the right as you drop, to get back to the Clawline hook. Drop down again and follow the same path as before - but this time, float all the way down, into the dank depths of Bilewater below.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
Our stay in Bilewater is temporary but important. Swim through the worm-infested water to the right, and drop down to the lower room. Head to the left and drop to the bottom-left ledge, avoiding the flying Swamp Squits as best you can as you go (they explode on death, so be careful - particularly since you can't heal at the moment, being all worm-infested).
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
Break the wall on this lowest-left ledge and head over to the far-left, where you'll find some thick vines to cut through at the end of the path. Follow this trail all the way, including Pogo-ing off the green explode-y balls above the spikes. Break through some more vines, and you'll finally find the object of your detour down here - a Twisted Bud. Fun fact: this little guy squeals whenever you select him in your inventory. Adorable, or annoying? You be the judge.
9. Exit Bilewater.
Now we need to exit Bilewater and return to the Whispering Vaults. Retrace your steps from the Twisted Bud back to where you broke that first wall, and then jump across to the right of the worm water below.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
The path is fairly linear from this point; the main threats are obviously the Swamp Squits hovering about. It's a nasty trek, but make your way to the rope holding up the trapdoor, and break it to continue downward and to the left.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
Jump over the hole in the ground for now and keep heading to the left. Ahead of you is a fairly simple obstacle course, mostly involving some more Pogo-ing off the exploding swamp balls. Climb up the shaft at the end and loot the Pilgrim's body for another Memory Locket. Then head back and drop down the hole to the lower room.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
Glide down this shaft to the very bottom. We're nearly out of Bilewater for the time being; first, head to the left, and break the wall at the end of the path. Swimming through the worm-water in the next room allows you to reach the Exhaust Organ once again. Just a nice little handy shortcut if you ever need it.
Now head to the right and into the next room, where you can finally get out of Bilewater - provided you have the Rosaries, of course. Spend 90 Rosaries to unlock the Bench, and 120 Rosaries to unlock the Bellway (prioritise the Bellway if you don't have enough for both!). Then fast travel to the Grand Bellway, and from there make your way back into the Whispering Vaults.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
10. Obtain the next Cogheart Piece.
From the top of the Whispering Vaults, drop all the way down to the bottom and take the right-hand exit once more, then retrace your steps to reach the bottom-left exit (that darkened corridor where you hit the block upwards in order to reach the Mask Shard). Head through the corridor this time and exit out the left-hand side.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
In the next room, head over to the left-hand side and climb to the very top, where you'll find a lever unlocking the trapdoor above. Another shortcut back to more familiar territory - you don't need to take it right now.
Head to the right of the lever, and then to a downward strike over the moveable block below to move it out of the way, and reach the Rosary cache below you.
Drop to the bottom, and then drop off the left-hand side of the ledge you're on. There's a lot of Vaultborn enemies down here, but you don't have to fight them if you don't want - just dive straight into the left-hand exit.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
Inside you'll find another group of round bells hanging in the air - another memory test, exactly like the one in the Choral Chambers. Push down on the pressure plate to begin the test, after which you must strike the bells in the order shown. The order is as follows, from left to right:
- First Stage: 1-2-7-4
- Second Stage: 7-5-6-4-5
- Third Stage: 2-7-3-5-6-1
Completing all phases will pop up a pedestal from which you can loot your second Cogheart Piece.
11. Defeat Trobbio on The Stage.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
Exit out of the bell room and climb up to the left-hand doorway above you (just below the lever you pulled). Head through it, and follow the path onto The Stage. On the way you'll be able to read a bit of lore on some parchment, detailing one Trobbio - the very singular boss you're about to face.
Follow the path all the way to the Shell Shard cache at the end, and then drop down the hole. Before you take another step (especially to the right), hit the lever next to you, which will open a shortcut back into the Choral Chambers.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
I'd advise you exit to the left at this point, and drop down into the Grand Bellway to rest at the Bench there. That way, you'll have a very short runback if you die to the upcoming boss.
Ready? Okay. Head onto the Stage itself to meet Trobbio.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
This wonderfully entertaining boss isn't actually too challenging, in my estimation. The fight is a matter of evading lots of fireworks and bouncing balls, and remembering that after Trobbio's tornado move he'll always fire off two more tornadoes in either direction. Once you're used to that and his other moves, you should be able to find plenty of quick windows for your attacks.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
In his second phase, Trobbio will start to unleash bursts of light upwards from the ground, but it's all very readable still. You'll need to be quick on the dash button, and use it very often to avoid everything on-screen, but you should cut him down before too long - after which he'll give you an extended death scene well befitting his character.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
12. Obtain the Sacred Cylinder.
Once Trobbio is defeated, head to the right and hit the lever above you to activate the trapdoor above you - another quality of life shortcut. Then drop down and exit to the right, where you'll find an elevator that takes you down into a new part of the Underworks below.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
Once you're at the bottom, hit the lever to your left to open up a shortcut into the rest of the Underworks for later on. Then hit the elevator lever again, but don't ride it upwards; we just want to get it out of the way. Drop down below where the elevator was, and float to the right past the spikes. Try to catch the wall just above the spikes at the end, and then dash or clawline your way to the exit to your right.
The next room is a large area filled with floating pillars to climb up, and nasty Pharlids waiting to ambush you from above. I won't explain everything in this room in minute detail, because it's all fairly self-explanatory. First, make your way up to the top-left of the room, where you'll find a lone metal platform, and a Pharlid scuttling along the wall to the left.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
From this metal platform, jump and clawline over the spikes to your left. Follow this path up to the top, and then attack the breakable section of ceiling above you. This shortcut takes you into the passageway that you once took to get to the Grand Bellway from the Exhaust Organ.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
Now double back to that little metal platform, and this time climb straight upwards to the ledge above. From here you can make your way onto the ledges to your right, and up to the exit in the top-right corner.
Climb up the Exhaust Organ-esque shafts ahead of you. The second-to-last vertical shaft goes all the way upwards, so climb up it and back into the Whispering Vaults.
There's a Bench on your right you can rest at; after which, you can attack the wall above where you came up, for a secret room with a stone statue of a Pilgrim. Play your Needolin here for a conversation with Pious Isamor, a new NPC - and a bit of lore.
That done, head to the left of the Bench and you'll quickly come to a room containing the Sacred Cylinder - the key to learning the Vaultkeeper's Melody.
Exit to the left, and kill the Vaultkeeper that drops from the ceiling. Make your way to the end of the ledge above and hit the block so it moves to the left; then stand on it so you can reach the ledge above that. Hit the second block out of the way for a shortcut back into the main part of the Whispering Vaults.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
13. Return to Cardinius to learn the Vaultkeeper's Melody.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
All that's left to do now is make your way back up to Vaultkeeper Cardinius's room. Speak with Cardinius and give him the Sacred Cylinder; he'll then allow you to play the Vaultkeeper's Melody on the gramophone, allowing you at long last to learn the second part of the Threefold Melody.
Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun/Team Cherry
Hopefully this path helped you to make your way through the Whispering Vaults without too much difficulty, but now we're off to far colder climbs. Join us in Part 22 of our Silksong walkthrough for the dangerous ascent up Mount Fay.