Hidden merchants are some of the most rewarding secrets in Hollow Knight: Silksong. They offer tools, upgrades, and rare goods that can transform Hornet's journey through Pharloom. One such figure is Jubilana, a wandering merchant whose whereabouts are tied to the Wandering Merchant side quest. Why should players bother tracking her down? Because the quest does not just reward a few Rosaries; it permanently adds a useful shop to Songclave. The following guide explains how to start the quest, locate Jubilana in the Choral Chambers, and make the most of her inventory in the current 2026 version of the game.



? Starting the Wandering Merchant Quest

The Wandering Merchant quest becomes available after Hornet defeats the Cogwork Dancers. That boss fight takes place in the Cog Core area of the Choral Chambers region. Once the Cogwork Dancers fall, the path forward opens. Players should continue right until they reach Songclave, a small safe haven that functions much like Bellhart.



When Songclave is first reached, it feels quiet. Only one NPC, the Caretaker, is available for conversation. Speaking to him and exhausting his dialogue is important for understanding the area. After that, the First Shrine bell inside the large building must be activated. This costs 80 Rosaries and unlocks the bench interaction.



Then, leave Songclave, rest at a save bench, and return. A Wish Board will have been constructed. Interacting with it reveals several quests, including the Wandering Merchant request. Accept it to begin the search for Jubilana.

?️ Finding Jubilana in the Choral Chambers

The quest has a single objective: find Jubilana. Fortunately, she is not far from Songclave. She hides in a small room within the Choral Chambers, the Citadel's largest area. The fastest route is through the room where the Cogwork Dancers were defeated, then downward. Alternatively, if Hornet is elsewhere, fast-travel to the Bell Beast station in Choral Chambers and head west.



Once the room is entered, enemies will be present. Jubilana will not reveal herself until they are defeated. Clear the room, then speak to her and exhaust her dialogue. This completes the Wandering Merchant quest. On the next visit to Songclave, Jubilana will have moved in and set up shop next to the Wish Board.



? Rewards and Jubilana's Inventory

The true reward is not a one-time payout. It is permanent access to a new merchant. Jubilana sells several items that can improve Hornet's combat and exploration efficiency.



Item
Price
Effect

Ascendant's Grip
350 Rosaries
Allows Hornet to stick to walls for as long as desired.

Mask Shard
750 Rosaries
Used to increase maximum health.

Simple Key
650 Rosaries
Opens a locked door.

Spool Extender
720 Rosaries
Increases the length of the Silk meter.

Rosary String
80 Rosaries
Consumable that grants Rosaries.

Among these, the Ascendant's Grip is the strongest early purchase. Silksong includes difficult platforming sections that demand wall jumps and extended wall cling. Having the Grip can make those challenges far less punishing. The Spool Extender is another excellent choice for players who rely on Silk skills, while the Mask Shard is a long-term investment in survivability. The Simple Key is situational but can unlock optional rewards. Rosary String is useful only when players need a small Rosary top-up.

? Tips for a Smooth Quest in 2026

Defeat the Cogwork Dancers first. The Wish Board will not appear before that milestone.

Save 80 Rosaries for the First Shrine bell in Songclave.

Exhaust every dialogue with the Caretaker, Jubilana, and the Wish Board.

Rest at a bench and return to Songclave if the Wish Board does not appear immediately.

Clear all enemies in Jubilana's room. She stays hidden until the room is safe.

Use the Bell Beast fast-travel station if the route from Songclave feels confusing.

Buy Ascendant's Grip before luxury purchases. Movement upgrades often matter more than raw stats.

✅ Why the Wandering Merchant Quest Matters

Hollow Knight: Silksong rewards curiosity. The Choral Chambers is enormous, and missing a single side room can mean missing a permanent merchant. The Wandering Merchant quest is a perfect example. It asks for a short detour, a small Rosary investment, and one room clear. In return, Hornet gains access to tools that support many different playstyles.

Is it worth completing in 2026? Absolutely. The quest remains one of the most efficient side activities in the Citadel. It combines exploration, combat, and a lasting upgrade path. For players who want to make Songclave feel like a true hub, finding Jubilana is an essential step.

That same instinct for getting maximum value out of every Rosary is worth carrying over to the real world of buying games. Anyone who enjoys squeezing the most out of a single purchase tends to appreciate a well-curated list of game deals today, where discounts on titles across platforms are gathered in one place instead of scattered across a dozen storefronts.

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I have a confession: I spent my first few hours in Hollow Knight: Silksong treating every new room like a buffet of bad decisions. Then I met Mooshka and the Flea Caravan, and suddenly I had a purpose that was not just poke everything and hope. The Lost Fleas quest is one of the earliest side quests in Pharloom, and as of 2026 it remains the best early-game power spike that does not involve selling your soul to a creepy merchant. You find five fleas, you get Flea Brew, and boss fights become slightly less like slamming my head against a musical wall.



Getting the Lost Fleas Quest

As soon as you leave Bone Bottom, head into The Marrow. You do not need any fancy ability to start this quest, which is great because my early Hornet had the grace of a shopping cart with one wobbly wheel. Find the Flea Caravan near the middle area of the Marrow and talk to its master, Mooshka. You will also see Grishkin and Varga hanging around, plus a Bench that feels like a five-star hotel compared to some later resting spots.

From the Bone Bottom entrance, use the platforms above you to reach the upper area. Make your way right until you hit a vertical structure. Go down, then take the first entrance on your left. Mooshka will explain that the fleas are lost across Pharloom and ask for your help. Accept the quest. Boom, you are now a flea rescue service.



A quick tip that saved my sanity: put on headphones. The fleas cry, snore, and make tiny noises that are easy to miss over combat. Listening for them is like panning for gold in a river of noise, except the gold occasionally snores. There are 15 fleas total, but the quest only needs five. I still recommend grabbing the early five fast, because the reward is a warm hug in tool form.

Five Lost Fleas Locations

Here is the short version for my fellow players who navigate by vibes and regret.

Flea
Region
Ability check
Vibe

1
The Marrow
None
Platforming with aerial enemies

2
Deep Docks
Swift Step
Dash to the upper level

3
Hunter's March
Swift Step helps
Mini-boss then red buds

4
Far Fields
None, but combat
Hidden wall and cages

5
Shellwood
Drifter's Cloak
Spikes, flowers, gliding



1. The Marrow

After you beat the Bell Beast, head right until you enter a big open chamber. Hit the lever, climb the platforms to the top, and enter the room above. This is where my platforming felt like trying to thread a needle while riding a unicycle through a hurricane. There are aerial enemies, so stay patient. The flea is trapped in vines in the upper right corner. You have to loop around from the left side to reach him. It might take a few tries. That is fine. The flea believes in you, probably.



2. Deep Docks

Once you unlock Swift Step, do not leave the room where you got it. Seriously, just look up. Dash your way to the upper level of the chamber. There is a little parkour, because of course there is, and the flea is trapped inside some black eggs. Break him out. This one is a victory lap if you resist the urge to immediately fast travel away like I did the first time.



3. Hunter's March

The third flea is at the beginning of Hunter's March, a small optional region connected to The Marrow. The entrance is guarded by a Skarrguard above the Marrow's prison, near where you first meet Grindle. With Swift Step, you can dash around his heavy attacks and make him look silly. After the mini-boss, go right into Hunter's March. Follow the tricky platforms and buds. Hit the buds for a bounce. When you can go right or up, choose up. Use the red buds, avoid the spikes, and you will find a flea sleeping in a cage at the top. He is having a better day than I was during that spike section.



4. Far Fields

The fourth flea is in a hidden passage on the right side of the main Far Fields chamber. From the Deep Docks entrance, head right into the next horizontal area. Keep walking until you see two red ants chilling around a lantern on a platform above you. Defeat them, especially the one with the skull hat. That guy has main character energy in the worst way.

Clear the area, then sprint and jump up the platforms to the top entrance. Go to the far right side of the room and smash the wall to reveal a secret area. Follow it, jump up more platforms, and take the first entrance on the right. Keep walking right until Hornet gets caught by a cage. Smash it, immediately deal with the red ant that appears on your left, then head right again to free the flea from another cage. This section is like opening a series of Russian nesting dolls, except every doll wants to stab you.



5. Shellwood

The fifth flea is the spicy one. He is trapped in the middle of dangerous flowers and many spikes. You need Drifter's Cloak to glide, so if you do not have it yet, come back later. Once you have it, head to the main area of Shellwood where you first found Shakra. Go right, striking the white roses for a boost, until you can go left or up. Choose up. Climb until you can choose up or down again. Now go down while gliding. Be careful. There are spike walls and annoying flowers that seem personally offended by your existence.

If you make it to the bottom, you will find the flea. I got a little desperate and rescued him before taking a screenshot, so you will have to trust me on this one. My health and silk were full, and I still felt like a nervous raccoon trying to assemble furniture in the dark.



Reward for Completing The Lost Fleas Quest

Congratulations, you are now a certified flea wrangler. Return to the Flea Caravan in The Marrow and speak to Mooshka again. He will offer you the chance to travel with them. Accept it to trigger a short cutscene. The caravan moves to Greymoor, just past the Halfway Home tavern.

Go there and talk to Grishkin. You will unlock the Flea Brew. It is a red tool that increases Hornet's movement and attack speed. Boss fights become considerably easier because you attack faster and end them sooner. When the brew runs out, return to the Flea Caravan and speak to Grishkin again to refill it for free. Free refills in a game this hostile? That is rarer than a calm walk through the Blasted Steps.



Final Tips from a Recovering Spikephobe

Listen for crying and snoring. Headphones help a lot.

You only need five fleas for the quest, but there are 15 total if you want to be thorough.

Do this early in Act 1. Flea Brew is a huge help before the nastier bosses.

If a flea is stuck in a wall, cage, or vines, hit the thing. Usually. Sometimes after you deal with the enemies. Okay, always after the enemies if you value your health.

Do not feel bad if you die. I died so many times that the Bench started charging me rent.

In 2026, Hollow Knight: Silksong still has plenty of ways to humble you. The Lost Fleas quest is one of the few early errands that pays you back with something genuinely transformative. So grab your needle, follow the tiny noises, and rescue those weird little passengers. They may not say thank you in words, but Flea Brew says it in speed. And speed, as every Hornet main knows, is basically survival.

The instinct to hunt down every last flea and squeeze out free refills is the same one that makes a good deal impossible to ignore. If you're planning to pick up Hollow Knight: Silksong, a new controller, or any other gaming gear to make the journey through Pharloom a little less punishing, it's worth checking a few retailers before you commit. DealNest gathers offers in one place so you can compare prices here and keep more of your geo for the important things—like replacing the controller you threw during the Last Judge fight.

Introduction About Federico Valverde



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When I first stepped into the strange, gilded kingdom of Pharloom in Hollow Knight: Silksong, I expected another quiet pilgrimage through ruined corridors. I had played the first Hollow Knight, and I remembered how The Knight drifted through Hallownest like a ghost who never answered anyone. But Silksong, which launched on September 4, 2025, after one of the longest waits in modern indie gaming, did not give me another silent vessel. It gave me Hornet. And from the first conversation I had with a nervous pilgrim, I knew the narrative rules had changed.



The Silence of The Knight

In the first Hollow Knight, I controlled a standard silent video game protagonist. The Knight never speaks, at least not in any clearly defined way. Like in other seminal franchises such as The Legend of Zelda, this muteness is mostly ignored by NPCs. They monologue. They provide exposition. They pontificate without feeling discouraged by the silence of their conversation partner. For a long time, I accepted this as normal. Many games do it. But Silksong's more conventional storytelling approach lays bare the shortcomings of that convention.



I still love the first game. Its atmosphere, its mystery, and its lonely rhythm all worked for me. Yet when I compare my time as The Knight with my time as Hornet, the difference is not minor. It is fundamental. Hornet does not merely exist in the world. She participates in it. She argues, asks, thanks, threatens, and listens. She has a personality, and that personality shapes every encounter.

Hornet Speaks, and the Story Breathes

Not only does Hornet talk, she talks a great deal. She is a princess, after all, and this royal status is reflected by her courteous, chivalrous manner of speech. I noticed it immediately. She takes control in many conversations, exhibiting a cool elegance while still commanding respect and getting what she wants. For instance, if she is lost and needs to know where to go, she will actually ask a friendly NPC for advice instead of just standing there silently while they chip away at some vague, aloof speech. That small change made me feel like an active traveler rather than a passive witness.



This helps give Silksong's narrative more structure in comparison to the first game, but it also goes a long way toward immersion and overall story effectiveness. I found myself remembering names, places, and promises because Hornet treated them as real. When she spoke, the world spoke back. When she asked a question, I wanted to know the answer. That is not something I can say about every silent-protagonist adventure I have played.

A Defined Personality Can Be Easier to Inhabit

A commonly cited advantage of the silent protagonist is their capacity to be a blank slate for the player to project themselves onto. I understand the appeal. In theory, a silent hero lets me become the character. In practice, this does not always work out as planned. It is hard to relate to a character who never responds during conversations, for obvious reasons. I can project only so much onto a mask that never moves.

Despite Hornet having a considerably more well-defined personality than The Knight, she is, in a sense, easier to inhabit as a player. She more accurately represents how someone in her position may actually act. She is not an empty shell. She is a princess, a hunter, a protector, and a stranger in a dangerous land. On top of all this, she is, for lack of a better word, more 'human.' That humanity made me care about her choices instead of merely steering her toward the next objective.



Here is how I would compare the two protagonists after finishing both games:

Aspect
The Knight
Hornet

Voice
Silent
Speaks often

Personality
Blank slate
Chivalrous, royal, cool

Narrative role
Leaf in the wind
Active decision-maker

Player connection
Projection, but distant in dialogue
More human, easier to inhabit

Story structure
Vague and intuitive
Structured and easy to follow

That table captures only part of it. The rest lives in the moment-to-moment rhythm of play. ?️

A More Structured Journey Through Pharloom

Silksong's story is also more structured and easy to follow than the first game's, since Hornet is an active participant. She makes decisions for herself. She makes important contributions that dictate the direction of the story. The Knight, by contrast, is more like a leaf in the wind, going wherever they need to go based on intuition and FromSoftware-style dialog exchanges. I loved that style in 2017, but in 2026 I can admit that it often left me guessing rather than understanding.

With Hornet, I felt like I was following a character rather than decoding a ruin. The music is terrific. The traversal is powerful and satisfying in a way that the first game's was not. The setting, while familiar, is still a world apart from Hallownest. These factors all play an important role in the final experience, but one central narrative element ought not to be overlooked: Hornet is fundamentally different from The Knight. She speaks. She has a personality. And this relatively simple twist makes for a narrative adventure that feels entirely removed from that of the first game, in the best possible way.

In the end, Hornet's crystallized personality, communicated via dialog, makes Hollow Knight: Silksong's story more entertaining, relatable, and well-paced than it may have been otherwise. Now, in 2026, with the launch frenzy behind us, I still think about the conversations more than the corridors. I remember how Hornet asked for help, how she stood her ground, and how she made Pharloom feel like a place where words mattered. For me, that is the real evolution of Silksong. ?️

Once a story lands the way this one does, the natural next move is a second run — or finally convincing that friend who skipped launch week to pick it up. Which brings up a small but real annoyance: prices for Hollow Knight, Silksong, and the wider indie catalog drift constantly between storefronts, and the gap between one shop and another is often wider than you'd expect. Running a quick game price comparison before you hit checkout takes about a minute and usually means your money goes toward the games themselves rather than toward whichever store happened to load first.

DealNest was built around exactly that habit, pulling current listings together in one place so you can spot the lowest price at a glance and judge whether a sale is worth waiting out. If you're filling the space after Pharloom with more Metroidvanias — or just restocking a backlog you'll never finish — it's worth a look before your next purchase.

In 2026, the video game industry still talks about Hollow Knight: Silksong's 2025 launch as a strange, wonderful anomaly. Team Cherry didn't follow the usual script. There were no review codes sent out weeks in advance. There was no lengthy marketing campaign. The launch date appeared just two weeks before the game did. Critics and players alike went in blind. That single decision changed how the community experienced the game, and it changed how the internet talked about it.



Normally, a big release builds a consensus before anyone can buy it. God of War in 2018 is the classic example. The review embargo lifted on April 12, but the game didn't arrive until April 20. For eight days, critics tweeted, podcasted, and generally shouted that the game was extraordinary. By launch, expectations were sky-high. Most players loved it, but a vocal minority was ready to tear it down. That's the usual rhythm: critics get early code, reviews drop, fans react, then the game launches and everyone forms their own opinion.

Silksong skipped that rhythm entirely. The launch date was announced only two weeks ahead. No review codes were available before release. Critics went in as knowing as fans, and they gained access at the same time, too. Once everyone got in, they were confronted with a nails-tough metroidvania soulslike. That made getting a solid read on the game as a whole slow going. Even in 2026, the only real early consensus is that Silksong is hard.

Aspect
Typical big release
Hollow Knight: Silksong

Review codes
Sent weeks early
None

Embargo
Lifts days before launch
No embargo

Launch date
Known months or years ahead
Announced two weeks ahead

Consensus
Forms before launch
Forms slowly after launch

Player experience
Pre-shaped by reviews
Blind, collective, messy

That difference mattered. Reviews eventually arrived, and they were universally positive. But those takes couldn't provide the full picture any more than frustrated Reddit posts about a tough early boss could. The kind of person who can finish Silksong and write a review within a couple of days is not playing it the way most of its audience will play it. A critic on a deadline might rush through, skip side content, or push past a wall that would stop a normal player for a week.



So the internet painted the picture together. Like the parable of the blind men and the elephant, each voice gave only a small piece of a big beast. One player described a brutal boss. Another described a beautiful, haunting area. Another found a secret that changed how they approached combat. No single review could capture the whole thing. There was no critical consensus around Silksong. Players had to come to it together.

This is not an argument against reviews. Critics matter. They analyze craft, context, performance, and design in ways that most players cannot. User reviews have a place, too, but they aren't a substitute for people who have dedicated their lives to thinking critically about games. The problem was not that reviews existed. The problem was that the usual cadence was gone. For once, the community could not outsource its judgment to a score or a tweet. Everyone had to wait, explore, and argue.

? The benefits were real:

Shared discovery felt like a group expedition.

Spoilers were harder to spread because nobody knew what came next.

Every player's experience felt personal and unmediated.

The community had to cooperate instead of competing over hot takes.

?️ The drawbacks were real, too:

Players had no early warnings about performance issues.

Accessibility details were harder to find before buying.

People with limited time could not easily judge whether the game was for them.

Review consensus arrived late, after many had already formed strong opinions.

In 2026, most major games are dissected long before launch. Leaks, datamines, early copies, and endless trailers remove most of the mystery. Silksong proved that a blind drop can still work. It made some players wish for more games they knew nothing about. Not every release can or should do this. A small indie team with a loyal audience has different constraints than a massive publisher with shareholders. But the experiment was valuable.

It showed that mystery has a cost, but also a reward. Knowing nothing meant every discovery belonged to the players first. It meant the conversation grew slowly, shaped by thousands of individual experiences instead of one embargoed review. ? In the end, Silksong's launch was not just about a game. It was about how players build meaning together when nobody has the answers yet. Sometimes the best part is figuring it out as a community.

The one thing a blind drop cannot do is tell you what a fair price looks like. When nobody has reviewed a game yet, the storefront price is the only signal you have, and it is rarely a neutral one. Patience becomes its own kind of advantage here: waiting a few weeks can mean the difference between paying full launch price and picking the game up during a sale, and knowing where prices sit across storefronts turns that waiting into a decision rather than a gamble.

That is the gap a site like DealNest fills. Its game price comparison tools show how much a title costs across different sellers, so you can tell at a glance whether a discount is genuinely worth acting on or just marketing noise. Whether you jump in on day one or hold out for a better number, having that context means the only mystery left to enjoy is the one inside the game.

Hollow Knight: Silksong: The Underworks Guide to Not Getting Steam-Cooked

As of 2026, the Underworks remains one of Hollow Knight: Silksong's most charmingly hostile detours. After the Last Judge finally stops being a nightmare and the Grand Gate swings open, the game whispers sweet promises about the Citadel. Then the elevator coughs, dies, and drops the player into a dark industrial basement. The Underworks is less a zone and more a grumpy landlord with a pipe wrench, and it has three main visits' worth of secrets, spikes, and steam-powered bad manners. Here is how to survive all of them without losing one's mind, or at least not all of it.



Visit One: Down the Chute, Up to Choral Chamber

From the landing spot after the elevator betrayal, the player can pay 15 Rosaries for a bench. It is technically an option, but the way down from the Grand Gate is blocked, so the bench is about as useful as a chocolate teapot. Death will respawn them nearby anyway. Save the coin.

Instead, head down first. Avoid alerting enemies while dropping into a small spike corridor on the right. Carefully navigate it to grab the Delver's Drill Tool. Then climb back up, deal with the Underpoke enemies, and rise until a lever lowers a hanging platform. On the left, a signposted area hides a Bone Scroll through a hidden pathway. While in that room, also pick up the Map of the Underworks.



Back out and to the right, the enclosed Underworks begin in earnest. Mechanical spiky contraptions demand speed and dashing. Move fast, dash often, and do not let the moving spiky squares get too familiar. After that, the player can go left into a room with an Undercrank and reveal a hidden Shard Bundle, or continue right to a crossroads marked by a spiky square moving in an upside-down L shape.

Going up here leads to a hidden path and an NPC named Loam, who powers all of the Underworks. He is not useful yet, but it is genuinely cool to see how the sausage is made. Otherwise, head right and ignore him. Then ascend through various Underwork enemies until a sign on the left points to a bench. It costs 25 Rosaries, so bring cash. Before leaving, check the left wall for secret passageways; a Memory Locket is very close by.



Continue left and carefully navigate platforms while avoiding spikes and hot steam. Then prepare for an enemy wave. First comes an Undercrank, then an Underpoke, then another group of the same variety. The trick is to kill the flying enemy first, then keep the larger enemy at arm's length and chip away. This opens the way to the top of the starting area. Drop to the bridge below and activate the switch to open a shortcut linking the start and the current location. Ascend again and take the highest exit on the right.

What follows is a maze of dark corridors filled with Drapeflies and Drapemites. Keep heading up until a switch opens a latch to the Choral Chambers. That ends the first spell in the Underworks. Good grief, but it is only the beginning.

Visit Two: The Cauldron and the Clawline

After Choral Chambers and Whiteward, the player eventually returns to the Underworks on the other side of the barrier leading to the Cauldron. Head left, rest at the nearby bench, then go left and down into the Cauldron. There is an option to head back and use the shortcut, but progression wants an updraft and a glide upward.

From there, descend slowly. The best approach is to glide and pogo on enemies as they appear, because trying to dodge everything can lead to being overwhelmed. At the bottom, go left through a room of exploding enemies for a chance to collect one of the Lost Fleas. Before heading right into the lava waterfall section, head up and left into an arena battle.

The arena throws the following at the player:

Wave
Enemies

1
1x Underworker, 1x Underloft

2
1x Underworker, 1x Underloft, 1x Undersweep

3
1x Underloft, 1x Undercrank

4
1x Undercrank (breaks floor and dies)

5
1x Underloft, 1x Underpoke

This fight is brutally difficult. Platforms are limited, some cannot be stood on for long, and enemies swarm like they are paid overtime. Survive, and the reward is a Spool Fragment and a shortcut.



After the arena, head back out and right, past the exploding enemy and through a long hall filled with lava. This leads to a tricky platforming section with temporary platforms, ceiling lava, exploding enemies, and hot coals that cannot be stood on for too long. The key is to hop on the coals as the safest platform, then time dashes through the breaks in the lava.

Head back and up afterward to acquire the Clawline, a grappling hook power that is extremely useful. The room then alters, and the player must use the new Clawline to ascend out, closing the Cauldron loop and spitting them out near the initial bench of this portion.

Before checking out, use the bench, then grapple up above to access the Twelfth Architect, a merchant who sells helpful gear, including the Architect's Key and various great tools. Left of the Architect is a spiky area with Underpoke enemies. Glide deep into it to uncover another Spool Fragment.



Visit Three: Trobbio's Stage and the Grand Bellway Shortcut

The final round of new Underworks exploration likely comes after defeating Trobbio. Exit stage left and head through the Whispering Vaults, which links back to the Underworks. With the Clawline in hand, the player can explore this area fully, unlocking new shortcuts to the Grand Bellway and earning a Memory Locket in the bargain.

This route eventually links the Underworks with the Exhaust Organ, though sadly not from this side. And with that, the Underworks has offered up nearly everything it has. Congratulations are in order, along with a long bath and perhaps a quiet scream.

Quick Underworks Checklist

Item or Shortcut
Where to Find It
Notes

Delver's Drill Tool
First visit, lower spike corridor
Drop down before heading up

Bone Scroll
First visit, hidden path in left signposted room
Also grab the map

Map of the Underworks
Same room as Bone Scroll
Very helpful for the maze

Memory Locket
First visit, secret left wall near 25-Rosary bench
Check walls before leaving

Shard Bundle
First visit, Undercrank room on the left
Optional but tasty

Lost Flea
Cauldron bottom left, exploding enemy room
Bring patience

Spool Fragment
Cauldron arena reward
Hard fight, good prize

Clawline
Cauldron upper area
Grappling hook, changes traversal

Twelfth Architect
Above Cauldron bench via Clawline
Sells Architect's Key and tools

Spool Fragment
Left of Twelfth Architect, deep spiky glide area
Do not rush the glide

Grand Bellway shortcut
Third visit after Trobbio
Also yields a Memory Locket

So there it is: three visits, one grumpy industrial basement, and a whole lot of spikes with personal vendettas. The Underworks does not want to be loved. It wants to be survived, mapped, looted, and then left behind with a nervous laugh. In 2026, that advice still holds beautifully.

Surviving a place like the Underworks tends to leave a certain itch behind — the urge to see what else is out there, especially when the next area is one you haven't mapped yet. That curiosity is half the fun of the genre, and it's also why so many players end up hunting for a good bargain before committing to their next big adventure. If you're looking to expand your library without draining your wallet, checking game deals today is a smart habit to build, since DealNest keeps a rotating roundup of discounts and offers across a wide range of titles.

Whether you're chasing another labyrinthine metroidvania or something completely different to decompress with after all those spikes, it helps to know where the savings are before you hit the checkout. DealNest is built for exactly that kind of browsing, so the next time you're between journeys, it's worth a look.

As of 2026, Hollow Knight: Silksong players are still discovering the quirks of Loddie, the shopkeeper tucked into a corner of The Marrow. He offers Hornet a straight pin throwing challenge. It looks simple, but it is a classic case of easy to learn, hard to master. Loddie does not explain the rules until they are broken, which is a sneaky move that trips up unsuspecting players. The challenge costs 25 Rosary Beads per attempt, so every mistake has a price. This guide breaks down how Loddie's knife throwing challenges work, what rewards are on the line, and how to complete both the 15-hit and 25-hit trials without burning through a mountain of rosaries.



The Two Rules That Matter ⚠️

Loddie's challenge has only two rules, but they are absolute.

Do not move past the red marker on the ground.

Do not miss three times.

If Hornet crosses the red marker or misses three pins, the challenge ends immediately. The player must pay another 25 Rosary Beads to re-enter. A miss counter appears directly behind Hornet's shooting spot, so there is no hiding from failure. The red marker is the invisible fence; step over it and Loddie pulls the plug. Three misses? Same deal. It is brutal, but fair enough once you know the score.



Loddie's 15-Hit Knife Throwing Challenge ?

The first test asks Hornet to hit the target bug 15 times with throwing pins. The target's movement changes in phases, and learning those phases is the key to victory.

Hits
Target Behavior

1-5
The target stays completely stationary.

6-8
It starts moving up and down, slowly at first, then faster.

9-12
It moves in a fixed wave pattern.

13-15
It teleports between three static locations in a cyclical, fixed pattern.

A good way to find the right rhythm is to aim only when the target gets low to the ground. Hornet's jump animation is not slow, but there is still a small delay between pressing jump and reaching maximum height. Aiming at a high-moving target is therefore riskier than aiming low. The target bug's movement is not random; it follows a set pattern. Since there is no timer, players can pause for a few seconds before each throw to study the movement. Do not rush. Rushing is how rosaries get donated to Loddie's retirement fund.

Loddie's 25-Hit Knife Throwing Challenge ?

The second challenge is a big step up. Hornet must hit the target 25 times, and the target bug moves faster and more erratically. The first half feels like a sped-up version of the 15-hit challenge, but the later phases demand more focus.

Hits
Target Behavior

1-3
The target stays completely stationary.

4-9
It moves up and down with increasing speed.

10-12
It moves in a fixed wave pattern.

13-17
It moves erratically in either a wave or a diagonal pattern.

18-25
It teleports between three or four fixed spots with increasing speed.

The wave and diagonal phases are less predictable, but the target still moves within a fixed area. It just moves more often. When the target starts blinking during the final phase, the challenge actually becomes easier in a weird way. All the player has to do is memorize the three or four teleport spots and throw the pin where the target will appear next.



It is best to aim at teleport spots nearer to Hornet than those far away. The straight pin's throwing animation has travel time, so by the time the weapon reaches a distant spot, the target may already have blinked away. Account for that delay before committing to a throw.

Rewards for Completing Loddie's Challenges ?

Loddie's challenges are not just for bragging rights. The 15-hit challenge opens the door to the second trial and offers its own reward. The 25-hit challenge rewards the Heavy Rosary Necklace, a useful trinket for players who want to stack up rosaries. Since the entry fee is 25 Rosary Beads, it is worth treating each attempt like a real investment. Practice the patterns, stay calm, and the payout will come.



Tips and Tricks to Save Rosaries ?

Here are some practical tips to avoid losing the challenge in a fit of gamer rage.

Respect the red marker. It is not a suggestion. It is a hard boundary.

Count your misses. Two misses is a warning. Three is a reset.

Aim low. The target is easier to hit when it is close to the ground.

Pause and observe. There is no timer, so use that breathing room.

Memorize teleport spots. The final phase is a memory game, not a reflex test.

Aim near, not far. Pin travel time can make a good shot miss.

Do not get greedy. A steady rhythm beats a flashy rush every time.

Keep a cool head. The challenge is designed to punish panic.

Loddie may be a cheeky shopkeeper, but his challenges are a solid test of patience and pattern recognition. With the right approach, Hornet can walk away with the Heavy Rosary Necklace and a story worth telling. In Silksong, rosaries do not grow on trees, so make every pin count.

Just as every rosary spent at Loddie's stall is an investment, so too is every dollar you put into your gaming hobby. If you want to make those investments stretch further, keeping an eye on curated deals can help. DealNest gathers discounts on games, gear, and subscription services, so you can save on the titles you're eager to play next.

Whether you're hunting for a sale on Silksong's soundtrack or a budget-friendly controller to practice your pin throws, a quick check before you buy can be worth the effort. Think of it as applying the same patience and pattern recognition you use in the challenge—only this time, the reward is real-world savings.

In the annals of gaming history, few moments have sparked as much buzz as the debut of Hollow Knight: Silksong on Metacritic. When the long-awaited sequel finally launched on September 4, 2025, it didn't just meet expectations—it shattered them, at least initially. As of its first few reviews, Silksong achieved a perfect score of 100 on Metacritic, making it the highest-rated game of all time on the aggregator, dethroning the legendary The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which sits at 99. ?



Now, in 2026, that perfect score may have settled as more reviews poured in, but the achievement remains a feather in Team Cherry's cap. It's not every day a game—especially an indie Metroidvania—shoots to the top of the charts. Let's dive into the details of this monumental debut and what it means for the gaming landscape.

The Perfect Score That Shook the Gaming World

At the time of its debut, Silksong had only four critic reviews on Metacritic, but that was enough to give it a flawless 100. While it's likely the score will drop as more reviews come in (and indeed, it may have by now), the fact that it ever reached 100 is a testament to its quality. For context, Ocarina of Time has long been considered untouchable with its 99, so Silksong briefly stood alone at the summit. ?

Game
Metacritic Critic Score
Year

Hollow Knight: Silksong
100 (at debut)
2025

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
99
1998

Other top-rated games
97-98
Various

But the critic score isn't the only story. The user score for Silksong stood at an impressive 8.7 based on 851 ratings, showing that fans were largely on board. Interestingly, the highest user score of all time belongs to another 2025 release, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. So both 2025 games made history in different ways. It's a banner year for gaming, folks! ?

A Six-Year Wait That Paid Off

Hollow Knight: Silksong was in active development since 2019, and Team Cherry's reason for the long delay was simple: they kept having fun adding more content. That dedication shows. The game has been praised for its smooth platforming, iconic challenge, and the beloved protagonist Hornet. However, the difficulty was a sticking point for some, leading to the game's first update that lowered the difficulty. That move sparked debate, but it also showed Team Cherry's willingness to listen to players.



The game's release was a bit of a surprise—the release date was only revealed two weeks prior, on September 4. That didn't stop it from becoming a smash hit. Despite some review bombing over its Chinese localization, Silksong has remained a critical and commercial darling.

The Dark Side: Review Bombing and Difficulty Debates

No launch is without its hiccups. Silksong faced a wave of review bombing over its Chinese localization, which some players felt was subpar. This led to a flurry of negative user reviews, but it didn't stop the game from achieving a high user score overall. Meanwhile, the game's difficulty was a hot-button issue. Many fans loved the challenge, but others found it too punishing. Team Cherry responded with an update that lowered the difficulty, a move that was both praised and criticized. It's a classic case of "you can't please everyone," but Team Cherry handled it with grace.

What Critics Are Saying

While we only have a handful of critic reviews to go on, the early consensus is overwhelmingly positive. Here's a quick rundown of what reviewers are praising:

?️ Smooth platforming: The movement feels fluid and responsive.

? Iconic challenge: The game offers a tough but fair experience.

? Art and atmosphere: The world of Pharloom is stunning.

? Music and sound design: A hauntingly beautiful soundtrack.

And the criticisms? Mostly about the difficulty spike and the localization issues. But overall, it's a winner.

The Metacritic Milestone

Let's put this into perspective. Metacritic has been aggregating reviews since 1999, and in that time, only a handful of games have ever reached a 99 or above. Ocarina of Time has been the gold standard for decades. For Silksong to debut with a 100—even with only four reviews—is like hitting a grand slam in your first at-bat. It may not last, but it's a moment that will be remembered.



The Road Ahead

As we move further into 2026, the question is: will Silksong maintain its legacy? Even if its Metacritic score has dipped, the game's impact is undeniable. It's already one of the biggest talking points of the past year and will likely be remembered as a high-water mark for indie games. Team Cherry knocked it out of the park, and fans are eating it up.

In the end, a perfect 100 on Metacritic—even if fleeting—is the kind of achievement that makes headlines. It's a feather in the cap for Team Cherry and a reminder that indie games can go toe-to-toe with the big boys. So here's to Silksong: may its legacy continue to soar. ?

Final Thoughts

Whether you're a longtime fan of the original Hollow Knight or a newcomer, this game is worth checking out. It's a testament to what indie developers can achieve with passion and dedication. So if you haven't played it yet, what are you waiting for? Get on it! ?

If all this talk has you eager to dive into Pharloom yourself, or to finally catch up on the original Hollow Knight before you do, it's worth knowing that indie gems like this rarely stay at full price forever. Between seasonal sales, publisher bundles, and regional pricing quirks, the difference between paying sticker price and grabbing a bargain often comes down to knowing where to look at the right moment.

Sites like PC game discounts exist for exactly that reason — tracking price drops across storefronts so you don't have to refresh a dozen pages every week. DealNest aggregates deals and keeps an eye on shifting prices, which makes it a handy bookmark whether you're hunting for a single title or building out a whole backlog of metroidvanias to work through.

As a longtime Elden Ring Nightreign player, I do not just skim patch notes—I test them. So when update 1.02.4 arrived across PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam, I gathered my co-op crew and went straight back into the Deep of Night. What I found was not a flashy content drop, but something arguably more important for a multiplayer-focused experience: a repair job aimed at the bugs that quietly ruin runs. In 2026, when players expect fast, meaningful fixes, this patch feels like a direct answer to the co-op community's most persistent complaints.

The Headline Fixes

Patch 1.02.4 targets several specific issues, and each one matters more than it might first appear. Here is what the update addresses:

Deep of Night progress carryover: Fixed a bug where progress from a disconnected Expedition in the Deep of Night mode—if no victory or defeat was reached—could sometimes carry over into the next expedition and be reflected in the subsequent session's results. As someone who has lost connection mid-run, I can confirm this was maddening. A clean slate matters.

Expedition launch status: Fixed a bug where the 'launched an Expedition into The Deep of Night' status was not correctly applied to some party members when launching a multiplayer Expedition in the Deep of Night mode. If you have ever wondered whether your friends were actually flagged as ready, this one is for you.

Relic display mismatch in multiplayer: Fixed a bug where Relics shown on the status menu for other players did not always match what they had equipped when starting an Expedition. This matters because builds are built around Relics, and a mismatched menu can lead to bad tactical calls.

Dormant Power Helps Discover XXX: Fixed a bug in multiplayer where the 'Dormant Power Helps Discover XXX' Relic Effect was not triggering when equipped, or would trigger even when the player did not have the relevant Relic equipped. Yes, that could make exploration feel inconsistent and unfair.

Disconnect cascade: Fixed a bug in multiplayer where enemies would stop spawning, Graces could not be interacted with, and other session-breaking issues occurred if a player disconnected. Have you ever watched a Grace refuse your input while the map went silent? I have, and it is the opposite of fun.

Version Numbers and Platform Notes

The title screen version after this update is simple to verify. The lower right corner should show:

Version type
Number

App Ver.
1.02.4

Regulation Ver.
1.02.4

On PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X and S versions, Regulation files can be downloaded by logging in to the server. If the Regulation Ver. listed in the lower right corner of the title screen is not 1.02, select LOGIN and apply the latest regulation before enjoying the game. Online play requires the player to apply this update. After downloading the update file, restart the game and apply the update. These steps are not optional if you want to join friends in 2026.

My Field Test After 1.02.4

After downloading the update, I restarted the game as instructed and checked the lower right corner of the title screen. The version read App Ver. 1.02.4 and Regulation Ver. 1.02.4. If yours does not, stop and fix it before you queue. There is nothing worse than loading into a Deep of Night run only to discover that your client is out of sync.

During my first post-patch run, I deliberately recreated some of the old failure states. I joined a friend who had been disconnected during a Deep of Night expedition. Previously, that ghost progress could haunt the next run. This time, the session started clean. I also checked party member Relics in the status menu. The icons matched their equipped gear. That is a small UI fix on paper, but in practice it is huge for coordinated builds. How many runs have been lost because a teammate's displayed Relic made you expect a buff that was not there? Too many.

Then we tested the 'Dormant Power Helps Discover XXX' Relic Effect. In the old version, it could trigger without the relic or fail when equipped. Now it behaved consistently. Is that the kind of fix that makes headlines? No. But it is the kind of fix that makes a 40-minute expedition feel fair.

Finally, we simulated a disconnect. In the past, the session could fall apart: enemies stopped spawning, Graces became inert, and the run was effectively dead. After 1.02.4, the remaining players could continue. I will not pretend every edge case is gone forever, but the improvement is obvious. For a mode that depends on teamwork, this is the most valuable change in the patch.

Why This Patch Matters in 2026

In 2026, multiplayer games live or die by their patch cadence. Elden Ring Nightreign is no different. Players invest time, build synergy, and plan routes through the Deep of Night. When a disconnect can erase that investment—or when a Relic effect lies to the entire party—trust erodes. Patch 1.02.4 does not add new bosses or weapons, but it rebuilds trust in the systems that support every expedition.

What should players do now? Download the update, restart the game, log in to the server, and confirm Regulation Ver. 1.02.4 on the title screen. Then gather your party and test the fixes yourself. If you are on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S, or Steam, the update is waiting. Online play requires it, so there is no reason to delay.

Further updates will be distributed in the future so players can continue to enjoy ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN more comfortably. As a player, I am glad to see this level of attention. The Deep of Night is already punishing enough. It should be the enemies that defeat us, not the bugs. After 1.02.4, I can finally say that feels true more often than not. I will keep testing, keep exploring, and keep hoping the next patch is just as focused.

That same logic applies when you are thinking about how you spend money on games. A patch can rebuild trust in a live service, but it cannot rebuild a bad purchase. If you are still deciding whether to jump into Nightreign, or you are waiting on the Shadow of the Erdtree-style DLC roadmap before committing, it helps to know what the game has actually been selling for across PS5, Xbox, and Steam rather than trusting a single storefront's "sale" banner. I have been using this price tracking tool to watch how prices move between storefronts, and the difference in timing can be genuinely surprising—a discount that looks permanent on one platform often gets undercut somewhere else a week later.

For a title like Nightreign, where the value proposition depends on how long the developer keeps patching and how many of your friends stay active, price history is worth more than a launch-day discount. Check where the game sits today, set an alert for the platform you actually play on, and let the numbers decide when it is worth adding another expedition to your rotation.

Hunter's March in Hollow Knight: Silksong is the area that broke me. Not literally—my controller survived—but spiritually? Absolutely shattered. ? It's early in the game, yet it's packed with enemies that hit like a truck and a movement mechanic that feels like trying to pat your head and rub your belly while juggling chainsaws. And of course, you don't even have a map when you first stumble in. Because why would you? That would be too kind.

I spent my first hour here dying to the same red ants and missing the same pogo jumps. But after many, many trips back to the bench (and a few choice words at my screen), I finally cracked it. So here's everything I wish I'd known before setting foot in this nightmare garden.

Pogo Jumping: Your New Best Friend (and Worst Enemy)

See that withered orange fruit hanging over a bed of spikes? That's your first lesson. If you've played Hollow Knight, you might recognize the technique. If not, welcome to pogo jumping.

Here's the drill: find a safe platform. Imagine your thumbstick is a compass. Jump, and while Hornet is airborne, point the left stick either southwest or southeast, then press attack. She'll sail downward with her needle pointed out in a diagonal slash. Hit an orange bulb or fruit with that attack, and she'll bounce off with a little upward boost. Chain these together to cross wide gaps.

In Hunter's March, you'll need to pogo across multiple gaps and bulb clusters. My advice? Don't rush. If you're struggling, adjust your position in the air so you're directly diagonal from the bulb you want to bounce off. And mash that attack button faster than you think you need to.



The first gap is a warm-up. Then you'll face three bulbs, then a larger group that requires a diagonal ascent. I died here at least a dozen times. But eventually, you'll land on a platform with a patrolling red ant. Beat it—or push it into the spikes—then pogo right again. Jump over the bigger enemy, pogo over the distant bulb, and exit right.

Finding Shakra and the Hunter's March Map

After another set of pogo jumps, you'll enter a battle arena. And who joins you? None other than Shakra, the map merchant. She's a lifesaver, but first you have to survive multiple waves of enemies together. This fight is brutal. I got sent back to the bench more times than I care to admit. My strategy: focus on the aerial enemies first. Their projectiles are a nightmare when you're trying to dodge ground attacks. For the fifth and final wave, I just focused on dodging while Shakra did the damage.

Once you win, Shakra opens up shop right there. Buy the Hunter's March map for 70 Rosaries. Trust me, it's worth every single one.



All the Important Stuff in Hunter's March

Once you have the map, you can actually plan your suffering. Here's what's worth grabbing:

Location
What You'll Find
Tips

Bench
Respawn point
It's trapped! Break the left wall and flip the lever before sitting.

Bottom-right passage
Memory Locket
Adds an extra crest slot. Follow the vertical room's bottom-right exit to the end.

Above Memory Locket
Savage Beastfly
Defeat it for the Beast Crest.

Top-left chamber
Curveclaw tool + gauntlet fight
Another tough battle, but the tool is handy.

Top-right chamber
Gilly
Meet for story context.

Second passage down on left
Mottled Skarr
Merchant selling various tools.

The bench is tricky to reach without the glide or double jump ability. It's in the big vertical room on the east side of the map. Pogo up until you reach the third corridor down on the left. And remember: that bench is trapped. Break the wall to the left, flip the lever, then sit. Otherwise, you'll get a nasty surprise.



Other than the Memory Locket and the Beast Crest, most loot in Hunter's March is replaceable elsewhere. So don't tear your hair out trying to 100% this area. I learned that the hard way. ?

Final Thoughts (and a Warning)

Hunter's March is a gauntlet. It's early, it's mean, and it will test your patience. But with pogo practice and a map from Shakra, you can make it through. My biggest tip? Get the map first. Don't be a hero. I tried to explore blind and ended up in a spike pit more times than I can count.

Also, don't feel bad if you need to take a break. This area is notorious for a reason. But once you master the pogo and unlock that bench, you'll feel like a god. A very tired, slightly traumatized god. But a god nonetheless. ?

If you're the kind of player who grinds through brutal areas like this one, you probably appreciate getting good value out of the games you play. Whether you're picking up Silksong for the first time or filling out your library with other tough-as-nails metroidvanias, it helps to know where the discounts are hiding before you hit the checkout button. That's where a site like DealNest comes in handy — it aggregates current offers so you don't have to hop between storefronts hunting for a better price.

Worth a look next time you're ready to expand your backlog: check game prices on DealNest. It's a quick way to see what's on sale right now, so your Rosaries (and your real money) go a little further.