Hollow Knight: Silksong - The Marrow Walkthrough: Complete Area Guide

Navigating The Marrow in Hollow Knight: Silksong can be confusing, but this comprehensive walkthrough will guide you through every important location, item, and boss encounter in this crucial area!

Introduction to The Marrow

The Marrow in Hollow Knight: Silksong can become very confusing, very quickly, though it is conveniently home to all kinds of tools and items that will soon make exploration much easier. This area is essential for progressing through the game and unlocking important abilities and fast travel.

Getting Started in The Marrow

To get started in The Marrow in Hollow Knight: Silksong, you'll want to exit Bone Bottom and meet Sherma. The gate beside Sherma is locked, but fortunately we can very quickly unlock it. Follow these steps:

Unlocking Sherma's Gate

Go back to where you entered this room and start going upwards
Continue proceeding upwards and keep right
After taking on some skull enemies, you will eventually come to what looks like a dead end
Stand on some fragile flooring to the left of this area - you'll fall into a room where you must complete a mini gauntlet of enemies
Upon defeating them all, the gate that Sherma was beside can now be opened

Pro Tip: From the room with the gauntlet, drop down the hole in the floor that appears following the fight and head left, attacking the lever along the way (which opens the gate). You can now speak to Sherma again.

Unlocking the First Bench

From Sherma, go right. In the following room, you can pay the structure 30 Rosaries to unlock a Bench, and I highly recommend doing so if you can afford it. This will serve as an important checkpoint for your exploration of The Marrow.

Meeting the Fleas

Up next, we're going to meet some very interesting characters... Follow these steps:

From the Bench, head into the next room to your right
Platform up to the top-right of this room – going past an illuminated signpost – and into the next section
Go past the spiked enemy (or kill it) and keep left
You'll arrive at some caravans with a bunch of friendly fleas and a Bench
If you've picked up any Wishes from Bone Bottom, Fleamaster Mooshka will task you with finding more fleas to join his crew

Secret Rosary Beads

Before leaving, use the platform on the right of this room to climb upwards. There'll be a ledge on your left with a secret wall you can destroy. Behind it, there's a big plate of Rosary Beads for you to claim. Exit the room and continue upwards.

Exploring Further and Getting the Shard Pendant

Go back to your left and keep left, past more spiked enemies, to loot a Frayed Rosary String. Exit the room with the Flea Caravan and in the following area, head to the top-left corner – past a large skull enemy – to reach a new room.

Retrieving the Shard Pendant

Platform upwards and you'll soon see a bone ledge with another large skull enemy on it
Defeat him and enter the room to the left of him
In the following room, you can retrieve the Shard Pendant
The Shard Pendant allows you to retrieve more Shard Shells from enemies; you can equip it at a Bench

With that done, leave the room and continue platforming upwards, being careful to not stand on the breakable platforms for too long. Head left into a new room – ignoring the rooms to your right for now – and drop down.

Creating New Platforms

You should see a large crate being held up by a chain; attack the lever beside it, on the ground, to lower it. Use the new ledge this crate creates to go upwards and to your left; you'll soon find another lever to attack on the ceiling. This drops another crate that we don't need to worry about right now.

Meeting Map Merchant Shakra

Next, it's time to meet another important character. Head to the left and follow the singing voice; you'll now meet Shakra, our map merchant. Here, you want to purchase her entire inventory when possible, starting with the maps of the Mosslands and The Marrow.

Understanding Shakra's Inventory

The maps, at first, aren't all that easy to read. This is where the rest of Shakra's inventory comes in:

The Quill will make the map much easier to decipher
The Compass will mark your current location on the map
Bench Pins will mark Benches on your map

Pro Tip: If you're low on Rosaries, don't fret. We can easily grab some more just a short walk away.

Unlocking the Second Bench

From Shakra, keep left and low. There's another exit to the north of us but we'll go there soon. As you head left, keep your eyes peeled; you'll no doubt see a Bench just above the left exit. We're going to unlock this next.

Reaching the Bench

Exiting into the left room sees you enter Mosshome (not to be confused with the Mosslands)
Head to the very end (left) of the room and make your way upwards, then right, to exit the room again
You will arrive at the Bench we just mentioned and can attack the lever here, creating a shortcut between the bench and the next area

Farming Rosaries

Now is a good opportunity to farm the Pilgrim enemies in Mosshome for Rosaries, which you can then spend on buying all of Shakra's wares if you haven't already.

Unlocking the Bone Bottom Shortcut

From the Bench, go right and upwards, then go left to explore more of Mosshome. In this area, use the platforms to reach – and attack – the lever on the far-left of the room. This breaks some of the floor beneath it, allowing you to jump down. Do that.

Keep going downwards and you'll soon find an elevator that you can use to gain quick access to Bone Bottom.

Getting Your First Spool Fragment

Now, that Spool Fragment… From the elevator, head right into the next room and go upwards. You'll soon find a big bowl of Rosaries to retrieve, but don't exit right away.

Finding the Spool Fragment

Attack the wall on the left-hand side of this room to reveal another room where you can retrieve the Spool Fragment. This is an important collectible that will help you throughout your journey.

Getting the Silkspear Skill

With that done, we've two more things left to do in The Marrow (and Mosshome). Return to the Bench we unlocked earlier (which was above where we first met Shakra).

Locating the Silkspear

Go upwards from the Bench and left into Mosshome again
Remember that lever from earlier on the far-left of the room? Go there and proceed upwards this time
Take caution of the spike traps in the following area and proceed to your right
When you arrive at the silk barrier that you can't yet destroy, head upwards again
You'll soon come to some Rosaries you can gather; head left of here to arrive at a very grand looking structure
Interact with it and our first Skill, Silkspear, is now all yours

The Bell Beast Boss Fight

One final thing! Once again, backtrack to the Bench we were just at and go upwards of it again. Instead of going left into Mosshome, take a right instead, using Silkspear to destroy the silk barrier in the following room.

In this room full of bells, a boss fight against the Bell Beast will begin.

Bell Beast Fight Overview

The Bell Beast isn't too bad of a fight once you know what to expect. For detailed help with beating him, check out our dedicated Bell Beast boss guide.

The Reward: Fast Travel Unlocked

Once you manage to defeat the Bell Beast, your vessel for fast-traveling between stations is unlocked and what a cute, albeit beastly, carriage he is.

Important Note: Stations, as and when you find them, will cost Rosaries to unlock. Bear this in mind and save up your currency!

Summary of The Marrow

That's it for The Marrow! In this area, you've accomplished:

Unlocked two important Benches
Met the Fleas and Fleamaster Mooshka
Acquired the Shard Pendant
Met map merchant Shakra and purchased essential navigation tools
Found your first Spool Fragment
Learned the crucial Silkspear ability
Defeated the Bell Beast and unlocked fast travel

Tips for The Marrow

Always be on the lookout for secret walls - they often hide valuable items
Farm Rosaries from Pilgrim enemies in Mosshome if you're running low
Buy Shakra's entire inventory as soon as possible - it makes navigation much easier
The Silkspear ability is essential for progressing through the game
Save Rosaries for unlocking stations once fast travel becomes available
Take your time exploring - The Marrow has many hidden paths and secrets

What's Next?

With The Marrow complete and fast travel unlocked, you're now ready to explore more of Pharloom with greater ease. The Silkspear ability will open up new areas and possibilities, so make sure to use it whenever you encounter silk barriers!

Happy exploring, and enjoy your journey through Hollow Knight: Silksong!

How are you finding The Marrow? Share your experiences or any additional tips in the comments below!

Tags: Hollow Knight Silksong, The Marrow, Walkthrough, Silkspear, Bell Beast, Shakra, Gaming Guide, Pharloom