All Endings Guide - How to Unlock Every Ending

How Many Endings Does Silksong Have?

Hollow Knight: Silksong features 5 distinct endings, each with its own unique cinematic, achievement, and unlock. The endings are split across Act 2 and Act 3 of the game, with three endings available by defeating Grand Mother Silk at the top of the Citadel, and two additional endings unlocked through Act 3's extended storyline.

Here's a quick overview before we dive into the details:

Important: After any ending except Ending 2 (Snared Silk), reloading your save places Hornet back at the last Bench in the Cradle with bosses respawned. Ending 2 is unique — it progresses your save into Act 3 permanently, locking you out of Endings 1 and 3.

Ending 1: Weaver Queen

Achievement: Weaver Queen — Defeat Grand Mother Silk and bind her power (15G)

Unlocks: Cradle menu style

Requirements

• You must not have already achieved the Snared Silk ending on this save file
• Defeat Grand Mother Silk at the top of the Citadel
• Choose to Bind her power after the fight

How to Get This Ending

This is considered the "default" ending and the one most players will see first. Simply progress through the main story until you reach the Citadel, climb to the top, and defeat Grand Mother Silk in the final boss battle. After the fight, you'll be prompted to Bind her — do so.

What Happens

After defeating Grand Mother Silk, Hornet binds her power and takes her place as the new Weaver Queen. The cinematic shows:

• Hornet's Mask icons change to Weaver icons on the HUD
• Her Silk Spool capacity massively increases
• Threads descend from the Cradle to the Citadel, covering the entire structure in Silk
• Hornet is shown curled up in the center of the Silk
• The scene ends with Hornet growing six extra arms, suggesting a transformation into a spider-like Weaver Queen

Lore Interpretation

This ending is intentionally ambiguous. According to a Team Cherry interview with Bloomberg, the Weaver Queen ending is "meant to be ambiguous as to whether it is good or bad." Hornet gains immense power but may have sacrificed her freedom and identity in the process. The six arms suggest she's becoming something more akin to Grand Mother Silk herself — trapped in an endless cycle of weaving.

Ending 2: Snared Silk

Achievement: Snared Silk — Defeat Grand Mother Silk and entrap her with the Soul Snare (15G)

Unlocks: Abyss menu style

Requirements

• Complete the Silk and Soul wish questline
• Defeat Grand Mother Silk
• Use the Needolin at the end of the fight

How to Get This Ending

This ending requires significant preparation before the final boss fight:

1. Complete the Silk and Soul wish — This is one of the major side quest chains in the game. You'll need to progress through several sub-objectives that involve gathering materials related to both Silk and Soul energy.
2. Obtain the Needolin — This special instrument is acquired through the Silk and Soul questline. You'll find it in the Weavenest Atla area.
3. Defeat Grand Mother Silk — Fight her as normal at the top of the Citadel.
4. Play the Needolin — After the fight, instead of Binding, use the Needolin to activate the Soul Snare.

What Happens

The Soul Snare binds Grand Mother Silk to the Void, opening a portal to the Abyss. Void Tendrils reach through and begin pulling her in. However, Grand Mother Silk grabs Hornet, threatening to drag her into the Void as well.

Lace intervenes — she cuts her mother's arm off and stabs her with her pin to free Hornet. This sacrifice results in Lace being dragged into the Void along with Grand Mother Silk. Hornet falls from the platform as the portal closes. Void-soaked threads then burst from the ground outside the Citadel.

Why This Ending Matters

This is the only ending that progresses your save into Act 3. After this ending, loading your save brings Hornet into Act 3 content rather than resetting to the Cradle. You cannot achieve Endings 1 or 3 from this save anymore, but you gain access to Endings 4 and 5.

Ending 3: Twisted Child

Achievement: Twisted Child — Defeat Grand Mother Silk while cursed (15G)

Unlocks: Greyroot menu style

Requirements

• You must not have achieved the Snared Silk ending
• Complete the Rite of Rebirth to obtain the Cursed Crest
• Do not complete Infestation Operation (which would upgrade the Cursed Crest into the Witch Crest)
• Defeat Grand Mother Silk

How to Get This Ending

This is the trickiest of the Act 2 endings because it requires a very specific game state:

1. Complete the Rite of Rebirth — This quest is found in the later areas of Act 2. It grants you the Cursed Crest, which locks Hornet into a cursed state.
2. Do NOT cure yourself — The Infestation Operation quest allows you to upgrade the Cursed Crest into the Witch Crest, effectively curing the curse. You must avoid doing this.
3. Defeat Grand Mother Silk while cursed — Head to the Citadel and fight the final boss with the Cursed Crest still active.

What Happens

With the Cursed Crest active, defeating Grand Mother Silk triggers a unique cinematic:

• Vines burst out of Hornet's shell and ensnare Grand Mother Silk
• Both Hornet, Grand Mother Silk, and the entire Cradle transform into Roots
• The roots sprout from Hornet's Cursed Crest
• An orb beneath the two beings cracks
• A scream is heard as the screen fades to black

Lore Interpretation

This is perhaps the darkest ending. The curse overtakes both Hornet and Grand Mother Silk, transforming them into something primal and terrible — a fusion of bug and root that corrupts the Cradle itself. The cracking orb and the scream suggest something even worse may have been unleashed.

Ending 4: Sister of the Void (True Ending)

Achievement: Sister of the Void — Defeat Lost Lace and free Pharloom (15G)

Unlocks: Surface menu style + Lace's pin appears alongside Hornet's Needle on the main menu pedestal

Requirements

• Reach Act 3 (by achieving the Snared Silk ending first)
• Progress through Act 3 to reach the Abyss
• Defeat Lost Lace — the Void-possessed form of Lace

How to Get This Ending

After the Snared Silk ending propels you into Act 3:

1. Explore the post-Snared Silk world — Many areas have changed. Some bosses may now be black-threaded (enhanced versions).
2. Progress the Act 3 storyline — Follow the main quest chain that leads toward the Abyss.
3. Reach Lost Lace — In the depths of the Abyss, you'll encounter Lace, now possessed by the Void after being dragged in during the Snared Silk ending.
4. Defeat Lost Lace — This is considered the true final boss of Silksong and one of the hardest fights in the game.

What Happens

Upon defeating Lost Lace, the Void's hold on her loosens. The cinematic unfolds:

• Hornet picks up Lace and asks Grand Mother Silk to give her Silk
• Grand Mother Silk obliges, providing a large amount of Silk
• Hornet uses Silk Soar to escape the cocoon with Lace
• The Everbloom's power gives out and black tendrils attack
• The Knight (the protagonist of Hollow Knight) appears with their Siblings in the Void
• The Knight protects Hornet and Lace from the Void's tendrils
• They carry both safely to the surface
• Grand Mother Silk's void-soaked threads disappear
• Lace wakes up and shares a quiet moment with Hornet

Why This Is the "True" Ending

This ending provides the most narrative closure: Lace is saved, Pharloom is freed from Grand Mother Silk's control, and there's a beautiful callback to the original Hollow Knight with the Knight's appearance. The addition of Lace's pin to the main menu pedestal is a permanent mark of completing the true ending.

Ending 5: Passing of the Age

Achievement: Passing of the Age — Grant the Herald's wish and finish the game (30G)

Requirements

• Achieve the Sister of the Void ending
• Complete Mister Mushroom's wish by listening to him in all areas of the game

How to Get This Ending

This is an extended epilogue that plays after the Sister of the Void cinematic:

1. Find Mister Mushroom in every area — Throughout your playthrough, Mister Mushroom appears in various regions of Pharloom. You must find and listen to him in every single area.
2. Complete his Passing of the Age wish — Once you've found him everywhere, his wish is considered complete.
3. Trigger the Sister of the Void ending — After the main cinematic, an additional scene plays.

What Happens

After the Sister of the Void ending's main cinematic, a bonus cutscene shows Mister Mushroom flying off into the sky. The ending finishes with a screen displaying "To Be Continued" — suggesting that the story of Pharloom and the Hollow Knight universe isn't over yet.

Lore Significance

The "To Be Continued" screen is significant. Combined with cut content found in the game's files (an unused ending called "Strung to Serve"), it suggests Team Cherry may have plans for future content or a sequel. Mister Mushroom has always been a mysterious herald figure across both games, and his departure hints at events beyond what we've seen.

Ending-Related Achievements

Beyond the five ending achievements, completing endings also contributes to several other major achievements:

Recommended Ending Order

For the best narrative experience, we recommend viewing the endings in this order:

1. Weaver Queen (Ending 1) — See the default ending first to understand the stakes
2. Twisted Child (Ending 3) — Requires a specific setup; do this before Snared Silk locks you out
3. Snared Silk (Ending 2) — This progresses you to Act 3; no going back
4. Sister of the Void (Ending 4) — The true ending and emotional climax
5. Passing of the Age (Ending 5) — The epilogue; make sure you've found all Mister Mushroom locations

Pro Tip: Since Endings 1, 2, and 3 all require defeating Grand Mother Silk, and Ending 2 locks you into Act 3, plan your save carefully. You can get Endings 1 and 3 on the same save by reloading after each, but once you trigger Ending 2, those are gone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see all endings on one save file?

Yes, but with careful planning. Endings 1 and 3 don't permanently alter your save (reloading puts you back at the Cradle). Ending 2 permanently advances you to Act 3. So get Endings 1 and 3 first, then trigger Ending 2 to access Endings 4 and 5.

Which ending is the "canon" ending?

Team Cherry hasn't confirmed a canon ending, but Sister of the Void (Ending 4) provides the most narrative resolution and is widely considered the "true" ending by the community.

Do I need to beat the game multiple times?

Not on separate save files, no. One save file can see all five endings if you plan the order correctly (as described above).

What does "To Be Continued" mean?

Nobody knows for certain. It could hint at DLC, a third game, or simply be a narrative flourish. The appearance of the Knight from Hollow Knight in Ending 4 suggests the stories of these characters are intertwined and ongoing.