How Tools Work in Silksong
Tools are Silksong's replacement for the Charm system from Hollow Knight. Instead of equipping passive abilities, Hornet uses a Crest that determines how many Tools she can slot, what types are available, and how her combat style changes.
Tool Categories
Red Tools
Active offensive abilities. Limited-use consumables refilled at Benches (costs Shell Shards).
Blue Tools
Passive combat and defense effects. No Shell Shard cost, always active.
Yellow Tools
Passive exploration and resource utility. No Shell Shard cost, quality-of-life focused.
Pro Tip: Unlock additional Tool slots on your Crest using Memory Lockets. The Vesticrest provides universal slots available regardless of which Crest you have equipped.
Red Tools (Offensive)
Red Tools are active offensive abilities that consume charges. They're refilled at Benches, usually at the cost of Shell Shards. These are your main damage dealers beyond the needle.
Throwing Weapons
Straight Pin
Early Game
Light throwing tool designed for rapid attacks. Great for distance damage.
The Marrow - Rescue Grindle from his cage
Threefold Pin
Mid Game
Flat, layered weapon crafted to throw three knives at an upward 45-degree angle.
Greymoor (Craw Lake) - Behind combat trial on east side
Curveclaw / Curvesickle
140-260 Rosaries
Boomerang projectile that curves back around. Curvesickle is the upgraded version for dangerous prey.
Hunter's March - Hidden ant merchant (140 Rosaries) / Far Fields Act 3
Longpin
Hidden
Weighted pin and haft, formed to pierce tough shells. Long javelin-style projectile.
Shellwood - Northeast area, hidden room
Throwing Ring
Quest Reward
Chakram-style blunt force weapon that rebounds between enemies.
Trail's End - Complete Shakra's Wish quest
Conchcutter
Boss Drop
Spiral weapon fashioned from hardened conchspire. Bounces off walls and ricochets.
Coral Tower - Defeat Raging Conchfly boss
Traps & Explosives
Sting Shard
140 Rosaries + Craftmetal
Lethal trap formed of tightly bound blades. Spiny ball that expands and deals damage.
Deep Docks - Purchase from Forge Daughter
Tacks
Quest Reward
Ground scatter trap that pierce any enemy who steps upon them.
Sinner's Road - Complete Roach Guts Wish
Pimpillo
Craftable
Fabric pouch filled with volatile material. Explodes on impact like an explosive pin cushion.
Greymoor - Above Yarnaby's house, craft at bench
Snare Setter
Hidden
Trap-setting tool of the Weavers. Lays a Silk rune that ignites when triggered.
Moss Grotto - Hidden area
Advanced Weapons
Silkshot
Upgradeable
Ancient Weaver firearm using shell canisters and Silk. Can be upgraded for different firing modes.
Bilewater (repair broken tool) / Underworks or Deep Docks (130-240 Rosaries + Craftmetal for upgrades)
Delver's Drill
Hidden
Rotary tool that drives you downward while spinning. Massive downward damage.
Underworks - Bottom of first tall room
Cogwork Wheel
360 Rosaries
Expanding circular sawblade powered by a cogwork motor. Tracks forward.
Underworks - Purchase from Twelfth Architect
Cogfly
Hidden
Winged cogwork companion that seeks nearby foes and attacks. Can summon up to three at once.
High Halls - Hidden spike path
Rosary Cannon
Simple Key Required
Repurposed mechanism that fires Rosaries like a machine gun. Uses your currency as ammo!
High Halls - Behind Simple Key locked door
Utility & Special
Flintslate
Hidden
Sharpening slate that super-heats your needle blade with flame. Adds fire damage to attacks.
Deep Docks - Below Simple Key door area
Needle Phial
Hidden
Tool designed to extract and store fluids. Must be charged before use.
Wormways - Hidden area
Flea Brew
Quest Reward
Invigorating beverage that temporarily increases movement and attack speed.
Fleamaster Mooshka's caravan - Find 5 Lost Fleas first
Plasmium Phial
Quest Reward
Spear-phial containing Plasmium. Allows you to gain health beyond your normal limits temporarily.
Zylotol - Complete Alchemist's Assistant quest
Voltvessels
Hidden
Convertible orbs containing electricity. Can be thrown as bola or staked as a spear.
Memorium - Behind breakable wall
Blue Tools (Defensive)
Blue Tools provide passive combat bonuses and defensive abilities. They're always active with no Shell Shard cost - just equip and go.
Healing & Defense
Druid's Eye / Druid's Eyes
Quest Reward
Amulet of protection formed from Mossberries. Forms Silk when you take damage. Upgraded version produces more Silk.
Mosshome - Complete Moss Druid's Berry Picking Wish
Fractured Mask
260 Rosaries
Old bug's skull carved for protection. Shields against critical damage - saves you from one-shots.
Hunter's March - Hidden ant merchant
Warding Bell
Hidden
Holy bell inscribed with a hymn of protection. Shields you while binding wounds once per encounter.
Far Fields - Hidden path in windy room
Magma Bell
140 Rosaries + Craftmetal
Forged protection against the intense heat of the Deep Docks. Take less damage from lava.
Deep Docks - Purchase from Forge Daughter
Wreath of Purity
Hidden
Crafted to repel Muckmaggots. Essential for Putrefied Ducts exploration. Repaired at benches.
Bilewater - Corpse on east side
Silk & Healing Enhancement
Weavelight
Boss Drop
Increases the speed of Silk regeneration significantly. Essential for aggressive playstyles.
Weavenest Atla - Defeat Moss Mother Duo
Injector Band
Hidden
Increases the speed of binding via surgical pins. Faster healing mid-combat.
Whiteward - Upper ledge area
Multibinder
880 Rosaries
Extends the act of binding but increases healing effect. Heal for 5 Masks but binding takes longer.
Bellhart - Upgraded store
Spool Extender
720 Rosaries
Allows storing additional Silk beyond your natural abilities. Hold more Silk for skills.
Choral Chambers - Purchase from Jubilana
Reserve Bind
Quest Reward
Holds a Bind's worth of Silk as backup. Restored when resting at a bench.
Complete Final Audience Wish
Egg of Flealia
Quest Reward
Decreases the cost of Silk Skills while your health is full. Rewards aggressive, no-hit gameplay.
Rescue all 30 Lost Fleas - Mooshka in Putrefied Ducts
Combat Enhancement
Longclaw
Quest Reward
Talisman fashioned from a talon. Increases the range of needle attacks significantly.
Putrefied Ducts - Complete Broodfeast/Runtfeast Wish
Quick Sling
Hidden
Doubles the number of tools thrown. Incredible for Red Tool builds.
Bilewater - Hidden room above Shakra's location
Pollip Pouch
Quest Reward
Pouch containing venom. Applies poison damage to all equipped tools.
Complete Rite of the Pollip quest
Volt Filament
Boss Drop
Can be coiled around thread, imbuing Silk Skills with electric charge.
Sands of Karak - Defeat Voltvyrm (Act 3)
Pin Badge
Quest Reward
Reduces charge time of Needle Strike. Faster charged attacks.
Complete Fatal Resolve Wish (Act 3)
Defensive Abilities
Sawtooth Circlet
230 Rosaries
Flaring the cloak spins blades around you, damaging surrounding enemies.
Underworks - Purchase from Twelfth Architect
Claw Mirror / Claw Mirrors
Boss Drop
When binding, emits a dazzling flash that damages surrounding enemies. Upgraded version emits searing blast.
Whispering Vaults - Defeat Trobbio / Act 3 upgrade
Memory Crystal
Hidden
When taking damage, creates a memory crystal that damages enemies on contact.
Mount Fay - Hidden wall near 2nd bench
Wispfire Lantern
Boss Drop
Wisps spawn from the lantern and burn foes, at the cost of Silk.
Wisp Thicket - Defeat Father of the Flame
Snitch Pick
740 Rosaries
Harpoon into foes to steal rosaries and shell shards. Combines offense with farming.
Blasted Steps - Purchase from Grindle
Yellow Tools (Utility)
Yellow Tools are quality-of-life passive abilities focused on exploration and resource gathering. Must-haves for comfortable exploration.
Essential Exploration
Compass
Must Have
Bearer's location will be marked on their map. Essential for navigation.
The Marrow - Purchase from Shakra (70 Rosaries)
Ascendant's Grip
350 Rosaries
Gilded piton that allows you to hold in place while on a wall. No more sliding down!
Choral Chambers - Purchase from Jubilana
Scuttlebrace
140 Rosaries + Craftmetal
Enhances innate flexibility, allowing rapid backstep retreat with down + ZR.
Underworks - Purchase from Twelfth Architect
Silkspeed Anklets
Hidden
Draws upon your own Silk to increase sprinting speed. Trade Silk for mobility.
Far Fields - Complete dash puzzle at Weavenest Cindril
Resource Gathering
Magnetite Brooch
Must Have
Any loose beads will be pulled toward the wearer. Never miss dropped Rosaries again.
Bone Bottom - Purchase from store (60 Rosaries)
Shard Pendant
Hidden
Allows you to collect more shell shards from defeated creatures. Better Tool refills.
The Marrow - Lava room, bone bridge
Dead Bug's Purse
Hidden
Allows you to retain some rosaries upon defeat. Insurance against death.
Wormways - Corpse accessed via Shellwood
Shell Satchel
Steel Soul Only
Increases the quantity of crafted tools. Only available in Steel Soul mode.
Wormways - Steel Soul exclusive
Thief's Mark
350 Rosaries
Gain extra rosaries from defeated enemies, but lose some when taking damage. High risk, high reward.
Blasted Steps - Purchase from Grindle
Combat Utility
Weighted Belt
160 Rosaries
Wearer will recoil less when striking foes and gain knockback resistance.
Pilgrim's Rest - Purchase from store
Barbed Bracelet
Hidden
Increases damage taken, but also increases needle damage dealt. Glass cannon option.
Sinner's Road - Bottom of pit, east side
Spider Strings
320 Rosaries
Resonates with music. Expands and strengthens the effects of the Needolin.
Choral Chambers - Purchase from Jubilana
Luck & Special
Magnetite Dice
Community Favorite
Luck charm with a small chance to nullify one mask of damage. RNG protection!
Blasted Steps - Win gambling game with Lumble the Lucky (or find corpse)
Recommended Builds
Based on community feedback, here are some proven Tool combinations for different playstyles:
- Compass (essential)
- Magnetite Brooch
- Straight Pin
- Druid's Eye
Safe, sustainable setup for learning the game.
- Conchcutter or Curvesickle
- Longclaw
- Injector Band
- Magnetite Dice
Maximizes damage output and survivability for tough fights.
- Weavelight
- Spool Extender
- Egg of Flealia
- Quick Sling
Maximum Silk generation and skill spam potential.
- Magnetite Brooch
- Thief's Mark
- Snitch Pick
- Dead Bug's Purse
Maximize currency gains for expensive purchases.
Community consensus: "Magnetite Dice is the best yellow tool, Injector Band or Longclaw best blue tool, and Conchcutter or Curvesickle best red tools." - Fextralife Wiki community
Collection Tips
Check Every Merchant
Many Tools are sold by merchants throughout Pharloom. Key vendors: Shakra (The Marrow), Twelfth Architect (Underworks), Forge Daughter (Deep Docks), Jubilana (Choral Chambers), Grindle (Blasted Steps).
Complete Wishes (Side Quests)
Many powerful Tools are rewards for completing NPC side quests. Always talk to NPCs and check your Wish list regularly.
Defeat Bosses Thoroughly
Several Tools drop from specific bosses: Moss Mother Duo (Weavelight), Trobbio (Claw Mirror), Voltvyrm (Volt Filament), Father of the Flame (Wispfire Lantern).
Explore Hidden Rooms
Many Tools are hidden in secret areas. Look for breakable walls, suspicious floor tiles, and paths that seem to dead-end but continue off-screen.
Rescue the Lost Fleas
Finding all 30 Lost Fleas unlocks the Egg of Flealia from Mooshka - one of the best Blue Tools in the game for aggressive players.
Use Your Simple Keys Wisely
Some powerful Tools like the Rosary Cannon are locked behind Simple Key doors. Don't waste keys on less valuable rooms.
Wrapping Up
Tools are the heart of Silksong's customization system. Unlike Charms, they offer both passive bonuses and active abilities, giving you incredible flexibility in how you approach combat and exploration.
Start with the basics (Compass, Magnetite Brooch, Straight Pin), then gradually experiment with different combinations as you unlock more. Don't be afraid to swap Tools at benches based on what challenges lie ahead - that's the beauty of the system.
Good luck collecting them all, Weavers!