Overview
Bone Bottom is the first village hub you encounter in Hollow Knight: Silksong, accessed immediately after defeating the Moss Mother boss in Moss Grotto. This small but essential settlement built within ancient bones serves as your early-game base of operations, providing crucial services, your first shops, and the introduction to the Wishboard sidequest system. Despite its modest size, Bone Bottom remains relevant throughout the entire game as a convenient waypoint and quest hub.
Area Characteristics
- Small village built within massive skeletal remains
- First access to shops, NPCs, and services
- Wishboard for sidequest tracking
- Bellway connection point
- Safe zone with no hostile enemies
- Simple Key merchant (crucial for Wormways access)
- Central location connecting to multiple early areas
How to Reach Bone Bottom
First Visit
Bone Bottom is reached directly after defeating the Moss Mother in Moss Grotto:
- Complete the Moss Grotto tutorial area.
- Defeat the Moss Mother boss.
- Follow the exit passage upward.
- Arrive in Bone Bottom — the transition is seamless.
Return Visits
Bone Bottom is centrally located and easily accessible from:
- Moss Grotto (below)
- The Marrow (east)
- Bellway connections (once unlocked)
Key Items and Collectibles
Simple Key
The Simple Key is one of the most important purchases in the entire game. Sold by the merchant in Bone Bottom, this key unlocks the door to the Wormways — an optional but extremely valuable area containing the path to the Wanderer Crest and Alchemist Zylotol's quest.
Simple Key Details
- Cost: A moderate amount of Rosaries
- Location: Purchased from the main merchant in Bone Bottom
- Use: Opens the locked door in the upper-left area of Bone Bottom, leading to the Wormways
- Note: A second Simple Key can be found later in Sinner's Road
Wishboard Access
The Wishboard in Bone Bottom is your first introduction to the sidequest tracking system. This board displays available quests with their descriptions, locations, and rewards. New quests appear as you progress through the game.
Early Wishboard Quests
- The Great Citadel (main quest — ascend to the Citadel)
- The Lost Fleas (find fleas for the Flea Caravan)
- Berry Picking (gather berries for the Mosshome NPC)
- Various gather and defeat quests
Bone Bottom Map
The village itself is small enough that a dedicated map isn't necessary, but the area is marked on the regional map purchased from Shakra.
NPCs and Services
Merchants
Supply Merchant
Your first shop in the game, selling:
- Healing items and silk restoration consumables
- The Simple Key (essential purchase)
- Basic crafting materials
- Navigation tools
Charm Vendor
A small selection of early-game charms:
- Basic combat enhancement charms
- Exploration utility charms
- Health and silk regeneration charms
Key NPCs
The Elder
Provides main story guidance and context about Pharloom. Speak to them after major events for updated dialogue.
Wishboard Keeper
Manages the Wishboard, explaining how sidequests work and offering rewards for completed quests.
Flea Caravan Master
Located near the village entrance, manages the Flea Caravan system. As you find Lost Fleas throughout Pharloom, the caravan unlocks new routes, providing alternate ways to reach distant areas.
Travelling Merchants
Occasionally, travelling merchants visit Bone Bottom with unique wares not available elsewhere. Check back periodically.
The Bellway System
Bone Bottom is one of the first locations where you can access the Bellway — Silksong's fast-travel system. After defeating the Bell Beast in The Marrow and earning a Silk Heart, the Bellway in Bone Bottom becomes active.
How the Bellway Works
- Locate the Bellway entrance in Bone Bottom (marked by a distinctive bell icon).
- Interact with the bell to activate it.
- Choose your destination from connected Bellway stations.
- Travel instantly between unlocked stations.
Connected Bellway Stations (from Bone Bottom)
- The Marrow
- Bellhart (once reached)
- Additional stations unlock as you progress
Secrets and Hidden Areas
Path to the Wormways
The most significant secret in Bone Bottom is the locked door in the upper-left area. Using the Simple Key purchased from the merchant opens this door, revealing a long corridor guarded by a large acid-spewing bug. Beyond this corridor lies the entrance to the Wormways.
Hidden Rosary Cache
Behind the Elder's dwelling, a breakable wall hides a small chamber containing a generous Rosary cache — useful for affording the Simple Key early.
Underground Spring
Below the merchant area, a hidden passage leads to a natural spring. This serves as a healing spot and contains a lore tablet about Bone Bottom's origins.
Skeletal Observation Point
Climbing to the top of the largest bone structure (using basic wall jumps) reveals a scenic overlook with a lore tablet and a hidden Rosary deposit.
Area Layout
Bone Bottom is compact but efficiently designed:
Lower Level
- Connection to Moss Grotto
- Supply Merchant
- Healing spring
Central Level
- Main village square
- Wishboard
- Charm Vendor
- Elder's dwelling
- Bellway entrance
Upper Level
- Path to The Marrow
- Locked door to Wormways corridor
- Flea Caravan station
- Observation points
Connections to Other Areas
Accessible From
- Moss Grotto (below, the starting area)
- The Marrow (east, via upper exits)
- Bellway network (fast travel)
- Wormways (upper-left, requires Simple Key)
Leads To
- The Marrow (east, main progression route)
- Moss Grotto (below, for return visits)
- Wormways (upper-left, optional area)
- Various areas via Bellway connections
Tips for Exploration
- Buy the Simple Key as soon as you can afford it — the Wormways content is valuable and time-sensitive for optimal play.
- Check the Wishboard every time you return to Bone Bottom; new quests appear after major story milestones.
- Talk to the Elder after every major boss defeat for updated story context.
- Don't forget the hidden Rosary cache behind the Elder's dwelling — it helps fund early purchases.
- The Bellway is your most efficient way to return here from distant areas.
- Stock up on healing items before venturing into The Marrow — it's a significant difficulty increase.
- The Flea Caravan offers alternate routes that can skip certain bosses; check with the Caravan Master regularly.
- Bone Bottom remains useful even in late-game — return here for the Wishboard and as a central travel hub.
Bone Bottom may be small, but it punches well above its weight as your first home in Pharloom. From purchasing the game-changing Simple Key to tracking your quest progress on the Wishboard, this humble village built in bones will be your trusted companion from the early hours all the way to the endgame. Keep coming back — there's always something new to discover.