Overview & Locations
Lace is Hornet's greatest rival and arguably the most memorable boss in Silksong. You'll face her three times throughout your journey - each encounter more challenging than the last. She's fast, aggressive, and punishes button-mashing hard.
Here's where you'll encounter her:
- Deep Docks - First encounter, relatively manageable
- The Cradle - Rematch with upgraded moveset and three phases
- Lost Lace - The true final boss, Void-possessed form (true ending path)
First Fight: Deep Docks
Your first dance with Lace happens in Deep Docks. This is more of an introduction to her fighting style - she's testing you as much as you're learning her patterns.
First encounter with Lace in Deep Docks
Key Attack Patterns
- Downward Dive: She leaps up and dives at you. Dodge to the side and punish with 2-3 quick hits as she lands.
- Needle Thrust Charge: Winds up and charges forward. Jump over her and get hits in while she recovers.
- Combo Strings: She chains multiple slashes. Don't try to trade - back off and wait for an opening.
Attack Pattern Visual Guide
Triple Cut - 3 consecutive slashes
Lunge - Forward thrust (punishable)
Parry Stance - Can counter your attacks
Pro Tip: Lace has NO upward attacks. Jumping and pogo-ing on her head is incredibly effective and keeps you safe from most of her moveset.
Second Fight: The Cradle
To reach The Cradle, you'll need to activate the elevator above the bench in lower Cogwork Core. This requires completing all three Melody quests (available after defeating the Cogwork Dancers).
Second encounter with Lace in The Cradle
Phase Breakdown
Phase 1
Same moveset as Deep Docks, but slightly faster. If you beat her before, you've got this.
Phase 2
Her leap attack now leaves behind an AoE - watch for 3 consecutive circles on the ground and avoid them. This phase is about spatial awareness.
Phase 3
Peak intensity. Lace chains attacks relentlessly. Focus purely on survival and only poke when absolutely safe. One or two hits max, then back to dodging.
New Attacks in The Cradle
Balestra - Preparation (watch for this wind-up)
Balestra - Diving strike (dodge sideways)
Ground Riposte - Counter after blocking
Wall Cling - Watch arena edges!
Healing Windows
The best time to heal is right after her Dash Attack. Jump as soon as she readies up, then immediately bind for healing. This gives you enough time to finish before her next attack comes out.
Lost Lace: The True Final Boss
Lost Lace - The Void-possessed true final boss
The Real Challenge
Lost Lace is the Void-possessed form of Lace and the true ending's final boss. She's widely considered the fastest and most unpredictable boss in the game. Teleport chains, relentless aggression, and split-second timing requirements.
What Makes Her Different
- Teleports constantly - you can't rely on positioning
- Attack chains are longer and less predictable
- New Void-based attacks with larger hitboxes
- Requires near-perfect reaction time
Lost Lace Exclusive Attacks
Air Riposte - Anti-air counter (be careful with pogo!)
Moulinet - Spinning slash combo (back away!)
Survival Strategy
The community consensus: play patient. This isn't a DPS race. Stay airborne for most attacks, use your tools for consistent damage, and focus on learning her audio/visual cues.
"Remember her voice and movement cues. Evasion is the best solution - she's VERY agile. Reaction is key." - Community advice from Steam discussions
Recommended Loadouts
For Deep Docks & The Cradle
- Weapon: Silkspear (distance damage) or Straight Pin (silk-free ranged option)
- Crest: Reaper Crest (crescent slash with wide range) or Witch's Crest if you have it
- Tools: Your preference - focus on what you're comfortable with
For Lost Lace
- Crest: Wanderer's Crest (great for pogo strategies)
- Tools: Sharpdart (phase through danger), Cogflies (consistent passive damage), Pollip Pouch (DoT)
- Defensive: Injector Band and Warding Bell for safety
- Summons: Bee automatons help maintain pressure
Pro Tips & Community Strategies
Do This
- Wait for her telegraphed attacks
- Stay airborne - pogo constantly
- Use her downward dive as your main damage window
- Let Cogflies do passive damage
- Learn her audio cues for teleports
Don't Do This
- Spam attacks - she counters hard
- Trade hits - her combos hit twice
- Get greedy with damage windows
- Stay grounded for too long
- Panic heal in unsafe moments
Wrapping Up
Lace is the fight that defines your Silksong experience. She's fast, she's punishing, and she demands respect. But once you learn her patterns - especially that crucial downward dive window - she becomes one of the most satisfying bosses to defeat.
For Lost Lace specifically: patience is everything. Don't try to speedrun her. Let your tools work, stay mobile, and trust your reactions. You've got this.
Good luck, Hunter. Show Lace what Hornet's made of!