Boss Battle

How to Beat Moorwing Boss

Complete guide to defeating Moorwing in Hollow Knight: Silksong. Learn all attack patterns, strategies, cheese methods, and how to skip this challenging boss fight.

September 10, 2025 5 min readHollow Knight SilksongMoorwingboss fight

Boss Phases & Health

Moorwing requires 5 stuns to defeat. Each stun phase becomes progressively more challenging with faster attacks and multiple projectiles.

Watch the complete Moorwing boss fight above, then read the detailed strategies below

Where to Find Moorwing:

  • Region: Greymoor (lower-left corner)
  • Access: Path to Bellhart region
  • Status: Blocks progression to Bellhart

Important Notes:

Boss fight can be skipped entirely

Garmond & Zaza can assist in battle

Multiple cheese strategies available

According to Eurogamer's comprehensive guide, there are three distinct approaches to dealing with Moorwing:

Strategy 1: Traditional Fight

  • Learn all attack patterns
  • Get help from Garmond & Zaza
  • 5 stun phases to complete
  • Most rewarding approach

Recommended

Strategy 2: Cheese Method

  • Requires Reaper Crest
  • Attack through the floor
  • Boss can't hit you back
  • Takes patience but is safe

Easy Mode

Strategy 3: Skip Entirely

  • Rescue 5 Fleas first
  • Use Flea Caravan transport
  • Arrive past the boss fight
  • Moorwing moves elsewhere

Skip Option

Step 1: Recruit Garmond & Zaza

Before fighting Moorwing, find Garmond and Zaza in the room above the boss arena. They'll offer to help you in the upcoming fight.

Tip: If they're not there, find them first in a small chamber in Greymoor, exhaust their dialogue, then rest at a bench.

What they provide:

  • Extra damage support
  • Distraction for Moorwing
  • Moral support during tough fight
  • Join partway through the battle

Moorwing's Attack Patterns

Dive Attack

Moorwing charges across the arena in a diving motion. This is his most frequent attack.

Damage: 1-2 Masks

Counter Strategy:

  • Jump over him carefully
  • Lure him into arena ledges
  • Attack when he's stunned from crashing

Disc Attack

Moorwing fires projectile discs at you. Later in the fight, he fires multiple discs rapidly.

Damage: 2 Masks per disc

Counter Strategy:

  • Jump over or dash under
  • Attack immediately after dodging
  • Use Silkspear for ranged counter

Slice Attack

Moorwing shrieks and performs a flurry of tail slice attacks. Very dangerous if you're too close.

Damage: 2 Masks per hit

Counter Strategy:

  • Never stay directly beneath Moorwing
  • Listen for the shriek warning
  • Keep distance and use ranged attacks

Combat Strategy & Tips

Key Tactics:

  • Use Silkspear: Attack from range whenever possible
  • Lure into walls: Make Moorwing crash into ledges
  • Attack after stunning: Quick hits when he's crashed
  • Heal while jumping: Use Bind to heal safely in air
  • Stay mobile: Don't stay under Moorwing for long

Advanced Tips:

  • Downward attacks during dives (risky but effective)
  • Use throwing knives for extra damage
  • Position near right ledge for easy crash setups
  • Remember: 5 stuns total needed to win

Requirements & Setup

This method requires the Reaper Crest equipped before starting the fight. The Reaper Crest can be found in Greymoor.

See our Crests Location Guide

What makes this work:

  • Reaper Crest's heavy arc attacks
  • Attacks can pass through floors
  • Safe position above the boss
  • Moorwing can't reach you

Step-by-Step Cheese Method:

1

Equip Reaper Crest and start the Moorwing fight normally

2

Run to the right-hand side of the room and use the updraft to reach the upper level

3

Position yourself at the exit but don't leave. You should be in a corner with Moorwing hovering below

4

Jump and attack downward repeatedly. The Reaper Crest's arc attacks will hit Moorwing through the floor

5

Wait out stun phases and continue attacking. Moorwing cannot damage you from this position

Note: This method takes patience as the damage is gradual, but it's completely safe. Moorwing will eventually be defeated without being able to hit you back.

The Flea Caravan Method

If you rescue 5 Fleas before encountering Moorwing, you can use the Flea Caravan to bypass the boss fight entirely. The caravan will drop you off exactly where the Moorwing fight takes place, but the boss will be absent.

Flea Locations:

You need to rescue fleas from these regions:

  • The Marrow: Multiple flea locations
  • Deep Docks: Hidden flea rescue spots
  • Far Fields: Additional fleas to save

Complete Flea Locations Guide

Important Considerations:

Missing Boss Experience: You'll skip the boss fight entirely, missing out on the combat experience and potential rewards.

Later Encounter: Moorwing reappears in a different area of Greymoor once you reach Act 2, so you may fight him later anyway.

Progress Benefit: This allows immediate access to Bellhart without the challenging boss encounter.

Boss Rewards:

  • Access to Bellhart region
  • Boss completion achievement
  • Combat experience and skills
  • Story progression

What's Next:

Explore Bellhart region

Find new abilities and upgrades

Meet new characters and NPCs

Prepare for upcoming boss fights