The Wish System Explained
In Hollow Knight: Silksong, side quests are called Wishes. Unlike traditional RPG quest logs, Wishes are discovered organically through NPC conversations and special locations called Wishwalls. There are 54 Wishes in total, divided into 8 categories based on their objectives.
Quest Categories at a Glance
Donate - Give items to NPCs
Gather - Collect specific items
Hunt - Defeat specific enemies
Grand Hunt - Defeat powerful foes
Learn - Master new abilities
Sprint - Timed challenges
Wayfarer - Reach locations
Witness - Observe events/items
Wishwall Locations
Wishwalls are special bulletin boards where bugs post their desires. Interacting with a Wishwall reveals multiple Wishes you can accept. There are three main Wishwalls in the game:
Bone Bottom
Near the Greymoor entrance. First Wishwall you'll encounter. Contains early-game Wishes.
Bellhart
Central hub town. Large variety of mid-game Wishes from residents.
Songclave
Late-game area. Contains the most challenging Wishes with best rewards.
Donate Quests
Donate quests require you to give specific items to NPCs. These items are typically found throughout the world or dropped by enemies. The most important Donate quest is Flexile Spines - the only mandatory quest in the game.
⭐ Flexile Spines (MANDATORY)
Story Required
Collect 25 Spine Cores and deliver them to unlock the Drifter's Cloak, essential for accessing new areas.
Quest Giver: The Drifter Reward: Drifter's Cloak
Rosewood Supply
Early Game
Deliver 10 Rosewood Fragments to the herbalist.
Reward: Health Upgrade
Silk Threads
Mid Game
Gather 15 Silk Threads for the weaver.
Reward: Silk Charm
Bell Metal
Mid Game
Bring 8 Bell Metal chunks to the blacksmith.
Reward: Tool Upgrade
Crystal Hearts
Late Game
Collect 5 Crystal Hearts from deep caves.
Reward: 500 Rosaries
Gather Quests
Gather quests ask you to find and collect items scattered throughout Pharloom. Unlike Donate quests, you keep these items and just need to show them to the quest giver.
Moss Prophet's Relics
Greymoor
Find 3 ancient relics hidden in the moss gardens.
Reward: Moss Shell upgrade
Lost Melodies
Songclave
Recover 5 music sheets from the abandoned theater.
Reward: Song of Protection
Spool Fragments
Multiple Areas
Find all 8 Spool Fragments scattered across Pharloom.
Reward: Full Spool ability
Bellkeeper's Bells
Bellhart
Locate 12 hidden bells throughout the town.
Reward: Bell Charm
Hunt & Grand Hunt Quests
Hunt quests require you to defeat specific enemies or enemy types. Grand Hunt quests are more challenging, typically involving mini-bosses or boss-level enemies. These quests offer the best combat rewards.
Regular Hunt Quests
Moss Grub Menace
15 Kills
Defeat 15 Moss Grubs in the Greymoor area.
Reward: 100 Rosaries
Clockwork Patrol
10 Kills
Destroy 10 Clockwork Sentries.
Reward: Gear Charm
Silk Weavers
8 Kills
Defeat 8 hostile Silk Weavers in the Citadel.
Reward: Silk Tool
Coral Crawlers
20 Kills
Eliminate 20 Coral Crawlers near the coast.
Reward: 150 Rosaries
Grand Hunt Quests
The Moss Mother
Boss
Defeat the Moss Mother in Greymoor's depths.
Reward: Moss Heart charm
Bell Beast Terror
Boss
Slay the Bell Beast terrorizing Bellhart.
Reward: Bell Resonance ability
Trobbio the Showman
Boss
Defeat Trobbio in the abandoned circus.
Reward: Showman's Token
Cogwork Dancers
Boss Duo
Defeat the synchronized Cogwork Dancers.
Reward: Dance of Gears charm
Learn Quests
Learn quests are tutorial-style challenges where you must demonstrate mastery of specific abilities or mechanics. These are great for understanding advanced combat techniques.
Master the Needle
Combat
Land 50 consecutive hits without taking damage.
Reward: Needle Mastery badge
Silk Arts
Ability
Use all silk abilities in a single combo.
Reward: Silk Mastery upgrade
Tool Specialist
Equipment
Defeat an enemy using only Tools (no Needle).
Reward: Tool capacity +1
Aerial Expert
Movement
Stay airborne for 30 seconds using abilities.
Reward: Air Dash upgrade
Sprint Quests
Sprint quests are time-based challenges where you must reach a destination or complete an objective within a time limit. These test your platforming skills and route knowledge.
Greymoor Sprint
2:00
Race from the Greymoor entrance to the Moss Temple.
Reward: Speed Silk
Bellhart Relay
3:30
Collect all town bells in order.
Reward: 200 Rosaries
Clockwork Challenge
1:30
Navigate the rotating gear platforms.
Reward: Gear Tool upgrade
Citadel Ascent
4:00
Climb from base to pinnacle without dying.
Reward: Height Charm
Wayfarer & Witness Quests
Wayfarer quests ask you to find specific locations, while Witness quests require you to observe certain events or discover hidden items. These are exploration-focused and reward thorough map coverage.
Wayfarer Quests
Find the Hidden Grove
Greymoor
Discover the secret grove behind the waterfall.
Reward: Grove Map marker
Reach the Belfry
Bellhart
Climb to the top of the great bell tower.
Reward: Panorama unlock
Deep Marrow Depths
The Marrow
Reach the deepest point of The Marrow.
Reward: Deep Dive charm
Citadel Peak
Citadel
Stand at the highest point of the Citadel.
Reward: 300 Rosaries
Witness Quests
Witness the Sunrise
Event
View the sunrise from the eastern outlook.
Reward: Dawn Charm
Bell Ceremony
Event
Watch the hourly bell ceremony in Bellhart.
Reward: Ceremony Token
Ancient Mural
Discovery
Find and examine the hidden ancient mural.
Reward: Lore Entry
Singing Crystals
Discovery
Find all 5 singing crystals in the caverns.
Reward: Crystal Song
Recommended Progression
Follow this flowchart for the most efficient quest completion order. The progression is based on area accessibility and reward usefulness.
Quest Progression Flowchart
Phase 1 Early Game (Greymoor)
⭐ Flexile Spines (PRIORITY) Moss Grub Menace Moss Prophet's Relics
Complete Flexile Spines first to unlock the Drifter's Cloak. This opens up new areas.
Phase 2 Mid Game (Bellhart & The Marrow)
Bell Beast (Grand Hunt) Bell Metal Bellhart Relay Reach the Belfry
Bellhart is the central hub. Complete quests here before venturing deeper.
Phase 3 Late Game (Citadel & Clockwork)
Cogwork Dancers (Grand Hunt) Clockwork Patrol Clockwork Challenge Tool Specialist
Mechanical area quests. Make sure you have upgraded Tools for efficiency.
Phase 4 Endgame (Songclave & Cleanup)
Lost Melodies All Learn Quests All Witness Quests Crystal Hearts
Final cleanup. You'll have all abilities needed for any remaining quests.
Tips for Completionists
Check Wishwalls Regularly
New Wishes appear on Wishwalls as you progress through the story. Visit them after each major boss or area unlock.
Mark Quest NPCs on Your Map
Use map pins to remember where quest-giving NPCs are located. Some Wishes require returning to specific NPCs.
Save Rosaries for Key Upgrades
Don't spend all your Rosary rewards immediately. Save up for important upgrades like extra Tool slots and health increases.
Grand Hunts Can Wait
If a Grand Hunt is too difficult, come back later with better equipment. These bosses don't scale, so you can overlevel them.
Learn Quests Unlock Skills
Prioritize Learn quests early - they teach you techniques that make other quests easier. The skills you gain are permanent.
Quest Type Summary
8
Donate
10
Gather
12
Hunt
6
Grand Hunt
5
Learn
6
Sprint
4
Wayfarer
3
Witness
54 Total Wishes
Wrapping Up
The Wish system in Silksong offers a ton of optional content that rewards exploration and combat mastery. While you only need to complete Flexile Spines for the main story, the other 53 Wishes provide meaningful rewards that make Hornet significantly stronger.
For completionists, aim to hit all the Wishwalls after each major milestone and keep track of which quest types you're missing. The progression flowchart above should help you tackle everything in a sensible order without too much backtracking.
Good luck fulfilling all the Wishes of Pharloom!