Split Fiction fueled my love for cooperative games; 2026 titles like Voyagers, Haunted Paws, and Stage Fright promise chaotic fun and dark thrills.

I have spent a large portion of 2025 glued to my couch with a controller in hand, and I can honestly say that Split Fiction ruined me in the best possible way. It was that rare title where the split-screen action felt cinematic, the storytelling hit every emotional beat, and the cooperative interactions never felt tacked on. But as the year wrapped up and the calendar flipped toward 2026, I started looking ahead. The gaming landscape is shifting, and a wave of cooperative games is threatening to swallow my free time whole. From whimsical LEGO adventures to claustrophobic horror, there is an impressive lineup designed to bring couples, friends, and small groups closer together than ever before.

Voyagers of the Tiny Block

There is something undeniably magnetic about LEGO, so when I first saw Voyagers, I felt an immediate rush of childlike glee. This game lets me and a partner take control of two tiny blocky explorers as they trek across vibrant lands to rescue an abandoned spaceship. It lacks the relentless intensity of Split Fiction, but that is precisely why I want it. The puzzles seem creative without being punishing, and the freedom to roam at my own pace feels welcoming. Sometimes I do not want adrenaline; I want a calming journey with someone I love, complete with surprises hidden behind every brick-built corner.

Haunted Paws and Wholesome Spooks

As a lifelong dog person, Haunted Paws immediately grabbed my attention by casting players as canines exploring a spooky yet endearingly childish world. The idea of solving puzzles and uncovering secrets with my coop partner while wagging a virtual tail sounds absolutely delightful. Its charming aesthetic makes it approachable for all ages, and the mechanics seem built around creativity rather than raw skill. I can already picture myself laughing at the silly animations while we use our canine abilities to ward off spirits and save humans in need. It is whimsical, engaging, and exactly the kind of shared experience I crave on a lazy weekend.

Orchestrated Chaos with Stage Fright

Coming from the creators behind Overcooked, Stage Fright has my full attention. I have vivid memories of screaming orders at my friend while our virtual kitchen burned down, so I know this team understands chaotic teamwork. Stage Fright promises more puzzles, more communication, and more scares, all wrapped in a problem-solving setting. The concept of environments splitting into two drastically different themes excites me. One moment I might be navigating a cheerful room while my partner stands in a distorted nightmare version of the same space. That kind of mind-bending absurdity requires constant verbal coordination, and I am absolutely here for the madness.

The Darker Side of Togetherness

Beyond the colorful chaos lies a shadowy corner of cooperative gaming that I find deeply compelling. Little Nightmares 3 is finally bringing a friend into that desolate, shrinking world. The same gloomy atmosphere that gave me goosebumps in previous titles now comes with a companion, and that changes everything. Solving puzzles while both of us are tiny, vulnerable figures in a cold environment sounds emotionally draining in the best way. It is not just a sidescrolling adventure; it is an unsettling exploration of fear itself. Knowing that a beloved franchise is finally embracing cooperative play makes me eager to revisit that world with someone brave enough to stand beside me.

Then there is Reanimal, coming from the same devious minds behind Little Nightmares. This one dials the tension to eleven by forcing both players to share a single claustrophobic camera space. I cannot imagine the stress of squeezing into one cramped perspective while avoiding giants. The 2.5D action looks simple on the surface, but I suspect it will demand razor-sharp timing and constant communication. The pure nerve-shredding potential here is unmatched. Meanwhile, Visk is pulling me toward a misty island with little guidance and no safety net. As an atmosphere-first experience, it promises doubt and dread, where working together is the only way forward.

Puzzling My Way through 2026

For my brainier coop sessions, Escape Simulator 2 feels like the next big thing. The replayability through player-created content is enormous, meaning my puzzle-solving partner and I will never run out of fresh challenges. Built from the ground up for cooperative play, it rewards observation, creative thinking, and the kind of descriptive communication that turns a simple room into a social event. Every group approaches problems differently, so I expect endless variety and plenty of 'aha' moments shared over voice chat.

The next twelve months look genuinely stacked for cooperative gaming. Whether I am wandering through brick-built meadows, wagging a spectral tail with a friend, braving dark hallways side by side, or decoding escape rooms together, the future feels bright and deeply social. 2025 gave me Split Fiction as a high-water mark, but 2026 looks ready to fill my calendar with shared adventures. I cannot wait to see which of these titles becomes the next unforgettable couch co-op obsession.

With so many promising co-op experiences on the horizon, my wishlist is already overflowing. Between Split Fiction's spiritual successor, the return to Little Nightmares' haunting world, and the endless puzzle rooms waiting in Escape Simulator 2, I know my gaming budget is going to feel the strain. That is why I have started planning ahead, keeping an eye on [PC game discounts]( so I can pick up these titles at the right moment. A good deal turns an already exciting launch into something I can justify without hesitation, especially when I know my co-op partner will want to jump in alongside me.

Building a shared library of cooperative adventures has never been easier when you shop smart, and that extra savings can go toward the next hidden gem we discover together. After all, 2026 is shaping up to be a year where every session brings something fresh, so staying prepared financially just means more time spent exploring those worlds with a friend.

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Master all seven Hollow Knight: Silksong Crests, from Hunter to Shaman, with locations, slot colors, and combat perks that trivialize bosses.

In Hollow Knight: Silksong, Crests are not just shiny trinkets — they are the backbone of Hornet's entire kit. Seriously, picking the right Crest can make a brutal boss feel like a walk in the park, while the wrong one can leave you tearing your hair out. Each Crest changes your basic melee attacks, dictates the color-coded slots you have for tools, and often brings a special twist like life steal or drill strikes. Whether you're a speedrunner, a support player, or someone who just wants to bonk bosses into next week, there's a Crest for you. Here's the lowdown on all seven Crests discovered so far as of 2026, including where to find them and what makes each one tick.

Crest
Starting Slots
Specialty

Hunter
1 White, 1 Red, 1 Yellow, 1 Blue
Balanced

Wanderer
2 Yellow, 1 Red, 1 White
Speed/support

Reaper
1 White, 1 Red, 1 Yellow, 1 Blue
Heavy combat, silk gain

Beast
1 White, 2 Red
Life steal

Witch
1 White, 1 Red, 1 Blue
Twisted Root life steal

Architect
3 Red
Drill attacks, craft tools

Shaman
2 Blue
Triple Silk Skills

Hunter Crest — The Default Option

The Hunter Crest is the one you wake up with, no farming or key required. It's balanced, giving Hornet one slot each for white, red, yellow, and blue tools. That's handy for learning the ropes. The catch? Its diagonal downward attack can feel a bit wonky during tight platforming bits, so don't be surprised if you whiff a pogo or two. Still, it's a dependable all-rounder until you find something spicier.

️ Wanderer Crest — Speed & Support

To snag this one, you'll need to head beneath Moss Grotto and unlock the Bonegrave with a Simple Key. Pebb in Bone Bottom sells one, but at 500 Rosaries it's a real grind early on. Honestly, waiting until you've banked some Rosaries is the smart play. Once inside, head west and follow the path to claim the Wanderer Crest. It kicks off with two yellow slots, one red, and one white, making it a dream for support-focused builds that lean on speed and utility.

️ Reaper Crest — Silky Smooth

When you reach Greymoor, make a beeline for the far west and the Chapel of the Reaper. Clear the arena fight, climb to the top, and the Reaper Crest is yours. This one is much more combat-focused, dishing out heavy strikes and boosting the silk you build from defeated enemies. Its starting slots mirror the Hunter — a balanced set — but the downward strike is way easier to pull off. If pogo-jumping over spikes is your jam, the Reaper Crest is a solid pick.

🩸 Beast Crest — Life Stealer

The Beast Crest waits in Hunter's March, at the Chapel of the Beast along the southeastern passage of that gnarly area. You'll need to beat the Savage Beastfly first. It starts with one white and two red slots, and later upgrades add yellow but no blue. The real draw here is the life-stealing ability: Hornet can go berserk and heal by attacking enemies. For aggressive players who hate backing off, this Crest is a total game changer.

Witch Crest — Act 2 Exclusive

This one's locked behind Act Two, and it's no quick pickup. You'll need to finish the Wishes 'Rite of Rebirth' and 'Infestation Operation,' which form the Twisted Root questline across Shellwood and Greymoor. After both are done, head back to Greyroot in Greymoor to receive the Witch Crest. It starts with one white, one red, and one blue slot, with room to add more blue and red later. The ability to summon Twisted Root extensions and steal life from enemies is as creepy as it is useful.

️ Architect Crest — Twisted Mind

Head east of the Underworks area to find the Twelfth Architect, who'll sell you the Architect's Key for 110 Rosaries. Keep in mind you need at least 25 tools in your inventory before he'll even consider it. Take that key to the northern part of The Cauldron, unlock the Chapel of the Architect, and claim your prize. The Architect Crest turns Hornet's needle into a drill and lets her craft tools on the fly by spending Silk. It starts with three red slots, with upgrades adding two blue and two yellow — pure damage, no fluff.

️ Shaman Crest — Silk Skills Galore

Last but not least, the Shaman Crest only shows up in Act Three. After unlocking Silk Soar, head to the specified spot, run right a screen, and break through to a higher platform just below the ceiling light. Follow the path over spikes, drop down, and dive into a deep pit to find it. Its big selling point? You can equip three Silk Skills at once, each slightly empowered. The trade-off is just two blue slots, so plan your loadout carefully.

So that's all seven Crests uncovered so far in Hollow Knight: Silksong. Each one can flip the script on how Hornet plays, so don't be shy about experimenting. Whether you're after speed, life steal, drill attacks, or triple Silk Skills, Pharloom has you covered — if you're willing to hunt them down. Now get out there and claim them all. ️

Before you dive into Pharloom and start tracking down every Crest, it's worth making sure you've got the game in your library at the best possible price. With a title this anticipated, prices tend to fluctuate quickly — especially around launch windows and seasonal sales. If you're looking to grab Hollow Knight: Silksong without overpaying, keep an eye on the latest [game deals today]( to catch discounts the moment they drop. You never know when a solid price cut might appear, and every saved coin is another step toward those expensive tool upgrades.

Happy hunting, and may your Silk meter always be full.

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Hollow Knight: Silksong's Rite of Rebirth quest strips Hornet of healing and tools, challenging completionists to survive its harsh trials.

Nobody picks up a wailing, vine-covered baby for fun—except the most stubborn completionists in Hollow Knight: Silksong. The Rite of Rebirth sounds like a noble wish, but it quickly turns into a multi-zone scavenger hunt that strips Hornet of her healing, her tools, and her patience. Here is how Hornet can survive the ordeal without losing her mind.

Finding the Twisted Bud

The Twisted Bud sits in a cradle on the outskirts of Bilewater, hidden behind tiny passageways. To reach it, Hornet needs the grappling hook from the Whispering Vaults in The Citadel. From there, she should head east, pull down a hook, dodge a series of very rude gears, and drop into Bilewater. After progressing a little east, she must look for a hidden path on the left near the bottom. Small side paths eventually lead up and to the right, where the cradle waits.

The real problem starts after pickup. The Twisted Bud is described as consorted mass of ashen vine. Cries out incessantly. Opening the inventory becomes psychological warfare, because the bud screams every single time.

Greyroot’s “Help” Is a Trap

After grabbing the bud, Hornet heads to Greyroot. Players who completed the Rite of Pollip will gain access to the Rite of Rebirth. It sounds like a wholesome delivery. It is not.

Greyroot accepts the Twisted Bud, grabs Hornet, infects her with a parasite, and drops her at the Chapel of the Witch in Shellwood. So much for maternal warmth. The infection imposes three miserable restrictions:

• Cannot change Crests

• ️ Cannot equip tools

• ️🩹 Cannot Bind or heal

That final restriction hurts most. Every skirmish turns into a no-hit challenge. There is one upside: finishing the game while infected opens a different ending. Most first-time players, however, will want the parasite gone before the controller goes through a window.

Curing the Infection

The easiest lead comes from the Bell Hermit in Bellhart. He tells Hornet to seek an exiled bug named Yarnaby, who has moved “high up into the moors.”

Yarnaby lives in the northwest of Greymoor. Hornet must climb the towers, push all the way west, and eventually reach a small home belonging to a rather rude individual: Yarnaby. After Hornet explains the illness, Yarnaby agrees to help, but only in exchange for a specific item: Steel Spines.

Yarnaby’s directions are deliberately vague—“a tangled mess of cages.” Players who have visited Sinner’s Road will recognise the cages in the central section. At the top right of that area, two bugs named Benjin and Crull wait. They will sell the Steel Spines for 260 Rosaries.

Item
Cost
Location

Steel Spines
260 Rosaries
Benjin & Crull, Sinner’s Road central cages

Return to Yarnaby with the Steel Spines, and she will rip the parasite out of Hornet with zero bedside manner. The reward is the Witch crest, plus the return of healing and tools. The Twisted Bud’s crying finally stops.

Final Tips for the Rite of Rebirth

• Save 260 Rosaries before visiting Benjin and Crull.

• Avoid opening the inventory while carrying the cursed bud.

• 🧭 Explore Sinner’s Road early to mark the cage location.

• If attempting the infected ending, do it on a second run, not the first.

The Rite of Rebirth is less about rebirth and more about being repeatedly inconvenienced across Pharloom. But the story, the Witch crest, and the sweet sound of silence after the parasite is removed make it one of Silksong’s most memorable detours.

Once the parasite is gone and the Witch crest is equipped, the rest of Silksong opens up at your own pace. For many players, finishing this quest is also a signal to revisit other parts of Pharloom — or to start hunting for similar action-platformers with the same rich atmosphere. Whether you're picking up a physical copy of Silksong, investing in a new controller, or eyeing expansion packs, every Rosary saved at Benjin and Crull reminds us that frugality pays off.

That same mindset carries over into real-world gaming purchases. Before committing to a full-price order, it's worth checking whether a better offer is hiding nearby — just like a secret room in Greymoor. [DealNest]( regularly rounds up discounts, promo codes, and bundles across the gaming and tech space, so you can spend less time hunting for bargains and more time actually playing. A little patience rewards exploration in Hallownest, and it can do the same for your wallet.

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Hollow Knight: Silksong's Savage Beastfly boss and r/f***savagebeastfly frustration inspire this guide to its two attacks and minion survival.

Hollow Knight: Silksong’s collection of challenging bosses has produced no shortage of frustration, yet few enemies inspire the same strange mixture of dread and resentment as the Savage Beastfly. It is not the most complex creature in the game, nor does it possess a sprawling moveset. In fact, the beast has only two attacks. Even so, its brutal damage output and constant stream of summoned minions have turned countless attempts into abrupt, humiliating deaths. By 2026, that frustration has solidified into a full-blown community phenomenon, complete with dedicated hate posts, victory celebrations, and tactical discussion.

Why The Savage Beastfly Feels So Unfair

The game already has vicious roadblocks like Sister Splinter and Moorwing, both of which were tuned down after launch. The Savage Beastfly, however, remains a different kind of challenge. It hits hard enough to erase health bars, spawns minions that disrupt the rhythm, and demands precise positioning even in seemingly open arenas. For many players, knowing what to do is not the problem; executing it while multiple smaller threats buzz around the screen is.

A brief look at the community paints a clear picture:

• Hate posts aimed directly at the boss

• Celebration threads for players who finally win

• 🧠 Strategy tips for dodging, damage windows, and minion control

• Complaints about the runback and its ambushing ant soldier

What makes a boss with only two attacks so maddening? That question sits at the heart of the subreddit. The answer usually involves the gap between theoretical simplicity and actual survival. The Savage Beastfly punishes greed, panic, and even small positioning errors with shocking efficiency.

A Subreddit Built On Shared Rage

The dedicated community space is aptly called r/f***savagebeastfly, and it began gaining traction shortly after Silksong launched. Scrolling through the posts reveals an almost therapeutic cycle of venting and support. Some players describe their first kill as a life-changing relief, while others warn newcomers about the specific bait-and-smash pattern that follows the minion summon.

The subreddit is not entirely consumed by rage. Hidden beneath the avalanche of insults directed at the boss are brief, useful tidbits:

• Strike during the short recovery after the ground charge

• Clear minions before they overwhelm the arena

• Do not dash too early when the Beastfly feints

• Save resources for the second phase if minions spawn in clusters

These tips matter because the boss often feels like a battle against chaos rather than a single creature.

The Ant Soldier That Adds Insult To Injury

Perhaps the most relatable target of frustration is not the boss itself, but a single ant soldier positioned on the runback. After a devastating loss, players must make the journey again, and this ant soldier waits with a well-placed trap that seems designed to drain whatever composure remains. One post in the community jabs at the ant for being unemployed, though others counter that the ant is extremely good at its current job: annoying every player it meets.

Is that ant soldier the real villain? For players already reeling from the Savage Beastfly, the answer often feels like a resounding yes. The runback becomes a psychological test, forcing Hornets to navigate a minor but persistent threat before facing the creature that already defeated them.

A Strange Kind Of Community Therapy

There is something oddly healthy about the shared hatred. In a genre that often celebrates silent perseverance, having a space to vent about a boss can soften the sting of failure. The Savage Beastfly may not have the legendary status of Silksong’s more complex fights, but it has earned a unique place in the community’s memory in 2026. It represents how a simple design, when tuned aggressively, can become a cultural lightning rod.

Anyone who has been flattened by the Savage Beastfly more times than they care to admit can find kindred spirits in the subreddit. They can read victory stories, borrow a trick or two, or simply add their voice to the chorus of frustration. The boss remains deceptively simple on paper, but as the community has proven, simplicity does not mean forgiveness.

For all the frustration it delivers, the Savage Beastfly fight is a testament to why games like Silksong keep players coming back. Every hard-earned victory, every new strategy discovered, and every shared joke about that ant soldier remind us why we play in the first place. The difficulty is part of the charm — it makes the triumphs sweeter and the community stronger.

Of course, experiencing memorable gaming moments like this is easier when you don’t have to break the bank to do it. Players hunting for their next challenge — or looking to revisit older titles in their backlog — can always check out [where to buy cheap games]( to keep the adventure going without draining their wallet. After all, saving a few bucks on one game just means more room in the budget for the next boss that will inevitably wreck you.

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Unlock all five Hollow Knight Silksong endings—Weaver Queen, Twisted Child, Snared Silk, Sister of the Void, Passing of the Age—with exact conditions.

I still remember the first time I reached the end of Hollow Knight: Silksong in 2026. I thought I had understood Hallownest's fate, but then a hidden Act 3 opened up and everything changed. Depending on my actions, quests, and the bosses I defeated before the credits rolled, I could unlock one of five different endings. Some of them were straightforward, while others demanded that I leave no stone unturned. A few even forced me to start a new playthrough because it was nearly impossible to see them all in one run. Below is what I learned after chasing every ending in the game.

How Many Endings Are There in Hollow Knight: Silksong?

There are five endings in Hollow Knight: Silksong, and each one has its own achievement or trophy. They range from normal and cursed outcomes to a true ending and an extra conclusion. The table below shows every ending I found.

Ending Name
Ending Type

Weaver Queen
Normal

Twisted Child
Cursed

Snared Silk
Bad

Sister of the Void
True

Passing of the Age
Extra

Failing to meet the unlock conditions for one ending often locked me into another. That was especially true once I discovered that some endings require reaching the hidden Act 3 of Silksong.

How to Get the Weaver Queen Ending

I earned the Weaver Queen ending, which is considered the normal ending, by defeating Grand Mother Silk and binding her at the end of Act 2. After I used the Threefold Melody to unlock the elevator in the Cogwork Core, I reached the final boss of a typical playthrough. Once she fell, I chose the prompt to Bind Grand Mother Silk. Hornet then bound her power to herself, and both she and the Citadel became wrapped up in silk. As Hornet remained in the silk bindings, she began to transform before the screen cut to black. It felt like a complete but strange conclusion.

How to Get the Twisted Child Ending

The Twisted Child ending is the cursed outcome. It also requires defeating Grand Mother Silk at the end of Act 2, but I had to be cursed beforehand through one of the Wish side quests. I nearly missed it because curing the curse or entering Act 3 would have locked me out.

To become cursed, I followed these steps:

• Started the side quest called Rite of the Pollip.

• Tracked down all Pollip Hearts and completed the Pollip Wish.

• Found the Twisted Bud, an item located in Bilewater in a cradle made of vines.

• Gave the Twisted Bud to the NPC Greyroot, a Witch located in Shellwood.

• Agreed to help Greyroot after giving them the Twisted Bud.

• Began the Rite of Rebirth Wish.

• Allowed Greyroot to capture and ensnare Hornet.

• Escaped the Chapel of the Witch.

After I completed those steps, Hornet's Silk and Needle weapon changed form, which told me a curse was lingering inside her. I then played through the rest of the game normally. I could have removed the curse by following the instructions of the character Pavo, but I kept it until Grand Mother Silk was defeated. That choice unlocked the Twisted Child ending and its unsettling cutscene.

How to Get the Snared Silk Ending

The Snared Silk ending may be the bad outcome, but it opened the door to Act 3. This was a continuation beyond Grand Mother Silk with more challenging bosses, extra levels, and far more for me to do. To unlock it, I had to complete the Silk and Soul Wish. That required four core items: The Hermit's Soul, The Maiden's Soul, the Seeker's Soul, and the Snare Setter. With those items, I talked to the Caretaker NPC in Songclave to craft the Needolin, an artifact that could help defeat Grand Mother Silk.

When I defeated Grand Mother Silk with the Needolin in my inventory, a Needolin option appeared alongside Bind. I picked the Needolin option against Grand Mother Silk to get the Snared Silk ending. That choice opened up The Abyss, the hidden third story Act.

How to Get the Sister of the Void Ending

The Sister of the Void ending is the true ending, and it only appears in Act 3. That meant I had to unlock the Snared Silk ending first. Act 3 was filled with dangerous enemies and far tougher areas, but the extra effort brought me closer to the true conclusion.

For the Sister of the Void ending, I followed these steps:

• Reached Act 3 and worked through various objectives.

• Defeated the boss Nyleth in the Grand Gate to get the Pollen Heart item.

• Headed to the Sands of Karak area in Act 3.

• Defeated the Crust King Khann boss and got the Encrusted Heart item.

• Went to the Hunter's March area.

• Defeated the boss Karmelita to get the Hunter's Heart item.

• Started the Ritual at the Moss Grotto area.

• Reached the end of the Red Memory to gain the Overbloom item.

• Went to The Abyss area and defeated The Lost Lace boss.

There are plenty of hidden details in Silksong during the third Act that are easy to miss, but completing these goals helped me unlock the hardest ending in the game. The final boss of Act 3 demanded every skill and bit of effort I had.

How to Get the Passing of the Age Extra Ending

The final extra ending, Passing of the Age, also appears in Act 3 alongside Sister of the Void. To start reaching this outcome, I talked to the Fleamaster NPC in the Putrified Ducts once I was fully in The Abyss part of the story. Speaking to Fleamaster began the Ecstasy of the End Wish, which caused a platform to rise out of the water in the Putrified Ducts.

I pushed that platform until it reached the right end of the room. Then I used Hornet's grappling claw to launch upward onto some higher platforms. Climbing to the upper left brought me to a room full of mushrooms. There, I inspected a spot in the Moss Grotto to talk to someone named Mister Mushroom, who later appeared in the Bone Bottom section of the map.

Mister Mushroom showed up again in Far Fields, and then a few more times in the Grey Moore, The Slab, and Mount Fay areas. After seeing the character multiple times, I talked to them a final time at the top of the Choral Chambers to complete the Wish quest that began with Fleamaster. After that final conversation, I defeated the final boss of Act 3 to receive the fifth and additional conclusion. Unlike the others, unlocking this ending displayed a To Be Continued screen before the credits, which made me think there may be even more story still to tell.

Chasing all five endings in Hollow Knight: Silksong took time, patience, and at least one extra playthrough. Some outcomes were beautiful, some were grim, and the extra ending left me wondering what could come next. If you plan to 100% this game, keep careful track of which Wish quests you complete and be ready to enter The Abyss for the true and extra conclusions.

After unlocking every ending and truly mastering Silksong's toughest challenges, many players find themselves thinking about what to play next. Whether you are hunting for another atmospheric Metroidvania, grabbing a pre-order bonus, or just want to test a new title without overspending, it always pays to compare prices before hitting that purchase button. For those moments, taking a quick stop at DealNest can help you [find the best deal]( across various games and accessories, so your next adventure starts without stretching your budget.

Spending dozens of hours chasing rare endings has a way of making you appreciate every little saving. A small discount on a new release or a sale on DLC can feel just as rewarding as discovering a hidden boss room. Whether you are stocking up on future playthroughs or simply treating yourself after such a long quest, checking for a solid deal before you buy is a smart habit. With the right price, you can keep your game library growing and get back to the excitement sooner.

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Hollow Knight: Silksong's third Pale Oil nail upgrade requires completing Mergwin's Great Taste of Pharloom wish—gather five ingredients.

Let me tell you, upgrading my nail in Hollow Knight: Silksong has been a ride. As of my 2026 run, the third Pale Oil still isn't just sitting around waiting for you—Mergwin locks it behind one of those sprawling Wishes, the Great Taste of Pharloom. I found the quest-giver in the Choral Chambers, that room on the left side of the map with the little building-like figures drawn in. It's northwest of the Citadel Spa and just west of Cogwork Core. When I reached Mergwin on the far right, I had to smack the Pale Oil container first. Then I accepted his grocery list: five items for his master. The list looked innocent enough.

Item
Where to Grab It
My Honest Vibe

Mossberry Stew
Mosshome, Moss Druid
easiest of the bunch

Vintage Nectar
Greymoor, Halfway House
ants. so many ants

Pickled Muckmaggot
Sinner's Road kitchen boss
cooking chaos

Crustnut
Sands of Karak
platforming pain

Courier's Rasher
Bellhart, timed delivery
don't get hit

How I Found the Mossberry Stew

The Mossberry Stew was a nice warm-up. You need to have finished the Berry Picking quest. If you did it ages ago like me, you can just pop back to the Moss Druid in Mosshome. I took the shortcut elevator up from Bone Bottom, went up to the room where I got the Silkspear art, and kept right until her room. A quick chat and the stew slid into my inventory. No fuss, no boss, just... stew.

How I Found the Vintage Nectar

Then I headed back to Greymoor, because Creig at the Halfway House knows his fancy drinks. He demanded 480 Rosaries—steep, but I paid. Of course, he “forgot” to mention the basement was basically an ant convention. Once I reached the cellar and touched the vintage on the shelf, Hunter's March sent in the cavalry: Skarrlid, Skarrwing, Skarr Scout, Skarr Stalker, Spear Skarr, Skarrgard. Two waves of them. I had to wipe them all out before the Vintage Nectar finally let me collect it. On my way out, I definitely gave Creig a piece of my mind—someone should really call the health inspector!

How I Found the Pickled Muckmaggot

This one sent me back to Sinner's Road. If you haven't found it, the best route is via the exit at the top-right above the Halfway House in Greymoor. Inside, I went all the way right to a dead-end, used a double jump to get into the walls, then wall-climbed into the next room. Pro tip: open the shortcut on the left as soon as you can, because the next room is a boss fight.

I rang the gong and faced the two lesser cooks first. Then Disgraced Chef Lugoli wrapped up the second and third parts. Honestly, I won't sugarcoat it—the chef had me scrambling. I learned to stay under the lesser cooks and dash behind them. Against Lugoli, I kept to the center, stayed grounded, and in the second phase I stood beside where he surfaced from the maggots. If the maggots clipped me, I healed after dashing under Lugoli to the far side.

How I Found the Crustnut

The Crustnut sounds like a snack, but it's a whole ordeal. It's in the Sands of Karak, an optional area you've walked past on the Blasted Steps but can't access without at least the Clawline. The entrance sits above the Pinstress's home on the west side, so I had to defeat the Great Conchflies first.

Then came the platforming—northwest through difficult but straightforward jumps to a tall vertical chamber. I highly recommend doing three things before pushing deeper: buy the map from Shakra on the second left from the bottom, knock down the giant red spike to open a shortcut back to Blasted Steps, and reach the east bench to move your checkpoint closer. That place is not a backtracking playground.

When I was ready, I climbed the vertical chamber, broke the coral crystals to reveal a chamber to the left above Shakra's map spot and below the Coral Tower road. My only real goal was to keep heading west until there was nowhere left. The Crustnut was waiting at the end of that long, spiky road.

How I Delivered the Courier's Rasher

This is the one I saved for last, and it's basically the White Flower quest on a timer. Tipp and Pill in Bellhart start you off, but first I made sure My Missing Courier and My Missing Brother were done. I equipped Silkspeed Anklets and used Flea Brew before talking to them—every second counts.

The moment I chatted with them, the timer started. I could pause it by opening either menu fully, but I mostly kept moving. My route in ten steps: right to the end of Shellwood before the bench; ascend to Blasted Steps; go right to where I met Shakra, then ascend to the room before Last Judge; use the left wall to skip the driznit; sprint through Last Judge's arena ignoring enemies; race right through the Grand Gate to the platform chamber; climb the platforms through Choral Chambers to the Terminus sign; sprint right using the floor shortcut; take the exit at the top left, then the second alcove on the right; and finally run right using levers to reach Mergwin. I stayed careful—walls hurt, enemies hurt, and I jumped over threats with Clawline. It was tense, but delivering all five at once saved me a trip.

Rewards for Completing Great Taste of Pharloom

When I handed over the Courier's Rasher with the other four, Mergwin made that gelatinous dessert for his master. The cutscene was a lot, but once it finished, he gave me the Pale Oil from the pedestal on his right.

Then it was back to the Pinmaster in Bellhart to put that oil to use. My nail gained a full level of sharpness, boosting both regular attacks and nail arts. Worth it? Absolutely.

That kind of payoff is exactly why I keep coming back to Silksong—every quest, no matter how frustrating, feeds into a bigger sense of progression. Between the map purchases, upgrades, and countless deaths, the game rewards patience. And with so many hours of content waiting in Pharloom, it is genuinely one of those games you want everyone to experience.

If you have been holding off on starting your own journey, now is a good time to pick it up. Prices for the game vary depending on the platform and region, so I always suggest doing a quick [game price comparison]( before committing. DealNest makes that easy by checking prices across multiple stores at once, letting you focus your energy on the quests ahead instead of hunting for deals.

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