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My First-Person Feast: Completing Great Taste of Pharloom in Silksong Hollow Knight: Silksong’s Great Taste of Pharloom quest blends needle upgrades with epic culinary challenges for Hornet. I thought upgrading Hornet's needle in Hollow Knight: Silksong would be as simple as sharpening a pencil. Then I met Loyal Mergwin in the Pharloom Citadel, and he turned a blacksmith's errand into a cross-continental tasting menu. In 2026, after many patches and countless deaths, the Great Taste of Pharloom quest remains one of the most memorable side stories in the game. This is how I, a lone hornet with a needle and a stubborn streak, gathered every ingredient and finally earned the Pale Oil. The quest was less a grocery list and more a chandelier I had to assemble while it was already falling. Mossberry Stew: The Easy First Course Mergwin's list begins with Mossberry Stew, and for once, the game offers mercy. I backtracked to Mosshome, the starting area, and spoke to the friendly Druid of the Moss Temple. If you have not completed his berry-picking quest, you may need to do that first. I had already done it, so he handed over the rare ingredient without much fuss. The reward for helping him earlier is a handy defensive tool, which made the backtrack feel less like a chore and more like visiting an old friend who happens to cook with forest magic. Vintage Nectar: A Barkeep's Toll Vintage Nectar sits at the Halfway Home in Greymoor, but Creige will not part with it for free. He demands 480 Rosaries, a fee that feels like paying a toll bridge to cross a river of wine. I farmed Rosaries in the Citadel and to the right of Greymoor, then stocked up on equipment and silk. The real trap comes after you pay: when you enter the cellar and try to grab the nectar, waves of Hunter's March enemies ambush you. Their movesets tested my memory and my patience. After surviving the ambush, I grabbed the Vintage Nectar and returned upstairs to give Creige a piece of my mind. Courier's Rasher: The Nightmare Delivery 🥩 Courier's Rasher is the hardest part of the quest. It is Silksong's answer to Hollow Knight's Delicate Flower, and it punishes every careless step. First, I saved both Courier bugs through Bellhart's quest board, rescuing them from Greymoor and the Sinner's Road. They gave me the Rasher for free, but with a brutal condition: hand-deliver it to Mergwin under a strict time limit. You cannot use elevators or the Bell Beast, because fast travel instantly destroys the item. Taking damage, hitting walls, or falling from a great height also reduces its durability timer. Carrying that Rasher felt like balancing a soap bubble on a needle tip through a bramble maze. I practiced the route several times before attempting a real run. The path I chose had the least chance of failure while still being fast. Compared to the Delicate Flower, Silksong is more forgiving: you can take roughly one to three hits depending on your speed and charms. I equipped movement boosters like the Silkspeed Anklets and Flea Brew, and I used the save-and-quit trick to return to Greyhart between attempts. If you feel discouraged, take breaks or gather other ingredients first. Crustnut: Parkour Above the Blasted Steps The Crustnut is the second-to-last ingredient, tucked in one of the farthest corners of the map. I traveled past the obstacles on the western side of the Blasted Steps and used the Clawline ability from the Underworks. I hooked onto the hanging rings left of the Pinstress' home, then parkoured upward into the Sands of Karak. The climb is painful: challenging jumps, aggressive enemies, and a hidden wall at the marked point. After breaking through, I faced more deadly environmental hazards. It took a few tries, but eventually I claimed the Crustnut. Pickled Muckmaggot: Dinner with a Haunted Chef 🪱 The last ingredient, Pickled Muckmaggot, sends you back into the unforgiving Sinner's Road. Go straight after entering until you reach a hole in the ceiling that requires the Faydown Cloak. Climb up, and you will face a unique boss fight with a haunted chef. The Muckmaggot only drops upon their death. By this point in the game, I had enough upgrades to handle the fight without too much trouble. On the way back, I checked with Styx to farm Rosaries and save Silkeater bugs. The Feast and the Pale Oil ️ With every ingredient in my inventory, I returned to the Citadel and gave Mergwin the feast of his life. The reward is the Pale Oil needed to upgrade Hornet's needle a second time. But the quest is not over until you pay an additional 500 Rosaries to finish the upgrade. That final payment felt like finding the last puzzle piece under the couch after I had already flipped the table in frustration. Still, the boost was worth every Rosary, every death, and every failed delivery. Here is a quick summary of the ingredients: Ingredient Location Difficulty Mossberry Stew Mosshome, Moss Temple Druid Easy Vintage Nectar Greymoor, Halfway Home Medium Courier's Rasher Bellhart Courier bugs, timed delivery Very Hard Crustnut Sands of Karak, past Blasted Steps Hard Pickled Muckmaggot Sinner's Road, haunted chef boss Medium If you are attempting Great Taste of Pharloom in 2026, my advice is simple: do the Rasher last, practice your route, and bring patience. Silksong may be deadlier than its predecessor, but moments like this prove that its world is also richer, stranger, and more delicious. After all those deaths and deliveries, you might be ready for a break—or a new challenge. If you're planning to pick up Silksong for yourself, or you want to dive into another punishing metroidvania, it's worth doing a little real-world reconnaissance before you spend your hard-earned cash. Games, gear, and accessories can vary wildly in price depending on where you look. Rather than paying full price out of impatience, take a moment to [compare prices here]( at DealNest. A smart shopper's patience can be just as rewarding as a perfectly executed parkour route. https://dealnesthq.com

Silksong Gave Me the Itch: 8 3D Games I’m Playing in 2026 Hollow Knight: Silksong fans seeking Metroidvania and Soulslike adventures will love these unique, action-packed game recommendations. Hello, my name is a person who has spent an unreasonable amount of time staring at a bug with a needle. It is 2026, and Hollow Knight: Silksong is no longer the shiny new obsession — it is the comfortable old obsession I refuse to put down. Team Cherry's sequel tore through review charts, message boards, and sales charts when it arrived, and for a glorious stretch of September, it felt like every player on Earth was collectively lost in Pharloom. But zeitgeists end. So what is a bug-loving, parry-hungry, map-obsessed player supposed to do when the credits roll and the community slowly logs off? I could replay Silksong. I have. Twice. But I also want polygons. Is that so wrong? I love 2D Metroidvanias, but sometimes I want to see a weird creature's antennae in glorious 3D. So I went looking for games that scratch the same itch: Soulslike punishment, Metroidvania exploration, action-adventure wonder, and, ideally, a protagonist that is not a standard human with a sword. Here are the ones I recommend in 2026, whether you are mourning Silksong or just need a new labyrinth to get lost in. Metroid Prime: The Original Bug Hunt Metroid Prime is one of the best Metroid games of all time, and the Switch remaster made it easier than ever to revisit. The Metroid series is a classic Metroidvania franchise — the genre name did not come from nowhere — and Hollow Knight owes it a huge debt. Like most Metroid entries, Samus is given a vague objective, and she accomplishes it without much complaint. Players travel through sprawling dungeons, unlock powers, fight insect monsters, and generally feel tiny on an unsettling alien planet. If you love Hornet's acrobatics, Samus's morph ball and scan visor will feel like a family reunion. Another Crab's Treasure: Shells, Souls, and Sea Sickness Another Crab's Treasure is a Soulslike with a cute edge. It takes place underwater and stars a crustacean. A hermit crab named Kril loses its shell and tries to get it back, but unfortunately, most of the seabed has gone wild with some sort of violent disease. You fight enemies, earn points toward a skill tree, unlock new ways to get around, and — most importantly — find new shells. From pop cans to old tennis balls, Kril can equip them all to gain new benefits while exploring a crumbling undersea kingdom. It is adorable, brutal, and exactly the kind of weird animal protagonist Silksong fans appreciate. Tunic: A Cute Puzzle Box With Teeth Tunic is a perfect little top-down adventure for fans who miss older Zelda games and want to get lost in a strange new world. Not just the in-game world, either — the meta-narrative will suck you in. You will have to decipher hidden meanings within the lore to progress past certain parts and unlock new content. It is a big-brain type of experience. Even though it seems like a cute Zelda homage on the surface, there is a lot more to it, and giving specifics would spoil things. Let us just say Hollow Knight: Silksong fans will like the map layout. Bloodborne: The Gothic Nightmare Sibling The Hollow Knight franchise undoubtedly pays homage to the Soulslike genre and FromSoftware, who helped create the genre's identity. Among their many games, Silksong players will probably like Bloodborne the most. Bloodborne's gothic city is interconnected through gates and waterways, and depending on the choices made, the world can change, revealing new terrors and hidden pathways. Plus, there is a pivotal moment that is not unlike what happens to Hornet in Silksong regarding The Slab. Saying anything more about either would be a spoiler, but let us just say Bloodborne is a challenging action RPG wrapped in a haunting horror shell. Cocoon: A Bug, a Ball, and a Big Brain Cocoon is a top-down puzzle game without much context to its story. Players control a bug-like creature that is attuned to a strange ball. You use that ball to solve physics-based and multidimensional puzzles as you move through a labyrinthine dungeon. While there is not much in the way of combat — although there are boss battles — Silksong fans will appreciate the atmosphere and the bug protagonist. It is different, but it invokes the same vibes of exploring a foreign land without much help. Hell is Us: No Map, No Mercy, No Markers Hell is Us was released alongside Hollow Knight: Silksong, and it unfortunately is not getting as much attention, even though the two share a lot in common. Unlike most games out there, Hell is Us does not use quest markers or contain a visually accurate map. Players instead have to navigate this post-apocalyptic world by reading notes and paying attention to context clues, like what playing old-school adventure games was like. It is like the original The Legend of Zelda on the NES with some light Soulslike and Metroidvania elements, and it is perfect for players who wish to get lost in a strange world. Crypt Custodian: Janitor Cat in the Afterlife Crypt Custodian takes place in the afterlife, wherein an ordinary house cat becomes a more anthropomorphic creature. After causing some damage to some godly structures, players are then punished and forced to become a janitor. However, that is not where this Zelda-like adventure ends. In this game, brooms are as strong as swords, and players will learn to wield them well. While not fully 3D, the animations help the art pop out more, and overall, it is a game that Hollow Knight: Silksong fans will enjoy. The Plucky Squire: Out of the Book, Into the Desk The Plucky Squire is the best of both worlds, with stellar hand-drawn animations and stunning 3D visuals. The narrative is about a character from a book who soon gains the power to leave his story. As the titular hero, players will have to climb around a child's desk and interact with the real world to progress back into the storybook world. It is another example of an action-adventure game, but one with an interesting puzzle structure. It also often tips the genre on its head with oddball gameplay surprises, from a boxing game to a turn-based RPG. Quick Comparison Table Game Why Silksong Fans Will Like It Creature Factor Metroid Prime Alien dungeons, insect monsters, power unlocks Samus and bugs Another Crab's Treasure Soulslike combat, shell swapping, underwater decay Hermit crab Tunic Zelda-like exploration, meta puzzles, map secrets Small hero Bloodborne Gothic interconnected world, brutal action, hidden paths Beastly horrors Cocoon Bug protagonist, physics puzzles, eerie atmosphere Bug-like creature Hell is Us No quest markers, note reading, lost-world exploration Post-apocalyptic weirdness Crypt Custodian Broom combat, afterlife cleaning, Zelda-like adventure Cat turned janitor The Plucky Squire Hand-drawn 2D and 3D, genre-bending surprises Storybook hero Final Thoughts: The Itch Never Really Dies So, what do you do when the Silksong zeitgeist fades? You find another strange world, another impossible boss, another map that makes you mutter, 'wait, where am I?' The games above are not all identical to Silksong — some are 3D, some are top-down, some are puzzle boxes — but they share the same DNA: exploration, challenge, atmosphere, and a love of the weird. In 2026, the backlog is endless, and the community is still here. So pick a shell, sharpen a needle, or grab a broom. The next obsession is only a few deaths away. Of course, part of the fun of chasing down these hidden gems is the hunt itself — tracking down a copy, waiting for the right moment, and making sure you're not overpaying for a game you might have skipped two years ago. Between sprawling backlogs and constant sales across Steam, console storefronts, and key resellers, it's easy to lose track of what a title is actually worth right now. That's where a little bit of comparison shopping saves both time and money. 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Silksong's First Patch Nerfed Two Bosses, But Pharloom Still Wants Me Dead Hollow Knight: Silksong patch 1.0.28497 eases two early bosses, but traps and environmental damage remain the true difficulty. I still remember the first time I stepped into Pharloom. It was 2025, the year Hollow Knight: Silksong finally launched, and I thought I was ready. I had beaten Hollow Knight. I had beaten its Pantheons. I had convinced myself that I understood Team Cherry's language of pain. Then a moss-covered brute knocked me into a pit of spikes, and I realized I understood nothing. Now, in 2026, the first-ever Silksong patch, version 1.0.28497, is part of the conversation. It arrived on PC through the public beta branch before reaching consoles, and it does something I have mixed feelings about: it slightly reduces the difficulty of two early-game bosses, Moorwing and Sister Splinter. I get why. Silksong is harder than Hollow Knight on the whole, and that reputation has scared some players away. But as someone who has died to Sister Splinter more times than I can count, I do not think the bosses were ever the real problem. Bosses Are Hard, But They Are Not Unfair Let me be honest: Moorwing and Sister Splinter have killed me more times than I want to admit. I have blamed my controller. I have blamed the screen. I have blamed the phase transitions. But when I finally sat down and studied the fights, I realized that every boss in Silksong has a recognizable attack pattern. The game rarely, if ever, builds combos that feel impossible to escape. It punishes greed, panic, and impatience. It rewards observation, spacing, and the willingness to change your strategy. That is the core loop. You make mistakes. You analyze your failures. You learn the tells. You try again. A nerf to two early-game bosses might help new players get past the first wall, and I can accept that. What I did not want was for Team Cherry to sand down the entire game. Fortunately, the patch leaves the most difficult parts of Silksong untouched. The Traps Are the True Terror The real difficulty of Silksong is not a boss arena. It is the environment. Traps and environmental damage are everywhere, and they do not care about your pride. I have won a thirty-fifth-attempt grudge match against a boss, only to walk into a forgotten pressure plate on the way back and die instantly. It is humiliating in the best possible way. Traps come in every shape and size. A delayed pressure plate swings a massive bony scythe down at you. An enemy kidnaps you, steals your gear, and drops you into a late-game area before your time. Bilewater poisons your lungs. Hunter's March turns every spike and pogo jump into a test of nerve. The Slab, a giant prison complex, forces you to navigate without weapons while pressure plates close gates and spawn enemies. The first time I entered that room, I thought the game had broken. Then I learned that the room itself was the weapon. I lured enemies into traps, timed my movements, and turned the prison's cruelty against its guards. That is unfair, annoying, and deadly on the first encounter. It is also exactly the kind of innovative design that makes Silksong special. I am glad the first patch did not touch it. Even environmental damage, which some players complain is too high, remains unchanged. Pharloom's Economy Is Out of Control The other great source of difficulty is the economy. Rosaries are the lifeblood of Pharloom, and the game is very good at taking them away. A single incomplete runback can erase every Rosary you have not yet strung into a necklace. Farming spots exist, but prices are high enough that you actively need to farm, or you will be left behind. Silksong charges you to unlock checkpoints, fast travel stations, and in one case, even the door to a merchant's shop. You spend your last few Rosaries on a crucial unlock, then find yourself too broke to buy anything useful. The first patch does tweak this slightly. Courier deliveries, relics, and psalm cylinders now give more Rosaries, and some bench and Bellway prices have been reduced. That helps, but I suspect shop prices will stay high. The economy is part of Silksong's calculated difficulty, and it is not going anywhere. Patch 1.0.28497 change What I think Moorwing and Sister Splinter difficulty reduced Helpful for newcomers, but not the real hurdle More Rosaries from deliveries, relics, and psalm cylinders Welcome, yet still not enough to fix the grind Some bench and Bellway prices reduced A small mercy in a hostile land Traps, environmental damage, and shop prices untouched Exactly how I want it I Hope Future Patches Keep Pharloom Dangerous I do not want Silksong to become easy. Its difficulty can be crushing, but it is also the realization of an uncompromised vision. The game takes you on a journey of its own choosing. It forces you to adapt to combat, traps, and an economy that seems designed to keep you humble. If future patches keep reducing boss difficulty while ignoring the real challenges, I will be disappointed. I am glad the first patch does not address Silksong's biggest difficulty hurdles. I only hope the next patches follow suit. For now, I will keep exploring Pharloom. I will keep dying to spikes I forgot about. I will keep farming Rosaries and cursing merchant prices. And I will keep coming back, because Silksong's cruelty is not a flaw. It is the point. If anything, Pharloom has made me more conscious of how much real money goes into this hobby. Between base games, DLC, and the occasional indie gem that deserves support, a library can start to feel like its own Rosary grind. I have gotten pickier about what I pay full price for, and I have gotten much better at waiting. That is partly why I keep an eye on [where to buy cheap games]( at DealNest whenever something on my wishlist goes quiet for a few months. There is no coupon code for surviving the Hunter's March, but there is usually a discount somewhere for the games you actually want to play next. https://dealnesthq.com

Hell is Us: The Great Game That 2025 Buried (And I'm Still Sad About It) Hell is Us, a grimdark semi-open-world action game, was crushed by Hollow Knight: Silksong's same-day 2025 launch. Horrible timing, brilliant game. Ever shown up to a party only to realize you're wearing the same outfit as the host, but the host is a literal rockstar and everyone is screaming their name? That's basically Hell is Us in 2025. I played it, I loved it, and then I watched Hollow Knight: Silksong drop on the exact same day and absolutely obliterate the internet. Now it's 2026, and I'm still here, nursing a grudge and a save file. Hell is Us is Rogue Factor's greatest creative leap so far. It's a grimdark, semi-open-world action game that refuses to hold your hand. No map markers? Check. No quest arrows? Check. Just you, a weird drone, and a world that wants you dead. It's the kind of game that makes you feel smart when you figure something out, and then immediately stupid when you walk into an ambush. But that's the charm. It rejects traditional open-world design with passion and panache, as the reference article says. And I agree. It's respectable and fascinating. But here's the thing: 2025 was an absurdly packed year. Every month felt like a new blockbuster. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2? Great, but forgotten. Death Stranding 2? Wild. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33? A masterpiece. And then there's Hell is Us, a brand-new IP with no established fanbase, launching into a hurricane. I'm not saying it's a tragedy, but it's definitely a 'what if' scenario. Now, let's talk about the elephant in the room: Horizon. Remember Horizon Zero Dawn? Gorgeous game, new IP, launched five days before The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Five days! And then Horizon Forbidden West launched a week before Elden Ring. A week! Talk about bad timing. Here's a handy table: Game Release Date Competitor Competitor's Release Date Horizon Zero Dawn Feb 28, 2017 Zelda: Breath of the Wild Mar 3, 2017 Horizon Forbidden West Feb 18, 2022 Elden Ring Feb 25, 2022 Hell is Us Sep 4, 2025 Hollow Knight: Silksong Sep 4, 2025 Notice a pattern? Hell is Us didn't just compete with Silksong; it shared the same birthday. And Silksong wasn't just popular—it literally broke Steam. I tried to buy it on launch day and got stuck in a queue longer than my morning commute. Meanwhile, Hell is Us was sitting there, looking cool, but nobody had time. The real kicker? Hell is Us and Silksong appeal to the same demographic. We're talking grimdark, semi-open-world, no hand-holding, 'figure it out yourself' energy. If you love Silksong's obtuse Metroidvania structure and labyrinthine world design, you're probably the target audience for Hell is Us. But if you bounce off Silksong, you're not going to suddenly love Hell is Us. So there's no 'well, I'll just play the other one' escape hatch. It's a direct collision. So where does that leave us in 2026? Hell is Us is a good game. Not a masterpiece, but an 8/10 that tries something different. It's not perfect—I could complain about the combat for hours—but it's memorable. And the Horizon games eventually found a strong foothold despite their stiff competition. Maybe Hell is Us can do the same. Maybe in a year or two, people will discover it on sale, or through word of mouth, and realize they missed out. Or maybe it'll just be that game that got crushed by Silksong. Either way, I'm glad I played it. And hey, if you're one of the few who skipped Silksong (are you okay?), give Hell is Us a shot. It's weird, it's frustrating, and it's got a drone that beeps at you. What more do you want? If you're planning to circle back to a game like this months later, timing the purchase can be almost as tricky as the game itself. Prices bounce between storefronts, regional discounts pop up without warning, and a good sale can disappear in a day. That's the gap DealNest fills. Rather than manually checking every launcher and key seller, you can use [this price tracking tool]( to monitor price history, set alerts, and grab a deal when it finally lines up with your backlog. It won't make the release calendar any less crowded, but it can make catching up a lot cheaper. https://dealnesthq.com

Silksong's No Double Damage Mod Is a Beautiful Trap Hollow Knight: Silksong triple damage mod intensifies the double damage debate, challenging players with even harsher gameplay. Let me start with a confession: I am not a masochist. At least, I did not think I was until I stumbled across a mod for Hollow Knight: Silksong called No Double Damage (But better). If you have spent any time in Pharloom since the game launched back in 2025, you already know the debate. Silksong is hard. Not just hard for a sequel, but hard in a way that makes the original Hollow Knight feel like a gentle warm-up. So when I heard someone had made a mod to remove double damage, I thought, finally, a mercy. Then I read the description. The mod removes double damage by making it triple damage instead. Yes, really. Cue the monkey's paw curling. The Double Damage Debate That Refuses to Die Since Silksong launched in 2025, its difficulty has been the main topic of conversation. And I do mean the main topic. Forget lore theories. Forget dreamnail-style mysteries. The real question on every player's lips was: why does everything hit for two masks? In the original Hollow Knight, most regular enemies and environmental hazards dealt one mask of damage. In Silksong, a lot more of them deal two. That changes everything. A simple mistake against a random fly can cost you a third of your health. A spike pit does not just sting; it ruins your day. The developers did listen, at least a little. There was a patch that made some boss fights easier and reduced some Rosary costs for things like Bellway stations and benches. That helped. But the double damage stayed. For many players, that is the sticking point. It is not the bosses that break them; it is the ordinary rooms. It is the feeling that the world itself is out to get you. So a modder named TheLima made a mod to fix that. The only thing is, the fix is a trap. No Double Damage (But better) does exactly what its name suggests, sort of. As the description says, it removes the boring double damage from the game by making it triple damage instead. I laughed when I read that. Then I winced. Then I checked the download count. A Monkey's Paw Wish for Mercy When the mod first surfaced, it had 888 unique downloads. How many of those people knew what they were getting into? How many saw the name, clicked install, and only later realized they had signed up for a harder game? That is anyone's guess. But I love that it exists. It is the perfect joke for a community that has spent months arguing about whether Silksong is too hard or just hard enough. Now, you might be thinking: if you heal three masks at a time anyway, does triple damage really matter? After all, one heal can still recover a triple hit. So what is the difference? That is a fair question. On paper, it sounds almost balanced. In practice, it is not. Because healing takes time. Because you often get hit while healing. Because a triple hit can put you into one-shot range for the next attack. Because environmental hazards do not care about your heal timing. The mod does not make the game easier. It makes the game a different kind of cruel. And that is the point. Some players do not want easier. They want spicier. They want a second run that feels dangerous again, but they are not ready for Steel Soul mode. You know, the permadeath mode that deletes your save if you die. That is a commitment. A triple damage mod is just a casual way to flirt with disaster. You can uninstall it when your hands start shaking. The Modding Menu in 2026 By 2026, the Silksong modding scene has grown a lot. There are mods that genuinely make the game easier, like reducing double damage to a single mask. There are quality-of-life mods that add conveniences, tweak bench costs, or smooth out some of the more annoying systems. And then there are mods like this one, which exist because someone looked at a complaint and decided to answer it with a punchline. Here is a quick breakdown I wish I had before I started browsing: Mod style What it does Who it is for Easier double damage Reduces double damage to one mask Players who want original Hollow Knight difficulty Quality-of-life Tweaks benches, Rosary costs, and other annoyances Everyone, honestly No Double Damage (But better) Turns double damage into triple damage Absolute lunatics Steel Soul Permadeath, one life, no mercy Masochists and speedrunners Speaking of speedrunners, they are the ones who prove the game is not too hard for everyone. A documented record of 1:17:05 was set just a week after release. Think about that. While I was still learning enemy patterns, someone had already beaten the whole game in under an hour and twenty minutes. That is not normal. That is a different species. Would I Install It? So, would I install No Double Damage (But better)? On my first playthrough, absolutely not. I value my controller. I value my blood pressure. But for a second run, when I already know the bosses and I want to feel that old fear again? Maybe. Maybe I would install it for one evening, die three times in the first area, and then uninstall it with a laugh. That is the beauty of mods. They let you customize your suffering. You can make Silksong easier. You can make it harder. You can make it ridiculous. The only real question is: what kind of player are you? Are you the kind who wants a fair fight? Or are you the kind who looks at a triple damage mod and thinks, hmm, that sounds interesting? If you are the latter, I will see you in Pharloom. I will be the one hiding behind a bench, healing three masks at a time, and wondering why everything hurts so much. 🩹 Whether you are chasing a harder Silksong run or just building a backlog of brutal games to suffer through next, it helps to know when the price drops. That is where [game price tracker]( comes in: DealNest keeps an eye on store discounts so you can spend less on the games you will inevitably rage-quit, then come back to the next day. No need to pay full price for your next challenge. Check DealNest before you add anything to your cart, and save your money for the controller you might throw. https://dealnesthq.com

Silksong Guide: How I Found the Blasted Steps Map Before Act 1's End Get the Blasted Steps Map in Hollow Knight: Silksong from Shakra for 70 Rosaries to survive sandstorms and worms. After I defeated the Widow in Bellhart, I believed the worst was behind me. I was wrong. The next area in Hollow Knight: Silksong, Blasted Steps, greeted me with a howling desert of ravenous sand worms and wind that turned every jump into a gamble. In 2026, this biome still stands as the closing area of Act 1—unless you take the alternate path through Sinner's Road. If you are like me and value your Rosaries, you will want the Blasted Steps Map early. Why? Because the Blasted Steps is not just another room. It is a highly vertical region with thick sandstorms, heavy winds, and dunes that hide worms ready to devour me instantly. One slip, and I was gone. The map does not make the wind stop, but it does keep me oriented when the screen fills with sand. What good is a map if you cannot reach the cartographer? That is the trick. Where I Found Shakra Like most maps in Silksong, the Blasted Steps Map comes from the cartographer Shakra. I found them in the right portion of the Blasted Steps, tucked inside a small cave. But reaching that cave is the challenge. The route from Shellwood is a test of patience and timing. I started at the bench coming from Shellwood. From there, I headed left across a series of small platforms. I kept walking left until I reached a tunnel that slopes upward. This is where the Cling Grip ability—found in Shellwood—becomes essential. Without it, I could not scale the walls. I carefully wall climbed to the top of the shaft and moved right. Then I climbed upward and walked left until I came across another bench. From there, I continued left until I entered the Blasted Steps. Now, what happens when the wind gusts hit mid-jump? I learned the hard way: they slow you down and push you toward the sand below, where the worms are eagerly waiting for their next meal. So I timed every jump, used the wind currents instead of fighting them, and kept moving right. The Route to Shakra After entering Blasted Steps, I continued right. I handled a series of jumps and wind currents until I faced a flying enemy with a red drill-like head. That enemy is a warning: the area is not playing around. I followed the path a little further, and there was Shakra waiting in a small cave. I spoke to them, and I purchased the Blasted Steps Map for 70 Rosaries. Yes, 70 Rosaries. It felt expensive in the moment, but it saved me hours of blind wandering. Item Vendor Cost Location Blasted Steps Map Shakra 70 Rosaries Right portion of Blasted Steps, small cave Hazards I Faced The Blasted Steps does not just throw wind and worms at you. I also ran into Great Conchflies, and eventually the Last Judge, the final boss of Act 1. That fight is brutal if you go in unprepared. I learned that picking up the Needle Strike charged attack from the Pinstress first makes these fights much easier. If you are struggling, do not rush the Last Judge. Get Needle Strike. It changes everything. What makes the Blasted Steps so dangerous? The wind is not just visual. It affects your jump arcs, your dash timing, and your ability to land on small platforms. I often found myself drifting toward the dunes even when I thought I had a clean jump. The worms below are not forgiving. They devour you instantly, which means every mistake costs a full retry from the last bench. Here is what I wish I had known before entering: ️ Wind gusts can slow you mid-jump and push you into worm-filled sand. 🪱 Sand worms devour you instantly if you slip into the dunes. ️ The map costs 70 Rosaries from Shakra. 🧗 Cling Grip is required to climb the upward tunnel from Shellwood. ️ Needle Strike from the Pinstress helps against Great Conchflies and the Last Judge. 🪑 Benches are scarce, so plan your route before you commit to a long jump sequence. Final Thoughts Is the Blasted Steps Map worth 70 Rosaries? For me, absolutely. The area is vertical, disorienting, and unforgiving. Without the map, I would have missed Shakra's cave, fallen into worm sand, and probably rage-quit before Act 1 ended. With the map, I could plan my jumps, mark benches, and focus on the real threat: the Last Judge. So if you are coming from Bellhart after the Widow, do not skip the cartographer. Head left from the Shellwood bench, use Cling Grip, climb the shaft, and keep moving until you reach Shakra. Buy the map. Then take on the Blasted Steps with confidence—or at least with fewer deaths than I had. In 2026, this route remains one of the most punishing and rewarding detours in Silksong's first act. Between boss attempts like the Last Judge, it is easy to lose track of how much you are spending on games in general. If you tend to pick up a few Metroidvanias after finishing a hard-won act, watching for discounts before you hit the checkout can save you enough to fund a whole new playthrough. That is where a tool like DealNest comes in handy—it tracks price drops across Steam so you are not manually refreshing store pages every sale event. Rather than buying on impulse the moment a title catches your eye, it helps to set a target price and let a [steam deal finder]( alert you when that number finally appears. 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Silksong Fast Travel in 2026: Every Bellway and Ventrica Silksong fast travel guide: unlock all Bellways and Ventricas, 12 Bell Beast Stations and 7 Citadel routes. Hornet’s legs were never meant for endless walking. In the opening hours of Silksong, she dragged herself through Bone Bottom, her needle clicking against damp stone, until a low bell hummed somewhere below. That bell was the first Bellway—a fast travel system that would soon turn her grueling pilgrimage into a series of convenient hops. And let’s be honest, nobody wants to sprint across half a kingdom just to buy a new pin. At the beginning, Hornet must get around the world with nothing but her spindly black legs until she discovers the Bellways. These stations allow instant travel between all unlocked fast travel locations. In Silksong, Bell Beast Stations and Ventricas are the primary forms of fast travel that players can engage with. The Bellways come first, opening relatively early, and they quickly become the backbone of any long exploration run. To unlock the first route, players discover the Bellway in Bone Bottom, then free and subdue the Bell Beast in The Marrow. The creature—ancient, weary, and more than a little dramatic—bows its head once defeated, and from that moment on, its bells answer Hornet’s call. It is a strange partnership, but a practical one. In total, there are 12 Bellways to discover in Silksong, including eight during Act 1 and four more in Act 2. Some are unlocked for free, but you may have to pay Rosaries for others. You know the drill: pay up, or walk. A few Bellway locations cannot be discovered until you reach Act 2, yet they still connect back to Act 1 areas, letting Hornet revisit prior zones more conveniently. That backward compatibility matters, because Pharloom has a habit of hiding secrets in places you thought you had finished with. When Act 2 arrives, the Citadel introduces a new flavor of fast travel: Ventricas. These seven stations are found exclusively within the Citadel and Act 2 areas. You do not lose access to the Bellways—both fast travel systems co-exist and provide travel to different parts of the map. Each Ventrica costs 80 Rosaries to unlock upon discovery, except for the Terminus Ventrica, which can be accessed by any other Ventrica you discover. Well, mostly. The Terminus is the generous exception. So, what does the full fast travel network look like in 2026? Here is a quick breakdown: System Total Locations Act Availability Cost Notes Bellway (Bell Beast Station) 12 8 in Act 1, 4 in Act 2 Varies; some free, some Rosaries Connects back to earlier zones Ventrica 7 Act 2 Citadel only 80 Rosaries each Terminus Ventrica is the exception Bellway quick facts 12 Bell Beast Stations in total. 8 unlock during Act 1. 4 more appear in Act 2. Some are free; others demand Rosaries. They remain useful even after Ventricas arrive. Ventrica quick facts ️️ 7 Ventricas in total. All are inside the Citadel and Act 2 areas. Each costs 80 Rosaries, except Terminus. Terminus can be reached through any other Ventrica. Bellways and Ventricas co-exist, so Hornet never loses her old routes. The Bell Beast snores at its stations, patient and slightly smug. The Ventricas hum their metallic tunes, waiting for a handful of Rosaries. Hornet, meanwhile, learns to weave through Pharloom like a needle through silk. The map stops feeling like a maze and starts feeling like a network—one bell at a time. ... In the end, whether you are replaying Silksong in 2026 or diving in for the first time, knowing every Bellway and Ventrica location saves hours of backtracking. The game gives you two fast travel languages: the warm, beastly bells of the Bellways and the cold, mechanical pulse of the Ventricas. Hornet speaks both fluently. And really, that is what makes the journey bearable—and occasionally even pleasant. That same instinct for trimming wasted effort carries over outside the game, too. Anyone who has waited months for a sale on a game, a controller, or a console knows the feeling: hopping between storefronts, comparing prices, and second-guessing whether today is the day to buy. It is the real-world version of backtracking through a zone you have already cleared. Using [this price tracking tool]( from DealNest turns that chore into a single route—watch the items you want, get notified when the number drops, and spend your attention on playing rather than refreshing tabs. Efficiency, whether in Pharloom or in a shopping cart, is really just about knowing the fastest way to the thing you actually want. Hornet would approve. https://dealnesthq.com

Where to Find the Grand Gate Map in Hollow Knight: Silksong Grand Gate Map in Hollow Knight: Silksong guides players through Citadel’s vertical pathways, benches, and hidden challenges efficiently. Hornet’s journey in Hollow Knight: Silksong reaches a significant turning point after the Blasted Steps and the Last Judge fall behind her. The Grand Gate is not just a colossal architectural barrier; it is the threshold into the Choral Chambers and the official entry point to Act II. For players stepping into this towering section of the Citadel, securing the Grand Gate Map early can make the difference between a confident descent and a disoriented scramble through mechanical depths. Immediate Map Purchase After the Last Judge Unlike many earlier areas in Silksong where tracking down Shakra is a requirement before any map is available, the Grand Gate offers an immediate purchase. After the Last Judge is defeated, the path forward leads directly into the Grand Gate. From the site of the battle, Hornet should continue moving to the right until a pressure-sensitive platform appears. Standing on that platform opens a door to the right. Passing through brings the player face-to-face with the monumental gate itself. Just inside, a machine displaying a model of the Citadel can be inspected. This is where the Grand Gate Map can be purchased for 40 Rosaries. The process is straightforward: interact with the machine, insert the Rosaries, and the map is added to the inventory. So what makes this purchase worth the 40 Rosaries? The Grand Gate Map provides immediate orientation within the Citadel’s layered pathways, benches, and hidden challenges. Without it, players may still find their way, but they lose the ability to plan routes through one of the game’s most vertical and mechanically complex regions. Step-by-Step Route to the Grand Gate Map Step Action 1 Defeat the Last Judge at the Blasted Steps 2 Move right from the battle site 3 Step onto the pressure-sensitive platform to open a door 4 Enter the Grand Gate and inspect the machine with the Citadel model 5 Purchase the Grand Gate Map for 40 Rosaries Descending Into the Underworks With the Grand Gate Map in hand, players can safely push deeper into the Citadel. Continuing to the right after the purchase leads to an elevator. Activating the switch drops the lift downward, but the descent is far from smooth. The elevator jolts a couple of times and requires repeated hits on the switch. Eventually, the mechanism breaks, sending Hornet falling into the Underworks. The Underworks is a dangerous mechanical area located below the Citadel. It is filled with hazards that punish hesitation, but the map reference from the Grand Gate can help players recognize key landmarks even as the environment shifts from ornate citadel halls to grinding industrial depths. Unlocking the Clawline in The Cauldron Deep within the Underworks, players will eventually reach a new area called The Cauldron. This is where Hornet can unlock the Clawline, a grappling hook-like power that is widely considered an absolute must-have for exploring the rest of the game. The Clawline opens access to new shortcuts and allows traversal through areas that are otherwise unreachable. Does the Grand Gate Map directly reveal The Cauldron’s location? Not always. However, having the map earlier means players can recognize the transition points and avoid unnecessary backtracking as they navigate the Underworks toward this essential ability. For those pushing through Act II, the sequence is clear: defeat the Last Judge, enter the Grand Gate, buy the map for 40 Rosaries, ride the breaking elevator, survive the Underworks, and claim the Clawline. Each step builds on the last, and the Grand Gate Map is the first key to keeping that journey from becoming a blind drop into the Citadel’s depths. When you’re between runs and thinking about which games to tackle next, it helps to keep an eye on prices rather than paying full fare for every title that catches your eye. DealNest offers a straightforward [steam deal finder]( that surfaces current discounts and historical lows, making it easier to decide whether to buy now or wait for a deeper sale. That’s especially useful for metroidvania fans who want to compare deals on Silksong, similar indie action-platformers, or DLC and soundtracks without bouncing between store pages. If you’d rather spend your budget on more adventures than on full-price impulse buys, DealNest is worth a look before your next purchase. https://dealnesthq.com

Silksong Guide: How to Reach Weavenest Atla and Find Its Map Silksong's Weavenest Atla guide reveals how to unlock the hidden area using Needolin Skill and wall jump in Moss Grotto. How to Reach Weavenest Atla in Silksong Weavenest Atla is a hidden area in Hollow Knight: Silksong that many players see within the first hour of play, yet cannot enter until the end of Act 1. Its entrance is a large weaver-shaped door in Moss Grotto, visible from the early game but sealed by a missing ability. This guide explains the prerequisites, the exact route, and the location of the area map, along with the major rewards waiting inside. As of 2026, the process remains tied to story progression, the Needolin Skill, and a few precise movements through Bellhart, Shellwood, and Bone Bottom. Prerequisites for Weavenest Atla ️ Before the door opens, players must advance the main story until they reach Bellhart. At that point, a new objective appears: The Threadspun Town. This objective sends the player into Shellwood to acquire the wall jump ability. After gaining wall jump, they must continue right and defeat the Widow. The reward for defeating the Widow is the Needolin Skill, which is the key to opening Weavenest Atla. Without Needolin, the weaver-shaped door remains inert, no matter how many times the player interacts with it. Requirement Location Purpose Story progress to Bellhart Bellhart Unlocks The Threadspun Town objective Wall jump ability Shellwood Allows vertical traversal and route access Defeat the Widow Shellwood, right side Grants the Needolin Skill Needolin Skill Reward from Widow Opens the weaver-shaped door Bellway fast travel Any Bellway Station Speeds up return to Bone Bottom Step-by-Step Route to Weavenest Atla 🧭 Progress the main story until Bellhart is reached and The Threadspun Town objective appears. Travel into Shellwood and obtain the wall jump ability. Head right through Shellwood and defeat the Widow to earn the Needolin Skill. Go to the nearest Bellway Station and fast travel to Bone Bottom. From Bone Bottom, head left and down into Moss Grotto. Inside Moss Grotto, move right until a large weaver-shaped door comes into view. Stand next to the door and press Triangle or Y on a controller, or D on a keyboard. Pass through the door to arrive in Weavenest Atla. The door itself is impossible to miss for observant players. It has a distinctive weaver motif and sits in a part of Moss Grotto that many people explore early. The trick is not finding the door but returning with the correct skill. Once Needolin is active, the interaction prompt appears and the path opens. Finding the Weavenest Atla Map The map for Weavenest Atla is close to the entrance, but it is easy to overlook. After entering the area, the player should keep going straight and then head right. They will find two glowing cylinders. Striking these cylinders activates a mechanism in the room behind them. That mechanism jets the player down to the bottom of the area. However, before taking that downward route, the player should interact with the rune tablet nearby. This rune tablet reveals the map for Weavenest Atla. Mapping the area early is useful because Weavenest Atla contains several optional collectibles and a boss encounter. The layout is smaller than many other regions in Silksong, but its compact design hides multiple points of interest. A Spool Fragment, a Mask Shard, a boss in one corner, and an NPC who upgrades the Hunter's Crest are all located within this secluded nest. What to Collect in Weavenest Atla ️ Weavenest Atla may be small, but it is dense with rewards. The most important find is the NPC who upgrades the Hunter's Crest. This upgrade can change the player's combat approach and make certain fights more manageable. The area also holds a Spool Fragment, which contributes to Silk-related upgrades, and a Mask Shard, which increases survivability. A boss waits in one corner for players who want an extra challenge. Because the area is optional in terms of exploration, it is possible to miss these rewards entirely if the player rushes through. Item or Encounter Type Why It Matters Hunter's Crest upgrade NPC service Alters combat style and crest performance Spool Fragment Collectible Progress toward Silk capacity upgrades Mask Shard Collectible Progress toward additional health Boss encounter Optional fight Challenge and possible rewards Rune tablet Map unlock Reveals the Weavenest Atla map Tips for a Smooth Visit Players should make sure they have rested at a bench and are prepared for combat before entering. Although the route to Weavenest Atla is not long, the boss in the corner can punish an unprepared traveler. It is also wise to activate the map before dropping down via the cylinder mechanism, because the lower section can be disorienting on a first visit. If the interaction prompt at the weaver-shaped door does not appear, the player has not yet obtained Needolin. In that case, they should return to the Threadspun Town objective and confirm that the Widow has been defeated. Conclusion 🧵 Weavenest Atla is a memorable example of Silksong's layered exploration. The entrance is visible early, but the area stays locked until the player follows the main story to Bellhart, explores Shellwood, defeats the Widow, and earns the Needolin Skill. From Bone Bottom, the journey through Moss Grotto is short, and the weaver-shaped door opens with a simple button press. Inside, the map is found by hitting two glowing cylinders and using the nearby rune tablet. With the map in hand, players can safely pursue the Spool Fragment, Mask Shard, optional boss, and the NPC who upgrades the Hunter's Crest. For anyone aiming to complete Silksong's secrets in 2026, Weavenest Atla is an essential detour that rewards patience and preparation. After wrapping up everything Weavenest Atla hides, you might find yourself wanting to track down other deals in the metroidvania genre or even gift a copy of Silksong to a friend. That's where a site like DealNest comes in—it gathers offers in one place so you can quickly [check game prices]( across different platforms. It's a handy tool for any hunter who prefers spending time exploring rather than comparison shopping. https://dealnesthq.com

Silksong Guide: How to Reach Sands of Karak and Find Shakra's Map Reach the Sands of Karak in Hollow Knight: Silksong with this route guide: get Clawline, beat Great Conchflies, meet Pinstress, and climb up. Reaching the Sands of Karak in Hollow Knight: Silksong is one of those late-Act 2 milestones that feels equal parts triumph and test of patience. The area sits behind a demanding platforming route, a duo boss, and a few ability checks, so players who rush in without Clawline or a healthy supply of Rosaries will likely find themselves backtracking. The good news is that the path becomes much clearer once players understand the intended sequence: obtain Clawline in the eastern Underworks through Whiteward, travel to the Bellway Station in Blasted Steps, float down near the left wall, defeat the Great Conchflies, meet the Pinstress, and then use Needle Strike and Clawline to climb into the Sands of Karak. As of 2026, this route remains one of the most memorable and mechanically demanding stretches in Silksong's second act. Quick Route at a Glance Step Action Important Detail 1 Acquire Clawline Found in eastern Underworks, accessed through Whiteward 2 Reach Blasted Steps Bellway Station Head right, then down 3 Descend carefully Float throughout the fall and stay near the left wall 4 Enter first left passage Leads to the Great Conchflies duo boss 5 Defeat Great Conchflies Dodge both bosses and attack when they pop up 6 Head left after arena Glide right to the Pinstress hut 7 Talk to Pinstress Grants Needle Strike 8 Head left for grapple point Harpoon and use Clawline to climb 9 Take top-left passage Continue upward while avoiding wall bugs 10 Arrive in Sands of Karak Hit yellow balls, use corals, find Shakra Prerequisites and Preparation The first hard requirement is the Clawline ability. It is located inside the eastern part of the Underworks, which players can access through Whiteward. Without Clawline, the later harpoon points and vertical traversal in this route simply cannot be completed. Players should also prepare for a boss fight, because the path to the Sands of Karak passes directly through the Great Conchflies arena. Rosaries are another consideration. Shakra sells the Sands of Karak map for 90 Rosaries, and players who arrive with an empty purse may feel stuck. Fortunately, the area is not a dead end. There are quite a few shortcuts that lead to different locations, as well as a Bellway Station. Players can use the Bellway Station to travel to an area where farming is easier, collect a substantial purse, and then return to buy the map. That makes the journey less punishing than it first appears, especially for explorers who like to bank resources before committing to a long platforming run. The Route to the Sands of Karak Once Clawline is in hand, players should make their way to the Bellway Station in Blasted Steps. From there, the route begins by heading right and then down. The fall is long, and control matters more than speed. Players should float throughout the fall and stay near the left wall. The first passage they come across on the left will lead them to an area where they will face the Great Conchflies. This is a duo boss fight, so awareness is everything. Players need to watch where both bosses are coming from and dodge them while finding windows to attack whenever they pop up. Greedy hits are dangerous here; the fight rewards patience, positioning, and clean dodges more than raw aggression. After the Great Conchflies are defeated, players should head left of the boss arena. The next section is a small but satisfying traversal challenge. Players can basically glide all the way to the right and reach the hut where the Pinstress resides. Talking to the Pinstress grants the Needle Strike ability. From there, players should head left to find a grapple point they can harpoon at. By repeatedly using Clawline to make their way up, they will eventually need to go through the passage on the top left. The climb continues upward, and this is where the wall bugs become a serious threat. They deal two mask damage, so trading hits is a bad idea. Players should keep their movement deliberate and avoid panicking when the platforming tightens. As they progress further, they will finally reach the Sands of Karak. Inside the Sands of Karak The Sands of Karak introduce a new layer of platforming built around yellow balls and coral. Players should hit the yellow ball in the area, which causes platforms to appear in front of them, as well as corals that they can down slash to make their way forward. After the second yellow ball, the platforms begin forming to the right and to the top left corner as well. The top left corner leads to a Memory Locket that players can pick up to increase the slots on their Crest. That reward alone makes the detour worthwhile, especially for players who want more flexibility in their build. After grabbing the Memory Locket, players should head right. They will need to jump, float, and then harpoon to the wall, where they will find the yellow ball on top. Hitting the ball and going down causes platforms to form on the left. Players should then harpoon across the spikes and head up, then through the right passage. Here they will spot a new enemy. Towards the left, above them, is a room where Shakra is sitting at the end. Talking to Shakra allows players to buy the map for 90 Rosaries. Tips for a Smoother Run 🧗 Use Clawline patiently. The route is built around it, and rushing often leads to unnecessary falls. ️ Respect two-mask damage. The wall bugs in the climb are not worth trading hits with. 🪙 Farm Rosaries before the final stretch if the purse is light. The Bellway Station makes this practical. ️ Buy the map from Shakra for 90 Rosaries. It makes later exploration in the Sands of Karak far less confusing. Grab the Memory Locket. Extra Crest slots are a long-term benefit. ️ Learn Needle Strike. The Pinstress grants it before the hardest climbing begins. Final Thoughts The Sands of Karak is not just another map room in Silksong. It is a test of the movement vocabulary that Act 2 keeps expanding: Clawline, floating, harpooning, down slashing, and boss dodging all come together in one route. Players who prepare properly, defeat the Great Conchflies, speak with the Pinstress, and keep an eye out for Shakra will walk away with a new map, a Memory Locket, and a stronger understanding of Silksong's vertical design. For completionists and explorers alike, it is a journey worth taking. Once you've conquered the Sands of Karak and are ready to dive deeper into Pharloom, you might find yourself looking for the best deals on the game, its DLC, or even a controller that can handle the precise platforming. 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How I Became a Homeowner in Hollow Knight: Silksong (And You Can Too) Pharloom Bellhome offers bug warriors a cozy, customizable sanctuary; unlock your dream abode with quests and Rosaries in Bellhart. Listen, I've spent countless hours in Pharloom, dodging spiked balls and getting my silk handed to me by giant bugs. But nothing—and I mean nothing—prepared me for the sheer domestic bliss of owning a Bellhome. It's like finding a warm cup of tea in a hurricane of hostility. So here's my tale of how I became the proud owner of a cozy bell-shaped abode, and how you can too without losing your mind or your Rosaries. Unlocking the Bellhome: A Homeowner's Odyssey First things first: you can't just waltz into Bellhart and claim a home. You've got to earn it. Think of it as the world's most dangerous homeowners association. To even start, you need to defeat Widow and complete the Threadspun Town task. That opens up Bellhart, and from there, you'll want to keep exploring Pharloom and returning to the Wish board like a moth to a very quest-heavy flame. There are three quests you should complete: Restoration of Bellhart (required) My Missing Courier (recommended) My Missing Brother (recommended) Donating 250 Rosaries kicks off the town's reconstruction. While that's happening, finish those two courier quests—they unlock a courier service that will become your best friend for the Rosary grind ahead. As you build up the town and save its patrons, talk to Pavo. Always make sure he has nothing new to say. Eventually, once you've found more benches and explored more map areas, the construction finishes. If you've been diligent with the Wishes, your next chat with Pavo rewards you with the Bellhome Key. Your Bellhome is on the third level of the town, above the Pinmaster and Relic Seeker. Use the key, step inside, and bask in the glow of the Resident trophy/achievement. For now, it's just a bed. But oh, the decorating possibilities! Decorating Your Bellhome: Because Even Bug Warriors Need Throw Pillows Once you have the key, head to Frey at the Bellhart general goods store. She sells all the decorations, except the Spa, which requires you to buy two other upgrades first. These items are expensive and serve little practical purpose beyond making your home look fabulous. Here's the full list: Upgrade Price What Is It? Desk 380 Rosaries Allows you to read Relics you've turned in to the Relic Seeker. Gleamlights 320 Rosaries Lights up the home's interior. Bell Lacquer 520 Rosaries Paint the outside of the bellhome: Red, Silver, Black, Yellow, or Blue. Personal Spa 1,100 Rosaries Adds a second floor with a hot spring that regenerates Silk and Masks. Most decorations appear immediately after purchase, but the Bell Lacquer takes time to apply—you can watch the paint dry while you adventure, which is oddly satisfying. Gathering Rosaries Fast: The 45-Minute Money Method Altogether, all upgrades cost a staggering 2,320 Rosaries. That's like trying to teach a Grub to tap dance—daunting but not impossible. The key is the courier service. With Tipp & Pibb's Courier Service unlocked, you can make deliveries that pay very well. My go-to is the Pilgrim's Rest run, netting about 239 Rosaries every four minutes. You'll need the Silkshot tool (or similar) and the Pollip Pouch. If Pilgrim's Rest isn't available, Bone Bottom is the next best choice, giving 128 Rosaries if you defeat the fishermen on the way. But Pilgrim's Rest is the safest and most lucrative. Here's my step-by-step route: Go through Greymoor, taking out the scissor bug in the first room. Dash right until you reach the room with another scissor bug patrolling above. Destroy him from below if you can. In the room with the trident bug, use your trap to defeat it quickly. Kill the other bug beyond it before climbing up. Use your trap in the pilgrims room to take out the first three and last two bugs. You can kill the bellbearer between the pilgrim sets from below. Dash to Far Fields and fall down on the right side for the first two wind sections. Switch to the left side and fall gently onto the left side next to the shortcut. Run to Pilgrim's Rest to drop off the package. Fall down toward the Bellway Station, but stop by the target practice room to kill both bugs. Take the Bellway back to Bellhart to repeat as necessary. With this method, you can afford every upgrade in under 45 minutes. No Rosary Strings, no risk of losing your hard-earned geo—just pure, efficient capitalism. Before you know it, your Bellhome will be the envy of every bug in Pharloom. And honestly? After all those boss fights, you deserve a spa day. If there's one thing a long courier grind teaches you, it's the value of patience and a route you can repeat without thinking—and that instinct has a habit of following you out of Pharloom. Holding off on a purchase until the price finally drops is the real-world version of the same discipline, and it pays off just as reliably. For anyone who'd rather not sit around refreshing storefronts hoping the number moves, a [game price tracker]( like DealNest does the watching for you, surfacing discounts across stores so you can decide when a title is actually worth the spend. Same efficiency mindset, just pointed at your wallet instead of your Rosary count. https://dealnesthq.com

My Missing Courier Wish: Finding Tipp in Hollow Knight Silksong Silksong My Missing Courier Wish guide: track Tipp in Lower Shellwood, free Bellhart, unlock Multibinder, Spool Fragment, Memory Locket. During my latest pilgrimage through Hollow Knight: Silksong in 2026, I finally resolved the My Missing Courier Wish—a side quest that had been taunting me from Bellhart’s wish board like a half-remembered melody. I had put it off for weeks, distracted by the game’s sprawling map and brutal bosses, but the promise of new shop inventory was too tempting. So I sharpened my needle, stocked up on silk, and set out to find a courier named Tipp who had vanished somewhere in Lower Shellwood. Before I could even accept the wish, I had to free Bellhart from its curse. That meant breaking the town’s grim spell so its townsbugs could walk freely, open their shops, and speak with me again. Once Bellhart breathed easy, the wish board appeared, and My Missing Courier became available. The description pointed me toward Lower Shellwood, and I felt the familiar itch of a trail gone cold. Tracking Tipp: A Trail of Four Clues The hunt for Tipp unfolded like a silk thread snagged on a bramble—each clue a knot I had to untie. The tracking nodes were not marked on my map, so I relied on environmental hints. Here is how the trail broke down for me: Location Hint #1 — I found the first clue almost exactly in the middle of Lower Shellwood, with fragments lying on the ground. Inspecting them triggered a prompt to track Tipp. The trail pulled me west and up into a dead-end corridor, where the second node waited. Location Hint #2 — From that first drop, I headed further west, still in the bottom section of the map, until I reached the exit toward Bone Bottom. At the end of that area, the third hint glimmered. Location Hint #3 — This one led me into the western portions of the map, into the bench room leading to Bone Bottom. It was a shorter tracking hint, guiding me downward into a small corner where several bugs skittered around the final hint. Final Hint — For the last node, I descended the vertical shaft to its middle section. Tipp’s location was on the left-hand side, on a cliff facing inward toward the drop. Two bugs surrounded him. I killed both to free him, and he spoke with me before making his way back to Bellhart. The vertical shaft swallowed me like a hollow reed drinking rain, and for a moment I wondered if I had missed a turn. But the final clue was unmistakable: a courier trapped, not by chains, but by the quiet menace of Shellwood’s fauna. What Tipp Unlocks in Bellhart Once Tipp returned to Bellhart, I headed back to see what the shop now offered. The inventory had expanded with a few expensive but powerful items. If you are short on rosaries, you may need to grind, but these are worth the effort: Item Effect Multibinder Tool Extends the act of binding to gain greater healing. Spool Fragment Adds extra silk to your reserves. Memory Locket Expands your Crests. With Tipp saved and the town inventory stocked, I felt my kit grow sharper. Greater healing, extra silk, and a memory locket to expand my Crests—each upgrade felt like adding a new verse to a song I was still learning to sing. The Multibinder Tool alone changed how I approached boss fights, letting me bind longer and recover more health in tight spots. Final Thoughts from a 2026 Run Even in 2026, with countless patches and community discoveries, My Missing Courier remains one of Silksong’s more humane wishes. It does not demand a boss fight or a pixel-perfect platforming gauntlet. Instead, it asks you to pay attention, to read the land, and to follow a trail that unspools like a spool of silk caught in a thornbush. For me, that quiet detective work was a welcome pause between Hornet’s more violent errands. If you are still wandering Pharloom, I recommend finishing this wish before you push into the game’s later regions. The shop upgrades are practical, the tracking puzzle is satisfying, and Tipp’s return to Bellhart adds a small but meaningful warmth to the town. So grab your needle, free Bellhart if you have not already, and head to Lower Shellwood. Tipp is waiting—and he has been waiting far too long. 🧭️ If you are the kind of player who likes chasing side quests and hidden vendors before moving on, that same patience can pay off when building out your library. I usually keep a shortlist of games I want to try next and check [game deals today]( on DealNest before paying full price—especially useful when a sale lines up with a lull between Silksong sessions. It is not tied to Pharloom or Tipp, but if you enjoy the rhythm of exploring, upgrading, and discovering quiet corners, DealNest is a handy place to spot discounts on similar metroidvanias and indie adventures without breaking your rosary budget. https://dealnesthq.com

How To Buy A Home In Hollow Knight: Silksong (And Why It Costs So Many Rosaries) Hollow Knight Silksong house guide: Hornet buys Bellhart's home for 650 Rosaries, then installs Materium and Farsight. Pharloom is not a home. It is a hostile, bug-infested obstacle course with benches that look like they were assembled by a blind carpenter. In Hollow Knight: Silksong, Hornet is a traveller, a wandering knight, a creature of perpetual motion. Rest is a bench. Safety is a rumour. And yet, after defeating the Widow, an empty house in Bellhart sits there like a tiny, roofless promise. As of 2026, this fixer-upper remains one of the game's strangest and most endearing side projects: a chance for a homeless warrior to become a homeowner, assuming the rosaries are available and the local landlord is in a good mood. The Key To The House Real estate in Pharloom is not cheap. Just like in real life, houses do not come with a complimentary jar of honey. The main requirement is completing every single quest on Bellhart's Wishboard, including the two restoration quests on offer. Those quests are: Quest Cost Restoration of Bellhart 250 Rosaries Bellhart's Glory 400 Rosaries That is 650 rosaries before the player even thinks about curtains. The smarter approach is to wait until the knight has at least reached the Citadel. The Citadel opens up excellent rosary farming spots, and it also contains a special item found only in the Memorium area. Once every Bellhart quest is complete and all the rosaries have been donated, the player should speak to Pavo. He will recognise the effort and reward the knight with the key. If Pavo refuses to hand it over, leaving the area and coming back usually fixes his sudden case of forgetfulness. Achievement Gallery The house is not just a place to store extra shells and regrets. It also becomes a small gallery for two interesting installations, both of which offer more insight into the game itself. Materium The Materium is relatively easy to find, tucked away near the top of Memorium in the Citadel. Exploring that area requires the Faydown Cloak, so players should not expect to grab it on a casual stroll. When installed in the house, the Materium displays the following objects that the knight has found and used throughout the adventure: Quest Objects Relics Psalm Cylinders Mementos Realistically, the Materium does not do anything mechanical. It is a museum of memories, a way to look back on every strange trinket and forgotten favour that shaped the journey. In a game about constant violence, that is almost disgustingly wholesome. Farsight The Farsight is an object that can be picked up in the Abyss at the beginning of Act 3. The image above shows the exact location. Once installed, it reveals many things related to total completion of the game. For example, looking at the save file just above the time played will show a completion percentage. It also displays missing slots in the tool display, so the player knows how many more tools still need to be found. Again, the Farsight is not particularly useful in combat, but it is a nice quality-of-life feature for completionists who enjoy staring at numbers and feeling judged by them. Home Refurbishments ️ After obtaining the key, the shop in Bellhart will stock a bunch of items that can be used to improve the humble dwelling. Are these things really worth buying? Probably not. Many players learn that the hard way, usually after spending a small fortune on decorative nonsense while their actual combat tools remain tragically underpowered. But if the knight is swimming in rosaries and has nothing else to buy, there is no harm in splashing some cash. The house does not make Pharloom less dangerous. It does not make the bosses fairer. It does not stop the benches from being placed at the exact opposite end of a difficult platforming section. What it does provide is a rare moment of belonging. In 2026, long after the initial chaos of release, that tiny Bellhart home still stands as a reminder that even a wandering knight deserves somewhere to hang her needle. And if the decorations are overpriced? Well, that is just Pharloom's version of a homeowner's association. Spending rosaries around Bellhart is one kind of shopping, but the real-world version — tracking down games without paying full price — is a different beast entirely. Whether it is Silksong itself or another metroidvania waiting to fill the gap between boss attempts, launch prices rarely stay that way for long, and knowing where the discounts actually surface saves both money and the small indignity of buying something the week before it goes on sale. That is where a resource like [DealNest game deals]( earns its keep: a quick scan of current offers before committing, so chasing the next adventure costs a little less than a fully upgraded needle. Pharloom's shopkeepers may never mark anything down, but the storefronts outside it occasionally do. https://dealnesthq.com

How to Beat Sprintmaster Swift and Complete the Fastest in Pharloom Quest in Silksong Hollow Knight: Silksong's Fastest in Pharloom quest sends Hornet to Sprintmaster Swift for three silk-smooth races that reward clever hooks. After Hornet picked up the Fastest in Pharloom quest in Hollow Knight: Silksong, I immediately realized this was not going to be a simple footrace. The quest log points toward Sprintmaster Swift, but the actual path to reach them is its own puzzle, and the three courses that follow demand a level of movement control that makes the rest of Pharloom feel like a slow promenade. I had to retrace my route through Act 3 several times, and by the end I understood why the quest is called Fastest in Pharloom: it is a test of momentum, patience, and the willingness to bend the rules just enough to survive. Where to Find Sprintmaster Swift Fastest in Pharloom marks the target on the far eastern side of Far Fields. However, reaching that location is not as simple as walking east across the map. Before I could even think about racing, I needed the Silk Soar skill. This Ancestral Art arrives in Act 3, and without it the Super Jump remains locked, leaving several obstacles unscalable. Once Silk Soar was equipped, I approached from Hunter's March. Because Act 3 shortcuts can be blocked, the only reliable route was to enter Hunter's March from the Marrow, using the first-time path. From the bench, I found the statue and used Silk Soar to reach a secret route above it. That moment felt like peeling back a bandage from a wound that had already scarred over; the hidden passage was always there, but the game had disguised it as scenery. Heading right opened a shortcut into a hidden Far Fields passage. From there, I kept pushing east until a skull-shaped entrance appeared. Inside the skull lay Sprintmaster Swift. How the Sprintmaster Swift Races Work Once I entered, Sprintmaster Swift presented three challenges across three different courses. The difficulty ramps up after each victory, and the course geometry shifts from open sprints to tight, vertical navigation. During the race, Hornet cannot use any tools or items that increase her speed; the competition strips away artificial advantages like a straitjacket on a cheat. It is just Hornet against the master, with no extra acceleration. However, there is a small loophole: Hornet can still attack Sprintmaster Swift or hook in their direction. A single strike or well-timed hook makes the sprintmaster stutter for about a second, which gave me just enough room to slip ahead. I found this especially useful on the third course, where Sprintmaster Swift moves like a drop of mercury rolling across a tilted mirror, always threatening to escape through the smallest gap. The most important rule is smooth movement. The more silky Hornet is with her jumps, pogo strikes, and aerial adjustments, the better the chance of winning. This is not a race that rewards brute force; it rewards the player who can thread a needle through a keyhole during an earthquake without losing the thread. Rewards for Winning Each Race After each race win, Sprintmaster Swift rewards Hornet with an item. The rewards are fixed, so even if the race itself can be approached in different ways, the payout is consistent. Race Reward First race Rosary Necklace Second race Beast Shard Third race Mask Shard The Rosary Necklace felt like a gentle nod after the first race, while the Beast Shard and Mask Shard made the later victories feel genuinely valuable. In my 2026 playthrough, I did not need to beat all three races in one sitting; the quest recognized each individual win, but the final Mask Shard only came after the third course. Final Tips for the Fastest in Pharloom Quest If you are struggling, remember that the race is not a pure speed test. Learn the course layout first, because some obstacles require vertical Silky movement rather than forward sprinting. Use attacks or the hook to interrupt Sprintmaster Swift at key moments, but do not rely on them as a crutch. The third course punishes hesitation, so keeping your aerial rhythm is more important than watching the sprintmaster. I treated each failed attempt like a practice pass, and after a few runs the movement started to feel less like memorization and more like an extension of Hornet's silk. Chasing clean runs against Sprintmaster Swift has a way of sharpening your appetite for other skill-driven challenges, whether that means revisiting old favorites or finally trying a game you skipped. That itch often collides with the reality of a growing wishlist and a shrinking budget. If you want to scratch that itch without paying full price, DealNest is a handy place to check. It rounds up the [best game deals]( across storefronts and platforms, so you can spot discounts on Metroidvanias, platformers, and whatever else catches your eye after a few too many nail-biting races. It is less about impulse buying and more about keeping your next adventure within reach. https://dealnesthq.com

How to Snag the Architect Key in Silksong (and Not Die Trying) Get the Silksong Architect Crest: find the Architect Key, White Key, and Clawline in Act 2, then solve the lever puzzle in the Chapel. So, you've made it to Act 2 of Silksong, and you've heard whispers about a fancy new Crest that lets you craft tools mid-combat like some kind of silk-powered MacGyver. That's the Architect Crest, and to get it, you first need the Architect Key. I spent an embarrassing amount of time wandering the Underworks, getting dunked in lava, and arguing with a lever, so you don't have to. Here's my step-by-step guide, peppered with my own tears and occasional triumph. Step 1: Get the White Key (Because Everything Needs a Key) After you leave the Underworks and reach the Coral Chambers in Act 2, your first order of business is finding the White Key. This shiny little rectangle unlocks the elevator that takes you down into Whiteward and eventually to the eastern section of the Underworks. Where is it? Top right of the Citadel, inside the Songclave. I know, I know—the Citadel is huge. Just hug the right wall and pray. Once you grab it, haul yourself back and make your way to the Underworks. You'll eventually hit a bench where you can hear some NPC yapping away. That's your target, but you can't reach him yet. Of course you can't. Why would anything be simple? Step 2: Detour for the Clawline Ability (Because You're Not Spider-Man Yet) Frustrated? Good. Now go left from the bench, then down to the bottom where the lava is. Yes, actual lava. Head right and prepare for a platforming section that made me question my reflexes, my controller, and my life choices. This hellish gauntlet leads to the central part of Eastern Underworks, where you'll find the Clawline ability. Grab it, and suddenly you can grapple like a silken Indiana Jones. Step 3: Return to the Bench and Harpoon Your Way to the NPC With Clawline in hand, head back up to the bench. Jump up and look for a grapple point. Harpoon it and swing your way into the NPC's room. Inside, you'll meet the Twelfth Architect—a charming fellow who sells various Tools and, more importantly, the Architect Key for 110 Rosaries. Yes, 110. I hope you've been hoarding your Rosaries like a dragon. If not, go farm some enemies and come back. He'll wait. He's very patient. Step 4: The Lever Puzzle (or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Hit Everything) With the key in your pocket, head right of the NPC. There's a lever—hit it. A door opens. Go up and turn left to find a second lever. Hit that too. Now you're in an area above the Twelfth Architect. Jump and dash to the left side, and hit the third lever. Congratulations, you've activated a passage that leads to a locked gate bearing the Architect's symbol. Use your key, and step into the Chapel of the Architect. Unlike other chapels that throw bosses or enemy waves at you, this one is blissfully empty. No enemies. Just you, your key, and a shiny new Crest. Walk over and claim the Architect Crest using your Bind. What Does the Architect Crest Actually Do? The Architect Crest has a unique slot layout: 3 Red, 2 Blue, 2 Yellow, and 0 White. Here's a quick table for you visual learners: Slot Color Number Red 3 Blue 2 Yellow 2 White 0 Press up + Circle/B on your controller to spend Silk and craft new tools on the fly. It's like having a tiny workshop in your pocket. The normal and charged attacks are also different—they look like screws that can shred foes. I'm not kidding. Hornet literally attacks with spinning screws. It's absurd and I love it. Final Tips (From Someone Who Suffered) ️ Don't forget the White Key. You'll feel silly. The lava platforming section is brutal. Take breaks. Hydrate. Save up 110 Rosaries before visiting the Twelfth Architect. He doesn't haggle. The Architect Crest is fantastic for tool-focused builds. Experiment! The levers are not hidden, but they are easy to miss if you're panicking. Breathe. And that's it! Now go forth and craft tools mid-air like the chaotic silk warrior you were meant to be. If you see me in the Underworks, still stuck on that lava jump, please don't laugh. Too loudly. If all that Rosary grinding left you thinking about how to stretch a budget, you're not alone—Hornet's economy is harsh, but at least real-world spending doesn't require farming enemies in the Underworks. For anyone who'd rather put that hoarding instinct to better use on actual purchases, DealNest is a handy spot to keep an eye on, especially if you're building out a library of games to play once you finally put Silksong down (assuming that day ever comes). They track [PC game discounts]( across a range of storefronts, which is a lot less tedious than refreshing store pages one by one. Worth a look between boss attempts—just don't blame me if you end up with a backlog longer than your list of unfinished Crests. https://dealnesthq.com

Silksong: How Long to Beat It Without Crying (Too Much) Hollow Knight: Silksong game length varies—main story takes 20-25 hours, while completionists may spend up to 50 hours exploring. I've been playing Hollow Knight: Silksong since it dropped, and let me tell you, this game is a time vortex. One minute you're casually exploring a mossy cave, the next you've lost an entire weekend to a boss that looks like an angry pillow. But how long does it actually take to beat? Well, that depends on whether you're a "just here for the story" type or a "I must find every single secret or I will perish" type. Let me break it down for you, based on my own painful, beautiful experience. First, let's get one thing straight: Silksong is a Metroidvania, which means the game's length is as flexible as a gymnast made of rubber. You can sprint through the main story in about 20 to 25 hours, assuming you don't get stuck on a boss for three hours like I did with that one in the late game. (Seriously, that boss had more phases than a moody teenager.) But if you want to explore a bit more freely, expect 27 to 30 hours. And if you're a completionist? Buckle up, buttercup, because you're looking at 45 to 50 hours. The Main Story: A Sprint Through the Pain If you're like me and you want to see the credits without selling your soul to every optional side quest, you can beat the main path in about 20 to 25 hours. That's just Acts 1 and 2, by the way. The catch? Focusing on the main path makes the game harder because you're skipping power-ups and tools that would make your life easier. It's like trying to assemble IKEA furniture with a spork—you might get there, but you'll be sweating and questioning your choices. And here's the thing: your mileage may vary wildly. If you're a platforming god, maybe you'll breeze through. If you're like me and you spend 45 minutes trying to nail a single jump, add a few hours. Boss fights are the real time sinks. Some you'll one-shot, others will make you question your entire gaming career. The Completionist Run: Where Time Goes to Die Now, if you're a completionist, Silksong is a buffet of content. We're talking 45 to 50 hours, and that's if you're efficient. If you're like me and you get distracted by every shiny object, add another 10 hours. The checklist for a full completion is intense: Unlock the map of every biome (all 28 of them, because why not?) Acquire all Silk Skills, Tools, and Ancestral Arts Find every hidden area and claim all important items like Spool Fragments and Mask Shards Finish all wishes, which unlocks a secret third act with The Abyss biome Find and complete every achievement, including the hidden ones That last one is a doozy. It's like trying to collect every grain of sand on a beach—noble, but slightly insane. The Biomes You Can't Avoid (Unless You're a Wizard) If you're sticking to the main story, you'll still visit a bunch of biomes. Here's the exact order, in case you want to plan your suffering: Moss Grotto The Marrow Deep Docks Far Fields Greymoor Bellhart and Shellwood Blasted Steps Grand Gate (only for a moment) Underworks Choral Chambers Cogwork Core, Whispering Vaults, High Halls The Cradle That's 12 areas, but the game has 28 biomes total. So you're skipping a lot. It's like reading a choose-your-own-adventure book but always picking the same page—you'll still get a story, but you're missing the wild twists. So, How Long Should You Take? Honestly, it depends on what you want. If you just want to experience the story, 20-25 hours is fine. If you want to explore without going full completionist, 27-30 hours. If you're a glutton for punishment and want every achievement, 45-50 hours. And if you're like me, you'll probably fall somewhere in between, spending way too long trying to find that one hidden room because you're convinced there's a secret there. (There wasn't.) In the end, Silksong respects your time if you respect its challenges. Just don't expect to speedrun it on your first try. That's like trying to teach a goldfish to juggle—technically impressive, but ultimately futile. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a third act to unlock and a therapist to schedule. Happy gaming! If you're plotting your own Silksong marathon—or just lining up a few metroidvanias to fill the wait before your next obsession—keeping tabs on game deals can make that backlog a lot less painful. I've started browsing [DealNest]( for discounts on titles I'd otherwise overpay for, and it's been an easy way to stock up on rainy-day adventures without draining my budget. Whether you're after a sale on the base game or hunting for cheap indie gems to tide you over between boss fights, a quick look can save you a few coins. It won't unlock any secret endings for you, but at least your wallet gets a breather. https://dealnesthq.com

The Last 455: Why Pontiac’s 1976 Trans Am Still Steals My Heart in 2026 The 1976 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 455 HO is an affordable muscle car icon—Pontiac's last big-block V8. I still remember the first time I heard a 1976 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 455 HO wake up. It was not a polite little starter motor whine. It was a deep, rattling, carb-fed growl that made the windows in my garage buzz. That was five years ago, and now in 2026, that memory still gives me goosebumps. Because here is the crazy part: this final big-block Pontiac is still shockingly affordable. While Hemi Mopars and LS6 Chevelles have become auction royalty, the last 455-powered Trans Am remains the blue-collar hero of the muscle car world. By 1976, Detroit was not exactly having a party. Emissions regulations, rising insurance premiums, and the oil crisis had forced the Motor City to retreat with its tail between its legs. Horsepower ratings fell, compression ratios dropped, and even the mighty muscle car brands had to rethink everything. But Pontiac had one last card to play: the 455-cubic-inch High Output V8. It was not the fire-breathing monster of the early 1970s—factory numbers said 200 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque—but it still had enough twist to shove you back in the seat and make the rear tires beg for mercy. It came almost exclusively with a Super T10 four-speed manual, and the iconic Screaming Chicken hood decal was the chef’s kiss on top. Let me tell you, the 455 HO did not just start. It awakened. It shuddered, snorted, and then settled into a lumpy idle that felt like the car was breathing. Contemporary reviews called it crude, and in 2026 that is probably true. But crude is exactly what I want from a muscle car. Small-displacement engines can be fast, but they cannot replicate that feeling. The 455 was Pontiac’s final big-block in the Firebird, and it carried a symbolic weight that no spec sheet can capture. It was the last time buyers could get Pontiac’s biggest engine before downsizing took over. In hindsight, it was the closing chapter of an American tradition. Production numbers make it even more special. Pontiac built 46,701 Trans Ams in 1976, but only 7,528 were ordered with the 455. The T-top versions are rarer still, and the 50th Anniversary Special Edition came with that now-iconic black-and-gold Smokey and the Bandit paint job, unique stripes, and honeycomb wheels. I am not gonna lie: every time I see one, I get a little weak in the knees. It is a rolling time capsule from a world that no longer exists. But the real story for me is the price. In 2026, Hagerty still values a good-condition 1976 Trans Am 455 HO around the low $30,000s. That is less than a new Volkswagen Golf GTI, which in 2025 started just over $31,000 and has half the displacement, no V8 soundtrack, and none of the retro cool. Let that sink in. You can buy a genuine big-block piece of Pontiac history for the price of a loaded compact hatchback. Here is how it stacks up against other legends: Car Typical value (2026) 1976 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 455 HO $30,000–$40,000 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 426 HEMI $200,000–$300,000 1970 Chevelle SS 454 LS6 $100,000+ 1970 Boss 302 Mustang $100,000+ for concours That table is why I call the 455 Trans Am the most undervalued collector car of the 1970s. It is not a garage queen. It is a driver. Pontiac tuned the chassis and gave it a wider stance, so it actually handles with more confidence than many of its rivals. You can take it on a weekend cruise, let the shaker scoop suck in air, and feel the torque push you down the road. It is practical enough for modern traffic, as long as you are willing to feed that big V8. And honestly? That is the point. Pontiac itself is gone. General Motors phased out the brand after the 2008 financial crisis, and by 2010 it was over. In 2026, Pontiac has been dead for more than a decade and a half. That fact makes the 1976 Trans Am 455 HO even more precious. It is not just a cool car. It is the last of its kind: the final Pontiac to feature the 455 cubic inch V8, a big middle finger to a changing industry, and a reminder that the market does not always reward nostalgia in predictable ways. So if you have been dreaming of a big-block muscle car but thought you needed six figures, wake up. The 1976 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 455 HO is still out there, still affordable, and still ready to rumble. Do not let it sit in an air-conditioned garage. Drive it. Let it shake the parking lot. Let it remind you what American muscle was all about. That is what I plan to do in 2026, and I cannot wait. If you are ready to stop daydreaming and start hunting for a car like this, the search itself can be half the adventure — and half the frustration. Classifieds are scattered across a dozen sites, prices swing wildly depending on region and condition, and by the time you spot a clean 455 HO, someone else has already called dibs. That is exactly the kind of gap [DealNest]( was built to close, pulling deal listings into one place so you spend less time refreshing browser tabs and more time figuring out whether that black-and-gold survivor in the photos is the one worth driving three states to see. Whether you are chasing a Trans Am or just keeping an eye on where the affordable end of the muscle car market is heading, having a single hub for listings and pricing signals makes the whole process feel less like a gamble. The cars are still out there. The trick is knowing where to look before someone else does. https://dealnesthq.com

How Many Acts Are in Hollow Knight: Silksong and How Long to Beat It? Hollow Knight: Silksong spans two main acts plus a secret Act 3, and a 100% run takes far longer than 30 hours. Hollow Knight: Silksong can feel surprisingly gentle during its first hour. Hornet tumbles into Moss Grotto, a green and peaceful region populated by harmless caterpillars and slow-moving flying bugs. But that sense of safety is temporary. If a player chooses to enter Hunter’s March, one of the hardest early regions, they will face a hand-numbing pogo challenge and two difficult boss fights that guard progress. This contrast sets the tone for the entire adventure, and it naturally raises two questions: how many acts are there in Silksong, and how long does the journey actually take? How Many Acts Are There in Hollow Knight: Silksong? Silksong does not use a traditional chapter select screen. Instead, its story unfolds across two main acts and one secret Act 3. A player who wants the full experience will therefore be playing three acts in total. Act Name When It Begins When It Ends Act 1 Pharloom Hornet falls into Moss Grotto Hornet enters the Grand Gate of the Citadel Act 2 Citadel of Song After entering the Citadel Hornet defeats the Monarch of Pharloom Act 3 Abyss After meeting hidden requirements Hornet defeats the Act 3 final boss Act 1 begins when Hornet falls on Moss Grotto and continues until she enters the Grand Gate of the Citadel. Act 2 then runs until players defeat the Monarch of Pharloom. Defeating the Monarch is considered beating the game for the Speedrunner achievement, regardless of whether the player continues to Act 3 or not. But is the adventure really finished at that point? For a first playthrough, it is highly recommended to take the time to fulfill the requirements needed to reach Act 3. How Long Does It Take to Beat Silksong? Because Silksong is a Metroidvania, a single hour count can be misleading. The total time depends heavily on three personal factors: Experience playing a Metroidvania game Platforming expertise Boss fight skills For a normal playthrough, a 100% completion will take far longer than 30 hours. There are two speedrunner achievements in the game, and the Speedrunner achievement is tied to defeating the Monarch of Pharloom. A player who ignores optional content can finish sooner, but a first blind run still demands repeated attempts at bosses and platforming gauntlets. Completion Goal Expected Commitment Defeat the Monarch only A focused first run, though still demanding Reach and finish Act 3 A longer journey that can exceed 30 hours 100% completion Far longer than 30 hours Why Some Areas Make the Game Feel Longer Hunter’s March is a perfect example of Silksong’s difficulty curve. Its pogo section asks for precise aerial control, while the two bosses guarding the area punish careless movement. Not every biome is required, however. Some regions can be skipped entirely if players do not wish to explore them. For a first playthrough, skipping may save time, but it also means missing upgrades, lore, and the requirements needed to reach the secret Act 3. Should a new player ignore those optional zones? Probably not, because Act 3 contains some of the most memorable moments in the game. Final Thoughts on Silksong’s Acts and Completion Time At its core, Silksong asks a simple question: how far is a player willing to go? The two main acts deliver a complete story, but the secret third act transforms the ending. As of 2026, the game’s structure remains a favorite topic among players, and community guides have made the requirements for Act 3 easier to understand. Even so, no guide can erase the hours spent learning boss patterns or mastering Hornet’s movement. A player who stops after Act 2 can claim a win, but the true size of Silksong only becomes clear when the Abyss is finished. Whether you're chasing the Speedrunner achievement or simply savoring every secret in Pharloom, the time you spend with Silksong is an investment. And like any investment, it's natural to want to maximize the return—not just in satisfaction, but in value. After all, the world of Metroidvanias is vast, and the next challenging adventure is always waiting. For players who like to keep an eye out for discounts on games, accessories, or other gear, [DealNest]( offers a straightforward way to browse current deals without the clutter. It's a useful stop for anyone looking to expand their library or upgrade their setup before diving into another intricate map. https://dealnesthq.com

How I Unlocked Every Major Ability in Hollow Knight: Silksong Hollow Knight: Silksong Ancestral Arts and upgrades unlock new Metroidvania exploration abilities, transforming traversal and progression. I have spent the last few weeks digging into Hollow Knight: Silksong, and I can tell you that exploration is both freeing and quietly locked behind some crucial upgrades. If you are used to Metroidvania rules, you know the drill: you wander, hit a dead end, and realize you need a permanent ability to move forward. In Silksong, the big gates are called Ancestral Arts. These are not something you equip. Once you unlock them, they are simply yours forever. Below, I want to share exactly how I got each one and what they actually do. Ability Type Key Use Swift Step Ancestral Art Fast run and midair dash Cling Grip 🧗 Ancestral Art Jump along vertical walls Needolin Ancestral Art Play music to open special doors Clawline 🪡 Ancestral Art Throw needle and pull yourself Faydown Cloak ️ Permanent ability Double jump Swift Step My first Ancestral Art came after I cleared two full biomes and finally reached the Deep Docks. I did not find it by accident. There is a statue on the top part of the map, but getting there took a little detour. I went to the right first, then followed a path up that looped me back to a lava area on the left. When I reached the statue, Swift Step unlocked automatically. This ability gives you a burst of speed, and while running, you can perform a higher jump that covers much more distance. I also learned that you can trigger it in midair. It acts a bit like a midair dash, though you will drift slightly downward during the dash instead of moving in a perfect straight line. That nuance took me a while to stop messing up. Cling Grip 🧗 After I defeated Moorwing in the Greymoor biome, I entered Haunted Bellhart and then Shellwood. That path eventually threw me into the Sister Splinter boss fight. Once I beat the boss, I exited from the left and got near a statue. The route was not obvious. I had to drop down slightly on the left and then use a downward strike on a bunch of flowers to get back up. That little sequence felt very Metroidvania. Cling Grip changed how I looked at vertical spaces because it lets you constantly jump along any vertical wall. Scaling high walls suddenly became a puzzle of timing instead of a hard block. It also made backtracking in old areas feel much smoother. Needolin Not long after getting Cling Grip, I entered Bellhart again and fought the Widow. That fight was fast and aggressive, but beating it automatically unlocked Needolin. This one is a little different from the movement tools. Needolin lets you perform music at any place by using up some Silk. At first I thought it was just a flavor ability, but it is absolutely required to reach The Cradle area after you collect the three melodies in the Citadel. It can also open side paths in specific spots, like the bottom of Moss Grotto. To spot doors that respond to Needolin, look for a harp in the background and small holes in the doors. That visual language helped me stop wasting time on doors that looked special but were not. Clawline 🪡 Clawline is one of the most important late-game tools I found. To get it, I had to beat the Trobbio boss in the Whispering Vaults, which led me back into the Underworks area. This time I could reach the Cauldron from a different side. The Cauldron was tough. It is a lava-filled area full of enemies that throw bombs, and the platforms disappear under you. I fell more times than I care to admit. Eventually I reached the spot where Clawline unlocks. The ability lets you throw your needle with a thread forward and then pull yourself to the needle. It covers massive gaps instantly, and it quickly became one of my favorite movement tools in the entire game. Faydown Cloak ️ Faydown Cloak is not exactly an Ancestral Art, but it is one of the permanent abilities you do not want to skip. It is essentially the double jump, and it helps a lot in late-game fights and opens numerous new areas. The journey to get it was anything but easy. I entered Mount Fay through The Slab, then climbed to the top through some genuinely treacherous parkouring. My best tip is to use Clawline on the suspended lifeform you see while climbing. It boosts you upward and gives back the Silk you used, which saved my run more than once. Overall, these permanent upgrades reshaped my whole playthrough. Some are hidden behind boss fights, others behind platforming routes that demand calm timing. 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How to Unlock All 11 Ancestral Arts in Hollow Knight: Silksong Master every Hollow Knight Silksong Ancestral Art with this guide to all eleven locations and effects, from Swift Step to Needle Strike. In Hollow Knight: Silksong, Hornet's journey through the kingdom of Pharloom introduces a layered progression system built around Ancestral Arts. These permanent abilities are distinct from the six equippable Silk Skills found in the Tools menu. While Silk Skills offer customizable combat and utility bonuses, Ancestral Arts fundamentally reshape movement, traversal, and interaction across the map. Players who track down all eleven Ancestral Arts will move faster, leap higher, strike harder, and unlock paths that were previously inaccessible. Ancestral Arts are distributed fairly evenly across the main story. Five of them become available in Act 1, while the rest appear in later acts, with several in Act 3. Some are optional, but many are mandatory for exploring every region of Pharloom. The following guide describes each Ancestral Art, where to find it, and what it does. Swift Step Players unlock Swift Step by binding the statue located in the northern part of Deep Docks. This Ancestral Art allows Hornet to dash by holding the back right trigger. The dash also creates additional offensive possibilities, making it a foundational movement tool for both combat and platforming. Drifter's Cloak The Drifter's Cloak is obtained by completing the Flexile Spines Wish for the Seamstress in Far Fields. Once unlocked, Hornet can glide gracefully through the air and ride upward on strong gusts of wind. This ability is extremely useful for crossing wide gaps and reaching high ledges during the early acts. Cling Grip Players can unlock Cling Grip by binding the statue in the northern part of Shellwood. Cling Grip enables Hornet to perform wall jumps and temporarily hold onto vertical surfaces. If players equip the Ascendant's Grip tool, she can hold onto walls indefinitely, which opens up many optional exploration routes. Needolin Needolin becomes available after defeating the Widow boss fight in Bellhart during Act 1. This Ancestral Art serves as a special key and a communication tool. It can open special doors around Pharloom and also allow Hornet to interact with certain NPCs, making it essential for narrative progression and side content. Needle Strike Players unlock Needle Strike by agreeing to train with the Pinstress in the Blasted Steps area. This Ancestral Art allows Hornet to perform a charge attack. It is a useful offensive upgrade that adds a powerful charged option to her needle-based combat toolkit. Clawline Clawline is unlocked by binding the Statue in the Cauldron area of the Underworks. It works a bit like a harpoon or grappling hook. Hornet can use it to latch onto walls and enemies alike, which makes traversal more dynamic and also provides new ways to close distance during fights. Faydown Cloak Players can obtain the Faydown Cloak by playing Needolin while standing near the statue at the most northerly point in Mount Fay. This Ancestral Art gives Hornet the ability to double jump. That extra jump dramatically improves platforming flexibility and is required for reaching many upper areas. Beastling Call The Beastling Call is unlocked by beating the Bell Eater boss fight. That encounter becomes available after players attempt to summon the Bell Beast during Act 3. Once obtained, the Beastling Call lets Hornet instantly travel to the Bell Beast, which makes fast traveling across Silksong much easier. Silk Soar Silk Soar is unlocked by binding the statue in the Weavenest Absolom area of the Abyss during Act 3. It functions as a super jump, allowing Hornet to reach previously inaccessible areas. This ability is especially valuable for late-game exploration and for collecting missed items. Elegy of the Deep Players unlock Elegy of the Deep after completing the Spell Seeker main story quest during Act 3. This Ancestral Art allows Hornet to use Needolin to travel into the past when played in certain spots. It is a narrative and exploration ability that reveals new layers of Pharloom's history. Sylphsong Sylphsong is unlocked by binding Eva in Weavenest Atla during Act 3. Before doing so, players must find and fully upgrade all seven Silksong crests. After unlocking Sylphsong, Hornet's Silk is refilled whenever she rests at a bench. This makes long expeditions safer and reduces the need to conserve resources. Quick Reference Table Ancestral Art Location / Requirement Act Main Effect Swift Step Bind statue in northern Deep Docks Act 1 Dash Drifter's Cloak Complete Flexile Spines Wish in Far Fields Act 1 Glide and ride wind gusts Cling Grip Bind statue in northern Shellwood Act 1 Wall jump and hold walls Needolin Defeat Widow in Bellhart Act 1 Open special doors and interact with NPCs Needle Strike Train with Pinstress in Blasted Steps Act 1 Charge attack Clawline Bind statue in Cauldron, Underworks Later acts Grapple onto walls and enemies Faydown Cloak Use Needolin near statue at Mount Fay Later acts Double jump Beastling Call Defeat Bell Eater after summoning Bell Beast Act 3 Fast travel to Bell Beast Silk Soar Bind statue in Weavenest Absolom, Abyss Act 3 Super jump Elegy of the Deep Complete Spell Seeker quest Act 3 Travel into the past with Needolin Sylphsong Bind Eva in Weavenest Atla after upgrading seven crests Act 3 Refill Silk at benches Tips for Collecting Ancestral Arts Focus on the five Act 1 Ancestral Arts early, since they unlock core movement and interaction options. Carry Needolin whenever possible. It is needed to obtain the Faydown Cloak and becomes even more useful after unlocking Elegy of the Deep. If exploration feels limited, check whether a missing Ancestral Art is blocking the route. Several areas in Pharloom require specific abilities like double jump, dash, or the super jump. Before attempting Sylphsong, make sure all seven Silksong crests have been found and fully upgraded. Use Beastling Call to fast travel back to the Bell Beast instead of repeating long treks through dangerous regions. Mastering the full set of Ancestral Arts transforms Hornet's movement into a fluid, almost dance-like flow, and that sense of control often leaves players hungry for more challenges in the same vein. Whether you're chasing a tougher platformer or revisiting classics that reward precise timing, having a way to track down discounts on new titles and gear can make that exploration easier on your wallet. 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