The best early-game tools in Hollow Knight: Silksong depend on what you want help with: the Compass makes exploration easier, the Magnetite Brooch gathers Rosaries, the Shard Pendant helps replenish Shell Shards, Druid’s Eye supports Silk recovery, and Sting Shard adds active area damage. They are useful for different jobs, not a single must-equip build. Access also depends on how far you have explored, which quests you have completed, and what you can afford. The locations and effects below are reported in Nintendo Life’s guide dated 11 May 2026; later patch changes are not established by that source.
Which early-game tools are worth getting?
These five picks cover navigation, resource collection, recovery, and combat. Compare them by the problem they solve and the effort needed to obtain them.
| Tool | Best for | Effect | How to get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compass | Exploring unfamiliar routes | Shows Hornet’s position on the map. | Buy from Shakra in The Marrow for 70 Rosaries. |
| Magnetite Brooch | Collecting currency | Pulls dropped Rosaries toward Hornet. | Buy at the Bone Bottom store for 60 Rosaries. |
| Shard Pendant | Maintaining tools | Increases Shell Shard drops from enemies. | Find it in a lava-filled room toward the end of The Marrow. |
| Druid’s Eye | Recovering Silk after damage | When Hornet is hit, produces green liquid that lets her recover some lost Silk. | Complete the Moss Druid’s Berry Picking Wish in The Marrow. |
| Sting Shard | Damaging groups of nearby enemies | Throws a spiny ball that expands and damages nearby enemies for a short time. | Buy from the Forge Daughter in Deep Docks for 140 Rosaries and 1 Craftmetal. |
Effects, prices, and acquisition details in this table are from Nintendo Life’s Silksong tools guide. Its recommendations are not a controlled comparison of tool performance.
Choose by the job you need done
Compass: find your way through new areas
The Compass is the straightforward choice if you often lose track of where you are while exploring. It marks Hornet’s position on the map, making it easier to relate unexplored paths to your current location. Shakra sells it in The Marrow for 70 Rosaries. Nintendo Life recommends it as the first Yellow Tool; treat that as a useful starting point for players who value navigation, not a requirement for every build.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →#1 Best Overall
![Hollow Knight: Silksong Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51mOgOC8xEL._SL160_.jpg)
- Discover the fallen insect kingdom of Pharloom! Explore mossy grottos, gilded cities and misted moors as you ascend to the shining citadel at the top of the world.
- Engage in lethal acrobatic action! Wield a huge suite of deadly moves as you dance between foes in swift, beautiful combat.
- Craft powerful tools! Master an ever-expanding arsenal of weapons, traps, and mechanisms to vanquish your enemies and explore new heights.
- Solve shocking quests! Hunt down rare beasts and solve ancient mysteries to grant the wishes of the downtrodden and restore the kingdom’s hope.
- Face over 200 ferocious foes! Beasts and hunters, monsters and knights. Defeat them all with bravery and skill!
Magnetite Brooch: spend less time chasing Rosaries
The Magnetite Brooch pulls dropped Rosaries toward Hornet. It does not improve attacks or provide a combat defense; its benefit is convenience while collecting currency. It is sold at the Bone Bottom store for 60 Rosaries, so it makes sense if you value easier pickups and have reached the store.
Shard Pendant: help keep Red Tools supplied
The Shard Pendant increases Shell Shard drops from enemies. Shell Shards matter because they repair Red Tools, and they are also used to fulfill quests. If you make regular use of Red Tools, improving shard income can help with ongoing maintenance rather than providing an immediate combat effect. The pendant is found in a lava-filled room toward the end of The Marrow.
Rank #2
- Hollow Knight: Silksong is the epic sequel to Hollow Knight, the award winning action-adventure.
- Journey to all-new lands, discover new powers, battle vast hordes of bugs and beasts and uncover secrets tied to your nature and your past.
Nintendo Life says Red Tools are limited-use subweapons replenished at benches with Shell Shards. If Hornet does not have enough shards to repair every Red Tool, the available shards repair as many as possible. The guide also notes that almost all enemies drop Shell Shards and that deposits can be found around Pharloom.
Druid’s Eye: get some Silk back when you are hit
After Hornet takes a hit, Druid’s Eye produces green liquid that lets her recover some lost Silk. It is a recovery option tied to getting hit, not a way to avoid damage. Obtain it by completing the Moss Druid’s Berry Picking Wish in The Marrow. Collecting all seven Mossberries upgrades it to Druid’s Eyes, according to Nintendo Life’s guide.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
- Classic side-scrolling action, with all the modern trimmings.
- Tightly tuned 2D controls. Dodge, dash and slash your way through even the most deadly adversaries.
- Explore a vast interconnected world of forgotten highways, overgrown wilds and ruined cities.
- Forge your own path! The world of Hallownest is expansive and open. Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face and find your own way forward.
- Evolve with powerful new skills and abilities! Gain spells, strength and speed. Leap to new heights on ethereal wings. Dash forward in a blazing flash. Blast foes with fiery Soul!.Equip Charms! Ancient relics that offer bizarre new powers and abilities. Choose your favourites and make your journey unique!.An enormous cast of cute and creepy characters all brought to life with traditional 2D frame-by-frame animation..
Sting Shard: add a temporary area-damage attack
Sting Shard throws a spiny ball that expands and damages nearby enemies for a short time. This makes it an active attack suited to situations where nearby foes can be caught in its area, rather than a passive bonus. The Forge Daughter sells it in Deep Docks for 140 Rosaries and 1 Craftmetal. Nintendo Life describes it as a good early-game trap; whether it suits you depends on the enemies and encounters you face.
How to choose what to get first
- Getting turned around? Prioritize the Compass for its map-position marker.
- Want easier currency pickups? Consider the Magnetite Brooch; its benefit is convenience, not combat.
- Rely on Red Tools? The Shard Pendant supports Shell Shard income, which connects directly to repairing them.
- Want Silk recovery after taking a hit? Complete the Moss Druid’s Wish for Druid’s Eye.
- Want an active attack against nearby enemies? Consider Sting Shard if you can meet its Rosaries and Craftmetal cost.
Tool effectiveness varies with playstyle and enemy matchup. The five recommendations serve distinct roles; the available guide does not establish a universally best tool or provide controlled performance results.
Rank #4
![Hollow Knight - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51nXCF+sf5L._SL160_.jpg)
- Classic side-scrolling action, with all the modern trimmings.
- Forge your own path! The world of Hallownest is expansive and open. Choose which paths you take, which enemies you face and find your own way forward.
- Evolve with powerful new skills and abilities! Gain spells, strength and speed. Leap to new heights on ethereal wings. Dash forward in a blazing flash. Blast foes with fiery Soul!
- Equip Charms! Ancient relics that offer bizarre new powers and abilities. Choose your favorites and make your journey unique!
- An enormous cast of cute and creepy characters all brought to life with traditional 2D frame-by-frame animation.
Can you equip all five at once?
No single loadout should be assumed to fit all five. Tool slots depend on the Crest Hornet equips. Memory Lockets found around Pharloom, in shops, and as Wish rewards unlock additional slots on a Crest, as described by Nintendo Life. Choose tools that complement your current Crest and the task ahead rather than planning around every recommendation being equipped together.
Sources and scope
Locations, prices, and tool effects here follow Alana Hagues’s Nintendo Life guide, published 11 May 2026. That source is secondary editorial coverage; it does not establish whether subsequent patches changed the listed details. Team Cherry’s official Silksong site identifies the game but does not verify the specific tool details discussed here.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
