You can reach the Slab either by being captured during earlier progression or, later, by opening a route with the Key of Apostate from the Putrified Ducts. Inside, follow the escape route through the prison rather than treating every locked room as mandatory: the Indolent, Heretic, and Apostate keys open separate areas, and optional exploration is distinct from getting out.
How to get to the Slab
Arrive through capture
Capture is one way the game brings Hornet to the Slab. If you have already been taken there, continue through the prison and follow the route toward the exit; you do not need to find all three marked keys just to make progress toward escaping.
Enter later with the Key of Apostate
If you did not arrive by capture, you can access the Slab later using the Key of Apostate, found in the Putrified Ducts. PC Gamer’s September 11, 2025 guide describes reaching the Ducts by the Faydown Cloak route or by an alternate route after defeating Groal the Great in Bilewater. These are guide-described routes and may vary with game updates.
What the three Slab keys open
The marked keys open different doors in the prison. Treat them as access to separate rooms and exploration, not as a single checklist that must be completed to escape.
#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!
| Key | What it means for your route |
|---|---|
| Indolent | Opens its own marked door; not established as required for the immediate escape. |
| Heretic | Opens its own marked door; not established as required for the immediate escape. |
| Apostate | Opens its own marked door. The Key of Apostate is also used for later access to the Slab from outside. |
The available route information does not establish that every locked room is required to reach the exit. If you are pursuing full exploration, look for the corresponding marked locks; if your goal is escape, prioritize the through-route.
How to escape the Slab
- Follow the prison’s onward route. The Slab includes indoor rooms and outdoor sections. Keep moving through the route that leads out rather than doubling back to clear every key-locked room.
- Watch for frost outdoors. Exposed Slab sections can inflict frost damage. Move through them deliberately and avoid lingering unnecessarily.
- Prepare for platforming. The escape route includes a platforming challenge. Focus on the required traversal; collectible or locked-room detours are separate from this exit progress.
- Continue until you recover your equipment and leave the prison. A route guide describes the escape as including recovery of Hornet’s equipment. If you seem unable to proceed, check whether you have followed the main route and whether you are at a branch that requires a key, rather than assuming every door is mandatory.
If you appear stuck
The official Team Cherry Help page says autosaves can be selected from the Select Profile screen. Reverting to an autosave overwrites the current save, so check your route state and game version first and use a revert only if you are willing to lose progress made since that autosave. The Help page does not identify a Slab-specific softlock.
Quick Recap
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.
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..
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.
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