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All four Needle upgrades come from Pinmaster Plinney in Bellhart. Defeat Widow to unlock the town and claim the free Sharpened Needle; then bring Plinney Pale Oil for later upgrades, with Rosaries required for the final two. Accept his Pinmaster’s Oil Wish before handing over the first Pale Oil if you want to avoid missing the Wish.
Needle upgrade requirements at a glance
| Needle tier | Unlock or item | Rosaries |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpened Needle | Defeat Widow to free Bellhart | Free |
| Shining Needle | Pale Oil from the Whispering Vaults | Not stated in the cited guides |
| Hivesteel Needle | Pale Oil from Great Taste of Pharloom | Conflicting reports: 450 in the completion reference; about 500 in PC Gamer’s guide |
| Pale Steel Needle | Pale Oil from Ecstasy of the End in Act 3 | 680 in the completion reference |
Every tier is performed by Plinney. The Rosary figures are not consistently reported: Nintendo Life says the third service costs 500 and warns its final price may change with a Switch patch, while the completion reference lists 450 and 680 for the final two tiers. Check the amount Plinney requests in your current game build rather than treating one figure as universal. (Nintendo Life; Hollow Knight Wiki completion reference)
Unlock Plinney and get the first upgrade
- Reach Shellwood and defeat Widow. The route to Bellhart involves Sister Splinter and the Cling Grip wall-jump ability.
- Go to Bellhart. After Widow’s defeat frees the town, find the highest house on the right side. A pin sign marks Plinney’s workshop.
- Speak to Pinmaster Plinney. He sharpens the Needle for free, giving you the Sharpened Needle.
The first upgrade’s unlock condition is Widow’s defeat; no Pale Oil or Rosaries are needed for this sharpening. (Nintendo Life; PC Gamer)
Get Shining Needle with Pale Oil from the Whispering Vaults
Accept the Wish before turning in the Oil
After receiving the Sharpened Needle, talk to Plinney again and accept the Pinmaster’s Oil Wish before bringing him Pale Oil. The Wish can be missed if you deliver the Oil first. The upgrade can still award its associated quest point for Silk and Soul, according to the Wish reference, but players pursuing Wish completion should accept the request before the hand-in. (Pinmaster’s Oil Wish reference)
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Find the first Pale Oil
The first Pale Oil route runs through the Citadel to the Whispering Vaults. PC Gamer’s walkthrough says to reach the Vaults from Cogwork Core, then solve a block-moving puzzle in a side room to obtain the Oil. Return to Plinney in Bellhart and hand it over for the Shining Needle. (PC Gamer; Nintendo Life)
Get Hivesteel Needle from Great Taste of Pharloom
Great Taste of Pharloom is another Pale Oil route. Start the Wish in the dining rooms of Choral Chambers and gather its five ingredients. Completing it rewards Pale Oil; take that Oil to Plinney along with the Rosaries he requests for the Hivesteel Needle.
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The amount is disputed in the available guides: PC Gamer reports approximately 500 Rosaries, while the completion reference lists 450. The references do not establish which amount applies across current platforms and patches, so use Plinney’s in-game request as the authority for your build. (PC Gamer; Hollow Knight Wiki completion reference)
Get Pale Steel Needle in Act 3
The final Pale Oil is tied to Ecstasy of the End, an Act 3 flea festival. After gathering the lost fleas, the Flea Caravan moves to Pale Lake in Putrified Ducts. Win three minigames at the festival to receive the Oil, then bring it to Plinney with the required Rosaries. The completion reference lists the final upgrade at 680 Rosaries. (PC Gamer; Hollow Knight Wiki completion reference)
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If Plinney is no longer in Bellhart
Plinney may leave Bellhart by Act 3. Find and rescue him in Shellwood; he returns to his Bellhart workshop afterward, where you can complete the upgrade. (PC Gamer)
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to do if an upgrade is not available
- Plinney is missing: Make sure Widow has been defeated and Bellhart is freed. If you are in Act 3, look for him in Shellwood and rescue him.
- You have Pale Oil but no Wish: Speak to Plinney after the first upgrade and accept Pinmaster’s Oil before handing over the Oil. Delivering it first can make that Wish missable.
- You cannot afford a later tier: Bring the requested Rosaries as well as Pale Oil. For the Hivesteel tier, published guides disagree on the cost; the game’s current request is the safest reference.
The detailed walkthroughs cited here were published in 2025, and the completion reference is community-maintained. The available reporting does not establish a universal post-patch Rosary price, so exact costs should be checked in-game. No damage figures are included because the cited sources do not establish them authoritatively.
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- 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.
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