The Tool Desk
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How tools work in Silksong
Tools are part of Hornet’s loadout, and the equipped Crest determines which tool slots are available. Slot count and color vary by Crest, so a tool that suits one setup may not fit another. Memory Lockets can unlock additional slots on a Crest, while a Vesticrest can provide a slot independent of the equipped Crest, according to Nintendo Life’s tool guide.
Tools are grouped by color. The categories help you decide what kind of benefit to prioritize, but the slot layout still sets the practical limits of a build. The Hollow Knight Wiki’s Tools reference also describes the color-coded roles and Crest relationship; it is community-maintained.
What Red, Blue, and Yellow tools do
Red tools: active attacks and effects
Red tools are active options, often with limited uses. They can add an attack or another effect that Hornet triggers rather than providing a constant passive benefit. Once depleted, they need replenishing at benches; this can consume Shell Shards, so factor the refill cost into a plan that relies heavily on them.
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![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!
Straight Pin is a clear example of active ranged offense: it is a fast throwing attack. Nintendo Life says it is found by rescuing Grindle from a cell in The Marrow. Sting Shard is a different kind of Red option: it expands in the air and damages nearby enemies for a short time, according to the same guide. These tools illustrate different uses—direct ranged damage versus an area effect—rather than a claim that one is always superior.
Blue tools: passive combat and survival support
Blue tools are passive and are oriented toward combat support or survivability. Their value is that they contribute without being triggered like an active Red tool. Which effect matters most depends on the threat you are facing and the Crest slots you have available. The reviewed sources establish the category’s general role, not a universal Blue-tool recommendation.
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- 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.
Yellow tools: exploration and resource gathering
Yellow tools are passive and often help with navigation or collecting resources. The Compass, for example, shows Hornet’s position on the map, which is useful when finding a route through unfamiliar areas. The Shard Pendant increases Shell Shard drops from enemies, according to Nintendo Life’s guide. That makes it relevant not just to collecting resources, but also to a setup that expects to spend Shell Shards replenishing Red tools.
How to choose tools for your situation
Start with the obstacle in front of you, then check what your Crest can actually equip. The categories suggest a practical decision framework; this is loadout advice, not an official ranking.
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- 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..
- You need another way to attack: consider a Red tool that fits the encounter, such as a fast ranged option or an area effect.
- You want ongoing combat or survival support: look at Blue tools that work passively and match the threats you are facing.
- You are exploring or collecting: a Yellow tool such as Compass or Shard Pendant may be more useful than another combat option.
- You depend on Red tools: account for their limited uses and the Shell Shards that replenishment at benches may require.
- Your preferred tool does not fit: reassess the Crest’s available slots and any added capacity you have unlocked before building around it.
A useful loadout is therefore a balance between effect, role, slot compatibility, progression, and resource cost. A tool can be strong in isolation and still be the wrong choice if it displaces something more useful for the current task or if its refills strain your available Shell Shards.
How to get more tool slots
Slot capacity is tied to your Crest, but progression can create more room. Nintendo Life reports that Memory Lockets unlock additional slots on a Crest and that a Vesticrest supplies a slot independently of the equipped Crest. The number and colors of slots still matter: added capacity does not make every tool compatible with every loadout.
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.
How many tools are there?
Nintendo Life’s guide says its inventory covers 51 tools. Treat that as the guide’s stated count, not as a ranking or a promise that all tools are equally useful. Tool effects and balance may change with game updates, so check a current in-game description when an exact effect or interaction matters.
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