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Spoiler warning: this guide covers Act 1 progression after the Widow fight.
After you defeat Widow, finish the Needolin sequence, take the elevator down to Bellhart, and then head back toward Shellwood. The route that guides recommend continues through Blasted Steps toward the Grand Gate, which is the way to the end of Act 1. Sinner’s Road is a real alternate path above Greymoor, and guides describe it as the harder option.
Finish the sequence that follows Widow
Defeating Widow is the trigger for the next few steps, and they are worth doing in order.
- Collect Needolin. The GameFAQs walkthrough says binding Widow grants you Needolin.
- Work through the dream sequence. The same walkthrough describes it as the stretch between the boss and the next location.
- Use Needolin at the large gate. This opens the route down.
- Ride the elevator to the Bellhart entrance. Hornet is returned to Bellhart at this point.
Bellhart on the return visit
Bellhart is now open, and the walkthrough lists several things to check before you leave. None of them are required to keep moving through Act 1, but they are useful to clear while you are in town.
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- 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.
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- Face over 200 ferocious foes! Beasts and hunters, monsters and knights. Defeat them all with bravery and skill!
- Pavo and the merchant Frey are available on the return.
- The Wishwall offers quests.
- Pinmaster Plinney is in the upper part of town and can upgrade your needle.
The recommended Act 1 order
Nintendo Life’s route guide lays out the recommended Act 1 sequence as Moss Grotto, Bone Bottom, The Marrow, Deep Docks, Far Fields, Greymoor, Bellhart, Shellwood, and then Blasted Steps. Bellhart comes before Shellwood in this order, and the guide notes that players naturally loop back to Bellhart after picking up Cling Grip. The order is a recommendation rather than a required sequence, because the same guide describes alternate exploration paths.
Blasted Steps or Sinner’s Road
Both paths lead toward the end of Act 1. The table below shows what the cited guides say about each one. Where a guide does not address a point, the cell says so.
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| Route | What the guide says | Trade-off noted | Silk Skill reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blasted Steps | Nintendo Life’s recommended route to the end of Act 1 | The end boss has a difficult run-back, according to the guide | Not stated |
| Sinner’s Road | Alternate route above Greymoor, passing through The Mist and the Exhaust Organ | Described as the more difficult route | Reward from the Exhaust Organ boss, per the guide |
The guides do not give a difficulty rating beyond the comparison above, so treat “harder” as the guide’s description rather than a measured difficulty.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Tracking the Act 1 objective
Defeating Widow frees Bellhart and completes the town objective, but Act 1 is not finished. The remaining goal is to ring five Bellshrines to open the Grand Gate.
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- Classic side-scrolling action, with all the modern trimmings.
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- 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.
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- Bellhart pin: marks the completed Widow objective on the map.
- Grand Gate and Bellshrine pins: mark the remaining objective, so use these to find your next target.
- Act 2 start: entering the Citadel after the Act 1 boss encounter begins Act 2. The Act reference names Last Judge or Phantom as that boss.
Routes and boss details can change with game updates, so if a location or step in a guide does not match what you see, check the current patch notes before retracing your path.
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.
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