The Father of the Flame boss in Hollow Knight: Silksong is found in the westernmost room of Wisp Thicket, inside a massive empty bell. To defeat it, destroy the four lanterns attached to its upper and lower arms, then attack the exposed core. The fight has two phases, and the second adds a radial fireball attack.
Where to find Father of the Flame
Look for the westernmost room in Wisp Thicket. The boss occupies a massive empty bell there. The game is Hollow Knight: Silksong, developed and published by Team Cherry, and was released on 4 September 2025, according to its Steam listing.
How to damage the boss
Destroy the four lanterns
In the first phase, damage is limited to specific parts of the boss. Target the four lanterns on its upper and lower arms. The arena walls cannot be climbed; the pouches attached to the arms help Hornet reach the elevated lanterns. These mechanics are reported by a community-maintained Silksong wiki, rather than confirmed in a developer guide.
Attack the exposed core
Destroying the lanterns removes the arms and exposes the core. Once it is vulnerable, attack it to finish the encounter. The wiki also describes Wisp summoning during the first phase; keep track of those threats while working through the lanterns.
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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.
- 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!
What changes in phase two
The second phase includes a radial fireball attack. Watch for the spread of projectiles and avoid moving into their path while looking for a safe opening to continue attacking. The wiki does not establish a fixed damage count or a guaranteed timing window, so treat detailed hit-count advice elsewhere as community guidance rather than an exact requirement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Reward and story spoilers
Spoilers: Defeating Father of the Flame awards the Wispfire Lantern. The community wiki says the core’s explosion incinerates thirteen Burning Bugs in the arena. Afterward, Burning Bugs elsewhere in Wisp Thicket become dormant and immolate themselves when Hornet approaches.
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.
What the Hunter’s Journal says
The wiki transcribes the Hunter’s Journal entry as: “Totem and god, built and worshipped by the Burning Bugs. The remains of an aged bug were housed at the pyre’s heart.” This wording is attributed to the in-game journal, but the transcription was checked through the community wiki rather than directly against the game.
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..
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