To beat Widow in Hollow Knight: Silksong, prioritize dodging her silk-marked bell attacks, dash beneath her diagonal dive, and jump over the ground rush that follows. When floor debris erupts, stay above it or cling to a wall; that sequence can also create a chance to heal. The fight continues after her apparent defeat, so save resources and avoid chasing damage during the faster second phase.
Where to find Widow and what you get
Widow is in a room above Bellhart. One route reaches the upper Bellveins from the upper-right of Shellwood; an alternate route near Shellwood’s rightmost bench can be opened from the tunnel above Widow’s arena. These route details are reported by the community-maintained Hollow Knight Wiki.
Defeating Widow grants Hornet the Needolin ability and frees Bellhart from the Haunting.
Prepare without overcomplicating your loadout
PC Gamer’s Wes Fenlon says no particular equipment is mandatory for this fight. His guide recommends the Drifter’s Cloak and Cling Grip as useful movement options, and the Reaper Crest for range and downward attacks. He also suggests the Straight Pin, Warding Bell, and Flea Brew as a possible tool loadout. Treat these as recommendations from that guide, not required gear or a proven best setup. PC Gamer’s Widow guide
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →#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!
How to handle each attack
Golden silk threads and falling bells
When Widow summons bells, bright golden threads show their incoming paths. Move out of the marked lane before attacking, then take only a few hits while the opening lasts. Bells can bounce once, so do not jump into one after it strikes the floor. The wiki describes early patterns with one to three bells falling vertically or diagonally; later patterns broaden the attack.
Diagonal dive followed by a ground rush
When Widow appears in the air and angles her blade for a dive, stay grounded and dash underneath her. She pauses after landing, then rushes along the floor with a flurry. Jump over that rush; if the opening is clear, a downward strike can deal damage as you pass over her. The jump can also leave room for a heal, but only if you have time to recover before the next attack.
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.
Ground rush without a dive
In the later phase, Widow may start the ground rush without first diving. Watch for her ground-level cue instead of waiting for the aerial setup, and keep enough space to jump over her. Avoid committing to a long attack string while she is positioning for another charge.
Rising floor debris
Widow can run across the arena and mark floor positions with threads before debris rises in sequence. PC Gamer’s guide says the hazards emerge from the side she ran from. Move toward that side with Cling Grip or the Drifter’s Cloak, or stay airborne until the debris subsides. The sequence may offer time to heal, but make sure Hornet will not drop onto hazards that are still active.
Recommended Free Tools
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..
What changes after Widow appears defeated
The apparent defeat is a phase transition, not the end of the encounter. PC Gamer reports that Widow returns faster and attacks more intensely; the wiki describes later patterns that include diagonal and vertical bell rains, as well as a fast charge. Keep space between you and Widow while waiting for a readable opening, then attack briefly and return to dodging. A ranged tool can add damage from a distance, but use it only when doing so will not compromise a needed dodge or heal.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Use openings according to your priority
- If survival is the priority: use the bell threads and attack cues to move clear first; do not trade damage while standing in a marked lane.
- If you need healing: consider the debris sequence or the jump over the ground rush, but heal only when Hornet has a safe landing and enough time before the next attack.
- If you want extra damage: a downward strike during the jump over the rush or a ranged tool can exploit an opening. Both are optional; neither is worth losing a dodge or heal opportunity.
The movement and tool suggestions above are source-reported strategies, not independently tested guarantees. Attack behavior can change with updates, so rely on the cues you see in your current game rather than fixed timing.
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.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
