To start Act 2 in Hollow Knight: Silksong, ring all five Bellshrines in lower Pharloom, open the Grand Gate, defeat the Last Judge, and enter the Citadel. Crossing into the Citadel ends Act 1 and automatically starts the opening objective, Silent Halls.
Steps to reach Act 2
- Progress through Act 1 toward the Citadel. Follow the main objectives across lower Pharloom.
- Ring all five Bellshrines. They are spread across lower Pharloom; activating them unlocks the Grand Gate.
- Return to the Grand Gate and open it. This unlocks the route upward to the Citadel.
- Defeat the Last Judge. The gatekeeper must be beaten before you can proceed.
- Enter the Citadel. Crossing its threshold completes Act 1 and starts Act 2. You do not need to choose Act 2 from a menu or accept a separate quest.
What to do when Silent Halls begins
Silent Halls starts automatically after the Last Judge falls and Hornet enters the Citadel. Follow the veiled bugs through the entry halls toward the Choral Chambers; the opening objective leads to an encounter with Lace.
Why your route through the Citadel may differ
Your arrival point can affect the route you take after entering. Nintendo Life recommends approaching by Blasted Steps rather than Sinner’s Road, which it describes as the harder alternative. Entering through the Grand Gate from Blasted Steps can lead into the Underworks, so you may need to travel through that area before returning to the Choral Chambers and First Shrine route. These are route considerations, not additional conditions for unlocking Act 2.
A suggested route after the opening
If you want a route that aims to reduce backtracking, Nintendo Life suggests progressing through the Citadel in this order:
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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!
- Choral Chambers, then First Shrine and Songclave.
- The lower Cogwork Core.
- Whispering Vaults to obtain the Vaultkeeper’s Melody.
- Underworks to obtain Clawline.
- Mount Fay to obtain Double Jump.
- The upper Cogwork Core to obtain the Architect’s Melody.
- High Halls to obtain the Conductor’s Melody, then continue to the Cradle.
The Threefold Melodies can be acquired in different orders. Nintendo Life recommends Vaultkeeper’s first, Architect’s second, and Conductor’s last, and advises collecting upgrades before attempting High Halls’ demanding combat trial. This is a suggested exploration sequence, not a required order for entering Act 2.
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..
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.
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