Pinmaster Plinney is Bellhart’s needle-sharpening merchant in Hollow Knight: Silksong. Free Bellhart to receive Hornet’s first, free Needle sharpening. Afterward, Plinney gives the Pinmaster’s Oil Wish, which leads to later upgrades requiring Pale Oil and Rosaries. In Act 3, he moves to Shellwood; rescue him there to continue upgrading the Needle.
Who is Pinmaster Plinney?
Plinney is a pinmaster who lives and works in Bellhart. He sharpens Hornet’s Needle, improving the weapon through a sequence of upgrades. After Bellhart is restored, speak with him to receive the first sharpening at no cost. The character reference attributes this line to him after that upgrade: “Welly, ho! It is certain! Yours is a blade of finer make than most, one of few that could bear even more sharpening.” Source: Hollow Knight Wiki character reference
How to upgrade the Needle through Plinney
- Free Bellhart. Plinney’s initial sharpening becomes available after Bellhart is freed. Find him in Bellhart and speak with him to get this first upgrade for free. Source: upgrade guide
- Speak to him again. After the first upgrade, Plinney starts the Pinmaster’s Oil Wish. This quest introduces Pale Oil, which is needed for subsequent Needle upgrades. Source: upgrade guide
- Bring Pale Oil and Rosaries. Plinney can sharpen the Needle three more times when you supply the required materials. The references confirm the materials but do not establish a consistent exact cost for each upgrade; check the displayed requirement in your current game. Source: Hollow Knight Wiki character reference
- Rescue him in Act 3 if he has left. Plinney relocates from Bellhart to Shellwood. Find and rescue him there to resume the upgrade sequence.
Where to find Pale Oil
The Pinmaster’s Oil quest reference lists three ways to obtain Pale Oil. They are alternative routes rather than a reliable ranking of difficulty; choose based on which activity or location you have access to.
| Route | Availability or prerequisite | Where the reward comes from | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choral Chambers | The quest reference lists this as a source; a specific act or prerequisite is not stated. | Find Pale Oil in Choral Chambers. | Not stated by the quest reference. |
| Great Taste of Pharloom Wish | Complete Loyal Mergwin’s Great Taste of Pharloom Wish. | The reward for the Wish includes Pale Oil. | Not stated by the quest reference. |
| Ecstasy of the End | Complete the Flea Caravan’s Ecstasy of the End Wish. | The Wish reward includes Pale Oil. | Not stated by the quest reference. |
Source: Pinmaster’s Oil quest reference
Where to find Plinney in Act 3
In Act 3, Plinney leaves Bellhart to visit the grave of his late partner, Melatolla, in Shellwood. Enemies attack him there, and Hornet must rescue him before he can continue sharpening the Needle. If he is no longer in Bellhart, progress the Act 3 rescue rather than searching for another Bellhart location. The character reference reproduces a lore-tablet message attributed to Plinney: “I have departed to pay my respects at the graves within the great wood.” Source: Hollow Knight Wiki character reference
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →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.
#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!
What to do if an upgrade is unavailable
- Plinney has not offered an upgrade: make sure Bellhart has been freed and that you have completed the first free sharpening.
- The next upgrade requires a quest: speak to Plinney after the first sharpening to start the Pinmaster’s Oil Wish, then obtain Pale Oil.
- Plinney is missing from Bellhart in Act 3: find and rescue him in Shellwood.
- You are unsure how much to bring: check Plinney’s current in-game prompt for the precise Pale Oil and Rosary requirements. Published guide summaries confirm those materials but do not provide a dependable, consistent cost breakdown.
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.
