Silksong Needle upgrade locations
All Needle upgrades in Hollow Knight: Silksong.
Needle upgrades are very important in Hollow Knight: Silksong. After all, how are you going to take down Silksong’s toughest bosses without getting a few Needle upgrades here and there? Fortunately, your first upgrade is free but you’ve got your work cut out for you after that.
Silksong’s first Needle upgrade is quite deep into Act 1, found in Bellhart after freeing the area from its curse. To help you get your hands on it and more, here are all Needle upgrade locations in Silksong.
Silksong Needle upgrade locations
The first Needle upgrade in Hollow Knight: Silksong is given to you by Pinmaster Plinney in the region of Bellhart. That said, when you first arrive in Bellhart, you’ll find its inhabitants strung up by thread and not all that talkative.
To free Bellhart from its curse and speak to the trove of NPCs there, you must first venture into Shellwood, defeat Sister Splinter, and unlock the Cling Grip Skill that allows you to jump on and climb up walls.
After that, you must then use your shiny new Skill to find and beat Widow in Bellhart. She’s tough but once you’ve taken her down, you’ll perform a small platforming challenge that sees you set the inhabitants of Bellhart free.
With that done and dusted, you can now speak to all of Bellhart’s NPCs, including Pinmaster Plinney who’s found in the upper half of the small town (pictured above).
Needle Upgrade Location #1
Pinmaster Plinney will very happily give you your first Needle upgrade for free in Silksong. All you need to do is speak to him and accept his offer.
Needle Upgrade Location #2
After allowing Plinney to sharpen your Needle in Silksong, he will task you with retrieving some Pale Oil from the Citadel for him, kicking off the Pinmaster’s Oil Wish.
Upon retrieving and returning the Pale Oil, of which two can be found in the Citadel, Plinney says that they will provide more Needle upgrades. A word of forewarning though, Plinney will charge Rosaries for future upgrades, despite your efforts to bring him Pale Oil.
The first pot of Pale Oil to be found in the Citadel is in the kitchen area of Choral Chambers. Upon attacking the small glass dome containing the Pale Oil here, Loyal Mergwin will appear. He assigns you the Great Taste of Pharloom Wish, which requires you to collect five different meals from around Pharloom for him in exchange for the Pale Oil.
The five meals he requests as part of the Great Taste of Pharloom Wish and where you'll find them are as follows (thanks, MapGenie):
Needle Upgrade Location #3
An additional pot of Pale Oil can be found via the Whispering Vaults area, which is accessible after defeating the Cogwork Dancers.
Following this fight, you can venture into the Whispering Vaults area - where you will be sent to complete one of the three melodies needed to enter Act 3 of the game - and the pot of Pale Oil is just past an arena battle in this area.
Needle Upgrade Location #4
The fourth and final pot of Pale Oil in Silksong is acquired by completing the Ecstasy of the End Wish during Act 3 of the game.
This means tracking down every Lost Flea and moving the Flea Caravan to Putrified Ducts. Then, check the Bellhart Wish Board and speak with Fleamaster Mooshka to start the Wish.
For more on Hollow Knight: Silksong, take a look at our Silksong walkthrough.
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