Skip to content
Silksong Wiki

Needolin

The Needolin is a mandatory Ancestral Art in Hollow Knight: Silksong that functions as a master key for exploration. Far more than just a combat tool, Hornet uses the Needolin to play ancient melodies that can open sealed circular gates, unlock special interactions, and reveal the path to the kingdom’s deepest secrets.

This guide covers the precise path from Shellwood to the Widow’s Lair, the strategy for defeating the boss, and details all known uses for the Needolin, from combat stuns to unlocking hidden areas like the Weavenests.

Ancestral Art
Needolin icon

Needolin

"Play ancient melodies by stringing Silk along the needle. Ensnares enemies in silk, leaving them immobilized."

Location: Widow's Lair (via Bellhart)

How to Get Needolin

Section titled “How to Get Needolin”

The Needolin is your reward for lifting the curse of Bellhart by defeating the fearsome Widow. This journey requires the Cling Grip ability to navigate the path from Shellwood.

  1. Start from the Shellwood Bench After obtaining the Cling Grip, return to a bench in Shellwood. From the bench room, use the nearby elevator or your new wall jumping skills to ascend to the top. Hornet performing a crucial wall jump off a left-hand wall to reach a ledge on the right, revealing the hidden path to the town of Bellhart.

  2. Find the Path to Bellhart Go right from the top of the bench room until you reach a dead end. From here, ascend the available platforms and then perform a wall jump to the right. Continue on this path to enter the town of Bellhart.

  3. Descend into Bellhart Once inside Bellhart, your goal is to descend. Keep making your way downwards through the town until you reach a room marked with a distinct bell icon. This is the entrance to the Widow’s Lair. The stone archway in Bellhart marked with a large bell icon, which serves as the entrance to the Widow’s Lair.

  4. Defeat the Widow Inside this room, you will confront the Widow, a swift and deadly boss. Defeating her will break the Bellhart curse and open the final path. Hornet attacks the Widow boss from above with her needle during its silk-throwing attack, showing a key moment when the boss is vulnerable.

  5. Unlock the Needolin Upon defeating the Widow, claim your reward. You will now be able to play the ancient melodies of the Needolin. A close-up of Hornet picking up the glowing Needolin instrument from the ground after defeating the Widow.

How to Use Needolin

Section titled “How to Use Needolin”

The Needolin has a dedicated input and consumes Silk to play its powerful tune. Hornet playing the Needolin, which creates a large musical area-of-effect (AoE) attack, while the UI shows the Silk meter decreasing.

Playing the Melody

Section titled “Playing the Melody”

To use the Needolin, press and hold the designated ability button. Hornet will play a song, creating a wave of energy that interacts with objects or ensnares enemies. Remember that each use consumes Silk.

PC: Press & Hold D PlayStation: Press & Hold △ Xbox: Press & Hold Y Switch: Press & Hold X

Usage Tips

Section titled “Usage Tips”

The Needolin is one of the most versatile abilities in Hornet’s kit, with critical uses in both exploration and combat.

Section Icon Exploration & Puzzle Solving

  • Opening Circular Gates: This is the Needolin’s primary function. Throughout Pharloom, you will find large, sealed circular gates. Play the Needolin in front of them to open the path to new areas.
  • Unlocking Weavenests: Known gate locations include Moss Grotto (Bone Bottom) and the Far Fields. These gates lead to secret rooms called Weavenest Atla and Weavenest Cindril, respectively.
  • Finding Upgrades: Inside Weavenest Atla, it is said that a strange figure resides who can enhance Hornet’s abilities. Finding this room is a top priority for any player.
  • Special NPC Interactions: Playing the Needolin near certain characters may trigger unique dialogue or even start hidden quests. Experiment often!

Section Icon Combat Tactics

  • Secondary Use - Crowd Control: While its main purpose is exploration, the Needolin’s melody will also stun most normal enemies, providing a safe window to heal or deal with greater threats.
  • The Perfect Combo (Needolin + Needle Strike): Stun a powerful enemy with the Needolin, then take your time to fully charge a Needle Strike for massive, unhindered damage.
  • Set Up for Silk Skills: Immobilize a group of enemies and then unleash an area-of-effect Silk Skill like Thread Storm to hit all of them without any risk.