Silksong: After The Fall Wish

After The Fall is a pivotal Main Quest in Hollow Knight: Silksong that marks the beginning of the secret Act 3. This quest is not picked up from a board; it begins automatically after the game’s initial credits roll. It challenges players to escape a changed and hostile version of The Cradle.

Quest Overview

• Quest Type: Main Quest
• Location: The Cradle
• Objective: Escape The Cradle and descend back into Pharloom.
• Reward: Unlocks the next Main Quest, Awaiting the End.

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How to Start After The Fall (Unlock Act 3)

This quest begins after you’ve completed the main story and triggered a secret ending. Here are the steps to unlock Act 3 and start After The Fall:

1. Complete Major Questlines

   You must complete the Pharloom’s Crown main quest by learning the three melodies, and finish all non-repeatable Side Quests.

2. Complete the Silk and Soul Quest

   After fighting Lace in The Cradle, return to the Caretaker in Songclave. This will start the Silk and Soul quest, which is required for the true ending.

3. Defeat Grand Mother Silk

   Face the final boss, Grand Mother Silk. After the fight, you will be given a choice.

4. Choose to Play the Needolin

   Instead of binding the boss, choose the option to play your Needolin. This option is only available if you completed the Silk and Soul quest.

5. Begin Act 3

   Playing the Needolin will trigger a special cutscene, followed by the credits. After the credits, you will be sent to the main menu. On your save file, break the black weaves by clicking on them repeatedly. This will load you into Act 3, and the After The Fall quest will begin immediately.

Escape The Cradle Walkthrough

Your goal is to descend from the peak of The Cradle. The environment is unstable and filled with new hazards.

1. Begin the Descent

   From your starting position, head left and drop down. You’ll need to break obstructions on the floor to continue downwards.

2. Navigate the Unstable Path

   In the next area, cross a gap to the right, then drop down the second one. Hornet will begin to stagger and your movement will slow. Continue right and then left as the path dictates, passing turning cogs on the floor.

3. Use Drifter’s Cloak

   You’ll enter a long vertical shaft with spinning wheels and blades on the walls. Use your Drifter’s Cloak to slow your fall and carefully maneuver past these hazards.

4. Break Through Obstructions

   Continue breaking wooden obstructions on ledges and floors to open the path downwards. Be mindful of steam traps releasing from the walls.

5. Survive the Arena

   At the bottom of a shaft, you’ll break one last platform and fall into a sealed chamber for a surprise fight.

No Equipment Fight!

This arena is a special challenge. You will be stripped of all your Crests and tools. Your loadout is reset to the default for this fight. This is an intentional story moment. There is no bench to change your loadout beforehand. You must survive two waves of new void-type enemies with only your basic skills.

After surviving the two waves, the dark threads blocking the floor will disappear, allowing you to continue the descent. The final part of the escape involves avoiding a spike pit and breaking a few more obstructions.

Eventually, Hornet will collapse and lose consciousness. She will awaken in Songclave, where a conversation with Sherma will complete the quest and begin the next, Awaiting the End.