Pinmaster’s Oil is a crucial Wayfarer Wish in Hollow Knight: Silksong that allows you to upgrade Hornet’s needle for a second time, permanently increasing its damage. This quest requires you to find a rare substance known as Pale Oil.
Unlock Bellhart Progress through the story until you defeat the Widow and break the curse on Bellhart, causing the town to fill with NPCs.
Get the First Needle Upgrade Climb the ladders to the upper parts of Bellhart to find Pinmaster Plinney’s workshop. Speak with him to get your first needle upgrade.
Accept the Wish After a short conversation following the first upgrade, Plinney will mention he can enhance your weapon further, but requires Pale Oil. This will officially begin the “Pinmaster’s Oil” quest.
There are multiple containers of Pale Oil hidden throughout Pharloom. You only need one to complete the quest. Here are the known locations:
This is likely the first Pale Oil you can find. It’s hidden in a secret room in the Choral Chambers, accessible only by solving a complex box puzzle in the Whispering Vaults.
From the entrance of the puzzle room, go to the far right end, then hit the highest box to slide it to the left.
Climb up the platforms on the right side of the room.
Once you’re on the upper level, run to the left and hit another box to slide it left, clearing the path.
Follow the box you just pushed. Stand on it and hit the next set of boxes with a downward strike to move them down.
Drop into the newly opened path. Go under the set of boxes you just moved and hit them with an upward strike to clear the final path to the secret room’s lever.
With the path clear, hit the lever to open the door. Enter the room to find yourself in the Choral Chambers. Collect the glowing orb to obtain the Pale Oil.
You can also receive Pale Oil as a reward for completing Great Taste of Pharloom wish. This is a longer quest started in The Citadel that requires you to collect 5 different delicacies from across the world for the chef Mergwin.
A third container of Pale Oil is rewarded for completing the Ecstasy of the End quest, which becomes available later in the game during Act 3.
Once you have obtained a container of Pale Oil from any source, return to Pinmaster Plinney in his Bellhart workshop.
Where is Plinney in Act 3?
If you wait until Act 3 to complete this quest, you may find Plinney’s workshop empty. A note on his door will say he has gone to Shellwood. You must travel south of the Shellwood Bellway to an area with graves, defeat the enemies there, and rescue him to bring him back to Bellhart.
Give him the Pale Oil to complete the quest and claim your powerful reward.
As thanks for your help, Plinney will perform his masterwork on your weapon.
Reward: Needle Sharpened (2nd Upgrade)
Your needle is permanently upgraded, increasing its base damage against all enemies. This is one of the most significant upgrades in the game, making all future combat encounters easier.
Quest Overview