Master every possible conclusion to Hornet's journey in Hollow Knight Silksong. Our complete 2025 guide covers all 5 endings, including the secret true ending, with detailed requirements, choices, and unlock strategies.
The default ending obtained by completing the main story without special requirements. Hornet claims the crown of Pharloom but at a cost.
Hornet becomes the ruler of Pharloom but inherits its burdens and corruption.
This is the most straightforward ending - simply complete the game's main story path without deviating into optional content.
While completing the game, avoid collecting all Ancient Rosaries or solving the Bell Tower puzzle to ensure this ending triggers.
Hornet rejects the crown and chooses to continue wandering, leaving Pharloom to find its own destiny.
Pharloom remains without a ruler but gains hope for self-determination. Hornet continues her journey.
Focus on exploration and helping NPCs throughout your journey. The dialogue choices matter - always choose options that value freedom over power.
Talk to the mysterious cloaked figure in each major area to unlock special dialogue options during the final sequence.
Hornet masters all silk techniques and becomes a legendary Silk Weaver, transforming Pharloom through her power.
Hornet transcends her mortal limitations and becomes a guardian spirit of Pharloom, similar to the Hollow Knight's original purpose but by choice.
This ending requires mastery of the game's movement system. Practice advanced silk techniques and seek out every hidden silk upgrade.
The final requirement is hidden: you must perform a perfect silk combo (7+ different abilities) during the final boss fight.
Hornet destroys both the crown and herself to free Pharloom from the cycle of corruption, but at the ultimate cost.
Pharloom is freed from the Crown's influence but loses Hornet forever. A bittersweet liberation that mirrors themes from the original Hollow Knight.
Pay close attention to lore and environmental storytelling. This ending requires deep understanding of Pharloom's history and making difficult moral choices.
The key trigger is refusing to use the Crown's power even once throughout the entire game, including during the final boss fight.
The most challenging and rewarding ending. Hornet transcends the limitations of both crown and mortality, achieving a perfect balance and true mastery.
Hornet achieves perfect mastery over silk, shadow, and light. She becomes a true guardian capable of protecting Pharloom without succumbing to corruption, breaking the cycle permanently.
This ending requires near-perfect gameplay and exploration. Start collecting everything from the beginning - missing even one collectible can lock you out.
The final secret: after meeting all requirements, you must perform a specific sequence in the final area that's only hinted at through environmental clues and NPC dialogue throughout the entire game.
| Aspect | Hollow Crown | Wanderer's Path | Silk Weaver | Shattered Crown | True Ending |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Easy | Medium | Hard | Hard | Expert |
| Playtime Required | 12-15 hours | 15-18 hours | 20-25 hours | 20-25 hours | 30+ hours |
| Collectibles Needed | None | Minimal | All Silk Threads | All Lore Tablets | Everything (100%) |
| Boss Fights | Main bosses only | Main + 2 optional | Main + silk challenges | Main + lore bosses | All bosses + secret boss |
Create multiple save files before entering the final area to experiment with different choices without replaying the entire game.
Use our completion tracker tool to ensure you don't miss any collectibles required for specific endings.
Many ending requirements are hinted at through NPC dialogue throughout the game, not just at the end.
Some endings have dialogue requirements - the choices you make throughout the game affect which endings become available.