Face one of Hollow Knight Silksong's most challenging bosses. Master The Widow's complex web mechanics and four-phase combat system with our comprehensive strategy guide.
The Widow is an Act 3 final boss that requires maximum preparation. Swift Step is absolutely mandatory - you will die without it. Silk Dash is essential for escaping web pulls and cocoon grabs. If you have unlocked Bind Silk, it provides invaluable crowd control against Binding Webs. Ensure your Needle is at least Tier 3 upgrade - this fight will last 5-8 minutes on your first attempt, and every bit of damage counts. Consider equipping the Purification Charm if you have it to cleanse poison from Venomous Bite automatically.
Enter the fight with full health - The Widow's poison can chunk you for 5+ health if you're careless. Ensure you have at least 7-8 health masks (if you've collected all mask shards). Silk energy starts full, but conserve it strictly for escapes rather than offense. Bring 3-4 Silk Vials if available - Phase 3-4 will drain your resources rapidly. If you have any Antidotes or Lifeblood Hearts, this is the fight to use them. Don't waste your limited consumables on earlier bosses - The Widow is the gatekeeper to Act 4.
Before challenging The Widow, spend 20-30 minutes practicing specific skills: (1) Swift Step timing - practice dodging through multi-hit attacks in the Web Sanctum's outer areas; (2) Aerial combo consistency - you need to land 4-5 hits reliably during brief windows; (3) Web management - practice destroying Binding Webs quickly while avoiding enemy attacks; (4) Poison survival - learn to play cautiously while poisoned, as Venomous Bite will connect occasionally. The Web Sanctum has several mini-boss encounters that simulate The Widow's mechanics - use them for practice.
The Widow fires a horizontal web line across the arena (telegraphed by brief white glow on her mandibles) that travels at medium speed. Upon reaching the arena edge or hitting a wall, the web retracts rapidly, pulling Hornet toward The Widow if she's in the path. The web line itself deals 1 damage on contact, while the pull can leave you vulnerable to follow-up attacks. This attack has approximately 0.6 seconds of telegraph time before firing.
Jump vertically to clear the web line - timing is critical as the web has slight height variance. If you get caught in the pull, immediately use Silk Dash to break free and reposition. The web retraction creates a 1.5-second window where The Widow is vulnerable - close distance and deliver 3-4 needle strikes to her head before backing away. Never move horizontally along the web's path during the pull phase.
The Widow lunges forward with a swift bite attack (accompanied by a distinct hissing sound) that has deceptively long range due to her elongated fangs. Telegraph consists of her rearing back slightly with green venom dripping from her mouth. The lunge covers approximately 2.5 character lengths and deals 2 damage on hit. If the bite connects, it applies a poison debuff that drains 1 health every 3 seconds for 15 seconds unless cured. This attack can chain twice in Phase 2 and beyond.
Stay just outside her lunge range (about 3 character lengths) and watch for the venom drip telegraph. When you see it, immediately Swift Step sideways or backward to create distance. If you get poisoned, use silk abilities to cleanse the debuff (if you have the purification charm equipped) or play more cautiously until it fades. After a missed bite, The Widow has a brief 0.8-second recovery - use this for a quick 2-hit combo then retreat.
The Widow quickly climbs to the arena ceiling and hangs upside down (transition takes about 0.5 seconds), then drops three web bombs in a triangular pattern aimed at your position. Each bomb creates a sticky web patch on the ground that slows movement by 50% and prevents dashing for 4 seconds. The bombs have a 1.2-second delay after dropping before exploding. In Phase 3, the pattern increases to five bombs in a star formation.
When The Widow climbs to the ceiling, immediately move to the arena center - the triangular pattern always forms around where you were when she started climbing. Watch the shadow indicators on the ground to predict bomb landing zones. After bombs land but before they explode (about 0.8 seconds), move to a safe zone between them. Once explosions finish, you have a 2-second window to attack before she descends. Clean web patches quickly with needle strikes to maintain mobility.
The Widow spins a cocoon at a random location in the arena (telegraphed by white silk gathering in the air). After 2 seconds, the cocoon bursts, releasing silken tendrils that grab Hornet if she's within 2 character lengths, holding her immobile for 3 seconds while The Widow prepares a heavy attack. The cocoon location is marked by a faint white glow on the ground during formation. In Phase 4, two cocoons form simultaneously.
Watch for the white glow marking cocoon formation and immediately move away from that area - the effective range is clearly visible once the cocoon appears. If you get grabbed, mash the attack button to break free faster (reduces immobilization to 1.5 seconds). The heavy attack preparation takes 2 seconds after a grab, giving you time to escape if you break free quickly. When you see cocoon formation, use the opportunity to attack The Widow from the opposite side of the arena - she's stationary during the summon animation.
Starting in Phase 2, The Widow rears up and brings both mandibles down in a crushing motion (telegraphed by her rising on her hind legs). This creates a shockwave that travels along the ground in both directions, dealing 2 damage on direct hit and 1 damage from the shockwave. The attack has a 1-second telegraph but hits very quickly once initiated. In Phase 3, she chains two consecutive crushes with slight delay between them.
Jump over the shockwave at the moment her mandibles hit the ground - timing is precise but consistent. Alternatively, Swift Step through her (directly underneath her body) has invincibility frames that avoid both the crush and shockwave. After the crush, her head remains lowered for 1.5 seconds - this is your best damage window in Phase 2, allowing for a 4-5 hit aerial combo. In Phase 3, wait for both crushes to complete before approaching.
The Widow uses basic web line attacks and ceiling web drops in a predictable rotation. She remains mostly grounded, occasionally climbing for web bomb attacks. Attack frequency is moderate with clear telegraphs. This phase teaches you web mechanics and positioning. She will occasionally create Binding Webs in arena corners that limit movement space - these can be destroyed with 2-3 needle strikes.
Focus on learning attack telegraphs and web pattern recognition rather than rushing damage. Your primary damage source should be punishing missed web line slashes - after the web retracts, you have a 1.5-second window to close distance and deliver 3-4 hits to her head. Between attacks, maintain mid-range positioning and avoid arena corners where Binding Webs accumulate. Use Swift Step to escape web pulls rather than fighting against them. Conserve silk energy for Phase 2 when you'll need it for escapes and cleanses. You should be able to reach Phase 2 in approximately 2-3 minutes of patient play.
**Best Opening:** 1.5-second window after web line retraction (3-4 hits possible). **Secondary Opening:** 2-second window after ceiling web bombs (4-5 hits possible). **Conditional Opening:** Brief 0.5-second window after missed bite (2 hits if positioned correctly). Prioritize safe, consistent damage over risky aggressive plays.
Triggered at 75% health with a brief enrage animation. The Widow introduces Mandible Crush attacks and increases web line speed. Web line pulls become stronger and chain attacks more frequently. Venomous Bite may chain twice in succession. Binding Webs appear more frequently and take 4 hits to destroy instead of 2-3. The boss becomes more mobile, repositioning between attacks more often.
Increase your aggression cautiously - The Widow is more predictable but also more dangerous. Mandible Crush provides excellent damage opportunities if you can consistently dodge the shockwave. After each successful crush dodge, you have 1.5 seconds to land 4-5 aerial hits on her lowered head. Web lines are faster but still punishable - focus on reading the telegraph and positioning for the counter-attack. Poison management becomes critical - if you get poisoned, consider playing defensively until cured unless a clear opening presents itself. Silk abilities should be used for emergency escapes rather than offense.
**Best Opening:** 1.5-second window after Mandible Crush (4-5 hits, primary damage source). **Secondary Opening:** 1.5-second window after web line (still viable despite speed increase). **Risky Opening:** 0.8-second window after missed bite chain (only for experienced players). Phase 2 is about balancing aggression with survival - don't force damage if poisoned.
The Widow gains access to Silk Cocoon Trap and increases all attack frequencies. Ceiling web bombs now drop 5 bombs in star patterns. Mandible Crush chains twice with slight delay. Binding Webs now explode when destroyed, dealing area damage if you're too close. Environmental web hazards appear on arena walls that can trap you if you position poorly. The arena space becomes increasingly constrained as webs accumulate.
Shift to methodical arena management - destroying Binding Webs becomes as important as damaging the boss. Prioritize clearing web hazards before they completely restrict movement. Silk Cocoon Traps are actually opportunities - while The Widow summons them, she's stationary for 2 seconds, allowing for free damage from a safe distance. When Mandible Crush chains, wait for BOTH crushes before approaching - many players die rushing in after the first. Use ceiling web bomb explosions to destroy nearby Binding Webs, saving you needle strikes. Maintain silk energy at 50%+ for emergency escapes from Cocoons.
**Best Opening:** 2-second window while The Widow summons Silk Cocoon (free damage from safety). **Secondary Opening:** 1.5-second window after dual Mandible Crush (4-5 hits). **Situational Opening:** Time web bomb explosions to clear Binding Webs, then capitalize on the cleared space. Patient positioning beats aggressive damage in Phase 3.
Maximum aggression with minimal recovery time between attacks. Silk Cocoons spawn in pairs. Web lines fire in rapid succession (sometimes 2-3 within seconds). Venomous Bite chains three times. Environmental webs pulse with damage if you touch them. The Widow gains an enrage damage bonus (1.5x damage on all attacks). However, her health pool is small - approximately 15-20 well-placed hits will end the fight.
Survival-first mindset - you're racing against time, but dying at 5% boss health is infinitely worse than playing safely for 2 minutes. Prioritize avoiding damage above all else. Use the paired Silk Cocoons to your advantage - The Widow is completely stationary for 2.5 seconds during summon, giving you free hits from maximum range. Don't be greedy with damage windows - 2 safe hits are better than 5 risky hits. If you have area-of-effect silk abilities, save them for clearing multiple Binding Webs at once. Many players panic in this phase - controlled, methodical play wins.
**Best Opening:** 2.5-second window during paired Silk Cocoon summon (guaranteed safe damage). **Risky Opening:** 0.5-second windows between attack chains (expert players only). **Emergency Strategy:** If arena becomes too constrained, focus purely on survival and wait for occasional web bomb explosions to clear space. Phase 4 tests your patience and composure more than your damage output.
Problem: Many players get pushed into corners by Binding Webs, limiting escape options and making web lines nearly impossible to dodge.
Solution: Always fight in the arena center unless a specific mechanic requires repositioning. If you find yourself in a corner, use Silk Dash immediately to escape back to center, even if it costs valuable silk energy.
Problem: Players continue aggressive play after getting poisoned by Venomous Bite, draining 5+ health before it fades.
Solution: When poisoned, immediately shift to defensive mode. Maintain maximum distance, only take guaranteed damage windows, and let silk abilities handle escapes. Don't risk additional damage while the poison ticks.
Problem: Attempting to land 5-6 hits during brief openings, leading to getting caught by the next attack.
Solution: Set a hard limit of 4 hits per window. The Widow's attacks are too fast to risk extra damage. Consistent 3-4 hit combos will kill her faster than dying with 20% boss health remaining.
Problem: Using silk abilities for damage instead of saving them for emergency escapes from web pulls and cocoons.
Solution: Silk energy is primarily for survival in this fight. Only use offensive silk abilities if you have 80%+ energy and are in Phase 1-2. Phase 3-4 require full silk bars for cocoon escapes.
Problem: Immediately attacking when The Widow transitions phases, getting hit by the first new attack without learning its timing.
Solution: When The Widow reaches 75%, 50%, and 25% health, maintain distance and observe the first new attack pattern. Let her complete 2-3 attack cycles before resuming normal aggression.
Problem: Players see the aggression increase in Phase 4 and panic, making reckless decisions that lead to quick deaths.
Solution: Phase 4 is actually the simplest phase - just survive. The Widow's health is so low that 15-20 careful hits will end the fight. Take your time, use the cocoon summon windows, and don't force anything.
Achieving a no-hit victory against The Widow requires perfect execution and extreme patience. The key is only attacking during cocoon summon animations - these are the only truly safe damage windows in the fight. In Phase 1-2, you can also punish missed web line retraction if you maintain maximum distance. Phase 3-4 should be played almost entirely defensively, only taking free hits when The Widow summons cocoons. Many no-hit runs fail at 20% boss health from impatience - remember that Phase 4 tests your composure, not your damage output. Expect your first successful no-hit kill to take 10-12 minutes.
Speedrunners aim to defeat The Widow in under 3 minutes. The primary optimizations are: (1) Aggressive Phase 1 - don't wait for perfect openings, take small risks to push to 75% faster; (2) Mandible Crush abuse - this is your highest damage window, learn to consistently punish it; (3) Web bomb positioning - stand in the bomb explosion radius to destroy Binding Webs without wasting needle strikes; (4) Phase 4 cocoon skips - if positioned correctly, you can hit The Widow during cocoon summon without interrupting it. These techniques require 50+ practice attempts and are not recommended for normal progression.
Defensive Build: Equip Shaman Stone + Quick Focus for emergency healing during poison phases. This extends fight duration but significantly increases survival odds for first-time killers. Aggressive Build: Fragile Strength + Longnail + Mark of Pride maximize damage output, allowing you to end Phase 4 before it becomes overwhelming. Risky but effective for experienced players. Balanced Build: Sprintmaster + Dashmaster + Wayward Compass gives the mobility and positioning needed to control the arena while maintaining reasonable damage. Recommended for most players attempting The Widow for the first time.
Defeating The Widow grants Web Weaver's Silk - a legendary silk ability that allows you to create temporary web platforms for traversal. This ability is essential for reaching the Act 4 hidden areas and the true ending path. You'll also receive 500 Geo and unlock the Hidden Kingdom fast travel point. The Widow's arena transforms into a rest area with a Bell and a Stag Station. Most importantly, victory unlocks the Boss Rush mode in the Web Sanctum, allowing you to practice all Act 1-3 bosses sequentially. After defeating The Widow, you're ready to challenge the Act 4 bosses - The Widow is considered the "skill check" that separates casual players from those who will see the true ending.
Always fight in the arena center unless positioning for specific mechanics. Corner pressure is a death sentence.
Shift to defensive playstyle immediately when poisoned. Don't risk additional damage while the debuff ticks.
Save silk energy for escapes rather than offense. Phase 3-4 require full bars for cocoon breakouts.
Phase 4 is about survival, not damage. 15 careful hits accomplish more than dying with 20% boss health.
The Widow is considered one of the most challenging bosses in Hollow Knight Silksong. This fight requires mastery of all game mechanics and perfect execution. Consider completing all other content before attempting this encounter.