What to know

  • The Chapel of the Architect is located in the Underworks area, accessible during Act 2 of Hollow Knight: Silksong.
  • You'll need the Architect's Key, which costs 110 Rosaries and requires building trust by buying other items first.
  • Inside the chapel, no enemies await—simply interact to obtain the Architect Crest, enhancing your red tool capacity.
  • This crest is ideal for aggressive playstyles, allowing up to three red tools for faster, harder-hitting attacks.

Imagine you're deep in the clockwork bowels of Pharloom, where gears grind and silk threads tangle with machinery, and suddenly you stumble upon a tinkerer who holds the key—literally—to one of the game's most rewarding upgrades. That's the thrill of reaching the Chapel of the Architect in Hollow Knight: Silksong, a spot that rewards your exploration with a crest that supercharges your combat toolkit.

As you navigate the steampunk nightmare of the Underworks, this chapel isn't just a room; it's a pivotal moment that shifts how you approach the dangers ahead. Let's break down exactly how you get there, step by step, so you can claim what's yours without getting caught in the cogs.

Chapel of the Architect location and map: How to get to it

You can't rush into this one— the Chapel of the Architect hides in the Underworks, a sprawling network of tunnels beneath the Cauldron that opens up in Act 2 after you've gathered enough tools and progressed past the initial Whiteward areas.

Need step-by-step guide with screenshots here.

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Step 1:

Start by heading to the Cauldron's entrance from the main path; if you've been following the story, you'll hear faint clanking sounds overhead as you exit the Whiteward, hinting at the architect's presence.

Step 2:

From there, drop down into the Underworks proper.

Step 3:

Stick to the right side of the map, using your basic grapple and dash to climb up precarious ledges lined with spinning blades.

Step 4:

You'll pass through a few rooms filled with cogwork enemies—those pesky little automatons that swarm if you linger.

A quick tip: use your silk launcher to zip past them rather than fighting every one, saving your health for what's ahead.

Step 5:

Keep an eye out for a vertical shaft with glowing grapple points; harpoon up to reach a hidden bench for a quick rest, then continue upward.

How to get the architect's key

Once you breach the upper levels, you'll spot a locked gate with an ornate, gear-shaped emblem—that's your target. But first, you need to meet the Twelfth Architect, a reclusive NPC tucked away in a side room. To access her workshop, look for a series of levers scattered around the adjacent chamber. Here's how to hit them in numbered sequence:

Step 1:

Enter the lever room from the right entrance and immediately jump to the first lever on the wall—pulling it shifts a platform to block incoming steam vents.

Step 2:

Dash left across the newly formed path, avoiding the patrolling cogwork sentry, and hit the second lever high on the left wall. This opens a passage above.

Step 3:

Grapple up to the third lever, which is tucked behind a destructible wall (smash it with a charged needle strike). Activating it unlocks the gate to the architect's domain.

Step 4:

Inside her dimly lit workshop, cluttered with half-assembled gadgets, the Twelfth Architect won't hand over her prized key right away. She's picky about customers, so you have to prove your mettle by purchasing a few of her tools first—aim for at least three items, like the basic Cog Wrench or Steam Booster, to build rapport.

Step 5:

Once you've spent enough (around 50-70 Rosaries total on these), the Architect's Key appears in her inventory for 110 Rosaries. It's a steep price, but think of it as an investment in your arsenal.

Chapel of the Architect reward

Step 1:

With the key in hand, backtrack to that ornate door you spotted earlier—it's just to the right of the workshop entrance, up a short climb and then left around a corner.

Step 2:

Slot the key into the lock, and the mechanism whirs to life, grinding open without a fight.

Step 3:

Step inside the Chapel of the Architect, a serene contrast to the chaos outside: echoing with faint mechanical hums, lined with blueprints of forgotten inventions.

Step 4:

Unlike other chapels that demand boss battles or intricate puzzles, this one's straightforward. Approach the central pedestal and use your Bind ability to attune with the crest. You'll receive the Architect Crest immediately, which starts with three red tool slots (perfect for damage-focused loadouts like explosive needles or rapid-fire silk shots).

You can upgrade it later with Memory Lockets for even more versatility—up to three red, two blue, and two yellow slots if you grind those out.

Chapel of the Architect is worth the trouble!

Securing the Chapel of the Architect feels like cracking the code to Pharloom's mechanical heart, giving you the edge to push deeper into Silksong's twisting narrative. You've not only gained a crest that amplifies your fury in battle but also uncovered a layer of the world's lore through the architect's wary trust. Keep that momentum going— the Underworks hold more secrets, and with this upgrade, you're ready to weave your way through them.