How to Get Through the Mist in Silksong [Step-by-step Guide]

What to know

• Location: The Mist is a maze-like area in Hollow Knight: Silksong, accessible via Sinner’s Road or Bilewater in Act 1.
• Key Mechanic: Use the Needolin ability to activate white butterflies that guide you to the correct exits.
• Hazards: Watch for wraiths, traps, and bottomless pits that reset your progress if you fall.
• Reward: Exiting leads to the Exhaust Organ, a boss fight, and access to the Citadel.

Navigating The Mist in Hollow Knight: Silksong can feel like wandering through a foggy labyrinth, but with the right strategy, you can make it through without getting lost. This guide walks you through everything you need to know to conquer this perplexing area, from preparation to execution, ensuring you emerge on the other side ready for what’s next.

Preparing for The Mist

Before you set foot in The Mist, you need to be equipped to handle its challenges. The key to success lies in the Needolin ability, which lets Hornet play her needle like an instrument to interact with the environment.

You unlock this by defeating the Widow boss in Bellhart, which requires the Cling Grip wall jump ability from Shellwood. If you haven’t reached this point, backtrack to complete these objectives first, as Needolin is non-negotiable for navigating The Mist. It’s also wise to stock up on Mask Shards and Spool Fragments to boost your health and silk reserves, as the area’s hazards can be punishing.

You can access The Mist through two entry points: one via Sinner’s Road and another through Bilewater. Both lead to the same starting room, so your choice won’t affect the puzzle. To reach the Sinner’s Road entrance, head to Greymoor’s Halfway Home, climb the ledge on the right side of the map, and find a hidden passage near the ceiling after the first vertical climb. This path is available early in Act 1 once you have the wall jump ability.

Understanding The Mist’s mechanics

The Mist is a disorienting maze with no map, designed to loop you back to the start if you choose the wrong exits. Each room you enter is randomized, meaning you can’t rely on memorizing a fixed path. If you fall into the fog at the bottom of any room or pick an incorrect exit, you’ll be teleported back to the starting point, losing progress but not health unless you take damage from enemies or traps. The goal is to progress through a series of rooms—typically six or seven—split into two halves with a checkpoint in the middle, until you reach the Exhaust Organ.

The key to navigation lies in the white butterflies (sometimes called ghostly butterflies or glowing bugs) found in each room. By standing near them and using Needolin (hold Y on Xbox, Triangle on PlayStation, X on Switch, or D on keyboard), you’ll cause the butterflies to fly toward the correct exit. This mechanic is the only reliable way to avoid the endless loop. There are often multiple groups of butterflies in a room, so if you miss the first group’s direction, activate another to confirm the path.

Navigating the rooms

When you enter The Mist, you’ll start in a foggy area with white butterflies near a lamppost. Follow them to the first proper room, which will be large and filled with platforms, traps, and enemies. Here’s how to proceed:

• Locate the butterflies: Scan the room for small, glowing white insects, often near platforms or tucked into corners. They’re your guideposts, so don’t rush past them.
• Use Needolin: Stand close to the butterflies and hold the Needolin input for a few seconds. The butterflies will flutter toward the correct exit, which could be any door or passage in the room.
• Follow carefully: The butterflies move quickly, so keep an eye on their direction. If you lose sight of them, look for another group in the same room to repeat the process.
• Move deliberately: Each room has traps like falling spikes, collapsing platforms, or sudden drops. Take your time to avoid these, as falling into the mist below resets you to the start.

After navigating three or four rooms this way, you’ll reach a halfway point—a wide, empty horizontal corridor with another lamppost. This acts as a checkpoint, so if you fall or choose a wrong exit afterward, you’ll restart here instead of the beginning. Repeat the butterfly process for another three or four rooms until you exit The Mist into a poison-filled corridor leading to the Exhaust Organ.

Dealing with hazards

The Mist isn’t just a puzzle—it’s a gauntlet of dangers that test your platforming and combat skills. Here’s what to watch for and how to handle it:

• Wraiths: These glowing white enemies scream before lunging at Hornet, dealing two points of damage and draining silk if they connect. To counter them:
  • Stand still when you hear their scream, then jump over their lunge and strike with your needle.
  • Use projectile Tools (like throwing needles) to hit them from a distance, as their feedback can make melee attacks feel ineffective, though they can be killed.
  • Lure wraiths into traps like spikes to dispatch them quickly.
  • Wraiths become more numerous in later rooms, so stay vigilant.
• Traps: Spikes, collapsing platforms, and other obstacles are scattered throughout. Move slowly, watch for environmental cues like loose tiles, and use Hornet’s mobility (dashes and wall jumps) to avoid them.
• Bottomless pits: Falling into the mist instantly sends you back to the start (or the halfway checkpoint). Double-check your jumps, especially near butterfly locations, which are often placed in tricky spots.

Reaching the Exhaust Organ

Once you’ve followed the butterflies through the final room, you’ll enter a poison-filled corridor containing the Exhaust Organ, a structure that marks the end of The Mist. Here’s what to do:

• Enter the Organ: Inside, you’ll find a bench on the left side (accessible via a double jump) to rest and restore health.
• Navigate the vents: Climb through the Organ’s interior, dodging steam blasts and air obstacles. Use precise wall jumps and dashes to move upward.
• Find the Flea: A Lost Flea is located on a platform to the left after a shortcut in the vents. Collect it for your progress toward the “Lost Fleas” task.
• Reach the boss: At the top-left of the Exhaust Organ, you’ll enter a chamber where you’ll face Phantom, the final boss of Act 1.

Fighting Phantom

Phantom is an agile boss who uses quick needle attacks, parries, and diving slams, especially as the fight progresses. Here’s how to defeat them:

• Dodge needle throws: Phantom throws their needle and pulls themselves toward it. Stay mobile to avoid getting hit.
• Avoid the parry: When Phantom enters a defensive stance, don’t attack—they’ll counter with a combo if you do. Wait for them to drop the stance before striking.
• Use hit-and-run tactics: Strike quickly after dodging, then back off. The best time to heal is when Phantom throws their needle, as it gives you a brief window.
• Watch for enrage phase: As Phantom takes damage, they’ll start diving and slamming. Keep moving to avoid these telegraphed attacks.

Defeating Phantom rewards you with the Cross Stitch Silk Skill, which lets you parry attacks and follow up with a counter when equipped to a Crest. This skill is a game-changer for future combat encounters.

Moving beyond The Mist

After defeating Phantom, you’ll unlock a path to the Grand Bellway, a section of the Citadel, your ultimate goal in Act 1. You can spend Rosaries to unlock a fast travel point for the Citadel or the general map, though these are expensive. If you’re low on Rosaries, prioritize the general fast travel point for now. The Mist itself offers no significant loot, so your focus should be on escaping rather than exploring for collectibles.

Tips for success in The Mist quest

To make your journey through The Mist smoother, keep these strategies in mind:

The Mist quest is quite challenging!

The Mist is a challenging but rewarding part of Hollow Knight: Silksong, testing your patience, platforming skills, and ability to adapt to randomized layouts. By using Needolin and staying alert for butterflies, you can turn this confusing maze into a straightforward path to the Citadel. If you’re struggling, consider farming Rosaries or upgrading your abilities before diving in. With practice, you’ll breeze through The Mist and claim the rewards waiting at the Exhaust Organ.