What to know

  • Location: The Sands of Karak is a desert area in Pharloom, south of Mount Fay, accessible via the Blasted Steps.
  • Required abilities: You’ll need Drifter’s Cloak, Clawline, Dash, Wall Jump, and Double Jump to navigate the path.
  • Key challenges: Dust storms, sand monsters, falling rocks, and precise platforming make this a tough journey.
  • Map acquisition: Purchase the Sands of Karak map from Shakra for 90 Rosaries after reaching her in the area.

Navigating to the Sands of Karak in Hollow Knight: Silksong is a test of your platforming skills and mastery of Hornet’s abilities. This arid, treacherous region in Pharloom is filled with environmental hazards and secrets to uncover. Below, you’ll find a detailed guide to help you reach this area and secure its map, ensuring you’re ready to explore its sandy depths.

Sands of Karak requirements and preparation

Before heading to the Sands of Karak, ensure you’re equipped with the right tools and abilities. You’ll need to have progressed through earlier areas like Moss Grotto and The Marrow to unlock key traversal skills. Here’s what you need:

  • Drifter’s Cloak: Allows Hornet to glide through the air, essential for crossing gaps and avoiding hazards.
  • Clawline: Lets the Hornet grapple to hooks, enemies, or surfaces, crucial for climbing and swinging.
  • Dash: Provides a quick burst of movement to evade dangers or reach distant platforms.
  • Wall Jump: Enables climbing vertical surfaces by jumping off walls.
  • Double Jump: Unlocked later in the game, this is necessary for certain high platforms in the Blasted Steps.

Additionally, ensure you have enough Rosaries (the game’s currency) to purchase the Sands of Karak map. It’s also wise to equip crests or tools that enhance mobility or health, as the path is fraught with enemies and environmental traps.

Sands of Karak location: Starting from the Blasted Steps

The Sands of Karak is accessed through the Blasted Steps, a windy, dust-filled area west of Shellwood. From the Blasted Steps bench, follow these steps to reach your destination:

  • Head right and drop down: From the bench, move right and drop into a pit. Use your Glide ability to hug the left wall as the area widens to land safely on a ledge below.
  • Travel west through the dust storm: The Blasted Steps are shrouded in a dust storm that obscures visibility. Move west, using the Clawline to latch onto hooks along the path. These hooks are critical for crossing wide gaps filled with dangerous sand below.
  • Climb and glide: After reaching a platform, climb the left wall using Wall Jump. At the top, jump off and glide right to land on another platform. Perform another Wall Jump to ascend the right wall, then use the Clawline to grab a higher hook and leap to a nearby ledge.
  • Enter the Sands of Karak: Continue upward, and you’ll officially transition into the Sands of Karak. This marks the beginning of the desert region, but the journey isn’t over yet.

Once you’re in the Sands of Karak, the environment shifts to a cave-like area filled with new challenges. Here’s how to proceed:

  • Climb through the cave: The initial area is a vertical climb with rock spikes and falling boulders. Use Wall Jump and precise timing to avoid hazards. Watch for silking wall enemies that patrol the area, and dispatch them with Hornet’s Needle if necessary.
  • Cross the sandy expanse: After exiting the cave, you’ll enter an open area with sand at the bottom. Avoid touching the sand, as it’s filled with dangerous creatures. Look for a giant yellow orb nearby—hit it with your Needle to make it fall and create a temporary platform.
  • Timed platforming: Move across the first platform to the right. You’ll encounter another yellow orb, but this one creates a platform with spikes in the middle. Time your jump carefully to hit the spikes and land safely on the right side. If you spot an out-of-reach path, search for a hidden yellow orb, often located in the top-right corner of the room.
  • Reach the hot air balloon: Continue west until you find a hot air balloon with a bench inside. Use the Clawline on chains to the left of the balloon, climb the wall, and glide right to reach a platform. This bench is a safe spot to rest and recover health.
  • Final ascent to Shakra: From the balloon, climb upward using the Clawline on chains to the left. At the top, glide right to a platform, then Wall Jump to a higher level. Move left, avoiding spikes, and enter the first door on the left. This leads to Shakra, the map vendor.

How to get the Sands of Karak map

Once you reach Shakra, interact with her to purchase the Sands of Karak map for 90 Rosaries. This map is essential for navigating the region’s complex layout and uncovering its secrets, such as hidden quests or items like the Crustnut, a rare delicacy found in a corpora cluster deep within the area.

Sands of Karak tips and challenges

The journey to the Sands of Karak is demanding, with several obstacles that require precision and quick thinking. Here are some tips to help you succeed:

  • Master your abilities: Practice combining Clawline, Dash, and Double Jump for fluid movement. The Blasted Steps and Sands of Karak demand tight platforming sequences.
  • Watch for environmental cues: Yellow orbs are your key to creating platforms. Always scan the area for hidden orbs if a path seems inaccessible.
  • Manage health and resources: The sand monsters and falling rocks can quickly deplete your health. Use the hot air balloon bench to recover, and consider equipping crests that boost resilience.
  • Explore for secrets: The Sands of Karak hides items like the Crustnut, which is valuable for quests and trades. Keep an eye out for breakable walls or off-path areas.

Exploring deeper into Karak

Exploration here is less about speed and more about patience:

  • Watch the ground for shifting sands that signal enemies below.
  • Use vertical dunes as vantage points to scout safe paths.
  • Rest at rare oases where benches and healing pools can be found.

Wrapping up: preparing for the desert trial

The Sands of Karak isn’t just another zone—it’s a proving ground that tests everything you’ve learned in Silksong. If you prepare well, secure the right abilities, and take your time, the desert’s secrets will unfold naturally as part of the main progression.