How to Pet the Bell Beast

What to know

• Light hits count as “pets,” letting Hornet bond with the Bell Beast.
• Ringing overhead bells makes it sing mid-fight for a delightful secret.
• You can also make the Bell Beast sing using your Needolin.
• Unlocking Silkspear frees the beast, beginning the encounter.
• Defeating it grants fast travel (Bellways) and a Silk Heart.

The Bell Beast is one of the cutest (if slightly scary) things in Silksong. It's only natural then for players to want to pet it. Silksong’s world doesn’t often hand out tenderness, but the Bell Beast changes that. Instead of pure hostility, this encounter mixes charm and combat, inviting players to discover that petting is as vital as striking.

Unlocking the first step toward friendship

Before the petting can begin, Hornet needs the Silkspear. Found through the Mosshome path, this ability breaks silk barriers—including the strands binding the Bell Beast. Freeing it starts the “fight,” though what follows feels closer to befriending than conquering.

Petting through gentle strikes

Light strikes on the Bell Beast don’t enrage it. They register almost like pats on the head—a way of saying, “Hey, I’m here,” - or - more adorably, "Who's a good bug!"

Many players on community forums describe this as petting, because the rhythm of Hornet’s hits seems to soothe rather than wound. It’s a small design flourish that shifts the tone of the battle into something unexpectedly affectionate. Even the developers pitched in:

How to make the Bell Beast sing

The secret joy of this encounter hides in the bells overhead. Tapping them mid-fight triggers a melody from the Bell Beast—an endearing song that transforms tension into delight.

Another way to make the adorable Bell Beast sing is by using the Needolin. Of course, you would need to have unlocked Needolin for it. But if you have, simply play the melody to your Bell Beast and watch it whimper and purr.

Rewards for a fight that feels like friendship

Beyond the pets and music, defeating the Bell Beast still carries tangible upgrades:

This combination of utility and whimsy makes the Bell Beast one of the most memorable encounters in the early game.

Why this encounter feels different

Most Hollow Knight fights demanded precision and punishment. The Bell Beast, however, invites kindness—literally. Treating light strikes/taps as pets and rewarding bell-ringing with song reframes the fight as a conversation rather than a clash. That difference is why players talk about the beast with affection, not dread.

A friendship forged through pets and song

The Bell Beast stands as proof that not every Silksong foe is simply an enemy. Pets calm it, bells inspire it, and Hornet’s victory becomes less about conquest and more about connection. Few battles feel this soft, this strange, or this special.