What to know

  • Elegy of the Deep is an Ancestral Art that Hornet acquires in Act 3, enabling entry into memory realms.
  • Defeating memory bosses grants key items required for main story progression and major upgrades.
  • Invoking the Elegy costs Silk and takes Hornet into challenging but forgiving boss fights representing Pharloom’s past rulers.
  • Death in memories only removes a strand of Silk, with no lost currency or other harsh penalties.

Winding deeper into Hollow Knight: Silksong, the Elegy of the Deep stands out as one of the most evocative and story-rich abilities. This mystical Ancestral Art not only gives you access to some of the game’s most striking boss encounters but also reveals new layers of the lore through its unique mechanics.

The origins and lore behind Elegy of the Deep

After Hornet’s journey takes her into the dangerous Abyss and she returns, the Snail Shamans grant her the Elegy of the Deep as part of her quest to save Lace and cross the deadly Void. Pharloom’s history is tightly woven into this ability: only by experiencing and overcoming the segmented memories of Pharloom’s lost monarchs can Hornet manifest the Everbloom — a mystical flower that shields her from the Void.

The Elegy ties into Silksong’s broader themes of heritage and self-determination. By entering and confronting these memory arenas, Hornet not only learns about prior rulers but also reclaims strength in her own way, choosing what to carry forward from the past.

Elegy of the Deep key locations and memory bosses

Memory arenas linked to Elegy of the Deep include:

Location Memory Boss Reward Notes
Far Fields Skarrsinger Karmelita Hunter’s Heart Singing queen, battle uses musical attacks
Coral Tower, Sands of Karak Crust King Khann Heart of Khann Thorn summons, armor-clad monarch
Shellwood (after Seth) Nyleth Pollen Heart Forest guardian, pollen and seed attacks
Lost Verdania Clover Dancers (Green Prince) Conjoined Heart Optional, dual-prince dancers, trophy only

Three of these Hearts are mandatory for the Everbloom, while the fourth is an optional challenge that enriches world lore and unlocks a home trophy.

How to unlock Elegy of the Deep

Step 1: Progress through main story until Act 3

You need to finish enough of Silksong's campaign such that you enter Act 3.

Step 2: Complete the Spell Seeker quest

This quest is given by the Snail Shamans in the Ruined Chapel (inside Moss Grotto).

Once it’s done, you'll unlock Elegy of the Deep.

How to use Elegy of the Deep

  • When you reach a location where the Elegy triggers, the screen dims and you’ll sense a subtle heartbeat.
  • Hold DOWN + Needolin to play the Elegy. Hornet will collapse and awaken in the memory of a past individual.
  • It costs one thread of Silk from your reserve each time you enter a memory.
  • If Hornet dies inside a memory, she respawns where she used the Elegy, with full health, but the Silk used is lost. Other resources and tools are preserved.

The Elegy of the Deep transforms boss fights into story milestones, letting players explore the powerful legacies of Pharloom’s rulers in a safe yet challenging dreamspace. Every victory not only enhances Hornet’s journey but roots you deeper in the haunting beauty and history of Silksong’s world.