What to know

  • Fine Pins are not guaranteed drops; the game uses a percentage-based chance system.
  • They are farmed from Needleflies, Stitchlings, and select arena fights.
  • Players often confuse bad luck with a bug, but it’s intentional design.
  • Strategies like farming specific zones and reloading instances improve efficiency.

When you’re farming Fine Pins in Hollow Knight: Silksong, it can feel frustrating when they just don’t seem to appear. Many players assume something is wrong, but the reality is that Fine Pins are intentionally tied to a drop-rate mechanic. This means you won’t always get one from every fight. Let’s break down why that happens and how you can maximize your chances of collecting them.

Why Fine Pins don’t always drop

Fine Pins are tied to a probability-based loot system. Unlike guaranteed quest items, they are classified as rare materials. Each time you defeat a specific enemy, there’s only a chance that a Fine Pin will appear. The drop rate isn’t 100%, which makes farming necessary if you need a larger stock.

This design encourages exploration and repeat combat rather than quick one-time farming. It can feel punishing, but it’s part of the progression system—Fine Pins are used in upgrades that the developers want to feel earned. Several factors explain why you might not see fine pins:

  • No guaranteed drop: The game uses RNG, meaning each kill has only a chance—estimated around 10-20% based on player reports—to yield a pin. It's not a bug; it's designed this way to encourage exploration and persistence.
  • Quest prerequisites: Drops only trigger after you've accepted the wish. If you fought these enemies earlier, those kills don't count retroactively.
  • Progression issues: Some players report drops halting if you advance too far in the story without finishing the quest. This could tie into Act Two gating or unfinished related wishes.
  • Environmental destruction: Even if a pin drops, it vanishes if it touches spikes, the ground, or other hazards. This mechanic emphasizes precise combat over mindless grinding.

Enemies and locations that drop Fine Pins

Fine Pins drop from a few select sources. While they’re not overly rare, knowing where to focus your efforts helps reduce wasted time.

Common enemy drops

  • Needleflies – Found in the upper reaches of the Needlewood area; these are the most consistent source.
  • Stitchlings – Appear in sewing-themed chambers of the Weavers’ Den; slightly lower drop rate than Needleflies.
  • Arena trials – Certain mid-tier arena challenges reward Fine Pins directly upon completion.
Secret Area in Songclave- Choirbugs/Choirsters with high yielding possibility
  • Needlewood canopy paths – High spawn rate of Needleflies; you can loop through quickly, exit, and re-enter to reset spawns.
  • Weavers’ Den corridors – Stitchlings patrol in groups, giving multiple drop chances in one run.
  • Trial of Threads (Act 2 arena) – Guarantees at least one Fine Pin as part of the completion reward, with extra chances from enemy drops inside.

Understanding the Fine Pins quest

The fine pins quest, also called a "wish" in the game, pops up on the notice board in Songclave during Act Two. You accept it by interacting with the board across from the NPCs there. Once active, your journal updates with details on what to hunt: 10 fine pins total. These aren't just random loot—they're key to completing the wish and unlocking rewards like upgrades or lore insights.

Where Fine Pins come from

You get fine pins exclusively as drops from two enemy types in the Citadel area:

  • Choristors: These choirbug-like foes hang out in groups, often singing or hovering.
  • Reeds: Slender, pin-wielding enemies that patrol or ambush you.

Both appear in the Choral Chambers sub-zone. Focus your efforts here, as other areas won't yield these drops.

Defeat as many as possible choirsters and reeds to get Fine Pins

Common misconceptions about Fine Pins

Many players think Fine Pins not dropping is a glitch. In reality, it’s just the probability system at work. Others assume that certain upgrades or quests increase drop rates, but so far, nothing in Silksong directly boosts the Fine Pin drop chance. It’s purely about persistence and farming the right enemies.

Patience pays off as Fine Pins!

If you’re not seeing Fine Pins drop, it’s not a bug—it’s simply the game’s design. By farming Needleflies and Stitchlings in the right areas, repeating arena trials, and making use of efficient farming loops, you’ll gather them steadily. Persistence is the key, and eventually, you’ll have all the Fine Pins you need for upgrades.