What to know
- You find the Ruined Tool early in New Lurien, a broken artifact needing repair by one of two NPCs.
- Give it to the Tinker for a combat-focused Multi-Tool, boosting attacks and mechanical traversal.
- Hand it to the Weaver for a stealthy Silk Weaver, emphasizing web-slinging and poison effects.
- Your choice locks in the tool’s form, influencing playstyle but not the main story.
You’re weaving through the haunting landscapes of Pharloom as Hornet, your needle gleaming under eerie light, when you stumble across the Ruined Tool. It’s more than a shiny trinket—it’s a fork in the road for your adventure. This choice, made early on, tweaks how you fight, explore, and survive. Let’s break down what this mysterious item does, who can fix it, and how it shifts your journey.
Where you find the Ruined Tool
The Ruined Tool pops up in Weavenest Murglin’s outskirts, a crumbling district littered with rusted gears and tangled silk.
You’ll spot it roughly 20 minutes into the game, after the tutorial, in a derelict workshop off the main path. Here’s what you need to know about getting it:
- Location: Hidden in a side area past patrolling silk drones.
- Access: No special skills required—just basic platforming.
- Appearance: A jagged metal core wrapped in frayed silk threads.
- Trigger: Picking it up sparks a cutscene where Hornet notes its potential.
You can’t use the tool as-is; it’s too damaged. Instead, you’ll need to take it to one of two NPCs in the nearby settlement to repair and unlock its power.
What happens when you hand it over
When given the Ruined Tool, each NPC repairs it into a working Silkshot—a tool that lets Hornet fire threads of silk as a ranged weapon. However, the costs and performance differ.
Forge Daughter’s version
- Cost: 240 Rosaries + 1 Craftmetal
- Result: A more powerful Silkshot, often considered the “upgraded” variant
- Play impact: Deals stronger damage, but requires you to part with a lot of Rosaries
Twelfth Architect’s version
- Cost: 130 Rosaries + 1 Craftmetal
- Result: A cheaper Silkshot, with slightly less potency
- Play impact: More accessible early on, especially if you’re low on Rosaries, but not quite as strong
How your choice changes the game
The decision of who repairs the Ruined Tool does more than alter the cost of the upgrade—it influences how you approach battles throughout Pharloom.
With the Forge Daughter’s version, the Silkshot delivers greater raw damage, letting you tear through enemies more aggressively. This path rewards a more offensive playstyle, where you’re willing to spend resources up front for a stronger tool that makes later fights easier. It also slightly reduces your dependence on close-range needle combat, as the enhanced Silkshot can dispatch weaker foes quickly at range.
By contrast, the Twelfth Architect’s version offers a lighter burden on your wallet, but the Silkshot is less potent. This keeps your Rosaries free for other purchases, such as charms, maps, or crafting materials. It’s a sensible choice if you’re the type of player who values flexibility, conserving resources for multiple upgrades rather than funneling everything into one weapon. While its damage output is lower, it still grants Hornet reliable ranged pressure in tricky encounters.
In essence, this single choice tilts your gameplay: either lean into raw power or stretch your resources to cover more ground.
| Choice | Cost & Resources | Playstyle Impact | Long-Term Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twelfth Architect | 130 Rosaries + 1 Craftmetal | Affordable, steady ranged support | Keeps funds free for other upgrades |
| Forge Daughter | 240 Rosaries + 1 Craftmetal | Stronger ranged power, aggressive use | Sacrifices resources for higher damage |
Why the tool system stands out
Silksong’s Ruined Tool adds a fresh twist to the Metroidvania formula, blending RPG-style choices with evolving gear. You upgrade either tool using in-game resources:
- Multi-Tool: Scrap metal unlocks bursts or enhanced grapples.
- Silk Weaver: Silk cocoons add traps or adhesive webs.
This system lets you tailor Hornet’s kit, making each run feel unique. Speedrunners even split records by tool—Multi-Tool for combat skips, Silk Weaver for exploration routes. It’s a clever way to keep the game accessible while rewarding your preferred approach.
Deciding who to trust with the Ruined Tool
The Ruined Tool is one of the early branching choices in Silksong that highlights the game’s theme of resourcefulness. You’re not just deciding where to spend Rosaries—you’re shaping your toolkit. Whether you favor power or efficiency, the outcome ensures you’ll have a new way to weave silk into battle.
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