What to know
- Wardenflies are large, armored enemies in Hollow Knight: Silksong, some carrying cages to trap Hornet.
- They spawn in specific Pharloom areas before visiting The Slab, with consistent spawns inside The Slab.
- Cage captures send Hornet to The Slab’s prison, stripping non-movement items until recovered.
- Defeating them yields Rosaries and Shell Shards, with 10 kills needed for the Hunter’s Journal.
Act-wise placement of Wardenflies
- Act I: Wardenflies appear in Pharloom’s surface areas (Deep Docks, Greymoor, Bilewater). This is when cage-bearing variants exist. If they capture you, they’ll take you directly to The Slab, marking the beginning of your prison sequence.
- Act II onward: After at least one entry into The Slab, cage-bearing Wardenflies no longer appear outside. Inside The Slab, however, Wardenflies are regular spawns across prison corridors and cells.
This means that if you’re hunting them in the open world, you’ll only encounter cage-Wardenflies in Act I, but if you need them later for journal completion, The Slab is where you’ll find them.
Why the timing matters
The timing of when you encounter Wardenflies shapes your story path. If you allow capture in Act I, you enter The Slab sooner, altering your access to items and how you approach Pharloom. If you avoid them, you’ll only see them later in The Slab itself. For journal hunters, this means you should deliberately fight at least one in Pharloom before progressing too far.
Requirements before encountering Warden Fly
Before you can reliably hunt them in Pharloom:
- Cling Grip: Essential to reach upper ledges in Deep Docks where Wardenflies spawn.
- Unlocked Pharloom routes: You must have progressed into Bilewater and Greymoor to see their spawns there.
- Mask preparation: They deal 2 damage per hit, so going in with at least 6–7 masks makes fights safer.
If you intend to trigger the prison capture, you don’t need combat power—just the willingness to let a Wardenfly’s cage slam you.
Step-by-step process to find Warden Fly
Here is a quick step-by-step guide you can follow to find Wardenfly in all 4 locations:
Step 1: Travel to Deep Docks
From your early map routes, head toward the top-right sector of Deep Docks, past the scaffolding areas. You’ll notice bronzed buzzing sounds—these are usually Wardenflies patrolling with cages.
Step 2: Look for cage-bearers
In Deep Docks, Greymoor, and Bilewater, cage-bearing Wardenflies only appear before your first Slab entry. They’ll hover more slowly than regular flyers and attempt to slam their cage shut.
- If you dodge the cage, you can fight them normally and they’ll count toward your journal.
- If you let the cage slam you, you’ll trigger the scripted capture sequence, entering The Slab early.
Step 3: Search Greymoor and Bilewater
If you skip the Deep Docks route, head into Greymoor or the swampy sectors of Bilewater. Both regions have 1–2 spawn points for cage-bearers. These are riskier areas because of terrain and water hazards.
Step 4: Explore The Slab
Once you’ve been to The Slab (Act II+), Wardenflies become common. You’ll find them:
- Patrolling upper prison blocks
- Guarding cell corridors
- Occasionally, in execution rooms deeper inside
Here, they don’t carry cages but are aggressive flyers that attack with glue traps and lunges.
Warden Fly Location and Type reference table
| Act | Area | Spawn type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Act I | Deep Docks (top-right toward Far Fields) | Cage-bearing | First reliable spot; can trigger prison capture. |
| Act I | Greymoor | Cage-bearing | Sparse spawns, terrain makes avoiding capture harder. |
| Act I | Bilewater | Cage-bearing | Tricky due to water gaps; good for journal farming before Slab. |
| Act II+ | The Slab (upper prison corridors, cells) | Non-caged | Consistent spawns, but no capture mechanic anymore. |
Key considerations and rewards
Here’s a quick breakdown of important details to keep in mind:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Damage | Each hit deals 2 Masks of damage. |
| Drops | 12 Rosaries, 4 Shell Shards per Wardenfly. |
| Hunter’s Journal | Requires 10 Wardenfly defeats to complete. |
| Cage Mechanic | Only active before visiting The Slab; triggers transport to prison. |
| Key of Apostate | Found in Putrefied Ducts near Bilewater; allows non-capture Slab entry. |
Is finding Warden Fly in Silksong worth your time?
Hunting Wardenflies in Hollow Knight: Silksong depends on your goals. If you’re eager to explore The Slab early, seeking them in Deep Docks, Bilewater, or Greymoor can unlock unique story beats and items, though the cage mechanic’s challenge of losing gear temporarily might deter cautious players.
For resource grinders, their consistent spawns in The Slab make them a solid source of Rosaries and Shell Shards, crucial for upgrades or purchases. Completionists will need to defeat 10 for the Hunter’s Journal, so prioritizing The Slab’s upper areas is a must. Weigh your playstyle—exploration, resource farming, or completion—and decide if tackling their tricky attacks and random spawns fits your adventure in Pharloom.
Discussion