Your Guide to the Ornate Clamp in Silksong

What to know

• The Ornate Clamp is a critical component for the final Diving Bell upgrade in Hollow Knight: Silksong.
• It’s often missed by players stuck at 90% or higher completion after finishing the main story.
• Found in the Deep Docks, it requires specific tools and abilities to access.
• Unlocking it involves solving a puzzle and defeating a challenging enemy.

As you journey through the bug-filled world of Pharloom in Hollow Knight: Silksong, you’ll encounter numerous items and upgrades that enhance Hornet’s abilities. The Ornate Clamp stands out as a particularly elusive collectible, crucial for completing the Diving Bell and reaching full game completion. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about finding and using the Ornate Clamp, based on the latest information available.

Understanding the Ornate Clamp’s role

The Ornate Clamp is one of the final components needed to fully upgrade the Diving Bell, a key traversal mechanism in Hollow Knight: Silksong. The Diving Bell allows Hornet to explore underwater areas and access hidden regions of Pharloom. Without the Ornate Clamp, players can progress through the main story but may find themselves stuck at 90% or higher completion, unable to unlock certain endgame content or achieve 100% completion. This item is particularly tricky to locate, as it’s tucked away in a complex area and requires specific skills and tools to obtain.

Where to find the Ornate Clamp

The Ornate Clamp is located in the Deep Docks, a sprawling, industrial region of Pharloom filled with molten lakes and intricate machinery. To find it, you’ll need to navigate to a specific sub-area called the Sunkforge Depths, which is accessible after progressing through Act 3 of the game. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how to reach it:

• Prerequisites: Ensure you have the Silkspear and Curveclaw tools equipped, as these are necessary for traversal and combat in this area. You’ll also need at least three Crest slots unlocked with Memory Lockets to equip additional tools for puzzle-solving. These can be purchased from Mort’s Shop for 150 Rosaries each or found in hidden areas like Bone Bottom.
• Starting point: From the Deep Docks bench, head left past the Forge Daughter’s workshop. You’ll need to use the Drifter’s Cloak (obtained from the “Flexible Spines” quest) to glide over a series of molten pools.
• Path to Sunkforge Depths: Continue downward through a series of platforming challenges involving spinning gears and timed levers. Use the Silkspear to latch onto silk-covered walls and the Curveclaw to break through tough environmental barriers, such as hardened coral blockades.
• Puzzle chamber: In the Sunkforge Depths, you’ll encounter a locked chamber with a silk-woven puzzle. Activate the Cross Stitch tool (obtained from defeating the Phantom boss in Bilewater) to deflect energy pulses from three glowing nodes. This unlocks a hidden passage leading to the Ornate Clamp.
• Enemy encounter: The clamp is guarded by a miniboss, the Ironcoil Weaver, a mechanical spider-like creature. Use the Thread Storm tool to deal rapid area-of-effect damage and avoid its heavy slam attacks. Defeating it grants access to the Ornate Clamp, which is found on a pedestal in the chamber.

Using the Ornate Clamp

Once you’ve obtained the Ornate Clamp, return to the Forge Daughter in the Deep Docks to upgrade the Diving Bell. The upgrade process requires:

The upgraded Diving Bell allows Hornet to dive deeper into underwater areas, unlocking previously inaccessible regions like the Abyssal Hollows. This area contains additional collectibles, such as Mask Shards and Spool Fragments, which contribute to 100% completion.

Challenges and tips

Finding the Ornate Clamp can be daunting due to the Deep Docks’ complex layout and the Ironcoil Weaver’s difficulty. Here are some tips to make the process smoother:

• Prepare your Crests: Equip red tools like Thread Storm and Sting Shard for combat efficiency against the Ironcoil Weaver. Blue tools, such as the Hunter’s Heart, can provide defensive buffs to withstand its attacks.
• Stock up on Rosaries: You’ll need Rosaries to purchase Craftmetal or Memory Lockets if you haven’t unlocked enough Crest slots. Completing side quests like “Berry Picking” or “The Threadspun Town” can help you gather Rosaries quickly.
• Practice platforming: The Sunkforge Depths requires precise platforming. Practice using the Drifter’s Cloak and Silkspear to navigate tricky sections with confidence.
• Save Shell Shards: Since the Diving Bell upgrade requires 50 Shell Shards, avoid spending them on other crafts until you’ve secured the clamp.

Why do you need Ornate Clamp

The Ornate Clamp is more than just a collectible—it’s a gateway to experiencing Hollow Knight: Silksong’s full depth. The upgraded Diving Bell opens up new exploration opportunities, revealing hidden lore and challenging bosses in the Abyssal Hollows. For completionists, it’s a must-have to achieve 100% and unlock the game’s true ending. Its placement in the Deep Docks also encourages thorough exploration, rewarding players who dive into Pharloom’s intricate world.

Ornate Clamp is for completionists, agreed!

Pursuing the Ornate Clamp is essential if you’re aiming for 100% completion or want to explore every corner of Pharloom. The journey to obtain it tests your combat and platforming skills, but the reward—access to new areas and a deeper understanding of the game’s world—makes it worthwhile. If you’re a casual player focused on the main story, you might skip this item, as it’s not required to complete the core narrative. However, for those captivated by Hollow Knight: Silksong’s challenging gameplay and rich exploration, the Ornate Clamp is a satisfying milestone.