Hollow Knight: Silksong’s platforming is wrecking players harder than any boss fight

Hollow Knight: Silksong is tough. Its bosses hit like a truck, your early-game abilities feel limited, and the map’s volatile design makes it far too easy to tumble into a pit and lose an hour of progress. Fans expected that level of challenge after the first game. What they didn’t expect was just how brutal some of the game’s platforming segments would be — especially if they miss one crucial optional upgrade early on.

The problem with Hornet’s pogo

Hornet, Silksong’s needle-wielding protagonist, starts out with a diagonal downward aerial strike. It doubles as an anti-air move and as a pogo-style bounce to reach higher platforms. The catch? Its diagonal angle makes it tricky to land precise hits on the bounce pods scattered throughout the game. Miss one, and you’ll come crashing down — often into spikes or lava.

Clips of players attempting, failing, and repeatedly falling have flooded social media. Many assume these tricky sections are mandatory skill checks, forcing you to perfect your timing and positioning.

The hidden solution: Crest of the Wanderer

Here’s the kicker: those sections don’t have to be that hard. Thanks to Silksong’s non-linear structure, many players simply haven’t found the Crest of the Wanderer — an equippable item that changes Hornet’s diagonal strike into a straight downward plunge, just like the Knight’s pogo from the original Hollow Knight. This small tweak makes bouncing across pods dramatically easier and far more precise.

Of course, nothing comes free in Hallownest. To find the Crest, you’ll need to unlock specific areas, abilities, and items. And even once equipped, it comes with trade-offs: Hornet’s attack range is reduced, forcing you to fight at closer range. Like all crests, it’s a matter of balancing perks and drawbacks depending on your playstyle.

The takeaway

So, if you’re tired of plummeting into spike pits while trying to pogo your way forward, know that there’s a better way. Silksong’s platforming may be breaking spirits now, but with the right upgrades, it’s a lot more forgiving — assuming you can find them.

💡 Player Tip
If platforming segments feel impossibly punishing, don’t assume it’s all about skill. Track down the Crest of the Wanderer as early as you can. It makes precision pogoing far easier, saving you from endless falls — though you’ll need to adjust to the shorter attack range in combat.