My Expedition Through the Wormways in Hollow Knight: Silksong
Conquer Hollow Knight: Silksong's Wormways with this focused guide: secure the map, Simple Key, and Zylotol's quests to unlock every hidden upgrade.
Now that Hollow Knight: Silksong is finally here in 2026, I have been diving into every corner of Pharloom. Honestly, after my time in Deepnest back in the original Hollow Knight, I was ready to hate whatever skittering nightmare the sequel threw at me next. When I dropped into the Wormways, I braced for the worst—a cramped, winding tunnel network full of creepy crawlies. To my surprise, Team Cherry actually showed mercy this time. The Wormways are far smaller and more forgiving than the depths of Deepnest. That does not mean the area is skippable, though. It hides numerous upgrades, collectibles, and side quests that a thorough adventurer will not want to miss. Here is how my own run through the tunnels went, and what I learned along the way.
My First Drop Into the Tunnels
My first encounter with the Wormways came when I dropped through the western Shellwood exit. I later discovered there are two main entrances—one above and one below—but I strongly suggest entering from the top first. That path leads directly to Shakra, the map merchant, who will make the maze-like passages much easier to navigate. The map costs 70 Rosaries, and it is worth every bead. In the room just before Shakra, I also picked up a Dead Bug’s Purse, a fantastic safety net if you tend to lose your Rosaries after death. On a Steel Soul run, that item is replaced by the Shell Satchel.
🔑 A Simple Key Opens the Lower Half
Near the bottom of the main vertical chamber, a locked door blocked the other half of the Wormways. I learned the hard way that a Simple Key is nearly essential here. You can buy one from the merchant in Bone Bottom for 500 Rosaries, or you can grab a free one from Sinner’s Road. Once I had it, the entire lower section opened up, revealing many of the area’s secrets.
🧪 Meeting Professor Zylotol and Side Quests
Hidden near the top of the Wormways, Professor Zylotol waits in his private chamber. He offered me a quest called Alchemist’s Assistant: extract three phials of Plasmium from the cocoons growing nearby. After collecting them, I received a Plasmium phial, which can be injected for a bit of extra health. This was a lifesaver during some of the tougher fights that followed.
🔬 Advanced Alchemy and the Blue Infection
When I returned in Act 3, the entire Wormways had changed. The area was bathed in a blue tint, infected with Lifeblood—or Plasmium—and the local creatures had become corrupted. Professor Zylotol had another request: gather ten corrupted blood samples. Using the same phial, I had to strike enemies at just the right moment to collect their blood. The timing can be tricky, but if you struggle, head to the bottom left of the area. There you will find Professor Zango, a miniboss who is surprisingly simple and provides plenty of samples. Returning to Zylotol awarded me an item that grants unlimited Plasmium, meaning I never had to pay for refills again.
🗡️ Weavenest Karn and Sharpdart
Once I had the Needolin and the Clawline ability, I headed to the far west of the Wormways. Weavenest Karn is a super short area with only a few jumps and enemies, but the reward at the back is incredible: the Sharpdart ability. This quickly became my favorite silk skill in the game. It lets you dash through enemies while hitting them multiple times. Pairing it with the Volt Filament melts flying grouped enemies, like those in the High Halls Gauntlet fight. I even found I could make the jump in front of the main entrance without the Faydown Cloak, as long as my timing was good.
💎 Collectibles I Almost Missed
The Wormways also hide a handful of collectibles that are easy to walk past.
Mask Shard
In the area just below the door where I inserted the Simple Key, t
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