Wondering how to reach the Putrified Ducts in Silksong? It’s easy to be hesitant about exploring a place with such a grim name, but this area holds significant rewards you won’t want to miss.
Though an optional area tucked away in the top-right corner of the game world, the Putrified Ducts are home to some of the most valuable items and abilities available in Silksong. This is especially true if you haven’t yet braved the challenging swamps of Bilewater. While it’s one of the game’s toughest locations, we highly recommend venturing here as soon as you feel ready. This guide will show you exactly how to navigate to the Putrified Ducts.
Accessing the Putrified Ducts
You have two primary paths to the Putrified Ducts: either by ascending through Bilewater or by heading east from Memorium.
While the Bilewater route is technically available earlier, we strongly advise waiting until you’ve reached Memorium in Act 2. This is primarily because the Putrified Ducts house the Wreath of Purity, an essential item for neutralizing the bothersome maggots in Bilewater. Furthermore, by this stage, you’ll likely have acquired the double jump ability and the Clawline, which dramatically simplifies navigation through the ducts.
Route 1: Through Bilewater
Navigating to the Putrified Ducts through Bilewater involves a lengthy journey, starting from either Sinner’s Road or the Bellway (if you’ve already unlocked it) and proceeding through the entire region. Finding Bilewater’s rightmost bench is a huge advantage, as it’s revealed by breaking a hidden wall. Be warned: there’s a deceptive ‘bench’ on the left – ignore it, it’s a trap!
This path also requires you to defeat the area’s formidable boss, Groal (no relation to the rockstar!), which can be a significant challenge, especially without the Wreath of Purity. Once Groal is vanquished, the way to the Putrified Ducts will open. We cannot stress enough how difficult this route is; only attempt it if you relish extreme challenges or consider yourself a master of Silksong.
Route 2: East from Memorium (Recommended)
The preferred route to the Putrified Ducts requires two specific abilities: the Clawline and the Faydown Cloak. You’ll typically acquire these during Act 2, and they are crucial for accessing the hidden pathways (often marked with stars) that provide a much smoother entry into the Putrified Ducts.
Starting from the bench in Memorium, simply proceed to the far-right room of the area. From there, use your double jump to reach a hidden passage in the ceiling, emerging into an open rooftop area. Traverse this rooftop until you hit a dead end. Double jump again (it can be a bit tricky, so take your time) towards a breakable wall. Once you’ve opened this path, continue forward, and you’ll find yourself in the Putrified Ducts. The Bellway will be clearly signposted as soon as you enter the main vertical chamber.
Beyond the valuable Wreath of Purity, this area also contains the Apostate Key, which is essential for unlocking The Slab. Additionally, you’ll discover the permanent home for the Silksong fleas, known as the Pale Lake. After thoroughly exploring and gathering enough fleas, you can relocate their caravan to establish Fleatopia. Later, during Silksong Act 3, Fleatopia is where you’ll retrieve the final Pale Oil needed to fully upgrade Hornet’s needle to its ultimate form.
This completes our guide on reaching the Putrified Ducts in Hollow Knight Silksong! If you ever find yourself short on currency, consider exploring efficient Rosary farming spots. Or, for a more relaxed approach, you could always utilize some of the top community-made mods to generate effortless income.