Five Early Tools That Turned Hornet’s Pharloom Nig
Hollow Knight: Silksong’s best early tools give Hornet vital health, speed, damage, and survival advantages across Pharloom.
By 2026, Hollow Knight: Silksong has settled into its reputation as a gorgeous, merciless pilgrimage through Pharloom, and Hornet’s first hours remain a masterclass in humility. Team Cherry did not pull their punches: even the so-called harmless critters can knock two masks off her health bar, the needle feels about as threatening as a butter knife until its first upgrade, and the skies are crowded with winged nuisances that fling projectiles like they are paid per shot. In that kind of environment, every tool matters. The good news is that a handful of early pickups can turn a desperate scramble into a swaggering, silk-slinging joyride. These five tools gave Hornet breathing room, bite, and a few well-earned laughs.
Plasmium Phial: The Blue Mask That Bought One More Breath
Pharloom teaches its first harsh lesson quickly: even the most ordinary enemy can deal two masks of damage. Hornet can heal, sure, but the math is ugly. Take two hits, heal once, and she is already down to a thin margin against anything fierce. The Plasmium Phial’s blue mask changes that arithmetic. It is not glamorous, but it is clutch. That extra hit is often the difference between a victorious boss attempt and a sad little crumple on the floor. Because mask fragments are scarce in the early hours, the phial feels extraordinarily influential, and it is refreshingly accessible: finish the quest from the NPC at the top of Wormways and it is hers.
Flea Brew: A Temporary Shot of Quick Slash
Quick Slash is one of the best charms in the original Hollow Knight, and Flea Brew is its temporary cousin in Silksong. When Hornet drinks it, she runs and attacks faster, which makes the whole game feel more dynamic. Slow enemies suddenly look like they are moving through treacle, and stunned bosses become a personal pincushion. The effect does not last forever, and recharging it costs Rosaries, so it is not a free lunch. Still, for players who are comfortable with the controls and not short on cash, it is a brilliant way to squeeze out extra damage. Speed was powerful in Hallownest, and Pharloom is no exception. Hornet just has to remember to keep her pockets full.
Curveclaw: A Bone With a Grudge Against Flying Pests
Team Cherry clearly had fun designing flying enemies. Pharloom is full of them, and many hurl projectiles in every direction while hovering just out of reach. The Curveclaw is the answer. It is the trickiest tool on this list to master because the thrown bone follows an awkward arc, but once Hornet gets the hang of it, it becomes an excellent way to swat winged nuisances out of the sky. Practicing in a moderately safe room is worth the trouble. Each area seems to have its own set of airborne troublemakers that are more irritating than some bosses, so the Curveclaw ends up carrying more weight than it first appears. The Mottled Skarr merchant sells it, and the Rosaries are well spent. Threat reduction is a bargain at almost any price.
Flintslate: Set the Needle Ablaze
Many players spend ten hours or more before their first needle upgrade, and during that stretch the weapon can feel like it does barely any damage. The Flintslate fixes that by temporarily imbuing the needle with fire. It is a bit like Charcoal Pine Resin from Dark Souls: a simple buff that makes a noticeable difference in damage output. Hornet still has to swing, dodge, and survive, but the extra fire damage makes boss fights less of a marathon. Its number of uses per recharge is generous enough to extend the effect through an average encounter, so with a little planning she can keep her needle burning for most of the important fight. It may not turn a loss into a win by itself, but it makes life much easier against enemies that would otherwise tear her to bits.
Threefold Pin: Daggers Between Every Slash
When damage output is the problem, the Threefold Pin is a saving grace. The button combinations for tools can feel unintuitive at first, but once Hornet gets the rhythm down, these little daggers are a game changer. Throwing them between needle slashes lets her fly through screens, whether she is carving up regular enemies or chipping away at a boss. The damage they deal in tandem is out of this world, and the pin is easy to