The Wish System Explained
In Hollow Knight: Silksong, side quests are called Wishes. Unlike traditional RPG quest logs, Wishes are discovered organically through NPC conversations and special locations called Wishwalls. There are 54 Wishes in total, divided into 8 categories based on their objectives.
Quest Categories at a Glance
Wishwall Locations
Wishwalls are special bulletin boards where bugs post their desires. Interacting with a Wishwall reveals multiple Wishes you can accept. There are three main Wishwalls in the game:
Bone Bottom
Near the Greymoor entrance. First Wishwall you'll encounter. Contains early-game Wishes.
Bellhart
Central hub town. Large variety of mid-game Wishes from residents.
Songclave
Late-game area. Contains the most challenging Wishes with best rewards.
Donate Quests
Donate quests require you to give specific items to NPCs. These items are typically found throughout the world or dropped by enemies. The most important Donate quest is Flexile Spines - the only mandatory quest in the game.
⭐ Flexile Spines (MANDATORY)
Story RequiredCollect 25 Spine Cores and deliver them to unlock the Drifter's Cloak, essential for accessing new areas.
Rosewood Supply
Early GameDeliver 10 Rosewood Fragments to the herbalist.
Reward: Health UpgradeSilk Threads
Mid GameGather 15 Silk Threads for the weaver.
Reward: Silk CharmBell Metal
Mid GameBring 8 Bell Metal chunks to the blacksmith.
Reward: Tool UpgradeCrystal Hearts
Late GameCollect 5 Crystal Hearts from deep caves.
Reward: 500 RosariesGather Quests
Gather quests ask you to find and collect items scattered throughout Pharloom. Unlike Donate quests, you keep these items and just need to show them to the quest giver.
Moss Prophet's Relics
GreymoorFind 3 ancient relics hidden in the moss gardens.
Reward: Moss Shell upgradeLost Melodies
SongclaveRecover 5 music sheets from the abandoned theater.
Reward: Song of ProtectionSpool Fragments
Multiple AreasFind all 8 Spool Fragments scattered across Pharloom.
Reward: Full Spool abilityBellkeeper's Bells
BellhartLocate 12 hidden bells throughout the town.
Reward: Bell CharmHunt & Grand Hunt Quests
Hunt quests require you to defeat specific enemies or enemy types. Grand Hunt quests are more challenging, typically involving mini-bosses or boss-level enemies. These quests offer the best combat rewards.
Regular Hunt Quests
Moss Grub Menace
15 KillsDefeat 15 Moss Grubs in the Greymoor area.
Reward: 100 RosariesClockwork Patrol
10 KillsDestroy 10 Clockwork Sentries.
Reward: Gear CharmSilk Weavers
8 KillsDefeat 8 hostile Silk Weavers in the Citadel.
Reward: Silk ToolCoral Crawlers
20 KillsEliminate 20 Coral Crawlers near the coast.
Reward: 150 RosariesGrand Hunt Quests
The Moss Mother
BossDefeat the Moss Mother in Greymoor's depths.
Reward: Moss Heart charmBell Beast Terror
BossSlay the Bell Beast terrorizing Bellhart.
Reward: Bell Resonance abilityTrobbio the Showman
BossDefeat Trobbio in the abandoned circus.
Reward: Showman's TokenCogwork Dancers
Boss DuoDefeat the synchronized Cogwork Dancers.
Reward: Dance of Gears charmLearn Quests
Learn quests are tutorial-style challenges where you must demonstrate mastery of specific abilities or mechanics. These are great for understanding advanced combat techniques.
Master the Needle
CombatLand 50 consecutive hits without taking damage.
Reward: Needle Mastery badgeSilk Arts
AbilityUse all silk abilities in a single combo.
Reward: Silk Mastery upgradeTool Specialist
EquipmentDefeat an enemy using only Tools (no Needle).
Reward: Tool capacity +1Aerial Expert
MovementStay airborne for 30 seconds using abilities.
Reward: Air Dash upgradeSprint Quests
Sprint quests are time-based challenges where you must reach a destination or complete an objective within a time limit. These test your platforming skills and route knowledge.
Greymoor Sprint
2:00Race from the Greymoor entrance to the Moss Temple.
Reward: Speed SilkBellhart Relay
3:30Collect all town bells in order.
Reward: 200 RosariesClockwork Challenge
1:30Navigate the rotating gear platforms.
Reward: Gear Tool upgradeCitadel Ascent
4:00Climb from base to pinnacle without dying.
Reward: Height CharmWayfarer & Witness Quests
Wayfarer quests ask you to find specific locations, while Witness quests require you to observe certain events or discover hidden items. These are exploration-focused and reward thorough map coverage.
Wayfarer Quests
Find the Hidden Grove
GreymoorDiscover the secret grove behind the waterfall.
Reward: Grove Map markerReach the Belfry
BellhartClimb to the top of the great bell tower.
Reward: Panorama unlockDeep Marrow Depths
The MarrowReach the deepest point of The Marrow.
Reward: Deep Dive charmCitadel Peak
CitadelStand at the highest point of the Citadel.
Reward: 300 RosariesWitness Quests
Witness the Sunrise
EventView the sunrise from the eastern outlook.
Reward: Dawn CharmBell Ceremony
EventWatch the hourly bell ceremony in Bellhart.
Reward: Ceremony TokenAncient Mural
DiscoveryFind and examine the hidden ancient mural.
Reward: Lore EntrySinging Crystals
DiscoveryFind all 5 singing crystals in the caverns.
Reward: Crystal SongRecommended Progression
Follow this flowchart for the most efficient quest completion order. The progression is based on area accessibility and reward usefulness.
Quest Progression Flowchart
Complete Flexile Spines first to unlock the Drifter's Cloak. This opens up new areas.
Bellhart is the central hub. Complete quests here before venturing deeper.
Mechanical area quests. Make sure you have upgraded Tools for efficiency.
Final cleanup. You'll have all abilities needed for any remaining quests.
Tips for Completionists
Check Wishwalls Regularly
New Wishes appear on Wishwalls as you progress through the story. Visit them after each major boss or area unlock.
Mark Quest NPCs on Your Map
Use map pins to remember where quest-giving NPCs are located. Some Wishes require returning to specific NPCs.
Save Rosaries for Key Upgrades
Don't spend all your Rosary rewards immediately. Save up for important upgrades like extra Tool slots and health increases.
Grand Hunts Can Wait
If a Grand Hunt is too difficult, come back later with better equipment. These bosses don't scale, so you can overlevel them.
Learn Quests Unlock Skills
Prioritize Learn quests early - they teach you techniques that make other quests easier. The skills you gain are permanent.
Quest Type Summary
Wrapping Up
The Wish system in Silksong offers a ton of optional content that rewards exploration and combat mastery. While you only need to complete Flexile Spines for the main story, the other 53 Wishes provide meaningful rewards that make Hornet significantly stronger.
For completionists, aim to hit all the Wishwalls after each major milestone and keep track of which quest types you're missing. The progression flowchart above should help you tackle everything in a sensible order without too much backtracking.
Good luck fulfilling all the Wishes of Pharloom!
Guide last updated January 2026