In Hollow Knight: Silksong, movement and skill form the core of Hornet's journey. At first her abilities can feel limited, but unlocking Ancestral Arts changes that quickly. These eight powers are scattered across Pharloom, hidden behind exploration, tricky puzzles, and tough enemies. Some Arts make platforming easier with higher jumps or dashes, while others strengthen combat or open paths that Hornet's needle alone cannot reach. Each Art matters, but some reshape the way the game is played far more than others.

🎵 Needolin

Needolin is not about movement or combat. It allows Hornet to interact with special objects in the world. When a player holds Y, X, Triangle, or D on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, or Switch, Hornet plays a short tune. That music resonates with certain doors or devices and unlocks sealed paths. The ability is tied to puzzles and progression rather than direct fighting. Circular doors with musical-looking patterns often mark where it should be used. To get Needolin, Hornet must defeat Widow, a boss waiting in Bellhart. After that fight, a tutorial introduces the instrument, and players will want Cling Grip already unlocked because the tutorial requires wall jumps.

🌪️ Silk Soar

Silk Soar is Hornet's super jump. By holding down on the needle, charging with the trigger, and then pressing the Harpoon button, she rockets upward with speed. The height is much greater than a normal or double jump. Because Silk Soar consumes Silk, it cannot be used nonstop. It is a saved movement for moments when height matters. This art unlocks later in Act 3. Hornet must travel to the bottom of the Abyss and find a large hole on the right side that leads to an altar. The Silk and Song quest must be advanced before access is possible.

🧗 Cling Grip

Cling Grip changes how Hornet interacts with walls. Instead of sliding down a vertical surface, she latches onto it. From there, pressing jump pushes her off the wall. By bouncing between two walls, entire shafts can be scaled with timing and patience. To unlock Cling Grip, players must climb Shellwood and find the altar at the top. The route is guarded by Sister Splinter, and pogo attacks are needed to reach her. Only after defeating the boss can Hornet inspect the altar.

🍃 Drifter's Cloak

Drifter's Cloak changes how Hornet falls. Holding the jump button after stepping off a platform makes her drift slowly through the air instead of dropping straight down. Players can guide her left or right while gliding. The glide buys time above spikes or enemies and helps reach gaps. The cloak is earned after helping the Seamstress in the Far Fields. She gives Hornet a quest called Flexile Spines, and completing that task rewards the cloak.

⚔️ Needle Strike

Needle Strike is a charge attack. Holding the attack button builds power, and releasing it delivers a heavier strike than the quick stab. It is best used after dodging a large attack when an enemy cannot retaliate. The look and behavior of Needle Strike change depending on which crest Hornet has equipped. Some crests change the animation, some adjust reach, and others alter how the attack interacts with Silk. This gives players reason to experiment with different setups.

💨 Swift Step

Swift Step is Hornet's first real speed tool. Pressing the dash button makes her burst forward instantly. The distance is short, but the speed is sharp enough to escape danger. Attacking while dashing creates a Dash-Pierce move that hits a target and pushes Hornet farther forward. Holding the dash button turns the burst into a continuous sprint, useful for crossing large areas or lining up jumps. To unlock Swift Step, reach the far north of Deep Docks and touch the altar tied to the Ancestral Art.

🦋 Faydown Cloak

Faydown Cloak grants a double jump. After leaping once, tapping jump again in mid-air lets Hornet clear tall walls, dodge attacks, or recover from a bad jump. It is valuable in platforming sections filled with spikes or moving hazards. Some boss fights are difficult without it because the second jump offers another way to avoid sweeping attacks. It also helps chase flying enemies without relying only on walls or hooks.

🪝 Clawline

Clawline is Hornet's grappling hook. Using it throws out a thread that latches onto surfaces or enemies, pulling her across gaps or into combat. Wide gaps become shortcuts, and vertical areas become easier because she can hook to higher spots without climbing step by step. Getting Clawline is likely the most difficult. Players must find its altar in The Cauldron, deep within Underworks. The path goes through Choral Chambers and Whiteward, and a White Key is needed to unlock passage. An elevator descends into Underworks, where ember-filled platforming sections test timing. Drifter's Cloak and wall jumps are required to survive. After pushing through the challenge, the altar grants Clawline.

Together, these Ancestral Arts turn Hornet from a limited explorer into a highly mobile and adaptable hunter. Some tools solve specific obstacles, while others become the backbone of combat and traversal. Knowing where to find each one makes the journey through Pharloom much smoother, especially when certain areas lock access behind the very abilities that players have yet to discover.

Recent analysis comes from HowLongToBeat, where player-submitted completion times help frame how movement upgrades like Silksong’s Ancestral Arts can reshape pacing—early routes often feel constrained, but tools such as Swift Step, Faydown Cloak, and Clawline typically compress backtracking and make optional detours (like puzzle doors tied to Needolin) far more efficient once unlocked.