A Hunter’s Journal: A Guide to Finding Every Creature in Hollow Knight: Silksong

In Hollow Knight: Silksong, your journey as Hornet through the vast, interconnected world of Pharloom is defined by the creatures you encounter. From the smallest, most unassuming bugs to the terrifying, gargantuan bosses, logging every creature in your Hunter’s Journal is a monumental task. The journal, a returning feature from the original Hollow Knight, is a bestiary that records every enemy and boss you defeat, rewarding you with lore and combat tips as you fill its pages. With over 200 new enemies and more than 40 bosses, completing the journal is a true test of skill and exploration. Here is a guide on how to acquire the journal and where to find some of the most elusive creatures in the game.

How to Get the Hunter’s Journal (Bestiary)

The Hunter’s Journal is not given to you at the start of your journey. To acquire this invaluable tool, you must venture into the region of Greymoor. After entering Greymoor from the Far Fields, you will find a location called the Halfway Home. This tavern serves as a temporary hub and is home to a friendly NPC named Nuu. Nuu, who is found on the top floor of the Halfway Home, will happily give you the Hunter’s Journal and a new quest to defeat a certain number of unique enemies. Once in your possession, the journal can be accessed from the menu at any time and will start to fill with information as you defeat enemies. To fully unlock the entries for each creature, you will need to defeat a set number of them, making it a true test of your dedication to exploration and combat.

Major Bosses and Their Locations

While the journal tracks all creatures, some of the most difficult and rewarding encounters come from the game’s major boss fights. Here are a few key bosses and where to find them:

• Moss Mother: This is one of the first bosses you will encounter. You can find her in the Ruined Chapel at the top of the Moss Grotto, the game’s starting area. She is a mandatory boss to progress the main story.
• Bell Beast: The Bell Beast is an optional but challenging boss found in the Marrow Bellway. Defeating him requires the use of the Silk Spear ability, which can be acquired early on.
• Lace: A recurring rival, Lace is first encountered in the Deep Docks on the path to the Far Fields. Her fight is a significant step up in difficulty, testing your mastery of Hornet’s movement and parry mechanics. You will encounter her again at a later stage in the game.
• Fourth Chorus: This mandatory boss is located in the Far Fields, in a large lava-filled arena. The fight is a spectacle of platforming and precise combat, requiring you to dodge environmental hazards while attacking its weak points.
• Savage Beastfly: An optional boss found in the Hunter’s March, in a location known as the Chapel of the Beast. The Savage Beastfly is a formidable enemy that rewards patient and calculated combat.
• Widow: This is a mandatory boss found in Bellhart, an area accessible via the Shellwood. The fight takes place in a large arena and is a test of your ability to manage multiple enemies at once.

Finding Elusive Enemies

The vast world of Pharloom is filled with more than just bosses. There are over 200 regular enemies, some of which are difficult to find or require specific conditions to appear. While a full list is too extensive to cover, here are a few tips to help you in your search:

• Hunter’s Journal Notes: The journal itself is your best friend. As you defeat creatures, the journal’s notes will fill with hints about where to find them and their behaviors.
• Specific Biomes: Certain enemies are exclusive to specific areas. For instance, the Crust King Khann and other Crust-type enemies are found in the Coral Tower, while the Pilgrim and Bell-type enemies are most common in Greymoor and Bellhart.
• Quests: Some creatures are tied to specific side quests. For example, the Crawfather is fought as part of a quest, and other creatures might only appear after you’ve completed a specific objective or defeated a certain boss.
• Environmental Interactions: A number of enemies are tied to specific environmental interactions. The Phantom, for instance, is found in the top of the Exhaust Organ in Bilewater, and finding it requires you to navigate a mist-filled labyrinth.
• New Abilities: Many creatures are located in areas that are only accessible with specific abilities. The Skull Tyrant in The Marrow, for instance, requires the use of the Cling Grip to access its secret area. You will frequently have to return to old areas with new abilities to find previously unreachable enemies.

Mastering the combat system and becoming a master of traversal are key to your success in filling the Hunter’s Journal. The world of Pharloom is an intricately designed, beautiful, and dangerous place. Every corner holds a secret, and every shadow a new creature. By using your journal and exploring every inch of the world, you will be able to fill its pages and prove yourself as the ultimate hunter.