Embarking on the quest to collect all eight mementos in Hollow Knight: Silksong is a definitive challenge for any completionist, signaling a deep mastery of the game’s intricate world and mechanics. These unique souvenirs, born from late-game bosses, complex quests, and demanding platforming puzzles, await display in your Bellhome once earned. For those who thrive on overcoming every obstacle, these aren’t just collectibles; they are badges of skill and perseverance.
While not strictly necessary for the main narrative, each memento represents a significant endgame challenge. They become accessible primarily in Act 3, coinciding with the activation of relevant quests and the acquisition of crucial movement abilities like Silk Soar. Below, we, at Digital Tech Explorer, will guide you through acquiring every memento, detailing the paths and trials ahead. Be advised: this guide contains spoilers for Act 3 content, though it avoids major plot revelations.
Mastering Mementos: Your Guide to Silksong’s Endgame Collectibles
Eight distinct mementos can be earned by tackling Silksong’s most formidable endgame challenges. To begin this journey, you must first reach Act 3, as all associated quests and abilities become available then. The difficulty of acquiring each memento varies, and we’ll break down precisely what’s needed for every single one.
How to get the Hunter’s Memento
- Source: Complete the Hunter’s Journal
In theory, this memento is among the most straightforward. Your task is to defeat every boss and enemy a sufficient number of times to fully populate your Hunter’s Journal. Additionally, completing the “Bugs of Pharloom” quest, initiated by Nuu in the top room of Greymoor Halfway House (who provides the journal in Act 1), is likely a prerequisite. Once your journal is complete, speak to Nuu to claim this memento.
How to get the Craw Memento
- Source: Defeat the Court of Craws and Crawfather boss in Greymoor
This memento requires you to first complete “The Dark Heart” quest in Act 3. This quest triggers the appearance of the Craw Summons, unlocking this optional boss encounter (you might also need to clear the bird gauntlet at Craw Lake in eastern Greymoor). The Craw Summons will conveniently appear near any bench you rest at.
Utilize the Craw Summons within the main room of the Craw Lake house to initiate the boss fight. This gauntlet consists of multiple waves of Craw enemies culminating in a battle against the Crawfather. Success in this challenge also rewards you with the Crawbell for your Bellhome.
How to get the Conjoined Heart memento
- Source: Defeat a fourth Old Heart boss
This memento involves a slightly unique mechanic. In Act 3, “The Old Hearts” quest guides you to locate and claim three hearts marked on your map. However, a fourth heart exists: the Conjoined Heart, obtained by defeating the Clover Dancers in Verdania. For most players, the Conjoined Heart itself will be their memento. However, if you use it for the main quest, the *last* Old Heart you defeat will then become your memento.
To clarify: you receive this memento upon defeating all four Old Heart bosses (Nyleth, Skarrsinger Karmalita, Crust King Khann, and the Clover Dancers). It will drop from the final boss you defeat, provided the other three hearts have been used for the quest. If you collect all four hearts and deliver them to the snail shamans, the Conjoined Heart will be given to you as a memento afterwards.
Should you need assistance accessing Verdania and the Clover Dancers, or locating the Heart in the Woods for Nyleth, refer to the respective linked guides.
How to get the Grey Memento
- Source: Defeat the Watcher at the Edge boss in the Sands of Karak
This memento is one of the more accessible ones. Once you’ve acquired Silk Soar during the Act 3 storyline, enter the Sands of Karak region via the Blasted Steps shortcut. Head left, backtracking towards the entrance situated above the Pinstress’s balloon. Continue through this initial platforming room until you encounter a yellow orb in the middle, which activates a series of platforms leading upwards and to the left. Traverse these, hit the second orb near the ceiling, and you’ll arrive in a small area containing a deceased bug and a tent.
Use Silk Soar to reveal a hidden passage above, leading you outside where the Watcher at the Edge boss awaits in the sands. To initiate the fight, play the Elegy of the Deep on your Needolin. The Watcher is not overly difficult; maintain distance, evade the sand pillars, and chip away at its health after its jumping attacks.
How to get the Surface Memento
- Source: Found in the Nameless Town above The Cradle
This memento effectively serves as the final reward for the Passing of the Age quest, and reaching it involves a particularly challenging platforming section. It’s highly recommended to pursue this as part of that quest rather than attempting it separately. Consult the linked guide for detailed instructions, specifically the final entry which outlines how to reach the Nameless Town.
Once in the Nameless Town, play your Needolin near the corpse in the ruined house on the far right. The memento should then drop from the ceiling. If not, try moving closer to the corpse. While it is generally believed to drop when playing the Needolin, some players find nudging the corpse also triggers it – try both methods if needed.
How to get the Guardian’s Memento
- Source: Defeat Shrine Guardian Seth, meet him around Pharloom, and beat his high scores at the Festival of the Flea
This is one of Silksong’s most intricate mementos. Your journey begins by defeating Seth the Shrine Guardian, first encountered while seeking the Heart of the Woods through the hidden passage on the left side of the Grand Gate’s lift shaft. **Seth will reappear in other locations only after you have claimed two of The Old Hearts**, so ensure you progress that quest.
His first subsequent location is where Shakra initially sold the Greymoor map, on the right path towards Craw Lake. The second sighting of Seth is by some hanging flowers, not far from the Sister Splinter boss arena in the Shellwoods. The third location is just before the Grand Gate entrance, when approaching from the Blasted Steps.
Seth’s final appearance is at the Festival of the Flea in the Putrified Ducts. First, locate all fleas to commence the festival, then complete the Ecstasy of the End quest by beating all minigame high scores. After this, Seth will materialize on the left side of the festival grounds.
Note that Seth might skip the Shellwoods and Grand Gate locations and go directly to the festival, so consider completing the festival quest earlier if you’re in a hurry. If he’s not there, he’ll be at one of the previous locations.
Crucially, Seth will set new high scores for each minigame you need to beat. When completing “Ecstasy of the End,” it’s advisable to win each game with the lowest possible score to make your subsequent task easier. You must then surpass Seth’s scores in all three flea minigames, speak to him, and the memento will be yours.
How to get the Hero’s Memento
- Source: Complete the Hero’s Call quest
The exact prerequisites for activating “The Hero’s Call” quest in relation to Garmond’s earlier storyline are not fully clear. While you can duel Garmond in the Choral Chambers and bring him to the High Halls gauntlet, for most players, provided you have met Garmond and Zaza in Greymoor or elsewhere, you generally need to:
- Find Garmond in the Far Fields in Act 3 and speak with him. This may be at the left entrance room (where ant enemies reside) or on the far right by Weavenest Cindril.
- Claim three hearts from “The Old Hearts” quest, deliver them to the snail shamans, and complete the “Red Memory” section.
Following these steps, “The Hero’s Call” quest should appear on the Bellhart board. Head to the Blasted Steps Bellway, where Zaza will appear on the left and lead you to Garmond’s location – the same spot where Lumble the Lucky might have once challenged you to dice. From there, the path to earning this memento is quite straightforward.
How to get the Sprintmaster Memento
- Source: Complete Fastest in Pharloom and then an additional race against Sprintmaster Swift
When hunting for Skarrsinger Karmalita’s heart in the Far Fields, Sprintmaster Swift can be found on the far right side of the area by continuing past the path that leads up to the boss. To reach this specific sub-area, you’ll need to employ Silk Soar in the room containing the dancing Karmalita statue in Hunter’s March, directly opposite the bench in the main shaft.
Unfortunately, the back entrance to Hunter’s March via the Deep Docks will be blocked, necessitating a journey through the right side of The Marrow and navigating its extensive platforming sections, which include a voided-up ant gauntlet. Upon arriving at the statue room, use Silk Soar and continue exploring that segment until you discover Sprintmaster Swift’s racecourse within the giant ant skeleton.
You are required to challenge and defeat Sprintmaster Swift three times as part of the “Fastest in Pharloom” quest. After completing this, challenge him one final time to acquire the crest. Be aware that **this final race typically becomes available only after you have completed “The Old Hearts” quest**.
While tools like Flea Brew and Silkspeed Anklets might seem helpful, they are disallowed in these races, meaning success hinges solely on mastering each course. A useful observation: using your clawline can occasionally knock Swift back, potentially giving you a crucial advantage.
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