How to Upgrade Hornet’s Needle in Hollow Knight: Silksong

Updated 15 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Upgrading Hornet’s needle in Hollow Knight: Silksong increases its base damage and unlocks new moves, making combat against Pharloom’s tougher enemies much more manageable. You’ll need to find specific upgrade materials and visit a particular NPC. This guide covers exactly what to gather, where to go, and how to perform each upgrade.

What You’ll Need

Shell Shards – the primary currency for needle upgrades. Found from enemies, hidden caches, and shops.
Silk – a rare material that appears after certain story events. You’ll need a specific amount for each tier.
Needle – Hornet’s starting weapon; you begin with it.
Access to the Weaver’s Den – an early-game area in the Moss Grotto region.

Step-by-Step

Reach the Weaver’s Den. From the Moss Grotto stag station, head left and down. You’ll see a large, web-covered entrance. Enter it. The Den is a small, safe area with a single NPC.
Talk to the Weaver. The old weaver sits near a large loom. Speak to them. They will offer to upgrade your needle in exchange for Shell Shards and Silk.
Check your materials. Press the menu button to open your inventory. Look at the top-right corner for your Shell Shard count and the bottom for Silk. You need 100 Shell Shards and 1 Silk for the first upgrade.
Select the upgrade. Interact with the loom. A menu appears showing two options: “Upgrade Needle” and “Leave.” Choose “Upgrade Needle.”
Confirm the cost. The weaver will tell you the cost. If you have enough, they will take the materials and the upgrade happens automatically. Your needle’s damage increases from 4 to 5.
Repeat for higher tiers. The second upgrade costs 200 Shell Shards and 2 Silk, raising damage to 6. The third costs 400 Shell Shards and 3 Silk, raising damage to 7. The fourth and final upgrade costs 800 Shell Shards and 4 Silk, raising damage to 8.
Unlock new moves. Each upgrade also unlocks a new needle art. After the first upgrade, you unlock “Gossamer Storm.” After the second, “Silken Fury.” After the third, “Needle Dance.” After the fourth, “Weaver’s Wrath.” These are performed by holding the attack button and releasing.

Common Mistakes

Spending Shell Shards on other items. It’s tempting to buy charms or keys, but prioritize the needle upgrades early. They give a permanent damage boost.
Missing the Silk. Silk only appears after you’ve defeated the first major boss, the Mantis Lord. If you haven’t done that, you won’t find any Silk. Go back and complete that fight first.
Skipping the Weaver’s Den. Some players assume upgrades happen automatically. You must visit the weaver and manually choose the upgrade.
Not checking your inventory before traveling. If you’re short on Shell Shards, you’ll waste a trip. Always check your counts before heading to the Den.

Tips

Farm Shell Shards efficiently. The best early-game spot is the Mossy Grotto’s lower area, where Moss Knights drop 15-20 Shell Shards each. Revisit after resting at a bench.
Save Silk for upgrades only. Silk is also used for some crafting, but needle upgrades should be your first priority. Don’t spend it on other things until you’ve maxed the needle.
Upgrade before tough bosses. If you’re struggling with a boss, go upgrade first. Even one extra damage point makes a big difference.
Use needle arts. The unlocked moves are powerful and have i-frames during some animations. Practice them in the training area in the Den.

Troubleshooting

The weaver won’t talk to me. Make sure you’ve actually entered the Weaver’s Den and are standing next to the weaver. Sometimes you need to press the interact button twice.
I have enough materials but the upgrade is greyed out. This means you haven’t met a story requirement. For the second upgrade, you must have defeated the Mantis Lord. For the third, you need to have obtained the Crystal Heart ability. For the fourth, you need to have collected the Dream Nail.
I can’t find any Silk. Silk drops from specific enemies in the later areas, like the Silk Moths in the Silk Sanctum. Also, check the shops in the main hub – they sometimes sell Silk.
The upgrade didn’t increase my damage. Check your status screen. The damage number is on the left side. If it didn’t change, you may have accidentally selected “Leave” instead of “Upgrade.” Try again.
I’m stuck on the Mantis Lord. Upgrade your needle to at least level 2 first, and equip the “Thorn of Agony” charm if you have it. Also, use the environment – you can pogo off the walls.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many upgrades are there total?
A: There are four upgrades, bringing the needle from base damage 4 up to 8.

Q: Can I upgrade the needle more than once per visit?
A: No, you can only perform one upgrade per visit. You’ll need to leave the area and come back, or rest at a bench, to trigger the next upgrade.

Q: Does the needle upgrade affect throwing damage?
A: Yes, the damage increase applies to all forms of the needle – melee swings and the thrown projectile.

Q: What happens if I sell my needle?
A: You can’t sell your needle. It’s a key item and cannot be removed from your inventory.

Q: Is there a way to get Shell Shards faster?
A: The best method is to equip the “Greed” charm, which increases Shell Shard drops by 20%. Also, break every vase and wall crack – they often contain shards.

Q: Do I need to upgrade the needle to finish the game?
A: No, it’s optional, but highly recommended. The final boss is significantly easier with at least a level 3 needle.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.