Hornet's playstyle is very different in Silksong compared to her counterpart in Hollow Knight. And, perhaps the biggest difference is that you have the ability to change how she fights by equipping different Crests. As if Tools and Cloaks weren't enough, Hornet needs to have something else to equip!
This guide covers every single Crest you can find in Hollow Knight: Silksong, what each one does, where to find it, and how to upgrade them.
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All 7 Crest Locations & Effects
Crests are often given as rewards for beating bosses or tricky platforming and enemy challenges across Pharloom, so you'll have to overcome some tough trials to get them.
But they're worth it, and sometimes completely change the game as Hornet's moveset will drastically change. Here's a rundown of all 7 Crests in Silksong.
Hunter Crest
Hornet's starting Crest, this is the one you'll spend the most time with in the early hours of the game. You can eventually upgrade this Crest twice.
It starts off with three Tool Slots - one of each type - and has three upgrade slots.
- Standard attack
- A quick slash forward
- Upward attack
- An arcing slash above Hornet
- Dash attack
- Lunge into the enemy and bounce off of them
- Downward attack
- A 45-degree downward stab.
- Bind
- Standard 3 Mask heal
Reaper Crest
The second Crest you'll likely get, you'll find this in the Chapel of the Reaper in Greymoor, to the far left of the area.
Like the Hunter Crest, it starts off with three Tool Slots and three upgrade slots.
- Standard attack
- A heavy, slow slash forward
- Upward attack
- A quick upward slash in front of Hornet
- Dash attack
- Sweeps up from the ground
- Downward attack
- An arcing slash below Hornet (a slower version, wider version of Hollow Knight's original downward slash)
- Bind
- Heal, and also allows you to generate extra silk by hitting foes for a limited amount of time
Wanderer Crest
One of the simpler Crests in Silksong, the Wanderer Crest is aptly found in the Chapel of the Wanderer to the west of Bone Bottom. You'll need Cling Grip to get it as you'll have to grab the wall above the sealed door. Make your way up the wall and platforms until you see an opening on the left, and go through it. Then keep running left through the water to reach the Chapel.
This Crest is the most similar to how The Knight controls in Hollow Knight, so if you're really struggling with Hornet's variety, this could be a good Crest for you!
If you're a keen Wanderer, then you'll have access to three Tool Slot - two Yellow, one Red - and upgrade slots for two Blue Tools and one additional Yellow Tool.
- Standard attack
- A fast, short slash forward
- Upward attack
- A very quick upward swipe
- Dash attack
- Hornet will slash in front of her without stopping, a bit like the Crissaegrim from Castlevania (though not that busted or fast, and you have to keep tapping the button)
- Downward attack
- A quick short slash downward — Hollow Knight fans, pogo-ing is back
- Bind
- Heals for 3 Masks, but that's all we've noticed.
Beast Crest
We got the Beast Crest third (before even the Wanderer Crest); it's tucked right at the very end of the Hunter's March inside the Chapel of the Beast behind a pretty tough boss. You'll need the Drifter's Coak to get there.
This starts with two Red Tool Slots, and you can unlock two Yellow Tool Slots with Memory Lockets
- Standard attack
- Hornet scratches forward
- Upward attack
- An upward scratch from behind
- Dash attack
- Hornet will jump and then swipe quickly downwards
- Downward attack
- Hornet rolls forward in mid air and spins
- Bind
- Heal, and also puts you in Berserk mode, where you deal more damage and all your attacks are larger and steal enemy health
Witch Crest
The Witch Crest is very nicely hidden because it requires getting through Bilewater and completing two hidden Wishes that are related to it. You need to find the Twisted Bud, give it to Greyroot in Shellwood and complete the Rite of Rebirth Wish (which will afflict Hornet with a curse), and then find and clear the Infestation Operation Wish, which removes the curse from our red-cloaked friend.
The Witch Crest is very unique; it starts with two Red Tool Slots, and has three Blue Tool Slots waiting to be unlocked. There are now Yellow slots at all.
- Standard attack
- A wide slash forward
- Upward attack
- A wide upward arcing slash
- Dash attack
- Hornet will swipe her needle twice in front of her
- Downward attack
- A wide crescent slash at a very slight angle
- Bind
- Instead of healing, Hornet will produce vines from her body; if she's close to an enemy, she will damage them and drain their health
Architect Crest
The Architect Crest comes a fair bit later than the others, as it's only available in Act 2 onwards. To get it, you need to own 25 Tools before you can purchase it from the Twelfth Architect in the Underworks' Cauldron, accessible either from Whiteward or from the Whispering Vaults. Then, you'll need to make sure you have 110 Rosaries to spare.
The Crest itself starts with three Red Tool Slots, and you can unlock two Blue and two Yellow Slots. You cannot equip a Silk Skill with this Crest. The Crest's gimmick is that it uses Silk to repair Tools on the go.
- Standard attack
- Hornet thrusts her needle forward like a drill
- Upward attack
- A drill-stab upwards
- Dash attack
- Hornet charges forward with her drill held like a lance
- Downward attack
- Similar to the Hunter Crest; a diagonal dive, but this time with a drill
- Bind
- A basic heal
Shaman Crest
You can only get the Shaman Crest in Act 3 as it requires the Silk Soar Ancestral Art. When you return to the Ruined Chapel after getting the skill from The Abyss, use Silk Soar on the right side of the room to go deeper into the Chapel. Make your way through and eventually you'll need to bind a snail-shaped rock to get this Crest.
The Shaman Crest is incredibly unique — you can't equip any Tools on it, but it can take three Silk Skills to start with, and an additional two Silk Skill slots can be unlocked with Memory Slots.
- Standard attack
- A forward slash with a slight beam in front
- Upward attack
- An upwards arcing slash with a beam above
- Dash attack
- Hornet jumps backwards slightly and slashes forward, sending a small circular projectile in front and below her.
- Downward attack
- A slightly-angled slash down that also throwns a beam in the same direction
- Bind
- A basic heal, but Hornet stabs the ground
How to equip Crests
To equip a Crest, like with Tools and other equipment, you need to rest at a bench.
Once there, head to your equipment menu and then press the 'X' button, which will allow you to swap between the Crests you have.
How to Unlock Crest Slots
Upgrading Crests is how you unlock more slots for Tools.
To do this, you need a Memory Locket, which you can then use to open up an additional slot on your Crest. This will let you equip one extra Tool in one of three designated groups — Yellow, Red, or Blue.
We go more into Tools in our Tool Guide, but once you find a Crest you really like, you should use these rare items on them.