How to get to Putrified Ducts in Hollow Knight Silksong

How do you get to Putrified Ducts in Silksong? With a name like 'Putrified Ducts,' it's unsurprising you may have initially been reticent to explore it. But now you're here, and that's a good thing for a couple of big reasons.

A fairly unassuming region stashed away in the top right corner of the Silksong map, Putrified Ducts is, technically, an optional area. However, it hosts some of the best Silksong tools you can get your mitts on, especially if you've yet to take on Bilewater's misery-inducing swampscape. It's one of Hollow Knight Silksong's most unforgiving locales, but we recommend taking a trip there as soon as you can hack it. Here's how to get to Putrified Ducts in Silksong.

There are two routes you can take to get to Putrified Ducts: heading up through Bilewater or east from Memorium.

While heading through Bilewater is, technically, the earliest method of reaching the region, we'd recommend waiting until you've made it to Memorium in Act 2 and going from there. This is firstly because Putrified Ducts is where you'll find the Wreath of Purity, which neutralizes the maggots in Bilewater. It's also because you can get the Silksong double jump and Clawline by this point, making getting through the ducts significantly easier.

Bilewater

To reach the Putrified Ducts via Bilewater, you'll have to take a long route all the way from either Sinner's Road or the Bellway if you already have it unlocked, up through the region. Bilewater's rightmost bench is a godsend and is unlocked by breaking a hidden wall en route. Whatever you do, don't go anywhere near the 'bench' we've crossed out on the left - it's a fake.

You'll also have to defeat the region's Silksong boss, Groal (not the guy from Foo Fighters), which is an ordeal in itself, especially if you don't have the Wreath of Purity. Once the boss is dead, you'll be able to unlock the path up into Putrified Ducts. We cannot advise heavily enough against taking this path, unless you're a glutton for punishment or a Silksong god.

Memorium

The second recommended route to Putrified Ducts has a couple of prerequisites: the Clawline and the Faydown Cloak. These can be acquired sequentially during Act 2 and will allow you to access the hidden paths (marked with stars) that will lead you leisurely into Putrified Ducts.

From the bench, simply head to the area's rightmost room. From there, double jump up into the hidden passage in the ceiling, then out into the open. Run across the rooftop until you reach a dead end. Double jump up (it's quite finicky; take your time) to the breakable wall. Open up the path and continue onwards into the Putrified Ducts. As soon as you get out into the main vertical chamber, you'll see the Bellway signposted.

Alongside the Wreath of Purity, you'll also find the Apostate Key needed for The Slab, as well as the forever home for the Silksong fleas, the Pale Lake. After casing the joint and collecting enough fleas, you'll be able to move the caravan to what will become Fleatopia. During Silksong Act 3, you'll be able to retrieve the last Pale Oil you need to upgrade Hornet's needle to its final form from Fleatopia.

And that's how to get to the Putrified Ducts in Hollow Knight Silksong. If you find yourself lacking in the finance department, check out our best Silksong Rosary farm locations guide, or, you know, just whack on one of the best Silksong mods and generate some passive income.