Hollow Knight Silksong Lace guide

How do you beat Lace in Silksong? Boss fights are a core part of Hollow Knight Silksong. Locked behind them are new areas, skills, collectibles, and, usually, your only path to success.

Some Silksong bosses are optional, but the lovely Lace isn't, and you won't get far in the metroidvania game if you can't defeat her. Unfortunately, her battle takes place on a platform suspended over lava, so there's considerable risk involved. If you're struggling, here's how best to defeat Lace in Silksong, as well as how to find her if you're not even there yet.

Where to find Lace

You need to unlock Dash before you can challenge Lace, as it's required to open the gate to her location.

Located in the middle of the Deep Docks, Lace's singing can be heard before you can reach her. Head right from the entrance to the Deep Docks, then further right via the lowest path. Keep going right once you hear her singing, and you are greeted with a locked gate, which can only able to be opened from above.

With the Swift Step skill acquired, you can reach the platform above, unlock the gate, and reach Lace.

How to defeat Lace in Silksong

As with all Silksong bosses, the most important thing to do with Lace is learn how her movements look so you know what's coming. You should also keep your distance from the boss, and wait for her to come to you before attacking. 

Lace has three main moves: a horizontal dash, a diagonal dash, and a swing. There is then a fourth, more powerful attack that deals two damage. Fortunately, each attack can be differentiated in the moments before it.

When Lace jumps into the air, dash underneath her. If she holds her blade out in front of her, just stay back, as her horizontal dash is short. However, if you're near the end of the platform, you should jump over her. The swing is even shorter, so it's also easy to avoid. You can get at least one hit in after any of these attacks.

Lace's fourth move is slightly harder to evade, but she'll only use it if you're close, so, again, try to keep your distance and jump dash when you see it coming.

Once you've dealt enough damage, Lace will be temporarily stunned before starting the next phase of the battle. Now she has another move, but this is obvious from a glowing sphere. This indicates the area Lace is about to teleport to, so just dash away from the vicinity of the circle and wait it out.

Ultimately, the best way to defeat Lace is to jump dash over her and attack when she pauses after each move. Once you've learned what each attack looks like, it's easier to avoid them. Finally, heal at the far end of the platform from Lace if and when you need to, and try to avoid dashing off the platform, as you'll take severe damage from the surrounding lava.

Defeating the fencing pro Lace in Silksong is like a dance, and it's actually rather fun once you get the hang of it. When you're done and on your way to further parts of the Silksong map, you might want to start farming rosaries to spend with merchants.