This secret item will neutralize Hollow Knight Silksong's most annoying enemy

There are some areas in videogames that you just know are going to be a bad time. Blighttown doesn't sound particularly inviting. The Path of Pain in Hollow Knight also comes to mind. I prefer this naming convention to hiding a devious platforming test, puzzle box, or insurmountable foe behind a normal-sounding name, like Water Temple, for instance. But as soon as I reached Bilewater in Hollow Knight Silksong, I knew I was in for a bad time. Thankfully, players have quickly found a way to make it slightly easier.

Less than a week after Hollow Knight Silksong launched, players have already beaten the game, speedrun it, and found a secret difficulty setting that nobody needed. Its devilish difficulty and localization issues may stop it from being heralded as one of the best Metroidvania games, but it's clear we've seen nowhere near all of the secrets it has to offer.

Bilewater is a particularly tricky area of the game, as its name suggests. It's filled with annoying Muckmaggots that cling onto you and drain your precious silk. However, there's a way around this.

Once you reach Act 2 and have unlocked the double jump in Silksong, head to the Memorium in the Citadel and find a sub-location called the Purified Ducts. Access these by heading east from the bench in the Memorium. When you can go no further, find the incredibly well-camoflaged hole in the roof on the right-hand side of the room, and jump through it.

Take the first passage to the right, and follow it all the way to the end. Once there, use your double jump and wall bouncing abilities to break another wall. Welcome to the Purified Ducts, they're horrible. Fight your way through this area until you find the Wreath of Purity.

The Wreath of Purity repels Muckmaggots, making your life a hell of a lot easier as you pass through Bilewater. What's more, this route can also unlock an alternative path into Bilewater, under the Whispering Vaults, which is a quicker route to Bilewater's Bellway station.

While it's hardly an easy mode, this Silksong tool can be equipped in your blue slots, making it a handy addition to your kit as you make your way through Bilewater (or backtrack through it again) on your path to glory.

Check out our Hollow Knight Silksong Bilewater guide if you're struggling with the maggot-infested area, and we've also got you covered if any of the Silksong bosses are giving you trouble.

Did you find the Purified Ducts without a guide? Let us know in our community Discord server, where readers and staff are trying to out-Silksong each other at any opportunity.