In Hollow Knight: Silksong, enhancing your Needle proves critical for survival, with each upgrade dramatically altering combat dynamics.

The first two improvements become accessible in Acts 1 and 2: besting Bellhart’s Widow initially, followed by securing Pale Oil within the Whispering Vaults’ depths.

This walkthrough details the essential steps for acquiring these pivotal enhancements.

Securing the First Enhancement (Victory Against Widow)

Four movement abilities must be unlocked beforehand: Silkspear, Swift Step, Drifter’s Cloak, and Cling Grip. These tools collectively permit access to Widow’s aerial domain above Bellhart.

Triumphing over Widow breaks the curse plaguing Bellhart’s residents, reviving their capacity to assist travelers.

Locate Pinmaster Plinney near Bellhart’s summit post-combat. Liberated from the curse, he’ll enhance your Needle once without cost.

Requirements for the Secondary Upgrade

The second refinement necessitates Pale Oil, exclusive to Act 2. Prioritize obtaining all region-specific mobility tools to facilitate navigation.

Navigating to Pale Oil (Songclave to Whispering Vaults)

From Songclave’s First Shrine Ventrica waypoint, journey westward to confront the Cogwork Dancers. While mandatory, this battle remains less arduous than subsequent foes.

Upon victory, engage the chamber’s control panel and descend to discover a rest area and Cogwork Core’s cartographic data.

Progress east past mechanical adversaries, unlocking a gate to traverse rotating mechanisms. This pathway culminates in Whispering Vaults’ entrance.

Eliminate hostile clusters, then strike the northeastern dropdown ladder to unveil map access and a rapid return route to Songclave’s rest point.

Obtaining Pale Oil

From Songclave’s shortcut, descend through layered chambers to the Vaults’ base. Solve the crate puzzle by strategically striking eastern and western containers, ascending gradually to reveal hidden paths.

Persist through the sequence to access a secluded chamber where Pale Oil resides alongside a shortcut to Grand Bellway Station.

Applying the Pale Oil Enhancement

Deliver the oil to Plinney via Grand Bellway. Initial contributions reward a no-cost secondary Needle upgrade, amplifying combat capabilities significantly.