Hollow Knight: Silksong – Shakra’s ‘Trail’s End’ Quest & Boss Battle

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In the game Hollow Knight: Silksong, the world of Pharloom is full of hidden levels and encounters, but some of the best are easy to overlook. There’s been a lot of talk about what exactly starts certain quests in Silksong because each playthrough can vary a lot. One of the most confusing quests is Shakra’s “Trail’s End.”

This quest acts like a traditional NPC search, kind of like the courier brothers or the Songclave merchant. It involves finding both Shakra and the master she’s been looking for throughout the story. However, there are several requirements you need to meet before you can even begin the quest, especially if you want to face Shakra in her secret boss fight.

All Requirements to Activate Shakra’s Quest

One of the first steps is to purchase all the maps she sells during her journey in Pharloom. If you miss her resting spot at a certain level, you can buy the maps later.

Note: You only need maps she personally sells. Maps that are found freely or obtained from Rosary machines aren’t necessary.

Here’s a list of the maps she sells and their costs:

Beyond collecting maps, the biggest confusion concerns how many parts of the Threefold Melody you need or if defeating Groal the Great in Bilewater is necessary. From personal experience, the quest appeared only after defeating Groal once I had most of the Melody pieces in Hornet’s inventory.

If your quest hasn’t triggered yet, even with some Melody pieces, defeating Groal may help activate it.

Moving Forward

Once you’ve met these conditions, visit the Wishboard at Bellhart to accept the quest. You’ll also need the Faydown Cloak and Cling Grip Ancestral Arts to reach the area where the “Trail’s End” quest unfolds—likely already unlocked by your progress in the story.

How to Complete Shakra’s “Trail’s End”

To start, go to the marked spot just outside the Bell Beast station in Bilewater. Here, you’ll follow Shakra’s trail. Be prepared: the area is filled with dangerous enemies and pools full of Muckmaggots. It’s a good idea to use defensive items like the Wreath of Purity or consider bypassing some hazards by arriving through Groal’s secret passage from the Putrified Ducts.

After narrowly avoiding threats and environmental hazards, you’ll reach a hidden spot beneath the Pale Lake waterfalls. There, you have a brief encounter with Shakra and play a mournful tune to mark her bittersweet farewell. Completing this part unlocks an achievement and earns you a new offensive tool.

Defeating Shakra’s Boss Fight

Following the encounter with Shakra, head back to Bellhart and go east to Greymoor. You’ll find a wooden stake with a familiar ring, and when you strike it, Shakra appears and challenges Hornet to a duel—a fight that’s intense, fast-paced, and one of the toughest in the game.

This fight is unique because there’s no second phase. Focus on dodging her rapid attacks, which can often be parried or avoided with a quick jump or dash. Tools like the Warding Bell, Multibinder, and Injector Band are very useful here. The Magnetite Dice can also help avoid damage during the fight.

Fighting Tips

Shakra’s moveset is straightforward but requires quick reflexes. Her ranged attacks can be dodged with jumps or dashes, and her side dash plus throw move provides opportunities for pogo attacks and dash hits. Her final move, a ground pound causing area damage, is avoidable with a dash and leaves her open for more attacks.

Since this isn’t a traditional boss fight, losing doesn’t mean you have to restart from a bench or lose progress. You can retry as often as needed. Defeating her is mainly about testing your skills, with no significant rewards aside from a good addition to your hunting log.

Overall, the “Trail’s End” quest is a fun challenge to test your reflexes and understanding of enemy patterns, making it a memorable highlight in Silksong.

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