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The first boss in Hollow Knight: Silksong presents a tough challenge, especially for players familiar with the older game’s combat system. You’ll need to forget what you knew about bonuses and abilities from before and learn the new rules from the ground up. Hornet’s quick movement and agility are key — you’ll need to read her attack patterns carefully to turn her from a boss into prey. Once you defeat this mossy foe, the entire first act becomes accessible, unlocking a web of secrets built over six years of anticipation.
How to Defeat the Moss Mother
| Attack | Wind-Up Tells and Attack Description | Suggested Counters |
|---|---|---|
| Stinger Dash | Moss Mother hovers at the edge of the arena, makes a small circle mid-flight, then charges her stinger forward across the arena. | Jump over her and pogo off her head with an attack. |
| Ceiling Slam | She flies up into the ceiling, then slams down, causing three rocks to fall, indicated by dust. | Move out of the falling rocks’ path and wait for an opening. |
| Moss Rain | Similar to the ceiling slam, but fewer rocks fall, and small moss enemies drop from the ceiling, entering combat. | Avoid the bugs, and once they hit the ground, defeat them before refocusing on Moss Mother. |
Moss Mother’s fight is meant to teach the basics of combat in Silksong. Players accustomed to tricks like Shadow Dash and Moth Wings might struggle to break old habits. Before engaging her, review the move list above and use the nearby bench to save your progress.
When you step into the arena, Moss Mother will mainly use her Stinger Dash. Stun her at least once, and you’ll notice the other two moves happening more frequently. Maintain a steady pace to avoid getting overwhelmed.
Tip: The best time to heal is right after stunning her. Avoid healing when she’s active or when moss minions are present, to prevent distractions during boss damage.
If trouble arises, keep these tips in mind:
- Don’t attack the moss minions aggressively; stay alert for Stinger Dashes.
- Avoid standing directly beneath Moss Mother.
- Stay in the corner opposite her to minimize risk.
- Attack downward while jumping to damage her efficiently.
- Never attack downward on the minions — you might pogo into Moss Mother herself.
- Fully heal when she’s staggered and attack her aggressively while she’s stunned.
Once you defeat Moss Mother, a chain unlocks that allows you to ascend out of the tutorial area and head to Bone Bottom, progressing further in the game.
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