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If you’ve played Metroidvania games like Hollow Knight: Silksong, you might already know that while you can explore freely, certain areas are blocked until you have specific abilities. To reach new biomes and continue along the main story, you need to acquire these abilities at designated spots.
In this game, these new abilities that unlock access to previously inaccessible places are called Ancestral Arts. Unlike other skills, these don’t need to be equipped; once you unlock them, you can use them permanently wherever you need.
### How to Get and Use Swift Step
Your first Ancestral Art is unlocked after defeating two entire biomes and reaching the Deep Docks. You can find the Swift Step ability by visiting a statue in the upper part of the Deep Docks map. To get there, first go to the right, then take a path upward that leads back to a lava area on the left.
Swift Step lets you run quickly and perform a longer jump during your run. You can also use it midair to dash—though this dash causes you to descend slightly instead of moving straight forward.
### How to Get and Use Cling Grip
After beating Moorwing in the Greymoor biome, you’ll enter Haunted Bellhart and then Shellwood. While traversing Shellwood, you’ll face the Sister Splinter boss. After winning, exit to the left and move close to the statue that grants Cling Grip. To reach it, go slightly downward on the left, then use a downward strike on some flowers to climb back up.
Cling Grip allows you to cling to vertical walls, enabling you to climb and reach high places easily, making vertical navigation much smoother.
### How to Get and Use Needolin
Once you defeat the Trobbio boss in the Whispering Vaults and return to the Underworks, you’ll be able to access the Cauldron in the lava-filled area filled with enemies and disappearing platforms. After completing this challenging area, you will automatically unlock Needolin.
This ability allows you to perform music anywhere by consuming some of your Silk. You’ll need Needolin to access The Cradle after collecting the three melodies in the Citadel, and it also helps in opening some secret doors in areas like Moss Grotto, characterized by harp symbols and holes that indicate they can be opened with this power.
### How to Get and Use Clawline
The Clawline ability is essential in late-game gameplay. To unlock it, first defeat Trobbio, then return to the Underworks area. From there, navigate to the Cauldron—a lava-filled zone with enemies throwing bombs and disappearing platforms. Clearing this area unlocks Clawline.
Clawline allows you to throw your needle with a thread forward and then pull yourself toward it, covering large gaps instantly. You can also attach yourself to suspended rings commonly found in late-game areas, greatly aiding your traversal skills.
### How to Get and Use Faydown Cloak
Faydown Cloak is the double jump ability in Silksong, and though it’s not an ancestral art, it’s a vital permanent upgrade. Acquiring it makes late-game fights more manageable and lets you reach new areas. However, earning this ability requires a tough climb.
To obtain Faydown Cloak, enter Mount Fay through The Slab, then ascend to the top using precise parkour. Using Clawline on the floating lifeforms here helps you boost upward and recover Silk after each use, making the climb somewhat easier despite its difficult nature.
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