How to Obtain Pale Oil in Hollow Knight: Silksong

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As you explore Hollow Knight: Silksong, you might find yourself wanting to upgrade your needle. While you can switch your gear, find new crests, and collect Mask Shards across Pharloom, most of the game doesn’t let you directly increase your attack strength for a long time.

That changes after you finish the quest “The Threadspun Town,” rescue Bellhart, and meet Pinmaster Plinney. As a reward, he’ll upgrade your needle once at no cost. However, if you want further upgrades, you’ll need to give him Pale Oil. Here are all the locations we’ve discovered for Pale Oil in Hollow Knight: Silksong.

Where to Find Pale Oil in Silksong

“Pinmaster’s Oil”

Soon after Plinney upgrades your needle for the first time, speak to him again. You’ll unlock the quest “Pinmaster’s Oil.” He’ll explain that each new upgrade requires Pale Oil and send you on a mission to find some.

Here’s what you need to do:

• Go to the map point shown above, adjusting platforms as needed.
• Hit the platform above you to lift it, then go left and pull the lever.
• Immediately move left onto the next screen and pick up the first Pale Oil.

Bring this Pale Oil back to Plinney, and you’ll complete his quest and get another weapon upgrade. You can also pick this up early if it’s easier before starting the quest.

“Great Taste of Pharloom”

This is another side quest to earn more Pale Oil. Head to the location marked on the map, which is in Choral Chambers. There, attack the glass case to wake Loyal Mergwin.

Talk to Mergwin, who will ask you to gather some tasty dishes from different parts of the map:

• Mossberry Stew (from Mosshome; speak to the Moss Druid)
• Vintage Nectar (from Halfway Home; in the basement, pay 480 Rosaries to Creieg)
• Courier’s Rasher (from Bellhart; complete “My Missing Brother” and “My Missing Courier” quests for Tipp)
• Crustnut (from Sands of Karak; check the second chamber from the top on the left side)
• Pickled Muckmaggot (from Sinners Road; defeat Disgraced Chef Lugoli east of the room with all the cages)

Bring these dishes back to Mergwin, and he’ll reward you with more Pale Oil. You can then return this to Plinney for another upgrade.

“Ecstasy of the End”

Only available in Act Three, this quest also gives you Pale Oil. First, find all the lost fleas in the game. Then, go to Bellhart’s quest board and accept the flea-related request.

Next, travel to Fleatopia and achieve high scores in all three flea mini-games. If you’ve met Seth already, you might run into him there. After the festival, you’ll break open a giant flea-shaped piñata filled with Rosaries and another stack of Pale Oil.

How to Use Pale Oil

Every time you acquire Pale Oil, you can take it back to Plinney to upgrade your needle. He’s usually found in Bellhart’s main area, near the Bellway fast travel point, during Acts One and Two, living in the building above Relic Seeker Scrounge.

In Act Three, Plinney will move to Shellwood to visit a loved one’s grave. To keep using his services, find him there and rescue him from enemies. He’s in a small side area beneath the Bellway station.

Upgrading your needle with Pale Oil boosts your base damage, making your weapon much stronger. The improvements are noticeable and essential for taking down endgame bosses more efficiently. Keep in mind, each upgrade will cost more than the last. Here’s a quick list:

With this guide, you’ll be able to gather Pale Oil and keep upgrading your needle as you progress through Hollow Knight: Silksong. While some quests are tied to your main story, following these steps will help you steadily improve your weapon and prepare for the toughest battles ahead.

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