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Hollow Knight: Silksong is full of secrets to find, with many hidden passages and tucked-away items. Because of this, some bosses in the game have special ways to skip them. It’s normal that some extra bosses can be totally avoided, but even some key enemies that block progress, like The Last Judge, can be bypassed with a few simple steps.
Since fighting The Last Judge can be tough, especially with its long runback, taking an alternate route can save you time and help you avoid losing progress in your Steel Soul run. This new path might have its own challenges and tough enemies, but it’s usually easier to survive than dealing with the Citadel’s guard.
### How to Access the Citadels’ Secret Passage in Silksong
First, go to Sinners Road just above Greymoor. Proceed past the caged animals and climb the large chasm until you reach the upper floor. Then, head to the far left and use the Cling Grip to climb the leftmost wall just past an aggressive Roachkeeper. This will lead you into The Mist.
> Tip: It’s a good idea to unlock the secret bench in Sinners Road before passing through The Mist. You can find the passageway in the top left corner above the broken bench near where Shakra rests.
The Mist plays like a maze without a set layout, looping back to the start if you go the wrong way. To find the right path, play Hornet’s Needolin near groups of butterflies. The butterflies will fly toward the correct exit, guiding you.
Be careful with environmental hazards and difficult enemies, like Wraiths with two masks of damage. Avoiding them is best, but using ranged attacks or vertical strikes can help fend them off.
After following the butterfly trail a few times—each time facing more Wraiths—you’ll make it past The Mist into the Exhaust Organ, a separate area within Bilewater’s map.
### How to Beat Phantom in the Exhaust Organ
Once there, head up the main shaft, then move right past narrow spikes and steam vents. Eventually, you’ll reach the boss Phantom, who stands in your way of reaching the Citadel.
While Phantom isn’t as tough as The Last Judge, this route is easier because the runback is much shorter and less prone to mistakes than going through the Blasted Steps. Still, Phantom has some tricky moves.
Like Lace, Phantom often counters with parries just before or after she slashes. This is a good chance to hit her when she drops her guard. Besides her dashes and vertical strikes, she also unleashes large lightfalls that can deal two masks of damage if they hit you.
> Tip: Since Phantom’s attacks are pretty predictable, taking your time to chip away at her health is safer than rushing to defeat her quickly.
After enough damage and parrying her final attack, press the Silk Skill button to finish her off. Doing so grants you the powerful Cross Stitch ability and unlocks a nearby Ventrica station that leads into the Citadel. Even if you’ve already defeated The Last Judge and entered the Citadel, fighting Phantom remains a good option, especially for its easier runback.
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