Hollow Knight Silksong Putrified Ducts – A Love-Hate Journey Through the Sewer

If there’s one place in Silksong I’ve learned to simultaneously adore and despise, it’s the Putrified Ducts. I mean, just look at this place — it’s the kind of sewer that makes you want to move back to the cozy Moss Grotto and knit sweaters forever. But trust me, you do not want to skip it. Hidden behind layers of bile, dangling tentacles, and the most annoying enemies Team Cherry could dream up, this small area packs some of the best upgrades in the game. We’re talking Pale Oils, secret bosses, a flea carnival, and even a Mister Mushroom cameo. Oh, and frustration. Loads of it.

So grab your strongest brew (in-game or real life) and let me walk you through everything the Putrified Ducts have to offer. I’ve already suffered so you don’t have to — well, you will suffer, but at least you’ll know where to go.

How I Stumbled Into This Nightmare (Two Ways)

You’ve got two main entrances to the Ducts, and neither one is a walk in the park.

From Bilewater: If you’re the type who enjoys fighting a bloated bug named Groal the Great while dodging bile geysers, this route’s for you. Honestly, the boss itself isn’t the worst — it’s the runback that tests your sanity. After taking Groal down, you’ll pop out in the southern half of the Ducts, right on the doorstep of a certain hungry huntress. Here’s what that exit looks like, in case you need a visual after all that trauma.

From Memorium: This hidden gem is how you access the whole area. I’d wager most players miss it unless they’ve rescued Jubilana in the Lost Merchant quest. After dealing with the Drapelord, head east, climb a wall, and bash through a suspicious crack. Then prepare to wade through a massive sewer with broken bridges, while Barnaks and Ductsuckers play tag with your health bar. And those Spit Squits? Don’t even get me started. They’re the bane of my existence, chirping away while I’m tangled in moss. Eventually you’ll reach a tall vertical room — the top-right holds a Bellway Station, and the middle-left has the map, but to reach it you have to let a Barnak grab you. Trust the process.

The Huntress and Her Meat Cravings

If you entered via Bilewater, you’ll spot a large hut sitting in the muck. Inside is the Huntress, a lady who really knows what she wants: Seared Organs, Shredded Organs, and Skewered Organs. Don’t ask what they are. Just kill enemies with specific tools to get them. The easiest combo I found? Seared Organs from the Flintslate, Shredded from the Cogwork Wheel, and Skewered from Sting Shards. Deliver the goods and she’ll hand over the Longclaw tool — a beautiful addition if you’re using the Crest of the Wanderer. Seriously, it’s like they were made for each other.

The Key That Wasn’t in The Slab

Above the Huntress’s place, I found the Key of the Apostate just sitting there in a tunnel, mocking me. All those hours I spent scouring The Slab for it — wasted. Don’t be like me. This key opens the door to a secret boss, the First Sinner, who drops the Rune Rage Silk Skill. Plus, you can snag a Mask Shard from a door near the top of the main vertical room. Win-win.

Fleatopia: Where the Real Party Starts

Now for the true soul of the Ducts — Fleatopia. Hidden high above the main chamber, you reach it by crossing a massive horizontal room southeast of the Bellway Station, then letting Barnaks fling you upward in a tricky platforming sequence. I’m not gonna lie, I missed this on my first playthrough entirely. But once you find it, oh boy.

Vog the Flea

At the top sits Vog, a tiny flea with a big business plan. He’ll sell you the location of every single flea in Pharloom. It’s pricey, but essential if you want to trigger the Flea Games later. Don’t skimp here.

The Flea Games & Pale Oil

Once you’ve collected at least 20 fleas (out of 30) and visited Pale Lake, you can relocate them all there. And when the party starts, you get to compete in three minigames. Beat the high scores and you’ll claim a Pale Oil, the final upgrade for your Needle. Here’s the breakdown:

Once you nail all three, you’ll be showered with rosaries and that precious Pale Oil. Totally worth the frustration. (Pro tip: Flea Bounce is the one that’ll make you want to throw your controller. I know from experience.)

Passing of the Age: Mister Mushroom Returns

After you’ve got the Silk Soar ability, head back to Fleatopia and go right across the water. You’ll find a rocky outcrop with a beam of light. Soar up and you’ll enter a mushroomy paradise that smells of the Fungal Wastes. Interacting with the tablet here starts the Passing of the Age Wish — essentially the Mister Mushroom hunt from the original Hollow Knight, but cranked to eleven. Track him down across multiple locations, and after his final farewell, complete the game one more time. You’ll unlock a secret cutscene and a shiny achievement for your troubles. (If you’re stuck, do check a guide — some of his hiding spots are diabolical.)

Hidden Treasures You Might’ve Zoomed Past

After the major stuff, a few collectibles are easy to overlook. Here’s what I almost missed (and bet you might too):

Craftmetal

Near Pale Lake, go as far right as possible. You’ll find a tiny room with a piece of Craftmetal sitting at the end. Simple, but easily forgotten when you’re distracted by fleas.

Guardian’s Memento (Seth’s Challenge)

First, beat the wandering warrior Seth just before the Nyleth fight (west of the Grand Gate broken elevator). Then, find him in Greymoor, Shellwood, and Grand Gate. After that, the guy settles in Fleatopia and sets his own highscores in the Flea Games. Yes, you read that right. He’s got 55 in Juggle, 95 in Dodge, and 68 in Bounce. Beating his scores is no joke — especially Bounce. But do it, talk to him, and you’ll receive the Guardian’s Memento. Place it back at your house in Bellhart as a trophy.

Wreath of Purity

In the room where the Barnak pulled you up to reach Vog, go east instead. You’ll find a broken-down building and the Wreath of Purity. This beauty lets you cleanse those annoying silk–draining maggots once per bench visit. A real sanity saver.

Rosary Room

After snagging the wreath, dash all the way left and jump into a small gap in the western wall. You’ll find a hidden room with three rosary rocks — a quick 80 rosaries in your pocket. Smash the door to loop back to the main vertical chamber, just below the Bellway.

By the time you finish all this, you’ll be ready to wash your hands of the Putrified Ducts forever — except for the Hunter’s Journal entries those pesky enemies demand. Honestly, I’m not sure what’s worse: the smell or the Barnaks. But hey, after you’ve secured your Pale Oil, Longclaw, and a final cutscene straight out of a fever dream, you’ll realize the trip was worth every drop of bile. Just don’t ask me to go back there anytime soon.

Exploring every nook and cranny of an area like the Putrified Ducts is half the fun — but let’s be honest, it also costs a lot of time, patience, and a few dozen bench visits. When you finally emerge from the grime with your hard-earned loot, the urge to dive into another equally dense adventure is real. Whether you’re picking up a physical copy of this game for a friend or hunting down a similar metroidvania to scratch that same itch, there’s no reason to pay full price if you don’t have to. Before you commit to your next purchase, make it a habit to compare prices here and see how much you can save on your gaming budget.

At the end of the day, every rosary, relic, and memento you collect feels twice as rewarding when you know you didn’t overspend to get there. So go ahead — dust off your map, finish those Hunter’s Journal entries, and when you’re ready for the next expedition, let DealNest help you stretch your coin pouch a little further.