Finding the Skull Tyrant in Hollow Knight: Silksong
A little wish from the village board in the Bone Pit comes with a cheeky request: go and defeat an optional boss, the Skull Tyrant. But hold onto your horned helmets! This article reveals the cryptic location on the map, a video showcasing the fight, and a written guide filled with tricks and tips to help stomp that bony bully into dust, or at least give it a good scare.
As if the vast world of Hollow Knight: Silksong wasn’t already a labyrinthine mess of joy and confusion, new wishes will have players revisiting past areas. One of these pesky quests? Finding the Skull Tyrant. Spoiler alert: it’s not exactly the easiest treasure to unearth. Brace for some backtracking and wall-climbing shenanigans!
For the Tyrant, a Fateful Wish
Upon unlocking the ancient art of Wall Jump (otherwise known as *that thing you’ll wish you learned earlier*), the village’s Bone Pit wishes board will get a fresh update with a new quest: taking down the fearsome Skull Tyrant. And what does one earn for this monumental task? A shiny bead necklace—so, not only does one become a master bug-slayer, but also a fashion icon!
Where the Skull Tyrant Hides
Now, the request won’t come with a map, or even a vague notion of “over there.” Time to dig deeper! The Skull Tyrant can be found lurking in the cavernous Antre. To reach this twisted lair, cross the treacherous lava bridge. It’s more thrilling than a roller coaster journey, but with less safety harnesses. Once on the other side, utilize that handy Wall Jump to ascend high enough to find the Tyrant waiting in the top right corner, like a bad smell that just won’t go away. Here’s a general route to take:
Pro tip: remember to unlock the shortcut to the left in the area. This little gem will make backtracking after an unfortunate demise a lot less painful. Trust in the power of shortcuts; they’re like magic spells for lazy adventurers.
Conquering the Skull Tyrant
- Like most bosses, the Skull Tyrant has a collection of straightforward yet terrifying moves. Most notably, this delightful creature will dash from one side of the screen to the other, and it can do this 3 to 4 times in a row. It’s fast, and oh-so-mean. Keeping a safe distance is crucial, except when safe opportunities arise. Avoid that rush by jumping and using an aerial Dash in the opposite direction. Timing is everything; with a little luck, a mid-air attack can land. Oh, and let’s not forget to utilize any tools, including that sassy Silk Lance to deal additional damage.
- The Tyrant’s other trick is a charming leap forward aimed squarely at crushing anything in its path. What makes this maneuver a hoot is that it could catch anyone off guard, especially if it relies on your instinct to jump as well. Depending on how close one is to the Tyrant, dash towards it to slip underneath, then attack a few times while feeling like a champion.
- Now, when the Skull Tyrant roars, it’s showtime! It will jump three times in place, releasing rocks from above like an overly zealous geology teacher. Dodging projectiles is crucial, but this is your golden opportunity to go for the jugular! Take advantage of the roar or the jump to stay close and let those hits fly; the falling rocks usually have a talent for missing the baddie.
A Village in Flames
Warning before handing in that horn to complete the wish! Make sure that the rest of the village wishes are done and dusted. A second Skull Tyrant will make a dramatic entrance and proceed to wreak havoc if that village bench is used. Yes, that’s right—another round of violent bone-breaking awaits. Reload the area to bring back the builder and the merchant. Unfortunately, the quest board will need some time for repairs, as it’s now a pile of splinters. Be prepared to wait for your bench buddies to return to their rightful spots!
