The Slab in Hollow Knight: Silksong – How to Enter the Block and Escape Without Losing Your Mind

The Slab is quite possibly the weirdest, moodiest part of Hollow Knight: Silksong. Imagine it as a frosty prison where Hornet finds herself in a bit of a pickle—kidnapped, stripped of her weapons, and left feeling rather underdressed. Fear not! This guide will shed some light on how to breach this icy fortress and make a graceful exit.

How to Break Into The Slab

Accessing this hidden gem isn’t just a walk through the park; it’s more of a gauntlet run while juggling flaming swords. First, make a beeline through the flea caravan quest until reaching that shadowy area known as Duskvale. After successfully relocating the caravan and defeating Ailebrume—a battle that makes a trip to the dentist seem like a day out—new enemies will appear. Yes, those oversized, armored flies carrying cages are here to make life extra delightful.

The secret? Allow one of these charming flies to scoop up Hornet in the top right corner of the Deep Docks—right near the entrances to the Hunter’s Path and the Far Lands. Resistance is futile! Once nabbed, the screen will dim, and voilà! Welcome to the Block’s cozy prison culture.

Heads up! If those pesky cageflies meet an untimely demise at your hands, they won’t be coming back. And that, my friend, means searching for the Apostate Key just to gain access through another entrance. Joy!

Surviving Without Gear: The Daring Walkthrough of Prison Life

Upon entering this lovely, chilly prison, you’ll quickly discover that Hornet has been left without her beloved needle and cape. At this point, it’s all about running, jumping, and playing wall tag because every encounter turns into a nail-biter. The first task? A thrilling descent into the abyss to find the Indolence Key dangling from a chain like a prize at the bottom of a cereal box. This key opens the first door, leading deeper into the icy depths.

Along the way, don’t forget to say hi to Grindle, a recurring NPC, who mainly serves as a friendly neighborhood bookmark. Close by is a bench—your sacred resting ground. Right now, there are only two real dangers breathing down your neck: the bone-chilling cold outside, which’ll sap your health if you dawdle away from warmth, and the cunning traps lining the floors and walls, which can be cleverly used to take care of pesky enemies.

How to Actually Get out of The Slab (Not Just Stretch Your Legs)

Once the Indolence Key is in hand, things take an interesting turn as the path leads to a showdown against a gaggle of enemies guarding Hornet’s precious cape and needle. Reclaiming these allows for a welcome return to the full repertoire of majestic moves, aside from the tools that now require visiting a bench to re-equip. Sounds fun, doesn’t it?

Victory in this skirmish nets the elusive Heretic Key, unlocking a new section of the Block—because who doesn’t want to explore more icy hallways? This also opens up opportunities to rescue a lost flea and snag a coil fragment and several charm beads. Who doesn’t love a good collectible?

To fully explore this chilly paradise, venture forth to find the Apostate Key, located in the Bilewater zone. This part won’t be a walk in the park; the grappling hook and double jump are essential to make it through. In other words, this one is meant for players who have leveled up a bit, not someone still working on their “How to Get Kidnapped” skills.

The Great Escape (With Steps!)

The final escape is no leisurely stroll through the park, but it’s manageable if one follows these essential steps:

• Return to the heart of the Block: After collecting all three keys, unlock those pesky doors to unveil shortcuts and access previously unreachable areas.
• Venture into the lower caverns: Here lie some charm beads, a weaver effigy, and a chained penitent who’s just itching for a boss fight.
• Unlock the Apostate door: This beauty leads directly to the exit from The Slab, promising freedom!
• Find your way to the Bellway: At the bottom of this icy funhouse, a station waits to whisk you away and sell your ticket to freedom for a mere 50 charm beads.

Secrets and Treasures to Brighten Your Day

• Use that double jump in the room located in The Block’s sewers (where dodging swarms of flies with traps is an art form) to uncover a secret boss, Original Sin.

• From the Bellway room, head upward and then left (don’t forget to snag some shells from a fly), up to a frosty terrace. Cling to the adjacent wall, climb up, and, lo and behold, a coil fragment lurks, cunningly concealed on a ledge to the left.

• In a secret passage at the top right of the Bellway room, there’s a Medallion of Remembrance. Make sure to have the Apostate key and double jump capabilities to snag it.
• In the cavernous hall at the top right of The Slab, you can find a Mask Fragment. Just remember, this one plays hard to get—it only becomes available once the grappling hook and double jump come into play.