Unlocking the Mysteries of The Apostate Key in Hollow Knight Silksong
To step into the illustrious (and slightly squishy) realm of The Slab, Hornet is on a quest for a very elusive key—think of it as the ultimate game of hide-and-seek. This guide is here to unravel the chaos, offering directions and snippets of wisdom to successfully track down this prized possession.
Searching for keys in Hollow Knight Silksong can feel like a test of patience, testing not only dexterity but the ability to withstand immense frustration. Some players spend countless hours scouring the land, only to come up short—not everyone wears a cloak of invisibility, after all. The Apostate Key? It’s the poster child of tricky key hunts!
How to Snag the Elusive Apostate Key
First things first—the powers of the Grapple and Double Jump are critical. The Apostate Key resides in a fortress of despair charmingly known as the Putrid Conduits. Follow this helpful cheat sheet to break into the fortress:
- Unleash Chansoir, the First Sanctuary, which can be found up in the right corner of the Choir Alcoves, nestled cozily within the Citadel.
- Complete the various demands noted on the board of the First Sanctuary. Priority number uno? Track down the Roaming Merchant. She has some really overpriced items!
- Jubilana will be loitering in the lower-left room of the Citadel. After a quick chat, she’ll scamper off to the First Sanctuary to offer her wares at a price that would make a dragon blush. Time to farm some Pearls to empty her shop!
- After fulfilling the majority of the requests on that fancy board, the Roaming Merchant will go MIA, leaving you with a new task: The Lost Merchant. Solve this puzzle, and the access to the Putrid Conduits will be yours, if luck is on your side.
- This brave merchant will lead the way to the new zone. Make a beeline to the Mémorium, situated above the upper hallway of the Citadel. The Double Jump is essential to reach the entrance. Once inside, channel your inner bloodhound and sniff around for her offloaded items to reveal her scent trail. Use the map, and by all means, make sure to utilize the Bench!
- To keep track of Jubilana, leap into a hidden opening in the ceiling. The scent trail will guide the way. Clamber through the open window to step outside, only to find a swarm of overgrown moths trying to bite her head off—delightful! Brace for two waves of creepy crawlers.
- After a chat with the merchant, carry on to the right and snag an item at the cliff’s base. Miraculously, the path to the Putrid Conduits lurks just above. With finesse, unleash a dazzling combination of Grapple and Double Jump to crash through a destructible wall. Kaboom!
- At last, the Putrid Conduits! Head straight through to find a Bench and a fast-travel station. Yes, it’s all finally happening!
Discovering The Key in the Heart of the Putrid Conduits
Location scouting is essential! To nab the map of the area (yes, it’s still useful), descend into the vast vertical chamber. Take the second door on the left; the first one is an impassable barrier (thank you, game design!). Dodge the wriggly tentacles lurking around. Once at the deep left corner of the chamber, make a heroic leap! Tentacles will try to cling to Hornet, but fear not—this will assist in climbing past the spiky walls of the conduit. Smash the attack button like a caffeine-fueled squirrel when reaching the top to break free. The map resides to the right of the chamber.
After this lengthy exposition, here’s the exact scoop to retrieve The Apostate Key:
- Once at the base of the massive vertical well, obliterate the grate blocking access to the tunnel on the left.
- Proceed all the way left in the next chamber, and you’ll need to smash another grate to enter the hidden tunnel. Beware of the numerous enemies that seem to have a vendetta against the brave.
- Eventually, amidst the chaos, you will find the key lying on the ground, under the remains of a poor monster dangling from the ceiling. Good luck with that.
Where to Put That Apostate Key to Good Use
Now, if the Apostate Key has been located, but confusion ensues regarding where to wield it, fret not—here is the answer:
- Make your way to the Block, to the left of the Citadel.
- Venture down the tunnels, and soon the sight of a fortified door will welcome you, located in the room above the Bench and fast travel station of the area.
