‘Garb of the Pilgrims’ quest walkthrough in Hollow Knight: Silksong

TL;DR

  • Unlock the quest board in Bone Bottom after defeating Bell Beast or resting at specific bench
  • Farm 12 Pilgrim Shawls from sentient Pilgrim enemies in The Marrow area near Bell Beast
  • Use the bench west of Bell Beast for efficient enemy respawning and quick farming cycles
  • Complete the quest for substantial rosary rewards that boost early-game progression
  • Avoid common mistakes like farming wrong enemy types or missing fast travel unlocks

Understanding the strategic value of the Garb of the Pilgrims quest in Hollow Knight: Silksong provides crucial early-game advantages for players seeking to optimize their progression. This particular mission serves as an excellent introductory farming opportunity that delivers substantial rosary rewards when completed efficiently.

The core objective revolves around gathering 12 Pilgrim Shawls from specific enemy types scattered throughout Pharloom. These collectibles transform standard combat encounters into targeted farming sessions with measurable progression. Unlike random item drops, the shawls provide guaranteed returns on your combat efforts once the quest becomes active.

Strategic completion of this quest early in your playthrough establishes a strong foundation for character development. The rosaries obtained enable crucial upgrades and purchases that significantly impact your combat effectiveness and exploration capabilities in subsequent areas.

A player standing next to Flicker, the bug working on the quest board in Bone Bottom in Hollow Knight: Silksong.

The quest initiation point resides at the quest board in Bone Bottom, which becomes accessible after Flick the Fixer completes its construction. This location serves as your primary hub for various missions throughout the game, making familiarity with its mechanics essential for efficient quest management.

‘Garb of the Pilgrims’ quest location in Hollow Knight: SilksongThe starting point for the Garb of the Pilgrims quest in Hollow Knight: Silksong.

Board activation typically occurs after defeating the Bell Beast boss in The Marrow, though alternative methods exist. Some players report successfully unlocking the quest board earlier by utilizing the resting bench southwest of the Bell Beast, positioned west of your initial encounter with Shakra. To reach this bench efficiently, travel westward from the Bell Beast arena, descend after passing the Pilgrim enemies, then proceed directly right in the subsequent chamber.

The resting bench near the Bell Beast and Shakra's first location in Hollow Knight: Silksong.
Graphic: Marloes Valentina Stella/Polygon Image: Team Cherry via Polygon

While early activation remains possible, defeating the Bell Beast first provides significant quality-of-life improvements through fast travel system unlocks. This transportation network dramatically reduces backtracking time between the quest board and optimal farming locations, making your shawl collection efforts substantially more efficient.

Successfully completing the Garb of the Pilgrims mission requires precise identification of the correct enemy types. Pilgrims represent the more intelligent, slightly larger adversaries that typically drop rosaries upon defeat. These include distinctive variants such as the poison-emitting snail creature, the leaping insect that attempts close-quarters embraces, and the acrobatic rolling beetle enemy.

Once you’ve activated the quest, these specific enemies begin dropping Pilgrim Shawls consistently alongside their standard loot. This guaranteed drop mechanic transforms random encounters into predictable farming opportunities with clear progression tracking toward your 12-shawl objective.

Pilgrims dropping Pilgrim Shawls during the Garb of the Pilgrims quest in Hollow Knight: Silksong.
Image: Team Cherry via Polygon

The most efficient farming route concentrates on The Marrow area near the Bell Beast’s boss chamber. Specifically target the western sectors accessible from the resting bench location mentioned previously. This strategic positioning allows for rapid enemy respawning through bench resting, creating optimized farming cycles that minimize downtime between combat engagements.

Navigation to this prime farming location utilizes either the fast travel system from Bone Bottom or direct traversal through The Marrow’s eastern entrance. If choosing the walking route, enter The Marrow from the east, ascend through the chamber featuring vanishing platforms, then exit through the upper left passage. Continue westward beyond Shakra’s initial position and the resting bench, then eliminate the Pilgrims inhabiting the left-side chamber.

Maximizing efficiency during your Pilgrim Shawl collection requires understanding several advanced combat and navigation techniques. Prioritize engaging Pilgrim enemies in specific attack sequences based on their variant types. Against the poison-spewing snails, maintain distance and attack during their recovery animations. For the hugging insects, utilize well-timed dodges followed by counterattacks. Against rolling beetles, anticipate their movement patterns and strike during their brief stationary moments.

Time optimization represents another crucial factor for efficient completion. Experienced players typically complete the full 12-shawl collection in approximately 15-25 minutes using optimized routes and combat strategies. This timeframe assumes familiarity with enemy patterns and efficient use of the respawn mechanics through strategic bench resting.

Several common mistakes can significantly延长 your farming time. Avoid wasting effort on incorrect enemy types – ensure you’re targeting the specific Pilgrim variants described previously. Another frequent error involves neglecting to activate the fast travel system before beginning serious farming, resulting in excessive backtracking time. Additionally, some players mistakenly believe they need to collect shawls from different Pilgrim types, when in reality any combination of the correct enemies will suffice.

For players seeking to optimize their early-game progression, understanding how this quest integrates with broader character development strategies is essential. The rosary rewards from this mission can fund crucial upgrades that enhance your combat effectiveness in subsequent challenges.

Upon successfully gathering all 12 Pilgrim Shawls, return to the quest board in Bone Bottom to formally complete the Garb of the Pilgrims mission. The submission process automatically triggers reward distribution, providing immediate access to your hard-earned rosaries without additional steps or dialogue sequences.

The substantial rosary reward from this quest provides significant early-game economic advantages. These resources enable purchases of crucial upgrades, tools, and consumables that dramatically impact your progression speed and combat effectiveness. Unlike some early missions with minimal rewards, the Garb of the Pilgrims delivers tangible power spikes that smooth difficulty curves in subsequent areas.

Post-completion benefits extend beyond immediate resource gains. Successfully finishing this quest establishes efficient farming habits and combat patterns that apply to later missions with similar collection mechanics. The knowledge gained about enemy behavior, respawn cycles, and route optimization translates well to other farming objectives throughout Pharloom.

For players looking to expand their understanding of character progression systems, our Class Guide provides deeper insights into specialization strategies that complement the economic advantages gained from this quest.

Action Checklist

  • Unlock quest board in Bone Bottom by defeating Bell Beast or using southwest bench
  • Accept Garb of the Pilgrims quest from the activated board
  • Travel to The Marrow and identify correct Pilgrim enemy types
  • Farm 12 Pilgrim Shawls using optimized bench respawn cycles
  • Return to Bone Bottom quest board to claim rosary rewards

No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » ‘Garb of the Pilgrims’ quest walkthrough in Hollow Knight: Silksong Master the Garb of the Pilgrims quest with expert strategies for efficient shawl farming in Hollow Knight: Silksong