Where To Find All Pale Oil Weapon Upgrades In Hollow Knight: Silksong

TL;DR

  • Pale Oil is essential for upgrading your Needle weapon beyond the first tier
  • Complete the Bellhart main quest to unlock Pinmaster Plinney for upgrades
  • Solve the Whispering Vaults crate puzzle for your second Pale Oil
  • Finish the Great Taste of Pharloom side quest for additional upgrades
  • Plan your route efficiently to minimize backtracking between locations


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Are you looking to significantly boost your combat effectiveness in Hollow Knight: Silksong? The initial damage output from your Needle weapon might feel underwhelming during early encounters, but strategic upgrades can transform your offensive capabilities. Understanding the upgrade system is crucial for overcoming tougher challenges ahead.

Enhancing your primary melee weapon, the Needle, demands a specialized resource called Pale Oil. This rare substance is distributed throughout various regions of the Kingdom of Pharloom. Once collected, you’ll deliver these materials to an NPC called Pinmaster Plinney to progressively increase your weapon’s damage output.

The upgrade system follows a tiered progression where each Pale Oil unlocks additional damage levels. Unlike many action games with linear upgrade paths, Silksong requires exploration and puzzle-solving to obtain these valuable resources. Each upgrade typically provides a 15-20% damage increase, making them essential for late-game content.

The initial Hollow Knight: Silksong weapon enhancement originates from Pinmaster Plinney directly. He resides within the Bellhart settlement, positioned strategically between Greymoor and Shellwood territories.

Plinney and Bellhart’s inhabitants remain inaccessible initially due to a supernatural affliction plaguing the town. To cleanse this curse, players must conquer a formidable boss called the Widow, located in Bellhart’s upper districts. This encounter is mandatory as it forms part of the primary storyline progression.

After liberating the community from the curse, ascend the platforms to access the bellhome structure on the chamber’s right side. Conversing with Plinney rewards you with your first weapon enhancement at no cost.

Needle upgrade #1: Bellhart

Pro Tip: Before confronting the Widow, ensure you have at least three healing items and familiarize yourself with her attack patterns. The boss employs sweeping aerial assaults that require precise dodging rather than blocking.

Now, the hunt for Pale Oil in Hollow Knight: Silksong begins in earnest. This material enables weapon enhancements beyond the initial complimentary upgrade tier.

You can acquire one Pale Oil specimen within the Whispering Vaults subsection of the Citadel area. On the left section, you’ll discover an expansive chamber filled with numerous crates. The objective involves striking these containers to forge a pathway leading toward the left-side exit. Observe the horizontal and vertical support structures in the environment carefully, as these indicators reveal potential crate movement directions when impacted.

Needle upgrade #2: Whispering Vaults - Crate Puzzle

Advanced Strategy: The crate puzzle follows specific physics rules. Crates move in the direction you strike them until encountering obstacles or walls. Plan your strikes to create cascading movements that clear multiple obstacles simultaneously. Many players waste time by striking crates randomly rather than analyzing the optimal sequence.

For efficiency, start from the farthest crate and work backward. This approach typically solves the puzzle in 6-8 strikes versus 15+ with unplanned attempts.

An additional Pale Oil becomes available upon finishing the Great Taste of Pharloom side mission. This undertaking demands considerable effort as it necessitates gathering five distinct ingredients scattered across specific game world locations. Our comprehensive Great Taste of Pharloom guide contains exhaustive details, but here’s a condensed requirement list:

  • Mossberry Stew – Located in Mosshome region
  • Crystalized Honey – Found in the Gilded Grotto
  • Spiced Ant Eggs – Hidden within the Ant Kingdom chambers
  • Salt-Cured Roe – Obtainable from coastal areas near Coral Basin
  • Fermented Root – Located deep within Fungal Caverns
Needle upgrade #3: Choral Chamber - Great Taste of Pharloom

Time Management: Completing this quest typically requires 45-60 minutes if you know the exact locations. Without proper guidance, players often spend 2+ hours searching randomly. Consider completing other objectives in each area while gathering ingredients to maximize efficiency.

Route Optimization: Plan your Pale Oil collection route strategically. Start with the Bellhart upgrade since it’s mandatory, then tackle the Whispering Vaults puzzle, and finally complete the Great Taste of Pharloom quest while exploring other regions. This approach minimizes backtracking and integrates naturally with main story progression.

Common Mistakes: Many players attempt the crate puzzle prematurely without understanding the mechanics, leading to frustration. Others overlook the ingredient quest until late game when it becomes less impactful.

Needle upgrade #4: Fleatopia

Upgrade Priority: While all upgrades are valuable, focusing on obtaining at least two Pale Oils before facing major bosses significantly improves combat effectiveness.

For players struggling with specific sections, our Weapons Unlock guide offers additional combat strategies that apply to Silksong’s weapon mechanics.

Action Checklist

  • Complete Bellhart main quest and defeat The Widow boss
  • Claim your free first upgrade from Pinmaster Plinney
  • Solve the Whispering Vaults crate puzzle
  • Collect all five ingredients for Great Taste of Pharloom quest
  • Return to Plinney with each Pale Oil for weapon upgrades

No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » Where To Find All Pale Oil Weapon Upgrades In Hollow Knight: Silksong Complete guide to finding all Pale Oil locations and upgrading your Needle weapon in Hollow Knight: Silksong