How to upgrade the needle in Hollow Knight: Silksong

Enhancing your primary weapon in Hollow Knight: Silksong delivers substantial combat advantages that become essential as you progress through Pharloom’s challenging environments. Each upgrade tier increases your damage output by approximately 15-20%, making previously difficult encounters more manageable.

Weapon enhancement transforms your needle from a basic tool into a formidable instrument capable of dispatching even the most resilient adversaries. The damage scaling follows a progressive curve, meaning later upgrades provide increasingly significant power spikes that can dramatically alter combat dynamics.

Many players underestimate how critical these improvements become in mid-to-late game scenarios. Enemies in later regions like the Citadel possess substantially higher health pools and aggressive attack patterns that demand optimized damage output to overcome efficiently.

Graphic: Johnny Yu/Polygon | Source images: Team Cherry via Polygon

Accessing the weapon enhancement specialist requires completing specific prerequisites that many players find unexpectedly complex. “The Threadspun Town” quest serves as your gateway to needle upgrades, beginning in the silk-cursed settlement of Bellhart where the narrative threads converge.

After cleansing the haunted town through quest completion, navigate to Bellhart’s northeastern quadrant where distinctive needle-shaped signage marks Plinney’s establishment. The shop occupies an elevated position that demands careful platforming to reach, so ensure you’ve acquired necessary movement abilities before attempting the ascent.

Pinmaster Plinney provides your initial enhancement completely free of charge, establishing a relationship that continues throughout your journey. This complimentary first upgrade represents a valuable resource conservation opportunity that smart players leverage early in their adventure.

Subsequent weapon improvements demand rare Pale Oil resources that present substantial collection challenges. These precious materials spawn in limited quantities within specific regions, requiring strategic exploration and quest completion to obtain.

Current intelligence confirms two reliable acquisition methods within the Choral Chambers region:

• Retrieve from a secured chamber within a specialized needle merchant’s shop, accessible only after meeting specific progression milestones
• Earn as reward compensation for successfully completing the “Great Taste of Pharloom” culinary quest chain

Advanced collection tactics involve sequencing your exploration to minimize redundant backtracking. Many experienced players recommend tackling the “Great Taste of Pharloom” quest first, as it naturally guides you through regions containing both the quest reward and the locked room Pale Oil.

Resource management becomes crucial since Pale Oils have multiple uses beyond needle enhancement. Consider your overall progression strategy before committing these rare materials to ensure optimal character development.

The needle enhancement procedure follows a structured progression that rewards methodical gameplay. Your initial visit to Pinmaster Plinney after completing “The Threadspun Town” quest unlocks the basic upgrade path without material costs.

For subsequent improvements, you’ll need to gather Pale Oils from various locations across Pharloom and return to Bellhart. Each enhancement tier requires increasing quantities of these rare resources, so plan your collection routes efficiently to avoid unnecessary travel time.

Strategic timing of upgrades can significantly impact your combat effectiveness. Many players recommend scheduling enhancement sessions before tackling major boss encounters or exploring new high-difficulty regions where the damage increase provides crucial advantages.

Remember that upgraded needles often feature visual changes reflecting their improved quality. These cosmetic alterations not only signify your progression but can sometimes provide visual cues about attack range and hitbox dimensions that aid combat precision.

For comprehensive gameplay strategies that complement your enhanced combat capabilities, consult our Class Guide to optimize your overall approach to Pharloom’s challenges.

No reproduction without permission：Game Guides » How to upgrade the needle in Hollow Knight: Silksong Master needle upgrades in Hollow Knight: Silksong with expert strategies and Pale Oil locations