Honestly, navigating Pharloom feels like trying to read a vertical spiderweb while someone is throwing rocks at your head. If you’ve just hit the Silksong act 2 map, you know exactly what I mean. The game completely flips the script on you once you leave the relatively "flat" comfort of the Moss Grotto and the Marrow. Suddenly, you aren't just moving left and right anymore. You’re climbing.
The verticality is exhausting. It’s also brilliant.
By the time you reach the middle chunk of the game—what most of us are calling Act 2—the world of Pharloom opens up into this massive, multi-layered beast. We’re talking about areas like Greymoor, Bilewater, and the lower levels of the Citadel. If you're looking for a simple "go here, then there" guide, you’re going to be disappointed because Team Cherry designed this map to be a tangled mess of shortcuts and "wait, how did I end up back here?" moments.
The Layout of the Silksong Act 2 Map
Most people think Act 2 is just a transition, but it’s actually where the meat of the game lives. In the first act, you’re basically a prisoner escaping to the bottom. In Act 2, you’re the hunter. The map during this phase focuses heavily on the ascent. You’ve got the Deep Docks acting as a sort of industrial hub, but the real headache starts when you hit Greymoor.
Greymoor is huge. Like, "I’ve been walking for twenty minutes and I haven't found a bench" huge. It’s the fog-covered graveyard of the kingdom, and the map layout there is notoriously deceptive. You’ll see a ledge that looks reachable, but you actually need the Silkspear or the Diving Bell to access the sub-regions like the Slab.
One thing that confuses everyone: the transition to the Citadel.
You don't just "walk" into the Citadel. The Act 2 map requires you to ring the three pilgrimage bells scattered across the mid-world. This isn't just lore fluff; it physically changes the map markers. Until you hit those bells, certain gates in the High Halls and Choral Chambers stay locked tight. I spent three hours wandering around Shellwood thinking I was bugged. I wasn't. I just hadn't finished the "Threefold Melody" requirement that unlocks the upper map layers.
Key Regions You’ll Encounter:
- Greymoor: The massive, foggy expanse. High risk of getting lost.
- Bilewater: The acidic pits. You need the Quicksling or decent movement tools here.
- The Slab: A brutal, combat-heavy zone tucked away in the side of the mountain.
- Choral Chambers: Where the music starts getting really intense (and the enemies get way faster).
- The Underworks: A maze of pipes and steam that connects the Docks to the higher levels.
Why Shakra is Your Best Friend (and Your Worst Enemy)
In the original Hollow Knight, Cornifer was easy to find. You’d hear him humming, follow the paper trail, and boom—you have a map. Shakra is... different. In the Silksong act 2 map sections, Shakra moves around a lot more sporadically.
Sometimes she’s right by a bench. Other times, she’s tucked behind a breakable wall in the Wormways where you’d never think to look. If you miss her in a region, you’re basically flying blind. And let’s be real, Pharloom is way too big to explore without a map. The sheer scale of the Sands of Karak alone is enough to make you want to throw your controller if you don't have the landmarks filled in.
Buying the maps isn't enough, though. You need to invest in the Quill and the various pins early. In Act 2, the game introduces "Wishes"—the quest system. These aren't just side stories. Completing wishes for NPCs in settlements like Bellhart often rewards you with map markers for hidden stashes of Pale Oil or Crests.
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Hidden Shortcuts You’re Probably Missing
The interconnectivity in the second act is wild. There’s a specific elevator in the Deep Docks that most people forget about. It takes you all the way back down to Bone Bottom, which is a godsend if you need to go back to Pebb’s shop for tool repairs.
Also, watch out for the "hidden" bellway stations. There’s one in Whiteward that is incredibly easy to walk past because it’s obscured by the foreground art. If you find yourself trekking across the entire map every time you die, you’ve missed a fast-travel point. Guaranteed.
Is the Map "Too Big"?
There’s been a lot of chatter on Reddit and Discord about whether Team Cherry went overboard. Some players feel like the Silksong act 2 map is bloated compared to Hallownest. I get the argument. In Hollow Knight, every room felt essential. In Silksong, there are these long stretches of "travel" rooms—like in the Far Fields—that feel like they're just there to show off the art.
But I think that’s the point. Hornet is faster than the Knight. She has the Silk Sprint. If the map were the same size as the first game, you’d finish it in five hours. The vastness is there to challenge your mastery of her movement. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stop trying to fill out every corner. Focus on the main path up the Citadel, and the rest of the map will naturally start to make sense as you loop back with new abilities.
Essential Next Steps for Map Completion
If you're currently staring at a half-empty screen and feeling the "Metroidvania fatigue," here is exactly what you should do next to get your bearings.
First, head to Bellhart. It’s the central hub of Act 2. Talk to the NPCs there and pick up every single "Wayfarer" wish on the board. These quests usually point you toward specific landmarks in Shellwood and Greymoor, effectively acting as a breadcrumb trail for the map.
Second, make sure you’ve found the Hunters March sub-area. It’s tucked between the Marrow and the Docks. There’s an NPC there who sells a pin that marks Lost Fleas on your map. Finding the fleas is the fastest way to unlock the Flea Caravan movement, which eventually leads to the secret areas of the Abyss in the late game.
Finally, don't ignore the Choral Chambers. It’s a tough zone, but the map maker there stays put once you find her. Clearing that zone gives you the "Grand Gate" map, which is the final piece of the puzzle before you transition into the endgame.
Stop wandering aimlessly. Pick a direction—preferably up—and keep those eyes peeled for Shakra’s discarded gold pins on the ground. They’re usually the only thing standing between you and a very long, very lonely walk through the fog.