Discover everything you need to know about how to defeat the Phantom Boss in Hollow Knight Silksong, including some useful tricks.
Phantom in Hollow Knight Silksong is one of the deadliest bosses and is located in the Exhaust Organ. This boss has devastating attacks that can deal massive damage if you’re not ready for them. Locating this boss can be challenging, as you need to pass through the Mist area. Gain access to the Cross Stitch skill after defeating the Phantom.
The boss disappears from the arena for a while and comes up with deadly attacks. Phantom’s deadly attacks, like Music of the Light and No Return, can make the fight more challenging in phase 2 of a fight. In this guide, we’ll discuss how to defeat Phantom in Hollow Knight Silksong, including the exact location of the arena.
How To Find Phantom Boss in Hollow Knight: Silksong
Phantom in Hollow Knight Silkson is located in the Exhaust Organ. This is the region inside the Bilewater and is accessible through Sinner’s Road, linking Lower Pharloom to the Citadel. Getting access to the Exhaust Organ requires you to challenge the Mist.
Pass Through the Mist Area
Start your journey from the bench located south of Bilewater. This bench is just next to the Bellway Station. Now, you don’t have a map to reference, but you are at the Bilewater Bellways Station. From there, move west and through a breakable wall to reach another new area, The Mist. One thing to mention here is that this is the only area with the Wraith enemy type, and this entire area is temporary. So, if you are trying to complete your Hunter’s Journal, you will need to defeat several of them and do that before getting through The Mist.
As far as how to get through the Mist, it is a puzzle of sorts. All the rooms are randomly generated, and you can only progress by going through the correct exit. The way we determine the correct exit is by finding groups of butterflies and playing our Needolin for them. This will cause them to fly towards the correct exit, showing us the way.
Defeating the Wraith Enemy
The Wraiths are particularly nasty and will attack if we get too close to them. You can deal with that in one of two ways. The first way is to defeat them, but again, they are fairly dangerous, so watch out. The second way is to just run. This works well if we already know the correct exit and have a clear path towards it.
To that end, playing the needolin near them will also temporarily enchant them and turn them passive. However, this ends as soon as we stop playing. Also, sometimes it is better to just run into them and get temporary invulnerability, rather than be snared in their grasp when they attack.
You need to successfully get through 4 or 5 chambers to finally escape the mist. But going through the wrong exit even once will send you back to the start.
Shortcut for Boss Arena
Once you make it through the mist, you will arrive at the Exhaust Organ. Running inside, you can dash past the single enemy and make your way up the first available path to reach a much-needed Bench. Again, there is no map for this area, but luckily, it is relatively small.
- Start by moving down and to the east, then up the second path to the east.
- Wait for the exhaust to pass, then go up the tube to the next safe spot.
- After the first tube comes a second, you need to drop down the third tube and dash to the west.
- Drop down one level and move further west to open up a shortcut back to the bench.
- To reach the boss of this area, and the last obstacle between us and Act 2, head east and back up the shortcut you just opened.
- However, this time going all the way up. Move east and watch out for the exhaust before dropping down to the east.
- The second tube that you have to go up doesn’t have any exhaust to worry about, but the third tube does.
- Once we’ve gotten all the way up, move west into the boss chamber.
How To Defeat Phantom in Hollow Knight: Silksong
First, we should stand on the east side of the chamber when the fight is initiated to avoid the bursts of exhaust. As far as getting in damage, both the needle throw and basic attack of Phantom provide large windows for getting in attacks of our own. Another habit you need to get good at is jumping above her when you accidentally trigger her parry attack. She will eventually start performing large AoE attacks, and these are best avoided by sprinting towards the far side of the chamber from wherever you might be.
Going towards the side nearest to you is a good way to get trapped and hit by it. When Phantom becomes enraged, she will perform a series of AoE attacks, which are best avoided by dashing back and forth between the two sides of the arena. After this is over, she will resume her various attacks, but become a bit more aggressive. The fight finishes with us performing a parry and unlocking the Cross Stitch skill.
Phase 1
Be aware of the steam release you get when the fight begins. This gust of air comes from the ceiling to your location to deal damage. Before the air comes, you will see a small smoke. Make sure to move away from this location to avoid taking any damage. Interacting with the air allows you to lose two masks. The boss rises in the air and throws needles towards you. Make sure to stay close to Phantom by dashing away. Phantom will come to pick up the needle, so you need to jump and perform a downward slash.
The boss also performs a 3-step Needle combo that you can easily avoid by jumping over her. Dashing away from her also allows you to avoid this attack. After blocking your melee attacks, she performs the 3-step combo. Make sure to move out of the way to avoid the hit. She also does a combo if you get closer to the Phantom; staying away from her allows her to trigger Needle Throw Attack. This gives you some opening to deal massive damage.
Phase 2
The second phase will also include the attacks from the first phase, along with the AoE Lightning beam. The boss will strike the ground to release a beam of light. Make sure you’re not around the AoE marker if she tries to pull off the attack. The boss will disappear from the arena, so you dodge this attack easily. The white spots on the ground are your hint to stay away from that location.
You can attack her when her attack is over, giving you enough time to heal. Phantom will perform multiple AoE Lightning Beam strikes after she starts screaming. We recommend that you don’t attack or heal yourself during the attack sequence in a fight.
Tips and Tricks to Defeat Phantom in Hollow Knight: Silksong
Below are the best tips and tricks to defeat Phantom in Hollow Knight Silksong.
- Use tools like Warding Bell, Fractured Mask, and Magnetite Dice, abilities like Silkspear, and a Crest like Reaper Crest during the fight with Phantom.
- You need to hit him in between attacks, as this boss has a few frames where it stands still.
- Pogo off the phantom when the boss tries to dash while you’re performing a dash attack.
- Phantom can also counterattack when you hit, and this will cost hearts.
- Don’t get near the AoE marker when the Phantom disappears.
- You don’t need to heal when the boss stops attacking, and it will come with a new attack.
- The parry button shown on the HUD indicates that the battle will end. Press the button to end the fight and gain rewards.
