Discover everything you need to know about how to get Swift Step Ability in Hollow Knight: Silksong, including how to use it in combat effectively.
Swift Step in Hollow Knight Silksong is a unique movement ability that allows you to dash. Anybody who’s played Hollow Knight before knows the dash is very integral to the game. Getting this ability requires you to get inside the Deep Docks and interact with the bug altar to unlock it and use it during combat or while exploring.
Bosses in this game get more powerful as you progress, so having Swift Step makes the fight easier. Inspect the bug altar to find the Ancestral Art Swift Step. Use this ability to evade incoming attacks, making it handy during combat. In this guide, we’ll discuss how to get Swift Step in Hollow Knight Silksong and why it’s crucial to use it during combat.
What is Swift Step in Hollow Knight: Silksong
Swift Step is the second major ability in Hollow Knight Silksong. Along with the Dodge that it provides, it also allows for sprinting and mid-air dashes, which are both key to accessing new areas of Pharloom. Press C on PC, R2 on PlayStation, and RT on Xbox to use this ability when necessary. However, this ability is limitless, meaning you can use it during your journey as much as you want. Swift Step allows you to perform a Dash Pierce attack to move a bit forward.
Hold the dash button down to run automatically. We recommend using this ability during combat to dominate the enemies with new, unique strategies. Unlocking this ability is crucial because it allows you to traverse the areas with a movement speed boost. Use the Swift Step to evade the incoming attacks and follow up with the counterattack to deal massive damage.
How To Get Swift Step
Getting the Swift Step (Dash Ability) requires the players to get inside the Deep Docks and interact with the bug altar. First, you need to find a way to get inside this region to get access to this unique ability.
1. Get Inside Deep Docks
You will begin at the bench that is just east of The Marrow Bellways or fast travel station. From there, we will have to move further east into the Marrow Zone. The first horizontal chamber has some platforming that involves spike pits and crumbling platforms. There is an upper area that can be reached in the second horizontal chamber.
This can be reached by diving off these bouncy red flowers. However, we can just take the bottom route to the vertical chamber. Once there, we can drop down a few levels and follow the sign east into a jail. There, we will find a free bench to rest at, which will serve as our next checkpoint. From here, we will need to move further down and then east, out of The Marrow and into a new region, Deep Docks.
2. Obtain the Deep Docks Map
Watch out for spike pits, falling rocks, and lava, as you make your way through this stretch. As you enter Deep Docks, you will see a sign pointing towards a bench. This bench requires Rosaries to unlock. You can just continue east and follow the sound of Shakra’s singing to get the Deep Docks Map.
3. Interact with the Altar to unlock Swift Step
To get the Swift Step ability, you will need to make our way up and to the east, through the major portion of Deep Docks. Your first mini destination will be an exit path at the northeast corner of this chamber. You will need to hit a lever to reach it.
In this next chamber, you will need to move east, jumping along the hot coal surfaces to avoid taking burn damage. At the far end of the chamber, you can hop up some rocks and strike an explosive charge to open up the path into the next chamber. There is another bench here that we can spend Rosaries to unlock.
There is a boss or rush encounter ahead, and while it isn’t too difficult, it may be worth buying this bench just in case.
- From the bench, you will need to move back west into the previous chamber, then go all the way up.
- After that, move to the east to reach a narrow corridor.
- Moving west will bring you to the boss chamber, where multiple waves of enemies will need to be defeated.
- Once that is done, you can move west and drop down into a new chamber.
- Watch out for spike pits and strike the explosive rock at the southeast corner to unlock a shortcut back to the bench.
- Then, move to the southwest exit.
- With a few jumps, you can reach an altar and interact with it to unlock the Swift Step Ability.
Unlock the Swift Step in Hollow Knight Silksong to sprint and dash during combat. You also need Swift Step to unlock the path to Lace.
