Hunter's March in Hollow Knight: Silksong is the area that broke me. Not literally—my controller survived—but spiritually? Absolutely shattered. ? It's early in the game, yet it's packed with enemies that hit like a truck and a movement mechanic that feels like trying to pat your head and rub your belly while juggling chainsaws. And of course, you don't even have a map when you first stumble in. Because why would you? That would be too kind.
I spent my first hour here dying to the same red ants and missing the same pogo jumps. But after many, many trips back to the bench (and a few choice words at my screen), I finally cracked it. So here's everything I wish I'd known before setting foot in this nightmare garden.
Pogo Jumping: Your New Best Friend (and Worst Enemy)
See that withered orange fruit hanging over a bed of spikes? That's your first lesson. If you've played Hollow Knight, you might recognize the technique. If not, welcome to pogo jumping.
Here's the drill: find a safe platform. Imagine your thumbstick is a compass. Jump, and while Hornet is airborne, point the left stick either southwest or southeast, then press attack. She'll sail downward with her needle pointed out in a diagonal slash. Hit an orange bulb or fruit with that attack, and she'll bounce off with a little upward boost. Chain these together to cross wide gaps.
In Hunter's March, you'll need to pogo across multiple gaps and bulb clusters. My advice? Don't rush. If you're struggling, adjust your position in the air so you're directly diagonal from the bulb you want to bounce off. And mash that attack button faster than you think you need to.
The first gap is a warm-up. Then you'll face three bulbs, then a larger group that requires a diagonal ascent. I died here at least a dozen times. But eventually, you'll land on a platform with a patrolling red ant. Beat it—or push it into the spikes—then pogo right again. Jump over the bigger enemy, pogo over the distant bulb, and exit right.
Finding Shakra and the Hunter's March Map
After another set of pogo jumps, you'll enter a battle arena. And who joins you? None other than Shakra, the map merchant. She's a lifesaver, but first you have to survive multiple waves of enemies together. This fight is brutal. I got sent back to the bench more times than I care to admit. My strategy: focus on the aerial enemies first. Their projectiles are a nightmare when you're trying to dodge ground attacks. For the fifth and final wave, I just focused on dodging while Shakra did the damage.
Once you win, Shakra opens up shop right there. Buy the Hunter's March map for 70 Rosaries. Trust me, it's worth every single one.
All the Important Stuff in Hunter's March
Once you have the map, you can actually plan your suffering. Here's what's worth grabbing:
| Location | What You'll Find | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Bench | Respawn point | It's trapped! Break the left wall and flip the lever before sitting. |
| Bottom-right passage | Memory Locket | Adds an extra crest slot. Follow the vertical room's bottom-right exit to the end. |
| Above Memory Locket | Savage Beastfly | Defeat it for the Beast Crest. |
| Top-left chamber | Curveclaw tool + gauntlet fight | Another tough battle, but the tool is handy. |
| Top-right chamber | Gilly | Meet for story context. |
| Second passage down on left | Mottled Skarr | Merchant selling various tools. |
The bench is tricky to reach without the glide or double jump ability. It's in the big vertical room on the east side of the map. Pogo up until you reach the third corridor down on the left. And remember: that bench is trapped. Break the wall to the left, flip the lever, then sit. Otherwise, you'll get a nasty surprise.
Other than the Memory Locket and the Beast Crest, most loot in Hunter's March is replaceable elsewhere. So don't tear your hair out trying to 100% this area. I learned that the hard way. ?
Final Thoughts (and a Warning)
Hunter's March is a gauntlet. It's early, it's mean, and it will test your patience. But with pogo practice and a map from Shakra, you can make it through. My biggest tip? Get the map first. Don't be a hero. I tried to explore blind and ended up in a spike pit more times than I can count.
Also, don't feel bad if you need to take a break. This area is notorious for a reason. But once you master the pogo and unlock that bench, you'll feel like a god. A very tired, slightly traumatized god. But a god nonetheless. ?
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