When I first stepped into the strange, gilded kingdom of Pharloom in Hollow Knight: Silksong, I expected another quiet pilgrimage through ruined corridors. I had played the first Hollow Knight, and I remembered how The Knight drifted through Hallownest like a ghost who never answered anyone. But Silksong, which launched on September 4, 2025, after one of the longest waits in modern indie gaming, did not give me another silent vessel. It gave me Hornet. And from the first conversation I had with a nervous pilgrim, I knew the narrative rules had changed.



The Silence of The Knight

In the first Hollow Knight, I controlled a standard silent video game protagonist. The Knight never speaks, at least not in any clearly defined way. Like in other seminal franchises such as The Legend of Zelda, this muteness is mostly ignored by NPCs. They monologue. They provide exposition. They pontificate without feeling discouraged by the silence of their conversation partner. For a long time, I accepted this as normal. Many games do it. But Silksong's more conventional storytelling approach lays bare the shortcomings of that convention.



I still love the first game. Its atmosphere, its mystery, and its lonely rhythm all worked for me. Yet when I compare my time as The Knight with my time as Hornet, the difference is not minor. It is fundamental. Hornet does not merely exist in the world. She participates in it. She argues, asks, thanks, threatens, and listens. She has a personality, and that personality shapes every encounter.

Hornet Speaks, and the Story Breathes

Not only does Hornet talk, she talks a great deal. She is a princess, after all, and this royal status is reflected by her courteous, chivalrous manner of speech. I noticed it immediately. She takes control in many conversations, exhibiting a cool elegance while still commanding respect and getting what she wants. For instance, if she is lost and needs to know where to go, she will actually ask a friendly NPC for advice instead of just standing there silently while they chip away at some vague, aloof speech. That small change made me feel like an active traveler rather than a passive witness.



This helps give Silksong's narrative more structure in comparison to the first game, but it also goes a long way toward immersion and overall story effectiveness. I found myself remembering names, places, and promises because Hornet treated them as real. When she spoke, the world spoke back. When she asked a question, I wanted to know the answer. That is not something I can say about every silent-protagonist adventure I have played.

A Defined Personality Can Be Easier to Inhabit

A commonly cited advantage of the silent protagonist is their capacity to be a blank slate for the player to project themselves onto. I understand the appeal. In theory, a silent hero lets me become the character. In practice, this does not always work out as planned. It is hard to relate to a character who never responds during conversations, for obvious reasons. I can project only so much onto a mask that never moves.

Despite Hornet having a considerably more well-defined personality than The Knight, she is, in a sense, easier to inhabit as a player. She more accurately represents how someone in her position may actually act. She is not an empty shell. She is a princess, a hunter, a protector, and a stranger in a dangerous land. On top of all this, she is, for lack of a better word, more 'human.' That humanity made me care about her choices instead of merely steering her toward the next objective.



Here is how I would compare the two protagonists after finishing both games:

Aspect
The Knight
Hornet

Voice
Silent
Speaks often

Personality
Blank slate
Chivalrous, royal, cool

Narrative role
Leaf in the wind
Active decision-maker

Player connection
Projection, but distant in dialogue
More human, easier to inhabit

Story structure
Vague and intuitive
Structured and easy to follow

That table captures only part of it. The rest lives in the moment-to-moment rhythm of play. ?️

A More Structured Journey Through Pharloom

Silksong's story is also more structured and easy to follow than the first game's, since Hornet is an active participant. She makes decisions for herself. She makes important contributions that dictate the direction of the story. The Knight, by contrast, is more like a leaf in the wind, going wherever they need to go based on intuition and FromSoftware-style dialog exchanges. I loved that style in 2017, but in 2026 I can admit that it often left me guessing rather than understanding.

With Hornet, I felt like I was following a character rather than decoding a ruin. The music is terrific. The traversal is powerful and satisfying in a way that the first game's was not. The setting, while familiar, is still a world apart from Hallownest. These factors all play an important role in the final experience, but one central narrative element ought not to be overlooked: Hornet is fundamentally different from The Knight. She speaks. She has a personality. And this relatively simple twist makes for a narrative adventure that feels entirely removed from that of the first game, in the best possible way.

In the end, Hornet's crystallized personality, communicated via dialog, makes Hollow Knight: Silksong's story more entertaining, relatable, and well-paced than it may have been otherwise. Now, in 2026, with the launch frenzy behind us, I still think about the conversations more than the corridors. I remember how Hornet asked for help, how she stood her ground, and how she made Pharloom feel like a place where words mattered. For me, that is the real evolution of Silksong. ?️

Once a story lands the way this one does, the natural next move is a second run — or finally convincing that friend who skipped launch week to pick it up. Which brings up a small but real annoyance: prices for Hollow Knight, Silksong, and the wider indie catalog drift constantly between storefronts, and the gap between one shop and another is often wider than you'd expect. Running a quick game price comparison before you hit checkout takes about a minute and usually means your money goes toward the games themselves rather than toward whichever store happened to load first.

DealNest was built around exactly that habit, pulling current listings together in one place so you can spot the lowest price at a glance and judge whether a sale is worth waiting out. If you're filling the space after Pharloom with more Metroidvanias — or just restocking a backlog you'll never finish — it's worth a look before your next purchase.

In 2026, the video game industry still talks about Hollow Knight: Silksong's 2025 launch as a strange, wonderful anomaly. Team Cherry didn't follow the usual script. There were no review codes sent out weeks in advance. There was no lengthy marketing campaign. The launch date appeared just two weeks before the game did. Critics and players alike went in blind. That single decision changed how the community experienced the game, and it changed how the internet talked about it.



Normally, a big release builds a consensus before anyone can buy it. God of War in 2018 is the classic example. The review embargo lifted on April 12, but the game didn't arrive until April 20. For eight days, critics tweeted, podcasted, and generally shouted that the game was extraordinary. By launch, expectations were sky-high. Most players loved it, but a vocal minority was ready to tear it down. That's the usual rhythm: critics get early code, reviews drop, fans react, then the game launches and everyone forms their own opinion.

Silksong skipped that rhythm entirely. The launch date was announced only two weeks ahead. No review codes were available before release. Critics went in as knowing as fans, and they gained access at the same time, too. Once everyone got in, they were confronted with a nails-tough metroidvania soulslike. That made getting a solid read on the game as a whole slow going. Even in 2026, the only real early consensus is that Silksong is hard.

Aspect
Typical big release
Hollow Knight: Silksong

Review codes
Sent weeks early
None

Embargo
Lifts days before launch
No embargo

Launch date
Known months or years ahead
Announced two weeks ahead

Consensus
Forms before launch
Forms slowly after launch

Player experience
Pre-shaped by reviews
Blind, collective, messy

That difference mattered. Reviews eventually arrived, and they were universally positive. But those takes couldn't provide the full picture any more than frustrated Reddit posts about a tough early boss could. The kind of person who can finish Silksong and write a review within a couple of days is not playing it the way most of its audience will play it. A critic on a deadline might rush through, skip side content, or push past a wall that would stop a normal player for a week.



So the internet painted the picture together. Like the parable of the blind men and the elephant, each voice gave only a small piece of a big beast. One player described a brutal boss. Another described a beautiful, haunting area. Another found a secret that changed how they approached combat. No single review could capture the whole thing. There was no critical consensus around Silksong. Players had to come to it together.

This is not an argument against reviews. Critics matter. They analyze craft, context, performance, and design in ways that most players cannot. User reviews have a place, too, but they aren't a substitute for people who have dedicated their lives to thinking critically about games. The problem was not that reviews existed. The problem was that the usual cadence was gone. For once, the community could not outsource its judgment to a score or a tweet. Everyone had to wait, explore, and argue.

? The benefits were real:

Shared discovery felt like a group expedition.

Spoilers were harder to spread because nobody knew what came next.

Every player's experience felt personal and unmediated.

The community had to cooperate instead of competing over hot takes.

?️ The drawbacks were real, too:

Players had no early warnings about performance issues.

Accessibility details were harder to find before buying.

People with limited time could not easily judge whether the game was for them.

Review consensus arrived late, after many had already formed strong opinions.

In 2026, most major games are dissected long before launch. Leaks, datamines, early copies, and endless trailers remove most of the mystery. Silksong proved that a blind drop can still work. It made some players wish for more games they knew nothing about. Not every release can or should do this. A small indie team with a loyal audience has different constraints than a massive publisher with shareholders. But the experiment was valuable.

It showed that mystery has a cost, but also a reward. Knowing nothing meant every discovery belonged to the players first. It meant the conversation grew slowly, shaped by thousands of individual experiences instead of one embargoed review. ? In the end, Silksong's launch was not just about a game. It was about how players build meaning together when nobody has the answers yet. Sometimes the best part is figuring it out as a community.

The one thing a blind drop cannot do is tell you what a fair price looks like. When nobody has reviewed a game yet, the storefront price is the only signal you have, and it is rarely a neutral one. Patience becomes its own kind of advantage here: waiting a few weeks can mean the difference between paying full launch price and picking the game up during a sale, and knowing where prices sit across storefronts turns that waiting into a decision rather than a gamble.

That is the gap a site like DealNest fills. Its game price comparison tools show how much a title costs across different sellers, so you can tell at a glance whether a discount is genuinely worth acting on or just marketing noise. Whether you jump in on day one or hold out for a better number, having that context means the only mystery left to enjoy is the one inside the game.

At first glance, Hollow Knight: Silksong might seem like a compact adventure that could be completed in a few short hours. However, as one progresses, the true scale of the map and the brutality of combat become unmistakably clear. The game doesn't merely offer a main path; it lures players into a labyrinth of secret biomes and side routes. Among these hidden gems is the "My Missing Brother" wish, which sends the player on a quest to find Pill, a character lost in the treacherous Sinner's Road. This guide will detail how to unlock this wish and navigate the perilous journey to find Pill, ensuring that no stone is left unturned.

?️ How to Get the Missing Brother Wish

The "My Missing Brother" wish appears on the wish board in Bellhart, but it's not immediately available. First, the player must complete the "Missing Courier" wish, which unlocks Tipp and brings this NPC to the civilization. After finishing that wish, one should return to Bellhart after a short while. There, Tipp will offer the "My Missing Brother" wish. Once accepted, the wish's description reveals that Pill was last seen in Greymoor, though his actual location is far beyond.



? How to Find Pill

To find Pill, the player must first unlock the Sinner's Road biome. If it's not yet accessible, start by teleporting to the Greymoor bellway and follow these directions:

Exit the bellway and head left until a loading screen appears.

Climb straight up past a wheel with rotating spikes.

Look for a path on the right above and follow it.

Continue right into the area with the elevator sign.

Unlock the elevator by standing on the pressure plate. This allows direct travel from Halfway Home later.

Move right and downward strike a giant air bag to reach higher ground.

Climb up a bit more and spot the Sinner's Road entrance to the right.

From the Sinner's Road entrance, head right until merchant wares are visible atop a cage. Here, the player must battle a swarm of roaches and other enemies. Track the wares to the right, then slightly up through a narrow path, and right again. In this area, jump over another cage in the water and spot more merchant wares. Use downward strikes on two circular spikes to the right to ascend. Past that, defeat the rat in the cage, climb up, and continue using spikes to go higher. Soon, enemies will surround a hidden snail. After defeating them, Pill emerges. Talk to him to complete the wish.



? Rewards and Aftermath

Completing the "My Missing Brother" wish rewards the player with Rosaries and other items. Afterwards, the two courier brothers can be found in Bellhart, offering delivery wishes for extra Rosaries. Honestly, the game doesn't hold a player's hand—every step is earned. To put it mildly, the journey is no cakewalk, but the satisfaction of reuniting the brothers is well worth it.

? Step-by-Step Summary

Step
Action

1
Complete "Missing Courier" wish

2
Return to Bellhart and accept "My Missing Brother" from Tipp

3
Teleport to Greymoor bellway, head left through loading screen

4
Climb up past spiked wheel, take right path

5
Unlock elevator with pressure plate

6
Downward strike air bag, climb to Sinner's Road entrance

7
Follow merchant wares, battle enemies

8
Use downward strikes on spikes, defeat rat, climb cage

9
Defeat enemies around hidden snail, talk to Pill

Believe it or not, the path is riddled with surprises, and the Sinner's Road biome seems to whisper secrets to those who dare. The map stretches out like a living labyrinth, inviting players to test their mettle. The game itself seems to chuckle at the player's struggles, yet it never fails to reward perseverance. So, gear up, and may the journey be ever in the player's favor... well, as much as Silksong allows.

For players who find themselves drawn to challenging metroidvanias like Silksong, the genre itself offers a deep well of similarly demanding titles worth exploring once the journey through Pharloom wraps up. Whether it's revisiting genre classics or discovering newer releases that scratch the same itch, building a small backlog of challenging adventures can keep that sense of hard-earned progression alive between major releases.

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As of 2026, Hollow Knight: Silksong players are still discovering the quirks of Loddie, the shopkeeper tucked into a corner of The Marrow. He offers Hornet a straight pin throwing challenge. It looks simple, but it is a classic case of easy to learn, hard to master. Loddie does not explain the rules until they are broken, which is a sneaky move that trips up unsuspecting players. The challenge costs 25 Rosary Beads per attempt, so every mistake has a price. This guide breaks down how Loddie's knife throwing challenges work, what rewards are on the line, and how to complete both the 15-hit and 25-hit trials without burning through a mountain of rosaries.



The Two Rules That Matter ⚠️

Loddie's challenge has only two rules, but they are absolute.

Do not move past the red marker on the ground.

Do not miss three times.

If Hornet crosses the red marker or misses three pins, the challenge ends immediately. The player must pay another 25 Rosary Beads to re-enter. A miss counter appears directly behind Hornet's shooting spot, so there is no hiding from failure. The red marker is the invisible fence; step over it and Loddie pulls the plug. Three misses? Same deal. It is brutal, but fair enough once you know the score.



Loddie's 15-Hit Knife Throwing Challenge ?

The first test asks Hornet to hit the target bug 15 times with throwing pins. The target's movement changes in phases, and learning those phases is the key to victory.

Hits
Target Behavior

1-5
The target stays completely stationary.

6-8
It starts moving up and down, slowly at first, then faster.

9-12
It moves in a fixed wave pattern.

13-15
It teleports between three static locations in a cyclical, fixed pattern.

A good way to find the right rhythm is to aim only when the target gets low to the ground. Hornet's jump animation is not slow, but there is still a small delay between pressing jump and reaching maximum height. Aiming at a high-moving target is therefore riskier than aiming low. The target bug's movement is not random; it follows a set pattern. Since there is no timer, players can pause for a few seconds before each throw to study the movement. Do not rush. Rushing is how rosaries get donated to Loddie's retirement fund.

Loddie's 25-Hit Knife Throwing Challenge ?

The second challenge is a big step up. Hornet must hit the target 25 times, and the target bug moves faster and more erratically. The first half feels like a sped-up version of the 15-hit challenge, but the later phases demand more focus.

Hits
Target Behavior

1-3
The target stays completely stationary.

4-9
It moves up and down with increasing speed.

10-12
It moves in a fixed wave pattern.

13-17
It moves erratically in either a wave or a diagonal pattern.

18-25
It teleports between three or four fixed spots with increasing speed.

The wave and diagonal phases are less predictable, but the target still moves within a fixed area. It just moves more often. When the target starts blinking during the final phase, the challenge actually becomes easier in a weird way. All the player has to do is memorize the three or four teleport spots and throw the pin where the target will appear next.



It is best to aim at teleport spots nearer to Hornet than those far away. The straight pin's throwing animation has travel time, so by the time the weapon reaches a distant spot, the target may already have blinked away. Account for that delay before committing to a throw.

Rewards for Completing Loddie's Challenges ?

Loddie's challenges are not just for bragging rights. The 15-hit challenge opens the door to the second trial and offers its own reward. The 25-hit challenge rewards the Heavy Rosary Necklace, a useful trinket for players who want to stack up rosaries. Since the entry fee is 25 Rosary Beads, it is worth treating each attempt like a real investment. Practice the patterns, stay calm, and the payout will come.



Tips and Tricks to Save Rosaries ?

Here are some practical tips to avoid losing the challenge in a fit of gamer rage.

Respect the red marker. It is not a suggestion. It is a hard boundary.

Count your misses. Two misses is a warning. Three is a reset.

Aim low. The target is easier to hit when it is close to the ground.

Pause and observe. There is no timer, so use that breathing room.

Memorize teleport spots. The final phase is a memory game, not a reflex test.

Aim near, not far. Pin travel time can make a good shot miss.

Do not get greedy. A steady rhythm beats a flashy rush every time.

Keep a cool head. The challenge is designed to punish panic.

Loddie may be a cheeky shopkeeper, but his challenges are a solid test of patience and pattern recognition. With the right approach, Hornet can walk away with the Heavy Rosary Necklace and a story worth telling. In Silksong, rosaries do not grow on trees, so make every pin count.

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Whether you're hunting for a sale on Silksong's soundtrack or a budget-friendly controller to practice your pin throws, a quick check before you buy can be worth the effort. Think of it as applying the same patience and pattern recognition you use in the challenge—only this time, the reward is real-world savings.

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. ?

If you're the kind of player who grinds through brutal areas like this one, you probably appreciate getting good value out of the games you play. Whether you're picking up Silksong for the first time or filling out your library with other tough-as-nails metroidvanias, it helps to know where the discounts are hiding before you hit the checkout button. That's where a site like DealNest comes in handy — it aggregates current offers so you don't have to hop between storefronts hunting for a better price.

Worth a look next time you're ready to expand your backlog: check game prices on DealNest. It's a quick way to see what's on sale right now, so your Rosaries (and your real money) go a little further.

FromSoftware has rolled out a hefty update for ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN, and it is no small potatoes. The patch, listed as App Ver. 1.03.1 and Regulation Ver. 1.03.2, touches PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. It delivers new DLC-gated content, quality-of-life changes, and a massive stack of bug fixes that would make even the most seasoned Nightfarer sit up and take notice.

DLC Owners Get New Toys in Deep of Night

Players who own The Forsaken Hollows DLC will now encounter new targets, Landmarks, raid events, and Shifting Earth while playing The Deep of Night mode. However, these additions only appear when matched with players who also own the DLC content. That means no freeloading — everyone in the party needs the expansion to see the new hotness.

The Great Hollows Shifting Earth also received a tuning pass. Curse effects tied to Fire, Magic, Lightning, and Holy damage are now stronger in its temples. The Continuous HP Loss and Continuous HP Recovery curse effects have been adjusted as well. In the Tricephalos raid event, the attack power of summoned wolves has been decreased, which should give teams a bit more breathing room.

Area
Key Change

Great Hollows Shifting Earth temples
Increased Fire, Magic, Lightning, and Holy curse effects on weapons and items.

Curse effects
Adjusted Continuous HP Loss and Continuous HP Recovery.

Tricephalos raid event
Decreased attack power of summoned wolves.

Night Aspect
Additional attack types when all Nightfarers own The Forsaken Hollows DLC.

When engulfed in the Night’s Tide in the Great Hollows Shifting Earth, the player character’s feet will now appear to be burning. The range of clues discovered when using a map to reveal hidden clues has been expanded. The Night Aspect also gains additional attack types if every Nightfarer present owns the DLC.

Scholar Gets a Big Dose of TLC

Scholar mains have plenty to celebrate. A stack count display has been added to the damage negation reduction icon that appears when hitting enemies with level 3 Dart-type items thanks to the Scholar’s Bagcraft Skill. Scholar’s Ultimate Art Communion will no longer break when transforming using Executor's Ultimate Art Aspects of the Crucible: Beast.

A long list of Scholar bugs has been squashed. The effect of Scholar's Skill Communion no longer continues to apply when no other targets are affected. Damage to linked enemies and healing to allies now propagate correctly if a Scholar enters a Near Death state during Communion. Scholar's Skill Analyze now properly gains art gauge from the shockwave triggered on oneself at maximum charge. The number of targets analyzed no longer resets when another player opens a door to transition to a boss fight inside the Spirit Tree shelter.

Bagcraft received several fixes. The damage negation reduction effect’s duration now extends correctly when hitting enemies with level 3 Dart items. The effect now applies according to the number of hits when hitting enemies with level 3 Fan Daggers. The healing effect added to the level 3 Holy Water Pot now causes damage to the Royal Revenant. Crystal Tear count now displays correctly when obtaining a second one from Dormant Powers. Frozen Needle attack motions have also been fixed.

Combat, Skills, and Weapon Fixes

The patch is packed with combat corrections. The immortality granted by Revenant's Ultimate Art Immortal March is now properly overwritten by other visual effects. The effect added by Mists of Slumber to the Sword of St. Trina no longer disappears upon taking enemy attacks. Bow attacks affected by Black Flame Blade and Bloodflame Blade incantations now remove the frostbite status effect from enemies. Improved Rolling Attacks now applies to Bows, and Partial HP Restoration upon Post-Damage Attacks now triggers on critical hits with Bows.

Other fixes include: players no longer accumulate frostbite while standing on Holy Ground created by a weapon imbued with frost by Chilling Mist; Black Flame Blade effects now apply to Frenzyflame Thrust; and the same incantation no longer applies to the hitboxes of Wave of Gold and Thundercloud Form. Golden Retaliation and Carian Retaliation now rescue allies from a near-death state in more instances. Attack power enhancing effects now apply to Regal Beastclaw and Wave of Gold. Charging by holding the cast button now enhances Ancient Death Rancor and Beast Claw. The post-cast delay of Beast Claw can now be canceled by chaining it with a sorcery or incantation.

Recluse’s Passive Skill Elemental Defense now displays attribute marks correctly when attacking with a weapon imbued by Order's Blade. Black Flame's Protection no longer reduces shared healing from the Flask Also Heals Allies relic effect unless the ally is also under its effect. Creates Holy Ground at Low HP effects no longer overwrite each other when players with the same special effect stand near each other. Critical Hits Inflict Blood Loss now displays its physical attack power enhancement. Communion Grants Anti-Dragon Effect now adds additional physical damage. Cold Mirage now applies properly to Executor's Ultimate Art Aspects of the Crucible: Beast.

The Power to Balance the World special effect also received attention. A near-death animation has been added when reviving with this effect. A bug that caused solo Expedition players to be defeated even after reviving through this power has been fixed.

Bosses, Raids, and Shifting Earth

FromSoftware read the riot act to a host of boss and raid bugs. In the Sentient Pest fight, the boss now loses sight of the player when Duchess's Ultimate Art Finale is used. The Dancer of the Boreal Valley no longer blocks other players from dealing damage during a critical hit. Gaping Jaw’s ground-based attacks have improved hit detection and effect positioning. Everdark Sovereign Equilibrious Beast no longer spawns enemy Raiders if a Revenant in specific costumes is present.

The Dreglord fight received multiple fixes: spells and ghosts from Revenant's Summon Spirit now aim correctly, enemy attacks intended for specific players no longer target others, players no longer get stuck inside objects, and multiplayer music timing now aligns with the intended sequence. The Balancers fight now plays grab attack sound effects. Demon in Pain and Demon from Below now show a defeat animation when defeated simultaneously, and arrows hitting their heads deal increased damage.

Some Night bosses no longer die if a player who previously left the session rejoins. The Curseblade Night boss version no longer performs specific attacks at unintended timings. Enemies summoned by some bosses in The Great Hollows Shifting Earth now disappear after the boss is defeated. The Tree Guard in the temple can now die. Enemy behavior has been adjusted, and unintended enemies no longer appear in some areas. Omenkillers in the Blacksmith Village can now be hit under all conditions. DLC enemies now drop appropriate weapons upon defeat.

The Great Hollows Shifting Earth also saw fixes for HP restoration after Crystal Curse deaths, site of graces and blacksmithing tables appearing without the special merchant, immunity to Crystal Curse in certain areas, progression blocks in the temple, extra enemies during boss fights, players getting stuck on treasure chests, Spiritstream usability after rejoin, Raider's Ultimate Art Totem Stela spawning underground, missing runes after temple boss defeats, missing Spiritstream map icons, and missing Enemy felled messages.

Raid events were not spared. In Augur, the powerful water bomb no longer becomes invisible to rejoining players. In Tricephalos, summoned wolves now disappear immediately after clearing, their HP is correct for 2-3 player Expeditions, damage reduction rates match intent, and the event no longer drags on if the last enemy appears in the night boss spawn area. In Fissure in the Fog, blizzard effects display properly, fog no longer appears indoors at some strongholds, multiple bosses no longer appear for rejoining players, and runes are awarded correctly. In Balancer, the Balancer now appears reliably.

UI, Menus, and Quality-of-Life

When swapping identical consumables in the Equipment Menu, they now combine according to their stack limit. Icons and explanations now indicate active effects for some special effects in the status menu. When pinning an item, the item rarity color now displays in the You indicated equipment message. The Map Display key can now be remapped in the system menu's keyboard/mouse settings, though remapping it also changes navigation keys in some menus, such as Open All Presets in the Relic Rites Menu.

Menu bugs have been cleaned up. The Status Menu now reflects allied players’ decreased level state after death. Empty talisman slots no longer show empty popups in the Status Menu and Victor's Record. Map icons from a different depth no longer linger when switching floor displays. Scarabs, Treasures, and Sites of Grace in The Great Hollows Shifting Earth now appear in correct map locations. The Enemy felled message no longer appears twice for a specific powerful enemy. The Relic Rite Menu no longer incorrectly displays the Revenant Power up while fighting alongside family effect for Scholar and Undertaker. Filter functions now respect DLC ownership and Deep of Night unlock status. Item help now works in the Equipment section of the Visual Codex menu.

Performance, Platform, and Update Notes

Under the hood, FromSoftware fixed several minor menu display issues, graphics and effects rendering issues, sound effects that were not playing correctly, and revised some texts. The list of prohibited words has been updated. The game no longer crashes when transitioning to Battle Results or the Title screen while targeting allies with Scholar's Analyze skill. On PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, a crash when opening and closing the button configuration menu from controller settings has been fixed. German text for the next objective in the journal menu is no longer cut off.

Matchmaking also received a fix. While The Great Hollows Shifting Earth was active, players could not match with players who did not possess The Forsaken Hollows DLC when starting an Expedition other than Balancers or Dreglord. That has been corrected. Starting a Deep of Night Expedition with a pre-made team now shows the dialog warning about a decrease in Deep of Night rating when pressing Return to Title Menu. Deep of Night win/loss results now reflect correctly in the rating, depending on network environment.

The version number shown at the lower right corner of the Title Screen will be App Ver. 1.03.1 and Regulation Ver. 1.03.2. On PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S, Regulation files can be downloaded by logging in to the server. If the Regulation Ver. listed is not 1.03.2, players should select LOGIN and apply the latest regulation before enjoying the game. Online play requires this update. After downloading the update file, players should restart the game and apply the update. Further updates will be distributed in the future so players can continue to enjoy ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN more comfortably.

As 2026 rolls on, this patch remains a key checkpoint for anyone diving into The Deep of Night. The devil is in the details, and FromSoftware has clearly put in the spit and polish. For Nightfarers who own The Forsaken Hollows, the new targets, Landmarks, raid events, and Shifting Earth content make it a whole new ballgame. For everyone else, the bug fixes alone are worth the download.

With a patch like this, it's clear that the developers are committed to refining the experience long after launch. For players who have exhausted the current content or are simply looking to diversify their gaming diet, the world of online game deals can be a treasure trove. Keeping an eye on price drops and limited-time offers is a smart way to expand your library without overspending.

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Alright, fellow masochists—I mean, Silksong players. If you're stuck in The Slab, staring at locked doors like a raccoon trying to open a jar of pickles, you need the Key of Apostate. And let me tell you, getting this key is like trying to find a specific grain of sand on a beach while seagulls dive-bomb your head. But I did it, and I'm here to spare you some of the agony.

First, the key isn't even in The Slab. It's in Putrified Ducts. Of course it is. Because why make things simple? You'll need Clawline and Double Jump. No exceptions. If you don't have those, go get them. I'll wait. ?️

Where to Find the Key of Apostate

There are two routes to Putrified Ducts. I tried both. One made me question my life choices; the other made me question the developers' childhoods.

Route
Starting Point
What You Need
Vibe

Upper
Memorium
Find a secret opening in the ceiling, climb, break a rock
Like sneaking into a VIP lounge through a vent

Lower
Bilewater
Defeat a boss
Like paying full price for a movie then realizing you left your wallet at home

I took the upper route first. From the top of Putrified Ducts (accessed from Memorium), I had to find a secret opening in the ceiling. Pro tip: it's in one of the rooms, and you'll need to walk to the end of Memorium, climb a wall, and destroy a breakable rock. Easy, right? No. It's like trying to find a light switch in a dark room while wearing mittens.

Once inside Putrified Ducts, the real fun begins. Start from the Bellway and climb up using Double Jump. You'll eventually reach Shakra's location. Use the vertical platforms as shields from enemy ranged attacks. I felt like a turtle hiding in its shell, except the shell was a floating platform and the turtle was a bug with a needle.



Then you Clawline your way across, cling to walls, and jump higher. There are green bulbs—use them. They're like nature's grappling hooks. Platform your way up, avoid spikes, shoot enemies with Clawline, and eventually you'll reach a room with temporary platforms over water. Don't fall. I fell. Twice. The water is not a jacuzzi. ??

After more climbing, Double Jumps, and Clawline shenanigans, you'll reach a boss fight. Prepare yourself. You'll first fight flying enemies that shoot from afar. Use Clawline to reach them and deal damage. Then Groal appears. He dives into the water and jumps up high, plunges, and shoots multiple projectiles. It's like fighting a caffeinated dolphin with a grudge. Once you win, go left, cut a rope to create a shortcut, and jump up to Putrified Ducts. Use the platform to go higher, enter a left tunnel, and beware of a big enemy in the dark. Deal with it or sneak past, jump to the left platform, destroy the glowing object, and claim the Key of Apostate. You can also start the Broodfeast quest here.

Where to Use the Key of Apostate

Now you have the key. Congratulations! You're still not done. The key can be used on two locks in The Slab. One unlocks a new area; the other reveals a puzzle.

First Lock: Enter The Slab Without Being Kidnapped

From The Slab Bellway, go up and turn right. Go through the door, go up to open a shortcut, then slide down. Proceed right into a room with lore tablets. Look up and combine Double Jump and Clawline to climb a tunnel. Enter the door at the end, keep going left until you see the Heretic Lock. Use the key. Now you can roam freely and gather the remaining keys. No more kidnapping. That's a win in my book.

Second Lock: The Puzzle

From the Heretic Lock, head up to find a bench sign. Continue climbing to the top to reach the second lock. Inside, there's a puzzle. Solve it to get a mask shard. Here's how:

Press the button four times to spawn four wheels. ?

Double Jump onto the platform above.

Wait for a wheel to come closer, then use it to jump higher and cling to the left wall.

Climb higher to easily jump on the two wheels and cling to the right wall.

Wait for one wheel to approach the ledge, then jump on it to reach the platform.

Grab the mask shard. ?



And that's it. You've done it. You've beaten the game's attempt to make you pull your hair out. I celebrated by eating a whole pizza and questioning why I play games like this. But hey, that mask shard is worth it. Probably.

So there you go. The Key of Apostate, found and used. May your Clawline always latch and your Double Jumps always land. ??️

If you're anything like me, finishing a guide like this usually means you're already eyeing your next challenge. Whether that's another Metroidvania or a completely different genre, the real boss fight is often the price tag. That's where game price tracker comes in—DealNest keeps an eye on discounts across stores so you don't have to camp on a dozen tabs waiting for a sale.

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Introduction About Salma Celeste Paralluelo Ayingono



Salma Celeste Paralluelo Ayingono is a Spanish footballer born on November 13, 2003, in Zaragoza, Spain. Playing for FC Barcelona’s women’s team, she has established herself as one of the most exciting left-wing talents in the modern game. Her pace, direct running, technical ability, and attacking instinct make her a constant threat down the left side.

Paralluelo has already enjoyed remarkable success at both youth and senior international level. She helped Spain win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup before contributing to the senior national team’s historic Women’s World Cup triumph on August 20, 2023. Her ability to deliver in major tournaments reflects her confidence, maturity, and quality on the biggest stage.

At club level, she continued to add important trophies with Barcelona, winning the Copa de la Reina in May 2024 and the 2023–24 UEFA Women’s Champions League later that month. In recognition of her outstanding performances, she finished third in the 2024 Women’s Ballon d’Or voting and was named in the FIFA Women’s World Best XI in December 2024.

Salma Celeste Paralluelo Ayingono's card

Salma Celeste Paralluelo Ayingono’s 87-rated Left Wing card is built to make a decisive impact in attack, boasting outstanding 93 pace alongside 84 shooting, 79 passing, 85 dribbling, 46 defending, and 78 physicality. As a rapid and technically gifted winger, she can burst beyond full-backs, carry the ball into dangerous areas, and create immediate pressure on the opposition’s defensive line. Her combination of explosive speed, agile dribbling, and reliable finishing makes her an excellent option for tearing open wide spaces, cutting inside to threaten goal, and seizing key scoring opportunities to help secure the result.



How to Obtain Salma Celeste Paralluelo Ayingono's Player Card

To obtain Salma Celeste Paralluelo Ayingono's card in FC 27, there are several methods, each with its own drawbacks. First, you can purchase card packs and try your luck, but the chances of getting the card are relatively low and uncertain, so this method can waste coins without any guarantee. Second, you can complete SBC (Squad Building Challenges) tasks, which may reward you with her card, although this approach requires submitting squads that meet specific requirements and may cost time, coins, or valuable players before you receive the reward. Third, you can directly purchase the card from the transfer market, where the current market price is set at around 0.26 million FC 27 Coins, making it a reliable but quite expensive option. In short, you can try pack luck, grind SBCs, or pay the market price, but each route involves either uncertainty, effort and squad costs, or a high coin cost.



Fastest Ways to Earn FC 27 Coins



Selling player cards, completing weekly objectives, and grinding game modes are the usual ways to earn fifa coins, but they can be slow and heavily dependent on your skill, pack luck, and available playtime. If you are saving up for a high-value card such as Salma Celeste Paralluelo Ayingono, collecting enough fc coins through these methods may take far longer than expected.

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As someone who played the original Hollow Knight at launch and has logged countless hours since, I've always regarded it as the pinnacle of the Metroidvania genre. Its charm, tight design, and exploration were unmatched. So when Hollow Knight: Silksong finally arrived, I was both excited and apprehensive. Could a sequel improve on near-perfection? After spending dozens of hours in Pharloom, I can say it does—and one of the most surprising improvements comes from a character who replaces one of Hollow Knight's greatest icons: Cornifer the cartographer.

In Hollow Knight, Cornifer was pure comic relief. His timid, naive enthusiasm contrasted sharply with the Knight's silent resolve. I still remember the relief of hearing his humming in Deepnest, a soothing presence in a terrifying area. He was lovable, yes, but his role was limited: he sold only the map of the area you were in, and map markers were sold separately by his wife Iselda in Dirtmouth. This meant unnecessary backtracking in a game already full of it. Cornifer was a map dispenser, not a merchant.



Shakra, his replacement in Silksong, is a different beast entirely. She is a formidable, solemn warrior who believes cartography is a way to hone her spirit. Our rapport with her evolves throughout the game, and she feels like a true ally rather than a quirky NPC. She trades Cornifer's paper scraps for metal chakrams, a clear signal of Pharloom's alien danger. More importantly, she is a one-stop shop: she sells maps, map markers, and other helpful items. She effectively combines Cornifer and Iselda into one convenient, dynamic character. She even assists Hornet in specific battles, deepening their connection and endearing herself to me through sheer practicality.



I recall my first encounter with Shakra in Deep Docks. I was low on health, lost, and frustrated. Her stoic demeanor and the soft clink of her chakrams were oddly comforting. When she later joined me in a fight, I felt a surge of gratitude. This is what Silksong does so well: it takes familiar systems and reinvents them with deeper narrative and mechanical integration.



To illustrate the differences, here's a quick comparison:

Aspect
Cornifer (Hollow Knight)
Shakra (Silksong)

Personality
Timid, comic relief
Solemn, warrior-spiritual

Role
Map seller only
Full-service merchant (maps, markers, items)

Combat
None
Assists in specific battles

Story
Light, humorous
Evolving rapport with Hornet

Convenience
Requires backtracking to Iselda
One-stop shop

This table makes it clear: Shakra is not just a replacement; she's an upgrade. She fits Pharloom's dangerous, alien nature perfectly, and her presence feels organic rather than forced. Cornifer will always have a place in my heart, but Shakra has earned my respect.

In 2026, as I look back on my time with Silksong, I appreciate how Team Cherry wasn't afraid to change a beloved formula. Shakra embodies that boldness. She's a warrior, a cartographer, and a companion—all in one. If you're still hesitant about Silksong's changes, let me assure you: Shakra is a worthy successor, and perhaps even better than the original. ??️⚔️

If Shakra's practicality taught me anything, it's that convenience matters more than nostalgia — and that principle applies just as much to how I shop for games as it does to how I navigate Pharloom. Chasing down scattered storefronts for a decent price on a title I want feels a lot like backtracking to Dirtmouth just to buy a map marker. Lately I've been using DealNest to keep that hunt in one place, and the one-stop-shop logic holds up nicely.

It's the same instinct that makes Shakra such a welcome presence: fewer detours, more time actually playing. Whether I'm hunting down a discount on a metroidvania I've been eyeing or stocking up on something entirely different, having a single reliable hub beats bouncing between a dozen tabs. Give it a look the next time you're weighing a purchase — you might find the trip was shorter than expected.

Introduction About Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana

Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana is a footballer who makes the right wing his stage. With a left foot that can curl, strike, and slide passes into dangerous areas, he turns isolated duels into opportunities and gives his team a constant outlet on the flank. Even at a young age, he plays with a composure that suggests he belongs among senior professionals.

A product of Barcelona’s youth system, he rose through La Masia before establishing himself in the first team. As a right winger, his strengths are easy to see: nimble footwork, acceleration, vision, and the confidence to take on defenders. He can hug the touchline, cut inside to shoot, or deliver an early cross, making him difficult for opponents to predict and contain.

For Spain, he has already contributed on major stages, bringing energy and invention to the attack. Whether for club or country, his best work comes from the right, where he stretches defenses and creates moments of brilliance. Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana is therefore not just a promising talent but a genuinely effective right-wing player, one whose future appears exceptionally bright.

Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana's card

Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana’s 90-rated Right Wing card stands out as an elite attacking option, combining 86 pace, 84 shooting, 87 passing, and an exceptional 93 dribbling rating. While his 38 defense and 61 physicality reflect his attack-first profile, his technical quality makes him a constant threat in the final third. As a winger, Yamal can burst past full-backs, weave through tight defensive lines, and create decisive chances with either a dangerous pass or a composed finish, helping you break open stubborn defenses and secure crucial goals.



How to Obtain Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana's Player Card

To obtain Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana's card in FC 27, there are several methods, each with its own drawbacks. The first method is to purchase card packs and try your luck, but the chances of getting the card are relatively low and uncertain. The second method is to complete SBC (Squad Building Challenges) tasks, which may reward you with Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana's card, though the reward is not guaranteed. The third method is to directly purchase the card from the transfer market, where the current market price is set at around 0.17 million FC 27 Coins, making it quite expensive.



Fastest Ways to Earn FC 27 Coins



Common methods to earn FC 27 Coins include selling player cards from your club, completing weekly objectives, and playing various game modes for rewards, but earning fc coins this way has clear limitations because progress depends heavily on skill or luck. If you are saving for a player card such as Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana, its high price can mean spending a lot of time and still not making enough.

Fortunately, LootBar.com offers a faster route as a trusted trading platform where you can buy fc 27 coins at the safest and cheapest rates, with a 10% discount for newly registered users and regular special offers. The purchased FC 27 Coins arrive quickly through a secure trading method that protects your account and avoids bans, so if you would rather buy fifa coins from a reliable source than keep grinding, you can head to LootBar and get the Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana card you want right away.

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