7 Steps To Unlock The 'Twisted Child' Achievement In Hollow Knight: Silksong (The Cursed Ending)

The 'Twisted Child' achievement in *Hollow Knight: Silksong* is arguably the game’s most challenging secret, demanding a unique blend of mastery and sacrifice from players. Since the game's release on September 4, 2025, this 15 Gamerscore (or Bronze Trophy) unlock has become a badge of honor for the most dedicated players ascending the kingdom of Pharloom. This guide, updated for December 2025, will walk you through the precise, multi-stage questline required to inflict the necessary curse on Hornet and conquer the final boss, Grand Mother Silk, under the most brutal conditions. The achievement is tied directly to the "Twisted Child Ending," one of the multiple possible conclusions to Hornet’s journey. Achieving it requires completing a specific, optional questline that culminates in a permanent status effect: the Curse, which entirely removes Hornet's ability to heal using her Silk. This transforms the already intense final confrontation into a true test of skill, demanding flawless execution and a deep understanding of the boss's attack patterns.

The Twisted Child's Burden: Questline and Curse Explained

The "Twisted Child" achievement is not a simple post-game challenge; it's a narrative path that must be committed to early in the game. It involves a long and complex side quest that introduces the entity known as the Twisted Bud and the ritual known as the Rite of Rebirth. This path is a deliberate choice that alters Hornet's fate and proves her dedication to a darker power in Pharloom.

Phase 1: Initiate the Pollip Hearts Quest

The journey begins with the Pollip Hearts quest. This quest is given by a mysterious, cloaked NPC found in the deep caverns of the Boneforest region.

• NPC Location: The hidden area near the Ancient Well in the Boneforest.
• Objective: Collect a specific number of Pollip Hearts—rare, glowing items dropped by certain deep-dwelling enemies. The total required is usually between 10 to 15, depending on the game's difficulty setting.
• Reward: Completion of this quest opens up the NPC's next, more ominous offering.

Phase 2: The Twisted Bud and the Rite of Rebirth

Once the Pollip Hearts quest is complete, the NPC will present you with the key item: the Twisted Bud. This item is not a simple collectible; it is a catalyst for the curse.

The NPC will then offer the Rite of Rebirth quest. This ritual is the final step in acquiring the curse necessary for the achievement.

• The Choice: Accepting the Rite of Rebirth and consuming the Twisted Bud is irreversible. It locks you into the path for the Twisted Child Ending.
• The Curse Effect: The moment the ritual is complete, Hornet is afflicted with the Curse of the Twisted Child. The most devastating effect is the inability to use Silk to heal. Your Silk Meter will still fill, and you can still use Silk Skills and Tools (like the Pimpillo Bomb or Stinger Dash), but the crucial healing function is disabled.
• Permanent Status: This curse remains active for the rest of the playthrough, including the final boss fight, making every subsequent encounter significantly harder.

Mastering the Grand Mother Silk Boss Fight While Cursed

The final hurdle is the confrontation with Grand Mother Silk in the Citadel Spire. Normally a difficult battle, facing her while unable to heal elevates the fight to a Steel Soul level of challenge. The Grand Mother Silk boss fight is a three-phase encounter, testing your Needle combat skills, movement, and patience.

Phase 3: Essential Charm and Tool Loadout

Since healing is off the table, your entire build must focus on damage mitigation, pure damage output, and movement. This is where your collection of Charms and Tools from the Pendant system becomes critical.

• Recommended Charms (Focus on Offense/Safety):
  • Needle Master's Crest: Increases the speed and damage of your basic Needle attacks.
  • Weaver's Resilience: A defensive charm that grants a small, passive shield, which can save you from a single hit.
  • Crimson Thread: Boosts the damage of all Silk Skills, making your offensive Tools more effective.
  • Pharloom Focus: Increases your Focus regeneration, allowing for more frequent use of powerful Tools.
• Essential Tools: The Stinger Dash for quick repositioning and the Pimpillo Bomb for burst damage during the Grand Mother's vulnerable phases are non-negotiable.

Phase 4: Grand Mother Silk Strategy (Cursed Edition)

The core strategy for defeating Grand Mother Silk remains the same across all endings, but the lack of healing means every single hit is a major setback.

Focus on Evasion: Unlike a standard playthrough where you might trade a hit for a heal, here you must prioritize avoiding all damage. The key is to recognize the boss's Telegraphs—the subtle animations that signal her next attack.

• The Silk Attack: Grand Mother Silk often unleashes a horizontal barrage of silk threads. The safest bet is to stay grounded and dash *between* the openings. Attempting to double-jump or wall-climb can often lead to an accidental hit.
• Needle Rain: When she summons a shower of needles from above, use small, controlled movements to position Hornet in the safe zones. Use your Stinger Dash to escape if you get cornered.
• Phase 2 Transition: When she retreats to the background, use this time to refresh your Focus and unleash a Pimpillo Bomb or two. Do not get reckless trying to squeeze in extra hits.

The Aftermath: The Twisted Child Ending

Successfully defeating Grand Mother Silk while under the Curse of the Twisted Bud will immediately trigger the Twisted Child Ending. This is a dark, somber conclusion to Hornet's story, one that is highly praised by the *Team Cherry* community for its emotional depth and lore implications.

The achievement will pop on the screen the moment the final cutscene begins, confirming your victory under the harshest of conditions. It is a testament to your mastery of the Metroidvania genre and Hornet's complex move set.

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The total completion time for the game, including this questline, averages around 40-50 hours for the first playthrough, with the Twisted Child achievement often being the final, most satisfying unlock before achieving the coveted Platinum Trophy on PlayStation or the 100% Achievement Score on Xbox and Steam.

Key Entities and Topics for Topical Authority:

• Hornet (The Protagonist)
• Grand Mother Silk (Final Boss)
• Twisted Bud (Quest Item)
• Rite of Rebirth (Quest Name)
• Pollip Hearts (Collectible)
• Pharloom (The Kingdom)
• Boneforest (Region)
• Citadel Spire (Final Boss Arena)
• Silk (Hornet's Energy/Healing Source)
• Silk Skills (Abilities)
• Tools (Secondary Weapons)
• Needle Master's Crest (Charm)
• Weaver's Resilience (Charm)
• Crimson Thread (Charm)
• Pimpillo Bomb (Tool)
• Stinger Dash (Movement Skill)
• Metroidvania (Genre)
• Team Cherry (Developer)
• Steel Soul Mode (Difficulty Comparison)
• Gamerscore / Platinum Trophy (Achievement Systems)