Working out where to use your first Simple Key in Hollow Knight: Silksong is a tough choice, especially since there are multiple options at the start of the game, and you'll want to unlock what will benefit you the most. You can buy the Simple Key from Pebb in Bone Bottom for 500 Rosaries, which is quite a lot when you've just started exploring Pharloom.
Thankfully, there are three other Simple Key locations later in the game, and the same number of locked doors, so you're not going to miss out on anything by using your first key straight away. You'll simply have to find the others—with the help of this guide—to unlock any further doors you do run into.
Where to use your first Simple Key in Silksong
There are two different locations where you can use the Simple Key you purchase from Pebb close to the start of the game.
Directly above Bone Bottom
You can reach this door once you acquire the Swift Step dash ability in the Deep Docks. To get here:
- Travel to The Marrow Bellway and head left through Mosshome
- Drop down at the far end past the pilgrim enemies
- Head immediately left to find yourself above Bone Bottom
- Jump up to the edge of the chasm and use the midair dash to reach the hanging cage, before dashing again to reach the other side
- Go through the entrance and hide under a platform from the acid-spitting bug, then sprint to the far end to avoid it
Just in the next room, you'll find the locked door on the left. This leads to the Wormways region and gives you a way to access Bonegrave in the Bone Bottom area, and grab the Wanderer crest. This is definitely the best use for your first Simple Key.
At the far side of the Deep Docks
This is just after the mini-boss with the ringing bell and all the forge enemies. To get here:
- Travel to the Deep Docks Bellway
- Head right across Deep Docks and hit the lever to drop down instead of carrying on to Lace
- Take the lifts down and go right to find the miniboss arena.
- Continue past the arena and over the lava to find the door
This leads into a sub-area of the Deep Docks, where you'll actually have to head later as part of The Dark Below quest in Act 3. It has some tough enemies, but also quite a few Rosaries to grab.
More Simple Key locations and where to use them
Besides the Simple Key you buy from Pebb, there are three more you can access in the game:
- Dropped by a Roachkeeper miniboss at the top of Sinner's Road: You can access this area directly above the Halfway House in Greymoor. Climb the left tower in Greymoor (with the Chapel of the Reaper), then take the right upper walkway, unlock the elevator shortcut, and climb a little higher to access Sinner's Road.
- Found on a body sitting at the far right of the Sands of Karak area: You can access the Sands of Karak via the left side of the Blasted Steps once you have the clawline ability. Simply beat the Great Conchflies boss and use the clawline above the Pinstress's balloon.
- Purchased from Jubilana the merchant at Songclave: You'll first have rescue her in The Wandering Merchant quest which appears on the First Shrine's Wish Wall.
There are also two additional places you can use these Simple Keys. These are:
- Unlocking the Green Prince's cell in Sinner's Road: This is an important step in eventually accessing the Verdania area in Act 3, and since the Green Prince's cell is located in Sinner's Road near the entrance, it's the perfect use for the key you find there.
- Unlocking the vault in the High Halls area: This will get you a lot of Rosaries and the Rosary Cannon tool. Considering it's relatively close to Jubilana and Songclave, this would be a great use for her key. The vault itself is just above the entrance to the High Halls gauntlet, so you'll naturally encounter it while searching for the Conductor's Melody.
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