Hollow Knight: Silksong Bilewater Map Guide

As its name implies, Bilewater is one of the most unpleasant locations in Hollow Knight: Silksong. It’s dank, dark, and full of poisoned water, and, to make matters worse, it’s exceptionally difficult to find a map. In Silksong, you generally unlock maps by purchasing them from Shakra, a traveling NPC who offers individual area maps and a wide variety of other useful navigation-related items.

But when it comes time to find your way through Bilewater, Shakra is seemingly nowhere to be found, and you’re basically on your own in the dark. In case you’re struggling to find your way through Bilewater and unlock the map.

Where To Find The Bilewater Map In Hollow Knight: Silksong

Finding Shakra In Bilewater

Shakra can be found in Bilewater at the location indicated on the map above – but, of course, if you’ve yet to unlock the map, that does you little good. Instead, we’re going to start from Whispering Vaults, and make our way to Shakra in Bilewater step-by-step.

Before you attempt to get the Bilewater map, note that you’ll need to unlock the double jump, wall jump, and glide abilities in order to get there. To get the double jump, you’ll also need to have unlocked the grappling hook, then travel to Mount Fay. The double jump shrine is located left of The Slab.

The wall jump is located in Shellwood, past the Sister Splinter boss. You can unlock the glide ability in Far Fields, by completing the sidequest “Flexile Spines.”

I recommend completing all this before exploring too deep into Bilewater, so you can have a map at your side when you do.

So, once you’ve got the double jump, start from Whispering Vaults, using the platforms you can push and pull in the large eastern area to climb to the upper-right corner of the room, where there’s a hidden passage. Continue right into the next area.

As soon as you enter, drop down a level, and continue right. At the end of this path, you’ll see a pendulum with a ring attached to it hanging from the ceiling. Jump up and attack it to lodge Hornet’s needle in it, and it’ll be pulled down by her weight.

Continue down, then right through the passage that opens up, taking care not to land on the circular saws. At the end of the hall, drop down through the gap, using Hornet’s glide ability in order to avoid the spikes.

Fall all the way down and into the next area, where you’ll want to head right through the water before jumping up and over another platform, at which point you’ll fall into the next area.

Next, head left and drop down, dashing right before you hit the ground to land on the wooden platform that juts out. Continue right until the path ends, then drop down again and head left. You’ll reach another hole that drops you down onto the next level; do so, then take the area exit to your left.

There’ll be another hole as soon as you enter; drop down, then continue running left. You’ll eventually see a sign for the Bellway fast travel system to the right.

Continue right through the next area, dodging enemies and pogo jumping over the bubbles to avoid the poisoned water as you head into the next area.

Using your wall jump and dash, head up to a higher platform on the right. Continue wall jumping and dashing all the way to the area exit in the upper-right corner of the room. Just beyond it, you’ll find Shakra, who’ll sell you the Bilewater map for just 90 Rosaries. Hope you saved up.

All Important Locations In Hollow Knight: Silksong’s Bilewater

Benches, Sidequests, Secrets, & More

As soon as you get the Bilewater map, you should head immediately to the closest bench so that you can save your game, alter your equipment, and unlock a nearby checkpoint in case you die.

From Shakra, run left, back to the long, vertical room you entered through. Drop down to the very bottom, and run left again through another, shorter corridor. Exit to the left, and, in the subsequent vertical room, drop to the bottom again. In the room immediately to the right, you’ll find both a bench and a fast travel point – unlock both before continuing.

Just to the left, you’ll encounter an Exhaust Organ, a large room with another bench, a lost flea in the northwest, and the Phantom boss. After defeating it, you can unlock the Cross Stitch (parry) ability, along with an elevator that’ll take you up to The Cauldron.

Up in the northeastern part of the map, in an area called Bilehaven, you’ll find an arena battle that culminates in a fight against Groal the Great. Beyond the boss, you can find a hidden passage to a Lore Tablet, along with a Seeker’s Soul (for the “Silk and Soul” sidequest).

Another bench is located southeast of Groal, behind an illusory wall two levels down. You’ll also find a Memory Locket and a Lore Tablet behind the same wall. Another lost flea is located just to its northwest.

If you head around to the west and down through the vertical chamber, then right and straight up, you’ll find the Quick Sling tool, which allows you to throw twice as many throwables at once. you’ll find a Mask Shard. Head back down and right from there, and you’ll find a Mask Shard.

Although there are a handful of other collectibles and enemies to be found around Bilewater, these are the big ones you’ll want to prioritize. Make sure you get the map and at least one of the benches before you continue along your Hollow Knight: Silksong journey.