Hollow Knight: Silksong – How to Unlock and Upgrade Crests

In Hollow Knight: Silksong, players will see a system called Crests that will take the place of Charms in the previous game. Crests grant movement abilities, combat abilities, and the ability for Hornet to use specific tools. The Capable system of Crest will allow players to alter their playstyle in Hollow Knight: Silksong, by altering how she moves and how she slots tools. Below is a summary of the confirmed information on Crests, on how to obtain and upgrade them, described as precisely and factually as feasible.

What Are Crests and the Functionality

Crests are equippable items that define Hornet’s moveset, or type of moveset, that further defines how many and what type of Tool Slots she has. Tools are necessary to utilize the different abilities, and tools can be grouped (such as Red (offensive), Blue (defensive), and Yellow (exploration/passive effects/utility effects) to change the way the game is played. All of the Crests have a different number of initial slots and will unlock different combat options. As a simple example, the starting Crest (Hunter Crest) has relatively equal slot distribution and advanced Crests have either some custom distribution or special effects.

List of Known Crests

These Crests are currently confirmed with verified locations and effects:

Hunter Crest

Image via: Team Cherry

Starting Crest: Available immediately.

Slots: One Tool Slot of each color (Red, Blue, Yellow), plus opportunities for additional upgrades via Memory Lockets; Moveset: A full range of standard attacks and a standard Heal ability using Bind.

Reaper Crest

Image via: Team Cherry

Location: “Chapel of the Reaper”, Greymoor.

Slots: Multiple slots and bonus Silk gained from hitting enemy foes.

Moveset: Changes your attacks to heavy, wide arcs of attack; sacrifices a bit of speed for spirit return and range.

Wanderer Crest

Image via: Team Cherry

Location: Bonegrave area west of Moss Grotto (Bone Bottom in some texts); requires key to access.

Slots: Balanced slots and focuses on speed.

Moveset: Faster and accurate strikes, slightly shorter range; best for agile, aggressive action.

Beast Crest

Image via: Team Cherry

Location: Defeated a boss, Beastfly, at, “Chapel of the Beast”, Hunter’s March.

Slots and Effects: On double charging high offense and possibly life leeching or berserk (confirming description is necessary).

Equipping Crests

Changing Crests is straightforward: rest at any bench, open the equipment menu, and select the Crest you want to use. Then, slot in tools as you prefer.

Upgrading Crests

What are Memory Lockets?

Memory Lockets are unique items that allow you to unlock more Tool Slots on a single Crest, but you must upgrade each Crest separately.

How can Memory Lockets be obtained

They can be:
Discovering them in hidden areas (found as unique glowing pickups).
Purchased at Mort’s shop in the Far Fields for Rosaries.
Reward from a quest. For instance, by completing the Volatile Flintbeetles quest by Bone Bottom.

Using a Memory Locket

Image via: Team Cherry

At the bench, go to the Crest menu, and look for the small circles next to your Crest’s slot UI. Each color has its own memory locket that you can use to unlock an additional slot. Available colors are Red, Blue and Yellow. Since you can’t get a ton of lockets, spend wisely.

Conclusion

The Crest system in Hollow Knight: Silksong provides players meaningful flexibility to choose Crests which create changes to both movement and combat strategy. Memory Lockets let you unlock more Crests but are a limited item so consider your upgrades wisely. With confirmed information as it stands, players can create builds that allow them to strategize the direction they want to go.