In the original Hollow Knight, Hornet, now the playable protagonist in Silksong, was a formidable, recurring boss who instilled dread in players venturing through Greenpath and Kingdom’s Edge. But tables have turned, and a new antagonist now stands in Hornet’s path.
Early in their Silksong adventure, players will cross paths with Lace, positioned as one of the toughest initial bosses within Deep Docks. However, one victory is not the end, as she will return for a rematch later in the game.
As Hornet ascends toward The Cradle, preparing to face Grand Mother Silk, Lace makes her second appearance, bringing new abilities and strategies to make this encounter far more challenging than their first. This guide offers tips and tactics for triumphing over Lace in this renewed confrontation.
Where To Find Lace’s Second Boss Fight
To begin the battle, players must collect the threefold melodies needed to activate the elevator near the Cogwork Core. This involves navigating the Whispering Vaults, scaling the High Halls, and overcoming obstacles within the Cogwork Core.
This task requires the player to find a hidden audio cylinder for an NPC, conquer one of the game’s most challenging battle arenas, and successfully complete a combination of platforming challenges and puzzles.
Once all three melodies are gathered, return to the elevator, play the required tunes, and ascend. However, be prepared: the battle with Lace commences immediately upon exiting the elevator.
How to Prepare for Lace 2
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</div>The second encounter with Lace mirrors the first in Deep Docks but features expanded mechanics and a less forgiving moveset. A strategic setup is crucial for success.
While there isn’t a definitive “must-have” loadout, consider the following based on likely available gear:
Within this setup, the Cogfly and Silkspeed Anklets are notably helpful. The Cogfly allows consistent tool spamming, dealing significant damage and potentially shortening the fight before Lace unleashes her most dangerous attacks.
The Silkspeed Anklets provide essential agility. This fight requires quick reactions: striking Lace, then swiftly retreating. The Anklets enhance movement, allowing you to sprint across the arena to safety.
The Barbed Bracelet is best avoided unless you can confidently handle the first two phases. Since most damage will come from well-timed nail attacks, the bracelet *could* shorten the fight but might add unnecessary risk.
<div class="custom_block-content tip"><p>As part of your preparations, consider resting at the Memorium bench before taking the elevator to shorten the run back if needed.</p>
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How To Beat Lace 2
Phase One
Lace’s second fight is a test of reflexes and masterful movement, as she is both fast and powerful. Staying mobile is crucial. Avoid prolonged close-quarters combat; instead, carefully select opportunities to attack, then retreat to safety on the opposite side of the arena.
During the first phase, Lace will constantly close the distance with a series of stab attacks. Sprint away from these and consider a pogo attack when you’ve exhausted your retreat options.
She also has a jump attack followed by a diagonal lunge. To avoid this, anticipate where she will land, jump over the point of impact, and perform a pogo attack upon her landing.
Lace will also execute a thrust attack, sliding across much of the arena. Wait for her to begin the move, leap into the air, and pogo off her head before repositioning yourself on the far side of the arena.
The pattern repeats, but her parry ability can disrupt your rhythm. If you hear a clinking sound as she blocks your attack, immediately move away to avoid a flurry of stabs that inflict significant damage. The audio cue is your signal to retreat.
Phase Two
After stunning Lace for the first time, the fight intensifies as she incorporates area-of-effect attacks into her repertoire. Her jump attack now leaves a trail of three light bubbles that inflict damage upon contact. Dashing beneath her jump attacks and striking her from behind in the space between the bubbles becomes a more reliable strategy.
Aside from this addition, the fight proceeds similarly. Continue to carefully chip away at her health until you stun her again, advancing to the final, most challenging phase.
Phase Three
The third phase is the most challenging, with potential dangers filling the screen. Lace now uses an attack reminiscent of your Thread Storm ability: she takes to the air, marks a large circular area covering a significant portion of the arena, and unleashes a barrage of attacks.
Fortunately, this attack is well-telegraphed. When you see a large circle with a bright, shimmering center, dash away as quickly as possible to avoid the incoming attacks.
This is the ideal time to spam your Cogfly minions. They can help to shorten this chaotic phase, preventing you from being caught in Lace’s onslaught of dangerous moves. If you can survive her barrage of attacks in this last phase, you will have finally defeated her for good.
Rewards For Defeating Lace 2
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</div>Similar to many mandatory boss encounters in the game, defeating Lace 2 doesn’t grant any specific in-game item rewards. However, victory unlocks access to The Cradle, the final area that leads to the game’s ending.
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Unity
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