In Hollow Knight: Silksong, some optional adventures stand out due to their strangeness, and the quest linked to the Twisted Bud is definitely one of them. It’s peculiar, unsettling, yet strangely captivating.
Describing the Twisted Bud is difficult. It acts like an item, taking up inventory space, but it’s also clearly alive. For simplicity, let’s just refer to it as a “thing.”
Locating this “thing” can be a bit of a challenge, and figuring out what to do with it presents an even greater hurdle. However, obtaining it sets off a chain of events that leads to two additional secret quests, both steeped in dark rituals and secrets hidden within the land of Pharloom.
Be warned: once you acquire the Twisted Bud, it will emit a crying sound every time you access your menus – inventory, quest log, map – which can quickly become irritating. Fortunately, this guide provides detailed instructions to navigate this bizarre quest, helping you avoid frustration.
This is a complete walkthrough to finding the Twisted Bud and successfully completing all stages of this unusual side quest, so you can reap the rewards – which, by the way, are definitely worth the effort – without losing your mind in the process.
Where To Find the Twisted Bud in Hollow Knight: Silksong
To begin your search for the Twisted Bud in Hollow Knight: Silksong, you’ll need to have either advanced to Act 2 of the main storyline or acquired the Faydown Cloak in Mount Fay.
The Twisted Bud is located in the upper western area of Bilewater. Reaching it requires one of the aforementioned conditions to be met. In short, you need to have made significant progress in the game.
The most straightforward and efficient method, in my opinion, is to progress through Act 2 of the main story until you naturally discover the Whispering Vaults, which conveniently leads you in a very direct route toward your objective.
Alternatively, if you’re determined to utilize the Faydown Cloak, you’ll need to enter Bilewater from Sinner’s Road and endure poisonous pools and hostile creatures to reach the desired area. This path may create unnecessary difficulties that we can avoid!
However, we will guide you through the Whispering Vaults. Once there, proceed until you come across the first room containing puzzle boxes. Strike the wall on the right (near the ceiling) a few times with your Nail to uncover a hidden passage. Within this passage, you can ascend to grab a Memory Locket (which I highly recommend) or descend to reach Bilewater.
Before taking the latter path, ensure you have rested at a Bench and are not carrying any Rosaries (find a merchant to convert them into Rosary Strings), as the plan involves entering Bilewater, retrieving the Twisted Bud, and then intentionally dying to quickly escape this dismal place. Furthermore, equip the red tool Cogfly to easily deal with the flying adversaries.
Upon descending from the Whispering Vaults into Bilewater (1), you’ll plunge straight into poisonous water. Initially, head left until you drop into an area with multiple pathways – from this point (2), continue heading as far left as you can. When your progress is halted, strike the walls to reveal hidden passages and continue onward.
Eventually, you’ll reach a dead-end, and you’ll begin to hear the desperate cries of a baby as you enter the final room (3). Simply follow the sound to collect the Twisted Bud at the end. Now, allow yourself to be defeated by an enemy in the previous areas to quickly return to your last Bench.
Check your menu; you’ll notice it now constantly emits cries whenever you open your inventory, quest logs, diary, or map. It’s also quite unsightly, resembling something from Bloodborne. That concludes the first step! Now, let’s deliver this “thing.”
What To Do With the Twisted Bud
Use fast travel to reach Bellhart, rest at the Bench, and again, ensure you don’t have any Rosaries in your inventory. If you do, convert them into Rosary String with the town’s merchant – you’ll need a considerable amount of Rosaries very soon.
You can also speak with Pavo here, as he’ll provide you with some important information about the strange “thing.” Apparently, these bizarre, living buds were once prevalent in Shellwood, where they were used as offerings in dark rituals and would simply vanish afterward.
Following your conversation, head directly to Greyroot’s cabin in Shellwood to give her the Twisted Bud. Note, however, that you must first complete her earlier quest, called “Rite of the Pollip” (which involves locating six Pollip Hearts in the region). If you haven’t, you won’t be able to give her the “thing” until you’ve fulfilled her previous request.
After giving the Twisted Bud to Greyroot, accept the “Rite of Rebirth” quest and prepare for the most unusual cutscene in the entire game. Shortly afterward, Hornet will materialize in a new, dark area within Shellwood, and you’ll discover that you’re now cursed: you can’t heal, and your Crest and tools are gone! But don’t worry, we’ll rectify that shortly.
Head all the way to the left to exit this obscure area, then ascend to find a shortcut leading to one of the main, lower areas of Shellwood. Continue moving right to reach Bellhart again, and use fast travel to Greymoor, where you need to locate a doctor named Yanarby.
How To Find Yanarby in Hollow Knight: Silksong
In Greymoor, you’re seeking Yarnaby, a doctor exiled from Bellhart due to her “unconventional methods,” who might be able to help with Hornet’s fresh curse.
Her residence is located on the upper western side of Greymoor, near where you initially encountered Garmond. From the fast-travel point, proceed left until you enter the room inside the main structure (with scissor-wielding enemies, moving platforms, and numerous rats). Ascend and enter the last room on your left.
You’ll find an area with some plant life and a bell-type enemy. Keep moving left to discover Yanarby’s house. Speak to her, and Hornet will explain the situation to encourage her to open the door. After some discussion about what’s happening, accept the “Infestation Operation” quest.
How To Complete Infestation Operation Quest in Hollow Knight: Silksong
Once you accept the “Infestation Operation” quest from Yanarby in Greymoor, your next destination is the Sinner’s Road – simply go to the Halfway Home tavern (1), use the elevator, and go up the platforms until you reach its entrance (2).
Rest at the Bench, then visit Benjin and Crull’s cabin (3) – if you’ve been to the region before, they’re the ones who offer the cockroaches’ guts quest – to claim the item that the doctor requested.
However, they won’t give it to you without a price: 260 Rosaries. Remember converting your money into Rosary Strings earlier? Now’s the time to use them!
If you still need more Rosaries, I recommend returning to Greymoor and spending some time eliminating the enemies there, as they drop a lot of coins (and it’s an easier area than the Sinner’s Road, since you can’t heal).
After paying their asking price, immediately return to Yanarby’s house to finally watch Hornet get rid of the Twisted Bud’s horrible tentacles.
The Infestation Operation Quest Rewards
Besides removing the peculiar curse, you also unlock the Witch Crest, which grants Hornet sweeping attacks (like a whip) and allows her to leech life from enemies through twisted roots, according to its description.
It essentially introduces a playstyle centered around delivering a powerful attack with the Silk Bind, and allows you to equip three blue tools and two red ones.