In December 2025, FromSoftware rolled out a new patch for Elden Ring Nightreign, and it landed like a courier carrying both gifts and repairs. The timing was no accident: The Forsaken Hollows, Nightreign's first proper, named DLC, was set to arrive on December 4, bringing new bosses, new shifting earth, and new playable Nightfarers. The patch added support for that expansion, but it also quietly reshaped the entire experience for every player on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. Now, in 2026, that update remains a foundational moment for the game, a turning point that showed FromSoftware was still listening.

A Patch That Did More Than Open a Door

FromSoftware did not just flip a switch and call it a day. The studio treated the patch as a chance to smooth out rough edges, and the result was a long list of quality-of-life improvements that players had been requesting for months. The most visible changes included:

Relic management overhaul: Equipped relics now appear in the Character Selection menu, and players can set names for Relic presets in the Relic Rites menu. Those names can be changed in the All Presets section, and preset order can be rearranged per character.

New shop item: The Collector Signboard shop gained the Deep Large Scenic Flatstone.

Map and results improvements: The map's layer display can now be toggled in the Results menu, and the relics equipped by each player are displayed there too.

Matchmaking flexibility: Players with a Personal Objective requiring a specific target kill while Reliving a Remembrance can now embark with players whose Personal Objective does not require that.

Flask count highlighting: The flask count now glows when at maximum capacity or when an enemy-induced effect influences it.

Compass rune icon: The vertical position of the compass rune icon appears if dropped runes are significantly above or below the player.

Map event highlighting: Specific events on a different map layer can now be highlighted in the map menu.

Dormant Power UI: The HP gauge and other UI elements remain visible during Dormant Power selection.

Shop adjustments: Weapon lineup in Limveld's shops was adjusted, and Fire Pots were added to the Spirit Shetler shop inventory.

Raider fix: Target-lock on enemies behind the tombstone summoned by Raider's Ultimate Art no longer gets released.

Balance Changes: The Scales Were Rebalanced

The patch also broadened trigger conditions for relic effects, equipment passive effects, and special effects that activate at low HP. In plain terms, more of those effects now actually do something when you need them. And yeah, that mattered.

Category
Change

New Passive Effects
Improved Melee Attack Power, Improved Dash Attacks, Improved Rolling Attacks

Buffed Passives
Improved Attack Power when Two-Handing, Attack Up when Wielding Two Armaments, Improved Chain Attack Finishers, Improved Charge Attacks, Improved Jump Attacks, Improved Guard Counters, Improved Skill Attack Power, Physical Attack Up

Adjusted Low HP Effects
Improved Damage Negation at Low HP and Blue-Feathered Branchsword had trigger conditions broadened but effectiveness decreased

Relic Effects
Physical Attack Up, Improved Initial Standard Attack, Improved Critical Hits, Improved Guard Counters, Improved XXX Damage (excluding bows), and Improved Attack Power with 3+ XX Equipped (excluding bows) all increased

Other Changes
Wrath of Gold Incantation reduced FP consumption and increased power

Bug Fixes and Quality-of-Life

The bug fix list was hefty enough to make a Tarnished weep with relief. FromSoftware fixed an Augur invasion teleport bug, mitigated an issue where Sites of Grace or Churches would not activate, and repaired a Night's Tide range discrepancy when rejoining a session. Hammer weapons with Prayerful Strike now appear. Healing or enhancing effects now apply to allies who are dodging or performing their Ultimate Art. Ironeye's Marking weak points now show consistently. Raider's Retaliate no longer cancels and flinches from certain no-damage attacks. Recluse's Elemental Defense affinity residues now spawn correctly. Executor parries now apply Stagger damage. Darkness-imbued attack dodge roll ranges were corrected. Depths Relics now show Greenspill Crystal Tear at expedition start. The Deep of Night rating gauge now reflects Reduce Depth properly. Relic Rites placement icons, Dormant Power rarity UI, Sparring Grounds sorting, Results menu attribute reflection, and Victor's Record special effects were all fixed. Session disband messages no longer haunt the title screen, and graphical, audio, text, and performance issues were addressed.

Let's be honest, that was a lot of housekeeping. But it was the kind of housekeeping that turns a good co-op game into a great one.

The Road to The Forsaken Hollows

Nightreign's ultra-hard Deep of Night mode had launched in September, after dataminers discovered it in August. Along with duos mode, that was all players had for a while, and the community had grown agitated at the lack of news. The Forsaken Hollows DLC and this patch arrived like a fresh campfire in the mist. In IGN's 7/10 review, the game was praised as one of the finest three-player co-op experiences around when played as designed, though the lack of crossplay, duo matchmaking, and built-in communication tools made it hard to create those conditions unless you brought two real-life friends on every run.

By 2026, Nightreign has continued to evolve, but this patch stands as a clear statement. FromSoftware did not abandon its strange, brutal, cooperative experiment. It patched, polished, and pushed forward. If you know, you know: sometimes the smallest fixes make the biggest difference.

If this patch has you eyeing The Forsaken Hollows — or finally convincing a third friend to pick up the base game — the cost of entry stacks up fast, and storefront prices rarely sit still. Hunting down legitimate discounts across platforms, regions, and retailers is its own kind of grind, the sort of thing that eats an evening you'd rather spend in the Depths.

That's where a curated aggregator can save you the legwork. DealNest collects current offers and price drops in one place, so instead of tabbing through a dozen store pages hunting for a sale that might already be over, you can find the best deal and get back to chasing Night Lords before the next patch lands.

As someone who has thrown myself against Hollow Knight: Silksong's bosses more times than I care to admit, I almost dropped my controller when I saw the trophy comparisons this week. The PlayStation version is effectively a lighthouse with its two most blinding lamps unscrewed: it is missing both the Steel Soul and Steel Heart trophies, which Steam and Xbox players are forced to earn for 100 percent completion.

Let's be honest about Silksong itself. The original Hollow Knight had tough spikes, but Silksong behaves like that from the moment the first screen loads and never really releases the pressure. I have watched friends who breezed through the first game get flattened by Pharloom's early encounters, and the curve barely flattens after that. A normal playthrough already asks for pin-point timing, resource management, and patience that borders on meditation.



Steel Soul mode, which returns from the first game as an unlockable extra after clearing the game or by using a recently discovered cheat code, removes the safety net entirely: one death and the run is over. It is like trying to thread a needle while falling through a silk storm, a cruel demand for a game this precise. And then there is Steel Heart, which asks you to 100 percent the entire game under that same no-death rule. I still cannot say that name without flinching.



Earlier this week, reports noted that skilled PlayStation players managed the platinum even though the game had not been out for a full week. When I inspected the trophy list for myself, the absence became obvious. Steam and Xbox players need to beat the game in Steel Soul mode for one achievement, then 100 percent the entire game in Steel Soul mode for another. That second one is the kind of request that makes me whisper 'Dear god, no' into an empty room. PlayStation players, however, do not have those two trophies at all. The game mode still exists on Sony's console, but completing it only grants bragging rights, not a shiny digital trophy.

The comparison looks like this:

Platform
Steel Soul trophy
Steel Heart trophy
Platinum difficulty

PlayStation
No
No
Much easier

Steam
Yes
Yes
Brutal

Xbox
Yes
Yes
Brutal



This explains why skilled PlayStation players were able to grab the platinum within days of release, before most of us had even stopped mistiming Hornet's down-slash. On Steam and Xbox, a full achievement completion is still a frozen waterfall being climbed with buttered gloves, but on PlayStation that waterfall conveniently ends before the final ice wall. In 2026, that difference matters even more because trophy hunting has become its own competitive side of the Silksong community, and Sony players now have a considerably shorter route to the top.

For me, the situation is bittersweet. I like that more players will experience the platinum without needing to treat Silksong as a second job, but I also know that Steel Soul runs are where the game's knife-edge combat truly sharpens into something unforgettable. The original Hollow Knight had a similar split, with some platform trophy lists feeling like they had their teeth pulled, and history has repeated itself here.

If you simply want every trophy in Silksong, the PlayStation version is the clear route. If you want to prove something to yourself, both Steel Soul and Steel Heart are still waiting in the shadows on every platform, even if Sony will not hand you a trophy for surviving them.

Whether you pick up Silksong on PlayStation for the friendlier trophy list or on Steam and Xbox for the full Steel Soul gauntlet, the platform decision tends to come down to more than achievements alone. Most people juggle a handful of stores at once, and the same copy of the game can sit at noticeably different prices depending on where and when you look, especially once sales start rotating through the season.

That is roughly where DealNest becomes useful. Instead of opening a dozen tabs and jotting numbers down on a scrap of paper, you can compare prices here and see what each storefront is charging before you commit. It is a small step, but it keeps the money side of the hobby as uncomplicated as the PlayStation trophy list, leaving you free to worry about the part that actually hurts: Hornet's down-slash timing.

تُعد عمليات زراعة الشعر من الإجراءات التجميلية التي يلجأ إليها الأشخاص الذين يعانون من تساقط الشعر أو الفراغات في فروة الرأس، بهدف الحصول على مظهر أكثر كثافة وطبيعية. ومع تطور تقنيات زراعة الشعر، أصبحت الخيارات المتاحة أكثر تنوعًا، مما يسمح للطبيب باختيار التقنية المناسبة وفقًا لحالة كل شخص وطبيعة الشعر والمنطقة المانحة.

ما هي عمليات زراعة الشعر؟

تعتمد عمليات زراعة الشعر على نقل بصيلات شعر سليمة من منطقة مانحة تحتوي على كثافة جيدة إلى المناطق التي تعاني من الصلع أو ضعف نمو الشعر. وتحتاج العملية إلى تقييم دقيق لفروة الرأس وتحديد سبب تساقط الشعر، بالإضافة إلى دراسة كثافة المنطقة المانحة قبل تحديد الخطة المناسبة.
ويُعد اختيار الطبيب والمركز المتخصص من العوامل المهمة للحصول على نتائج طبيعية، حيث تختلف طريقة التعامل مع كل حالة وفقًا لدرجة تساقط الشعر وشكل خط الشعر وكثافة البصيلات المتاحة.

متى يمكن التفكير في زراعة الشعر؟

قد تكون زراعة الشعر خيارًا مناسبًا للأشخاص الذين يعانون من بعض أنواع الصلع أو الفراغات المستمرة، خاصة عندما تكون هناك منطقة مانحة تحتوي على بصيلات مناسبة للاستخراج وإعادة الزراعة.
قبل اتخاذ القرار، يقوم الطبيب بفحص فروة الرأس وتقييم نمط تساقط الشعر، وقد يطلب بعض الفحوصات عند الحاجة للتأكد من سبب التساقط واستقرار الحالة. كما يتم تحديد التوقعات الواقعية للنتائج قبل إجراء العملية.

أشهر تقنيات زراعة الشعر

توجد عدة تقنيات يمكن استخدامها في زراعة الشعر، ويختلف اختيار التقنية من حالة إلى أخرى. ومن أشهرها:
تقنية الاقتطاف FUE
تُعد تقنية الاقتطاف من التقنيات المستخدمة على نطاق واسع، حيث يتم استخراج البصيلات بشكل منفصل من المنطقة المانحة، ثم تجهيزها وزراعتها في المناطق المستهدفة.
ومن أهم مميزاتها عدم الحاجة إلى إزالة شريحة كاملة من فروة الرأس، كما أن الجروح الناتجة عن عملية الاقتطاف تكون صغيرة عادةً.
تقنية DHI
تعتمد تقنية DHI على استخدام أقلام زراعة مخصصة لإدخال البصيلات في المناطق التي تحتاج إلى زيادة الكثافة. ويمكن أن تساعد هذه الطريقة في التحكم في اتجاه وزاوية زراعة البصيلات، وفقًا لخطة الطبيب.
ويتم اختيار التقنية المناسبة بعد فحص الحالة وتحديد طبيعة الشعر والمنطقة المراد زراعتها.

خطوات عمليات زراعة الشعر

تمر عمليات زراعة الشعر بمجموعة من الخطوات التي تبدأ بالاستشارة الطبية وفحص فروة الرأس، ثم تحديد المنطقة المانحة والمناطق التي تحتاج إلى زراعة.
بعد ذلك يتم تجهيز المنطقة المانحة واستخراج البصيلات وفق التقنية المختارة، ثم فرز وتجهيز البصيلات بعناية قبل زراعتها في المناطق المستهدفة.
ويحرص الطبيب أثناء مرحلة الزراعة على توزيع البصيلات بطريقة تتناسب مع اتجاه نمو الشعر الطبيعي، مع مراعاة تصميم خط الشعر والكثافة المطلوبة لتحقيق مظهر متناسق.

دور الطبيب في نجاح العملية

يُعتبر التخطيط الطبي من أهم مراحل زراعة الشعر، لذلك من المهم اختيار طبيب لديه خبرة في تقييم حالات تساقط الشعر وتحديد التقنية المناسبة لكل حالة.
ويقدم د. محمد السيد خدمات متخصصة في مجال زراعة الشعر، مع الاهتمام بتقييم الحالة ووضع خطة علاجية تتناسب مع طبيعة الشعر ودرجة التساقط والمنطقة المانحة.
كما تساعد الاستشارة الطبية قبل العملية في توضيح خطوات الإجراء والتوقعات المتعلقة بالنتائج، إلى جانب معرفة التعليمات التي ينبغي اتباعها قبل وبعد الزراعة.

ماذا يحدث بعد زراعة الشعر؟

بعد الانتهاء من عمليات زراعة الشعر تبدأ مرحلة التعافي، ويحتاج الشخص إلى الالتزام بتعليمات الطبيب الخاصة بالعناية بفروة الرأس. وقد تظهر بعض الأعراض المؤقتة مثل الاحمرار أو التورم البسيط، وتختلف فترة التعافي من شخص إلى آخر.
كما أن نمو الشعر المزروع لا يحدث بصورة فورية، إذ تمر البصيلات بمراحل مختلفة قبل ظهور النتائج النهائية. لذلك يحتاج الشخص إلى الصبر والمتابعة الطبية خلال الفترة التالية للعملية.

نصائح مهمة قبل وبعد زراعة الشعر

للحصول على أفضل فرصة لنتائج مناسبة، من المهم الالتزام بتعليمات الطبيب قبل وبعد الإجراء، ومن أبرز النصائح:

• إجراء تقييم طبي شامل لحالة فروة الرأس.
  
• معرفة سبب تساقط الشعر قبل تحديد خطة العلاج.
  
• اختيار التقنية المناسبة وفقًا للحالة وليس لمجرد انتشارها.
  
• الالتزام بتعليمات الطبيب بعد العملية.
  
• تجنب العبث بفروة الرأس خلال فترة التعافي.
  
• استخدام الأدوية أو المستحضرات التي يصفها الطبيب بالطريقة المحددة.
  
• الالتزام بمواعيد المتابعة لتقييم تطور نمو الشعر.
  

I've spent the last week doing something I never thought I'd do in Elden Ring: Nightreign—standing at the edge of a cliff, squinting at the minimap, and whispering, 'Please don't be a death pit.' That's the Great Hollow experience, folks. The Forsaken Hollows DLC has been out for a month and a half now, and while the two new Nightfarers and the new bosses are landing pretty well, the new Shifting Earth map is getting dragged through the mud on Steam. And honestly? I get it.

It's Not Technically a New Map, But It Sure Feels Like One

The Great Hollow is a Shifting Earth event, so it may or may not show up when you're running a DLC boss. You might get the default map or one of four other Shifting Earths instead. But unlike those other events, which usually transform one part of the map, the Great Hollow basically swaps out the entire area. No central castle. No ravine down the middle. No southern lake or northern cliffs. Instead, you get a giant crystal that looks like it crash-landed and split the land into broken cliffs and multiple vertical levels. There are ruins full of enemies, plus churches, forts, and mines scattered around. The in-game map has multiple layers, and you have to use spirit springs carefully to fall down and shoot back up. It's a lot.

The center crystal also holds a major party buff that can be clutch for the final boss. To get it, you need to find and break several smaller colored crystals around the map. Their locations change every attempt. So you can't just memorize one route and call it a day.

Why Everyone Is So Frustrated ?

Routing in Nightreign is usually a quick mental exercise. You fly in, pop the map open, and plan a path that gets your team a few extra flasks, a mine for a smithing stone, and a steady line of boss fights so you can collect runes and level up. In the Great Hollow, that plan goes out the window. There are too many vertical levels, too many map layers, and too many 'wait, can I jump down here?' moments. Add the crystal hunt on top, and you have a recipe for confusion.

But the worst part? The giant, gaping chasm running through the middle of the map. The chasm grins at you. It knows what you're about to do.

Nightreign famously has no fall damage. It encourages sprinting, leaping off ledges, and climbing cliffs. That's part of why it feels so different from Elden Ring. Over the last year, a lot of us have trained ourselves to run and jump without hesitation. Usually, that's fine. The Crater Shifting Earth has a lava pit, but it's easy to avoid. The Great Hollow, though, has a death pit that is annoyingly hard to see. You look over a ledge, think you're good, and then—whoops—you're falling to your death.

And the death fall behavior makes it worse. If an enemy kills you, you spawn back at the last Grace you tapped, and your runes are either dropped nearby or picked up by an enemy. If you fall, Nightreign seems to randomly drop you somewhere along a ledge near your death point. That could be above, below, or across from where you jumped. But your runes stay back on the ledge where you started. So you can spawn far away, with your runes behind you across a death pit, and no easy route back. It's the kind of thing that makes you put the controller down and stare at the wall for a minute.

The Steam Reviews Are Not Happy ?

The numbers tell the story. While Elden Ring: Nightreign itself has mostly positive reviews, Forsaken Hollows is sitting at Mostly Negative for the last 30 days. Only 30% of 1,347 recent reviews are positive. A lot of them are about the map.

One review says: 'The new map is poorly designed, overly difficult and boring. Takes forever to traverse... boss battle tower is a damage-sponge time-wasting chore.' Another says: 'The characters and bosses are great but the new map is absolutely horrible and is ruining the experience of the game as a whole.' A third: 'Love the bosses and new classes but the new map is just trash. There was zero NEED to add gaps in the map to kill YOU. You might as well add fall damage to the game.'

I also saw a positive review that summed it up perfectly: 'The new map is [expletive] terrible but everything's so good.'

Is It a Skill Issue, or a Design Issue?

Not everyone hates the Great Hollow. A recent Reddit thread about the Steam reviews said, 'The more I play, the more I feel like it was fantastically designed.' The replies were divided. Some players acknowledge the flaws but love the challenge. Others call it a skill issue. And honestly, I see both sides. The map is beautiful and unique. It demands a different gameplay flow and much better team coordination so you don't all end up separated and confused. But it's also hard to learn, and the only way to learn is to fail a lot. After 100+ hours in Nightreign, I'm not having the best time trying to learn new bosses, two new characters, and a new map all at once. Though, to be fair, that's kind of the FromSoftware experience.

What Works
What Hurts

Gorgeous crystal wasteland aesthetic
Multi-level routing chaos

Crystal buff is a cool risk-reward idea
Random crystal locations

Encourages tight team coordination
Hidden death pits

New bosses and Nightfarers are great
Fall death spawn/Rune loss feels unfair

What Could Fix It?

I don't think FromSoftware needs to delete the map. But a few changes would go a long way. First, fix where the game places you after a fall. If I die in a chasm, don't strand me on a random ledge with my runes across the void. Second, add a little more clarity to the minimap so I can see levels and death pits before I leap. Third, maybe make the colored crystals show up on the map after day one, so the crystal hunt feels less like a YouTube memory test. That's not dumbing it down; that's respecting my time.

The Great Hollow is a beautiful bully. It's thematically cool, visually striking, and genuinely rewarding when a team clicks. But right now, it's also a freaking chore, and the Steam reviews are trying to send a message. I'm hoping a 2026 patch smooths out the rough edges. Until then, I'll be over here, practicing, falling, and muttering, 'Please don't be a death pit.'

If the current state of the Great Hollow has you holding off on picking up Nightreign, or waiting to see whether a future patch makes the DLC worth the asking price, it helps to know when that price actually moves. FromSoftware releases and their expansions go on sale at fairly predictable intervals, but the discounts themselves are rarely advertised in advance, and bundle pricing between the base game and expansions can shift overnight without any fanfare.

Rather than refreshing storefront pages every few days on the off chance, this price tracking tool does the watching for you. DealNest monitors listings across major retailers and notifies you the moment something you're eyeing drops to a price you'd actually pay — which means you can spend your evenings practicing the new Nightfarers instead of babysitting a checkout page.

In the sprawling, insectoid world of Hollow Knight, a small, silent knight once captured the hearts of millions. But now, in 2026, the spotlight has shifted to a different hero: Hornet, the princess-protector of Hallownest, who takes center stage in Hollow Knight: Silksong. With her taller frame, sharper cloak, and deadly needle, Hornet is undeniably a different beast. But does that make her a better protagonist than The Knight? Not necessarily—yet she possesses a suite of abilities that The Knight could only dream of. From chatting with NPCs to gliding through the air, Hornet proves that being a short king isn't the only way to rule.



The Gift of Gab ?️

One of the most striking differences between the two protagonists is Hornet's ability to speak. The Knight was a silent vessel, reacting to the world with nothing more than a blank stare and the occasional grunt. Hornet, however, engages in full conversations with the bugs of Pharloom. This narrative shift makes the story more engaging, as players can finally hear their hero's thoughts and respond to the quirky cast of characters. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to actually talk back to a cryptic NPC? Hornet does it with grace and wit, turning every interaction into a memorable exchange. This change echoes other sequels like Dead Space 2 and Jak 2, where a talking protagonist added depth to the narrative.

Death Becomes Her ?

When The Knight died in Hollow Knight, they left behind a Shade—a ghostly remnant that players had to defeat to reclaim their Geo. It was a classic corpse run, but a punishing one. Hornet, in contrast, handles death with far more finesse. Instead of leaving a Shade, she seals her valuables in a silk cocoon and retreats to fight another day. This ability, born from her mastery of Silk, demonstrates her grace and cunning. It's a headcanon-friendly explanation for how she survives countless battles: she doesn't die, she simply withdraws. The Knight could never boast such elegance.



Run, Hornet, Run! ?‍♀️

Traversal is a staple of the Metroidvania genre, and both games excel at it. The Knight can dash, but he never learns to run. Hornet, however, unlocks the Swift Step skill, and if players hold down the dash button, she breaks into a full sprint. There are even Trinkets to boost her running speed. In a foot race between the two, Hornet would leave The Knight in the dust. It's a small but significant upgrade that makes exploring Pharloom a breeze.



Gliding on Air ?️

Remember Princess Peach's float in Super Mario Bros. 2? Hornet has a similar trick. In the Far Fields, she can obtain the Drifter's Cloak, which lets her float indefinitely and catch air streams to rocket upward. The Knight's closest equivalent is the Crystal Heart, a jet-like dash that propels him forward. While both are cool, Hornet's gliding feels more graceful and opens up new exploration possibilities. Wouldn't it have been amazing if The Knight could glide through Hallownest? Alas, that was not to be.



The Needolin: Music to Your Ears ?

The Knight's Nail is a tool for combat, pure and simple. Hornet's Needle, on the other hand, becomes a musical instrument. With the Needolin upgrade, she can play her Needle like a harp to open song-sealed doors. But that's not all—certain NPCs will sing along, and even corpses can reveal ghosts through melody. The Knight could communicate with dreams, but he could never turn his weapon into a guitar. This creative twist adds a layer of charm and mystery to Silksong's world.



Taunt Like You Mean It ?

Here's a secret that many players miss: Hornet can taunt enemies by clicking the right thumbstick (on Switch 2, for example). This uses a bit of Silk, but in return, enemies are drawn toward her. This aggro-drawing ability is perfect for luring foes into traps, a tactic The Knight could never employ. Taunting adds a strategic layer to combat, and it's a technique more games should adopt.



Clawline: Grappling with Greatness ?

Finally, the Clawline is one of Hornet's most versatile upgrades. It propels her forward like an extra dash and lets her cling to ring-shaped ornaments in the environment. The Knight has no grappling hook of any kind. This ability alone gives Hornet a significant edge in mobility, allowing her to reach areas and escape dangers that would leave The Knight stumped.



The Verdict: Who Wins? ?

Even though The Knight emerged victorious in their original encounter (he was the protagonist, after all), the tables might turn if they fought without player input. Hornet's new talents—talking, cocooning, running, gliding, music-making, taunting, and grappling—could finally give her the strength to best The Knight in all his silent glory. But does that mean she's a better character? That's for players to decide. One thing is certain: Hornet has proven that she's more than just a side character. She's a force of nature, and Hollow Knight: Silksong is her time to shine.

Here's a quick comparison of their abilities:

Ability
The Knight
Hornet

Speech
Silent
Conversational

Death Mechanic
Leaves Shade
Seals cocoon

Running
No
Yes (Swift Step)

Gliding
No (Crystal Heart dash)
Yes (Drifter's Cloak)

Musical Weapon
No
Yes (Needolin)

Taunt
No
Yes (Silk taunt)

Grappling Hook
No
Yes (Clawline)

So, who do you think is the ultimate protagonist? The silent knight who started it all, or the graceful huntress who took up the mantle? In 2026, as players continue to explore Pharloom, Hornet's legend only grows. And perhaps, just perhaps, she has finally earned the title of "short king" in her own right—though she's not so short anymore.

Debates like this one have a way of spilling out of the game and into group chats, forums, and late-night Discord threads—which is part of the fun. If you're the type of player who likes to back up your hot takes with first-hand experience, it helps to actually own the games being argued about. The original Hollow Knight and Silksong both go on sale fairly often, and other metroidvanias like Ori, Blasphemous, and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown regularly see deep discounts too, making it easy to build a library without paying full price.

That's where a deal-tracking site comes in handy. Instead of refreshing store pages or hoping a sale notification shows up in your feed, DealNest gathers discounts and price drops across games, tech, and everyday products in one place, so you can spot a bargain the moment it appears. Whether you're hunting for a cheap copy of Silksong or just keeping an eye out for the next big sale, it's a handy bookmark to keep alongside your favorite gaming communities.

In the expansive world of Hollow Knight: Silksong, players must explore every corner to find powerful tools that aid Hornet in her journey. One such tool, the Scuttlebrace, is a unique yellow tool that grants a rapid retreat ability, mimicking the movement of a spider. Available in the second Act, this tool can be a game-changer for those who master its mechanics. As of 2026, this guide remains accurate for players diving into Silksong's second Act. Here is a comprehensive breakdown of how to obtain the Scuttlebrace and what it does.



? Location and Acquisition

The Scuttlebrace is found in the Twelfth Architect's Workshop, located in the Underworks. To reach it, players must first progress through the second Act and obtain the Clawline ability. Here is a step-by-step breakdown:

Reach the Citadel: After making your way through the Underworks, you will arrive in the Citadel. Head towards the left side of the map.

Find the Elevator: Locate the elevator that requires the White Key. Before using it, make your way to the top right part of the map, called Songclave.

Get the White Key: In Songclave, you will find the White Key and can ring the bell inside the First Shrine. This turns Songclave into a hub for NPCs and quest givers.

Descend to Whiteward: Return to the elevator and go down to reach Whiteward. Follow the main story path, which leads you to the eastern side of the Underworks to find the Clawline ability.

Return to the Underworks Bench: Once you have Clawline, make your way back to the bench in the Underworks. There, you will hear an NPC talking.

Reach the Workshop: Jump up and harpoon the grapple point, then dash right to enter the Twelfth Architect's Workshop.

Purchase the Tool: Talk to the NPC inside and purchase the Scuttlebrace for 140 Rosaries and 1 Craftmetal.



?️ What Does the Scuttlebrace Do?

The Scuttlebrace is a yellow tool that enables Hornet to perform a rapid retreat, similar to a spider's scuttle. This maneuver is not just a simple dodge; it offers significant mobility advantages. When activated, Hornet can quickly move backward or in the direction she is facing, covering a considerable distance. Moreover, by holding down the button, Hornet can even walk on walls in this stance, allowing access to otherwise unreachable areas.

Controls:

Controller: Press RT/R2.

Keyboard: Press Down + C.



? Tips for Using the Scuttlebrace

Exploration: Use the Scuttlebrace to reach hidden ledges and secret areas by scuttling up walls.

Combat: Quickly retreat from enemy attacks, especially bosses with fast lunges.

Platforming: Combine with Clawline and other movement abilities for advanced traversal.

Stamina Management: The Scuttlebrace does not consume Silk, so it can be used liberally.

? Acquisition Summary

Detail
Information

Tool Type
Yellow

Location
Twelfth Architect's Workshop, Underworks

Cost
140 Rosaries + 1 Craftmetal

Prerequisite
Clawline ability, Act 2

Ability
Rapid retreat, wall walk

? Conclusion

The Scuttlebrace is an essential tool for any player looking to enhance Hornet's mobility in Hollow Knight: Silksong. Its unique spider-like retreat opens up new avenues for exploration and combat. By following the steps outlined above, you can add this versatile tool to your arsenal and truly master the art of the scuttle. Whether you're dodging attacks or scaling walls, the Scuttlebrace is a worthy investment for your journey through the Citadel and beyond.

Once you've mastered the Scuttlebrace and are ready to see what else the genre has to offer, keeping an eye on your gaming budget can be just as useful as nailing a wall-scuttle. Whether you're waiting for a discount on Hollow Knight: Silksong itself or hunting for your next Metroidvania fix, a reliable steam deal finder can help you spot price drops without refreshing store pages manually.

DealNest is built for exactly that kind of browsing, gathering current Steam discounts in one place so you can compare and decide when to buy. It won't teach you Hornet's controls, but it can make expanding your library after Pharloom a little easier on the wallet.

In 2026, I am still trapped in a love/hate relationship with Hollow Knight: Silksong. I waited seven years for this sequel. I sharpened my needle, practiced my pogo, and convinced myself I would be ready. Then Pharloom looked at me, laughed, and threw a flying bug at my face. I adore Hollow Knight, but I know my skill gap. I never mastered those nightmarish pogo platforming sequences. I was relieved the hardest content was optional. Silksong, however, has me neck-deep in a first playthrough that feels like a gorgeous, punishing dance. The recent patch has nerfed two bosses, Moorwing and Sister Splinter, and I have opinions. I think those nerfs are largely inessential.



The Patch Notes Heard Round Pharloom

Team Cherry released a lengthy set of patch notes. Most changes are beneficial. They tune the game closer to what Team Cherry initially envisioned. Among them, two bosses received slight nerfs. Cue the community splitting like a Splinterbark under a charged slash. In any difficult game, especially one with Soulslike DNA, everyone has a take. The 112% Hollow Knight veterans say skill issue. The rest of us say please stop throwing three flying enemies into a tiny room. I am somewhere in the middle. I respect the challenge. I also respect my blood pressure.



Why Moorwing Did Not Need a Nerf

Moorwing is a wholly optional boss. You are not locked into an arena with it. If you do not want to fight it, you can simply walk away. That alone makes a nerf feel strange. Optional bosses are where developers can put the spicy stuff. They are the ghost peppers of game design. You do not have to eat them. If you do, you accept the burn.

Here is my evidence, presented with the confidence of someone who has been dive-bombed by a giant moth:

You can skip Moorwing. Progressing the Flea Caravan wish or quest can skip the fight. Moorwing does return later near the Greymoor Bellway, but that is a choice, not a cage.

You can cheese Moorwing. Ascend to the top of the area and downward-attack from a ledge. The beast cannot circumvent it. It is not elegant. It is effective. In Silksong, effective is a love language.

You can summon Garmond and Zaza. You can request aid against Moorwing. In my experience, they did not appear after I requested them when I had transitioned Moorwing to the Bellway-adjacent area and pursued the Flea quest. That was annoying, but it does not change the intent. Help exists.

So why nerf an optional boss that can be skipped, cheesed, or tag-teamed? I do not see it. If Moorwing was a mandatory gate, sure, tune it. But it is not. It is a test you can ignore. Nerfing it feels like removing a pepper from a dish nobody was forced to order.



Sister Splinter and the Splinterbark Problem

Sister Splinter is a different story. I found the only real obstacle in that fight to be the Splinterbarks. That is a pattern for me. I dislike many bosses that revolve around ads. Flying enemies are egregiously grating pests. They hover just outside your reach, they punish your jumps, and they make you feel like you are swatting at a wasp while a larger wasp throws furniture at you.

I am dying on the hill that flying enemies are pests. I am also dying on the hill that gank gauntlets lean too heavily on the first game's Colosseums. They are overtuned and excessive. Silksong's rosary economy is brutally impoverishing, though this patch mitigates that somewhat. Thank goodness. I was starting to think I needed a second job in Pharloom.

If anything had to be nerfed, I would prefer gauntlets had fewer waves. I would prefer fodder enemies did not take several hits to kill. They take two to three hits to kill me, including insidious contact damage. I despise contact damage in any 2D game. It is the cheapest form of disrespect. You do not even need to be attacked. You just need to exist near a bug. Congratulations, you have lost a mask.



What I Would Nerf Instead

Problem
My Nerf Wish
Reason

Gauntlet waves
Fewer waves
Endurance is not the same as difficulty

Fodder enemies
Die in fewer hits
Trash mobs should not feel like bosses

Contact damage
Reduce or remove
It punishes proximity, not mistakes

Rosary economy
Already touched
I like buying things without selling a kidney

Flying enemies
A stern talking-to
They know what they did

I do not expect these nerfs to strike Silksong's gameplay. I genuinely respect Team Cherry for having a certain level of challenge in mind. Some design choices, however, feel made to impede or frustrate me beyond anything else. There is a fine line between a hard game and a game that is hard because it keeps kicking you in the shins while you tie your shoes.



The Second Patch and the Endless Discourse

Interestingly, the patch notes declare that Team Cherry is already working on a second patch. That suggests more nerfs and/or buffs are coming. Each subsequent patch will divide the playerbase again. Some will call it redundant. Some will call it appreciated. Some will call it a betrayal of the vision. Some will call it Tuesday. In 2026, the discourse is still going. Silksong is not ruined. It is polarizing. It is difficult. It is beautiful. It is also occasionally a migraine with a soundtrack.

My love/hate relationship with Silksong is not going anywhere. I will keep playing. I will keep dying. I will keep muttering about Splinterbarks under my breath. But if I had to choose, I would leave Moorwing and Sister Splinter alone. Nerf the gauntlets. Nerf the contact damage. Nerf the feeling that every room is a personal insult. Let the optional bosses stay sharp. Let me walk away if I want to. And let me complain about it either way, because that is the true endgame.



If you are still on the fence about picking up Silksong, or you are eyeing a few metroidvanias to tide you over while the second patch cooks, it helps to know what you are actually paying before you commit. Prices swing wildly between storefronts, regional eShops, and key resellers, and the difference between a full-price impulse buy and a discounted pickup is often a few clicks. I have started running everything through a game price comparison site like DealNest before checkout, mostly because my backlog is already a monument to good intentions and I would rather spend the savings on a game I will actually finish.

It is also a small mercy when a title you were unsure about drops below the threshold where the frustration stops mattering. A hard game at full price feels like a gamble. The same hard game at a discount feels like a challenge you chose. Either way, check the numbers before you hand over your rosaries.

Pronto a dominare il PvE di Aion 2 fin dal primo giorno? Ottenere rapidamente un equipaggiamento potente non significa grindare senza sosta, ma seguire il giusto percorso di progressione. Gestire saggiamente i tuoi Kinah Aion 2 può inoltre aiutarti a prepararti per potenziamenti essenziali, materiali e altre necessità. Dalle ricompense della campagna ai dungeon Expedition e al potenziamento dell’equipaggiamento, questa guida mostra i metodi più efficienti per creare una solida configurazione PvE durante il Global Launch.

Inizia dalla Storia Principale per Ottenere Equipaggiamento Gratuito
La missione principale dovrebbe essere sempre la tua prima priorità. La progressione della campagna fornisce utili equipaggiamenti iniziali, sbloccando al contempo sistemi importanti e contenuti PvE di livello superiore. Invece di spendere subito materiali preziosi, usa le ricompense delle missioni per riempire gli slot vuoti e mantenere un buon livello oggetto.

Il tuo obiettivo iniziale non è creare una build perfetta, ma raggiungere il requisito del contenuto successivo nel modo più efficiente possibile.

Punta ai Dungeon per Ottenere Migliori Drop PvE
Una volta ottenuto l’equipaggiamento di base, concentra l’attenzione sulle Expedition e sugli altri dungeon PvE. Queste attività diventano sempre più importanti perché possono offrire equipaggiamenti e materiali di qualità superiore per continuare la progressione. Le difficoltà maggiori offrono generalmente ricompense migliori, rappresentando un passaggio importante verso l’equipaggiamento endgame.

Invece di farmare casualmente ogni attività disponibile, dai priorità ai dungeon che possono migliorare direttamente i tuoi slot più deboli o aiutarti a raggiungere il prossimo requisito di livello oggetto.

Potenzia l’Equipaggiamento, ma Non Sprecare Materiali
La progressione di Aion 2 non consiste semplicemente nell’ottenere oggetti di qualità superiore. Potenziamento, Potential, sistemi legati all’anima e altre meccaniche possono migliorare notevolmente l’equipaggiamento. Tuttavia, investire troppo in oggetti temporanei può sprecare risorse preziose, soprattutto nelle prime fasi della progressione.

Una strategia intelligente consiste nell’effettuare potenziamenti moderati sul set iniziale, conservando poi i materiali premium per l’equipaggiamento che prevedi di utilizzare più a lungo.

Accedi ai Contenuti PvE di Alto Livello
Con l’aumento del livello oggetto, inizia a puntare ai contenuti più difficili per ottenere ricompense migliori. La progressione PvE avanzata può includere potenti equipaggiamenti Unique e Hero, materiali specializzati e, infine, gear di alto livello proveniente da dungeon impegnativi e dai contenuti Sanctuary.

La regola è semplice: avanza attraverso i contenuti invece di inseguire troppo presto l’equipaggiamento perfetto.

Consigli Finali per una Rapida Progressione del Gear
Per il percorso PvE più veloce, segui questo ordine: Storia Principale → Equipaggiamento Iniziale → Dungeon Mirati → Potenziamenti Moderati → PvE ad Alta Difficoltà → Equipaggiamento Endgame. Controlla il livello oggetto, potenzia solo i pezzi che valgono la pena e dai sempre priorità ai contenuti che avvicinano il personaggio al prossimo importante traguardo.

Con il giusto percorso di progressione, puoi dedicare meno tempo al farming ripetitivo e concentrarti maggiormente sui contenuti PvE impegnativi. Se vuoi accelerare il processo di equipaggiamento, puoi anche comprare Kinah Aion 2 per ottenere risorse aggiuntive per potenziamenti e progressione. Su MMOEXP.com puoi inoltre ottenere l’8% di sconto usando il codice “Specific” al checkout.

As a die-hard Hollow Knight fan, I dove headfirst into Silksong's Act 3 the moment I unlocked it. And let me tell you, the Abyss is no joke. This pitch-black nightmare will test your patience, but the rewards are worth it. Here's my personal account of finding the Abyss map, reaching the depths, and clawing my way back out.



Finding the Abyss Map

So you've made it to the Abyss. Congrats, but you're probably blind as a bat down there. The Abyss map is located right on top of the southern bench. After you reach that checkpoint, look for an opening above you and jump up there. Then head a little to the left, and you'll claim the map. Once you grab it, all the areas Hornet has already discovered on the way to the bench will instantly appear on your map. ?️

But here's the catch: the Abyss map only opens after you've gone through the pitch-black depths. So there's no way to use it before that. Trust me, I tried. You just have to stumble around in the dark for a bit.

How to Reach the Abyss

Reaching the Abyss in Silksong is no easy task. After entering Act 3, Hornet is determined to fix the disaster that's fallen upon Pharloom. To do that, she needs to reach the cause of it all in the depths, which means volunteering for a journey to the Abyss.

To get there, she needs help from someone who knows how to forge a vessel that can withstand the trip. So you'll need to journey to the Deep Docks and find the Forge Daughter, who's marked by the vendor icon on your map. But when you speak to her, she'll tell you that the one you actually need is Ballow, the worker next to her. Talk to Ballow, and he'll agree to help Hornet.



Next, head to the old diving bell and speak to Ballow again to begin your ascent to the Abyss. If you've never explored this part of the Deep Docks, you'll have to take a long detour before you reach Ballow's next location. Once you enter the diving bell and travel down, you'll finally arrive in the Abyss. From there, Hornet must find her way to the southern bench, where she'll meet a familiar figure shortly after.

How to Escape the Abyss

Okay, so you're stuck in the Abyss. Now what? To escape, you need to get the Silk Soar skill first. Find a way up, and on the top-right, there will be a door that can be opened using the Needolin skill. Head through that door and keep descending to get the Super Jump ability, which is required to get out of the Abyss.



After obtaining the Super Jump, backtrack to the route you took previously. But this time, additional routes will be available to the left, with a bench at the end. Make sure you rest on this bench, because the next part of the exit is unforgiving and may take a few tries. Believe me, I died more times than I care to admit. ?



Final Thoughts

Silksong not only gives you a world that's satisfying to explore, but also a cryptic story that hides a lot more than you'd expect. There's even more than one ending to discover, which means plenty of replayability on top of the Steel Soul (permadeath) mode. Once you unlock the secret Act 3, the Abyss is just one of many challenges waiting for you.

So there you have it: my personal guide to the Abyss map location, how to reach it, and how to escape. It's a tough journey, but that's what makes it so rewarding. Now go out there and show the Abyss who's boss. ?️⚔️

If you've made it this far, chances are you're either deep into your own run through Pharloom or seriously considering picking up Silksong — or its predecessor — for yourself. Between multiple storefronts, regional pricing, and sales that seem to vanish as quickly as a Shade, keeping track of what's actually a good deal can be almost as tedious as navigating the Abyss without a map. That's where something like a game price tracker comes in handy, letting you monitor price drops across platforms instead of refreshing store pages every few days.

Whether you're hunting for a discount before starting your own Steel Soul attempt or just want to grab the original Hollow Knight while you're at it, DealNest makes that side of the hobby a lot less painful — leaving you more time for the parts that actually matter, like finally nailing that Super Jump sequence on the first try.

In the 1960s, American muscle cars were built for straight-line violence. Big V8s, two-door coupes, and quarter-mile bragging rights were the order of the day. Yet one machine refused to follow the usual script. The 1965 Shelby 427 Cobra took the delicate shape of a British roadster and dropped in Ford's thundering 427 FE big-block V8. It was an odd marriage, but it worked like a charm. The result was a car that could go toe-to-toe with almost anything on asphalt in the 1960s, apart from a handful of dedicated race specials.



? A British Body with an American Heart

The story begins with Carroll Shelby, a racing driver who admired fast, expensive, and complex machines from Ferrari, Maserati, Aston Martin, and Jaguar. He wondered whether a cheaper car could be just as fast. In the early 1960s, AC Cars had lost its engine supplier, and Shelby saw an opening. He contacted AC, then called Ford to arrange a supply of V8 engines. The fact that the new car would challenge the Chevrolet Corvette helped sweeten the deal.

In 1962, Shelby created Shelby American, built the car in California, and called it Cobra—a name that reportedly came to him in a dream. Early cars used Ford 260 and later 289 cubic-inch V8s. They won on track, but the later 427 iteration became the legend. The 427 arrived in 1965 and was a different beast altogether.



? Performance That Shook the Establishment

When automotive journalists tested the new 427 Cobra in 1965, they found something extraordinary. The car cost about $7,000 and weighed only 2,529 pounds. Under the hood, the 427 big-block produced 485 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque in competition form, with 425 horsepower in standard tune. A four-speed manual transmission sent all that fury to the rear wheels.

The numbers were staggering for the era:

Metric
1965 Shelby 427 Cobra

0–60 mph
4.3 seconds

0–100 mph–0
14.5 seconds

0–100 mph–0, Ken Miles
13.8 seconds

Quarter mile
12.2 seconds at 118 mph

Top speed
165 mph

Price when new
$7,000

Weight
2,529 pounds

Engine
Ford 427 FE V8

Power
425 hp standard, 485 hp competition

Torque
480 lb-ft

Transmission
4-speed manual

That 0–60 mph time would have been respectable for supercars well into the 2000s. The quarter-mile run made the Cobra one of the quickest street-legal machines of its day. And 165 mph was genuinely frightening in a lightweight roadster with minimal aerodynamics.



? Chassis and Suspension Changes

The 427 was not simply an engine swap. Shelby's team made the frame tubing thicker. They replaced the transverse leaf springs—which some magazines criticized for making the car difficult to control on bumpy roads—with coil springs at all four corners. The 427 came in both street and competition versions. It was raw, loud, and demanding, but it worked.



⚔️ The Rivals: Corvette L88, Hemi Dart, and More

The Cobra did not exist in a vacuum. In the 1960s, the Chevrolet Corvette was evolving quickly. The L88 option, available across the C2 and C3 generations, brought a 7.0-liter 427 race V8, competition parts, and a distinct lack of luxuries such as air conditioning and a radio. One respected magazine quoted its quarter-mile time in the mid-to-high 11-second range. A silver L88-spec 1969 Corvette ran 11.44 seconds at the Pure Stock Drags event in 2011.

Yet the L88 was a thinly veiled competition car. It was hard to start when cold and notorious for overheating in traffic. The National Corvette Museum did not recommend it for street use. Standard Corvette 427s, by contrast, could complete the quarter mile in around 13 seconds.

Dodge also built 80 versions of the Hurst Hemi Dart LO23 Super Stock. It was street-legal and recorded a low-ten-second quarter-mile at roughly 130 mph, but it came with a disclaimer that it was only for drag racing or supervised acceleration trials. There was also the Hemi Barracuda Special Order with a race engine, estimated at a low ten-second quarter mile. On the street-legal side, the 440 Six-Pack 1969 Plymouth Road Runner A12 famously cleared the quarter mile in 12.91 seconds.



⚡ Modern Context: 2026 and Beyond

By 2026, supercars have rewritten the rules. In 2023, Car and Driver called the Ferrari 296 GTB the quickest rear-drive car it had ever tested. It hit 60 mph in 2.4 seconds and covered the quarter mile in 9.7 seconds at 150 mph. In 2022, a McMurtry Spéirling fan car reached 60 mph in 1.40 seconds and demolished the quarter mile in 7.97 seconds during filming.

Those figures make the 427 Cobra look almost tame. But context matters. The Cobra did its work with a manual transmission, skinny tires by modern standards, no traction control, no anti-lock brakes, and no electronic safety net. It asked the driver to be brave, precise, and perhaps a little reckless. That is why it still captures the imagination.



? A Legend That Refuses to Fade

Decades later, cars like the Dodge Viper were still trying to capture the magic of this legendary American sports car. The 427 Cobra was not the easiest car to live with, and it was not cheap. It was, however, a brilliant blend of British lightness and American muscle. In the 1960s, it could beat almost anything over a quarter mile. In 2026, it remains a benchmark for raw, unfiltered performance.

The Cobra's story is a reminder that great cars are not always the product of a single tradition. Sometimes, the best ideas come from a strange combination—a dainty British roadster, a massive Ford V8, and a Texan with a dream. The result was a machine that left rivals in the dust and never really left the spotlight. ??

For most enthusiasts, the closest they will ever come to a 427 Cobra at full throttle is behind the wheel of a racing simulator. Titles like Gran Turismo, Forza, and Assetto Corsa have turned quarter-mile bragging rights into something you can chase from the couch, with tire models, gearing, and weight transfer simulated down to details that would have seemed like science fiction in 1966. The hobby has grown well beyond the screen, too, as rigs, wheels, and pedals have become their own branch of car culture.

That kind of setup does not come cheap, though, and prices on titles and peripherals swing constantly. DealNest was built for exactly that problem, gathering discounts on games, hardware, and accessories into one place so you can spot a good price before it disappears. Whether you are rebuilding a library of classic racing sims or hunting for something new to test your reflexes, it is worth checking what is on offer — a quick look at the game deals today can save you enough to put toward that next upgrade.