DOHA/STOCKHOLM—Amid intense anticipation for the release of the highly-awaited Metroidvania title, Hollow Knight: Silksong, purported details regarding an arduous optional challenge have surfaced, sparking discussion among the global gaming community. While the game’s core is known for its brutal boss encounters, new information suggests the inclusion of a skill-based gauntlet known as the Flea Festival, which tests a player’s mastery of movement and combat mechanics.
According to the details, this optional event is only unlocked after the protagonist, Hornet, successfully rescues every flea scattered throughout the game. Players can then travel to the area known as Fleatopia in the Putrified Ducts and begin the trials after speaking with the ringmaster, Mooshka. Successful completion is said to reward a crucial item: Pale Oil, necessary to achieve the final upgrade for Hornet’s primary weapon, the needle.
The festival is reportedly composed of three distinct minigames, each demanding a high score:
- Flea Juggle: Considered the most difficult of the trio, this challenge requires players to keep fleas airborne by striking them until a 30-point score is reached. The key tactic here is precision and restraint: players must resist jumping and instead use rhythmic upward swipes while maintaining movement across the arena. Utility tools like the Longclaw are cited as aids for consistent hits, while Silkspeed Anklets assist in rapid repositioning.
- Flea Dodge: This minigame is a pure test of survival and luck. Players must evade 65 flea attacks, including massive fleas that destroy platforms and complicate movement. Strategic use of the pogo attack to stay elevated provides essential breathing room, particularly when bouncing off the giant flea after its second charge to allow platforms to regenerate.
- Flea Bounce: Described as the simplest, this challenge is a direct examination of fundamental in-game mechanics. Players must continuously bounce off fleas using the pogo attack without falling, aiming for a total of 42 successful bounces. Equipping the double jump and the Clawline skill is recommended for safety, with the Witch Crest offering a more forgiving margin for error.
Upon mastering all three trials, players claim their prize by smashing a festival piñata to obtain the final Pale Oil. The upgrade process involves locating the Nailmaster in Shellwood, freeing him from enemies, and then returning to Bellhart. Handing over the Pale Oil along with 450 Rosaries is the final step to unlocking the maximum needle upgrade—a significant boost crucial for success in the game’s challenging late-game encounters.
The Flea Festival, if confirmed, signifies the game’s continued commitment to intricate, skill-based content that goes beyond traditional boss fights, offering players a comprehensive test of timing, patience, and adaptability for a rare and powerful reward.
