The Bellbeast is one of the earliest major challenges awaiting players in Hollow Knight: Silksong. Despite appearing early in the journey, it has quickly earned a reputation for being tougher than expected. Its high damage output, unpredictable movement, and multi-phase design make it a true test of patience and skill. If you are finding yourself overwhelmed, you are far from alone.
This guide breaks down the Bellbeast fight, its attack patterns, and the strategies you can use to turn the tide in your favor.
Preparation: Obtaining the Silk Spear
Before you can even face the Bellbeast properly, you must acquire the Silk Spear, an essential item used to cut through the spiderwebs blocking access to its arena. Once you have the spear, return to the Bellbeast’s lair, which also doubles as a fast travel point for the rest of your adventure.
Phase 1: Learning the Patterns
The Bellbeast opens the fight with simple yet dangerous attacks that deal two masks of damage per hit, a sharp increase compared to most early bosses in Hollow Knight. Its movements are signaled by dust clouds before it emerges:
- Low dust: The Bellbeast dashes quickly along the ground.
- High dust: The Bellbeast leaps into the air.
Strategy:
- Focus on dodging first, attacking only when safe.
- During dashes, jump over the beast and consider using pogo attacks for extra damage.
- While airborne, it can still be struck, though it is riskier to do so.
Phase 2: Ground Bells
The Bellbeast soon escalates the battle with a new attack involving two large bells bursting from the ground. This creates added hazards without removing its original moves.
Strategy:
- Stick close to the dust cloud to strike the Bellbeast.
- Immediately jump left over the first bell to avoid damage.
- Alternatively, ignore the bells entirely and continue playing cautiously with Phase 1 tactics.
Phase 3: Falling Bells
The final phase introduces chaos with falling bells from above, combining this with the Bellbeast’s charge and leap attacks. The arena becomes more dangerous, but there are still windows to heal and attack.
Strategy:
- Watch for dust falling from the ceiling, which indicates where bells will land.
- Keep moving to avoid being trapped.
- Apply the same hit-and-run techniques from earlier phases, attacking only when confident.
Why the Bellbeast Feels So Difficult
Several factors explain why this boss has been giving players trouble:
- High damage: Each attack deals two masks of damage, double what players may expect early in the game.
- Design philosophy: Silksong seems to raise enemy damage values overall, perhaps to balance Hornet’s faster healing and mobility.
- Simple but punishing patterns: The Bellbeast only has a few moves, but even small mistakes carry heavy penalties.
General Tips for Success
- Play defensively: Do not rush. Learn the attack patterns before committing to damage.
- Use Hornet’s mobility: Her agility allows you to reposition quickly and recover from mistakes.
- Smart healing: Hornet’s healing restores three masks at the cost of one soul, making it far more efficient than the Knight’s in the original game. Heal only when safe.
- Mindset matters: Expect multiple attempts. Many players report needing several tries before finally toppling the beast.
The Bellbeast may be an early hurdle, but it is a carefully designed fight meant to teach players Silksong’s new balance of risk and reward. Its blend of heavy damage and simple patterns forces players to adapt quickly, rewarding patience and precision. With the right mindset, sharp observation, and defensive play, this daunting foe will eventually fall.
