Last updated: 26 June 2026

Silksong Tools & Crests Explained

Silksong's build system is one of its biggest departures from Hollow Knight. Instead of Charms, you equip a Crest that defines Hornet's whole attack style, then slot Tools into colour-coded sockets. It is deeper than the Charm system but less obvious, and a few quirks catch players out. This guide breaks down Crests, Tool colours, slot expansion, and some of the strongest combos.

01How Crests Work

A Crest is the foundation of your build — it changes how Hornet attacks and what Tool slots she has:

• Each Crest gives Hornet a different moveset and attack animations, so two Crests can feel like different characters.
• Each Crest has its own layout of Tool slots (how many Red, Blue, Yellow, and special slots).
• Some Crests change core mechanics — for example the Beast Crest swaps Bind healing for lifesteal.
• You can only change Crests at a Bench, so commit to one before a tough area or boss.
• Notable Crests include Hunter, Reaper, Wanderer, Beast, Witch, Architect, and the late-game Shaman — each suited to a different playstyle.

02Tool Colours & Slots

Tools are equippable items — Silksong has dozens of them — and each goes in a slot matching its colour:

• Red (active): attack Tools with limited charges — throwing weapons, traps, and burst attacks. Charges refill at Benches using Shell Shards.
• Blue (passive combat): ongoing buffs and effects — faster Bind, extra damage, status infliction, defensive shields.
• Yellow (passive exploration): traversal and utility aids that help you navigate Pharloom and find secrets.
• A Tool only fits its own colour of slot — you cannot put a Red Tool in a Blue slot, so build around the slots your Crest provides.

03Expanding Slots: Memory Lockets & More

You start with limited slots and unlock more as you explore:

• Memory Lockets are collectibles (around twenty across the game) that unlock additional Tool slots.
• Slots are tied to the Crest they are added to, not shared globally — so investing in one Crest specialises it.
• Some sources grant universal slots that persist across every Crest, which are especially valuable for Tools you always want.
• Switching Crests resets your equipped Tools back to inventory — a common surprise. Re-equip your loadout at the Bench after every Crest change.

04Strong Build Combos

Once you have a few Tools and slots, certain combinations stand out (exact balance shifts with patches):

• Auto-target + stacking poison: pairing an auto-aiming attack Tool with a poison-stacking one lets you apply damage-over-time hands-free while you focus on dodging.
• Silk-on-damage + Spool Extender: Tools that generate Silk when you take damage, combined with extra spool capacity, create a near-regenerating Silk economy.
• Bind-support Blue Tools: the Injector Band (faster heal) and Warding Bell (shield during Bind) make an aggressive build far more survivable.
• Exploration Yellow Tools for backtracking phases — swap to traversal-focused Tools when hunting collectibles, then back to combat for bosses.

There is no single best build — the system rewards tailoring your loadout at the Bench to the specific boss or area you are about to tackle.