Memory Lockets are valuable collectibles in Hollow Knight: Silksong that expand the Crests, which in turn let Hornet equip more Tools. In a game where your build can highly change how you approach combat, traversal, and exploration, every extra slot matters. Though finding these Memory Lockets can be complex as you have to get them from hidden chambers, buy from certain merchants, or earn as reward for tough challenges.
This guide tells all Silksong Memory Locket locations, how to use them, and which Crests are worth upgrading first.
What are Memory Lockets
You can think of Memory Lockets as Silksong’s version of Charm Notches from the original Hollow Knight. Each Crest has a mix of locked and unlocked sockets in different colors (red for offensive Tools, blue for defensive ones, yellow for exploration). By using a Memory Locket, you permanently unlock one of these locked colored sockets.
The permanence is important: once spent, a locket can’t be refunded. That means you’ll have to think carefully about which Crest you invest in and what slot type you’re going to open.
All Memory Locket Locations in Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Bone Bottom: One of the earliest lockets you can obtain is by completing the Volatile Flintbeetle side task. Return to Bone Bottom once the objective is done, and you’ll receive the locket as a reward. It’s a good way to get an early expansion without spending Rosaries.
- The Marrow: With the Cling Grip ability, climb to the northwest corner of The Marrow. A narrow vertical opening leads to a chamber with Pilgrim enemies—clear them out and you’ll find a Memory Locket there.
- Far Fields: Mort, the wandering merchant in Pilgrim’s Rest, sells a Memory Locket for 150 Rosaries (plus 30 Rosaries for shop charges to even enter). It’s the easy one to get if you’ve enough currency to invest.
- Greymoor: After defeating the Moorwing boss in Greymoor, continue through the fan-blown platforming section to find a locket on the ground at the far edge. Watch out for environmental hazards, as it’s easy to get knocked into spikes.
- Hunter’s March: On the far-right side of Hunter’s March, just before the path to the Chapel of the Beast, you’ll find a corpse clutching a Memory Locket. This one doesn’t require a boss fight, but you have to be clever in travel to reach it, and rightly use Hornet’s movement abilities.
- Bellhart: Defeat the Widow boss to unlock Frey’s shop in Bellhart. Inside, you’ll be able to purchase a Memory Locket for 330 Rosaries. It’s costly compared to Mort’s, but by this stage of the game, the extra slot is more than worth the grind. From the same Bellhart Nailsmith, you upgrade the Hornest needle to turn into from basic to powerful weapon.
- Blasted Steps: In the Blasted Steps, look for a series of hanging bells. Use pogo techniques to cross them, then drop down into a dark passage filled with falling rocks. At the end lies another Memory Locket.
- Wormways: From the Wormways bench at the top, descend all the way down to the final section, then go left, drop further until you come to a dead end on the right. At the end of this tunnel, you’ll find the Memory Locket waiting.
How to Use a Memory Locket in Silksong
Once you’ve obtained the Memory Locket, this is how to use it:
- Rest at a Bench – Customization is only possible when seated.
- Open the Crest Menu – Go to the Crest from the menu you want to expand.
- Select a Locked Slot – Each closed socket shows its color type (red, blue, or yellow).
- Commit the Locket – Hold down the interact button until the slot unlocks. The locket is consumed permanently.
- Equip a Tool – With the slot now open, you can slot in a new Tool matching the socket’s color.
Which Crests to Upgrade First
Not every Crest benefits equally from extra slots. A couple stand out as the best investments early on:
- Wanderer Crest – Its moveset is most similar to the Knight’s, making it a reliable foundation. Adding slots here helps flesh out your general-purpose build.
- Reaper Crest – It has slow swings but a big range and Silk regeneration bonuses. Once you’re deep into the game, this Crest becomes a powerhouse with the right Tools.
Unlock Wanderer slots early for flexibility, build up Reaper once you’ve reached tough late-game areas, and keep an eye on your personal playstyle—if you lean hard into exploration or tanky builds, funnel a locket or two into the specialized Crests. You can tweak other Crests as you want, like defensive players may want to focus on blue slots, while explorers can prioritize yellow ones.
Memory Lockets are some of the most impactful upgrades in Silksong. Each one opens new possibilities, letting you adapt Hornet’s build to Pharloom’s most brutal challenges. The earlier you start collecting them, the more flexible your playstyle becomes in Hollow Knight: Silksong.
