Twisted Bud is the deceptively small item in Hollow Knight: Silksong that carries an absurd amount of story weight. At first, it’s just a creepy, wailing lump that sits in your inventory, useless except for the occasional shriek that makes you wonder if your speakers are broken. But this little thing is key to unlocking one of Silksong’s secret paths, a unique crest, and the game’s alternate Act 2 ending.
If you’ve found it and have no idea what to do next (or are tired of its crying), this guide tells where to find the Twisted Bud in Hollow Knight: Silksong, what it does, and how to use it to get the Witch’s Crest and the Twisted Child ending.
Where to Find the Twisted Bud in Silksong
Twisted Bud can be found in the northwest part of Bilewater, and reaching it is a little platforming gauntlet. The best way is to drop into the Bilewater through the opening from the Whispering Vaults, provided you’ve unlocked the Clawline Grappling Hook.
From the First Shrine in Songclave, drop down into the Vaults and solve the moving box puzzle until one sits at the upper right corner of the room. Wall-jump up there, cling to the surface, and follow the secret exit into a narrow duct filled with spikes and cogs. Use your Drifter’s Cloak to glide through the hazards, hook onto rings with the Grappling Hook, and eventually, you’ll fall into the festering pools of Bilewater.
From here, head right, then left through a breakable wall, and keep slicing through the tangled roots blocking the way. You’ll start to hear faint cries the closer you get, follow the noise until you reach a pedestal holding the Twisted Bud. Grab it, and congratulations—you now own the loudest, most unsettling item in the game.
What the Twisted Bud Does in Silksong
Twisted Bud doesn’t do anything by itself other than whine in your inventory, but it marks the start of a major side quest linked to Greyroot in Shellwood. To use it, you’ll first need to have completed Greyroot’s quest, Rite of the Pollip. Once that’s done, take the Twisted Bud to her chapel in Shellwood.
When you hand over the Bud, Greyroot will perform the Rite of Rebirth—a ritual that infects Hornet with the Bud’s parasite. From that moment, you’re cursed:
- You can’t heal.
- Silk skills and tools are locked.
- Your Crest is replaced with a corrupted one.
It’s one of the harshest states in the game and immediately limits your combat flexibility. But it also opens up two very different paths.
Path 1: Lift the Curse and Get the Witch’s Crest
To remove the curse and obtain the Witch’s Crest, you’ll need to complete the Infestation Operation quest. Once Hornet wakes up from the ritual, she finds herself tangled in vines inside the Chapel of the Witch. Break free, keep moving left by breaking the walls and avoiding bugs along the way until you reach the path’s end with small platforms hanging in the air.
Drop down a little to find the bench where you can rest to get a respawn point, not necessary but it’s better to bench here first.
After the rest, move upward from where you came, and this time, climb all the way up to the top until you reach a breakable ceiling. Break it and climb from the narrow opening to reach Shellwood. From here, you just need to follow the path to the right, which leads straight to Bellhart.
Talk to Pavo, who mentions a woman who might be able to “fix” your condition. He points you toward a hermit hiding beneath the Bellhart Bellway station. Go through the hidden wall inside the station to get down to the bell chamber, where you’ll meet the Bell Hermit. He’ll tell you that the surgeon you need—Yarnaby—is exiled and now lives high up in Greymoor.
Head to Greymoor and climb the tall towers until you find Yarnaby’s hut. The door will be locked, so call out until it opens, and you can enter. Speak with her and promise the Wish to start the Infestation Operation quest. She’ll need Steel Spines to remove the parasite, and the only ones available are held by Crull and Benjin pair on Sinner’s Road.
Exit the hut, travel long to the right, and then move up ahead to get to Sinner’s Road, find their hut near the room full of hanging cages, and buy the spines for 260 Rosaries. If you are in Act 3, the pair will be dead, and you can collect the item directly.
Return to Yarnaby, and she’ll perform the procedure that removes the Hornet’s curse, and you receive the Witch’s Crest as a reward. Crest of Witch doesn’t let you heal normally, but instead turns your Bind into a damaging burst of roots that heals Hornet when they strike enemies. It’s risky but powerful for aggressive players.
Path 2: The Twisted Child Ending
If you want Silksong’s secret Act 2 ending, the Twisted Child, don’t remove the curse and keep the Twisted Bud. Push through Act 2 and defeat its final boss while still infected. The fight is brutal, and you’ll need to survive without healing, silk binds, or your usual loadout. Defeat the boss, and you’ll unlock the alternate ending sequence. After that, you’ll return to the last bench with the curse still active. You can then either continue cursed into Act 3 (not recommended) or lift the infection with Yarnaby’s help to resume normal play.
Can You Still Do This in Act 3?
Yes. If you missed the Twisted Bud earlier, you can still get it in Act 3 from Bilewater and complete the questline. The only difference is that the NPC chain becomes short, Pavo and the Hermit are no longer needed, and you can go straight to Yarnaby. In this act, she’ll remove the curse for free since Crull and Benjin are gone.
Should You Choose the Twisted Child Ending or Remove the Curse?
If you want 100% completion or love story-driven endings, it’s worth attempting the cursed run once for the Twisted Child ending. Just be aware: you’ll have no silk, no healing, and no forgiveness.
Though we recommend removing the curse and collecting the Witch’s Crest because it’s a unique charm in Hollow Knight: Silksong, and gives you a rewarding twist on Hornet’s healing mechanic.
