Thief’s Mark is a Yellow Tool in Hollow Knight: Silksong that plays into the risk-versus-reward concept of the game. It is described as a symbol worn to identify oneself among fellow thieves. When equipped, Thief’s Mark gives Hornet extra Rosaries from defeated enemies, but the trade-off is that she will lose some currency whenever she takes damage. This guide tells how to get Thief’s Mark including its location, its effects, and how to use it.
How to Get Thief’s Mark in Silksong
Thief’s Mark can be obtained during the mid-game after you have unlocked the key traversal abilities in Acts 1 and 2. You’ll need skills such as Cling Grip for wall climbing and the Faydown Cloak Double Jump, since reaching the Blasted Steps requires advanced movement, and you have to jump, climb, and grapple hook to move through the areas.
You can purchase the Thief’s Mark for 350 Rosaries from Grindle, a merchant found in the Blasted Steps. The easiest entry point is from the Bellhart, moving west all the way through Shellwood. Expect platforming hazards such as sand pits that deal heavy damage, gusting winds, and rockfalls.
Work your way to the Bellway Station in Blasted Steps to unlock it for fast travel. From the Bellway, head west and drop down where the map and benches guide you. You’ll make a vertical climb up a shaft to reach the top of the Steps. On the way, you should ring the big bell near the Blade/gate that unlocks the Shellwood ↔ Blasted Steps shortcut if you haven’t already; that gives you a reliable return point for repeated runs.
Platform through a couple of small chambers and keep climbing toward the top-left corner of the area. You’ll pass a map NPC and small shops; Grindle’s shop is in a tube/chamber that requires Double Jump or a climb with whatever tool you currently have into a vertical shaft. When you reach Grindle, interact with him and buy the Thief’s Mark from his offered items in the shop.
Thief’s Mark Effects
When equipped, the Thief’s Mark changes Rosary mechanics:
- Enemies drop around 60% more Rosaries than normal. In some cases, the gain scales with enemy type, adding between 35% and 100% of their base Rosary value.
- Each time Hornet takes damage, she loses 3–4% of the Rosaries she currently has.
- Snitchflies won’t aggro Hornet while the Thief’s Mark is active unless she strikes first. This makes farming in specific areas safer.
This tool is best for a more aggressive and careful playstyle: you’re rewarded with faster currency gain as long as you avoid getting hit, but one mistake can cut into those profits, so it turns Rosary farm into a high-stakes gamble.
Silksong Thief’s Mark is good to use during farming, mainly in weak enemy areas like the Moss Grotto or the Marrow. These zones let you collect extra Rosaries without much danger. Though it’s bad for boss fights or in dangerous Pharloom regions like Greymoor or the Coral Spires, where continuous damage taken will quickly drain your wallet. The tool also works well in combo with defensive builds, such as tools that help you take less damage, increase healing, or farm Rosaries more efficiently will make the Thief’s Mark safe and more profitable to use.
