Comprehensive Guide to the Twisted Bud in Hollow Knight: Silksong

The Twisted Bud in Hollow Knight: Silksong is a pivotal in-game item that significantly influences your gameplay experience. It can lead to an exclusive Act 2 conclusion or be exchanged for the potent Witch Crest. Obtaining this peculiar plant involves navigating specific areas within the game world.

To acquire the Twisted Bud, venture to the northwest region of Bilewater, where it is encased within a root-bound chamber. You can reach this location either by progressing through Sinner's Road or by descending from the Whispering Vaults above. From the Whispering Vaults, a concealed passage in the upper right corner of a room allows you to drop into a worm-filled pit. Upon reaching the bottom, proceed right, then down, and finally left, breaking through vines and following the distinct crying sound to locate the Twisted Bud on its pedestal.

Utilizing the Twisted Bud requires completing the Rite of the Pollip quest for Greyroot in Shellwood. After delivering all six pollips, Greyroot will initiate the Rite of Rebirth, infecting you with the bud. This infection imposes several limitations: it removes your crest, preventing tool usage; it severely restricts your silk, hindering healing; and it confines you to the Witch Crest moveset. If you wish to reverse these effects and obtain the Witch Crest, you can undertake the Infestation Operation quest. Before starting the Rite of Rebirth, ensure you have 260 Rosaries. After the ritual, you will awaken in the Chapel of the Witch. From there, make your way to Greymoor, specifically to the tower housing the Chapel of the Reaper. Ascend the tower, take the upper left passage to a bellhome, and knock on the door to meet Yarnaby. Yarnaby will assign you the Infestation Operation quest, requiring you to retrieve Steel Spines from Crull and Benjin in Sinner's Road. If playing in Act 3, Crull and Benjin may have perished, allowing you to loot the Steel Spines directly from their remains. Return to Yarnaby, who will then remove the Twisted Bud and grant you the Witch Crest. This unique crest offers an offensive healing ability: binding will emit roots that heal you upon striking enemies.

Mastering the Twisted Bud's mechanics offers players a dynamic and rewarding experience. Whether you choose to embrace its challenges for a unique ending or overcome its restrictions to wield the powerful Witch Crest, your journey through Silksong will be enriched by these choices. This intricate system encourages strategic thinking and exploration, adding depth to the game's already compelling narrative.