How to Beat Graol the Great in Hollow Knight: Silksong’s Brutal Bilewater

It’s 2026, and Hollow Knight: Silksong still has the gaming world in a chokehold. Among its many sprawling, treacherous kingdoms, Bilewater stands out as a real test of grit — a putrid, maggot-infested hellhole that can make even the most seasoned players want to rage-quit. The zone’s boss, Graol the Great, is the final middle finger in an area already overflowing with environmental hazards and irritating enemies. But fear not: with the right strategy, some choice tools, and a hidden shortcut, you can turn this hulking nuisance into just another notch on Hornet’s needle.

Bilewater is notorious not just for Graol but for the grueling runback from the nearest fast-travel point, the Bell Beast station. Every failed attempt means wading through pools of Muckmaggots, dodging spike traps, and getting piled on by the area’s ranged attackers. However, a hidden bench in one of the lower caverns slashes that commute by over half. If you’re still slogging all the way from Bell Beast, you’re doing it wrong — unlock that bench ASAP and save your sanity.

The Optimal Runback: Speed and Precision

The key to a smooth Graol runback is treating it like a gauntlet, not a sightseeing tour. The denizens of Bilewater — from the skittering Muckroaches to the exploding acid-spitters — love to gang up on you given half a chance. The solution? Move fast and keep your wits about you. The first half of the run is a straight dash, but the mid-section requires some careful pogo platforming to bypass pitfalls and ambushes. Slow down there, then sprint through the final corridor right before the boss arena to avoid getting jumped by the last wave of enemies.

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