An Optional Boss Worth the Climb: The Great Conchflies in Silksong

I still remember the first time I stumbled into the Great Conchflies’ arena in Hollow Knight: Silksong. I was climbing the Blasted Steps from Shellwood, minding my own business, when two shell-winged troublemakers decided to turn a quiet platforming route into a theater of ricochets and burrowed ambushes. Honestly, I expected a gimmick. What I got was one of the most fair, silly, and memorable optional fights in the game. Even in 2026, on a fresh replay, this battle remains a highlight—partly because it feels like a boss that could have belonged in the original Hollow Knight, and partly because losing here is a punishment I would not wish on anyone.

Finding the Arena 🐚

The Great Conchflies are optional. They sit between me and the nail art Needle Strike, which is taught by the Pinstress on the far west side of the Blasted Steps map. The arena waits before her, so if I want that reward, I have to deal with the flies first. The route is not complicated, but it is easy to miss if I am simply following the critical path. From the Shellwood entrance:

• Go up wherever possible after entering from Shellwood.

• Use the bench above as a checkpoint.

• Climb the room west of the bench to enter the center vertical chamber.

• Exit the vertical chamber using the first left at the chamber’s midway point.

• Jump left across several platforms guarded by smaller conchflies.

That last stretch is a gentle warning: if the little ones are already pinging shells at me, the big ones will be less polite.

Reading the Two Moves ⚔️

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