Hollow Knight Silksong Cogwork Core Puzzle Solution

In the original Hollow Knight, the White Palace and the infamous Path of Pain were the ultimate in platforming challenge. They were brutal, gorgeous, and profoundly gratifying for whoever managed to survive the experience. Pharloom in Silksong boasts its own series of these challenges interspersed throughout the kingdom, one of the most brutal hidden deep within the upper Cogwork Core.

It's not all knife-edge platforming in this section; after you've crawled to the top at last, the game then presents you with a mind-bending puzzle. Defeating both is the only means of obtaining the Architect's Melody, a fragment of the key to Hornet's protracted journey to the Cradle. We've broken down every step of this challenge, from prereqs to proper platforming routes, to an in-depth explanation of the solution to the puzzle, so you can just do it instead of guesswork. But don't say we didn't warn you: expect a lot of deaths before finally triumphing. Prerequisites Before Attempting the Cogwork

Core Trial

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You have to prepare first before you step into this challenge. Pharloom does not let you saunter into the best Cogwork Core untested.

Defeat the Cogwork Dancers These automated enemies are one of the mid-game hurdles. Their whirling blades and coordinated attack push your pattern-read ability and quickness. Only when they are defeated will the path up become accessible.

Acquire the Clawline in The Underworks Clawline is absolutely required. This grappling ability enables Hornet to latch onto anchor points, swinging over otherwise unaccessible gaps. All but one player thinks you need a double jump for the Cogwork Core gauntlet, but Clawline is all you need if you master it.

Unlock the doorway to the upper level Head down to the lower Cogwork Core, then climb the right-hand wall through your new grappling and climbing skills. You'll see a system of levers that, when activated, offers a shortcut from the bench right into the upper part. Only after these three activities are completed should you even attempt the trial. Without Clawline, especially, progression will grind to a halt.

The Platforming Gauntlet: Step-by-Step The Cogwork Core trial is a vertical ascent riddled with traps, spikes, and enemy placements positioned to intercept your attention. This is one clear path through each obstacle.

1. The Opening Grapple Grapple from the start platform to the wall across. Don't take it too far; unhook halfway across the swing to avoid collision damage. Land safely, then proceed left.

2. Enemy Hazards Here you’ll find spiked flyers and a steaming enemy patrolling the middle platform. Bait the runner enemy to the edge and knock it into the pit, then carefully dispatch the steaming foe before continuing.

3. Tricky Left Wall Jump This jump requires precision: leap partway up, dash across to the left-hand wall, and cling. Climb up while dodging another enemy patrol.

4. Grapple Corridor At the top, grapple across right. Halfway through, hop off to vault over spikes and immediately re-grapple. This section demands timing; early or late releases both mean instant death.

5. Rising Through Spike Shafts Climb another wall, dodging spikes that extend and retract. At the summit, leap into another grapple and head left. This chain introduces the rhythm you’ll need for the later sections.

6. Double Grapple Drop Grapple to the end, then release in a controlled fall. Catch an instant lower grapple beneath you, then swing to a small platform. A spiked enemy is above, bait and kill quickly, and wall-jump up.

7. Enemy Duo Fight

On a higher ledge, there will be a steaming foe and a shielded knight facing you. Target the steamer first. To deal with the shielded one, repeatedly pogo off its shield to break the blocks. Use this battle as a breather to recover if necessary.

8. Midair Grapple Recapture Go right and fight across. Here, you'll need to jump over spikes halfway through the swing, then re-grasp the same line on the opposite side before you fall off. Timing is the key here.

9. Wall-to-Wall Climb Pogo between slender shafts with whirring spikes along the walls. Each peak of the wall is a danger, so hug the walls and pogo away from the enemy if needed to make room for yourself.

10. Glide and Interrupt Slide over a large gap with an enemy in the way, blocking your path. Fall during the slide, aggro it, then regain your hold quickly and pass by while it's stunned.

11. Pogo over Rotating Cogs At the top, two spinning spiked wheels hang in your way. Jump up from the wall, pogo once, then quickly pogo again on the second wheel to access the right-hand wall.

12. The Final Grapple Chain The last part means. Grapple across, let go, grapple again immediately, then pogo off a massive cog. Slide to safety and grapple onto the other grapple line, swinging into the chamber at the top. Congratulations, you have defeated the Cogwork Core gauntlet.

The Architect's Melody Puzzle At its peak, the game doesn't reward you with a chest or cutscene. You're instead given an intimidating music puzzle: four pillars with rotating plates, each of which contains portions of sheet music. You need to turn the plates so that sheet music forms complete, unbroken lines from the top to the bottom.

It's easy to say, but the trick is knowing where to begin. One wrong pillar placement will spread the error through the rest of them. Here's how to do the Silksong Cogwork Puzzle, column by column:

Puzzle Solution 1 Start with the leftmost pillar. Rotate until you identify a smooth opening note that launches the melody on the top staff. The secret is to find the only arrangement in which the initial two notes move smoothly without being cut off.

Puzzle Solution 2 Go to the second pillar. You're looking for a descending run of three notes that will fit well together from the first pillar. Turn until you can see that the descending scale line fits together; ignore any piece that goes up, because it won't work.

Puzzle Solution 3 The third pillar is the most difficult. The right solution has a tied note (a curved line between two of the same pitch). Spin until the tie is facing the middle staff; this anchors the melody together with both the second and fourth pillars.

Puzzle Solution 4 Finally, the right-wing pillar completes the set. Turn until the staff ends on a double barline, signaling the end of the phrase. If the first three are correct, this last one will go nicely in there. When you get to solve it, the melody plays itself, filling the room with rich chimes. This gives you the Architect's Melody, one of the three great pieces required to open the way to the Cradle.

Final Thoughts The Cogwork Core trial is designed to frustrate. The platforming is merciless, the enemies are unforgiving, and the puzzle can feel like a cruel joke after so much effort. But completing it isn’t just about gaining the Architect’s Melody, it’s about proving you’ve mastered both Hornet’s traversal abilities and your own patience.