As someone who has poured over a hundred hours into Hollow Knight: Silksong since its launch, I can say without hesitation that crests are the soul of the game's build system. They aren't just cosmetic upgrades; each one rewires Hornet's moveset, changes how many tools you can equip, and pushes you toward a different rhythm in combat. I still remember the first time I swapped from the default Hunter Crest to the Reaper Crest and felt the entire game click into place. Below, I'll share exactly where I found every crest, what slots each one offers, and which crest I believe deserves a permanent spot in your loadout.

🕷️ Hunter Crest — The Reliable Starter

The Hunter Crest is Hornet's default, and you'll have it from the very first minute. For a long time, I treated it as the 'vanilla' option, but it's surprisingly flexible. Once you find Needolin in Bellhart, you can speak with Eva in the southeastern part of Weavenest Atla to upgrade it. The Hunter Crest is unique because its upgrades are tied to the total number of Memory Lockets you've used, rather than a specific count for that crest. That means every locket you spend anywhere helps push this crest forward.

⚰️ Reaper Crest — My Early-Game Favorite

I stumbled upon the Chapel of the Reaper while exploring Greymoor, and it remains one of my favorite detours in the game. The chapel sits inside a cave on the west side of the area. Clear it, and the Reaper Crest is yours. In my first playthrough, this crest carried me through several tough bosses because its moveset feels wide and forgiving.

🌿 Wanderer Crest — Yellow Slots Galore

The Wanderer Crest comes from the Chapel of the Wanderer, hidden in a cave within the Bonegrave area of Moss Grotto. I almost missed this one because the entrance blends into the environment. What I love about this crest is its heavy emphasis on yellow slots, which makes it perfect if you lean on passive utility tools. The lack of blue slots early on stings, but the upgrade path fixes that nicely.

🐗 Beast Crest — Pure Aggression

The Beast Crest is tucked inside the Chapel of the Beast, located in a cave on the east side of Hunter's March. I remember the chapel fight being a real test of patience. The reward is a crest that starts with two red slots and zero blue or yellow, which screams 'all-in aggression.' If you like trading defense for raw damage, this one is for you.

🔮 Witch Crest — Blue Tool Specialist

I earned the Witch Crest by completing the Infestation Operation Wish for Greyroot in the northwestern part of Greymoor. This one is a blue-slot powerhouse. With three blue slots after upgrading, it's my go-to when I want to stack silk skills and defensive tools. The zero yellow slots early on is a tradeoff, but the sheer number of blue slots makes up for it.

🏗️ Architect Crest — Red Slots for Days

The Architect Crest is found in the Chapel of the Architect, which lies inside a cave in the Cauldron area of Underworks. I'll be honest: this crest intimidated me at first because it starts with three red slots and nothing else. But once I learned to lean into tool damage, it became a boss-melting machine. It's also available relatively early compared to some of the late-game crests.

🧙 Shaman Crest — The Late-Game Reward

The Shaman Crest is the crown jewel of Act 3. I found it in the Ruined Chapel, but reaching it requires the Silk Soar skill. You need to stand in front of the lore tablet and launch yourself upward. When I finally grabbed it, I understood why it's locked so late. It starts with three white slots, which means you can equip three silk skills simultaneously. That's a game-changer for boss fights and tough platforming sections.

💠 Memory Lockets and Vesticrests

Aside from the Hunter Crest, every crest upgrades through Memory Lockets. You'll find these throughout Pharloom, and spending them at Eva's workshop unlocks additional slots. The Hunter Crest is the exception: its upgrades are tied to the total number of lockets you've used, so you don't need to micromanage.

After using a certain number of lockets, Eva also gives you two special Vesticrests. The first, at four lockets, adds one yellow slot to all seven crests. The second, at twelve lockets, adds one blue slot to all seven. I highly recommend prioritizing these because they benefit every crest you own.

🏆 Which Crest Is the Best?

In my experience, the Shaman Crest is the best in Silksong. Three white slots let you equip three silk skills at once, and after both Vesticrests you can also slot in blue tools. It lacks red and yellow slots entirely, but the sheer utility of three active skills outweighs that drawback. The Architect Crest is a close second: three red slots can absolutely shred bosses, and you can get it much earlier. Finally, the Reaper Crest is my pick for the best early-game crest. Its ability to generate additional Silk gives it an edge over the Hunter Crest when you're still learning the ropes.

I hope this guide helps you find every crest and build the loadout that suits your playstyle. Whether you're a red-slot brawler or a white-slot skill spammer, Silksong has a crest for you. 🎮

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