Silksong Knight-Only Run: Bugs And Glitches Encountered

Hello everyone! I've embarked on a unique adventure in Silksong, attempting a "Knight-only" run where I primarily control the Knight and minimize Hornet's involvement. This playthrough has unveiled some interesting issues and glitches, which I'm excited to share with you all. This article will cover all the bugs and glitches you might encounter in the game. It is important to note that this glitch may not appear or exist in other people's gameplay because the game is constantly being updated and patched. So be sure to follow this guide to avoid experiencing this problem.

Floor and Movement Issues

One of the earliest problems I encountered was the Knight falling through the floor while entering certain rooms. This happened, for instance, in the moss grotto after collecting the first moss berry, and again in the weavernest located in the far fields. This issue can be quite jarring, disrupting the flow of the game and requiring a reload or workaround to continue.

Another noticeable change is that the Knight bounces significantly less on white flowers and red berries compared to what one might expect. This altered physics can affect platforming challenges and the overall feel of exploration, making some areas more difficult to navigate.

Spool Fragment and Animation Glitches

Collecting spool fragments can trigger a peculiar flight glitch, which can only be resolved by quitting and reloading the game. This glitch essentially allows the Knight to float or fly, which can be fun for a short while but ultimately breaks the intended game mechanics.

After picking up spool fragments, the flight glitch may appear and can only be solved by quitting the game. The glitch will give the knight the ability to fly, which can be fun, but it is not part of the game and is unintended.

Sometimes, after quitting the game, the soul vessels stay visible on the screen when you load back in. This seems to be a purely visual bug, as it doesn't affect gameplay, but it can be distracting. Similarly, completing a mask or spool upgrade sometimes results in the Knight getting stuck in the "picking up upgrade" animation. This freezes the character and necessitates a game restart.

Character Switching and Death Quirks

Switching from Hornet to the Knight during certain actions can lead to animation problems. For example, if you switch before Hornet finishes her gliding animation, she might get stuck in that pose. This highlights some of the integration issues between the two characters' animation systems.

Death also has its quirks. Upon dying, the last frame of the death animation sometimes sticks on top of the Knight, creating a visual anomaly that persists until you exit the room. Furthermore, dying doesn't spawn a shade or cacoon, meaning you always lose all your rosaries, even with the Dead Man's Purse charm equipped on Hornet. This can make resource management quite challenging.

Charm Interactions

Interestingly, some charms equipped on Hornet affect the Knight. For instance, the bell magnet works on the Knight, while gathering flies do not. This inconsistency suggests that certain charm effects are tied to the player's state rather than the specific character being controlled.

Wish Boards and Benches Glitches

Interacting with wish boards can be problematic. The Knight often gets stuck while interacting with wish boards, sometimes when taking wishes and always when giving them. In some cases, both the Knight and Hornet are unable to interact with benches and wish boards, completely preventing their use. This issue seems to stem from how the game handles interaction triggers between the two characters.

Animation and Soul Blast Issues

It appears that many Hornet animations have integrated triggers that cause problems when switching characters during interactions. This leads to the various "stuck" issues mentioned earlier. Additionally, when switching to the Knight, a soul blast sometimes shoots out above him. The first soul blast fired by the Knight after switching repeats this problem, but subsequent blasts function normally.

Areas Completed

So far, I've completed the following areas:

• Moss Grotto/Bone Bottom
• The Marrow
• Deep Docks
• Far Fields
• Shellwood
• Bellhome
• Half of Greymoore
• Wormways

I'm excited to continue this run and discover what other quirks and challenges await. I'll keep this article updated with my progress and any new issues I find. If you're attempting a similar run, I hope this information helps you navigate the game more smoothly!

Additional Thoughts and Observations

Throughout my Knight-only run, I've noticed a few recurring themes regarding the glitches and issues encountered. Many of these problems seem to arise from the interplay between the Knight and Hornet's mechanics, particularly when switching between the characters during specific animations or interactions. This suggests that the game's code may not fully account for all the possible states and transitions that can occur when the player is constantly switching between the two protagonists.

One potential explanation for the floor-falling and bouncing issues could be related to how the game handles collision detection and physics for the Knight in certain environments. It's possible that some areas were designed primarily with Hornet's movement capabilities in mind, and the Knight's slightly different physics model isn't fully optimized for these spaces.

The charm interactions are also quite intriguing. The fact that some charms equipped on Hornet affect the Knight, while others don't, implies that the game's charm system might have some inconsistencies in how it applies effects to the player. This could be due to certain charm effects being tied to global player states, while others are specifically linked to individual character attributes.

Strategies for Avoiding Glitches

Based on my experiences so far, here are a few strategies that might help you avoid some of the glitches encountered in a Knight-only run:

1. Avoid Switching During Animations: Try to avoid switching between the Knight and Hornet while either character is in the middle of an animation, such as gliding, attacking, or interacting with objects. Allow the animation to complete before switching to minimize the risk of getting stuck.
2. Be Cautious Around Wish Boards and Benches: Save your game before interacting with wish boards and benches, especially when playing as the Knight. If you do get stuck, you can simply reload your save to avoid losing progress.
3. Manage Spool Fragments Carefully: Be aware of the potential flight glitch when collecting spool fragments. If you encounter the glitch, be prepared to quit and reload your game.
4. Experiment with Charms: Pay attention to which charms equipped on Hornet affect the Knight and use this knowledge to your advantage. You might be able to create some interesting combinations by leveraging these unintended interactions.

Conclusion

Despite these issues, the Knight-only run has been an incredibly rewarding experience, offering a unique perspective on Silksong's world and mechanics. While the glitches can be frustrating at times, they also add an element of unpredictability and challenge to the game. By being aware of these issues and employing the strategies outlined above, you can minimize their impact and enjoy a smoother, more immersive playthrough. As I delve deeper into the game, I'm eager to uncover more secrets and challenges that await, and I'll be sure to share my findings with you all. Happy gaming, and may your Knight-only runs be filled with adventure and discovery!

For more information on the game, you can visit the official Silksong website.