Every Shardillard Location in Hollow Knight Silksong to Complete the Hunter's Journal

Shardillard is one of the most elusive and devious enemies encountered in Pharloom, the setting of Hollow Knight: Silksong. Disguising itself as a fossilized cache of Shell Shards, this creature often goes unnoticed by casual explorers. For completionists aiming to fill the Hunter's Journal and secure the Hunter's Memento, finding every Shardillard is a mandatory task. Unlike common foes, Shardillards are set-piece enemies that do not respawn once defeated, making their discovery a one-time event per playthrough.

To unlock the Hunter’s Notes for this creature, three individual Shardillards must be defeated. However, at least six confirmed locations exist across the kingdom, some of which only trigger after specific narrative milestones or the acquisition of new abilities like the Fay Down Cloak.

The Nature of the Shardillard: Mimicry and Mechanics

In the ecosystem of Pharloom, the Shardillard serves as a classic mimic. It remains stationary and indistinguishable from a standard breakable ore deposit until struck. The initial hit against a disguised Shardillard deals no damage to its 50 HP pool; instead, it triggers an unburrowing animation.

Combat Behavior and Patterns

Once active, the Shardillard does not engage in direct melee combat. Instead, it maintains a tactical distance, flying in erratic loops around Hornet. Its primary offensive move involves curling into a hardened ball and launching itself at high velocity.

• Ricochet Physics: The Shardillard ricochets off walls, floors, and ceilings for approximately two seconds. The duration of this bounce phase is inversely proportional to Hornet's distance—if she is far away, the creature stops bouncing sooner to reset its position.
• Resource Drops: The Shardillard is a unique source of Shell Shards. Every time it takes damage, or every time it strikes a hard surface during its ricochet phase, it sheds 3 Shell Shards. A single encounter typically yields between 30 and 47 shards, depending on how many times the player allows it to hit the walls before delivering the final blow.
• Damage Profile: Contact with the creature deals one mask of damage. Its steely shell protects it from basic projectiles while in its curled state, requiring players to time their Needle strikes during its hovering reset phase.

Hunter's Journal Entry Details

The journal describes the Shardillard as a "devious ambusher that poses as a fossil." The accompanying Hunter’s Note reflects on the nature of deception in Pharloom: "Once roused, the bug will crash its steely shell into walls, floors and foes." Understanding these behavioral cues is essential for locating them in the darker, more cluttered corners of The Marrow or Greymoor.

Confirmed Shardillard Locations by Region

Tracking down every Shardillard requires a deep understanding of Pharloom's topography. Some locations are accessible in the early game (Act 1), while others are gated by boss progression or world-state changes.

1. The Marrow: The High Wall Mimic

The Marrow is the first major hub region players explore, but not all of its secrets are available immediately. One of the most frequently missed Shardillards is located at the absolute zenith of this area.

• Precise Location: Head to the highest vertical room in The Marrow. On the top-left wall, seemingly out of reach of standard jumps, sits a fossilized cluster.
• Trigger Condition: This specific Shardillard will only appear after the player has defeated Lace in the Cradle. Before this event, the wall will appear bare or contain a standard, non-sentient resource node.
• Strategy: Reaching this spot requires proficient use of the Silk Zip or wall-climbing mechanics. Because of the verticality of the room, fighting the Shardillard here is dangerous; a single ricochet can knock Hornet off the platform, leading to a long fall back to the lower levels.

2. The Marrow: East of the Bellway

The second Shardillard in The Marrow is found in a horizontal corridor that emphasizes the creature's ricochet capabilities.

• Precise Location: Travel to the Bellway bench. Move into the long room directly to the right. The Shardillard is positioned to the left of a Magnetite platform.
• Trigger Condition: This enemy is gated by the transition to Act 2. If you are still in the early stages of the hunt, this room will be occupied by Skull Scuttlers instead.
• Environmental Note: The presence of Magnetite platforms in this room can interfere with Hornet's movement. Use the platforms to bait the Shardillard into a predictable bounce pattern.

3. Greymoor: The Hidden Tunnel of Styx

Greymoor is a land of fog and crumbling stone, making it the perfect environment for a mimic. This Shardillard is hidden behind environmental puzzles rather than narrative triggers.

• Precise Location: Locate the entrance to Styx’s room. Directly beneath this entrance is a secret tunnel obscured by breakable walls. You must strike the floor and the right-hand wall in sequence to reveal the path.
• Combat Analysis: The tunnel is extremely cramped. This makes the Shardillard's ricochet attack much harder to dodge, but it also means the creature hits the walls more frequently, dropping a maximum amount of Shell Shards in a short period. It is a high-risk, high-reward encounter.

4. Sands of Karak: The Eastern Wastes

The Sands of Karak provide a stark contrast to the cramped tunnels of The Marrow. Here, the Shardillard hides in plain sight among the dunes.

• Precise Location: From the easternmost bench of the Sands, move left and drop into the lower sub-canyon. Look for a shell shard cache that looks slightly "cleaner" or more polished than the surrounding debris.
• Visual Cue: Unlike other regions where the Shardillard blends with dark stone, here it mimics the sun-bleached fossils of the desert. Look for a slight shimmering effect that occurs every 10 seconds—a subtle breathing animation that gives away its position.

5. Deep Docks: Beneath the Swift Step

The Deep Docks is a region defined by industrial machinery and metallic surfaces. The Shardillard here is particularly hardy.

• Precise Location: Locate the "Swift Step" room. Directly beneath this is a long hall filled with hanging platforms. The Shardillard is attached to the underside of one of these floating metal structures.
• Trigger Condition: This Shardillard only spawns after the player has entered the Blasted Steps for the first time. It represents the "Act 2" difficulty spike, featuring faster movement and a more aggressive ricochet arc.

6. Far Fields: The Spinal Bone Platform

The Far Fields is a late-game area characterized by massive skeletal remains. This location requires the most advanced traversal tools to access.

• Precise Location: Search for a spinal bone platform in the upper atmosphere of the region. The Shardillard is perched on the dorsal side of the bone.
• Trigger Condition: You must possess the Fay Down Cloak to reach this height. Additionally, the spawn is tied to the "Weavenest" questline; if the spinal bone is broken during a previous combat encounter, the Shardillard will relocate to a higher ledge accessible only from the right-hand entrance of the Weavenest.

Why Can't I Find the Shardillard? Understanding Spawning Logic

Many players report being stuck at 5 out of 6 Shardillards or failing to unlock the Hunter's Notes despite visiting the marked locations. There are several reasons for this:

The Non-Respawning Rule

If you have already struck a Shardillard and it fled or you died during the encounter, it may not reappear until you rest at a bench or, in some cases, until you transition between Acts. If you defeated it, it is gone forever in that save file. Always double-check your Hunter's Journal count to see if the kill was registered.

Story-Locked Encounters

As noted in the location guide, Silksong utilizes "World State" triggers. The most common mistake is searching The Marrow for the high-wall Shardillard before defeating Lace. The game dynamically updates enemy placements based on Hornet's influence on the kingdom. If a location is empty, progress the main quest and return.

Mimic Consistency

The Shardillard's disguise is nearly perfect. In high-brightness settings, it can be difficult to distinguish the "enemy" version from the "resource" version. Use a directional strike (Up-Slash) on every shell shard cluster you find in the confirmed regions to be certain.

Efficient Farming: Maximizing Shell Shard Yield

Because Shardillards are limited in number, extracting the maximum value from each one is a strategy employed by veteran players.

1. Equip the Shard Pendant: This tool increases the number of shards dropped by enemies. It applies to both the ricochet drops and the final death drop of the Shardillard.
2. Delay the Kill: Do not rush the encounter. Each time the Shardillard hits a wall, it generates currency. By dodging its attacks and letting the ricochet phase play out, you can double the total shards gained compared to a quick kill.
3. Use the Needolin Dialogue: The Shardillard actually has dialogue that can be heard if Hornet uses specific listening tools or interacts with the "Needolin" NPCs. Their internal thoughts—"May darkness hide me... May rock sustain me"—reveal a creature that desires isolation, adding a layer of tragic lore to your hunt.

How to Complete the Hunter's Journal Entry

To complete the entry, you do not need to find all six. You only need to kill three. However, finding all six is required for the "true" 100% completion of the Pharloom map and the "Hunter's Memento" achievement.

• Initial Entry: Kill 1 Shardillard.
• Hunter's Notes: Kill 3 Shardillards.
• Platinum Journal Icon: Kill all 6 Shardillards and all other mimics (like the Corrupted Fleas).

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Shardillards

Do Shardillards count toward the Flea Caravan progress?

No. While they drop Shell Shards, they are categorized as hostile enemies, not collectibles. They do not contribute to the Flea Master's rewards.

Can Shardillards be killed with Tools?

Yes. Tools like the Straight Pin or explosive traps are effective. However, be aware that explosive damage might end the fight too quickly, preventing you from farming the ricochet shards.

Is there a Shardillard in Bone Bottom?

Some early reports suggested a spawn in Bone Bottom near the start of the game. This has been debunked; the cluster there is a standard resource node. The confusion likely stems from the fact that Bone Bottom and The Marrow share similar assets.

What happens if a Shardillard ricochets into a hazard (like lava or spikes)?

If the Shardillard dies to environmental damage, it still counts as a kill for the Hunter's Journal. However, the dropped shards may be lost if they fall into inaccessible hazards.

Are there any Shardillards in the Citadel?

Currently, no Shardillards have been confirmed in the Citadel. The mimics in that region take different forms, specifically mimicking the bells and chimes of the upper kingdom.

Summary of All Shardillard Locations

Finding every Shardillard is a test of both observation and progression. By following this guide, you ensure that no corner of Pharloom remains unexplored and that Hornet's Hunter's Journal is one step closer to completion. Remember to listen for the subtle shifting of stone and watch for the shimmer of a fossil that breathes—in the world of Silksong, not every treasure is what it seems.

Final Note for completionists: Re-checking the Marrow and Deep Docks is the most common solution for players stuck at 5/6, as the Act triggers in these areas are easily overlooked during the frantic pace of the mid-game.