Every Simple Key Location and Lock Reward in Hollow Knight Silksong

Pharloom is a kingdom defined by its verticality and its secrets. Throughout the journey of Hornet, players will encounter rusted, triangular keyholes that bar the way to essential shortcuts, rare tools, and game-changing NPCs. These are the Simple Locks, and opening them requires the elusive Simple Keys. Unlike permanent upgrades, these keys are consumable items that break upon use, making their discovery and strategic application a core part of the exploration experience.

There are four Simple Keys to be found in the world of Silksong, and exactly four doors that require them. Finding them is not merely a matter of stumbling upon a chest; it involves navigating treacherous platforming gauntlets, defeating unique mini-bosses, and accumulating a significant amount of the kingdom’s currency, Rosaries. This guide details the exact path to acquiring every key and analyzes the rewards hidden behind each lock.

The Role of Simple Keys in the Kingdom of Pharloom

In the original Hollow Knight, Simple Keys often felt like optional curiosities. In Silksong, however, the developers have elevated their importance. The areas gated by these keys are not just rooms with treasure; they are often pivotal junctions that connect distant biomes or initiate long-term character arcs. Because each key is consumed, players must decide whether to prioritize immediate combat upgrades or long-term navigational ease.

Consumable Nature and Strategic Use

A Simple Key is described as a rusted key of common design, degraded by time. Once inserted into a lock, it snaps, meaning you cannot "reuse" a key for a different door. This creates a resource management layer in the early game. If you have 500 Rosaries, do you buy a key to unlock a shortcut, or do you save for a needle upgrade? Most experienced players recommend securing the keys as soon as possible, as the rewards behind the doors often provide the tools needed to farm Rosaries more efficiently later.

Where to Find All Four Simple Keys

Acquiring all four keys requires a mix of economic grind and exploration prowess. You will likely find your first key in the starting hub, but the final one may not be within reach until you have mastered the Choral Chambers.

Purchasing the First Key from Pebb in Bone Bottom

Bone Bottom serves as the first major hub players encounter after descending through the Moss Grotto. Here, a small, weathered merchant named Pebb offers a variety of rusted wares. Among them is the first Simple Key.

Cost: 500 Rosaries.
Context: For a new player, 500 Rosaries is a daunting sum. Farming the pilgrim mobs in The Marrow is the most consistent way to reach this amount early. In our playthrough, it took roughly 20 minutes of dedicated looping through the marrow tunnels to secure the funds.
Strategic Tip: Don't feel pressured to buy this immediately if you are struggling with combat. The doors in Bone Bottom and Deep Docks can wait until you have a few more silk skills under your belt.

Defeating the Roachkeeper on Sinner's Road

The second key is not bought but earned through blood. Located in the northeastern heights of Sinner's Road—an area accessible through the upper reaches of Greymoor—this key is held by a unique enemy known as the Roachkeeper.

Location: Navigate to the top-right section of Sinner’s Road. This requires precise wall-jumping and, ideally, the Clawline ability to bypass the spike-lined shafts.
The Combat: The Roachkeeper is a bulky foe that guards the ledge. It has a high health pool and deals significant contact damage. Using the Sting or other ranged silk arts is recommended to whittle down its health while staying mobile on the narrow platforms.
Reward: Upon death, the Roachkeeper drops the Simple Key directly.

Searching the Sands of Karak for the Pilgrim's Key

The Sands of Karak is a gold-tinted, wind-swept biome that tests Hornet’s movement capabilities. The third key is hidden here, resting on the corpse of a fallen traveler.

Location: Head to the easternmost edge of the Sands of Karak. You will reach a serene area with a bench, a rare moment of respite in this hostile zone.
How to Reach: Accessing this specific bench requires the Clawline Grapple. You must navigate a series of temporary platforms triggered by hitting glowing orbs.
The Find: To the right of the bench, a pilgrim’s body lies slumped against the stone. Inspecting the body rewards you with the third Simple Key. Finding this feels less like a victory and more like a somber inheritance of a failed journey.

Completing Ju Bilana’s Quest in the Songclave

The final key is tied to a questline involving the Wandering Merchant. This key only becomes available once you have progressed significantly into the Choral Chambers/Songclave region.

Requirements: First, you must interact with the Wishboard in the Songclave area and accept the "Wandering Merchant" wish. This task requires you to locate Ju Bilana in a hidden sub-section of the vaults and guide her back to the main merchant stalls.
Cost: 650 Rosaries.
Significance: Ju Bilana’s inventory is more expensive than Pebb's, reflecting the late-game nature of the area. By this point, you should have the tools to farm Rosaries quickly, so the 650 price tag is less of a hurdle than the initial 500 was in Bone Bottom.

Every Simple Lock Location and What They Unlock

Once you have a key, the question becomes: where should you use it? Each of the four doors provides a vastly different benefit.

Accessing the Wormways via Bone Bottom

Near the lower entrance to the Wormways, accessible from the Bone Bottom elevator, lies a heavy stone gate with a familiar triangular keyhole.

Location: Drop down from the Shellwood Bellway and stick to the left wall as you enter the vertical shaft leading toward the Moss Grotto.
The Reward: This door opens the west side of the Wormways. This is arguably the most valuable lock to open early. Inside, you will find:
- Crest of the Wanderer: A new crest that alters Hornet’s moveset, offering faster, shorter-range attacks and a horizontal swipe for the down-air move.
- Memory Locket: An essential item for lore enthusiasts and quest progression.
- A Lost Flea: Contributing to the overall flea-finding questline.
Verdict: This should be your first or second priority. The navigation benefits and the new crest change the way you approach early-game boss fights.

Unlocking the Shortcuts of the Deep Docks

Deep Docks is a biome filled with molten metal and mechanical hazards. The simple lock here is located directly beneath the Forge Daughter’s forge.

Location: From the Forge Daughter, drop down to the lower ledges. The door is chained with a heavy padlock.
The Reward: This door grants access to the lower Docks without needing the Clawline ability, effectively acting as an early-game sequence break. However, the real prize is the Flint Slate. This offensive tool allows Hornet to ignite her needle, dealing fire damage over time to enemies. It also opens a secret path toward the south-central region of Far Fields.
Verdict: If you enjoy aggressive combat, the Flint Slate makes this door a high priority.

Freeing the Green Prince on Sinner's Road

In the same biome where you fought the Roachkeeper, there is a locked cage. Inside sits a mysterious, green-clad NPC known as the Green Prince.

Location: The second room of Sinner's Road, situated just above the main entrance from Greymoor.
The Reward: Initially, freeing the Green Prince seems like a purely narrative choice. He thanks you and moves to the Citadel. However, his freedom is a prerequisite for unlocking a massive endgame biome: Verdania.
Verdict: This is a long-term investment. While you don't get an immediate tool or crest, failing to free him will lock you out of Act 3 content and a significant portion of the map. Use your third or fourth key here.

Finding the Rosary Cannon in the High Halls

The final lock is located in the High Halls of the Citadel, an area characterized by its ornate architecture and deadly guards.

Location: West of the Ventrica Station. Look for a platform elevated above the main path leading to the Forum.
The Reward: This door leads to a hidden rosary bank—a room where breaking objects showers Hornet in hundreds of Rosaries. More importantly, navigating the hidden ceiling above this room leads to the Rosary Cannon.
The Tool: The Rosary Cannon is one of the most powerful long-range tools in the game, allowing Hornet to fire clusters of rosaries at enemies, dealing massive burst damage.
Verdict: This is the ultimate "completionist" door. By the time you reach the High Halls, you are likely preparing for the final challenges of the game, and the Rosary Cannon provides the necessary firepower.

Strategic Recommendations for Key Management

Managing your keys effectively can significantly reduce the difficulty of Silksong. Because Rosaries are lost upon death (unless you have a way to retrieve your cocoon), spending them on keys is a way to "bank" your progress into permanent world changes.

Best Farming Routes for Rosaries

To afford all the keys, you will need thousands of Rosaries. In our experience, the following spots are the most efficient:

The Marrow (Early Game): The pilgrim mobs here are slow and drop a decent amount of currency. A 5-minute loop can net about 100-150 Rosaries.
Songclave (Mid Game): The Reed Guards near the Cogwork Dancers arena are difficult but drop large amounts of Rosaries. Use the Sting tool to take them down safely.
High Halls (Late Game): The area surrounding the Ventrica Station is packed with high-value enemies. Once you have the Rosary Cannon, you can clear these rooms in seconds.

Which Door Should You Open First?

If you are following a standard progression path, we recommend the following order:

Wormways: The Crest of the Wanderer is a game-changer for early exploration and provides a needed defensive boost.
Deep Docks: The Flint Slate is too good to pass up for Mid-game bosses who have high physical resistance.
Sinner's Road: Free the Green Prince as soon as you have a spare key to ensure you don't miss the Act 3 transition.
High Halls: Save this for last, as the Rosary Cannon is a luxury tool for the endgame.

The Narrative Impact of Simple Keys

Beyond the mechanics, these keys tell a story of a kingdom that has been locked down. Pebb’s dialogue suggests that these keys were once standard issue for the Citadel’s holy guards. The fact that they are now rusted and sold by scavengers in the Bone Bottom mud highlights the decay of Pharloom’s social order. Every door you open is not just a shortcut; it is a restoration of a path that has been forgotten for generations.

Whether you are hunting for the Rosary Cannon to finish off a difficult boss or trying to reach Verdania to see the true ending of Hornet's tale, the Simple Keys are your most important consumable resource. Plan your route, farm your Rosaries, and unlock the secrets of the kingdom.

Summary of Pharloom’s Locked Secrets

The Simple Key system in Hollow Knight: Silksong is a brilliant blend of economic strategy and exploration. With four keys available through Pebb, Ju Bilana, the Roachkeeper, and the Sands of Karak, players have multiple avenues to gain access to the kingdom's most guarded secrets. From the combat-heavy rewards of the Rosary Cannon and Flint Slate to the narrative importance of the Green Prince and the navigational utility of the Wormways shortcut, these keys are essential for any player aiming for 100% completion.

Frequently Asked Questions About Silksong Simple Keys

Can I get more than four Simple Keys?

No. There are exactly four Simple Keys and four Simple Locks in the game. Once you have used all four, you have accessed every area gated by this specific mechanic.

What happens if I lose my Rosaries before buying a key?

If you die and fail to reach your cocoon, those Rosaries are gone. It is highly recommended to buy a key as soon as you reach the required amount (500 or 650) rather than carrying large amounts of currency into dangerous areas.

Is the Green Prince quest missable?

If you progress too far into Act 3 without using a key to free him in Sinner's Road, you may be locked out of his specific storyline and the Verdania biome. It is best to free him as soon as you have the Sinner's Road key.

Does the Crest of the Wanderer make the game easier?

It depends on your playstyle. The Crest of the Wanderer offers a faster attack speed at the cost of range. For players who prefer "dodge and weave" combat, it is significantly better than the standard Silk Crest.

Can I reach the Deep Docks rewards without a key?

Technically, you can reach the Far Fields and loop back into the lower Deep Docks much later in the game using the Clawline. However, using a Simple Key allows you to get the Flint Slate much earlier, which is a massive advantage for the mid-game boss fights.