After defeating The Last Judge and triggering the Act 2 cutscene, Hornet finally enters the Citadel in Team Cherry's Silksong. Unlike the more linear Act 1, Act 2 opens up a sprawling, interconnected map that has left many players wondering: what should they do first? With the game now well into 2026, veterans and newcomers alike continue to seek direction. This guide breaks down the most important early objectives in the Citadel, from buying maps to hunting the Threefold Melody.

1. Purchase the Grand Gate Map (40 Rosaries) 🗺️

The very first thing players should do in Act 2 is buy a map. Unlike Act 1, where maps came from NPCs like Shakra, most Citadel maps are sold by machines. In the first room of the Citadel, players will find one such machine. Interact with it and pay 40 Rosaries to receive the Grand Gate map. This small zone connects the Blasted Steps to the larger Choral Chambers above, but it is a crucial starting point.

2. Grab the Free Underworks Map

From the Grand Gate map machine, head right and drop down into The Underworks. This eerie sub-area is filled with forced labor bugs and deadly fans that deal two Masks of damage. Traverse upward until you spot a sign with lines and shapes. Enter that room to find the Underworks map pinned to a board — it costs nothing. Then continue upward to reach the Choral Chambers.

3. Buy the Choral Chambers Map (70 Rosaries) and Find Ventrica

Continue through the Choral Chambers until you reach another map machine at the start of a long, slightly angled room with three enemies. Purchase this map for 70 Rosaries. Then go left to discover your first Ventrica station, a fast-travel point that will prove invaluable later.

4. Unlock the Shortcut to The Slab 🛠️

Normally, reaching The Slab requires players to let Hornet get captured by a large enemy in the Deep Docks. However, there is a shortcut on the left side of the Choral Chambers. This path connects almost directly to a Bench and the Slab Bellway station. Why is this important? Because later, players must return to the Slab Bellway to reach Mount Fay, which contains a powerful movement item — but only after acquiring the Clawline ability somewhere in the Citadel.

5. Defeat the Cogwork Dancers ⚔️

At the very top of the Choral Chambers, players will face the Cogwork Dancers, the first major boss of the Citadel. This fight is not the hardest in the game, but it is one of the most tragic and beautifully designed. Hornet battles two dancers who move in time with the music, telegraphing their attacks. The fight has three phases as the song accelerates. After defeating one dancer for the third time, it is destroyed. The remaining dancer continues alone in a somber fourth phase. After winning, players unlock the Cogworks Core below and the rest of the Choral Chambers to the right.

6. Ring the Grand Bell to Unlock Songclave 🔔

After the Cogwork Dancers, head right — carefully jumping over two tough, large enemies — to reach a strange building on the far top-right of the Citadel. Enter and ring the bell inside to spawn a bench. Outside, an NPC named the Caretaker asks if you rang the bell and warns that it will call pilgrims. Later, this spot transforms into a new town hub called Songclave. The Caretaker may be annoyed, but players can now fulfill Wishwall requests from pilgrims.

7. Locate the Grand Bellway in Choral Chambers

Make your way to the far bottom-right of the Choral Chambers to find the Grand Bellway, a Bellway station in the center of the Citadel. This provides convenient travel back to Act 1 areas, allowing players to collect missing Mask Shards, Spool Fragments, optional abilities, and complete side content.

8. Find Pale Oil in Whispering Vaults 🛢️

The Whispering Vaults are tricky to reach. They can only be accessed by turning a gigantic wheel-gate so its pathway faces left to right. To get there, return to the Cogwork Dancers arena and drop down into the Cogwork Core. This sub-zone resembles the Path of Pain from Hollow Knight. Go down three floors, then loop down, right, and up to reach the other side of the central column. Use all of Hornet's movement skills and bounce off cogs with downward slashes. At the top-right, continue pogoing off moving cogs, then head right. At the end of the hallway, find a room leading to the left side of the wheel-gate. Hit the lever, cross to the right, and enter the Whispering Vaults. Somewhere inside is a Pale Oil, which upgrades Hornet's Needle for a second time, increasing damage.

9. Hunt Down the Threefold Melody 🎵

After defeating the Cogwork Dancers, the background of their arena rotates to reveal three ominous statues. Interact with them to learn Hornet's final task: find all three pieces of the Threefold Melody and play it before the statues. The pieces are hidden in difficult, out-of-the-way areas. Two are locked behind challenging gauntlet rooms in the top-left and bottom-right of the Citadel. The third is hidden high atop the Clockwork Core. This quest will take players through the Cauldron, deeper Whispering Vaults, Bilewater, High Halls, Whiteward, Memorium, and more.

Summary of Key Act 2 Objectives

Conclusion

Act 2 of Silksong may feel overwhelming at first, but by following these steps, players can build a solid foundation. As 2026 progresses, the community continues to uncover new secrets and optimizations. So, what are you waiting for? Grab that map, ring that bell, and ascend the Citadel. 🎮

Silksong demands a lot from its players — long gauntlets, frame-perfect pogo timings, and boss fights that punish a single misread input. That kind of endurance run eventually takes a toll on your setup, whether it's a drifting analog stick, a muddy monitor, or a keyboard that has seen better days. Replacing gear mid-playthrough isn't cheap, though, so it helps to know where the genuine discounts live before committing to a purchase. DealNest gathers current offers on gaming hardware and accessories in one place, making it easier to tell a real price drop from a marketing illusion.

Not every Citadel explorer needs new equipment, of course — some are simply lining up their next adventure for the moment the credits roll. With so many metroidvanias and soulslikes arriving alongside Silksong, keeping tabs on sales is the easiest way to grow a library without draining your Rosaries. Whether you're after a bargain controller or a cheap copy of whatever comes next on your list, checking an aggregator before you buy is a habit that quietly pays for itself.