As with Hollow Knight, Silksong is replete with mysterious items that aren’t immediately explained. One of the earliest such sources of intrigue Hornet can find is the Frayed Rosary String, a seemingly worthless trinket that happens to be a lifesaver when it comes to making money. While Shell Shards earned from enemies are used for crafting, Rosaries are the currency that pertains to purchasing items from shopkeepers — and that’s where the Frayed Rosary String comes in.
What Does the Frayed Rosary String Do
The in-game item description refers to the Frayed Rosary String as “a worn string holding a meager number of rosaries.” Breaking the item will cause those rosaries to fall into Hornet’s inventory, essentially converting the string into currency that can be spent. The Frayed variant is the lowest strength version of the item, granting 30 Rosaries when utilized, but stronger strings later in the quest yield greater rewards.
How to Use It
Using the string is straightforward. Open your inventory menu, choose the Frayed Rosary String, and hold down the corresponding input to break it. The exact button varies by platform — A on Xbox, B on Switch, X on PlayStation — but the action is identical across versions. The item disappears from your inventory when broken, and the Rosaries are automatically added to your total.
This mechanic is particularly useful during early hours, when every coin counts in purchasing maps, charms, and equipment from Pharloom’s scattered vendors.
When to Break It
Though the temptation will be there to break the string as soon as you get one, timing is key. Death in Silksong causes Hornet to drop all her Rosaries, so you’ll need to pick them up at the location of her death. To avoid unnecessary risk, it’s best to hold onto Rosary Strings until you’re close to making a purchase, then break them to get exactly what you need.
Why It Matters
Rosaries are scarce in the early stages of Silksong, and losing them will set back progress on important upgrades. The Frayed Rosary String offers a lifeline — a guaranteed way of acquiring currency without having to grind enemies. In spite of its low payout, making the most of it can be the difference between scraping through and being well-prepared to face Pharloom’s many challenges.
