One of the first things players will miss in Hollow Knight: Silksong is the Mantis Claw, an upgrade from the first game that enabled clinging to walls and wall jumps. The ability is still present in Silksong but is simply called the Cling Grip now, and it’s not easily unlocked.
Requirements Prior to Unlocking Cling Grip
Starting your path to this upgrade will require you to complete enough of Far Fields to learn how to ride updrafts. This unlocks Greymoor, serving as the door to the subsequent actions.
If you’ve not yet finished the Flea Caravan quest, it’s highly advised that you do so first. Missing this quest will result in your having to fight the powerful Moorwing boss directly, something technically possible but unnecessarily challenging at this point. With that done, you’ll then pass through Bellhart briefly before continuing west into Shellwood, where you’ll find the Cling Grip.
Entering Shellwood
Your initial room in Shellwood is infested with floating platforms over water. Traverse them until you come to a chained platform beside a locked door. On first impression, the way up seems hopeless, but using an accurate dash and jump you can just manage to catch a ledge on the right, so you can go further up.
This segment requires a lot of climbing, so utilize your floating cape and dash frequently. You can also use bounces off the enemies to reach up. Your target is the top-left doorway, beyond bunches of purple flowers and some enemy battles.
The Bench and Elevator
Soon, you’ll see a bench sign pointing up above a ledge. Instead, drop down, fight your way through enemies, and keep moving left. Here, you can purchase a paid bench — worth doing — before standing on a pressure pad that calls an elevator.
The way forward leads you east over a lake, then up on some chained platforms again before curving west. This part adds timed white flowers over spikes that need careful platforming. Using float ability constantly can correct you if you jump wrong. Practice this as preparation for the more difficult challenges that follow.
Boss Fight: Sister Splinter
In order to obtain the Cling Grip, you need to defeat Sister Splinter, the defensive boss and the real gatekeeper of Shellwood. Her primary attack is three alternating stabs on the ground. The trick here is to side-step dash right and left, then punish her with rapid attacks after the third stab.
As the battle ensues, she calls forth thorny vines and minions, keeping you on your toes. Utility items that specialize in ranged damage — like projectiles and traps — are especially effective here, as they enable you to whittle down enemies while keeping Sister Splinter under pressure.
Defeating her unlocks the top left area of Shellwood. Watch out here: falling from these is a long way around to get back to your location.
Taking the Cling Grip
The route past Sister Splinter is dangerous, with thin ledges and hostile flower enemies. Employ projectiles such as Sting Shards to eliminate them safely from a distance. Float after each jump, and don’t hesitate to glance down using the right stick to prevent tripping.
Proceed west and upwards until you encounter a lake crossing. The last part is simple but requires patience and constant floating to cross the challenging landscape. You’ll see a Weaver symbol at the end. Binding to it offers you the Cling Grip, which reinstates wall-jumping back into your movement arsenal and significantly increases your mobility in Silksong.
