Technologies

Get This Item to Make Hollow Knight: Silksong Much Easier

The Crest of the Wanderer can make Silksong way less frustrating.

Hollow Knight: Silksong received a lot of hype in the lead-up to its release on Thursday. When the long-awaited title finally came out, a flood of players rushed to download it, but it appears some caught up in the hype were not prepared for the game’s crushing difficulty. But there is some help for struggling players near the very start of the game.

Silksong protagonist Hornet is far more agile than the Knight from Hollow Knight, especially in her diagonal downward slash. But this angled attack is causing lots of frustration for players online, especially in areas of the game where Hornet has to bounce off objects with the slash to get past deadly obstacles. For those struggling, there is an item available almost at the beginning of the game that can change this diagonal attack to a vertical downward slash attack, making bouncing off enemies and objects much easier.

How to get the Crest of the Wanderer in Silksong

To find the Crest of the Wanderer, start off at the main hub of the game, Bone Bottom. The vendor here sells one expensive item called the Simple Key at a whopping 500 rosaries, the in-game currency. That’s a lot of rosaries that will take time to grind out if you want to change the direction of the aerial attack, but there are places to repeatedly kill enemies so you can fatten your wallet.

The nearest place to grind rosaries is directly above Bone Bottom, but it requires a trek through The Marrow to where you first meet Shakra, who sells you maps. There is a bench near her and multiple enemies who drop rosaries. Simply make your way through the area, clear the enemies, rest at the bench and repeat until you have 500 rosaries.

Once you do, head back to Bone Bottom using the elevator shortcut. Buy the Simple Key and head back up the elevator (if you haven’t unlocked the elevator shortcut yet, check out our Silksong beginner’s guide). Proceed up one screen, and to your left will be what appears to be a big empty space. Give it a few seconds, and a bird will fly in your direction. Jump toward the bird and then use the downward slash to bounce off the enemy onto a hanging cage. Do it again for the next cage, and you can then reach a ledge to the far left, where it will take you to the next area.

This area is very dangerous, as there is one giant enemy on the ceiling that spews out liquid that can deal big damage to Hornet. Luckily, there are platforms to shield you from its attacks. Once you see the enemy coming, immediately run under a platform and make sure to stay centered in the platform, as the angle of the liquid can hit you. As soon as it stops, run to the next platform and wait again for it to attack. Keep it going until you reach the end of the area.

This next area is where a door is located, and the Simple Key will unlock it. Going through the door will take you to the Wormways area. Be careful, as spiked monsters will move vertically through the tight corridors and damage you when touched. Once here, go down the first hole you see and then head right. You will eventually return to Mosshome, where Bone Bottom is located.

This new area of Mosshome you’re in is actually above the church, which is where the game started. Simply drop all the way down until you reach the ground. For the sake of safety, go right first to clear out the vines and unlock the door for another shortcut. That will take you back to the Church, and you can proceed to Bone Bottom, where you can finally rest.

When you go back through the door you unlocked, keep heading left until you find a hut. Inside, there are enemies and traps, so be prepared. Once you clear out the area, you’ll be able to claim the Crest of the Wanderer and change your weapon attack.

What does the Crest of the Wanderer do?

Crests are equippable items that change Hornet’s moveset and switch her tool slots. They can be found throughout the game after going through some difficult areas or beating certain bosses. Hornet starts with the Hunter Crest and can find six more: Wanderer, Beast, Reaper, Shaman, Witch and Architect.

When equipped, the Wanderer Crest allows Hornet to do quicker attacks, although they are slightly smaller slashes in comparison to the wider arcs when using the default Hunter Crest. More importantly, when airborne, pressing down and the attack button will do a vertical downward attack instead of an angled attack. This will be a big help in later levels to avoid obstacles and will make it a little easier to bounce off of bigger enemies by doing repeated downward slashes while in the air.

Technologies

Trump Maintains US‑Iran Negotiations Continue Amid Tehran’s Denials of Duplicity

President Trump insists that US‑Iran talks are ongoing despite Tehran’s denial of any negotiation plans, while warning that only a deal or total surrender will allow passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Conflicting statements from both sides have heightened uncertainty as the conflict enters its sixth month.

On Monday, President Donald Trump asserted that negotiations between the United States and Iran are still taking place, even after Tehran stated it has no intention of engaging in direct talks with Washington.

In a fiery Truth Social post, Trump labeled Iran’s leaders “unbelievably duplicitous,” claiming they are lying about ongoing peace talks “whether Iran wants to admit it or not.” He repeated his assertion that the United States completely controls the Strait of Hormuz, despite maritime traffic through the crucial route lingering at only a small fraction of pre‑conflict levels.

He wrote, “Nothing reaches Iran unless we allow it, and nothing will pass unless a deal—or total surrender—is achieved.”

Earlier that day, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told reporters there is no imminent plan for U.S.–Iran negotiations, contradicting Trump’s earlier comment that talks would resume Monday afternoon. Baghaei added that Iran’s only current discussions are with Oman concerning the Strait of Hormuz.

The conflicting statements have heightened uncertainty over the peace‑talk process and the broader conflict, now in its sixth month.

Trump’s assertion about new negotiations came a day after he said on Truth Social that he had agreed to cancel a massive strike against Iran “subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL.” He said in the same post that Iran and other Middle Eastern countries had asked him to hold off on that attack because “the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to.”

Trump has claimed dozens of times throughout the more‑than‑five‑month‑long war that a deal is at hand. No permanent deal has been signed, and a temporary ceasefire reached in June has fallen apart.

Trump has also repeatedly threatened to launch devastating strikes against Iran before backing off. After the latest example, oil prices on Monday fell and stocks surged.

BMI, a research unit of Fitch Solutions, said in a note Monday that a broader diplomatic understanding on reopening the Strait of Hormuz is still achievable this quarter, while raising the probability of its escalation scenario to 35% from 25%, citing mounting military, diplomatic and economic signs of rising U.S.-Iran tensions.

“Diplomatic progress is likely to be punctuated by periodic military flare-ups, while miscalculation by either side could trigger a renewed escalation,” BMI analysts wrote in a note. The firm said the key issue to watch is the future governance of the strait, as the Iran-Oman talks — potentially backed by Gulf states, China and the U.S. — point to efforts to build a post-conflict shipping framework.

Shipping risks persist even as diplomacy appears to be advancing. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre said it received a report of an incident 20 nautical miles (23 miles) northeast of Khasab, Oman — at the mouth of the strait — with a tanker’s master reporting an explosion in close proximity to the vessel at about 20:37 UTC Sunday (4:37 pm ET). The vessel and crew were safe and authorities are investigating, UKMTO said, advising ships to transit with caution.

The proposal Trump announced over the weekend calls for the U.S. and Iran to return to negotiations and continue ironing out some of the thorny issues that had derailed diplomatic efforts, according to The Associated Press, citing a regional official involved in the mediation efforts.

The official said the proposal also includes a reopening of the Hormuz Strait and halting attacks across the region, including by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq on the Arab Gulf countries and Jordan.

The U.S., for its part, will end its naval blockade on Iran and allow Tehran to export its oil, the official said, adding that no deal has been reached, although the mediation efforts remained underway.

Trump’s weekend reversal has lowered the temperature after days of escalating attacks across the Gulf. Kuwait said Saturday that Iranian forces launched a wave of drones within its airspace, with its military destroying multiple aircraft after Iran targeted critical infrastructure in the country’s north.

A parallel track with Muscat is also advancing. Iranian diplomats said Tehran was close to reaching a new arrangement with Oman to manage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a deal critical to preventing the war from escalating further, according to the Financial Times.

Iranian officials said negotiations over future management of the Hormuz Strait with Oman, which sits on the opposite shore of the waterway, are in their final stages. The agreed shipping route would be different from those used before, according to Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Baghaei, adding that the new route was separate from the issue of the strait’s reopening or continued closure.

Technologies

Oil Prices Slide as Trump Halts Planned Iran Strike

Oil prices dropped after Trump cancelled a planned strike on Iran, with WTI down about 5% and Brent near 5% lower. He said the move followed requests from Tehran and regional allies for a pause while a deal shaping the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program is negotiated.

Oil prices fell on Monday after President Donald Trump announced he had cancelled a planned strike on Iran. WTI futures dropped roughly 5% to $80.34 a barrel, while Brent slipped about 4.7% to $83.77 a barrel.

Trump said early Sunday he called off the strike after Iran and several Middle Eastern nations asked him to hold off, noting that the outlines of a deal had been agreed upon. He added that the prospective accord would entail the immediate, full opening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, according to his Truth Social post.

The president had been considering another round of strikes as diplomatic hopes waned since the conflict began on February 28. He said the U.S. and Iran would meet for talks on Monday, but Iran denied any scheduled negotiations with Washington, citing PressTV. Iran’s foreign‑ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei clarified that Tehran was only discussing shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz with Oman. In a follow‑up Truth Social message, Trump insisted that, regardless of Iran’s acknowledgment, the United States is indeed discussing a solution to a long‑standing problem created by Iran.

Technologies

Oil Prices Drop as Trump Cancels Planned Attack on Iran

Oil prices fell sharply after President Trump announced the cancellation of a planned strike on Iran, citing a new deal that would open the Hormuz Strait and end Iran’s nuclear threat.

Oil prices fell sharply on Monday after President Donald Trump announced that he had called off a planned strike on Iran.

West Texas Intermediate futures, the U.S. benchmark, slipped roughly 5% to close at $80.34 per barrel, while Brent crude, the international benchmark, declined 4.7% to settle at $83.77 a barrel.

Trump made the announcement early Sunday, saying he had canceled the strike following requests from Tehran and other Middle Eastern countries.

In a Truth Social post, he wrote: “We have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to.”

The president indicated that the proposed agreement would include the immediate, complete, and total opening of the Hormuz Strait, as well as an end to Iran’s nuclear threat.

Trump had been weighing additional strikes amid diminishing prospects for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict that began on Feb. 28. He stated that the U.S. and Iran would hold negotiations on Monday.

Tehran denied that talks were planned with Washington, according to state news outlet PressTV.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran was only holding talks with Oman regarding the routes ships can use through the Strait of Hormuz.

In a subsequent Truth Social post, Trump added that whether “Iran wants to admit it or not, we are, in fact, talking of a solution to a problem that they have caused for decades.”