Up to 53 equippable tools in three colours replace charms as the way you build Hornet.
Tools are how Silksong builds Hornet, taking the place of the first game's charms. Per the wiki, they are equippable items that give her access to up to 53 additional weapons and abilities.
They come in three colour-coded categories: red for active attacks, blue for passive combat buffs, and yellow for passive exploration perks. The colour tells you exactly what a tool is for at a glance.
What you can equip depends on your Crest. According to the wiki, different Crests offer different numbers of each colour slot, and Memory Lockets unlock more.
This guide explains how each tool type works, how slots and Crests gate your loadout, and the standout tools worth building around.
Active attacks, limited-use, refilled at benches with Shell Shards.
Passive combat buffs, no Shell Shard cost.
Passive exploration perks, no Shell Shard cost.
Set by your Crest and expanded with Memory Lockets.Tools are Silksong's loadout system, and the colour code is the whole framework. Per the wiki there are three categories, each marked by a coloured symbol, covering 53 tools in total.
| Colour | Type | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Active offensive, limited-use | Refill at benches, usually Shell Shards |
| Blue | Passive combat and survivability | None |
| Yellow | Passive exploration and gathering | None |
According to the wiki, you equip tools into slots tied to your Crest, then use red tools with a skill input plus a direction. The Crest you wear decides how many of each colour you can carry.
Balance the colours rather than stacking one. In actual play, a red attack tool, a blue defensive tool, and a yellow exploration tool covers far more situations than three of the same.
Red tools are your active arsenal, the closest thing Silksong has to extra weapons. Per the wiki, they are limited-use consumables fired with the skill input combined with up, down, or no direction depending on the slot.
They run on a capacity that empties as you use them. The wiki notes most are replenished at 
benches, usually for Shell Shards, or through the Architect Crest's Craft Binding. That makes them powerful but resource-limited.
| Tool | Role |
|---|---|
| Straight Pin | Basic thrown ranged attack |
 Threefold Pin | Spread of three pins |
 Silkshot | Silk-powered projectile |
 Throwing Ring | Returning ranged disc |
 Rosary Cannon | Heavy burst damage |
The wiki lists many more, including the Conchcutter, Longpin, and Curveclaw. Red tools are where most of your offensive variety lives.
Blue tools are passive and free to run, focused on keeping Hornet alive and hitting harder. The wiki specifies they carry no Shell Shard cost, so there is no downside to slotting them.
They cover combat and survivability: damage boosts, defensive effects, healing tweaks, and reactive perks. Tools like the 
Weavelight and the various mask and band tools sit here.
Because they are always-on, blue tools are the backbone of a durable build. In practice, a defensive blue tool is the safest first pick on any new Crest, especially before a tough 
boss.
Yellow tools smooth out exploration rather than combat. Per the wiki, they are passive, cost no Shell Shards, and usually speed up traversal or resource gathering.
These are the quality-of-life picks: a 
compass for navigation, tools that boost currency pickups, and perks that make backtracking through Pharloom faster.
On a limited slot budget, yellow tools compete with combat tools, so most players swap them in for exploration stretches and out for boss fights. They are convenience, not power.
Your Crest is what turns this catalogue into a build. Per the wiki, each Crest offers a different number of red, blue, and yellow slots, so swapping Crests reshapes your whole loadout.
You expand those slots over time. According to the wiki, additional tool slots are unlocked on each Crest using Memory Lockets, and the Vesticrest provides slots that work regardless of which Crest is equipped.
For the full Crest lineup and how each one steers your tool colours, see our Silksong crests guide. Crest plus tools is the core of how Hornet is built.
Tools pair with Crests to build Hornet, and tie into the bosses and characters across Pharloom. These guides cover the rest.
Game data and screenshots adapted from hollowknight.fandom.com, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. Original content remains the property of the wiki contributors and Team Cherry.