How To Beat Lace In The Deep Docks In Hollow Knight Silksong

While we waited for Hollow Knight Silksong, Team Cherry kept dropping these tantalizing glimpses of what’s to come. Within these trailers, one character that had everyone talking was Lace. This spider-silk-wielding antagonist isn’t just another pretty face with deadly weapons (though she’s definitely got both going for her). With powerful strikes and precise attacks, this duelist is a lethal and difficult opponent to fight.

Who is Lace?

Lace is not your typical boss enemy. Based on the snippets and trailers before the game’s release, this lady means business, and she’s got the fighting skills to back up her intimidating presence. Lace appears to be one of the major antagonists Hornet will face during her journey through Pharloom. She’s got this elegant-but-deadly vibe going on as if a ballet dancer decided to become an assassin. Her design screams, “I will destroy you, but I’ll look absolutely fabulous doing it.”

What makes Lace particularly interesting is her apparent connection to the silk-based magic that runs throughout the game’s world. Unlike the Hollow Knight‘s more straightforward nail-based combat, Silksong seems to lean heavily into thread and silk mechanics, and Lace embodies this perfectly.

The Deep Docks Encounter

The Deep Docks area is where players will likely encounter Lace for the first time, and boy, does Team Cherry know how to make an entrance. Based on the gameplay footage we’ve seen, this isn’t going to be some casual Tuesday afternoon boss fight. No, sir, Lace is bringing the heat.

The Deep Docks themselves look like an absolute nightmare to navigate – imagine Venice, but if Venice were designed by someone who really, really didn’t want you to have a good time. It’s this sprawling aquatic maze that perfectly sets the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable showdown.

Lace doesn’t just stand there and wait for you to figure out her patterns like some bosses. She’s aggressive, she’s fast, and she’s got this annoying habit of using the environment to her advantage. The Deep Docks’ layout seems specifically designed to complement her fighting style, which honestly makes me a little nervous about how many times I’m going to die during this encounter.

Surviving the First Encounter: Lace’s Key Attacks

Lace is a seasoned duelist and is all about precision, speed, and making you feel like a clumsy caterpillar. Most of her attacks are quick lunges and ranged pokes with her signature needle. Watch her movements for the tell-tale signs because she telegraphs her moves just enough for a nimble Hornet to react.

• The Lunge Dash: Lace will lower her stance for a split second before rocketing across the screen, needle-first. This is her bread-and-butter move. Your best bet is to jump and pogo off her head. It feels risky, but once you get the timing down, you can deal damage while avoiding her attack entirely. Just don’t get greedy.
• The Upward Thrust: If you get too comfortable staying above her, she’ll wise up and jab her needle straight into the air. The tell is a slight crouch and a glint from her weapon. Dash away immediately when you see it. Trying to pogo this will only get you skewered.
• The Triple Thread Toss (TTT): Lace will hop back and throw three small needles at you in a wide arc. This is your prime opportunity to heal! The needles are spaced out enough that you can usually find a safe spot between them. If you’re feeling bold, you can also use this moment to dash in for a quick hit after the last needle has passed.
• The Big Finisher: Just like the title states, this attack covers a huge portion of the battle arena. She’ll charge up and unleash a massive energy wave from her needle that you shouldn’t attack head-on (unless you want yours on her needle). The only way to dodge this is to find a high platform or use your wall-jumping skills to get some serious airtime. Don’t even think about trying to tank it.

A Winning Strategy: How to Out-Dance the Duelist

Fighting Lace is less of a slugfest and more of a dance, making your main objective to stay mobile and reactive. You can’t just brute-force your way through it. Patience is your best friend. Lace is a formidable foe, but with practiced strategy, you’ll be the one delivering the final, graceful blow as the hero from Hallownest.

• Hopping and Dashing: Use short hops and dashes to bait out her attacks, and only go in for damage when you see a clear opening. The best windows of opportunity are right after her Lunge Dash and during the Triple Thread Toss (TTT). Get in one or two hits, then immediately back off. This isn’t the kind of fight where you can stand your ground.
• Heal after TTT: The only truly safe time is when she’s throwing her three needles. Don’t try to sneak a heal in at any other time, or you’ll be punished for it. Remember, surviving with one health point is better than dying while trying to heal.
• Get the right tools: (Silksong equivalent to charms) focus on tools that boost mobility or improve your long-range skills and attacks. Anything that lets you dash more often or attack from a slightly safer distance will give you a major edge.

Final Thoughts: Let’s Thread the Needle

The level of polish visible in Lace’s animations and the Deep Docks environment suggests that Team Cherry really took their time to get everything perfect. Lace is beautiful, deadly, and a fun character to have as Hornet’s counterpart. For such a strong character to show up in the first appearance with a veteran air, it makes me wonder if Lace will become more integrated into the story’s plot and the future of the franchise. But for now, let’s kick her butt!