A new mod for Hollow Knight: Silksong, titled Crest Master, has been released by modder XPsyDeus on Nexus Mods. This mod introduces a new difficulty mode by giving players a crest that takes away Hornet's cloak and other abilities, making the game significantly more challenging.

Features of Crest Master Mod

• Instant Crest Switching: The mod allows players to switch between different crests instantly, providing more flexibility in gameplay.
• Cloakless Crest: One of the notable features is the introduction of the "Cloakless Crest," which removes all of Hornet's abilities, including her cloak and nail attacks. This crest leaves Hornet with only her kick, which deals significantly less damage compared to her normal attacks.
• Increased Difficulty: The Cloakless Crest mode is designed to be extremely challenging, as players must rely on their skills to navigate through the game without the usual tools and abilities.

Player Feedback and Community Response

• Challenge Runs: Players have already started attempting challenge runs with the Cloakless Crest, proving that it is possible to beat early bosses like Widow without the use of any abilities. This has sparked interest in the community, with many players eager to see if someone can complete the entire game in this mode.
• Community Support: The mod has received positive feedback from the community, with players finding it "extremely fun" despite its high difficulty. The ability to switch crests quickly allows players to tackle challenging sections by temporarily reverting to a normal crest.

Comparison to Previous Games

The introduction of the Cloakless Crest in Hollow Knight: Silksong is reminiscent of similar underpowered runs in other games, such as Elden Ring. These runs require near-perfect gameplay to overcome the significant disadvantage of reduced damage output and limited range.

Future Prospects

While the Crest Master mod has already added a new layer of challenge to Hollow Knight: Silksong, players are eagerly awaiting official updates from Team Cherry that may address some of the game's difficulty spikes. The mod community continues to innovate, and future mods might introduce even more unique challenges or improvements to the game.