I’ve been completely obsessed with Silksong since it came out, and although I’ve never really done any speedrunning, after getting 100% completion I decided to go for it. Managed to beat the game in under 5 hours, on my fifth attempt (including a couple I ended very early).

I mostly followed this guide: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3569566036

Also helpful to use a full map like this one: https://www.polygon.com/hollow-knight-silksong-interactive-map-full-pharloom/

A few changes I made to the above route, mostly to make later boss fights I was having trouble with easier:

• There’s a craftmetal you can pick up in The Marrow (big room west of the Hunter’s March entrance), which is a lot easier than the Underworks one.
• For my fifth run, I didn’t buy any maps, which is helpful to save up for some of the stuff below. After a few attempts, and with the above references, they weren’t really necessary.
• While in Deep Docks I visited Forge Daughter to buy a crafting kit.
• After getting the wall grip in Shellwood, I picked up enough mask shards to get an extra mask before the Widow fight. You should already have one from Far Fields, and there’s one in Shellwood you can pick up while there. I then went back to Deep Docks to get one near the west entrance (which needs wall grip), and then from Shellwood west to Wormways to get the one west of the Craggler room.
• Also while in Shellwood I did the quest to get the Pollip Pouch.
• While going through Sinner’s Road, I did Crull and Benjen’s quest to hunt Muckroaches, to get the Tacks tool (great for the Forum fight).
• Once the Songclave wish board appears, I did the Wandering Merchant quest to get Jubilana back, to buy Ascendant’s Grip (useful in the Forum fight). While rescuing him you can stop by Whiteward for the Injector Band.
• Once you have 400 rosaries, head back to Pilgrim’s Rest to buy a tool pouch and a memory locket.
• In the final descent in High Halls, I stopped by the room on the left to get the Cogfly weapon (needs 1 craftmetal).
• It may not be necessary, but I picked up a few other tool pouches and crafting kits before the tough fights at the end. You can get one from the dagger throwing game in The Marrow, and one from the craw killing wish at Halfway Home. I think they were worth it for me, because I managed to beat the Forum on my first attempt, which was not something I expected to be able to do.

Final loadout was Pollip Pouch, Injector Band, Ascendant’s Grip, Cogfly, and Tacks.

I hope somebody finds this helpful!

Next up is Steel Soul I guess?