There’s no end to the consumables you can find in the Kingdom of Pharloom in Hollow Knight: Silksong. One such item is the Pristine Core, which can be obtained in two ways that we’ll discuss. While the first one is easy to find, the second one requires a secret and missable mini-boss fight in Act 3, but the boss fight isn’t that troubling. Here’s how you can get your hands on a Pristine Core in Hollow Knight: Silksong.
Pristine Core Locations
You can obtain two Pristine Cores in Hollow Knight: Silksong, one from the Twelfth Architect’s Questline and the second from the Cogwork Clappers mini-boss in the Cogwork Core. For the first method, you’ll require a plethora of Rosaries, so make sure you’re stacked up on them. For the second one, you only need to access Act 3, and the bosses will be available inside a secret area. The latter is completely missable, so be careful when progressing through Act 3 of the game.
Pristine Core #1: The Twelfth Architect’s Questline
The Twelfth Architect is located at the Underworks beside the Cauldron near the entrance to Whiteward at the top. There will be a Bench, along with the Twelfth Architect, at this location, as shown in the image above. Head to the area on the map, and you’ll find the Twelfth Architect to the right.
After you’ve found the Architect, you need to do a few things. First, purchase every item from the Architect, including the Architect’s Key, which can be bought for 110 Rosaries.
You need to use the Architect’s Key at the Architect’s Door, located at the Twelfth Architect’s location itself, to the right of the room. Once you’ve used the Key on the door, you’ll obtain the Crest of Architect from inside the Chapel of the Architect. Bind yourself with the Crest, then head back to the location of the Twelfth Architect. Now, use your Needolin skill near the Architect to trigger a dialogue about creation and mending.
After completing the Needolin part, head back out and rest at the Bench in this location. Come back to the Twelfth Architect after some time, and you’ll find the Architect dead, with the corpse possessing a shiny object. Pick up the shiny object to collect the first Pristine Core, and complete the Twelfth Architect’s Questline in Hollow Knight: Silksong.
Pristine Core #2: Cogwork Clappers
The Cogwork Clappers boss is found inside the Cogwork Core near the entrance to the Choral Chambers at The Citadel in Hollow Knight: Silksong. Start at the location shown on the map above, then continue right to the next area. Climb up to the next area using your Silk Soar ability, and activate the contraption to start the boss fight.
Since they’re a mini-boss in Act 3, you don’t need to worry about them too much. Watch out for their cannonball attacks, and you’ll be fine. Keep chipping away at their health carefully, and you’ll be done with them in no time. Once you’ve defeated the Cogwork Clappers, one of them will drop a Pristine Core as a reward. You can use the Pristine Cores to break it into 220 Shell Shards.
That’s all you need to know about the Pristine Cores in Hollow Knight: Silksong. Since the Kingdom of Pharloom holds many more secrets, skills, tools and weapons, check out our comprehensive guides on the Vesticrest, the Rune Rage and the Rosary Cannon.
