Silksong's Early Game Is a Two-Mask Punch to the Face

[xtameembb]

So here we are in 2026, and I am still nursing a grudge against a certain armored ant. Look, I beat Hollow Knight. I fancy myself a reasonably competent bug with a nail. Then Silksong came out in 2025, and Team Cherry apparently decided that seven years of development time should be spent teaching every early-game enemy how to hit like a freight train wearing boxing gloves.



I am not alone in this. Mere hours after launch, the internet was already doing what it does best: complaining. And honestly? The complaints have teeth. No fewer than three Reddit threads popped up with players howling about how quickly Silksong ramps up the difficulty compared to the original. One player, immaturenickname, put it perfectly: 'In Hollow Knight, double damage felt like a big deal. Here, it's like every enemy a step above fodder has it.' Yes. Exactly. The welcome wagon in Silksong is not a wagon. It is a spiked wheel that deals two masks of damage and then asks if you would like another.

Here is the thing that really twists the knife: masks are hard to get. In Hollow Knight, you started with five masks, and you could build up to six or seven in no time. In Silksong, Hornet also starts with five masks, but those extra masks feel like they are locked behind a boss rush designed by a sadist with a spreadsheet. Another player, Conscious_Ad_7131, pointed out that double damage was super uncommon in the original and that masks were plentiful. In Silksong, double damage is basically the default setting for anything that is not a floating jellyfish. It makes the early game feel like you are balancing on a tightrope while someone throws rocks at your head.

And the enemy health? Oh, the enemy health. I do not mind double damage that much, but some common mobs take six to ten hits. Six to ten! That is not a fight; that is a cardio session. One player, Nemesis_171, summed it up with the kind of exasperation that only comes from personal trauma: 'Dude, that one armored ant in the Hunter's March takes 13 hits.' Thirteen. I counted. Then I cried a little. Then I counted again, just to make sure the ant was not regenerating health out of spite.



Let me put this in a tidy little table, because tables make pain more organized:

Thing
Hollow Knight (early game)
Silksong (early game)

Starting masks
5
5

Double-damage enemies
Rare, boss-ish
Basically every other bug

Mask upgrades
Quick and plentiful
Slow and stingy

Common mob health
2–4 hits
6–10 hits (and one ant with 13)

Vibes
Challenging but fair
A健身房 coach screaming at you

Okay, real talk. Part of the frustration is muscle memory. I spent years learning Hollow Knight's rhythms. I know when to dash, when to pogo, when to panic-heal in a corner. Silksong changes the dance, and my feet keep stepping on Hornet's cloak. The difficulty curve is not a curve; it is a cliff with a sign that says 'Good luck, idiot.' But here is the thing: I keep coming back. That is the Team Cherry magic. They make a game that punches you in the face, and you thank them for the privilege.

Would I like a few more masks early on? Yes. Would I like that armored ant to take, say, nine hits instead of thirteen? Also yes. But I also know that in a few months, I will be the one telling new players to git gud, because that is the cycle of life for a Hollow Knight fan. The game is hard. The game is unfair. The game is also brilliant, and I hate how much I love it.

So if you are struggling in the early hours of Silksong, breathe. You are not bad. The game is just being a little extra. And if you see that armored ant in Hunter's March, tell it I said hi. Then hit it thirteen times. Or, you know, run away. No judgment.

If the armored ant has you seeing red, sometimes the healthiest move is a temporary retreat—not just from Hunter's March, but from the screen entirely. A short break to browse gaming deals can reset your patience faster than any bench ever will, and it’s a low-stakes way to feel like you’re winning at something, even if that something is just saving a few bucks on a controller you’ll inevitably grip too hard during the next boss fight.

When you’re ready to channel that frustration into retail therapy, DealNest is a handy spot to find the best deal on games, accessories, or whatever small comfort helps you survive the early hours of Silksong. Consider it a different kind of mask upgrade—one that protects your wallet while you wait for Team Cherry to nerf that ant. Or don’t. No judgment.