How to Get Luminous Oil in Hollow Knight: Silksong — The Great Taste of Pharloom Wish Guide

In Hollow Knight: Silksong, there are many side tasks that reward you with worthy prizes. By fulfilling certain wishes, you can permanently increase your damage. To boost the damage of Hornet’s main weapon, you need to complete The Great Taste of Pharloom wish and obtain luminous oil. In this guide, we’ll tell you where to find Ancient Nectar, Bogberry Soup, Hardnut, Pickled Dung Grub, and how to deliver the Courier’s Slice of Meat.

The nearest luminous oil is located in the dining hall of the Choral Chambers, on the left side of the Citadel. On the map, this room is marked as a long hall with dining tables. This area becomes available only after defeating the boss, the Clockwork Dancers. In the dining hall, head right and attack any object. This will awaken the Loyal Mergwyn. Talk to him to start the “Taste of Pharloom” quest—he will ask for five ingredients in exchange for luminous oil.

To make this task easier for you, here’s where to find each of the five ingredients.

Bogberry Soup is given by the Mossberry Druid at the top of Bone Bottom. After talking to him, a side quest will begin. Bring the Druid one or more bogberries to receive the ingredient.

This is the easiest and fastest item to complete the quest. There are three additional berries on the map. In a separate guide, we described their locations. In addition, the Druid will give you over 100 beads for each berry. If you have already brought all the berries before, the Druid will not delay you and will immediately give you the soup.

Pickled Dung Grub drops from an optional boss-cook on the Sinners’ Road. The boss is located east of the large room with the symbol of hanging cages on the map. From this room, go down first, then up through the pipe. Be sure to open the shortcut door before the fight.

Defeat the first wave of beetles, and the cook Lugoli will appear. She’s a large beetle who smashes the ground and scatters blobs of green jelly. These blobs deal damage and block your next healing. After defeating the cook, you can claim the pickled dung grub as a reward.

Ancient Nectar can be purchased in the Gloomy Marsh, at the “Halfway Home” tavern. Talk to the bartender Craig, and he will offer you the required nectar for 480 beads. However, there’s a catch to this deal.

After paying the price, the bartender will open the door to the basement. The item you need is at the bottom, but when Hornet tries to pick it up, a large group of red ants will burst into the basement. You’ll have to fight and defeat several waves of strong enemies before you can take the nectar.

Hardnut is a rare item found in a hidden room of the optional location “Karaka Sands,” located above the Ruined Steps. To get to Karaka Sands, go northwest from the Ruined Steps to the house of the pinmaker. Use the dash after the spear, wall jump, and double jump to reach the platform above her hut, where you’ll find the entrance to the new area.

Move through the area until you meet Chakru (she can be found by the scattered round objects). In this room, you can also open a shortcut to the bench by dropping a huge piece of stone down. Climb up to the bridge. To the left, there will be a wall you need to destroy. After that, you’ll face a labyrinth where you need to break through passages. At the end, you’ll find the hardnut.

To unlock this item, you first need to complete the first set of quests in Bellville, after which you can take another quest to find the delivery brother. The second beetle is located in the Sinners’ Road area, before the room with the cook.

Defeat the enemies, talk to him, and the beetle will automatically return to Bellville. After that, you can talk to the brothers and get the courier’s slice of meat. But, unlike the other items, this one must be delivered within a certain time, taking minimal damage (we managed to make it with only 2 extra hits). Keep in mind that falling from a great height and hitting a wall at speed also deals damage to the item you’re carrying.

There are several routes, and we’ll describe the simplest one. On this route, you’ll encounter almost no enemies, and it’s easy to remember, so you won’t waste time clarifying or correcting your path. The main thing is not to fall from great heights or crash into walls. For the run, you’ll need any convenient charm and the tools Magnetite Cubes, Weaverlight, and Swiftilk Anklets. Also, it’s best to unlock the double jump in advance.

From Bellville, run to the left, ignoring the enemies. When you reach the Shellforest, climb up to the Bell Beast and run left to the Worn Steps. Climb up using shortcuts and double jump to avoid all the enemies on the way.

After passing through the large gates, jump onto the scales to reach the shortcut by the right wall and climb up into the Choral Chambers. Here, immediately go all the way to the top and run to the right. Next is a linear room—keep running right until you reach the White Chambers. Without entering the new room, climb up and go into the left passage. From there, you’ll reach Loyal Mergwyn and successfully deliver all the items.

After delivering all 5 dishes, you’ll complete the quest and, after the cutscene, be able to pick up the luminous oil. Bring it to the pinmaker Plinny in Bellville and upgrade your Needle. Unlike the first free upgrade, you’ll immediately notice the increased damage, which will make it easier to defeat bosses and tackle long arenas, so we highly recommend completing this quest as early as possible.