Player meticulously analyses damage output of each Crest in Silksong, validating my gameplay choice of sticking with Wanderer throughout the game, putting Cherry's presumptions to rest
In the captivating world of Hollow Knight: Silksong, the Australian indie studio Team Cherry, specifically designers Ari Gibson and William Pellen, have reworked the attacks and tools of the protagonist Hornet. This meticulous redesign is evident in the varied damage per hit (DPH) and DPS (Damage Per Second) of Hornet's seven attack styles.
YouTuber Visic conducted extensive testing on these attacks and tools, revealing some fascinating insights. The video from a silk scientist confirms that the character Wanderer stands out among the rest, with its attack style 'in a league of its own.' Wanderer's attack style can even out-DPS a hitless run with the upgraded Hunter crest when a single critical hit is landed.
The damage per hit for each attack style was determined as follows: - Wanderer: 21 per hit for 68.3 DPS - Reaper: 21 per hit for 41.6 DPS - Shaman: 21 per hit for 41.5 DPS - Witch: 21 per hit for 45.7 DPS - Architect: 23 per hit for 50.2 DPS - Beast: 21 / 26 per hit for 52.4/78.9 DPS (depending on the attack)
The fast attack speed from Wanderer is not only offensively potent but also valuable defensively. Its speed allows for easier counterattacks and silk generation, making it a versatile choice in combat.
The Architect style's charge attack receives an outsized boost with the Flintslate fire weapon buff, making it a strong contender for high DPS. Similarly, Wanderer also receives a nice boost with its five-hit charged attack when the Flintslate fire weapon buff is active. The Architect and Witch styles come out ahead with the Flintslate active, especially for charge attack DPS.
Red tools, such as poison cogflies, the power drill, and Flintslate, can enhance several strong play styles in Hollow Knight: Silksong, adding an extra layer of strategy to the game.
The testing assumes unrealistic attack uptime during battles and doesn't account for added damage from red tools. Despite this, the results suggest good balancing from developer Team Cherry, as every Crest can shine in the game.
The author of this article, who has completed Silksong 100%, expresses a preference for Hollow Knight over Silksong. However, the intricate details of Hornet's attack styles in Silksong are undeniably captivating, offering a fresh challenge for players who have mastered Hollow Knight.
