How do you get to Bilewater in Silksong? This murky swamp signals the shift from the mid to late-game in Team Cherry's Metroidvania. However, like many other areas, just reaching it can be an exercise in patience and ingenuity. We can show you exactly how to get there, with several routes to choose from.
Bilewater is an optional area on the Silksong map, which means you don't strictly need to explore it until you're ready. However, clearing it early rewards you with several Silksong tools, Memory Lockets, and Lost Fleas. While finding a bench should be your top priority, we also recommend picking up Ascendant's Grip from Jubilana in Songclave. While it costs 350 Rosaries, it can make this punishing land a little easier to handle, especially once you face the Silksong boss who calls it home.
How to get to Bilewater
There are two ways to get to Bilewater. The early-game route is via Sinner's Road, while the mid-game route is via Songclave.
Sinner's Road
The first path to Bilewater begins in Sinner's Road, another optional area that's connected to Greymoor, and requires the Silksong Dash ability. From the bench on the western side of the area map, head left and platform up to the path at the top of the screen, avoiding the enemies and spikes as you go.
Hit the door lever on the right to access the platform above, then continue right. Hop over the swinging traps and enemies and continue through the path on the right. Navigate around the large metal cages, then head down to the breakable wall. Smash through to enter the southwestern side of Bilewater.
Songclave
The second path to Bilewater begins in Songclave and requires the Silksong Double Jump and Clawline abilities. It's exponentially harder to access than the path through Sinner's Road, but going to Bilewater at this point in your playthrough is far preferable.
Head south and make your way down the central room in Whispering Vaults (provided you've already been through them and unlocked the shortcut back to Songclave), then take the right-hand path above the one that leads to the bench and the Underworks.
Continue right, then hit both the top and bottom platform cubes to push them to the right-hand side of the room. Climb onto the lower cube, then hit the one directly above it to push it back to the left. Double jump to the ledge above, the wall jump up. Continue wall jumping past the rosary cage on the left until you hit the ceiling, then dash across to reach a secret path on the right.
Wall jump up and head right, then use the Clawline to open the secret path directly below. Drop down and navigate through the sawblade traps. Drop down the gap, and glide your way around the spikes. This vertical drop ends in the western side of Bilewater. Though it's a trickier route in some aspects, it spits you out much closer to the Bilewater Bellway and a bench.
Whichever route you decide to take, welcome to Bilewater - one of the most controversial areas in Silksong. Where you go from here is up to you, but we suggest boosting your health with some Silksong Mask Shards and revising your build with the best Silksong crests before the toxic path ahead swears you off the rest of the game. Consider calling on our list of the best Metroidvania games should that happen.