This guide offers a detailed walkthrough for successfully navigating the 'Final Audience' mission in Hollow Knight: Silksong. It covers locating and assembling the Cogheart Pieces, the subsequent activation of the Second Sentinel, the necessary multiple encounters within the Choral Chambers, and effective combat tactics to overcome this boss. Successfully completing this quest provides a significant advantage for later, more demanding in-game challenges.

Unlocking and Engaging the Second Sentinel

The 'Final Audience' quest, while not overly lengthy in its final stages, demands significant groundwork. Players must first reactivate the Second Sentinel by gathering Cogheart Pieces and subsequently engage with it multiple times across the Choral Chambers. This late-game endeavor requires specific abilities, notably the Faydown Cloak from Mt. Fay and the Clawline from the Underworks, making early attempts impractical. Progressing through key story elements and acquiring these essential movement upgrades are crucial before focusing on the Cogheart components. Once all pieces are collected and the Sentinel is activated, players must repeatedly seek out and engage with it in various long corridors of the Choral Chambers until the 'Final Audience' wish becomes available on the Songclave wish wall.

To embark on the 'Final Audience' quest, players must first assemble the complete Cogheart from three individual pieces. These pieces are strategically located across the Citadel, specifically in the Whispering Vaults, Choral Chambers, and Memorium. Accessing these locations and solving their respective bell puzzles requires advanced mobility tools: the Faydown Cloak for double-jumping to elevated areas and the Clawline for navigating the Underworks. Upon obtaining all Cogheart Pieces, players can proceed to the Cogwork Core to activate the Second Sentinel. Following this initial activation, the Sentinel will appear randomly in various long, horizontal corridors within the Choral Chambers. Players need to encounter the Sentinel a minimum of two to four times, resting at a bench between each encounter, to prompt the 'Final Audience' wish to appear on the Songclave wish wall, signifying the readiness for the final confrontation.

Strategies for Overcoming the Second Sentinel

The confrontation with the Second Sentinel, part of the 'Final Audience' quest, takes place in the High Halls arena and serves as a proper boss battle, demanding meticulous attention to its distinct attack patterns. Players should prepare by resting at a nearby bench before ascending to the combat zone. The Sentinel's arsenal includes a rapid thrust attack, best avoided by jumping and hovering, or by executing a downward attack during its sequence. Its spinning jump, often followed by a diagonal energy burst, can be dodged by dashing underneath the boss upon its leap, creating a brief window for a counter-attack. A ground-based energy arc necessitates a precise jump or double jump, potentially allowing for an aerial strike. The X-strike, a charged energy burst, requires players to move away from the Sentinel as it charges. Finally, the Sentinel's counterstrike, signaled by flashing blades, can be exploited by baiting the guard and then positioning behind it for a safe attack or retreat.

Successfully defeating the Second Sentinel hinges on understanding and reacting to its unique combat maneuvers. The boss's thrust attack involves a rapid series of forward lunges; players can evade by jumping and hovering above or use a downward strike to inflict damage during its attack animation. Its spinning jump, often accompanied by a downward energy wave, is best countered by dashing beneath the Sentinel as it lands, opening a brief opportunity for an offensive. The ground-based energy burst, indicated by the Sentinel raising its arms, can be avoided with well-timed jumps. When the Sentinel charges an X-shaped energy burst, immediate movement away from its position is critical to avoid damage. A key defensive and offensive strategy involves its counterstrike ability: when the Sentinel's blades flash and emit a metallic sound, attacking it will trigger a flurry of retaliatory strikes. Skilled players can deliberately trigger this, then quickly reposition behind the Sentinel to deliver safe damage or create space for healing, making precise timing and agile movement paramount to victory.