Why we're never getting new Zote Lore in Silksong

I sincerely doubt that we’re ever getting more Zote lore in Silksong. An easter egg, maybe, but not a genuine appearance and certainly no serious connections between him and any characters or places in Pharloom and here’s why.


Zote in Hollow Knight fulfills one simple purpose: he’s a joke, the joke being that he is nothing like the knight despite somewhat resembling a vessel. His entire character is set up to embody this contrast. Whilst the Knight has (or at least is meant to have) no will to break, no voice to cry suffering and certainly has no mouth to speak, Zote lives by his own rules and never shuts up. The Knight is canonically genderless while Zote is distinctly male, it performs well in combat while he loses constantly and, of course, the Knight is on a great quest for the realm with no acknowledgment until it proves itself, yet Zote bragging about deeds he did not do impresses someone so much that they accidentally elevate an idealized version of him to godhood.

He’s a perfect parody in the dynamic he is meant for.


He could not do anything for Hornet. He can’t contrast the lack of personality in a character with a distinct personality. She does not suffer fools like him, she’d knock him out if he tried her and leave it at that. Zote was not meant for this and, as such, has not made an appearance in Silksong thus far.


That being said, I recall some people on social media drawing parallels between Zote and the Shellwood area, even theorizing that the malevolent Greyroot could be his mother. Now, it is true that Zote describes his fake sword being carved from shellwood and he believes that mothers will always betray you. However, I’d argue that while these could be references to Zote or that Shellwood could be inspired by him and the Zotelings out of universe, it will likely not go any deeper than that.

We know exactly where the knight comes from, down to visiting the place of its birth. We know its purpose, capabilities and even “meet” its parents and siblings. Zote, by virtue of being the opposite of the knight, has no confirmed origin or relation of any kind. Any new bit of Zote content is nothing but more jokes, instances of him losing or the Eternal Ordeal in Godhome. Zote doesn’t just not need a reason to be or do whatever, giving him one would go against his nature and purpose to Hollow Knight. As such, I don’t believe he will ever have any known origin or direct relations in any way.


Zote exists for Zote’s sake, and that is perfectly fine and funny.

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