Quick Answer
Mantis Claw is in Mantis Village, in the southern part of Fungal Wastes. The smooth beginner route is: beat Hornet in Greenpath for Mothwing Cloak, reach Queen’s Station, move through Fungal Wastes, drop into Mantis Village, and take the Claw from the western side of the village.
You do not need to beat Mantis Lords to get Mantis Claw. Grab the wall-jump ability first, then decide whether to return to City of Tears for a nail upgrade before fighting them.
Route Overview
| Stage | Goal | Checkpoint |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Greenpath | Beat Hornet and take Mothwing Cloak | You can dash through horizontal gaps and hazards |
| 2. Queen’s Station | Open the Stag Station and use the bench | Failed attempts no longer restart from far away |
| 3. Fungal Wastes | Learn purple mushroom pogo jumps | You can cross long gaps and spore rooms cleanly |
| 4. Mantis Village | Explore toward the west side and take Mantis Claw | Wall cling and wall jump are unlocked |
| 5. After pickup | Choose City of Tears or Mantis Lords | You understand that Mantis Lords are not required immediately |
Before You Enter Mantis Village
| Check | Recommendation | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Map | Buy the Fungal Wastes map early | The area loops back on itself and is easy to misread |
| Queen’s Station | Open the Stag Station and remember the bench | It gives you a sane reset point |
| Mothwing Cloak | Recommended first | Dash makes the route much less punishing |
| Health | Five masks are enough for the pickup | The goal is the ability, not full area cleanup |
| Zote | If you care about his route, resolve the Greenpath situation first | Early Zote handling can change after this progression point |
Common Fungal Wastes Problems
Purple mushrooms will not bounce you high enough
They are not passive trampolines. Jump above the mushroom, hold down, and attack to pogo off it. Once that timing clicks, many Fungal Wastes gaps stop looking impossible.
Mantis enemies keep killing you
Do not turn the village into a full clear yet. Your only job is reaching the Mantis Claw room. Skip enemies when the room allows it, take safe ledges, and come back later with better movement and nail damage.
You walked into the Mantis Lords area
That is a boss challenge, not the Claw requirement. If you just gained wall jump and still have the old nail, leave, route to City of Tears, upgrade, then return when the fight sounds fun instead of miserable.
What Mantis Claw Unlocks
| Unlock | Value | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Wall jump | Repeated climbing on vertical walls | Recheck high exits in Crossroads, Greenpath, and Fungal Wastes |
| City of Tears route | Main midgame progression | Find the Nailsmith and upgrade damage |
| Queen’s Station Mask Shard | Early survivability pickup | Collect it after practicing wall jump |
| Mantis Lords option | Mark of Pride and a Deepnest gate after victory | Use a boss guide when ready |
| Region cleanup | Many old dead ends become reachable | Work through a region checklist instead of wandering |
Recommended Order After Pickup
- Practice wall cling, wall jump, and re-clinging on a nearby shaft.
- Return to Queen’s Station and reset at the bench.
- If your nail is still unupgraded, go to City of Tears before forcing Mantis Lords.
- If movement feels stable, return to Mantis Village and start learning the fight.
- If the fight feels too fast, leave it for later; it is a rhythm test, not a hard story lock.
FAQ
Can you get Mantis Claw without Mothwing Cloak?
There are harder movement routes, but they are a poor first-playthrough recommendation. Beat Hornet first, take dash, then route through Fungal Wastes normally.
Do you have to enter Deepnest after getting Mantis Claw?
No. Deepnest is harsh early, and the main Mantis Village gate opens after Mantis Lords. For most players, City of Tears and a nail upgrade are the better next step.
Why do I still fail wall jumps after unlocking it?
Do not mash jump. Hold toward the wall to cling, jump away, then steer back toward the next wall. In narrow shafts, a left-right rhythm is more reliable than frantic inputs.