Mina The Hollower - 11 Essential Tips To Know

Guide Background

Mina the Hollower is packed with puzzles, hidden items, and small systems that are easy to overlook. Once you reach Ossyx and speak to Lionel, the game opens up around six generators. The first four can be repaired in any order, but a few early choices make the road much smoother.

Tips and Tricks

1. Get the Guild Map Before Wandering for Generators

After speaking to Lionel in Ossyx, the next big question is where to go. There are six generators to repair, and the first four are flexible enough that you can tackle them in any order.

Instead of wandering Tenebrous Isle blindly, head to the Hollowers Guild. Once you find the right room, you’ll be asked to rescue one of your fellow Hollowers. Head south and complete the mini-dungeon tied to that rescue.

Afterward, Drillhard sells a map that Mina can view while in her burrow. It does not show a frame-by-frame layout like a Zelda dungeon map, but it does point you toward the general direction of the first four generators. Drillhard also offers a guild hall upgrade that shows how many collectibles remain in each area.

2. Tackle the Northeast Generator Early for the Proton Spark

The generators can technically be done in any order, but the northeast generator is a strong first pick. Its difficulty feels comparable to the southwest dungeon, and it contains one of the best trinkets found early on: the Proton Spark.

To get it, help the Duke reach his casket. Once equipped in your hollow, the Proton Spark gives Mina a free revive, which makes every encounter a little more forgiving.

After clearing the northeast crypt, the recommended route is southwest, then northwest, then southeast.

3. Pick Up the Primed Vial Pouch as Soon as Possible

The Proton Spark is excellent, but the Primed Vial Pouch is another early trinket worth grabbing quickly. It lets Mina carry two extra vials, which can make fights and dangerous routes much easier in the opening hours.

To find it, enter the house south of Ossyx through the chimney. Later, once you find more vial pouches scattered through the world, you can swap this trinket out for something else. Early on, though, the extra vials are extremely valuable.

4. Spend Early Bone-Up Points on Attack and Defense

After collecting enough bones, Mina can bone up. There are four categories:

• Attack, which increases the power of Mina’s primary weapon.
• Defense, which increases Mina’s defense stat rather than her health bar.
• Sidearms, which increases sidearm power.
• Bone Stones, which lets you turn bones into gems that cannot be lost on death.

A few early points in attack and defense are the safest investment before focusing on the other two categories. Sidearms are useful, but their limited use means they usually will not see as much action as your main weapon. Bone Stones are smart when you are worried about losing bones after a death, but they do not need to be your first priority.

The game may nudge you toward leveling everything evenly, but you can back out by choosing exit.

5. Prioritize Permanent Upgrades Over Early Weapon Shopping

Ossyx gives you plenty of ways to spend bones. The blacksmith sells and upgrades weapons, the provisioner sells permanent upgrades such as increased health and vial pouches, Drillhard has map-related services, the guild hall improves your den, and the clothing store sells outfits with different perks.

Avoid buying a new weapon early unless you truly dislike the starting weapon. Once you find a weapon that feels good, upgrade it sooner rather than later.

The best place to spend bones early is the provisioner. Permanent upgrades are invaluable and keep helping long after the purchase.

6. Rescue the Children in Septemberg

During the Septemberg section, you can find children trapped in the dungeon. Explore thoroughly and rescue them from enemies as you go.

Missing some of them is easy to regret, so take the time to search the area instead of pushing straight through.

7. Fund the Train and Save Bone Stones for It

Major regions have train stations, but the train is gone until enough funds are supplied for a new one. Interact with the donation box at any train station and keep contributing. Once you donate around 10,000 bones, free travel opens between all five stations.

Do not stand around too long after selecting your ticket. The train can leave without you.

Funding the train is not only for convenience. One area of the map can only be accessed by train, and you will need to reach it for story progress. Save Bone Stones specifically for train funding before spending them elsewhere.

8. Reach Sidearm Level 5 to Carry a Second Sidearm

Mina the Hollower has many sidearms, and you are not limited to only one forever. Once sidearms reach level 5, speak with the relevant character in Ossyx to receive a license that lets Mina carry an additional sidearm.

With the license, you can switch freely between two sidearms. Just remember that both sidearms still share the same mana pool.

9. Deal With the Bone Thief for the Bell of Grace

While exploring the city, a thief may run up and try to steal Mina’s bones. Hit him before he gets close and he will run away.

After a couple of beatings, he turns into a pile of meat and bones, then flees into the building beneath the train station. Give him 1,000 bones and he rewards you with the Bell of Grace trinket.

The Bell of Grace gives Mina a chance to hold on to her spark upon death. If she dies without a spark, it also lets her keep half her bones.

10. Check the Tenebrous Times Often

The Tenebrous Times is Mina the Hollower’s in-game newspaper. It recounts your accomplishments, gently points you toward where to go next, and contains a few secrets of its own.

Newsstands appear in front of each train station. A new edition appears after each generator repair, and the paper reacts slightly to your choices. If you ignore its recommended dungeon order, it can even mention that.

11. Keep Track of the Mirrors

Mirrors are worth noting whenever you find them. Interact with them, remember where they are, and do not lose track of their locations.

Later in the story, you will need to find at least three mirrors to progress. Marking them mentally as you explore saves a lot of backtracking when that requirement appears.

Summary

The early hours become much smoother if you secure the guild map, route toward the northeast generator for the Proton Spark, grab the Primed Vial Pouch, and spend bones on lasting upgrades. Keep an eye on train funding, sidearm progression, newspapers, mirrors, and rescue opportunities, because Mina the Hollower hides important progress in places that are easy to pass by.