Mina the Hollower: How to Steal Pinky's Ladder and Find Its Secrets

Guide Background

Start from the main entrance of town and make sure you have a key before heading to Pinky's place. The ladder is not just for the obvious upgrade inside the house; once you get it outside, it opens several extra secrets around the area.

Operation Steps

Step 1: Clear the Plants Beside Pinky's House

When you arrive near Pinky's house, destroy the small plants on the side. This opens the side approach you will need later, so do it before going inside.

Step 2: Move the Ladder to the Far Left or Far Right

Inside Pinky's house, buy one of the items on the far left or the far right. The important part is that the ladder ends up positioned on one of the outer sides, because that makes it possible to steal afterward.

Buying all the items is worthwhile if you can afford it, especially because keeping the key and the spark catcher is useful. Just make sure the last item you buy is on the far left or far right so the ladder is left in the correct spot.

Step 3: Enter Through the Side Route

Return to the spot where you destroyed the bushes earlier, then go through the side area. Hop across the moving platforms until you reach Pinky's store from that route.

Step 4: Burrow Under the Ladder and Grab It

Once you get back into Pinky's house, burrow to grab the ladder. Be careful while doing this, because Pinky will throw you out if he catches you.

Step 5: Use the Ladder for the First Upgrade

After stealing the ladder, use it inside the house to reach the nearby upgrade. Many players stop here, but the ladder can be taken outside for more secrets.

Step 6: Carry the Ladder Outside

Take the ladder out of the house. This part can be awkward because the ladder needs the right angles to move through the area cleanly. Keep adjusting and retrying until you can get it outside.

Step 7: Reach the Floating Skull for Bones

On the way to Pinky's store, there is a floating skull that was previously out of reach. With the ladder, you can reach it and get around 100 bones. It is not a huge reward, but it is easy enough to grab once the ladder is outside.

Step 8: Break Pinky's Roof for More Bones

Bring the ladder outside Pinky's house and throw it in front of his door. From there, you can destroy part of his roof and collect some free bones.

Step 9: Use the Ladder to Reach the Lantern House Rope

For the next major secret, take the ladder toward the lantern house. Throw the ladder north, then over to the left. In this area, there is a rope you could not reach before; Pinky's ladder lets you climb up to it.

Step 10: Clear the Lantern Cave and Get the Vial Pouch

The lantern cave is tricky because moving lanterns block your visibility, and the water will kill you if you do not reach a platform quickly enough. Wait for the lanterns to move so you can see where to go, then progress through the cave carefully.

At the end, you get the vial pouch, which lets you use more plasma vials.

Step 11: Take the Ladder to the South Exit

After getting the vial pouch, take the ladder to the south exit. You will need to carry it across moving platforms to reach the next reward.

Step 12: Kill the Bug Before Crossing the Platforms

Before riding the moving platforms, kill the bug nearby. It can easily knock you off, which can send the ladder into the water and force you to start over.

Step 13: Follow the Platforms Down to the House

Once the bug is gone, carry the ladder onto the moving platforms and follow the path all the way down until you reach the house below.

Step 14: Throw the Ladder to Grab the Trinket

At the house, throw the ladder into position and climb up to collect the trinket.

Step 15: Bring the Ladder to the Shipwreck Shortcut

There is one more big use for the ladder. Go right, then down toward the shipwreck. Use the ladder there to create a shortcut.

Step 16: Break the Logs to Connect Back to the Beginning

At the shipwreck route, destroy the logs. This connects the path back to the beginning of the game.

Step 17: Return to the Trinket Area for the Bone Stone Shard

Take the ladder back to the place where you collected the trinket. From there, you can reach one last reward: a bone stone shard.

Key Notes and Tips

Do not let enemies knock the ladder into water, especially on the moving-platform route near the south exit. If the ladder falls in, you may have to repeat the carry from earlier.

The lantern cave is more about patience than speed. Wait for the moving lanterns to reveal the platforms, then move when the route is visible.

Summary

Pinky's ladder starts as a way to reach one upgrade, but it can also uncover several extra rewards if you carry it outside. Use it to grab the floating skull bones, break Pinky's roof, reach the lantern house upgrade, collect the trinket, open the shipwreck shortcut, reconnect to the beginning of the game, and pick up the bone stone shard near the trinket route.