Which Weapon Is Right for You in Mina the Hollower?

Guide Background

Mina can eventually wield five different main weapons, but the opening tutorial asks you to choose one starter before leaving the ship’s hold. The first three options are Whisper and Vesper, Nightstar, and the Blaststrike Maul. You can test all three in the room before committing, and the decision is not permanent: every weapon can be purchased later.

It is still worth choosing carefully. Mina benefits from having a reliable main weapon, even if swapping weapons later makes sense depending on the enemies and hazards in an area.

Important Items

Whisper and Vesper

Whisper and Vesper are Mina’s twin daggers, and they are the fastest starting weapon. They feel closest to a classic top-down Zelda sword: simple, direct, and easy to understand right away.

The trade-off is damage and reach. Each stab does less damage than the other starter weapons, and Mina needs to stay close to enemies to make the daggers work. Their speed helps make up the difference, and each hit adds a bit of pushback, but the short range is still the main weakness early on.

Their first upgrade helps solve that problem by adding a lunging attack. If you want the cleanest, most straightforward starter weapon, Whisper and Vesper are effective without asking for much setup.

Nightstar

Nightstar is a flail-style weapon and the best mid-range starter option. It hits harder than the daggers and gives Mina more reach, but each whipping attack briefly locks her in place, so it feels less maneuverable.

Its reach is the main reason to choose it. Nightstar is especially useful for poking enemies across gaps and dealing with flying foes. The jumping attack extends the flail even farther, which gives it extra utility in awkward positions.

Nightstar can also be upgraded so that perfectly striking enemies with the tip deals bonus damage. Out of the three starter weapons, it sits in the middle for damage while offering the safest range. If keeping distance sounds more comfortable while learning the game, Nightstar is a strong pick.

Blaststrike Maul

The Blaststrike Maul is the heavy hammer option. It deals the most damage among the starting weapons, but it is also the hardest starter to use well.

Its swing is slow, so timing matters. The key trade-off is that holding the attack button while pressing a direction lets Mina perform a dodge roll with some invulnerability frames. You can also hold the attack button and release it for a stronger strike, but that means learning when to charge, when to roll, and when it is safe to commit.

A later upgrade adds an explosive area-of-effect burst to the charged attack. If you like hitting hard and do not mind taking a few hits while learning the timing, the Blaststrike Maul fits that style.

Guardian Casket

The Guardian Casket is a large shield and one of the two weapons not available during the ship tutorial. It has the shortest range of any main weapon because its basic attack is a small shove, but it is the only weapon built around a parry.

If the shield is raised right as a melee attack connects, Mina deals extra damage and knocks the enemy back. That makes the Guardian Casket the defensive choice, especially for players who like reacting to enemy attacks instead of always striking first.

Its upgrade lets Mina double-tap to send the shield circling around her in an area-of-effect flurry. If you want a more defensive weapon or like the idea of turning blocks into counterattacks, this is the standout choice.

Battery Buster

The Battery Buster is Mina’s gun, and it is the most versatile weapon in the set. It has the greatest range, fires orbs at all angles, and those shots can ricochet, making it excellent for picking off enemies from a distance.

The limitation is ammo. The Battery Buster cannot fire forever, but reloading is built into its melee mode. Mina can switch between shooting and melee attacks at any time, and every melee hit on an enemy or breakable object restores one bullet.

That rhythm lets you bounce between ranged and melee play depending on the enemy type. Its charged attack upgrade adds more power to each hit, making it a flexible weapon once you are comfortable managing both modes.

Operation Steps

Step 1: Reach Legovich the Blacksmith in Ossus

After the prologue ends and Mina is free to explore Ossus, head to Legovich the Blacksmith near the center of town. His workshop is the orange building just west of the central fountain.

Step 2: Buy Your First New Weapon

Your first new weapon costs 2,000 bones. After that purchase, prices increase to 2,500 bones.

The next weapon purchase also comes with an extra requirement. Paying is not enough by itself, because Legovich’s brother Armand is in the basement and refuses to hand everything over without a fight.

Step 3: Use Lava to Weaken Armand

Attacking Armand immediately barely damages him. The fight revolves around the lava tiles at the top of the room.

Burrow through squares next to the lava, and the lava flows into them. When Armand touches the lava, his defense drops sharply, allowing Mina to deal normal damage. Keep digging because the lava cools after a while, but be careful: spreading more lava across the arena also makes the room more dangerous for Mina.

Step 4: Avoid Armand’s Attacks and Keep Him Moving

Armand kicks twice if Mina stands too close, and he runs at her from a distance. Burrowing away gets Mina clear in both cases.

He can also drop boulders onto the battlefield. The initial drop is easy to avoid, but the boulders then break apart and fly in the four cardinal directions, so the attack has a second part that needs to be sidestepped.

His hammer slam is the most dangerous move. Armand charges up, slams the hammer, deals big damage, and leaves dug-out spots in the ground where lava can flow. Stay mobile, keep leading him into lava, and attack when it is safe. Once he calms down, Mina can continue collecting new weapons.

Key Notes and Tips

Choosing a starter weapon does not lock Mina into that weapon for the full game. The opening choice mainly decides what feels best for the early hours.

Whisper and Vesper are the simplest and fastest. Nightstar is safer at range and useful against flying enemies. Blaststrike Maul hits the hardest but demands better timing. Guardian Casket rewards defensive play and parries. Battery Buster offers the most range and flexibility, as long as you keep its ammo topped up through melee hits.

Summary

Pick Whisper and Vesper for speed, Nightstar for safer mid-range control, or Blaststrike Maul for heavy damage at the start. Later, visit the blacksmith in Ossus to expand Mina’s weapon collection, prepare for the Armand fight, and add the Guardian Casket and Battery Buster to your options.