Mina the Hollower gives you five main weapons, and the choice is less permanent than it first looks. Three are open from the start. You test the Nightstar, Whisper & Vesper, and Blaststrike Maul below deck after the ship is attacked, then lock one in for the prologue. The other two, the Battery Buster and the Hollower's Shield, open up later at the smithy. Because you can buy any other weapon for 2,000 Bones and swap freely, your first pick is never a trap.
Mina the Hollower weapons ranked by versatility
The ranking below reflects how forgiving each weapon is across the widest range of fights. Raw numbers favor some weapons in narrow situations, but coverage and safety decide what carries you from your first Goopers to multi-phase bosses.
1. Nightstar (Whip / Flail Mace)
A crushing mace on a flexible chain. The Nightstar has long reach and covers all four directions, which makes spacing easy while you learn enemy tells. It is the safest pick and the best starter for most players. Its upgrades are Dread Mace, which raises damage at the tip of the strike, followed by Afterstrike.
2. Whisper & Vesper (Twin Daggers)
The fastest weapon in the game. The twin daggers deliver the highest close-range damage per second and the best mobility, but the shortest reach in exchange. This is the aggressive, high-risk option for players who want to stay in an enemy's face. Its upgrades are Lunging Cut and Throwing Dagger, which adds a ranged throw.
3. Blaststrike Maul (Charge Hammer)
The hammer hits hardest in a single blow and is the only starter weapon with its own dodge roll. You hold attack to charge, and you can move while charging to roll. It is slow and committal, so it rewards patient players who read attacks before swinging. Its upgrades are Boom Charge and Spin Rush.
4. Hollower's Shield (Coffin Shield)
Also known as the Guardian Casket, this is the only weapon that can parry. You tap to bash, hold to block, and time a bash on an incoming hit to parry for a large counter-damage payoff. It has the steepest timing and the highest skill ceiling, so it suits players who want a defensive, reactive style. It unlocks from the smithy, and its upgrades are Grave Counter and Coffin Toss. Access to it comes through the blacksmith's brother duel.
5. Battery Buster (Hybrid Blaster / Mace)
The only ranged main weapon. You switch modes with jump plus attack, strike foes to power up, and fire with attack. It is flexible and safe at a distance, but you are always managing ammo, so it favors players who enjoy resource juggling. It unlocks from the smithy, and its upgrades are Burst Shot and Charge Shot.
Weapon comparison: range, speed, and unlock
| Weapon | Style | Strength | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nightstar | Whip / Flail Mace | Long range, four-direction coverage, lowest risk | Start |
| Whisper & Vesper | Twin Daggers | Highest close-range DPS and mobility, shortest reach | Start |
| Blaststrike Maul | Charge Hammer | Highest single-hit damage, has its own dodge roll | Start |
| Hollower's Shield | Coffin Shield | Only weapon that parries, huge counter payoff | Unlockable |
| Battery Buster | Hybrid Blaster | Only ranged main weapon, safe at distance | Unlockable |
Where to buy and upgrade weapons
Every weapon lives at Legovich's Arms, the red smithy in Ossex City Center. Legovich sells the upgraded version of your chosen weapon plus copies of the others, including the Battery Buster and the Hollower's Shield. Your first upgrade costs 2,000 Bones, and every purchase after that costs 2,500 Bones. The second smithy purchase is gated behind a duel with Armand, the smith's brother.
Each weapon has two upgrades, and you can also find them hidden in eight red chests across the world. Picking up a duplicate upgrades whichever weapon you are currently carrying, so swap to the weapon you want to improve before opening a chest.
All eight weapon upgrade chest locations
| Location | How to reach it |
|---|---|
| Queensbury Crypt: Old Graveyard | Up the left stairs in the manor, leap the gap, break the urn, then hit the left wall for a secret exit. |
| Nox's Bayou: Swamp Shack | NE corner of the swamp; the top-left chest opens with a Kear. |
| Bone Beach: Worm's Back | From the mirror point, leap from the top-right across the bouncy things over the skull pile. |
| Coltrane Peak: Rail Yard | Dig under the rails bottom-right and wind to the top chest. Also buyable at Panino in Ossex for 5,000 Bones. |
| Septemburg: Crow Town | SW of the village at the burning house; approach from the west, beat the crow, head upstairs. |
| Astral Orrery: Stellarium | After the red and blue gates, use a Kear on the right-side lock. |
| Loner's Landing: Belowdecks | Needs 2 spare Kears; borrow the ladder at Pinky's shop, then burrow under the ship. |
| Radiant Manor: Courtyard | Needs 5+ Vials; cross from Ossex Station Underside, beat the Lion Knight, deposit Vials at the barrier. |
Combat basics that change how every weapon feels
Two rules shape your whole approach. First, Mina is four-directional, so she cannot move or attack diagonally. Positioning matters more here than in most action games, which is part of why the Nightstar's wide coverage feels so safe. Second, Mina attacks slower than many enemies, and some of her hits push her backward.
Hollowing is the answer to both problems. Burrowing underground makes Mina invincible and lets you reposition between swings, slip behind enemies, and escape pressure. It is the glue that makes every weapon work, and it is worth practicing before you commit to a riskier pick like Whisper & Vesper or the Hollower's Shield.
Because nothing is locked in past the prologue, the best move is to start with whatever sounds fun, lean on Hollowing while you learn enemy tells, and re-buy a second weapon once you know which style fits you. The Nightstar will carry most players comfortably, but the daggers, hammer, shield, and blaster each reward a clear commitment to range, speed, power, parries, or ammo control.