In VV: ULTIMATUM, your first major decision is which of the three races to play as. The game gives you Shinigami, Quincy, and Hollow, and each one comes with its own weapon pool, abilities, and evolution path. There is no single "best" race that wins every situation. The right pick depends on whether you want a customizable melee fighter, an evolving signature weapon, or a ranged spiritual build.
Quick answer: Choose Hollow if you want customizable Zanpakuto parts and four starter forms to evolve, Shinigami if you want a single Zanpakuto that grows through Shikai and Bankai, and Quincy if you want to conjure ranged Spirit Weapons and unlock Letter Abilities.
Race comparison: Hollow, Shinigami, and Quincy
Each race plays differently from the moment you pick it. The table below lines up the core identity, starting choices, and evolution path so you can match a race to the build you want.
| Race | Core identity | Starting choice | Evolutions / progression |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hollow | Animalistic look, customizable Zanpakuto parts, and its own unique weapon pool | One of four Hollow types: Gorilla, Lizard, Centipede, or Turtle | Menos Grande, Adjuchas, and Vasto Lorde |
| Shinigami | Unique weapon pool with access to the Soul Pager | A Zanpakuto with its own moveset | Two or three forms, such as Shikai and Bankai |
| Quincy | Uses spiritual energy called Raishi to conjure Spirit Weapons | Spirit Weapons | Letter Abilities like Imagination and Almighty |
Hollow: customizable parts and four starter forms
The Hollow race stands out with a more animalistic appearance than the other two. It can use customizable Zanpakuto parts and pulls from its own dedicated weapon pool, which gives it room to shape how the build feels.
When you select Hollow, you start by picking one of four types. Those are Gorilla, Lizard, Centipede, and Turtle. Each starter can be pushed into stronger forms as you progress.
Hollow has three available evolutions. You move up through Menos Grande, then Adjuchas, and finally Vasto Lorde. This is the pick if you want variety in both your starting form and your part customization.
Shinigami: an evolving Zanpakuto with Shikai and Bankai
The Shinigami race centers on the Zanpakuto, which is its signature weapon. Alongside that, Shinigami get their own unique weapon pool and access to the Soul Pager.
Every Zanpakuto carries a distinct moveset and can take two or three different forms as it evolves, including Shikai and Bankai. If you prefer leaning into one weapon and powering it up over time rather than swapping parts, Shinigami fits that approach.
Quincy: ranged Spirit Weapons and Letter Abilities
The Quincy race is built around Raishi, the spiritual energy it gathers to form powerful Spirit Weapons. This gives Quincy a more conjuration-focused identity compared to the melee-leaning races.
As you progress, you advance your Spirit Weapons into Letter Abilities. Examples include Imagination and Almighty. Quincy is the race to choose if you want a spiritual energy playstyle with high-end ability unlocks at the end of the path.
How to choose your race
Match the race to the playstyle you actually want before committing, since each one locks you into a different weapon pool and progression line. Hollow rewards players who like customization and multiple starter forms. Shinigami rewards players who want to invest in one evolving Zanpakuto. Quincy rewards players who want spiritual energy and ranged Spirit Weapons leading into Letter Abilities.
You will know your choice took effect once you are placed into your selected race with its matching weapon pool, abilities, and the evolution options described above. From there, your goal is to progress toward your race's higher forms, whether that is reaching Vasto Lorde as a Hollow, unlocking Bankai as a Shinigami, or building toward Almighty as a Quincy.