Main weapon guide

Mina the Hollower Weapons Guide

Choose a weapon by the way you want to survive: safe spacing, fast pressure, heavy stagger, guarded learning, or late-game ranged control.

Weapons: 5
Starters: 3
Upgrade paths: 10
Safest pick: Nightstar

Quick answer

Pick Nightstar first if you want the safest start.

Nightstar is the most forgiving first choice because its long reach lets you learn enemy timing without standing on top of danger. Whisper & Vesper are best for aggressive players, Blaststrike Maul is the heavy hitter, and every weapon can be collected later.

Best beginner weapon: Nightstar
Fastest aggressive starter: Whisper & Vesper
Best heavy starter: Blaststrike Maul
All weapons become available later

Starting decision

Choose your first weapon by comfort, not damage numbers

The three starting weapons all work, but they ask for different habits. Use these cards when you want to avoid picking a weapon that fights against your natural pace.

whip / long range

Nightstar

Best for: New players who want a forgiving first route.
Harder for: Players who prefer point-blank burst damage.
Combat tempo: Measured swings, clean spacing, and steady control.
Mastery: Medium. Learn the tip range and it stays useful for a long time.

daggers / short range

Whisper & Vesper

Best for: Aggressive players who already trust their positioning.
Harder for: New players who need distance while reading attack patterns.
Combat tempo: Fast, risky, and close enough that mistakes get punished quickly.
Mastery: High. It shines when you know when to enter and leave danger.

hammer / medium range

Blaststrike Maul

Best for: Players who want heavy hits and can wait for openings.
Harder for: Players who panic swing or need fast recovery.
Combat tempo: Slow pressure, bigger punish windows, and strong stagger value.
Mastery: Medium. Timing matters more than complicated inputs.

Weapon database

All weapons comparison table

Search or filter the five main weapons by weapon type, range, and speed. Use the table to compare availability, defensive safety, skill floor, and both upgrade paths.

5 / 5 weapons shown

Search weapons

Weapon typeRangeSpeed

On small screens, the comparison table becomes stacked weapon cards.

Nightstar

whip

Beginners, balanced play

long rangemedium speedhigh safety

Upgrades: Dread Mace - adds a heavy overhead attack with increased damage; Seismic Lash - creates shockwaves on full swing

Whisper & Vesper

daggers

Experienced players, aggressive play

short rangefast speedlow safety

Upgrades: Lunging Cut - quick dash attack that pierces enemies; Circling Strikes - spin attack hitting all around

Blaststrike Maul

hammer

High damage, stagger bosses

medium rangeslow speedmedium safety

Upgrades: Boom Charge - charge heavy swing causing explosion; Shockwave Slam - slams ground sending shockwave

Hollower's Shield

shield

Defensive play, learning enemy patterns

short rangeslow speedvery high safety

Upgrades: Guard Counter - successful blocks unleash a counterattack; Bash Thrust - forward thrust to push enemies back

Battery Buster

blaster

Ranged combat, safe poking

long rangemedium speedmedium safety

Upgrades: Burst Shot - fires a spread of three projectiles; Overcharge - hold to fire a powerful charged shot

Name	Type	Unlock timing	Range	Speed	Safety	Skill floor	Best for	Upgrade paths
Nightstar	whip	Starting weapon	long	medium	high	medium	Beginners, balanced play	Dread Mace - adds a heavy overhead attack with increased damage; Seismic Lash - creates shockwaves on full swing
Whisper & Vesper	daggers	Starting weapon	short	fast	low	high	Experienced players, aggressive play	Lunging Cut - quick dash attack that pierces enemies; Circling Strikes - spin attack hitting all around
Blaststrike Maul	hammer	Starting weapon	medium	slow	medium	medium	High damage, stagger bosses	Boom Charge - charge heavy swing causing explosion; Shockwave Slam - slams ground sending shockwave
Hollower's Shield	shield	Mid-game in Queensbury Crypt	short	slow	very high	high	Defensive play, learning enemy patterns	Guard Counter - successful blocks unleash a counterattack; Bash Thrust - forward thrust to push enemies back
Battery Buster	blaster	Late in Astral Orrery	long	medium	medium	medium	Ranged combat, safe poking	Burst Shot - fires a spread of three projectiles; Overcharge - hold to fire a powerful charged shot

Weapon details

How each weapon changes your route

The comparison table is for quick decisions. These cards explain the rhythm, quirks, and upgrade direction that make each weapon feel different in real rooms.

whip / Starting weapon

Nightstar

Basic rhythm: Mid-range lash attacks let Mina hit enemies before they crowd her.
Main quirk: The weapon rewards patience because missed swings are safer than most short-range options.
Upgrade direction: Dread Mace leans into heavy impact, while Seismic Lash adds room control through shockwaves.
Excels at: Safe exploration, first boss attempts, and routes where you are still learning enemy timing.

daggers / Starting weapon

Whisper & Vesper

Basic rhythm: Rapid close-range slashes stack damage quickly when Mina can stay beside a target.
Main quirk: Short reach makes room knowledge and clean exits more important than raw attack speed.
Upgrade direction: Lunging Cut adds commitment and reach, while Circling Strikes improves crowd coverage.
Excels at: Speed-focused play, confident boss pressure, and players who value momentum over safety.

hammer / Starting weapon

Blaststrike Maul

Basic rhythm: Heavy swings cover a respectable area but ask Mina to commit before impact.
Main quirk: The maul feels strongest when rooms give you space to set the rhythm.
Upgrade direction: Boom Charge increases burst damage, while Shockwave Slam gives the slow kit more reach.
Excels at: Boss stagger, armored enemies, and players who prefer fewer but more meaningful hits.

shield / Mid-game in Queensbury Crypt

Hollower's Shield

Basic rhythm: Short guarded strikes trade speed for survival and enemy-pattern practice.
Main quirk: The shield changes combat from chasing hits to controlling risk.
Upgrade direction: Guard Counter rewards clean defense, while Bash Thrust creates space after contact.
Excels at: Learning hard rooms, cautious boss practice, and fights where survival matters more than pace.

blaster / Late in Astral Orrery

Battery Buster

Basic rhythm: Ranged shots let Mina attack from safer lines once the weapon is found.
Main quirk: It arrives late, so it is more of a route adjustment than a starting identity.
Upgrade direction: Burst Shot improves coverage, while Overcharge gives the blaster a deliberate burst option.
Excels at: Late-game ranged fights, cautious cleanup, and enemies that are awkward to approach.

Need a safer full build?

Once the main weapon feels right, pair it with Sidearms and Trinkets that cover its weakness. Slow weapons want mobility tools; risky weapons want safety and recovery.

Compare Sidearms