Which Weapon Should You Choose in Mina the Hollower?

You'll need to make decisions at a few different points throughout Mina the Hollower, the first of which comes just a few minutes in. When the vessel that you're on gets attacked by monsters, you'll need to choose from one of three weapons found in a chest below deck, with each one catering to a slightly different play style.

There's a pair of nimble daggers that allow Mina to strike quickly, and a crushing mace that lets her attack from distance. The last of the three Mina the Hollower starting weapons is a mighty hammer, allowing the cute little critter to dish out explosive damage to nearby enemies while also unlocking a special dodge roll maneuver.

Which Mina the Hollower Starting Weapon Should You Choose?

• Whisper and Vesper - A pair of nimble daggers. Tap [X] to stab in quick succession.
• Nightstar - A crushing mace, affixed to a flexible chain. Press [X] to strike from a distance.
• Blastrike Maul - A hammer with explosive force. Hold [X] to charge up. While charging, move to roll.

The best Mina the Hollower starting weapon depends a lot on your playstyle. If your timing is good and you want to feel more man (or woman) than mouse, the Blastrike Maul is the obvious choice. The charge attack can come in clutch when you're surrounded by enemies, while the dodge roll can help make combat feel a lot more strategic. Whisper and Vesper are great for dishing out damage quickly due to their shorter animations and pair really well with the game's unique burrowing mechanic. There's something immensely satisfying about popping up behind an enemy, slashing them multiple times, and then tunneling back underground before they've had a chance to turn around. The Nightstar is noticeably slower than the daggers, but the extra range that it provides can be incredibly useful, not just for dealing with enemies from a distance, but also for taking care of destructible objects that are preventing you from jumping to nearby ledges.

The game lets you change your mind before heading back up onto the ship's deck, so you can play around with all three weapons before locking in. The limited number and types of enemies in the area make it difficult to perform a proper assessment, but you can at least get an idea of how they all work mechanically.

How Long Before You Can Unlock the Other Two Starting Weapons?

Thankfully, even if you end up regretting your decision, you won't have to wait too long to put things right, as you can get the other two starting weapons and two other attacking options within the first hour of the game. Shortly after arriving in Ossex, which serves as the main hub area of the Tenebrous Isle, you'll have a chance to buy the other two weapons for 2,000 Bones apiece from the weapons shop, Legovich's Arms. The two brothers are also selling the Guardian Casket (a shield that can be used to block and parry attacks), the Battery Buster (a canon that fires projectiles), and the Lunging Cut upgrade for Whisper and Vesper. Your choice here is kind of important, though, as when you try to make your second purchase, you'll be forced into a fairly tricky boss fight with Armand.