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While the bulk of Mina The Hollower progresses like a classic Game Boy Legend of Zelda adventure, there are a few Castlevania influences thrown in, and it’s not just the gothic setting. Mina has potential access to up to 15 Sidearms, which are sub-weapons that you collect from lanterns or find in the open of each area. These Sidearms are also required even to reach some areas, let alone fight the Mina The Hollower Secret Bosses.

However, while Castlevania’s sub-weapons are purely for combat, the Mina The Hollower Sidearms are multipurpose, which can be incredibly handy in this open-world game. Sure, that Parasol can do some damage against the toughest of foes and block their attacks, but it helps with crossing gaps, as jumping while holding one allows Mina to float for a short time. While that’s certainly decent, others feel somewhat mandatory to have at all times, and certain upgrades enable Mina to equip two at once.

Best Mina The Hollower Sidearms

There are two types of Sidearms to consider: the ones that focus on movement and those that give you the edge in a fight. Since there are 15 in total, there are bound to be some duds. By far the most useful is the Drill Driver. While its damage output is minimal, the knockback whenever it hits an enemy is significant. However, its main use is crossing large gaps, and it can be combined with trinkets and a burrow jump to reach the greatest distance. 

The Mist Jar is unique in that it doesn’t do damage, but it recovers health and plasma when dashing through foes. This is a nice-to-have effect, but the dash itself can help when fighting enemies with shields. As for damage, the Volt Hatchet is a bit slow, but it makes up for it by shooting four projectiles when it lands. The Beckoning Collar has a pet follow you, dealing damage to anything it touches, and can explode at the push of a button.

The Fishing Rod is also surprisingly effective in a pinch. Not only can it fish out health, plasma, and ammo for your sidearms, it also has a lesser-known functionality as a grappling hook when attached to an enemy. It is a bit finicky to work in most spots, but some hard-to-reach routes are traversable with this method. This is a common trope with the bulk of traversal Sidearms: very usable, but a little awkward at the same time, like with the Angler’s Raft, which helps with large ponds or rivers, but needs to be hit to move. The Deflector Parasol can help you float across gaps, but it’s nowhere near as effective as the Drill Driver, while the Iron Steed is very susceptible to crashing. The same goes for the weapons, as they’re all good, just not easy to use.

The Recall Disc can be good in combat situations where you need to be on the move, but it’s otherwise ineffective. Charging up the Dynamo Lantern also takes a long time, so it’s best used against slower foes. Finally, while the Bounding Bombs are extremely potent, because the two bombs have to meet to get the full effect, their ammo cost is just not worth it. The Hollower’s Rocks are also very situational, with only two areas in the game where you can throw them to their longest range.

Where to buy the Dual Sidearm Permit

Once you have found a fair number of Sidearms, you’ll be able to buy a perk that permanently gives you the ability to use two at once. You need to talk to Brandish and Holden, who you can find standing next to a carriage north of the Music Hall in the western part of Ossex. They will then offer the Dual Sidearm Permit, which you can purchase for 2,000 Bones. Doing so will allow you to have two Sidearms at once. You can swap with the E key on your keyboard or the right bumper on your controller, and the ammunition is shared across your weapons.

You can buy a bunch of other Sidearm upgrades from Drillhardt in the Follower HQ after saving Rhene from the Rebel Barracks south of Ossex in the Southern Outskirts Commons. He sells the Joule Alembic upgrade for 1,000 Bones, which allows you to replenish your ammo while in your Underlab. He also sells the Sidearm Recoverer for 2,000 Bones, which saves your last Sidearm(s) equipped whenever you perish.

Mina The Hollower Joule Box locations

Joule Boxes give Mina more ammo for her Sidearms before reaching the maximum cap, and are worth grabbing, particularly if you are planning any trips to more dangerous areas. There are eight Joule Boxes in total, and below is where you can find all of them:

• Ossex: Emporium – Three sold by the merchant for 500, 2,000, and 4,000 Bones respectively.
• Southern Outskirts: Cave Network – When you enter this area, bounce along the floating puff plants until you reach the central part of the room. Dig underground and launch the puff plant west, then leap onto it to time it with the moving puff plants. Use the platform here to catch your breath. Leap from the west point of the square platform and use the puff plants to reach the connecting path to the southwest. Defeat the knight in the next room, then direct the puff plant in the center of the room to the southwest to collect a Bonestone Shard, then launch it east to clear the wall. This set of stairs leads to a chest containing the Joule Box.
• Backwater: Pinky’s Parlor – use the path to the right of Pinky’s Parlor to enter through the back. Burrow underneath the ladder to “borrow” it, then set it up next to the wall to climb up and reach the Joule Box.
• Sandfalls: Sifting Sands – Use the bomb in the top left corner of the screen and throw it onto the moving sand up against the cliff. Time it correctly and you’ll blow up the wall, revealing an entrance. Inside is a Bone Mimic. Defeat it, then examine the chest to the right side of the room to get the Joule Box.
• Eastern Heath: Buckler’s Bluff – from the Grasslands, unlock the Kear lock next to the boundary with Mourner’s Mile and continue north. You’ll need the Drill Driver or a similar Sidearm to leap over the gaps. Head up the mountain, and when you reach the top, you’ll find a chest with the Joule Box inside.
• Western Wilds: Secret Passage – enter this area with the Drill Driver and two Kears. Go to the screen one down from Ossex’s western gate and look for the three-by-three tile of water. Dive in, and you’ll find the Secret Passage. Use your Drill Driver to leap across the gaps and claim the chest at the top.

“}]] [[{“value”:”While the bulk of Mina The Hollower progresses like a classic Game Boy Legend of Zelda adventure, there are a few Castlevania influences thrown in, and it’s not just the gothic setting. Mina has potential access to up to 15 Sidearms, which are sub-weapons that you collect from lanterns or find in the open of each area. These Sidearms are also required even to reach some areas, let alone fight the Mina The Hollower Secret Bosses.

However, while Castlevania’s sub-weapons are purely for combat, the Mina The Hollower Sidearms are multipurpose, which can be incredibly handy in this open-world game. Sure, that Parasol can do some damage against the toughest of foes and block their attacks, but it helps with crossing gaps, as jumping while holding one allows Mina to float for a short time. While that’s certainly decent, others feel somewhat mandatory to have at all times, and certain upgrades enable Mina to equip two at once.

The Beckoning Collar adds a pet that fights alongside you.

Best Mina The Hollower Sidearms

There are two types of Sidearms to consider: the ones that focus on movement and those that give you the edge in a fight. Since there are 15 in total, there are bound to be some duds. By far the most useful is the Drill Driver. While its damage output is minimal, the knockback whenever it hits an enemy is significant. However, its main use is crossing large gaps, and it can be combined with trinkets and a burrow jump to reach the greatest distance. 

The Mist Jar is unique in that it doesn’t do damage, but it recovers health and plasma when dashing through foes. This is a nice-to-have effect, but the dash itself can help when fighting enemies with shields. As for damage, the Volt Hatchet is a bit slow, but it makes up for it by shooting four projectiles when it lands. The Beckoning Collar has a pet follow you, dealing damage to anything it touches, and can explode at the push of a button.

The Fishing Rod is also surprisingly effective in a pinch. Not only can it fish out health, plasma, and ammo for your sidearms, it also has a lesser-known functionality as a grappling hook when attached to an enemy. It is a bit finicky to work in most spots, but some hard-to-reach routes are traversable with this method. This is a common trope with the bulk of traversal Sidearms: very usable, but a little awkward at the same time, like with the Angler’s Raft, which helps with large ponds or rivers, but needs to be hit to move. The Deflector Parasol can help you float across gaps, but it’s nowhere near as effective as the Drill Driver, while the Iron Steed is very susceptible to crashing. The same goes for the weapons, as they’re all good, just not easy to use.

The Recall Disc can be good in combat situations where you need to be on the move, but it’s otherwise ineffective. Charging up the Dynamo Lantern also takes a long time, so it’s best used against slower foes. Finally, while the Bounding Bombs are extremely potent, because the two bombs have to meet to get the full effect, their ammo cost is just not worth it. The Hollower’s Rocks are also very situational, with only two areas in the game where you can throw them to their longest range.

Speak to Brandish and Holden to wield two Sidearms at once.

Where to buy the Dual Sidearm Permit

Once you have found a fair number of Sidearms, you’ll be able to buy a perk that permanently gives you the ability to use two at once. You need to talk to Brandish and Holden, who you can find standing next to a carriage north of the Music Hall in the western part of Ossex. They will then offer the Dual Sidearm Permit, which you can purchase for 2,000 Bones. Doing so will allow you to have two Sidearms at once. You can swap with the E key on your keyboard or the right bumper on your controller, and the ammunition is shared across your weapons.

You can buy a bunch of other Sidearm upgrades from Drillhardt in the Follower HQ after saving Rhene from the Rebel Barracks south of Ossex in the Southern Outskirts Commons. He sells the Joule Alembic upgrade for 1,000 Bones, which allows you to replenish your ammo while in your Underlab. He also sells the Sidearm Recoverer for 2,000 Bones, which saves your last Sidearm(s) equipped whenever you perish.

The Joule Box gives more Sidearm ammo.

Mina The Hollower Joule Box locations

Joule Boxes give Mina more ammo for her Sidearms before reaching the maximum cap, and are worth grabbing, particularly if you are planning any trips to more dangerous areas. There are eight Joule Boxes in total, and below is where you can find all of them:

Ossex: Emporium – Three sold by the merchant for 500, 2,000, and 4,000 Bones respectively.

Southern Outskirts: Cave Network – When you enter this area, bounce along the floating puff plants until you reach the central part of the room. Dig underground and launch the puff plant west, then leap onto it to time it with the moving puff plants. Use the platform here to catch your breath. Leap from the west point of the square platform and use the puff plants to reach the connecting path to the southwest. Defeat the knight in the next room, then direct the puff plant in the center of the room to the southwest to collect a Bonestone Shard, then launch it east to clear the wall. This set of stairs leads to a chest containing the Joule Box.

Backwater: Pinky’s Parlor – use the path to the right of Pinky’s Parlor to enter through the back. Burrow underneath the ladder to “borrow” it, then set it up next to the wall to climb up and reach the Joule Box.

Sandfalls: Sifting Sands – Use the bomb in the top left corner of the screen and throw it onto the moving sand up against the cliff. Time it correctly and you’ll blow up the wall, revealing an entrance. Inside is a Bone Mimic. Defeat it, then examine the chest to the right side of the room to get the Joule Box.

Eastern Heath: Buckler’s Bluff – from the Grasslands, unlock the Kear lock next to the boundary with Mourner’s Mile and continue north. You’ll need the Drill Driver or a similar Sidearm to leap over the gaps. Head up the mountain, and when you reach the top, you’ll find a chest with the Joule Box inside.

Western Wilds: Secret Passage – enter this area with the Drill Driver and two Kears. Go to the screen one down from Ossex’s western gate and look for the three-by-three tile of water. Dive in, and you’ll find the Secret Passage. Use your Drill Driver to leap across the gaps and claim the chest at the top.”}]]  Read MoreGameSpot – All Content