Pick upgrades after choosing
What to upgrade first: map, Underlab tools, trinket slots, Sparks, weapons, and safety.
Spoiler-light guide
Best Weapons in Mina the Hollower
The safest weapon is the one whose timing you can control. This guide ranks weapon roles without pretending the final meta is solved.
Quick Answer: Nightstar is the safest first-run pick. Whisper & Vesper are best for aggressive players who trust movement. Blaststrike Maul hits hard but is less forgiving because missed swings leave you exposed.
Spoiler-Light Hint: Do not pick a weapon because it sounds strongest. Pick the weapon that lets you leave danger after a missed attack.
Official Starter Weapons
Yacht Club Games has confirmed three starter weapons. These are the weapons available at the beginning of the game.
| Weapon | Style | Best for | Weakness | Beginner recommendation | Verification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nightstar | Whip / balanced | First runs, spacing, safety | Not necessarily fastest DPS | Recommended first choice | Officially confirmed from Yacht Club Games |
| Whisper & Vesper | Fast dual daggers | Aggressive players, speed clears | Lower per-hit damage, risky | Test after learning movement | Officially confirmed from Yacht Club Games |
| Blaststrike Maul | Heavy weapon | Boss damage, big hits | Slow recovery, punishable | Not ideal for panic players | Officially confirmed from Yacht Club Games |
First-run recommendation
Start with Nightstar if you want the safest learning curve. It gives you reach, predictable spacing, and enough recovery room to learn burrow timing. Choose Whisper & Vesper only if you like aggressive close-range play, and choose Blaststrike Maul if you already enjoy slower heavy weapons in action games.
Weapon choice by intent
| Intent | Best pick | Why | Related page |
|---|---|---|---|
| First blind run | Nightstar | Reach and balanced timing reduce panic deaths | Best starting weapon |
| Handheld / Steam Deck | Nightstar | Readable spacing is easier on a smaller screen | Steam Deck settings |
| Aggressive clears | Whisper & Vesper | Fast pressure if you already dodge well | High damage build |
| Boss burst practice | Blaststrike Maul | Big windows reward pattern knowledge | Boss prep |
| Unknown route | Nightstar or balanced role | Consistency beats theoretical DPS early | Build Planner |
What if you picked the wrong weapon?
Do not restart immediately. Test the weapon through a few room types, then switch if recovery timing keeps causing deaths. Your best weapon is the one you can safely reset from after a missed attack.
After Choosing a Weapon
| Next decision | Go here | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| What should I buy first? | Best Upgrades | Match your weapon choice with map, Sparks, health, and Trinket Bag priorities |
| What build fits this weapon? | Best Builds | Turn weapon comfort into beginner, boss, exploration, or damage build shells |
| Where do I go next? | Queensbury Crypt | First dungeon route and Duchess prep after picking a weapon |
| What if I play handheld? | Steam Deck Settings | Nightstar spacing, OLED 60 FPS, controls, and crash-fix notes |
| Which trinkets support it? | All Trinkets | Find survival, healing, movement, and secret boss reward trinkets |
Common Mistakes
- Calling a weapon best before testing it against bosses and dense rooms.
- Ignoring recovery time after a missed swing.
- Using a randomizer build recommendation on a normal route.
- Treating sidearms as a replacement for weapon fundamentals.
Related Entities
- Starting weapons
- Weapon upgrades
- Sidearms
- Trinket packages
- Boss windows
Last Updated: June 6, 2026
Unofficial fan-made guide. Not affiliated with Yacht Club Games, Steam, or Valve.