Pair sidearms with weapons
How to choose a weapon before exact upgrade data is complete.
Spoiler-light guide
Mina the Hollower Sidearms Guide
Sidearms are support tools. Use them to create safe windows, cover weak matchups, and stabilize rooms that your main weapon handles poorly.
Quick Answer: Do not spam sidearms as your primary plan. Pair one reliable sidearm with your weapon weakness: range for heavy weapons, interruption for fast weapons, and safety for beginner builds.
Spoiler-Light Hint: If you keep using a sidearm to fix the same room, that room is probably telling you what your build lacks.
Sidearm Tracker
Sidearms are support tools that complement your main weapon. They excel at creating safe windows, covering weak matchups, and stabilizing difficult rooms.
| Sidearm | Role | Best use | Resource cost / status | Build fit | Verification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burst Shot | Ranged chip damage | Safe damage on enemies that punish close approach | Ammo-based; exact cost needs testing | Heavy weapon routes, Beginner Safe | Community-reported |
| Chaos Flask | Area denial and control | Dense rooms, multiple enemies, area denial | Cooldown-based; duration needs testing | Exploration, Randomizer Starter | Community-reported |
| Interrupt Tool | Stops or delays dangerous actions | When an enemy or boss starts a punishable pattern | Cost/cooldown needs testing | Boss Survival, Beginner Safe | Needs confirmation |
| Utility Sidearm | Reveals secrets or breaks walls | Exploration and secret finding | Varies by specific sidearm | Exploration builds | Needs confirmation |
| Healing Support | Emergency recovery | When healing is needed but timing is unsafe | Resource cost needs testing | Boss Survival | Community-reported |
Sidearm Roles Guide
| Role | Use when | Pairs with | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interrupt | An enemy starts a dangerous pattern | Fast or balanced weapon routes | Exact sidearm names need confirmation |
| Range support | A boss or enemy punishes close approach | Heavy weapons and beginner routes | Needs in-game testing |
| Room control | Multiple threats enter at once | Exploration and randomizer routes | Needs in-game testing |
| Resource saver | You can avoid damage without overusing healing | Bone farming | Needs economy testing |
| Utility | Finding secrets or breaking hidden walls | Exploration and 100% completion runs | Needs in-game testing |
Sidearm Selection Strategy
- Heavy weapon users: Pair with ranged sidearms like Burst Shot to create safe distance.
- Fast weapon users: Consider interrupt tools to stop enemy counterattacks.
- Exploration: Utility sidearms help find secrets and breakable walls.
- Boss fights: Healing support and interrupt tools stabilize multi-phase attempts.
- Randomizer: Adapt sidearm choice based on available weapons in each seed.
Common Mistakes
- Using sidearms before learning basic dodge and burrow timing.
- Forgetting that support tools should solve specific problems.
- Building entirely around an unverified sidearm location.
- Using randomizer sidearm assumptions in normal routing.
Related Entities
- Sidearms
- Weapons
- Bosses
- Burrowing
- Resource management
Last Updated: June 6, 2026
Unofficial fan-made guide. Not affiliated with Yacht Club Games, Steam, or Valve.