What is the secret to surviving the brutal, 8-bit inspired world of Tenebrous Isle? Mastering the dive. If you are struggling with combat or platforming, you are likely looking for Mina the Hollower burrowing mechanic tips. The short answer: burrowing is not just a situational puzzle tool; it is your primary dodge, your sprint, and your extended jump all rolled into one. To avoid hitstun, you must anticipate enemy attacks and dive early to account for Mina's short pre-dive hop. To cross massive gaps, you must dive near the ledge and pop out at the last possible frame to trigger the extended "burrow jump."
In this comprehensive guide, we will break down the advanced movement tech you need to conquer Yacht Club Games' gothic action-adventure. From navigating the treacherous Stomach Mines to utilizing the Tunneling Codex trinket, these strategies will help you outmaneuver every horror the island throws your way.
Advanced Mina the Hollower Burrowing Mechanic Tips: Avoiding Hitstun and Knockback
Mina’s signature ability pulls double duty as both traversal and combat evasion. However, unlike the instant dodge rolls found in modern Soulslikes, the burrow has a distinct wind-up. When you press the button, Mina performs a slight vertical hop before diving into the earth. If an enemy projectile is already screaming toward you, pressing burrow at the last second will result in you getting swatted out of the air.
To avoid the game's punishing hitstun and knockback, you must treat burrowing as an anticipatory action rather than a reactive one. The moment you are successfully underground, you gain crucial invincibility frames (i-frames) against almost all surface-level attacks. This is your safe haven. While submerged, you move significantly faster, allowing you to reposition behind shielded enemies or escape the sweeping arcs of large bosses.
But you cannot stay underground forever. You have a limited time before Mina is forced to surface, meaning you must manage your subsurface stamina carefully. Popping up directly beneath a lighter enemy will deal damage and launch them, providing a brief window of crowd control. However, popping up under a heavy, stun-resistant enemy might leave you vulnerable to an immediate counterattack.
When exploring areas like Kindlewood or the outskirts of Ossex, practice diving beneath the low-hanging fences and barriers. This safe environment teaches you the exact timing of the hop-to-dive transition. Once you internalize that fraction-of-a-second delay, you will stop taking unnecessary damage from basic goblin flails and ranged spells.
Mina the Hollower Burrowing Mechanic Tips for Tiny Islands and Pits
Platforming in this game is notoriously unforgiving, specifically when dealing with tiny islands suspended over bottomless pits. Standard jumps will often leave you pixels short of safety, resulting in a frustrating plunge and a loss of your hard-earned Bones.
This is where the "burrow jump" becomes mandatory. When Mina pops out of the ground, the resulting leap covers significantly more horizontal distance than her standard jump. To navigate the moving walkways and isolated platforms of the Stomach Mines or the crumbling ledges of Sandfalls, you must master the subterranean launch.
The technique requires precision. First, initiate your dive while on solid ground, giving yourself enough runway to build momentum. Stay underground as you approach the edge of the platform. The trick is to release the dive button at the absolute edge of the precipice. If you pop out too early, you lose the momentum and fall short. If you wait too long, you slip off the edge while still underground and plummet into the pit.
Certain environmental puzzles require you to chain these jumps. For instance, you might need to burrow under a spiked barrier, immediately pop out to clear a gap, and land on a bouncy purple ball to reach a higher tier. If you find yourself repeatedly falling, check your angle. The game's top-down perspective can sometimes obscure the exact distance between tiny islands. Look for subtle environmental cues—like a slightly protruding block or a diagonal path—that offers a shorter trajectory.
Best Weapons and Trinkets to Pair with Burrowing
Your choice of armament drastically alters how you utilize the burrow mechanic. While Mina starts with three distinct options—the Nightstar, Whisper & Vesper, or the Blaststrike Maul—each interacts uniquely with her movement.
The Nightstar (Mina's classic whip-like flail) is excellent for players who use burrowing defensively. Because the Nightstar has a slight delay on its attack, you can strike from a distance, immediately dive to avoid the retaliation, and pop up in a new position to strike again.
Conversely, the Blaststrike Maul is designed for heavy, aggressive play. It features a unique chambered barrel that can be charged. Interestingly, while charging the maul, Mina gains access to a short-range tactical roll. While this roll is not a complete substitute for the i-frames of burrowing, it allows you to stay above ground to maintain your charge while dodging minor attacks. You can roll through a light attack, unleash the Boom Charge, and then burrow away to reset.
Trinkets also play a massive role in optimizing your subterranean movement. If you are struggling with the timing of your dives, seek out the Tunneling Codex trinket early in the game. You can find excellent gear by fully exploring the northeast generator route at Queensbury Crypt. Additionally, keep an eye out for the Guardian Casket sidearm. This heavy shield allows for a perfect parry mechanic. Advanced players will parry an incoming blow for massive knockback, immediately burrow under the staggered enemy, and pop up behind them for a devastating follow-up.
Essential Mina the Hollower Burrowing Mechanic Tips for Boss Fights
Boss fights in Mina the Hollower are grueling endurance tests that will punish players who rely solely on walking. Giant bosses are specifically designed to outpace your standard movement speed. If you try to simply run away from their area-of-effect attacks, you will be caught in the blast radius.
Here are the most critical Mina the Hollower burrowing mechanic tips for surviving these encounters:
- Use Burrowing as a Sprint: Treat the dive as your primary method of crossing the arena. When a boss winds up a massive lunging attack, diving allows you to quickly reposition to their flank or rear, setting you up for a counterattack when their animation finishes.
- Abuse the Pop-Up Stun: While massive bosses cannot be launched into the air like standard mobs, popping up directly underneath their weak points can often interrupt certain attacks or deal crucial supplementary damage.
- Manage Subsurface Stamina During Bullet Hells: Several bosses will fill the screen with projectiles. You cannot stay underground for the entire duration of these attacks. You must learn the pattern, burrow under the thickest cluster of projectiles, pop up in a brief safe pocket to reset your meter, and immediately dive again.
- Combine with the Proton Spark: If you are learning a difficult boss pattern, equip the Proton Spark trinket (acquired by helping The Duke to his casket). This grants a free revive, giving you a second chance if you mistime a burrow jump and take a fatal hit.
Uncovering Secrets and Collectibles with the Subterranean Dive
Beyond combat and traversal, your role as a Hollower means you are fundamentally an excavator. The game is packed with hidden items, currencies, and upgrades that can only be found by paying close attention to the environment and using your dive ability.
Bones are the primary currency in Mina the Hollower, used to level up your attack, defense, and sidearms—a system heavily inspired by Soulslikes, meaning you drop them upon death. To minimize grinding, you should constantly be looking for green Bones peeking out of the dirt. A quick dive on these spots will unearth them. More importantly, if you see a subtle sparkle on the ground, that is a guaranteed dig spot. Burrowing into a sparkling tile will often yield high-value items like a skull or a ribcage, which provide a massive influx of Bones.
Furthermore, keep an eye out for specific markings carved into the ground. These sigils indicate a transition point where burrowing will drop you down into a secret subterranean room or a hidden section of the underground lab. These hidden chambers often contain Bonestone Gems, locked chests containing Vial Pouches (which upgrade your healing capacity), or even save points that can rescue a doomed run.
When navigating regions like Sandfalls, you might also encounter large boulders. Even if there are no enemies around to throw them at, you should burrow underneath them to pick them up. Smashing a boulder against a wall will reward you with five Bones. It sounds small, but over the course of the game, aggressively digging up the environment is the most consistent way to afford Drillhardt's expensive map upgrades and weapon tier advancements.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I jump further in Mina the Hollower? To achieve maximum distance, you must perform a burrow jump. Press and hold the dive button to go underground, move toward the edge of the platform, and release the button right before you fall off. The momentum of popping out of the ground will launch Mina much further than a standard jump, allowing you to cross wide pits and reach tiny islands.
Why do I keep getting hit when I try to burrow? Mina has a brief wind-up animation where she hops into the air before diving into the ground. During this hop, you are fully vulnerable to damage. You only gain invincibility frames once you are completely submerged. To fix this, you must anticipate enemy attacks and initiate your dive a half-second earlier.
Can I burrow through walls? You cannot burrow through solid walls, but you can burrow under specific environmental barriers. Look for fences, gates, or thick hedges that have a small gap at the bottom. Diving allows you to slip underneath these obstacles to access hidden areas or bypass locked doors.
What is the best starter weapon for a burrow-heavy playstyle? The Whisper & Vesper daggers are excellent for a highly mobile, burrow-centric playstyle. Their fast attack speed allows you to pop out of the ground, unleash a flurry of quick strikes, and immediately dive back under before the enemy can react. The Nightstar is also great for hit-and-run tactics due to its superior range.
Where do I find the map to track my exploration? Once you reach Ossex and speak to Lionel, head to the Hollowers' Guild and rescue Rhene. You can then purchase a map from Drillhardt. You can even buy an upgrade that shows the remaining collectibles in areas like Sandfalls and Kindlewood, which is invaluable for finding hidden dig spots.
Sources
- Yacht Club Games Official Site: "WHICH WEAPON WILL YOU CHOOSE?"
- GameSpot: "How To Navigate The Stomach Mines In Mina The Hollower"
- TheGamer: "Mina The Hollower: 7 Beginner's Tips"
- GameGrin: "15 Hints for Mina the Hollower"