Delving into the Depths of Hollowing in Dark Souls 3: A Grim Guide
Hollowing. Just saying it brings to mind images of rotting flesh. You may feel you’ve made poor choices in Dark Souls 3. You’re not wrong. Hollowing is a unique mechanic. It is both jarring and surprisingly benign, ironically.
Let’s explore this topic. We’ll examine everything about Hollowing. Get ready to see your character’s decaying visage. You might even learn to love the hollow life or tolerate it until you find a Purging Stone.
The Gruesome Gallery: Effects of Hollowing
What happens when you embrace the Hollow? Brace yourself for cosmetics and minor stat tweaks.
Aesthetic Transformations: From Ashen One to Ashy Mess
Let’s be honest: Hollowing won’t win beauty contests in Lothric. It reflects those late-night gaming sessions fueled by bad snacks and lack of sleep. The more Hollow you become, the more you look like sun-dried beef jerky.
Here’s a breakdown:
- Dark Sigils and Undead Chic: Every time you accept a “free” level from Yoel of Londor, you get a Dark Sigil. These sigils cause physical degradation. You can stack up to five of these delightful curses.
- The Hollowing Stat: Your Undead Barometer: This stat shows how far gone your character appears. Think of it as a visual representation of your soul’s dread.
- Death by Degrees: The Decay Process: Each time you die (and in Dark Souls 3, you will face death often), your Hollowing stat increases. The increase is tied to your Dark Sigil count. More sigils equate to faster decay.
- Purely Cosmetic Calamity: Here is the good news. Despite turning your human-looking protagonist into a corpse, the changes are merely aesthetic. Your gameplay won’t suffer from the new look. So, while NPCs judge your style, your sword swings just as hard.
Essentially, Hollowing is Dark Souls 3’s way of saying, “You die a lot, so let’s make sure you look the part.” It’s fashion-forward in a post-apocalyptic way.
Luck Be a Hollow Tonight: The Luck Scaling Perk
Despite the decay, there’s a small benefit with Hollowing: Luck scaling.
Here’s the deal:
- Hollow Weapons: A Lucky Break?: Infusing a weapon or shield with a Hollow gem and upgrading it unlocks something special. It starts to scale with your Luck stat. This offers interesting build options, especially if you’re into bleed builds.
- The Hollowing Sweet Spot: 1 to 99: The magic number for the Luck bonus ranges widely: from 1 to 99 Hollowing. Even a single point triggers this effect.
- +5 Luck Bonus at Max Hollowing (and Weapon Upgrade): Crank your Hollowing up to 99 and equip that fully upgraded +10 Hollow weapon? You receive a flat +5 bonus to Luck. This is significant if your build relies on Luck.
Hollowing, while making you look dead, can actually make you luckier in combat with the right gear. It’s a strange irony, isn’t it? Becoming undead makes you luckier?
Gameplay Unscathed: No Negative Nancies Here
Despite the horror of Hollowing, there are few negative gameplay consequences. Apart from visual changes and Luck scaling with Hollow weapons, it is largely inconsequential.
Let’s address some misconceptions:
- No Damage Reduction: Contrary to expectations, Hollowing does not reduce your weapon damage. You’ll still hit hard, even with deteriorating features.
- No HP Penalty: Concerned about health points dropping as you Hollow? Worry not! Hollowing does not decrease your HP. You remain just as squishy or tanky as before, though uglier.
In essence, Hollowing in Dark Souls 3 is mainly a cosmetic affliction with some Luck benefits. It’s not the crippling drawback you might fear. Consider it a disturbing fashion statement with mild benefits. Dark Souls logic at its best.
Unpacking the Undead Odometer: Hollowing Value
Now that we know what Hollowing does, let’s look into how you actually become more Hollow. It’s a journey, friends, a slow descent into undeath.
The Gateway to Grisly: Gaining Hollowing
You don’t just turn hollow upon starting Dark Souls 3. There is a catalyst that begins this transformation into a walking corpse. That catalyst is a helpful NPC.
- Yoel of Londor: The Hollow Starter Kit: Upon chatting with Yoel of Londor, that unsettling fellow by the Undead Settlement, you start the process of Hollowing. He is your gateway to undead chic.
- First Sigil, First Step: Yoel’s gift is the Dark Sigil. Accept his offer to “draw out your true strength,” and you’ll obtain your first Dark Sigil. Your Hollowing journey begins. It’s like a morbid subscription service.
If you wish to experience the full spectrum of Hollowing (for reasons), visit Yoel. He’s the NPC who starts your journey to become grotesquely beautiful.
Ramping Up the Rot: Increasing Hollowing
After receiving the initial Dark Sigil, the process begins. The main driver for increasing your Hollowing? Good old-fashioned death. In Dark Souls 3, death isn’t just a setback; it’s an accelerator.
- Death by Sigil Count: Each time you fall to Lothric’s dangers, your Hollowing stat rises. The increase correlates with your Dark Sigil count. One sigil? +1 Hollowing per death. Five sigils? +5 per death. You understand now.
- From Zero to Undead Hero: You start with 0 Hollowing. Each death raises that number closer to the maximum, which is 99. It’s a slow burn but inevitable.
- The Yoel Level-Up Loop: Remember those “free” levels from Yoel? Accepting them gives you more Dark Sigils. The greater your sigil count, the faster your Hollowing increases. Free levels come with an undead catch.
To maximize your Hollowing (for reasons), just continue dying. Dark Souls 3 is designed to support this process.
Peak Putrefaction: Maximum Hollowing
Just how far can you go into undeath? What is the highest level of Hollowing? Get ready for a number that is significant and surprisingly arbitrary.
- Ninety-Nine Shades of Undead: The maximum Hollowing level is 99. Why 99? Maybe because 100 seems too cliché.
- Yoel’s Role in the Ramp-Up: Yoel initiates the Hollowing process by providing Dark Sigils. Without him, you remain un-Hollowed.
- The Inevitable Climb: Once you start down the path of Hollowing, reaching 99 is nearly certain, especially considering…
- You’re playing Dark Souls 3 as intended (dying… a lot). It’s not if you’ll reach 99 Hollowing, but when.
99 Hollowing. The peak of undead fashion. The ultimate expression of your character’s decaying state. It’s easy to achieve, thanks to Yoel and the game’s generous death mechanics.
Dark Sigils: The Undead Currency
Dark Sigils. We’ve mentioned them quite a bit, right? They are the linchpin of the Hollowing mechanic. They are the cause and key to understanding the whole undead shebang.
Sigil Acquisition 101: Embrace the Dark
How do you get these Dark Sigils? They don’t lie around Lothric waiting, sadly. You must seek a particular individual and embrace your darkness.
- Yoel of Londor: The Sigil Supplier: Again, we return to Yoel. He’s not just the starter kit; he’s the main source of Dark Sigils. Think of him as your friendly undead enabler.
- “Draw Out True Strength”: The Faustian Bargain: Talk with Yoel in Firelink Shrine. He’ll offer to “tease out your inner strength.” Sounds tempting, right? It is… sort of. In exchange for a Dark Sigil, Yoel grants you a free level. Free levels seem good, right? Except…
- Five Levels, Five Sigils, Five Stages of Grief: He can “draw out your true strength” five times. Each time grants a free level and a Dark Sigil. Five free levels! Sounds amazing! Except… each Sigil pushes you further into Hollowing.
- Hollowing-Gated Sigils: The Death Tax: To get all five Sigils, you can’t just keep chatting with him. Oh no, Dark Souls 3 isn’t that generous. You need to accumulate Hollowing between sessions. Specifically:
- First Sigil: Just talk to Yoel. Freebie!
- Second Sigil: Reach 2 Hollowing. Time to die.
- Third Sigil: Reach 6 Hollowing. Keep dying, Ashen One.
- Fourth Sigil: Reach 12 Hollowing. Embrace death.
- Fifth Sigil: Reach 16 Hollowing. You’re practically a pro now.
- Yoel’s Demise: The Sigil Deadline: There’s a catch with Yoel and his Sigils. He’s not long for this world. If you don’t get all five Sigils by certain story milestones (like entering the Catacombs of Carthus), he will… expire. Poof! No more free levels or Sigils from him. If you want maximum Hollowing, get them fast.
In essence, Dark Sigils come from embracing Yoel’s “generosity” and accepting death’s embrace. It’s a twisted system, granting power while making you uglier. Dark Souls at its finest.
Sigils and Endings: The Path to Usurpation
Dark Sigils aren’t just about looks and free levels, though. They unlock one of Dark Souls 3’s more morally ambiguous endings: the Usurpation of Fire ending, or Lord of Hollows ending.
- Eight Sigils to Rule Them All: To unlock the Usurpation of Fire ending, acquire eight Dark Sigils. Wait, eight? But Yoel only gives five! Don’t worry; the game has a plan.
- Yuria of Londor: Sigil Supplementation: After Yoel meets his end, his pale partner, Yuria of Londor, appears in Firelink Shrine. She’s part of the same Londor crew and also invested in your Hollowing journey.
- Questline Convolutions: The Sigil Trail: Yuria’s questline ties intricately to Yoel and Dark Sigils. It involves assassinating specific NPCs and being a bit of a jerk. But hey, that’s the price for becoming Lord of Hollows.
- Usurpation Unlocked: Hollow Victory: Navigate Yuria’s questline and collect all eight Dark Sigils. You’ll unlock the option to Usurp the Fire at game’s end. Congratulations? You’ve embraced the Hollow and become the Lord of Hollows.
Dark Sigils are not just cosmetic issues; they are keys to unlocking a significant ending in Dark Souls 3. They symbolize commitment to the Hollow path and have major consequences for Lothric’s fate. Choose wisely, Ashen One.
Reversing the Rot: Bouncing Back from Hollowing
You might tire of looking like a walking corpse. Perhaps you’re fed up with NPCs giving you side-eyes. Or maybe you wish to summon co-operators without fright. Whatever your reason, you might wonder: can you reverse Hollowing in Dark Souls 3? Yes, thankfully.
Purging Stones: The Quick Fix (But Not Really)
Purging Stones sound promising, don’t they? Like a magical cure for your undead woes. They provide a temporary reprieve from Hollowing’s visual horrors but aren’t permanent solutions.
- Consumable Cure: Temporary Relief: Purging Stones are consumable items restoring your human appearance temporarily. Hallelujah! You’re pretty now! For a while, at least.
- Appearance Restoration, Sigils Remain: Purging Stones only reverse the visual effects of Hollowing. They do not remove your Dark Sigils. Those pesky curses still linger beneath the surface. You might look human again, but you’re still fundamentally Hollow.
- Yuria’s Purging Stone Emporium: Your Dealer in Temporary Humanity: Where do you get these Purging Stones? Yuria of Londor, your Hollow quest-giver, sells them. She profits off your desire to temporarily not look like death. Classic Yuria.
Purging Stones offer a quick visual makeover. Need to look presentable for summoning or remind yourself what your character used to look like? Purging Stones are your (temporary) friend. Don’t expect them to be a permanent fix.
Statue of Velka: Absolution and Dissolution
Deep within the murky sewers of the Undead Settlement lies the Altar of Velka. This statue offers a more formal method of dealing with your Hollow problem.
- Praying for Relief: Velka’s Mercy: By praying at this statue, you access two options: Absolution for sin and Dissolution for Hollowing. We’re interested in the latter.
- Dissolution: A More Formal Reversal: Choosing “Dissolution” at the Statue will reverse your Hollowing and restore human appearance. It’s mostly cosmetic, but it’s a more formal way of doing it.
- Location, Location, Location: Sewer Sojourn Required: The downside? Reaching the Statue requires some trekking through Undead Settlement sewers. Not exactly glamorous, but nobody said reversing undeath be easy.
The Statue offers a feeling of permanence for reversing Hollowing. It’s more inconvenient, but you commune with a deity along the way.
Fire Keeper Soul: The Ultimate Sigil Solution
If you seek a truly permanent solution for Hollowing that goes beyond cosmetic fixes, there’s the Fire Keeper Soul. This is the nuclear option for reversing Hollowing.
- Fire Keeper Soul: A Key to Humanity Regained: This soul is an item that unlocks new dialogue with the Fire Keeper at Firelink Shrine. This option allows you to heal Dark Sigils. Yes, you can get rid of those!
- Paying the Price: Soul Cost for Sigil Removal: Healing Dark Sigils isn’t free, of course. This is Dark Souls 3, after all. The Fire Keeper will demand a hefty price…
- To remove your Sigils, you need a hefty soul cost. This is like paying for Yoel’s “free” levels.
- Permanent Sigil Removal: No More Hollowing: Healing your Dark Sigils removes all of them from your inventory. Poof. They vanish. Crucially, you no longer gain Hollowing upon death. You are cured of Hollowing. Congrats! You are human(ish) again!
- Paying for Yoel’s “Generosity”: Remember those free levels from Yoel? You need to pay for them with souls when you heal your Dark Sigils. This is like paying back for your undead education.
The Fire Keeper Soul is the ultimate method to reverse Hollowing. It is permanent and removes the Sigils. It stops further Hollowing accumulation. It is also the most costly option in terms of souls. If you want to be rid of Hollowing, the Fire Keeper Soul is your way back to (relative) humanity.
Untrue Dark Ring: A Fashion Statement
For those who want the benefits of Hollowing without looking Hollow, there’s a ring called the Untrue Dark Ring.
Illusory Humanity: A New Look
- Humanity Cloaked: Human Outside, Hollow Inside: The Untrue Dark Ring is “illusory,” allowing you to seem human even when hollow. It’s like wearing a mask.
- Appearance Deception: For Summoning: Equip this ring, and you’ll look human, even if your Hollowing stat is high. This is great for summoning players or invading worlds.
- Hidden Hollow Benefits: The Untrue Dark Ring doesn’t remove your Hollowing or Sigils. It just hides their effects. You still gain benefits from Hollow weapons while looking better.
The Untrue Dark Ring is great for those who want to balance being Hollow and looking human. It lets you keep the perks of Hollowing without the downsides. It’s ideal for fashion-conscious players.
Hollow Infusion: Using Undeath as a Weapon
Hollow weapons need a spotlight. Hollow infusion is a weapon upgrade path linked to Hollowing. It offers unique and powerful build options.
Luck of the Draw: Infusion and Luck Scaling
- Luck-Based Damage: Hollow infusion changes how a weapon scales. Weapons with it scale with Luck instead of Strength or Dexterity. This creates new build possibilities around Luck.
- Luck Stat Synergy: Embracing the Unique: If you build a Luck-focused character, Hollow infusion is important. It turns your Luck stat into a viable damage source.
Hollow infusion makes Luck builds viable in Dark Souls 3. It’s niche but powerful for those willing to try it.
Enhanced Bleed Buildup
- Bleed Boost: Hollows and Bleeding: Hollow infusion adds extra bleed buildup to weapons. This is good for weapons that inflict bleed, like katanas.
- Carthus Rouge Synergy: Combine Hollow infusion with Carthus Rouge, a weapon buff that increases bleed buildup, for potent bleed builds. Enemies will bleed fast.
The bleed buildup from Hollow infusion is a bonus for bleed builds. It improves bleed weapon effectiveness and creates fun strategies.
Luck Stat Boost
- Hollowing-Dependent Luck: Hollow infused weapons and shields, at +10 upgrade level, grant a Luck bonus based on your Hollowing level.
- +5 Luck at 99 Hollowing: At 99 Hollowing, a +10 Hollow weapon gives a flat +5 Luck bonus. This boost is significant for specific Luck goals.
- The 30/40 Luck Threshold: This +5 Luck is useful for builds aiming for 40 Luck, the soft cap for many effects. You can start with 30 Luck, gain +5 from the Hollow weapon, and reach 40 without wasting levels. Efficiency!
The Luck bonus from Hollow infusion is key for optimized Luck builds. It lets you hit important Luck thresholds without needing extra points in Luck.
Hollows and Weapon Buffs
- Buff Compatibility: Despite being infused, Hollow weapons can still be buffed with resins, spells, or miracles. This boosts their damage and allows elemental effects.
- Carthus Rouge Redux: Carthus Rouge is a strong buff for Hollow weapons focused on bleeding. Stacking bleed effects leads to powerful results.
The ability to buff Hollow weapons adds versatility. You can adapt to various combat situations and boost damage output.
Ninety-Nine Problems But Hollowing Ain’t (Really) One
You’ve hit 99 Hollowing. Congratulations? You are as undead as possible in Dark Souls 3. What does 99 Hollowing do beyond making you look old?
The 99 Hollowing Reality Check
- Beef Jerky Look: The Peak of Undeath: At 99 Hollowing, you look more undead than ever. Embrace the jerky look.
- Gameplay Impact: Minimal: Despite the change, gameplay effects of 99 Hollowing are minimal. Having high Hollowing doesn’t lower your damage or HP. It’s mostly cosmetic.
- Hollow Weapon Luck Bonus: The main benefit of 99 Hollowing relates to Hollow weapons. That +5 Luck bonus at +10 upgrade level is always active, boosting Luck builds.
- 30/40 Luck Strategy Revisit: The +5 Luck bonus helps you hit 40 Luck efficiently, maximizing luck scaling and item discovery benefits.
Essentially, 99 Hollowing is more visual than impactful. Its main significance lies in helping Hollow weapons and Luck builds. Beyond that, it’s mostly just undead aesthetics.
Reasons to Reverse Course: Why Un-Hollow?
If Hollowing offers some minor perks and is mostly cosmetic, why reverse it? Here are some strong reasons, tied to multiplayer aspects of Dark Souls 3.
Multiplayer Motivations: Humanity to Interact
- Summoning Allies: Need Humanity: To summon players for help, you must be in “embered” form, which means not visibly Hollow. Reversing Hollowing allows you to summon assistance.
- Invading Worlds: Undead Invasions: To invade other players, you need to be embered too. If you want PvP invasions, reversing Hollowing is necessary.
- Social Norms: Looking Less Scary: Being fully Hollow can freak out other players. While Dark Souls 3 is grim, let’s face it…
- There is still a social element to online play. A less disturbing appearance can make interactions smoother. Or, it may just reduce screams of terror.
To reverse Hollowing, the main reasons are tied to multiplayer. You summon help, invade worlds, or join online play without frightening anyone away. Un-Hollowing is often needed unless you want to scare others. Then embrace the Hollow!
Yoel of Londor: The Undead Level-Up Fairy (With Strings Attached)
We’ve discussed Yoel of Londor many times. He is key to the Hollowing mechanic. He provides Dark Sigils. He offers “free” levels. But who is this pale fellow? And what causes his death?
Yoel’s Role: Strength Extraction and Sigil Dispensation
- “Draw Out True Strength”: Yoel’s Offer You Can’t (Really) Refuse: Yoel offers a chance to “draw out your true strength.” This offer means free levels for Dark Sigils and Hollowing.
- Free Levels, Undead Strings: The Faustian Bargain Revisited: Selecting “Draw Out True Strength” allows you to level up without souls. It sounds amazing!
