If you want to survive the punishing encounters of Tenebrous Isle, your character’s progression is essential. The Mina the Hollower max level is not just about grinding for experience. It involves stat priorities and New Game Plus (NG+) cycles to unlock higher level caps.
Based on all the mechanics discovered by me and other players, here is a complete guide to Mina the hollower Max Level in both normal phase and New Game Plus mode.
Table of Contents
Max Level in Mina the Hollower: Standard Playthrough
In Mina the Hollower, the maximum stat level is capped at 10 during a standard playthrough. The game follows an RPG-style progression system inspired by classic action RPGs. Mina the Hollower lets you spend collected Bones to improve three core attributes: Attack, Defense, and Sidearms.
Attack boosts whip damage output, Defense lowers the damage you take from enemies and Sidearms increases the effectiveness of your sub-weapons. Once all three stats reach Level 10, you can no longer increase them through regular progression.
Mina the Hollower Max Level Caps in New Game Plus
During your initial playthrough, your level ceiling is relatively low (initially level 10 for each stat category). However, completing the game unlocks New Game Plus, which introduces brutal modifiers like shuffled enemy stats, fewer safe rooms (Underlabs) and horizontally flipped worlds.
Crucially, every NG+ cycle raises the max level cap for your stats while also increasing the amount of Bones that drop. If you want to achieve the absolute maximum level in Mina the Hollower, you will need to clear the game seven additional times.
Here is how the maximum level cap scales across the different NG+ cycles:
- New Game Plus 1: Max Level cap increases to 15 per stat.
- New Game Plus 2: Max Level cap increases to 19 per stat.
- New Game Plus 3: Max Level cap increases to 23 per stat.
- New Game Plus 4: Max Level cap increases to 26 per stat.
- New Game Plus 5: Max Level cap increases to 29 per stat.
- New Game Plus 6: Max Level cap increases to 32 per stat.
- New Game Plus 7: Max Level cap increases to 35 per stat.
Level 35 in each stat is the absolute maximum. You can continue playing subsequent cycles beyond NG+7, but no further difficulty modifiers or level cap increases will occur.
All the Stats and What to Level Up First
In Mina the Hollower, character growth revolves around spending “Bones” on three core attributes at the “bone up” upgrade screen:
- Attack: Increases the base damage of your primary weapon.
- Defense: Lowers the amount of damage you take from enemy hits.
- Sidearms: Boosts the effectiveness, defensive utility, and movement capabilities of your secondary weapons.
If you are not ready to spend your currency, you can convert your Bones into Bonestones (which are preserved when you die) at the Underlab. However, saving up is not recommended during the early hours of the game.
Which Stat Should You Prioritize?
During my own playthroughs, I found that beginners should absolutely focus on Defense first. Because Mina the Hollower’s unique burrowing evasion mechanic and grid-based combat take time to learn, having extra survivability is crucial early on.
I always push my Defense to at least level 4 before pivoting to other stats. In practice, this allowed me to survive two or three extra hits during unforgiving early encounters.
Once you are comfortable with dodging and navigating the grid, pour your Bones into Attack to shorten fights. Finally, prioritize Sidearms, but only after you have unlocked the specific upgrades that let you keep your secondary weapons after death.
FAQs
Is NG+ significantly harder?
Yes. Beyond the increased level caps, New Game Plus introduces mechanical changes, including shuffled enemy placements, reduced availability of Underlabs (safe rooms) and world-flipping modifiers.
What is the maximum stat level in Mina the Hollower?
In a standard playthrough, the maximum level for each of the three stats (Attack, Defense, and Sidearms) is 10. However, by completing the game and entering New Game Plus (NG+), you can raise this cap significantly. By reaching NG+7, you can achieve the absolute maximum level of 35 for each stat.
