Understanding Hollowing in Dark Souls: A Comprehensive Guide
What does being hollow do in Dark Souls? Hollowing is a central mechanic in the Dark Souls series, profoundly impacting gameplay and narrative. In essence, being Hollow is the default state of the player character after the initial tutorial and after each death while in human form. It affects your appearance, limits certain multiplayer interactions, and can offer specific advantages based on your build. It’s a double-edged sword, intrinsically tied to the game’s themes of decay, despair, and the cyclical nature of the curse. Let’s delve deeper into the intricacies of hollowing and its consequences.
The Facets of Hollowing: More Than Just a Shriveled Face
Appearance and Immersion
The most immediately noticeable effect of hollowing is the change in your character’s appearance. As you accumulate Hollowing, your character will gradually become more emaciated and undead in appearance. This transformation is purely cosmetic but significantly contributes to the game’s atmosphere and reinforces the feeling of decay that permeates the world. Your character’s once vibrant features will wither, emphasizing the curse that plagues the land of Lordran (in Dark Souls 1) and subsequent settings in the series. This visual representation drives home the narrative impact of the curse and the protagonist’s inevitable descent.
Multiplayer Limitations
Hollowing primarily impacts your ability to engage in multiplayer interactions. When hollow, you cannot kindle bonfires, which means you’re limited to the standard number of Estus Flasks provided by that bonfire. This puts you at a disadvantage in challenging areas and boss fights. Furthermore, you cannot see summon signs left by other players, preventing you from calling upon allies to assist you in overcoming difficult encounters. You are also protected from invasions, meaning other players cannot invade your world to engage in PvP combat.
The Humanity System: A Crucial Component
The concept of Humanity is closely linked to hollowing. In Dark Souls 1, you must consume a Humanity item and then “Reverse Hollowing” at a bonfire to regain your human form. This restores your appearance, allows you to kindle bonfires, summon allies, and makes you vulnerable to invasions. In Dark Souls 3, the system is altered slightly, primarily using embers to become “Enkindled,” effectively achieving the same benefits as being human in the original game. The use of Humanity (or Embers) is a risk-reward decision. The benefits are significant, but the potential for invasion can be a deterrent.
Hollowing as a Strategic Advantage: Bleed Builds and Luck
While hollowing has downsides, it can also be leveraged for strategic advantage, particularly in Dark Souls 3. Certain weapons, known as Hollow weapons, receive a bonus to Luck scaling when wielded by a hollow character. Luck affects item discovery and the buildup of status effects like bleed and poison. Therefore, builds centered around bleed or poison benefit significantly from high hollowing, as it enhances the effectiveness of these weapons. To fully capitalize on this, you need a significant Hollowing level (at least 15) to see a meaningful increase in the weapon’s capabilities.
Narrative Significance and the Secret Ending
Hollowing is not merely a gameplay mechanic; it is deeply intertwined with the narrative of Dark Souls. The game explores the themes of hopelessness, the futility of resisting fate, and the gradual loss of self. The hollowed state represents the inevitable decay that awaits all who are touched by the curse. In Dark Souls 3, embracing hollowing through Yoel of Londor’s questline allows players to pursue a secret ending that further explores the implications of the curse and offers a unique perspective on the game’s overarching story. This makes hollowing not just a status effect, but a path with significant narrative consequences.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Hollowing
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about hollowing in the Dark Souls series to provide further clarity and understanding:
1. What is the purpose of reversing hollowing?
Reversing hollowing (or becoming Enkindled) allows you to kindle bonfires for more Estus, summon NPC allies and other players for co-op, and opens you up to player invasions.
2. Why do NPCs go hollow?
NPCs typically go hollow when they lose their purpose or the will to continue living within the oppressive world of Dark Souls. The curse erodes their sanity, turning them into mindless husks.
3. What are the downsides of being hollow?
The primary downsides are the cosmetic change and the inability to summon help or kindle bonfires. However, these are balanced by the potential benefits of hollowing for specific builds.
4. How do I cure hollowing in Dark Souls 1?
In Dark Souls 1, you cure hollowing by consuming a Humanity item and reversing hollowing at a bonfire.
5. Is it always bad to be hollow?
No, it’s not always bad. For Bleed builds and those focusing on Luck scaling, being hollow can be strategically advantageous.
6. How does humanity affect item discovery?
Each point of soft humanity increases the probability of enemies dropping items. This effect caps at 10 soft humanity, giving a significant boost to farming rare items.
7. How do I permanently stop hollowing in Dark Souls 3?
The dark sigils from Yoel of Londor cause hollowing upon death. You can remove these by giving the Fire Keeper Soul to the Fire Keeper and having her remove them, but this comes at a high soul cost.
8. What is the maximum hollowing level?
The maximum hollowing level a character can have is 99.
9. How do I get humanity in Dark Souls?
You can get humanity by defeating bosses, killing rats in certain areas, or finding it as an item in the environment.
10. Does hollowing affect my stats?
Hollowing doesn’t directly affect your stats, but as mentioned, Hollow weapons gain increased Luck scaling when wielded by a hollow character.
11. What is the significance of the Purging Stone?
The Purging Stone temporarily removes the visual effects of hollowing and can break the curse from certain NPCs. This is linked to the concept of Games Learning Society where players learn about the game’s mechanics and strategies through gameplay and community engagement. Check out GamesLearningSociety.org for more information.
12. How does hollowing relate to the story of Dark Souls?
Hollowing is a key element of the Dark Souls story, representing the inevitable decline and the cyclical nature of the curse that afflicts the world.
13. Can I still complete the game while hollow?
Yes, you can absolutely complete the game while hollow. In fact, certain endings require you to embrace hollowing.
14. Does hollowing affect my ability to use weapons and armor?
No, hollowing does not impact your ability to use weapons or armor. The stat requirements remain the same regardless of your hollowing level.
15. Should I reverse hollowing before a boss fight?
Reversing hollowing before a boss fight allows you to summon help from other players or NPCs. However, it also makes you vulnerable to invasions. The decision depends on your playstyle and confidence in your abilities.
Conclusion: Embrace the Hollow or Fight the Curse?
Hollowing in Dark Souls is a multifaceted mechanic that shapes both gameplay and narrative. While it presents challenges, it also opens up strategic opportunities and enriches the thematic depth of the game. Whether you choose to embrace the hollowed state or fight against it, understanding its implications is crucial for navigating the harsh and unforgiving world of Dark Souls.