Unveiling the Mysteries of Reverse Hollowing in Dark Souls

Reverse Hollowing in Dark Souls is the act of restoring your human form from the undead, or “hollow,” state. This requires consuming one point of soft humanity (the number displayed next to your health bar), and it primarily enables online multiplayer features, such as summoning other players for cooperative gameplay and making you vulnerable to invasions by other players. Additionally, it allows you to kindle bonfires, permanently increasing the number of Estus Flasks you receive when resting at them.

The Intricacies of Humanity

Understanding reverse hollowing requires grasping the concept of Humanity. This isn’t just a story element; it’s a key mechanic that profoundly impacts your Dark Souls experience. It exists in two forms: hard humanity (an item you can find and use) and soft humanity (the counter next to your health). You consume hard humanity to increase your soft humanity count. Having soft humanity provides benefits beyond simply enabling reverse hollowing. It increases your item discovery rate, making it more likely for enemies to drop valuable items, and it also buffs certain chaos weapons.

Why Reverse Hollowing Matters

Reversing hollowing is a pivotal decision in Dark Souls, one that comes with significant benefits and risks. Are you a lone wolf or do you like the added security of allies to cut through a challenge?

• Cooperative Gameplay: Perhaps the most significant benefit is the ability to summon other players for assistance. Facing a particularly challenging boss? Call upon the aid of a fellow undead.
• Kindling Bonfires: By offering humanity at a bonfire while human, you can kindle it, permanently increasing the number of Estus Flasks you receive. More Estus means greater survivability.
• NPC Summons: Reverse hollowing also opens the door to summoning NPC phantoms at certain boss battles, offering an extra hand against formidable foes.
• Triggering NPC Invasions: Some parts of the game require you to be human in order to be invaded by specific NPC enemies who, when defeated, drop useful items.

The Price of Humanity: Invasions

However, restoring your humanity comes with a significant risk: invasions. While in human form, you become vulnerable to invasions from other players looking to test their mettle against you. These encounters can be frustrating, especially when you’re unprepared or in a difficult area. The threat of invasion is a constant balancing act, weighing the benefits of cooperation and kindling against the risk of unwanted PvP encounters.

Strategies for Managing Humanity

Effective humanity management is crucial for success in Dark Souls. Here are some tips:

• Conserve Humanity: Don’t reverse hollowing unless you have a specific reason to do so, such as summoning help for a boss fight.
• Farm Humanity: The Depths is an excellent early-game location for farming humanity from the rats. Later in the game, the Pisacas in the Duke’s Archives are a good source.
• Use Humanity Wisely: Decide whether you need to kindle bonfires or reverse hollowing based on your playstyle and current needs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about reverse hollowing, designed to clarify common misconceptions and provide additional details:

1. What exactly does it mean to be “hollow” in Dark Souls?

Being hollow in Dark Souls is your default state after dying. It means you are in undead form, limiting your interactions with the online multiplayer features of the game. In Dark Souls 3, it also alters your character’s appearance (making them look more decrepit) and, if linked to Yoel of Londor, affects your stats.

2. How do I reverse hollowing?

You reverse hollowing by resting at a bonfire and selecting the “Reverse Hollowing” option. This requires you to have at least one point of soft humanity.

3. What are the benefits of being human (not hollow)?

The main benefits are:

• Summoning other players for co-op.
• Being able to kindle bonfires for more Estus.
• Triggering NPC invasions for specific item drops.
• Summoning NPC phantoms for certain boss fights.

4. What are the risks of being human?

The primary risk is that you become vulnerable to invasions from other players.

5. How do I get more humanity?

You can obtain humanity in several ways:

• Finding it as an item.
• Killing certain enemies (like rats in the Depths).
• Helping other players defeat bosses as a phantom.

6. Does having more humanity increase my stats?

Having a higher soft humanity count slightly increases your item discovery rate and the effectiveness of certain chaos weapons. It doesn’t directly increase other stats.

7. How many times can I kindle a bonfire?

In the original Dark Souls, you can kindle a bonfire twice, for a total of 20 Estus Flasks. In Dark Souls Remastered, once you acquire the Rite of Kindling from the Catacombs, you can kindle a bonfire three times for a total of 20 Estus Flasks.

8. Is it worth reversing hollowing just to kindle a bonfire?

This depends on your playstyle and the difficulty you’re facing. If you’re struggling with a particular area, having more Estus can be a huge advantage. However, if you’re confident in your abilities, you might want to conserve your humanity for summoning help with bosses.

9. Can I be invaded even if I don’t reverse hollowing?

No, you can only be invaded while in human form (not hollow).

10. What is the best way to avoid invasions while human?

The only surefire way to avoid invasions is to play offline or remain hollow. Otherwise, be aware of your surroundings and consider using the White Sign Soapstone to quickly be summoned and become phantom again.

11. Do I need to be human to see summon signs?

Yes, you need to be in human form to see and interact with summon signs.

12. What happens if I die while human?

You revert back to hollow form and lose any soft humanity you were carrying unless you recover your bloodstain.

13. Does my appearance change when I’m hollow?

In Dark Souls 1, your appearance doesn’t drastically change when hollow. Dark Souls 3 features more notable visual changes linked to hollowing.

14. Can I still play the game if I choose to remain hollow the entire time?

Yes, you can absolutely play the game while remaining hollow. You’ll miss out on online multiplayer and the benefits of kindling, but it’s a perfectly viable option for solo players.

15. Where can I learn more about the underlying game design in Dark Souls?

To delve deeper into the learning aspects and intricate game design principles of Dark Souls, consider exploring resources like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org, which analyzes how games can be utilized for educational purposes and provides comprehensive insights into game mechanics and learning outcomes.

Conclusion

Reverse hollowing is a core mechanic in Dark Souls that offers significant advantages while presenting a considerable risk. Mastering the use of humanity and understanding when to reverse hollowing is essential for navigating the treacherous world of Lordran. Weigh the benefits and risks carefully, and remember that every decision has consequences in this unforgiving, yet rewarding, game.