What Happens If You Go Hollow in Dark Souls?
In the dark and foreboding world of Dark Souls, the concept of human and hollow is a crucial one. As a player, you’ll navigate through the game’s vast world, making choices that will ultimately define your character’s fate. One of the key elements that can impact your journey is your character’s state of being hollow or human. So, what happens if you go hollow in Dark Souls?
A Brief Overview of Human and Hollow States
Before diving into the consequences of being hollow, it’s essential to understand what being human and hollow means in the game.
- Human: A character who is human is one that has not lost their sense of humanity. They retain their emotions, values, and connections to the world around them. Humans can use humanity points to restore their health, increase their defenses, and enhance their item discovery.
- Hollow: A character who is hollow is one that has lost their sense of humanity, due to the accumulation of dark sigil. When a character becomes hollow, their link to the world and its inhabitants is severeed, and they become mindless, driven solely by their desire to reconnect with humanity.
Consequences of Becoming Hollow
So, what are the consequences of becoming hollow in Dark Souls?
- Loss of Humanity Points: When a character becomes hollow, their humanity points are reset to zero.
- Increased Aggression: As a hollow character, you’ll find yourself becoming more aggressive and prone to attack anyone who possesses humanity, including NPCs and other players.
- Reduced Defenses: Hollow characters have reduced defenses and can be more easily damaged.
- Lower Item Discovery: Hollow characters have a lower chance of discovering items and collecting souls.
Can You Convert Back to Human?
Fortunately, you can convert back to human in Dark Souls. Here are the ways to reverse the effects of becoming hollow:
- Purging Stone: This item can be purchased from Yuria (or the Shrine Handmaid if Yuria is dead) and used to remove the dark sigil, restoring the character’s humanity.
- Humanity from NPCs: Some NPCs can imbue you with humanity, removing the dark sigil and restoring your emotional connection to the world.
Important Considerations
When deciding to become hollow or stay human, consider the following important points:
- Bonfires and the Dark Sigil: Bonfires can remove the dark sigil from your character, but this will also reverse the effects of any humanity points gained.
- Soul Reaver: As a hollow character, your body will eventually disintegrate after death, and your soul will fade away. However, if you’re equipped with a Soul Reaver before dying, you’ll be able to resist this fate and maintain your hollow form.
Conclusion
In conclusion, becoming hollow in Dark Souls is a significant and irreversible decision that can impact your entire journey. While it may seem desirable to avoid the limitations and drawbacks of being hollow, it’s essential to weigh the costs and benefits of this choice. Remember, as a hollow character, you’ll gain increased aggression and a reduced dependence on humanity, but you’ll also lose critical defenses and item discovery abilities.
Table: Consequences of Becoming Hollow
| Aspects | Human | Hollow |
|---|---|---|
| Humanity Points | Retain | Reset to zero |
| Defensive Capabilities | Higher | Lower |
| Item Discovery | Higher | Lower |
| Link to the World | Retain connections | Severed connections |
Notes
- Humanity point restoration: Humanity points can be regained through various means, including using Purging Stones, interacting with certain NPCs, or finding hidden items.
- Alternative playstyles: Becoming hollow can enable alternative playstyles, such as focusing on aggressive combat or exploiting the benefits of its increased aggression.
- Roleplaying aspect: The choice to become hollow serves as a roleplaying opportunity for the player, allowing them to explore the characters’ motivations and emotions in a fictional world.