HOLLOW PvE Starter Builds and Skill Buying Priorities

Strength is a practical default for a straightforward melee start. Speed is more appealing when reaching the target is your main problem. Kido is the relevant investment for a Cero-focused approach; an all-Strength allocation favors your melee plan instead.

Choose one main direction, then add a second branch for a specific skill you will use. For example, meeting both Diving Impale's 5 Strength requirement and Blink Cut's 5 Speed requirement gives a mixed melee setup a thrust and a gap closer. Those are entry requirements, not a final stat distribution. Use the stat point planner to work out the additional points your chosen targets need.

These purchase priorities favor accessible skills that add something useful to basic attacks. Follow the branch you intend to play; you do not need to buy every skill in a group before moving on.

• First Picks — Diving Impale and Blink Cut: start with the one that matches your main stat. Diving Impale adds a forward thrust and stagger; Blink Cut combines forward movement with a slash. Both have a low entry requirement in their respective branches.
• Build Expansions — Mountain Splitter and Flower Frenzy: add Mountain Splitter for a heavy knockback slash, or Flower Frenzy for repeated frontal attacks when you can hold your position. Choose the attack pattern you can land consistently.
• Specialist Additions — Blade Press, Utsusemi and Besiege: choose Blade Press for a sword-stance counter, Utsusemi for an escape that leaves a shell to respond to the first attack, or Besiege for wind blades aimed ahead and below from the air. These solve specific combat needs after you have a usable core.

Before spending, check the requirement in your current shop and budget Yen separately. Some advanced skills have differing listed thresholds, so use the value shown on your skill card. The skills directory has the requirement variants, prices, and buying and equipment instructions.

Start with your equipped weapon, M1 attacks, and Diving Impale. Reach 5 Strength and set aside 500 Yen for the skill. Its forward thrust helps you reach an enemy and stagger it, giving your basic melee attacks a useful opening.

1. Equip your weapon and close to melee range.
2. Use Diving Impale when the enemy is lined up with the thrust.
3. Continue with M1 attacks while the skill is on cooldown, returning to defense when the enemy attacks.
4. Add Mountain Splitter once you meet its shop requirement and can afford the extra 1,500 Yen.

Diving Impale plus Mountain Splitter costs 2,000 Yen in total. If you already own Diving Impale, the remaining purchase is 1,500 Yen. Meeting the stat requirement and paying the purchase price are separate parts of this upgrade.

Mountain Splitter raises the sword before delivering a heavy slash that knocks enemies backward. Give yourself room for that startup: use an opening after an enemy attack rather than beginning the swing while a close enemy is already attacking. After the knockback, close the distance again before continuing with M1. If enemies repeatedly interrupt your heavier attacks, keep the simpler M1-and-thrust core and consider adding mobility before another heavy skill.

Build around Blink Cut if chasing enemies interrupts your damage. It requires 5 Speed and slashes along its forward path. Use it to reach a target, follow with ordinary sword attacks, and pursue again when the target pulls away.

Add Diving Impale when you also want a forward thrust with stagger and can meet its Strength requirement. Sword attacks, Diving Impale, and Blink Cut work together in the Shikai Spirit fight: movement gets you back into range, while the thrust and basic attacks maintain pressure. Fit skill uses around their cooldowns and the enemy's actions. For the challenge's entry and unlock steps, follow the Shikai guide.

Choose later additions by the problem you need to solve:

• Enemies remain in front of you: add Flower Frenzy for rapid successive slashes. Its planted stance suits a clear frontal opening better than an active chase.
• You need to disengage: consider Utsusemi, which moves you away and leaves a shell to respond to the first enemy attack. Its higher Speed requirement makes it a later mobility investment.
• You want to answer an incoming attack: consider Blade Press. Its stance counters the first hit, but its 7,500-Yen price makes it a deliberate defensive purchase after your basic kit is ready.
• You want an aerial attack angle: add Besiege to send wind blades toward targets ahead and below. Choose it for that positioning option rather than as a substitute for Blink Cut's pursuit role.

Invest in Kido when Cero is central to your plan. Kido improves reiatsu, spirit regeneration, and spiritual power, making it the relevant direction for repeated spiritual attacks. Keep a usable melee attack available so your offense does not stop whenever Cero is cooling down.

1. Confirm that Cero is available on your current form's skill bar and check its assigned key.
2. Press X to recharge spiritual energy when you have a safe opening.
3. Cast Cero when you have an opening to attack.
4. Use M1 attacks if it is safe to stay close, or block and reposition while waiting for the next cast.

Reiatsu Gloves are a useful accessory target: equipping them adds 5% maximum reiatsu and 3% reiatsu power. Those bonuses support your spiritual resource and power stats. See the accessory guide for their source and equipment steps.

If your current form provides Hierro, use its damage reduction to support your defense. If it provides High-Speed Regeneration, keep that recovery option available. Build around the abilities on your own bar, since form-dependent skill sets differ.

Cero also gives you a ranged approach to the Arrancar inner challenge. Cover can help separate you from the opponent between casts; the Partial Resurrección guide covers the positioning and unlock sequence.

Nearby groups while playing Hollow

If your form has Ground Smash and Roar, use Ground Smash when enemies gather close, then follow with Roar. Ground Smash covers nearby targets, while Roar's knockback helps create separation. Mix in M1 and Cero as enemies approach, and watch your cooldowns before committing to another close-range exchange.

Against a stronger nearby enemy, block its attack, look for a Cero opening, then use M1 while you can safely stay in range. Return to defense as the enemy starts attacking again.

Arrancar events and opening Raid waves

With Cazador available and active, a practical later loadout combines Cero, High-Speed Regeneration, Triple Strike, and Hurricane Slash, provided those racial abilities are on your bar. Each serves a different purpose:

• Cero: a ranged attack to mix with melee.
• High-Speed Regeneration: recovery support when available.
• Triple Strike: close-range sword attacks with stun, useful for interrupting pressure.
• Hurricane Slash: an attack around your character, useful when enemies crowd you.

Use the form attacks alongside ordinary sword attacks, keeping recovery available instead of spending every opening on offense. This setup is useful for event combat and the opening Raid waves; later waves still require adapting to the enemies you face.

For choosing a weapon form, compare the Resurrección PvE recommendations. For entry costs and the wave objective, use the Raid guide.