The Hollower’s Shield — also known as the Guardian Casket — is the defensive weapon, and one of the two unlockable picks. It’s a sturdy, coffin-shaped shield: tap the attack button to bash, keep holding to block, and bash as you get hit to parry.
Block, bash, parry
The shield turns combat into a game of timing. The parry is the key move: nail the bash at the moment an attack lands and you’ll negate the damage and deal a nice chunk of counter-damage. Reviewers describe shield play as “its own whole thing, all parries and counter-windows” — it rewards reading enemy tells rather than trading blows.
Unlocking & upgrades
You get the Guardian Casket from Legovich’s smithy in the red building in Ossex City Center, where the brothers also sell the Battery Buster and copies of the other weapons. Its two upgrades sharpen the defensive loop: Grave Counter improves the counter you land off a successful parry, and Coffin Toss is a ranged projectile attack that can also be used as a platform. Exact effects are in the upgrade table below.
Upgrade purchases at the smithy start at 2,000 Bones and settle at 2,500 Bones for every other purchase, and upgrades can also be found at the game’s eight field upgrade locations across Tenebrous Isle.
| Move | Input | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Shield Bash | Tap [Attack] | A quick bash that doubles as your offensive poke. |
| Block | Hold [Attack] | Keep holding to block incoming attacks. |
| Parry | Bash as you get hit | Timing a bash to the moment you're struck parries the attack for damage negation and a chunk of counter-damage. |
| Grave Counter | Parry follow-up (after upgrade) | Enhances your counter off a successful parry. |
| Coffin Toss | [Attack] (after upgrade) | A ranged projectile attack that can also be used as a platform. |
| Upgrade | Effect | Where Found |
|---|---|---|
| Upgrade 1Grave Counter | Improves the counter you land off a successful parry. | Legovich's smithy in Ossex City Center, or found at one of the eight field upgrade locations. |
| Upgrade 2Coffin Toss | A ranged projectile attack that can also be used as a platform. | Legovich's smithy in Ossex City Center, or found at one of the eight field upgrade locations. |
Verdict
The Hollower's Shield is the defensive specialist. Its parry negates damage and deals a chunk of counter-damage, so shield play becomes its own rhythm of timed counters. Best for players who'd rather read attacks and punish than out-damage enemies.
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