Full Hollow progression
Good for Vasto Lorde points, mask removal, Res XP and the Hollow route flow.
Menos, Adjuchas, Vasto Lorde, Arrancar
VV ULTIMATUM hollow progression
Get four traits on Vasto Lorde before you press L to remove your mask. Early mask removal permanently locks fewer slots — Menocar and Adjucar are alt-speedrun choices, not first-slot routes.
Quick answer
Do not remove your mask until Vasto Lorde with 4 desired traits
Base Hollow and Menos only carry 2 trait slots, Adjuchas carries 3, and Vasto Lorde carries 4. Once you become Arrancar, new trait acquisition stops. That makes early mask removal the biggest long-term Hollow mistake.
Hollow->Menos->Adjuchas->Vasto Lorde->Arrancar
Hollow evolution route
Use this as the stop/go route before pressing L for mask removal.
| Stage | Requirement | Trait slots | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Hollow | Kill and eat defeated Hollows. | 2 | Accept only good traits; reject bad offers. |
| Menos Grande | Reported auto-evolve around Level 7 through normal route. | 2 | Do not become Menocar unless speedrunning an alt. |
| Adjuchas | Kill 8 Hollows and destroy 60 objects. | 3 | Gain 3rd trait slot; Cero unlocks reported. |
| Vasto Lorde | Primal Urges Part 2 / 70 Hollow progression points. | 4 | Farm 4 desired traits before mask removal. |
| Arrancar / Vastocar | Level 25+ and mask removal with L. | Locked | Traits freeze; choose weapon and begin Res route. |
Reach Vasto Lorde — Primal Urges Part 2
Complete this checklist before pressing L to remove your mask. Skipping steps is how players brick their trait plan.
Step 1
Farm Hollow progression points
Reported gate is about 70 Hollow progression points from kills, eating Hollows and route objectives. Track the Primal Urges quest tracker in-game.
Step 2
Complete the kill quota
Finish the Part 2 kill requirements shown on the quest tracker. Adjuchas route kills and object destruction count toward earlier stages — do not rush L while Part 2 is incomplete.
Step 3
Check trait count
Before pressing L, confirm you have four desired traits on Vasto Lorde. Reject bad trait offers during farming — accepted traits are permanent after Arrancar.
Step 4
Evolve, then wait
Reach Vasto Lorde first. Only remove mask at Level 25+ when your trait plan is complete. See early L press if you are tempted to convert early.
Early L press — what you lose
Players call early mask removal Menocar, Adjucar or Vastocar depending on stage — these describe when you pressed L, not separate evolution trees. Pressing L too early permanently locks fewer trait slots.
| Label (when you pressed L) | Evolution stage at mask removal | Trait slots locked | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menocar | Menos Grande | 2 | Alt speedrun only — not a first slot |
| Adjucar | Adjuchas | 3 | Acceptable only if you knowingly want a lower ceiling |
| Vastocar | Vasto Lorde | 4 | Recommended route — farm traits first, then press L |
Hollow body choice
You fight your chosen body type during the Resurreccion route, so this is not just cosmetic.
| Body | Mobility | Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gorilla | Medium | Best default | Balanced and predictable in later fight. |
| Lizard | High | Good for speed players | Fast but still readable. |
| Turtle | Low | Avoid for first slot | Delayed attacks make parry timing harder. |
| Centipede | Very high | Avoid for first slot | Speed can make the Res fight oppressive. |
Trait plan before Arrancar
Traits are the reason Hollow has a high ceiling. They are also why the route can punish mistakes.
Universal
Iron Skin + Wings
Iron Skin helps defense/posture. Wings helps movement and Shunpo stamina. These are strong defaults.
MeleeDeadly Claws + Dense Muscles
Use these for Hakuda, weapon pressure and longer Res uptime.
Cero/KidoTailbone + Energized
Use these if your plan is Cero/Kido scaling instead of pure melee.
Rule: press No on trait offers that do not match your plan. Random accepted traits are permanent once the slot becomes Arrancar.
Mask Pop risks
These are the mistakes that make Hollow feel "bricked".
| Risk | Consequence | Prevention |
|---|---|---|
| Menocar | Arrancar from Menos with only 2 trait slots. | Do not remove mask at Menos. |
| Adjucar | Arrancar from Adjuchas with only 3 trait slots. | Wait for Vasto Lorde unless you knowingly accept lower ceiling. |
| Wrong traits | Permanent bad trait plan. | Reject unwanted traits and farm desired set. |
| Mask before Level 25 route ready | Weak Arrancar progression timing. | Level and route properly before conversion. |
| Ignoring Air Walk | Slow travel through long Hollow routes. | Unlock Air Walk around Level 40. |
Visual route help
Video Guides
Use video for body visuals, eating prompts, Vasto Lorde route and the Resurreccion inner-world fight.
Evolution checklist Menos to VastoMask Pop warnings Do not rushTrait database Pick your 4Air Walk route Travel faster
Tip: Hollow is not hard because one boss is impossible. It is hard because several small decisions become permanent.
Arrancar to Resurreccion route
After mask removal, the route shifts from evolution to release progression. Full Arrancar details: Arrancar guide.
| Step | Action | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Become Arrancar after Vasto Lorde route. | Confirmed |
| 2 | Equip activated weapon and fight enemies to build Res XP. | Confirmed |
| 3 | When Whisper appears, press L immediately. | Confirmed |
| 4 | Repeat until Inner World teleport triggers. | Reported |
| 5 | Follow the red icy path carefully; avoid out-of-bounds. | Reported |
| 6 | Fight previous Hollow forms in sequence. | Confirmed |
| 7 | Unlock Resurreccion; hold E to activate. | Confirmed |
Hollow progression FAQ
What is the best Hollow route?
Reach Vasto Lorde, collect four desired traits, then remove mask to become the strongest Arrancar/Vastocar-style route.
What is Primal Urges Part 2?
The Vasto Lorde gate. Farm about 70 Hollow progression points, finish the kill quota on the quest tracker, confirm four traits, then evolve before pressing L at Level 25+.
Menocar vs Vasto Lorde — which is better?
Vasto Lorde. Menocar means you removed mask at Menos and locked only 2 trait slots forever. Vasto Lorde gives 4 slots before conversion.
Should I become Menocar?
No for a serious first slot. Menocar locks fewer trait slots and is mainly a speedrun/alt choice.
What Hollow body should I choose?
Gorilla is the safest default. Lizard is fine for speed. Turtle and Centipede are harder first-slot picks.
Can Arrancar get more traits?
No. Trait acquisition stops after mask removal, so farm your trait plan before becoming Arrancar.
What happens after Arrancar?
Weapon choice, Res XP farming and the Inner World Resurreccion route. See the Arrancar guide for post-mask progression.
Does Bank Remote work before Arrancar?
Reported blocked on pre-Arrancar Hollow slots. Check the Bank Remote guide before relying on remote storage.
Is Segunda confirmed?
No. Treat Segunda or Full Res claims as unknown until gameplay confirms them.
Related guides
Hollow progression connects to traits, builds, movement and storage.