If you’ve chosen the Hollow route in VV: Ultimatum, you’re in for one of the most interesting progression systems in the game. Unlike Soul Reapers and Quincies that mostly focus on leveling and unlocking abilities, Hollow players go through multiple evolutions, collect traits that permanently affect their character, become Vasto Lordes, and eventually awaken their Resurrección through a unique inner-world progression system.
What I like about the Hollow path is that every stage actually feels meaningful. You’re not simply grinding levels. Every evolution unlocks something new, and the choices you make early can still affect your character much later.
This guide covers the entire journey from Fishbone Hollow all the way to Resurrección, including trait farming, Vasto Lorde progression, inner world mechanics, and the final Resurrección boss fight.
Complete the Tutorial First
Before becoming a Hollow, you’ll need to finish the game’s tutorial.
It might be tempting to skip through everything, especially if you’ve played other parry-based games before, but VV: Ultimatum has its own combat flow and timing.
The tutorial teaches:
- Basic attacks
- Dodging
- Parrying
- Counters
- Movement mechanics
Most importantly, it prepares you for Gelum, the first boss you’ll encounter.
Should You Fight Gelum?
Absolutely.
Gelum is much harder than many players expect, especially on their first attempt. However, this fight is one of the best opportunities you’ll have to learn combat in a controlled environment.
Later bosses become significantly more difficult, so learning how to:
- Read attack animations
- Time parries
- Dodge AoE attacks
- Stay calm under pressure
will help tremendously throughout your progression.
If you really don’t want to fight him, you can move on, but defeating Gelum is highly recommended.
Choosing Your Hollow Type
After selecting Hollow as your faction, you’ll need to choose a Hollow Type.
This decision matters more than many players realize because you’ll eventually fight a version of this Hollow during your Resurrección trial.
Turtle Hollow
- High defense
- Excellent survivability
- Slower movement
A great option for newer players who value durability.
Gorilla Hollow
- Balanced stats
- No major strengths
- No major weaknesses
Probably the safest choice overall.
Lizard Hollow
- High speed
- Strong mobility
- Lower defenses
Ideal for aggressive players who like staying mobile.
Centipede Hollow
- Extremely fast
- Sacrifices attack power
- Harder Resurrección encounter later
Several players have reported that the Centipede fight during Resurrección progression can be surprisingly difficult because of its speed and animations.
If you’re completely new, Gorilla or Turtle are usually easier choices.
Understanding Hollow Traits
One of the most important systems in Hollow progression is Hollow Traits.
Traits are obtained by consuming other Hollows and provide various bonuses and drawbacks.
These traits don’t just affect your Hollow form.
They also influence your future Arrancar and Resurrección forms.
That’s why choosing traits carefully matters.
Trait Limits
Normal Arrancar progression allows:
- 3 Hollow Traits
Vasto Lorde progression allows:
- 4 Hollow Traits
This extra slot is one of the biggest reasons most players push for Vasto Lorde before becoming an Arrancar.
Fishbone Hollow Progression
You’ll begin your journey as a Fishbone Hollow.
Early progression is straightforward.
Simply:
- Complete quests
- Follow story objectives
- Gain experience
Eventually you’ll evolve naturally into a Menos.
Menos Progression
The Menos stage doesn’t last long.
Once transformed, you’ll receive objectives that involve:
- Destroying objects
- Killing Hollows
The red-marked quests are your main progression quests, so always prioritize them.
These objectives can usually be completed within a few minutes.
Afterward you’ll evolve again.
Becoming an Adjuchas
Once the Menos objectives are finished, you’ll become an Adjuchas.
This is the point where many players wonder whether they should immediately remove their mask and become an Arrancar.
Technically, you can.
However, there’s a very good reason not to.
Why You Should Become a Vasto Lorde First
Getting Vasto Lorde in VV: Ultimatum is much easier than many expected before release.
Because of that, there is very little reason to skip it.
The biggest advantage is gaining access to a fourth trait slot.
Trait Comparison
Regular Arrancar:
- 3 Traits
Vasto Lorde Arrancar:
- 4 Traits
Since traits remain important throughout your character’s lifespan, obtaining that fourth slot is almost always worth the extra effort.
How to Get Vasto Lorde
The quest you’ll eventually receive is called:
Primal Urges Part 2
To complete it, you’ll need approximately 70 Hollow kills.
At first glance that sounds like a massive grind, but it’s actually fairly manageable.
Method 1: Farm Regular Hollows
The simplest approach is farming Hollows in the Soul Society Outskirts.
It’s straightforward and requires little preparation.
Method 2: Use Missions
This is generally the faster option.
Low-level missions spawn multiple NPC enemies that count toward progression.
Because the enemies are relatively weak, you can rack up progress much faster than farming random Hollows.
Many players complete their Vasto Lorde progression primarily through mission grinding.
Mission Invasions Explained
While progressing missions, you’ll eventually be asked whether you want invasions enabled.
Invasions Off
- No player interruptions
- Safer progression
- Recommended for beginners
Invasions On
- Other players can invade
- Additional PvP opportunities
- Higher risk
If you’re still learning the game, keeping invasions disabled is usually the better option.
You can always turn them back on later.
Getting Your Fourth Trait
After becoming a Vasto Lorde, don’t immediately remove your mask.
Take some time to secure your fourth and final trait first.
This is important because once you become an Arrancar, trait collection ends.
If you’re still missing a trait you want, finish trait farming before progressing.
Becoming an Arrancar
Once you’re happy with your traits, remove your mask.
You’ll then:
- Customize your Arrancar appearance
- Roll your clan
- Receive your personal weapon
Every Arrancar starts with a unique weapon that becomes a major part of combat moving forward.
Many players use this weapon extensively throughout early and mid-game progression.
Start Meditating Early
As an Arrancar, you gain the ability to meditate.
Don’t ignore this mechanic.
Meditation is the foundation of Resurrección progression.
Even before you begin actively chasing Resurrección, it’s a good habit to meditate occasionally while leveling.
The Most Important Part of Resurrección Progression
Eventually you’ll begin receiving whispers.
Whenever you see one, stop what you’re doing.
Immediately meditate.
This is where many players accidentally slow their progression.
The whisper indicates that your inner world is trying to advance.
Ignoring it means delaying your progress.
What Happens During Meditation?
Several things can occur:
- Your character glows.
- Your character falls asleep.
- You gain progression.
- Your inner world develops further.
If you fall asleep during meditation, it usually means you need more progression before advancing further.
How to Progress Resurrección Faster
While there are multiple theories about exactly how progression works, most players agree that active gameplay helps the most.
Activities that seem to contribute include:
- Missions
- PvP
- General progression
- Combat encounters
Many players report receiving whispers frequently during invasions and mission content.
Simply staying active tends to work well.
The Inner World Explained
Eventually meditation will transport you to your Inner World.
This area plays a major role in unlocking Resurrección.
The key mechanic here is following the mysterious red eyes.
Always Follow the Red Eyes
Every visit follows the same principle.
Find the red eyes and follow them.
At first, nothing significant may happen.
However, each visit slowly develops your Inner World.
Over time you’ll notice:
- New buildings appearing
- More structures forming
- Increased world progression
Every successful visit moves you closer to your final trial.
The Vasto Lorde Audio Cue
At certain points in progression, you’ll hear:
“Hey, listen.”
When this audio cue plays, a Vasto Lorde NPC has spawned somewhere nearby in the overworld.
This NPC represents your inner Hollow.
Whenever this happens:
- Locate the NPC.
- Speak to them.
- Continue progression.
Missing these encounters can slow your advancement.
Unlocking the Final Trial
Eventually your Inner World becomes fully developed.
When this happens, following the red eyes leads you directly to your Inner Hollow.
This begins the Resurrección trial.
Don’t panic if you fail.
The encounter can be repeated as many times as necessary.
Simply meditate again to re-enter the challenge.
Resurrección Trial Phase 1
The first opponent is the Hollow Type you selected at character creation.
For example:
- Lizard players fight a Lizard Hollow.
- Gorilla players fight a Gorilla Hollow.
- Turtle players fight a Turtle Hollow.
- Centipede players fight a Centipede Hollow.
This is why your original Hollow Type choice matters.
Certain forms are noticeably more difficult than others.
Resurrección Trial Phase 2
Next comes the Menos fight.
For many players, this is the hardest stage.
Not because the attacks are complicated.
Because they’re delayed.
The timing feels awkward compared to most enemies in the game.
Menos Tips
- Don’t rush parries.
- Be patient with stomp timings.
- Block Cero attacks if needed.
- Focus on consistency rather than aggression.
Most failed attempts happen because players become impatient.
Resurrección Trial Phase 3
The final phase pits you against a stronger Hollow form.
This version has additional abilities and can punish mistakes much harder.
The best strategy throughout the entire trial is simple:
Play Defensively
Think of the fight as:
- 90% defense
- 10% offense
Parry whenever possible.
Avoid greedy attacks.
Preserve health throughout earlier phases so you have resources available for the final encounter.
Many successful runs come from posture breaks rather than raw aggression.
Unlocking Resurrección
After defeating all three phases, you’ll finally unlock Resurrección.
This grants:
- A transformation mode
- New abilities
- Increased combat strength
- Access to ability progression
You can activate Resurrección by using your weapon’s transformation command.
Ability Levels and Resurrección Growth
Unlocking Resurrección is only the beginning.
Your abilities continue growing afterward through Ability Levels.
As you gain levels:
- Skills become stronger.
- Additional customization options unlock.
- Certain Resurreccións gain new functionality.
Most players progress these levels simply by actively using their abilities in combat.
The more you fight, the faster your Resurrección develops.
The Hollow route in VV: Ultimatum feels like a complete character journey rather than a simple leveling path. You begin as a weak Fishbone Hollow, evolve through increasingly powerful forms, develop your own trait setup, become a Vasto Lorde, and eventually face your inner self to awaken Resurrección.
Out of all the race progressions currently available, Hollow progression probably does the best job of making every stage feel meaningful. Nothing feels like filler, and every evolution gives you a clear reason to keep pushing forward. If you’re willing to put in the time, the payoff of finally unlocking your Resurrección is one of the most satisfying moments in the game.