Bone Stones are the single most important currency in the early hours of Mina the Hollower. Unlike the resources you lose upon death, these persistent gems stay with you, forming the foundation of your initial upgrades. Finding a healthy supply before tackling the first major dungeon is crucial for a smoother start. The game hides several of these valuable caches in plain sight within its opening areas, rewarding players who know where—and how—to look. Many are tucked away behind simple environmental puzzles that are easy to miss on a first playthrough.
This guide pinpoints the exact locations of several easily acquired Bone Stones in the tutorial section and the starting town of Ossex. It also details the most efficient farming route you can access right from the beginning, ensuring you can afford key items like the essential second Spark upgrade without unnecessary grinding.
Where are the missable Bone Stones in the tutorial?
The path to Ossex is more than just a combat primer; it’s a treasure trove if you’re observant. Four blue chests containing Bone Stones are hidden along this route, and grabbing them will give you a significant head start before you even arrive in town. Don't rush through—take a moment to solve these simple environmental puzzles.
The Gated Room
In a room filled with fences and gates, you'll find a chest on the right side. After jumping over a gap, you'll see a gate blocking the way. Instead of looking for a switch, simply use Mina's burrow ability to slip directly underneath the top gate. The chest is waiting for you on the other side.
The Hidden Northwest Passage
In the same large, gated room, direct your attention to the top-left corner. You’ll spot another small gap at the base of the wall. Burrow under this opening to access a small, hidden chamber containing another blue chest with a Bone Stone inside.
Mina the Hollower in-game screenshot
Above the First Checkpoint
When you activate your first checkpoint, don't just proceed forward. Climb the nearby rope and look to your left. There's a breakable door here. Smash it open to reveal another secret room. This one is guarded by a handful of enemies, but once they're cleared out, the Bone Stone chest is yours for the taking.
The Final Rope Climb
Just before leaving the tutorial area, you'll climb another rope. The critical path directs you to the left, but your reward lies to the right. Take a brief detour to the right path to find one last, easily missed Bone Stone. With this, you'll enter Ossex with a solid financial foundation.
How do you find the secret Bone Stones in Ossex?
The starting town of Ossex is dense with secrets, including a few more Bone Stones locked behind clever puzzles. These require you to use your abilities and interact with the environment in non-obvious ways. Securing these will put you in a great position to purchase a crucial early upgrade.
The Couple's Quarters
One of the residences in Ossex, the 'couple's quarters', contains a chest that seems just out of reach across a gap. The solution is to perform a burrow jump. Get a running start towards the gap on the right side of the room, then burrow and immediately jump out of the ground to launch Mina across the divide and claim your prize.
Mina the Hollower in-game screenshot
The Strategy Center Puzzle
For this stone, you'll need a tool. First, find a candle near the entrance to the Radiant Manor and use it to light your whip, transforming it into an axe. With the axe in hand, head to the eastern part of town and enter the 'strategy center' through the spark door. Inside, you'll see the chest, but you can't reach it. Throw the axe to break it open from a distance, then burrow under the table to collect the Bone Stone that spills out.
The Waterway Secret
This is perhaps the most creative puzzle in Ossex. South of the strategy center, you’ll see a waterway separating two platforms. A large, long-nosed NPC wanders nearby. Your goal is to lure this 'big nose NPC' to the edge of the water. Once he's in position, strike him while he's facing the waterway. His nose will extend, creating a temporary bridge. Quickly walk across it and drop into the channel below, where you can burrow through a hidden opening in the wall to find the final Bone Stone in this area.
What's the best early-game Bone Stone farming spot?
If the collected stones aren't enough to afford the upgrades you need, there's a reliable and easily accessible farming spot available as soon as you can leave Ossex. This method allows you to quickly accumulate Bones without venturing into dangerous, high-level territory.
The ideal location is the area just to the east of Ossex, on the main path leading toward the game's first dungeon. Here, you'll find a screen where enemies continuously spawn, jumping out of crypts set into the background. The strategy is simple: clear out all the enemies on this screen.
Mina the Hollower in-game screenshot
Once the area is clear, simply walk one screen back to the left to reach the checkpoint. Resting at a checkpoint respawns all non-boss enemies. Return to the crypt screen to your right, and all the enemies will have reappeared, ready to be defeated again. You can repeat this loop as many times as you need. It's a fast, low-risk cycle that can net you hundreds of Bones in just a few minutes, making it perfect for saving up for that second Spark or a pricey trinket.
A Final Tip: Prioritize the Spark Upgrade
While a health upgrade from the Emporium might seem tempting, consider spending your first haul of Bone Stones on the Spark upgrade instead. Having two sparks not only opens new doors—like the one leading to the bike, a massive quality-of-life improvement—but it also acts as a safety net. Each Spark gives you an extra chance to reclaim your dropped resources upon death. Given the game's initial difficulty, this extra buffer is far more valuable than a small health boost early on.
Parting Shot
With these caches secured and a reliable farming loop in your back pocket, you'll be well-equipped to face the challenges of Mina the Hollower. This early investment pays dividends, allowing you to build momentum and unlock powerful tools that will define the rest of your adventure.