Hollow is widely considered one of the strongest factions in VV: Ultimatum, and a big reason for that comes down to its unique Trait system. Unlike other races that rely mostly on weapons, skills, or awakenings, Hollow players gain powerful passive bonuses through traits obtained during progression. These traits can affect your damage, defense, mobility, Cero attacks, and even how your Resurrection performs.
Since players can only keep a limited number of traits after reaching the final stages of Hollow progression, choosing the right ones can make a huge difference in both PvE and PvP. If you’re wondering which traits are worth keeping and which ones should be skipped, here’s a complete breakdown of the best Hollow traits in VV: Ultimatum.
How Hollow Traits Work
Throughout Hollow progression, players can obtain traits while evolving through various stages. Once you eventually reach the Vasto Lorde stage, you can keep up to four traits on your character. These traits provide several benefits, including:
- Bonus stats
- Damage increases
- Defensive boosts
- Mobility improvements
- Resurrection enhancements
- Cosmetic changes
Because trait slots are limited, it’s important to focus on traits that support your build instead of accepting every option that appears.
Best Overall Traits for Every Build
Some traits are useful only for specific playstyles, while others provide benefits that almost every Hollow can take advantage of.
Iron Skin
Iron Skin is arguably one of the strongest traits currently available.
Benefits include:
- Increased melee defense
- Faster posture regeneration
- No meaningful drawbacks
This trait improves survivability in nearly every situation. Whether you’re focusing on PvP, boss fights, or general grinding, the extra defense makes a noticeable difference. Because it offers pure benefits without major downsides, Iron Skin is often considered a mandatory trait for most Hollow builds.
Exoskeleton
Exoskeleton is another top-tier defensive trait. Benefits include:
- Increased melee defense
- Additional posture
- Improved Resurrection healing
- Minor movement speed reduction
While the small movement speed penalty exists, the defensive value easily outweighs the drawback for most players.
Many experienced Hollow players consider Iron Skin and Exoskeleton the ideal foundation for almost any build.
Best Traits for Hakuda Builds
Players focusing on hand-to-hand combat should prioritize traits that directly increase melee damage.
Deadly Claws
Deadly Claws is one of the strongest traits for Hakuda users.
Benefits include:
- Increased Hakuda damage
- Additional armor penetration
This trait helps melee-focused players deal significantly more damage while also improving their effectiveness against heavily defensive opponents. If your build revolves around Hakuda, Deadly Claws should be one of your highest priorities.
Dense Muscles
Dense Muscles works well for hybrid combat styles.
Benefits include:
- Increased weapon damage
- Increased Hakuda damage
- Longer Resurrection duration
Because it boosts multiple offensive stats at once, Dense Muscles fits nicely into mixed builds that combine melee attacks with weapon-based combat.
Best Traits for Cero Builds
Players building around Cero attacks should focus on traits that improve beam damage, size, and efficiency.
Horns
Horns is one of the best options for dedicated Cero users.
Benefits include:
- Increased Cero effectiveness
- Improved beam performance
This trait becomes especially valuable if a large portion of your damage comes from ranged attacks. For players who rarely use Cero, however, the value drops significantly.
Tailbone
Tailbone is another excellent choice for ranged-focused builds.
Benefits include:
- Increased Cero damage
- Higher burst potential
The trait makes your beam slightly thinner, but the damage increase often makes the trade worthwhile. Many players combine Tailbone and Horns together to maximize their Cero damage output.
Back Scales
Back Scales offers a unique combination of bonuses.
Benefits include:
- Faster Cero charging
- Longer Resurrection duration
This trait works particularly well for players who want to constantly pressure opponents with ranged attacks.
Best Traits for Kido Builds
Players investing heavily into Kido should prioritize traits that directly increase spiritual damage.
Energized
Energized is one of the strongest traits available for Kido-focused characters.
Benefits include:
- Increased Kido damage
- Better scaling for Kido-based builds
If your build relies on spiritual attacks and abilities rather than physical combat, Energized is one of the best trait choices available. For pure Kido builds, this trait is almost always worth taking.
Situational Traits
Some traits can be useful under specific circumstances but aren’t considered must-have options.
Wings
Wings focuses heavily on movement.
Benefits include:
- Increased movement speed
- Faster Shunpo performance
This trait works best for players investing heavily into mobility stats. If your build isn’t centered around speed, the value becomes much lower.
Giant
Giant is designed for tank builds.
Benefits include:
- Increased defense
- Greater durability
The downside is reduced movement speed, making it less appealing for players who prefer aggressive or mobile playstyles.
Still, if your goal is to become extremely difficult to kill, Giant can be a strong option.
Traits Worth Skipping
Not every trait provides enough value to justify using one of your limited trait slots.
Skinny
While Skinny increases movement speed, it also reduces defense. For most players, losing survivability simply isn’t worth the extra mobility.
Inconspicuous Presence
This trait focuses on stealth-related bonuses and minor utility effects. While it may sound useful on paper, it generally offers less combat value compared to defensive or offensive alternatives. Because trait slots are limited, most players are better off choosing options that directly improve damage or survivability.
Recommended Trait Combinations
Best Overall Build
- Iron Skin
- Exoskeleton
- Deadly Claws
- Dense Muscles
This setup provides a balanced mix of defense and damage, making it useful in almost every situation.
Best Cero Build
- Iron Skin
- Exoskeleton
- Horns
- Tailbone
This combination maximizes Cero damage while maintaining strong survivability.
Best Kido Build
- Iron Skin
- Exoskeleton
- Energized
- Horns
Perfect for players who want to focus on spiritual attacks and ranged combat.
Best Tank Build
- Iron Skin
- Exoskeleton
- Giant
- Dense Muscles
This setup sacrifices mobility in exchange for exceptional durability.
Choosing the right Hollow traits is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in VV: Ultimatum. Since these traits directly impact your combat performance and Resurrection bonuses, a strong trait setup can dramatically increase your effectiveness in both PvE and PvP.
For most players, Iron Skin and Exoskeleton should be considered core traits because they provide powerful defensive bonuses with very few drawbacks. After securing those two, you can customize the remaining slots around your preferred playstyle, whether that’s Hakuda, Cero, Kido, or a tank-focused build. The best trait combination ultimately depends on your build, but understanding what each trait offers will help you avoid wasting valuable slots and get the most out of your Hollow character.