Joule box upgrades allow you to use your sidearm more often in Mina the Hollower, but, as you would expect, they’re hidden behind many obstacles, enemies, and kear slots. Don’t let that scare you, though, as joule boxes are incredibly useful; while you start the game with a maximum stack of 20 joule (sidearm charges), every joule box you’ll find adds 10 joule. So, if you find every joule box upgrade in the game, you’ll have a sidearm charge count of 100.
Here’s where to find every joule box upgrade location in Mina the Hollower.
How to find every joule box in Mina the Hollower
There are eight joule box upgrades to be found in Mina the Hollower, spread across six different locations. The first location, which contains three joule boxes, is relatively easy to find as it’s right in the center of Ossex. The rest, however, are found in the wild. You always need at least one kear (key) to open the path to the joule box upgrade, sometimes two kears if the joule box location requires a special item.
If you need more info on reaching new areas and unlocking fast travel points, our guides on how to reach every area, how to unlock every train station, and where to find every mirror location in Mina the Hollower will help you out.
Joule box location #1 — Emporium in Ossex
The first three joule boxes are sold at the Emporium shop in Ossex. The shop is located in the City Center, on the east side, next to the Kears Institute. The first joule box costs 500 bones, but the price will increase with every purchase.
Joule box location #2 — Buckler’s Bluff in Eastern Heath
Unless you have a special item allowing you to jump further than two tiles, you must use the Drill Driver sidearm to reach this joule box location. If you’ve been here before, the shortest way to get the Drill Driver is to enter the Eastern Heath: Grassland east of Ossex, cross the bridge, and take the rope upward. Exit to the right at the first opportunity.
If you haven’t done much exploring yet, go north as soon as you enter the Eastern Heath, then turn left, passing the building. Spend one kear to access the stream behind the building and continue to the right. Enter the tunnel and jump across the spinning gears. Burrow through the northeast exit to find a second chamber with spinning gears, and exit this one in the south.
Once outside, walk up the first staircase and burrow-jump to the right to reach the ledge with the Drill Driver sidearm. So, as shown in the picture below, you enter the tunnel on the left, exit on the right, then go right again.
When you’ve got it, drop down the rope and walk east to find the Mourner’s Mile border. Spend one kear to pass through the tunnel.
Jump and trigger the Drill Driver while airborne to cross the large gaps in Buckler’s Bluff. Do the same to move from rope to rope. Once you’ve climbed the ropes, you’ll find the joule box upgrade inside the treasure chest at the top. This picture shows the Drill Driver sidearm on the left, and the start of the Buckler’s Bluff obstacle course on the right.
Joule box location #3 — Occupied Bridge in Western Wilds
To reach this joule box location, be sure to bring the Drill Driver sidearm you used for the previous joule box upgrade. When you’ve got them, go to the Western Wilds: Occupied Bridge region west of Ossex. In the first area, burrow through the square pond in the northwest corner to find a hidden cave system.
Use the Drill Driver to reach the large chest on the higher ground (be sure to burrow-jump to cross the final gap). Spend one kear to unlock the chest and obtain the joule box upgrade.
Joule box location #4 — Pinky’s Parlor in Backwaters
The fourth joule box location is in the Shanty Swamp: Backwaters area west of Ossex and the Western Wilds. Rather than being sold by Pinky, the joule box is found at the back of Pinky’s Parlor.
If you’re coming from the direction of the Western Wilds, exit the area with Buffo the frog in the southeast corner. If you’re coming from the Shanty Swamp train station, exit the large lake with the rotating rafts in the north, then go east. You must spend one kear to access the shop.
Enter the shop and purchase either the Spark Catcher (grants an extra spark container) or the plasma vial, prompting Pinky to move his ladder to the far left or right. Leave the shop and follow the path to the east, which loops to the store’s back entrance. Now, grab the ladder without drawing Pinky’s attention, and use it to reach the high ledge with the joule box upgrade at the back.
Joule box location #5 — Cave Network in Southern Outskirts
To find this joule box upgrade, enter the Southern Outskirts, the first area south of Ossex. On the first screen below the gate, go northeast to enter the Cave Network.
Jump across the bouncy pads to reach the western exit. You must burrow beneath the bouncy pad on the large square in the center, and aim to the left when you exit the burrowing stance to chuck the flower toward the chasm and thus create the extra jumping pad you’ll need. When you reach the western exit, it’ll cost one kear to continue.
In the next room, burrow to the north, jump to the square in the south, and defeat the purple knight. Burrow to move the flower from the central square to the eastern ledge. Exit to the east to find the treasure chest containing the joule box upgrade.
Joule box location #6 — Sifted Sands in Sandfalls
The final joule box upgrade location in Mina the Hollower is found in Sandfalls: Sifted Sands. If you previously unlocked the train station (Sandy Station), this is the quickest way to get there. If not, enter the Cave Network as described in the previous section, then exit to the northeast. Like before, use your burrowing skill to move the purple flower; place it against the nearby ledge to reach the large doorway in the northeast.
You’ll enter a second Cave Network that requires two plasma vials to continue. To reach the exit, jump across the sparkly tiles to avoid falling into the pit.
Once you’ve reached the large area with the purple sand, drifting clockwise, go to the northwest corner. Pick up the bomb and throw it onto the sandy stream in the north; if it explodes at the right time, removing the red TNT cart, you’ll gain access to a new room.
Inside this room, defeat the miniboss, who will spawn from the large golden skull on the right.
The final joule box upgrade in Mina the Hollower is inside the treasure chest.
