Castlevania: Belmont's Curse Castlevania Belmont's

On the Prison Tower rooftop in Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, Joan of Arc awaits with fierce sword strikes and fiery assaults. Facing her isn't just a combat challenge—it's a pivotal moment that tests your timing and positioning, crucial for unlocking key story developments and powerful rewards.

Joan of Arc stands atop the Prison Tower in Paris Streets, wielding a massive sword alongside bursts of flame that can catch even seasoned players off-guard. Understanding her attacks and phases is essential to making quick work of this memorable boss encounter.

Quick Answer: To topple Joan of Arc, keep a safe distance and crouch to lure her flying attack, then strike as she comes close. Repeat this in the first phase. In the second, watch for the ominous yellow circle signaling her explosive slam—jump to avoid damage and maintain distance for safer counterattacks.

Who Is Joan of Arc in Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse?

This incarnation of Joan of Arc melds historical conviction with supernatural elements, presenting a corrupted vision of the famed French heroine. Encountered during Rose’s journey through Paris, her presence deepens the game’s dark fantasy narrative.

Developed by Evil Empire, Joan’s character explores how a legendary figure's beliefs could evolve in Castlevania’s twisted world. More than a one-off battle, she becomes an integral part of Rose’s saga, influencing the story beyond their first duel.

Voiced in English by Erica Lindbeck, Joan adds emotional depth through her interactions. For a full breakdown of voice talent, check out the Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse voice actors lineup.

How to Reach Joan of Arc?

Joan challenges you atop the Prison Tower in Paris Streets. Before the fight, save your progress at the checkpoint near the tower’s upper scaffolding. The Prison Tower also houses a Mirror of Life you’ll revisit later, making this area important beyond the initial battle.

You don’t need any specific weapon equipped to face Joan, but the fight rewards careful execution rather than brute force. Patience and positioning win the day here.

How to Beat Castlevania Belmont’s Curse Joan of Arc

The fight with Joan unfolds in two phases, each demanding different tactics to handle her aggressive moves and area control.

Phase 1: Bait Her Flying Attack

Start by maintaining a wide berth to avoid Joan’s close-range sword attacks. Your objective is to stay safe while provoking her into lunging attacks you can counter.

Follow these steps for a swift victory in phase one:

Back away and crouch: Put as much distance as possible between you and Joan, then crouch facing her to bait her flying strike.

Counterattack while crouched: Once she lunges, strike quickly—typically about four hits—then retreat to safe distance. This hit-and-run approach keeps you from taking unnecessary damage.

Dodge her fire floor attack by jumping past her position and moving to the opposite rooftop end. From there, crouch again to lure her next approach.

Repeat this cycle, patiently wearing her down. Her fireballs are deadly, so position yourself between them to minimize damage.

Be mindful of fireballs thrown your way; moving into the spaces between them helps you avoid harm.

What If Joan Uses a Different Attack?

Not all of Joan’s attacks are easily countered with crouching and distancing. Here’s how to respond when she switches up moves:

Attack to watch for	Your response
High sword swings	These often swing over a crouching Rose’s head, making crouch a safe choice.
Low sword slash scraping the floor	Jump over or move away; sliding won’t work as it won’t get you under this attack.
Fireballs landing in the arena	Shift into a gap where no fireball falls just before they erupt.

After jumping behind Joan, keep moving; she can strike backwards, so lingering unprepared can cost you health.

Phase Two: Avoid the Explosion and Keep Your Distance

The second phase begins with Joan charging up energy and crashing down, triggering a destructive explosion. You’ll see a yellow circle marking the blast zone—jump the moment it appears to dodge the damage.

After that, her attacks have longer reach, so maintaining a moderate distance is crucial to avoid being caught off-guard. Stick to the crouch-then-attack-on-approach method, but make sure to restore plenty of space before crouching.

Jump safely over floor fire and retreat swiftly after attacking. Holding your ground too long invites punishment in this phase.

Reset your position promptly after each strike to avoid Joan’s extended reach in this phase.

Don’t risk staying too close after a hit; restoring the gap between you is your best defense to avoid deadly counterattacks.

Rewards of Joan of Arc Boss Fight

Reward	Benefit
The Warrior Arcana	Grants Infernal Pyre, creating flames beside Rose that launch enemies airborne.
The Warrior’s Key	One of three keys needed to unlock the sealed Catacombs gate.
Burnt Sword of Fierbois	A heavy sword with a chargeable attack, adding variety to your arsenal.
Holy Light	Unlocked after the fight; allows passage through Chaos Shards and timed deflections.

Keep in mind that Holy Light is unavailable during the rooftop fight itself—its defensive properties activate afterward, so don’t rely on it during the battle.

What Happens to Joan of Arc After the Fight?

After defeating her, Joan integrates into Rose’s tarot deck as The Warrior Arcana, unlocking the Infernal Pyre spell. She remains a key narrative figure and offers guidance as Rose grapples with Dracula’s curse.

Throughout the game, Joan contrasts with antagonistic influences like Medusa—championing strength, principles, and thoughtful decisions to encourage Rose onward.

This dual role enhances both the gameplay with new abilities and enriches Rose’s evolving story, elevating Joan beyond a simple boss.

Their ongoing relationship begins with this rooftop fight, but the heart of their connection grows stronger in post-battle conversations, delivering one of the game’s more memorable character arcs.

Joan of Arc’s Rematch: The Trial of Courage

Joan returns in the Trial of Courage at Notre-Dame’s Gallery of the Four Virtues. To enter, you must equip the Infernal Pyre spell from The Warrior Arcana and interact with the red stained glass window featuring the Warrior. Simply having the card won’t unlock this challenge.

This rematch is a distinct fight with its own dynamics. Defeating Joan here is essential for acquiring the Courage item and is also a requirement for unlocking the game’s true ending.