Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Castlevania Belmont’s

The gothic world of Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse tests your mettle far beyond simply facing Dracula. Unlocking the true ending demands a dedicated hunt for hidden Arcana cards and secret bosses—tasks that add a thrilling layer of depth to the journey. Missing these steps means settling for one of the lesser endings, but mastering them transforms the game into a richer, more satisfying adventure.

Table of contents

Unlocking the true ending in Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse requires more than just defeating Dracula. You’ll have to collect every Arcana card, explore optional areas, face secret bosses, and clear final challenges that pave the path toward Rose’s true destiny.

You don’t need to complete all these optional objectives before your first confrontation with Dracula, which means multiple endings can coexist in a single save file. Upon reaching an ending, Rose returns to the last checkpoint, allowing you to pursue the true path at your own pace.

Luckily, it is not necessary to beat everything before facing off against Dracula. It is possible to have multiple endings in one save file. After viewing one ending, Rose will go back to the last save point and let you proceed with your adventure.

The game features three distinct endings depending on your Arcana collection and progression:

• Bad ending: Reach Dracula without obtaining the Shadow Arcana hidden in Notre-Dame Cathedral.
• Normal ending: Secure the Shadow Arcana and defeat Dracula but skip other Arcana cards and true-ending prerequisites.
• True ending: Collect all Arcana cards, complete the four Virtue challenges within Notre-Dame Cathedral, defeat your shadow self, and unleash the Absolution spell during the final battle against Dracula.

The first three Arcana cards follow the main story, but the rest require exploring hidden areas, solving environmental puzzles, and taking down optional bosses. Following the right order keeps you from getting lost or overwhelmed during your quest.

Step 1: Collect the Three Story-Required Arcana

The beginning is straightforward—the initial trio of Arcana cards lie within your main story path. You’ll need all three before venturing into Dracula’s castle to ensure you’re on track for one of the better endings.

The Fallen Arcana

Location: Paris Streets

During an early fight in the Paris Streets, defeat Leon. This battle is part of the main storyline and rewards you with the Fallen Arcana upon victory.

The Warrior Arcana

Location: Paris Streets, Prison Tower

Make your way to the prison tower within the Paris Streets. Climb to the top to confront and defeat Joan of Arc, who guards the Warrior Arcana. This card ties into the useful Holy Warrior’s Cross skill, pivotal during the Virtue challenges.

This Cross skill proves invaluable later, so securing the Warrior Arcana early makes those tougher trials feel manageable.

The Prophetess Arcana

Location: Holy Innocents Catacombs

Descend into the Holy Innocents Catacombs and face Medusa. Defeating this boss grants the Prophetess Arcana, rounding out your core trio.

After these three are in hand, advance the storyline to Dracula’s castle. Now, the real challenge of optional exploration and backtracking begins.

Step 2: Obtain the Builder Arcana and Smash Ability

Location: Clock Tower

Next priority: acquire the Builder Arcana which grants the vital Smash traversal skill. It lets you break through certain floors, unlocking new paths and hidden collectibles.

In the Clock Tower, find the eastern access shaft. Face a puzzle involving switches and a towering mechanical fist hovering above the ground. Activate the switches in the correct order to slam the giant fist into the floor and reveal a new route.

Follow this newly opened path to confront Talos. Defeating this boss awards you the Builder Arcana and the Smash ability just outside the boss arena.

Smash quickly becomes one of your most essential skills—use it to uncover floors you couldn’t reach before and unlock vital collectibles needed for the true ending.

Step 3: Find the Artist Arcana in the Grand Hall

Location: Main Hall

Return to the Grand Hall and seek out a series of portraits depicting Alucard. These serve as clues leading you to the Artist Arcana.

Follow the portraits until reaching a statue blocking your path. Use Smash to break this statue and claim the Artist Arcana—no boss fight needed here.

Securing this Arcana is essential for accessing the Notre-Dame Cathedral’s hidden path, but remember, you’ll also need a new traversal skill and key item before progressing further.

Step 4: Defeat the Occultist and Obtain the Paintbrush

Location: Library

Enter the Library and tackle a set of puzzles involving bouncing orbs scattered around. These puzzles require solving patterns based on nearby environmental clues.

Successfully completing the puzzle creates a larger bouncing orb, letting Rose reach previously inaccessible platforms leading to the boss.

Use your agility to reach and defeat the Occultist boss.

Defeating the Occultist grants two important rewards:

• Aerial Rush – a traversal skill greatly enhancing your mobility.
• Brauner’s Paintbrush – a key item needed to access Notre-Dame Cathedral’s secret path.

• Aerial Rush – a traversing skill that allows you more freedom when moving around.
• Brauner’s Paintbrush – a vital item for accessing the hidden path in Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Now, with the Artist Arcana, the Paintbrush, and the Artist’s Masterpiece spell, you can unlock and explore the secret route through the cathedral.

Step 5: Obtain the Shadow Arcana from Notre-Dame Cathedral

Location: Notre-Dame Cathedral, Basement

The Shadow Arcana is a linchpin for the true ending, found deep within Notre-Dame Cathedral. Possessing this card ensures you avoid the bad ending when facing Dracula.

Utilize the Paintbrush and cast the Artist’s Masterpiece spell to reveal a hidden room in the cathedral. Then, venture toward the grand organ in the basement.

The organ puzzle revolves around environmental clues and requires inputting the correct keys rather than random attempts. Following these hints unlocks a path to Death.

Defeating Death awards you the Shadow Arcana.

Remember, acquiring the Shadow Arcana only removes the bad ending possibility—it doesn’t grant access to the true ending just yet. You must still gather remaining Arcana and complete further tasks.

With this accomplished, return to the Clock Tower and examine the clock for your next objective.

Step 6: Defeat Isaac and Obtain the Zealot Arcana

Location: Clock Tower

Press onward through the Clock Tower to face the boss Isaac. This battle proves challenging, but defeating him rewards you with the Zealot Arcana.

You can reach Dracula’s Master’s Quarters now for the normal ending if you choose, but remember, the true ending requires gathering six more optional Arcana and completing all preparation steps.

Step 7: Find the Miser Arcana Using the Three Eyeball Relics

Locations: Paris Streets, Holy Cemetery, Catacombs

The Miser Arcana is among the more time-intensive collectibles since it demands tracking down three distinct eyeball relics scattered in hard-to-find places.

This quest unfolds after you obtain Smash from Talos. The fights and platforming challenges involved are tough, so boosting Rose’s health, mana, and combat skills beforehand makes the journey smoother.

Eyeball Relic 1: Paris Streets

Head to the Street of the Two Masons and seek a breakable floor that leads down into an underground hospital beneath the city streets.

Use Smash to access this secret area, then fight your way through enemies until you reach the first eyeball relic.

Eyeball Relic 2: Holy Cemetery

Explore the Pillaged Tombs section of the Holy Cemetery. Locate another fragile floor and descend once again into hidden territory.

A platforming challenge must be completed here, so take your time and look carefully—this area is easy to miss if you stick to obvious paths.

Eyeball Relic 3: Catacombs

The last relic lies in the western portion of the Catacombs, accessible through the Realm of Old Night.

Break through the floor to enter this area and follow the path until reaching a grotesque gate called The Gate of Flesh. This marks the route to the final relic.