Castlevania: Belmont's Curse opens in the beleaguered streets and sewers of Paris, overrun by the undead. Rose Belmont arrives to face this threat, accompanied by her father, Trevor. However, this quest is Rose's to undertake, and she must learn to navigate the treacherous city on her own.
This initial region serves as an excellent introduction to Rose's abilities and the game's core mechanics. This walkthrough will guide you through the sewers, detail how to defeat the Fallen, acquire the Arcane Whip, and ascend the Prison Tower, while highlighting all significant items and discoveries to help you achieve 100% completion.
Entering the Sewers
Your journey begins at the Bank of the River Seine. Familiarize yourself with Rose's starting weapon, the Longsword, and her first Arcana, the Cursed Flame. Arcanas can be upgraded through 'Works of Mercy,' which function as in-game achievements. For the Cursed Flame, hitting 20 enemies with the spell unlocks a Blessing that enhances its fireball's size and knockback effect. Always check the Arcana menu for potential upgrades.
As you progress, a tutorial will introduce the game's map and marking system. Remember to break all light sources, such as candles and lanterns, as is tradition in Castlevania games, to collect experience, mana, and occasional items. Your first major sub-area, the Sewers, is accessible through the first doorway.
Finding the First Mirror of Life
Proceed east into the Sewers. Here you'll encounter your first enemies, the respawning Zombies, which are perfect for progressing the Cursed Flame's Work of Mercy. You will also learn Rose's essential movement abilities: wall jump, slide, and back-dash.
Watch out for Skeleton Archers, and utilize Rose's Potions for healing. You start with three Potions, each providing two heals. Enemies and environmental objects can drop additional Potions, and the carry limit can be adjusted in the gameplay settings. After reaching a dead end, wall jump to a lever to open a gate, leading you into the Undercity.
In the Undercity, you'll find Anchors that you cannot use yet. Proceed to the Ruined Market, where Skeleton Archers and Soldiers await. A Blue DEF UP Book is visible but currently unreachable. Before moving on, break the glowing Virgin Mary Statue for extra experience. Interacting with a Spirit near a gate will provide a Clue entitled 'A Lever for the Well,' hinting at a monster nearby and a hidden lever. Drop into the barrel-filled area below the Spirit and attack the left wall to find a hidden area containing the lever. Activating it opens a grate, leading you down to the Central Sewer Drain.
At the bottom of the drain, a blocked door lies to the left. To the right, you'll find another Virgin Mary Statue and a path leading to your first Mirror of Life, a save room where you can restore health, mana, and Potions. Enemies will respawn after using a Mirror of Life.
Discovering a Clue About the Fallen
From the Mirror of Life, proceed east into the Sewer Reservoir. A barrier blocks the path forward, but by dropping down and re-emerging on the opposite side, you can activate a lever to raise it, creating a shortcut. A red book is also visible but inaccessible for now.
Continue right to the Path of the Rat, encountering more enemies and another out-of-reach Virgin Mary Statue. In the next room, a stairwell filled with Bats leads to a boss door. Before speaking to the Spirit outside the boss room, break the wall to its left to find a hidden Wall Chicken for healing. The Spirit will then provide the 'A Monster Terrorizes Paris' Clue, revealing that the boss's cross attack can be shattered. Prepare to face The Fallen.
Defeating The Fallen
To defeat The Fallen, prioritize shattering his Holy Cross with your sword as soon as it appears. His main attack combo involves a swipe from each arm followed by a two-handed slam; dash through him and attack from behind to avoid these. When he uses his whip to swing from an Anchor, crouch or slide to the arena edges. If he attempts to grab you with his whip, dash away immediately.
Upon defeating The Fallen, Rose absorbs his soul, unlocking the Holy Cross Arcana, which allows her to throw a returning cross. You will also receive The Fallen's Key, one of three gems needed for the Catacombs Gate.
Acquiring the Arcane Whip
Exiting The Fallen's room to the right leads to the Abandoned Sewers and Rose's new ability: the Arcane Whip. This allows her to latch onto Anchors, providing increased mobility and the ability to reach higher platforms. You can also use the whip to hook onto enemies, pulling Rose closer and potentially setting up combos. Attacking immediately after latching the whip onto a foe can trigger a weapon-specific ability; for the Longsword, this is a dash through the enemy.
Continue exploring, and be mindful of the difference between regular yellow Anchors (for swinging) and purple Sharpened Anchors (which pull you towards them). You'll encounter Chaos Shards that cannot be broken until you obtain Holy Light later. Ascend using Sharpened Anchors to reach a room with spikes and a Virgin Mary Statue, eventually returning to the upper level of the Path of the Rat stairwell.
Backtracking for Items and the Cestus
Before proceeding to the surface, backtrack using the Arcane Whip to reach previously inaccessible areas. Return to the Path of the Rat, go west, and use Anchors to retrieve a Virgin Mary Statue. Continue west to the Sewer Reservoir to collect a Red ATK UP Book. Another Virgin Mary Statue is accessible via an Anchor near the Sewer Reservoir's Mirror of Life exit.
Within the Sewer Reservoir, stand before the large background staircase and use the Arcane Whip vertically. This reveals a hidden Sharpened Anchor leading to a room containing the Cestus, a pair of gauntlets that increase in power with successive hits. Defeat the enemies that appear after acquiring the Cestus.
Navigating the Court of Miracles
Return to the Path of the Rat stairwell and head upwards to the Court of Miracles. A blocked door is to the left, but proceed right, swinging across gaps and using enemies to reach a Virgin Mary Statue. Continue to the Bridge of the Millers, where a lever controls a large waterwheel. Use the waterwheel to reach platforms and a lever on the other side, which opens a path blocked by a Virgin Mary Statue that is difficult to reach currently.
Ride the waterwheel up for a view of burning Paris and a cutscene, after which a drawbridge blocks further progress. A Mirror of Life save room is accessible to the left. From the drawbridge, turn left to reach another section of Paris.
The Warrior's Clue and the Crypt Key
In the Burned District, a Spirit provides the 'The Warrior is at the Top of the Tower' Clue. Continue west into Seer's Hovel, a dark area with dripping acid. Wall jump to the upper level, avoid spikes, and use a Sharpened Anchor to reach a chest containing the Crypt Key Relic. This Relic fully restores Rose's health and mana upon opening any chest.
Creating Shortcuts to the Sewers
Back outside, whip up to Anchors and clear a path to a breakable wall. Drop down to find a Virgin Mary Statue and clear debris blocking a door. Continue west, dealing with fire hazards and another Virgin Mary Statue. Further on, a gibbet cage contains a Red Skeleton.
In the Prison Tower, slide down a drawbridge to the bottom-right section. Activate a ceiling lever to open a barrier, creating a shortcut. Exits lead right, back to the Court of Miracles, and downwards. The downward path leads back to the Sewer Reservoir, near where you found the Cestus. Further exploration left reveals a statue you cannot yet access.
Continue left to the Sewer Entrance and activate a lever to lower a drawbridge. Exiting left leads to the Central Sewer Drain, where another lever lowers another drawbridge, granting access to previously inaccessible paths. Navigate a challenging platforming sequence involving saw blades and spike pits to reach a chest containing the Twilight Gem Relic, which increases damage for three seconds after using an Arcana.
Return to the Sewer Entrance and use Anchors to reach the exit above, leading to a crossroads. Head right towards the Prison Tower. On the other side, lower another drawbridge, slide down to smash a Virgin Mary Statue, and access a hidden room leading back to the Sewer Reservoir to break another statue.
Proceed upwards in the Prison Tower and cross the lowered drawbridge to reach its central shaft. Activate a lever to raise drawbridges on both sides of the tower, creating shortcuts. Navigate the Guard Level, dealing with pendulum blades and enemies, using Anchors and wall jumps. A hidden Virgin Mary Statue is guarded by a Hunched Skeleton.
Continue upwards, passing more enemies and a Wall Chicken. On the exterior, a lever raises drawbridges. Go left, swing across an Anchor, and proceed through the Guard Storehouse, where another Red Skeleton is present. A lever moves a drawbridge, creating an Anchor to swing back to the central tower. You'll see inaccessible areas marked by blocked doors and distant glowing spots.
Swing upwards to find a Red ATK UP Book, accessible after a fight against Biphrons and Harpies. From here, swing back to the central tower, break a Virgin Mary Statue, and enter the Torture Level.
In the Torture Level, navigate past pendulum blades and enemies, wall jumping up a shaft. A blue cage containing a Wise Heart Fragment is visible but inaccessible for now. Continue west, navigating a complex platforming sequence involving Chaos Shards, Anchors, and wall jumps to reach the Obsidian Fang Relic, which increases damage after breaking an enemy's guard.
Return to the Prison Tower exterior. Unblock a nearby door, use a lever to open a barrier, and proceed through a room leading to a Mirror of Life save room. Exit the save room and take the upper route into the Prison Tower proper. Fight Biphrons and Harpies, then use Anchors to ascend. Clear wreckage from a blocked door for a future shortcut, and defeat more Biphrons before proceeding to the Upper Tower.
In the Upper Tower, defeat a Biphron and activate a lever to raise a drawbridge. Swing across to another Anchor and lever, then use Sharpened Anchors and wall jumps to ascend. Find a Blue DEF UP Book hidden behind a breakable wall marked by a mouse. Speak to a Spirit to obtain the Carpenter's Crane Sketch, hinting at a hidden crane mechanism.
Drop down and use Anchors to reach a Virgin Mary Statue. Observe pulleys and wheels connected to a Lift, but a ceiling barrier prevents access. To find the Lift's activation mechanism, exit to the Prison Tower exterior, use Anchors to ascend the tower's side, and swing right to a platform. Use a weighted Anchor here to reveal the Lift. Ride the Lift back to the Upper Tower, unblock the nearby door, and activate the lever to open the barrier. Enter the door above.
Defeating Joan of Arc
On the Roof of the Tower, proceed west to the boss room. After a cutscene, you'll face Joan of Arc. To defeat her, dash through her attacks and strike from behind. Equip the Cestus for reliable damage when her back is turned. Be wary of her jumping slam, which creates fire waves, and the falling fireballs that form pillars of flame. Avoid these by positioning yourself between them. Anchors in the arena can be used for mobility but are temporarily disabled after use.
Upon defeating Joan, Rose absorbs her soul, gaining the Infernal Pyre Arcana, which creates damaging flames on the ground. You'll also receive The Warrior's Key, the second gem needed for the Catacombs, and Joan's weapon, the Burnt Sword of Fierbois.
Using Holy Light
Exit the boss arena to the right. Descend to the Stairs to the Tower Roof, where Chaos Shards block your path. Joan blesses Rose with Holy Light, which creates a halo, dispels Chaos Shards, and functions as the game's parry mechanic. Use Holy Light to break Chaos Shards and navigate spike-lined shafts. A Red ATK UP Book can be found by sliding through a crack.
Activate a lever to access the Torture Level again. Use Holy Light to pass through Chaos Shard walls and reach the Wise Heart Fragment. Continue descending; Holy Light makes traversing the tower faster. In the Guard Level, use Holy Light to slide through a Chaos Shard gap and engage in another challenging platforming sequence involving Anchors, wall jumps, and Chaos Shards to reach the Obsidian Fang Relic.
Collecting Remaining Prison Tower Items
Return to the Prison Tower's right side. Slide down a wall near the Mirror of Life to reach a spike-lined room. Use Anchors to retrieve the Brave Heart Fragment. Head to the western Burned District below the Mirror of Life. Use Holy Light to remove Chaos Shards, then defeat an enemy gauntlet to reach a chest containing the Shadow Veil Relic, which boosts defense at low health.
Return to the crossroads and proceed west through the Sewers to the Undercity. Use Holy Light to pass through Chaos Shard walls and reach a Brave Heart Fragment. You can return to the Ruined Market to collect a Blue DEF UP Book using the Arcane Whip on bats for propulsion. From the Undercity, proceed to the Mirror of Life save room, then head west to the Street of the Tomb Masons.
Smash Virgin Mary Statues, then wall jump to the upper level. Use an Anchor to find a hidden Virgin Mary Statue. To the right, navigate to the Morgue to find a Blue DEF UP Book, then exit to the Street of the Tomb Masons. Continue west past an angel statue. Defeat a Giant Skeleton to enter the Holy Innocents' Cemetery.
This concludes the first part of the walkthrough. For the next section, covering the Holy Innocents' Cemetery and the Catacombs, please refer to Part 2 of our Castlevania: Belmont's Curse walkthrough.