Castlevania games typically have relatively simple combat. You press a button and a whip, sword, or other weapon usually comes out swinging. It's not usually complex with combos outside of the Lords of Shadow era, with the series typically focused more on exploration than a thrilling set of moves.
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse significantly changes these combat mechanics as Rose has access to seven weapon families, complete with buffs and perks. Each type has four different possible upgrades you can find on your journey, with subsequent weapons recovered from grand chests. To find the best weapons in this metroidvania, you'll occasionally need to think outside the box and find hidden rooms in seemingly unassuming passages.
Each weapon type in Castlevania: Belmont's Curse has four slots, with those further right being more powerful.
All Castlevania: Belmont's Curse weapons
While you start with the humble Longsword, rather than the Vampire Killer whip a Belmont would typically wield to smite Dracula's monstrous army, Rose is proficient with seven different types. Here are all the weapons in the game and their locations:
Sword
The sword is a quick weapon type that will do more damage to enemies if they're hit immediately after a backdash or slide. You can also use the Arcane Whip on enemies with the sword equipped to dash through them when it connects.
Longsword: Paris Streets - Bank of the River Seine (Unlocked at the beginning of the game.)Bastard Sword: Paris Streets - Justice District Sewers (From the area that leads east toward the Main Castle gate, instead turn back left and head toward the Ferryman warp. In this room, you'll need to time your rope swinging to avoid blades and go through Chaos Shards. Lower the bridge to the left and back up the Chaos Shard column to reach the top of the room and the chest.)
Joyeuse: Currently unknown
Valmanway: Currently unknown
Shortsword & Shield
These two weapons bridge attack and defense, with regular presses hitting enemies with the shortsword and holding down the attack button blocking attacks from Rose's front. Hold down the button long enough to charge up a shield-dashing attack. Attacking while using the Arcane Whip will execute a shield bash, swatting away enemies in the air.
Rusted Harpé and Aegis: Holy Innocents' Cemetery - Serpent's Lair (Outside the Medusa boss fight after defeating her)
Fleuret and Tower Shield: Library - Condemned Shelves
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Spear
This long-range weapon has both melee and ranged capabilities. Press the attack button to thrust the spear into the nearest foe. Hold down the button to aim with a reticle showing where it will land, and release it to fling it. The Arcane Whip attack is a pushing attack that makes foes stumble backward.
Lance: Holy Innocents' Cemetery - Fountain of the Innocents (Just after the Fountain, head west and you'll see some ledges leading to the top of a building. The Lance is inside the chest.)Halberd: Clock Tower - Mechanic's Ascent (This one is a little misleading location-wise because technically it's at the end of the Western Maintenance Shaft. We recommend unlocking the elevators in the Clock Tower before attempting this one. Go to the top of the second elevator and start making your way downward from the room to the right. There are plenty of iron fists that can crush you, so slip through and beat the enemy gauntlet at the end. The chest is right at the bottom when you slip through to the next room.)
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Gauntlets
Gauntlets are the fastest weapon type in the game, and every hit Rose dishes out makes them stronger. When grappling with the Arcane Whip, Rose can also launch her victim skyward for a potential aerial combo.
Cestus: Paris Streets - Sewer Reservoir (Head right from the save point in this room and Arcane Whip to the top of the room. When crossing the central column, jump and Whip upward to find a hidden latch point to reach this chest in the room above)Jewel Knuckles: Main Hall - Servant's Hall (This one requires you to pay attention to the Alucard paintings to find the entrance to the Old Gallery. To the right of the save point near the elevator is the Grand Hall. Go to the bottom and to the right. Drop down the hidden ledge next to the first Alucard painting in the Servant's Hall to find a hidden door. This leads to the dungeon, which requires you to reach the top and use the paintings to avoid the spikes. After the enemy gauntlet, you'll unlock two ledges that you can jump down. Go to the one on the right (it has a Lance Knight near it) and head east to the door back to the Servant's Hall, which is where the chest is.)
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Greatsword
This heavy, powerful blade has a slow swinging speed, but you can charge up a stronger blow by holding down the attack button. Using the Arcane Whip with one equipped will execute the Blade Dive, crashing into foes.
Burnt Sword of Fierbois: Paris Streets - Roof of the Tower (After defeating Joan of Arc, you can find this sword nearby)Claymore: Clock Tower - The Way of the Fist (When avoiding the second batch of iron fists heading up to the left, jump on top of the second fist and swing your way to the right. In the next room, slide left and right to avoid the incoming fists, making sure to pass through the Chaos Shards toward the bottom to reach the chest.)
Durandal: Library - Lisa's Laboratory
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Dual Blades
What's better than one sword? How about swiping two at once! You can extend the combo by pressing the attack button immediately after the previous hit connects with an enemy. Using the Arcane Whip with this weapon type makes Rose wildly swing her blades around her, dealing damage to anything in her path.
Pair of Longswords: Catacombs of Paris - Crossroads of the Dead (After finishing the spinning blades puzzle where there is a long Chaos Shard platform, reveal the hidden wall above the door by wall jumping up to the ledge and using Medusa's power. Go through the door to find the chest.)Rapiers: Main Hall - Watch Tower (This one requires a bit of quick moving. Left of the save room in this area, there is a hidden platform in the ceiling. Here you'll see a room full of spikes and portraits that Rose can use her Arcane Whip to enter. You'll need to go up the left side and down the right to open the shortcut. Head back to the left side and attack the newly revealed switch. You now have roughly one minute to make it all the way around the room to the chest on the right. If you hit spikes, attack the lever twice to reset the timer.)
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Whip
This specialist weapon of Vampire hunters does almost double damage when striking enemies at the tip of the whip. If you use the Arcane Whip ability with this weapon type equipped, Rose will dash toward the enemy and smash them with her whip.
Whip: Catacombs of Paris - Hall of the Fallen Angels (Right at the beginning of this area. You can't miss it.)
Thorn Whip: Library - Fine Art Shelves
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This guide is a work in progress, and will be updated whenever we find new weapons. For more guides, check out the Castlevania: Belmont's Curse hub.
