Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania DLC – Weapons guide

Return to Castlevania is Dead Cells’ biggest expansion to date, introducing a total of 14 new weapons to the game’s ever-expanding arsenal. While these weapons will certainly bring a nostalgic warmth to long-time fans of the Castlevania series, they’re more than just throwaway throwbacks: some of these new weapons are game-changers, and will be extremely useful in your future runs. With our comprehensive weapons guide, you can get the full lowdown on every new weapon introduced in Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania DLC. Read on to do so.

A guide to the new weapons of Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania DLC

Holy Water

Screenshot by PC Invasion

Unlock: Blueprint dropped by Merman (Castle’s Outskirts)

Scaling: Brutality/Survival

The Holy Water is a Grenade-type Skill, creating a large flame on the ground where it lands. This is great against static enemies, or in combination with stun/freeze effects. It’s also great for creating a temporary ‘barrier’ between you and your foes in a tight space.

Cross

Screenshot by PC Invasion

Unlock: Blueprint dropped by Bone Thrower (Castle’s Outskirts, Dracula’s Castle)

Scaling: Tactics

One of the most powerful new additions in Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania DLC, we’ve already written a full guide on the applications of this holy ranged weapon. In short, it’s extremely powerful in tight quarters or against large enemies and bosses.

Bible

Screenshot by PC Invasion

Unlock: Blueprint dropped by Werewolf (Castle’s Outskirts, Dracula’s Castle)

Scaling: Tactics/Survival

A unique weapon with a slightly unintuitive in-game description, the Bible is a slow, hard-hitting melee weapon that can provide an orbiting Bible around you if you manage to land both hits of its weighty combo on an enemy. These orbiting Bibles deal critical damage, making them very powerful against bosses with lots of health who can take a series of combos without dying.

Throwing Axe

Screenshot by PC Invasion

Unlock: Blueprint dropped by Haunted Armor (Dracula’s Castle)

Scaling: Tactics/Survival

A near-exact replica of its Castlevania inspiration, the Throwing Axe moves in an arc, turning red and dealing critical hits on the way down. It’s excellent against aerial foes, if a bit slow to use.

Whip Sword

Screenshots by PC Invasion

Unlock: Blueprint dropped by Harpy (Castle’s Outskirts, Dracula’s Castle)

Scaling: Brutality

A truly unique new weapon, the Whip Sword can shift between two forms — a sword and a whip — in between two attacks, dealing critical hits for a brief period after doing so. It feels like a Dead Cells version of one of Bloodborne’s famous trick weapons, and will undoubtedly yield great results once players master its unique attack rhythm.

Rebound Stone

Screenshot by PC Invasion

Unlock: Blueprint dropped by Buer (Dracula’s Castle)

Scaling: Survival

The Rebound Stone bounces off walls, picking up speed with each bounce. If you touch it while it’s in motion, it will speed up even more, and start dealing critical hits to enemies. This is a fantastic option in tight corridors full of enemies.

Bat Volley

Screenshot by PC Invasion

Unlock: Blueprint dropped by Vampire Bat (Castle’s Outskirts)

Scaling: Brutality/Tactics

Unleashing a swarm of bats in a slow-moving arc, Bat Volley will start to deal critical hits after passing through at least one enemy. This makes it ideal for taking out a group of enemies on the same platform, as you can safely deploy it from a distance and watch your bat buddies devour them.

Medusa’s Head

Screenshot by PC Invasion

Unlock: Blueprint dropped by Medusa (Dracula’s Castle)

Scaling: Tactics/Survival

A unique take on a Grenade, Medusa’s Head petrifies any enemies it hits as it rolls across the ground, and can be detonated by pressing the ‘use button’ for it again, dealing additional damage in a radius around the head.

Maria’s Cat

Screenshot by PC Invasion

Unlock: Complete the Ribboned Key sidequest (Castle’s Outskirts)

Scaling: Brutality/Survival

A new option for the pet lovers out there, Maria’s Cat is an accurate portrayal of the beloved animal, in that it mostly wanders about doing its own thing. You can call it to your shoulder, however, where it will then proceed to deal critical hits and inflict bleed on nearby enemies.

Alucard’s Sword

Screenshot by PC Invasion

Unlock: Blueprint found in Richter Mode.

Scaling: Brutality/Survival

A mostly standard sword with a fun teleport twist, Alucard’s Sword brings you in close when attacking near an enemy, dealing a critical hit in the process. This makes it an excellent gap-closer, and an interesting evasive option to boot.

Alucard’s Shield

Screenshot by PC Invasion

Unlock: Found in secret room (Castle’s Outskirts)

Scaling: Brutality/Survival

A fairly unique shield in that it can also perform melee attacks, Alucard’s Shield will undoubtedly become a favorite among high-level Dead Cells players, almost all of whom are big shield advocates. After a successful parry, this shield can deliver a critical melee strike, making it great on both offense and defense.

Death’s Scythe

Screenshot by PC Invasion

Unlock: Blueprint dropped by Death (Defiled Necropolis)

Scaling: Survival

A typically slow Survival weapon with a nice combo moveset, Death’s Scythe has the unique ability to enlist the support of the souls of your fallen foes. These ghosts will follow you around, exploding on still-living enemies for substantial critical hits. It’s one of the most powerful and flavorful weapons from the Return to Castlevania DLC.

Vampire Killer

Screenshot by PC Invasion

Unlock: Blueprint dropped by Dracula – Final Form (Master’s Keep)

Scaling: Brutality/Tactics

While whips haven’t fared particularly well in Dead Cells over the years, the iconic Vampire Killer is a happy exception. Dealing critical hits against burning enemies, and setting the ground on fire after killing an enemy, the whip brings pain for any foes who cross your path.

Morning Star

Screenshot by PC Invasion

Unlock: Can be acquired in a run by using the Konami Code.

Scaling: Brutality

Another unique whip-type weapon, the Morning Star lets you hold down the attack button and swing the head of the whip around you in a circle, letting you cover your back in areas with lots of annoying flying enemies. After spinning round for over a second, it also starts to deal critical hits, meaning it can do some serious damage against foes that give you breathing room.

So there you have it: a guide to every new weapon introduced in Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania DLC. There’s a lot here to choose from, some more powerful than others, but they’ll all add some welcome new flavor to your runs.