How to unlock Alucard’s Shield and Outfit in Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania DLC

Alucard has a strong claim to the title of “most iconic Castlevania protagonist” for his role in the seminal Symphony of the Night alone, not to mention his numerous appearances and cameos in other games. Never one to miss a chance to develop his profile, Alucard takes on a starring role in the Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania DLC, where he serves as a guide for the player. In addition to the vampire himself, you can also find Alucard’s Shield and Outfit in Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania DLC, provided you know how to unlock them.

This guide will teach you how to do just that. So if you’re ready to style yourself after Castlevania’s crown prince of angst, read on to find out how.

Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania DLC – Steps to unlock Alucard’s Shield and Outfit

How to unlock Alucard’s Shield

Alucard’s Shield can be found in the first biome of the DLC, the Castle’s Outskirts. Check out our guide for full instructions on how to access the DLC and reach this biome. Once you’re here, you’ll need to make your way to the end of the first horizontal section of the level, where you’ll find an elevator that doesn’t work. Past here, to the right, you’ll find a large coffin, within which lies Alucard himself.

Chat to Alucard to get some humorous exposition, as well as instructions for the early stages of your DLC quest. Once you’ve exhausted his dialogue, the elevator will be activated and you can proceed with the level. Before you move on, however, make your way to the far right of his chamber to find a subtly concealed gap that you can roll through.

Do so, and you’ll find yourself in a secret back room of sorts, with Alucard’s Shield hanging on the wall. Interact with the Shield to “Borrow” it, and it will fall to the floor, letting you pick it up and acquire it as a weapon, thus unlocking it for use in all future runs. It’s unique among the Shields in Dead Cells in that it can perform melee attacks, with said attacks landing as critical hits if they follow up a parry.

How to unlock Alucard’s Outfit

Alucard’s Outfit can be found much later on in the DLC, in the Master’s Keep biome. This is a tricky area to reach, so check out our guide on how to do so if you’re struggling. Once you’ve climbed the stairs at the start of the area, you’ll find Alucard and Richter hanging out in front of the door to the Dracula boss room, doling out creative excuses as to why they can’t help you in the battle to come.

You can chat with both of them. If you exhaust all of Alucard’s dialogue, he will drop the Blueprint for the Alucard Outfit. After your run is complete, ideally after a decisive victory over Dracula, you can unlock the Outfit for 100 Cells by speaking to the Collector in between biomes.

And with that, our guide on how to unlock Alucard’s Shield and Outfit in Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania DLC is over. You now have all the tools necessary to build the vampire cosplay of your dreams.