All Game Items
Overview
Cuphead features a variety of weapons, charms, super arts, and collectibles that greatly affect gameplay. Items are purchased from Porkrind's Emporium using coins, obtained from mausoleums, or found in secret areas. This guide covers every item in the base game and the _The Delicious Last Course_ DLC.
Weapons
Weapons are available for purchase at Porkrind's Emporium, except the default Peashooter. You can equip two weapons simultaneously and switch between them with the 'Y' button (or equivalent). Each weapon has a unique attack pattern and can be upgraded with an Ex move (press 'B' with a full card).
| Weapon | Cost (Coins) | Description | Ex Move | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peashooter | Free (default) | Balanced, straight-firing shots with moderate damage and speed. | Peashooter Ex - A powerful straight shot that deals high damage. | All-purpose; great for learning patterns and consistent damage. |
| Spread | 2 | Short-range close-quarters weapon that fires a wide, three-projectile burst. | Spread Ex - A massive cone of shotgun pellets that shreds enemies up close. | Aggressive players; bosses with large hitboxes up close (e.g., Goopy Le Grande, Ribby and Croaks). |
| Chaser | 3 | Fires homing pink bullets that track enemies, dealing low damage. | Chaser Ex - Fires a large homing projectile that does moderate damage. | Reliable damage while focusing on dodging; excellent for parry-less phases. |
| Lobber | 4 | Launches arcing shots that explode on impact or after a short delay. | Lobber Ex - Launches a large bomb that explodes after a moment, damaging a wide area. | Bosses with destructible projectiles or stationary phases (e.g., Hilda Berg, Beppi the Clown). |
| Charge | 5 | Charges up a powerful shot (hold attack) that fires a large, piercing projectile. Release just before full charge for rapid fire. | Charge Ex - Fires an even larger, more powerful piercing shot. | High damage per hit; bosses with small windows (e.g., Djimmi the Great, The Devil). |
| Roundabout | 6 | Fires boomerang-like shots that return after traveling a short distance. | Roundabout Ex - Fires a large boomerang that hits twice. | Crowd control and hitting enemies behind obstacles; good for Run 'n' Gun levels. |
| Converge | 7 (DLC) | Fires a single shot that splits into three smaller projectiles after a short distance. | Converge Ex - Fires a single wide shot that then splits into multiple angled shots. | Mid-range combat; good for covering spread while maintaining some distance. |
| Crackshot | 8 (DLC) | Fires a bullet that explodes into three smaller homing projectiles. | Crackshot Ex - Fires a larger bullet that explodes into many homing fragments. | Excellent for chaotic fights where you need both direct and homing damage. |
| Twist-Up | 9 (DLC) | Fires a corkscrew projectile that travels in a spiral path. | Twist-Up Ex - Fires a large, slow-moving spiral projectile that hits multiple times. | Hitting enemies from tricky angles; good for bosses with moving parts (e.g., Esther Winchester). |
Charms
Charms provide passive bonuses and are equipped in the charm slot. They are purchased from Porkrind's Emporium or found. You can only equip one charm at a time.
| Charm | Cost (Coins) | Effect | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke Bomb | 3 | Allows a dodge roll by pressing dash (shoulder button) + jump. Invincible during roll. | Essential for avoiding multi-hit attacks; best for beginners. |
| Coffee | 3 | Automatically fills one super card every 10 seconds. | Passive super generation; pairs well with Super Arts. |
| Heart | 3 | Grants one extra hit point (HP). Turns your vessel into a more durable form. | For players who need an extra hit of health. |
| Twin Heart | 5 | Grants two extra HP. | Even more survivability; good for bosses with many phases. |
| P. Sugar (Parry Sugar) | 6 | Automatically parries the next parryable object if you jump near it. | Makes parrying easier; useful for bosses with frequent parry opportunities (e.g., The Root Pack, Wally Warbles). |
| Whetstone | 6 | Increases damage of parry attacks by 1.5x. | Boosts damage on successful parries; use with Parry Sugar or good timing. |
| Divine Relic | N/A (Cursed Relic upgrade) | Changes weapon and charm every few seconds randomly. Also gives 2 extra HP. | High variance; very powerful if you can adapt quickly. |
| Ring of the Honorable | 7 (DLC) | After a parry, you become invincible for a short time and gain a damage boost for the next attack. | Great for aggressive play; requires consistent parrying. |
| Chaotic Chaos | 8 (DLC) | Randomizes your weapon each time you attack. | Unpredictable but can be strong; best for experienced players. |
| Broken Relic | Found (DLC) | No effect initially. After completing specific requirements, becomes Divine Relic. | Must be transformed; see "Divine Relic" below. |
| Cursed Relic | Obtained from a DLC Mausoleum | Grants 2 extra HP but slows dash speed and changes weapon every few seconds. | Precursor to Divine Relic; not recommended for normal use. |
| Astral Cookie | 8 (DLC) | Transforms your character into Ms. Chalice, who has a double jump, invincible dash, and unique abilities. | Unlocks a new playstyle; highly recommended for DLC bosses. |
- Smoke Bomb works with any weapon; pairs well with Coffee to build supers while dodging.
- Heart + Twin Heart are straightforward health boosts; use with Coffee to compensate for slower kills.
- P. Sugar + Whetstone can create a parry-focused build that deals extra damage.
- Divine Relic is best used for bragging rights; avoid in serious attempts.
- Astral Cookie essentially gives you a new character with better mobility; stack with Coffee or Parry Sugar for extra benefits.
Super Arts
Super Arts are special moves activated by building up a Super Meter (filling all 5 cards) and pressing a button (default 'B' + direction). They are obtained from Mausoleum levels (parry challenges) in the overworld. Each Super Art costs 0 coins but requires completing the associated parry trial.
| Super Art | Obtained From | Effect | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Art I: Energy Beam | Mausoleum on Inkwell Isle I. | Fires a massive beam that deals huge damage in a straight line. | High single-target damage; aim carefully during boss openings. |
| Super Art II: Invincibility | Mausoleum on Inkwell Isle II. | Grants brief invincibility upon activation. | Emergency dodge; can cancel some attacks. |
| Super Art III: Giant Ghost | Mausoleum on Inkwell Isle III. | Summons a large ghost that sweeps across the screen, damaging all enemies. | Crowd control and stage-clearing; useful in Run 'n' Gun sections. |
| Chaotic Chaos Super (DLC) | Not a super art but a charm; see Charms. | N/A | N/A |
- Energy Beam is the most reliable for boss damage.
- Invincibility helps avoid certain kill moves (e.g., King Dice's final hand).
- Giant Ghost is less useful but fun for crowd clearing.
Currencies
| Currency | How to Obtain | Used For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coins | Found hidden in Run 'n' Gun levels, in overworld (dig spots), and from certain secret areas. | Purchasing weapons, charms, and items from Porkrind's Emporium. | Total of 120 coins exist in the base game (including secret ones). |
| Gold Coins (DLC) | Found in DLC overworld (secret areas) and some Run 'n' Gun levels. | Purchasing DLC weapons and charms from Saltbaker's Bakery (or Porkrind's with DLC stock). | There are 16 gold coins in the DLC. |
| Soul Contracts | Earned by defeating each boss. | Track progress; required to unlock the final boss (The Devil). | Displayed on the map; not a spendable currency. |
| Parry Points | Accumulated by parrying pink objects. | Used to unlock Super Arts in Mausoleums (each mausoleum requires a certain number of parries). | Also used for DLC Mausoleum challenges. |
Collectibles & Key Items
| Item | Type | How to Obtain | Effect / Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broken Relic | Key Item (DLC) | Found in a hidden chest on Inkwell Isle IV. | Must be taken to the mausoleum to become the Cursed Relic. |
| Cursed Relic | Charm (DLC) | Completing a DLC Mausoleum challenge while holding Broken Relic. | Grants 2 HP but randomizes weapon and slows dash. Can be further upgraded to Divine Relic after specific requirements (equip Cursed Relic and parry 8 times per boss, 8 bosses total). |
| Divine Relic | Charm (DLC) | Automatic upgrade from Cursed Relic after fulfilling conditions. | Randomizes weapon and charm every few seconds; grants 2 extra HP. Highly powerful but unpredictable. |
| Astral Cookie | Charm (DLC) | Purchased from Saltbaker's Bakery for 8 gold coins (or 8 regular coins? Actually 8 gold coins). | Allows you to play as Ms. Chalice, with double jump, invincible dash, and unique Ex moves. |
| Chalice (playable character) | Character unlock | After obtaining Astral Cookie, you can equip it as a charm to transform. | Not an item per se, but a transformation that changes your moveset. |
| Secret Coins | Collectible | Hidden in hard-to-reach places in Run 'n' Gun levels, or breakable objects. | Gives additional coins for purchasing items. |
| Soul Contracts | Collectible | Awarded for completing each boss fight. | Tracked on the map; no in-game use besides unlocking the final boss once all are collected (except The Devil's contract). |
Summary of Best Loadouts
For most players, the following loadout works well through the base game:
- Weapon 1: Chaser (for reliability)
- Weapon 2: Spread (for close burst damage)
- Charm: Smoke Bomb (dodge roll)
- Super Art: Energy Beam
For DLC, equip Astral Cookie to play as Ms. Chalice and pair it with Coffee for frequent supers. Weapons like Crackshot and Converge offer great versatility. Adjust based on boss patterns and your playstyle.