Cheats & Secrets
Cheats & Secrets in Dead Cells
Dead Cells does not include traditional cheat codes, console commands, or unlock codes. However, the game is rich with developer-intended secrets, Easter eggs, hidden content, and a built-in Custom Mode that effectively acts as a suite of togglable cheats. This guide documents all legitimate hidden content, including secret rooms, Easter egg weapons, references, and hidden game modes.
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1. Important Note on Cheats
- No cheat codes or console commands exist in Dead Cells on any official platform (PC, consoles, mobile).
- Trainers and mods are available on PC (Steam Workshop, Nexus Mods) but are unauthorized and may break game updates or online features. Use at your own risk.
- Custom Mode (unlocked after collecting at least one Boss Cell) is the official way to enable gameplay modifications like infinite ammo, no cooldowns, health, and more — essentially built-in cheats.
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2. Custom Mode: The Built-In Cheat System
Unlocked by obtaining at least one Boss Cell from the Hand of the King. Once unlocked, access it from the main menu before starting a run.
How to use:
1. From the main menu, select Custom Mode.
2. You can toggle over 50 different modifiers, including:
- Infinite Ammo
- No Cooldowns
- Starting Weapons (choose any blueprint you've unlocked)
- No Damage from Enemies (immortality)
- Random Starter Loadout
- Super Fast Movement
- Disable Cursed Chests
3. You can combine modifiers to create custom difficulty or easy runs.
4. Trophies/achievements are disabled if any modifier is active (except cosmetic ones).
Note: Custom Mode is fully legitimate and intended by the developers.
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3. Secret Rooms & Hidden Areas
Many biomes contain hidden rooms accessible by breakable walls, delayed doors, or secret passages. Some notable examples:
| Secret Location | Biome | How to Find | Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Vault | Any biome (post-1st Boss) | After defeating a boss, open the map and look for a Golden Outlined Door. Enter to reach the Bank. | Gold, weapons, legendary items, and the Midas' Sword blueprint if you reach the end. |
| Specialist's Showroom | Promenade of the Condemned | Break a wall near the beginning (requires a Ram Rune or Spiked Boots). | The Assault Shield blueprint and a lore room. |
| Lore Room (Sewers) | Toxic Sewers | After the first wall jump, drop down behind a false wall. | Lore documents and a blueprint for Cluster Grenade. |
| Ossuary Secret | Ossuary | After the first large elevator, go left and break the floor with a ground pound (Spider Rune). | A Scorpion blueprint. |
| Sepulcher Hidden Path | Sepulcher | At the end of a long corridor with torches, roll through a false wall on the right. | Leads to a Cursed Chest and the Explosive Crossbow blueprint. |
| Stilt Village Basement | Stilt Village | Near the first locked door, break the floor with a ground pound. | Contains a Elite Monster and a Blueprint for the Tornado skill. |
- Listen for audible cues (chimes, rattles) near secret walls.
- Use the Spider Rune and Ram Rune to reach high or break floors.
- Map features like ??? icons indicate unexplored rooms.
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4. Easter Egg Weapons & Items
These items are references to other games, memes, or developer jokes. Many are unlocked via secret blueprints.
| Item Name | Type | Easter Egg / Reference | How to Unlock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mushroom Boi | Pet Skill | Reference to the "Mushroom" meme. When killed, it explodes with a comedic scream. | Find in the Prison Depths (secret room behind a breakable wall near the end). |
| Baseball Bat | Melee Weapon | Based on the game Baseball and the meme "bonk." | Random drop from Sweater Crows (rare). |
| Crowbar | Melee Weapon | Half-Life reference (valve crowbar). | Blueprint found in Repository (near the start, right side secret wall). |
| Balanced Blade | Melee Weapon | Dark Souls reference (Balder Side Sword). | Random drop from Cleaver enemies (Graveyard). |
| Spite Sword | Melee Weapon | Devil May Cry reference (Rebellion). | Blueprint from Spiteful Guardians (Promenade). |
| Valmont's Fan | Ranged Weapon | Reference to a French actor (Jean-Claude Valmont) from The Rocketeer? Actually references a fan-made weapon. | Drop from Concierge (first boss) after using a Hunter's Grenade on him. |
| Flint | Melee Weapon | Minecraft flint reference. | Blueprint from Rampager enemies (Ramparts). |
| Eraser | Melee Weapon | Joke weapon that literally erases enemies. | Blueprint in Ossuary (secret room after the timed door). |
| Burger | Melee Weapon | Fast food Easter egg. | Blueprint from Slammers enemies (Fractured Shrines). |
| Thunder Shield | Shield | Zelda mirror shield reference. | Blueprint from Juggernaut enemies (Cavern). |
| Alienation Mutations | Mutation | Alien movie reference (facehugger symbols). | Complete Alienation biome (secret challenge). |
5. Developer References & Hidden Messages
- The Beheaded's Head can be thrown into specific slots in the Clock Room to unlock a special lore message.
- In the Castlevania DLC, there is a room with a breakable wall that reveals a pixel art of Simon Belmont.
- The Everyone is Here update added a room with portraits of all previous indie game crossovers (Guacamelee, etc.).
- Breaking all Vases in the opening room of the Prisoners' Quarters spawns a Cursed Chest with a note: "You broke everything. Congratulations."
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6. Hidden Game Modes & Unlockables
| Mode | Unlock Condition | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Boss Rush | Defeat the final boss (Hand of the King) at least once. | Available from the main menu. Fight a gauntlet of bosses back-to-back. |
| Practice Mode | Defeat any boss at least once. | A statue of that boss appears in the Prisoners' Quarters; interact to practice. |
| True Ending | Collect 5 Boss Cells and defeat the Giant and Hand of the King. | Unlocks the Astrolab and the true final boss: The Collector. |
| Aspects | Obtain at least one Boss Cell. | Choose a powerful passive ability before a run, but it disables achievements and progress. |
7. Community-Discovered Secrets
- Alienation Mutation: In the Erudite Chamber (biome), there is a secret pathway that requires all three Runes. Follow it to a room with a puzzle that unlocks the Alienation mutation.
- Cursed Chest Exploit: If you open a Cursed Chest with the Assist Mode (accessibility) enabled, the curse counter may not display correctly. This is a bug, not an intended secret.
- The Giant's Grave: In the Guardian's Haven (biome), interact with the giant's hand 10 times to trigger a secret cutscene referencing Castle Crashers.
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8. Conclusion
Dead Cells rewards exploration and curiosity. While there are no simple cheat codes, the game's Custom Mode offers near-complete control over difficulty, and the multitude of hidden rooms, Easter eggs, and references provide endless discoveries. Good luck, and remember: sometimes the best secret is the one you find by breaking every wall.