Surface Route: Level 5A – Curse Tower

BLK 5-0A: Start by whipping candles for Hearts. Defeat the first Dragon Bones by jumping and whipping between its triple fireball volleys. Grab the Dagger from the candle above it, then more Hearts. Carefully cross the next pit, defeating another Dragon Bones while avoiding knockback onto spiked rotating floors. Head up the stairs.

In the next area, immediately whip left to destroy the incoming Flying Gargoyle. Ascend the staircases, dealing with regenerating Flying Gargoyles from both sides. Collect Hearts and Money Bags from candles if needed, but prioritize avoiding attacks.

Continue up staircases, jumping to ledges on the right. Collect a Dagger from a candle at the top of the second staircase. Ascend another shorter staircase, watching for Flying Gargoyles from the right.

At the top, turn left and defeat Flying Gargoyles. Jump across ledges, mid-air whipping to destroy them before landing. Whip the candle for a large Heart and proceed up the next staircase.

Enter the next area and defeat the Axe Knight Guard on the immediate left ledge. Avoid its thrown axes. Collect a large Heart from the candle on the right. Jump to the furthest left ledge, climb the stairs, and whip candles for Hearts. Collect a Money Bag from the last candle and reach the exit door.

BLK 5-0B: Avoid the Fuzz Busters (indestructible sparks) by timing your movements. Collect Hearts from candles. Ascend the first staircase on the right, ensuring the Fuzz Buster on the upper-left is clear. Go up, then left and up the next staircase.

Jump to the right ledge, defeat the Knight. Take the stairs up, defeat another Knight. The screen will begin to scroll down; move upwards quickly to avoid being caught at the bottom.

Go right, jump a gap, and ascend stairs, defeating the Knight at the top. If quick, whip the candle above the left wall ledge for a large Heart. Jump to the middle ledge, ascend stairs. Walk to the edge of the top steps and jump left to the next floating ledge. If time permits, whip the candle above for a Money Bag.

Jump to the left ledge, ascend stairs, defeat the Knight. Whip the candle above the left ledges for a Money Bag. Leap from the lower ledge to the right ledge, ascend stairs. Defeat another Knight, go left, up another staircase, and defeat another Knight. The screen stops auto-scrolling. Collect Hearts from candles (large on the left, small on the right). Take the right staircase up to a new screen.

In the new area, watch for Flying Gargoyles from the left. Ascend the right staircase to the upper ledge. Collect goodies from candles while heading left. Be cautious of Flying Gargoyles; being knocked back onto blue trap door segments causes them to swivel and drop you. The furthest left trap door leads to an instant death pit. Carefully cross the last trap door, avoiding Flying Gargoyles, and reach the exit door.

BLK 5-0C: Collect Hearts from the first two candles. Jump to the left stone ledge and collect another Heart from the next candle.