Post-Game Content & New Game+

Congratulations, Belmont! Defeating the Lord of Shadows is a monumental achievement, but your journey through Castlevania is far from over. Lords of Shadow offers a robust post-game experience, including a challenging New Game+ mode and opportunities to fully complete your collection of relics and upgrades. This section will guide you through maximizing your post-victory gameplay.

New Game+ Explained

Upon completing the main story, you'll unlock New Game+. This allows you to restart the game from the beginning while retaining most of your progress from your previous playthrough. Here's what carries over and what resets:

• Retained Progress:
  • All acquired combat skills and abilities.
  • All collected upgrades (Life Gems, Light Gems, Shadow Gems).
  • All purchased relics and items (Holy Water, Daggers, Fairy Dust, etc.).
  • Experience points and current level.
• Reset Progress:
  • Story progression and mission completion.
  • Map exploration and discovered areas.
  • Puzzle solutions and environmental interactions.
  • Enemy encounters and boss fights.

New Game+ is an excellent opportunity to tackle the game on higher difficulties, complete any missed challenges, or simply re-experience the epic narrative with your fully powered-up Gabriel Belmont.

Completionist's Checklist

For those aiming for 100% completion, the post-game is the perfect time to tie up any loose ends. Here’s a detailed guide to finding every last secret:

1. Maxing Out Health and Magic

Your primary goal should be to collect all 30 Life Gems, 30 Light Gems, and 30 Shadow Gems. Each set of five grants a permanent increase to your respective meters. Many of these are hidden in less-traveled paths or behind environmental puzzles you might have bypassed during your initial playthrough.

• Life Gems: Often found in hidden alcoves, behind destructible walls, or as rewards for completing specific trials. Revisit areas like the Wygol Village or the Titan Graveyard with a keen eye.
• Light Gems: Frequently located after solving complex environmental puzzles or defeating mini-bosses. The Dark Cathedral and Agharta chapters are rich with these.
• Shadow Gems: Typically found in areas requiring advanced platforming or the use of specific relics to access. The Bones Forest and Castle Siege chapters are good places to start your hunt.

Strategy: Utilize your map frequently. Areas with undiscovered secrets will often have unrevealed sections or markers. Don't hesitate to use the Shoulder Charge ability on suspicious walls, as many secrets are hidden behind them.

2. Acquiring All Relics and Upgrades

Ensure you have purchased every upgrade for your Holy Water, Daggers, and Fairy Dust from the Brotherhood Arks. Some upgrades significantly enhance their utility, making future playthroughs or challenge runs much easier.

• Holy Water Upgrades: Focus on increasing area of effect and damage. The Greater Holy Water and Holy Water Cascade are invaluable.
• Dagger Upgrades: Prioritize increased projectile count and homing capabilities. The Returning Daggers and Explosive Daggers can turn the tide in tough fights.
• Fairy Dust Upgrades: Enhance duration and enemy paralysis. The Extended Fairy Dust and Paralyzing Fairy Dust are crucial for crowd control.

Location: Brotherhood Arks are scattered throughout the game. If you've missed any, consult your map for their locations. They are typically found in safe zones or before major boss encounters.

3. Completing Trials and Challenges

Each chapter features a specific trial that often requires a unique approach or mastery of certain combat mechanics. Completing these trials unlocks concept art and other bonuses.

• Trial Examples:
  • Chapter I, Stage 2 (Besieged Village): "Complete the level without using any magic." This requires careful management of your combat and evasion.
  • Chapter VIII, Stage 1 (Castle Hall): "Defeat all enemies without taking damage." This is a true test of your parrying and dodging skills.

Strategy: Review the trial objectives before entering a stage. Some trials are easier to achieve on lower difficulties, while others might require specific relic usage. Don't be afraid to experiment with different combat styles.

4. Unlocking All Bestiary Entries and Scrolls

The Bestiary provides valuable lore and combat tips for every enemy in the game. Ensure you've encountered and defeated every creature type. Scrolls, often found in hidden areas or dropped by specific enemies, offer deeper insights into the world of Lords of Shadow.

• Bestiary: Simply defeating each unique enemy type will unlock their entry. If you're missing any, revisit chapters known for specific enemy types (e.g., Lycanthropes in the early chapters, Vampires in later castle stages).
• Scrolls: These are often tucked away in obscure corners. Pay close attention to glowing spots or areas that seem unusually quiet. The Library in the Castle chapters is a prime location for many scrolls.

5. Stealth Mission Mastery

Some sections of the game involve stealth mechanics, which can be challenging. Post-game is an excellent time to refine your approach to these segments.

• Acolyte Stealth (e.g., Chapter X, Stage 1): When encountering multiple guards, utilize your Bat Swarm to distract one, drawing another to investigate. Then, use Mist Form to slip past the remaining guard or reposition yourself. Remember, Mist Form has limited duration, so plan your movements carefully.
• Agreus Encounter (e.g., Chapter IX, Stage 2): This stealth section requires precise timing. Instead of attempting to cross large sections in one go, use Mist Form to traverse smaller, safe distances, allowing your magic to regenerate. If Agreus spots you, use Mist Form to become intangible as he charges, then quickly move to a safe spot. Don't forget your Daggers can be used to hit bells, drawing his attention away from your intended path. Once you activate the mechanism to open the door, it stays open, so even if you get caught, you won't have to re-do the entire sequence.

General Stealth Tip: Patience is key. Observe enemy patrol patterns and identify safe zones before committing to a move. Your Shadow Magic can often provide crucial distractions or temporary invulnerability.

By diligently following these steps, you'll not only achieve 100% completion but also gain a deeper appreciation for the intricate world and challenging combat of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow. Good luck, Belmont!