Boss: Death (True Ending)
To face Death and achieve the true ending, you must first ensure you have rescued Wind and completed all of his quests. This unlocks the ability to break the magical barriers preventing access to the deeper parts of the castle. Death is a formidable foe, requiring precise movement and well-timed attacks. Prepare thoroughly before entering his chamber.
Recommended Setup
- Characters: Jonathan and Charlotte. You'll be switching between them frequently.
- Weapon (Jonathan): The Vampire Killer whip is ideal due to its reach and damage. If you've been diligently upgrading it, even better.
- Sub-Weapon (Jonathan): Cross for its wide area of effect and ability to hit Death's scythes. Axe can also work for direct damage.
- Spells (Charlotte):
- Summon Skeleton or Summon Ghost for consistent, passive damage.
- Heal (fully mastered) is crucial for emergency recovery.
- Acidic Bubbles or Energy Flow for offensive spells.
- Armor: Equip your best defensive gear. Look for items like the Death's Robe (if you've found it) or other high DEF/MND equipment.
- Accessories: Miser Ring (if you have two) for increased damage, or Master Ring for faster spell/sub-weapon mastery. Super Potion or High Potion in your inventory are a must.
Phase 1: Scythe Barrage
Death begins by floating around the arena, summoning various scythes. Your primary goal here is to dodge and chip away at his health.
- Attack Pattern:
- Sickle Toss: Death will throw a single, large sickle that travels across the screen. This is easily dodged by jumping over it.
- Scythe Swirl: He'll summon multiple smaller scythes that swirl around him before fanning out. Stay at a medium distance and be ready to jump or duck.
- Homing Scythes: Occasionally, he'll summon several scythes that home in on your position. Keep moving and use a well-timed jump-kick or slide to avoid them.
- Strategy:
- Jonathan: Use the Vampire Killer to hit Death whenever he's within range. Focus on dodging the scythes. Use Cross if you can catch multiple scythes or Death himself in its path.
- Charlotte: Switch to Charlotte when Death is high up or out of Jonathan's immediate reach. Cast Summon Skeleton or Summon Ghost to maintain damage. Use Acidic Bubbles for direct hits if you have an opening.
- Dual Crush: Save your Dual Crushes for Phase 2, unless you're struggling to deal damage.
Phase 2: Giant Scythe and Skull Rain
Once you've dealt enough damage, Death will transform, growing larger and wielding an enormous scythe. This phase is more aggressive and requires constant movement.
- Attack Pattern:
- Giant Scythe Swipe: Death will sweep his massive scythe across the entire floor. You MUST jump and use a Double Jump or a high-reaching attack (like Jonathan's Uppercut) to stay airborne and avoid it.
- Skull Rain: He'll summon a torrent of skulls that fall from the top of the screen. These can be destroyed, but it's often better to focus on dodging and attacking Death.
- Scythe Slam: Death will sometimes slam his scythe down, creating a shockwave along the ground. Jump over this.
- Strategy:
- Jonathan: This is where Jonathan shines. When Death performs the Giant Scythe Swipe, jump and use Jonathan's Martial Arts attacks (like the Uppercut) to hit Death's head. The Vampire Killer is still effective when he's lower.
- Charlotte: Switch to Charlotte immediately after dodging a Giant Scythe Swipe if you need to heal. Cast Heal while Jonathan is recovering or if you've taken significant damage. Her offensive spells like Energy Flow can also be useful for hitting Death's head if you time them correctly.
- Dual Crush: Unleash your Dual Crushes (Greatest Five or Thunderbolt are excellent) during this phase when Death is vulnerable, especially after a Scythe Swipe. This can deal massive damage and shorten the fight considerably.
- Prioritize Survival: Death's attacks hit hard. Don't be afraid to switch to Charlotte and heal if your HP drops below 50%.
Stay persistent, learn his patterns, and utilize both Jonathan and Charlotte's strengths. With careful dodging and well-timed attacks, Death will fall, leading you to the true ending of Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin!