The Best Ending — Castlevania: Rondo of Blood Walkthrough

The Best Ending: Rescuing All Maidens

Achieving the true, best ending in Castlevania: Rondo of Blood is a rewarding endeavor that significantly expands the game's narrative and sets the stage for future installments in the Castlevania saga. This coveted ending is unlocked by successfully rescuing all four maidens held captive by Dracula's forces: Maria Renard, Tera, Iris, and Annette. Each rescue requires navigating specific alternate paths and completing unique objectives. Failure to rescue even one maiden will result in a lesser ending.

This section provides a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to ensure you don't miss any crucial steps on your path to the definitive conclusion of Richter Belmont's quest.

Prerequisites for the Best Ending

• Play as Richter Belmont: While Maria is a playable character, only Richter can achieve the best ending by rescuing all maidens.
• Master Alternate Paths: The best ending requires taking specific alternate routes in several stages. Familiarize yourself with these branching paths.
• Combat Proficiency: Be prepared for challenging encounters, as some maiden rescue paths lead to tougher boss fights or enemy gauntlets.

Step-by-Step Guide to Rescuing All Maidens

1. Rescue Maria Renard (Stage 2: The Castle Entrance)

Maria is the first maiden you can rescue, and her liberation is critical as it unlocks her as a playable character. More importantly, taking the alternate path in Stage 2 (which is where Maria is found) is essential for accessing Stage 3' (The Chapel), a prerequisite for rescuing other maidens.

• Location: Stage 2: The Castle Entrance (also known as The Haunted Graveyard in some versions).
• Path:
  1. Progress through Stage 2 until you reach an area with a large, crumbling stone bridge. This bridge spans a chasm with water below.
  2. Instead of crossing the bridge, look for a section of the bridge that is broken or has a gap. You need to drop down into the chasm below the bridge.
  3. Once you drop down, you will land on a lower path. Follow this path, which will lead you to a secluded area.
  4. Here, you will find a large, armored enemy. In the PC Engine CD, PSP, and PS4 versions, this is consistently a Minotaur. Defeat this enemy.
  5. Once the Minotaur is vanquished, a cage containing Maria Renard will be revealed. Break the cage with your whip to free her.
• Reward: Rescuing Maria unlocks her as a playable character (though you must continue as Richter for the best ending). Crucially, by taking this alternate path in Stage 2, you gain access to Stage 3' (The Chapel) instead of the standard Stage 3 (The Village).
• Common Pitfall: Accidentally crossing the entire crumbling bridge in Stage 2 will lead you to the standard Stage 3, forcing a restart of the stage or a less-than-best ending. Always drop down into the chasm!

2. Rescue Tera (Stage 3': The Chapel)

Tera's rescue is contingent on having taken the alternate path in Stage 2 to reach Stage 3' (The Chapel). She is found within this stage.

• Location: Stage 3': The Chapel.
• Path:
  1. Enter Stage 3' (The Chapel). This stage is characterized by its religious iconography, stained glass, and numerous Bone Pillars and Flea Men.
  2. Progress through the chapel, navigating its various levels. Eventually, you will reach an area with a long, downward-sloping hallway or a series of platforms leading down.
  3. Look for a section of the floor that appears slightly different or cracked, typically in a room that seems to be a dead end or just before the boss arena. In the PC Engine CD and its remakes, this is often a specific floor tile that can be destroyed.
  4. Use your whip or a sub-weapon (like the Axe) to break this section of the floor.
  5. Drop down into the hidden area below. You will find a cage containing Tera.
  6. Break the cage to free her.
• Reward: Tera is rescued, bringing you closer to the best ending. Rescuing Tera also typically unlocks access to Stage 4' (The Clock Tower), an alternate path to Stage 4.
• Common Pitfall: Missing the destructible floor in Stage 3' will lead you directly to the boss (Dullahan) without rescuing Tera. Always explore thoroughly, especially in areas that seem to lead directly to a boss.

3. Rescue Iris (Stage 5': The Ghost Ship)

Iris is the third maiden to rescue, and her location is exclusively within an alternate stage, making her rescue contingent on having taken the correct paths earlier, specifically accessing Stage 4' and then Stage 5'.

• Location: Stage 5': The Ghost Ship.
• Path:
  1. After rescuing Tera in Stage 3', you will proceed to Stage 4' (The Clock Tower). Complete this stage, defeating the boss (Frankenstein's Monster).
  2. Upon completing Stage 4', you will gain access to Stage 5' (The Ghost Ship).
  3. Navigate the treacherous Ghost Ship, battling its unique spectral enemies and avoiding its many traps.
  4. Midway through Stage 5', you will encounter a large, open area with several platforms and often a mini-boss or a challenging enemy gauntlet. Look for a section that seems to lead downwards or into the ship's hold.
  5. Specifically, look for a room with a large, ornate mirror or a section of the wall that looks out of place. In many versions, you'll need to destroy a specific wall section with your whip or an item crash.
  6. Within this hidden area, you will discover a cage holding Iris.
  7. Destroy the cage to free her.
• Reward: Iris is rescued, completing the trio of maidens required for the best ending. This path also ensures you are on track for the final confrontation with Dracula.
• Common Pitfall: If you did not rescue Tera, you might end up on a different Stage 4 and 5, missing Iris entirely. Ensure you follow the alternate paths diligently.

4. Rescue Annette (Stage 7': The Castle Keep)

Annette is Richter's beloved and the final maiden to rescue. Her rescue path is the most direct but requires you to have rescued the previous three maidens to access the correct final stages.

• Location: Stage 7': The Castle Keep (also known as the Clock Tower or Dracula's Keep in some versions).
• Path:
  1. After rescuing Maria, Tera, and Iris, you will proceed through the alternate stages, eventually reaching Stage 6' (The Underground Caverns) and then Stage 7' (The Castle Keep).
  2. Progress through Stage 7', battling powerful enemies and navigating its intricate design. This stage is typically a vertical ascent through Dracula's stronghold.
  3. Near the top of the Castle Keep, before the final confrontation with Dracula, you will enter a room that appears to be a torture chamber or a prison cell area.
  4. Here, you will find Annette held captive in a cage. She is often guarded by a powerful enemy or a group of enemies.
  5. Defeat any enemies present and then break the cage to free Annette.
• Reward: Annette is rescued, completing the rescue of all four maidens. This action directly triggers the "Best Ending" cinematic after you defeat Dracula.
• Common Pitfall: If you miss any of the previous maidens, you will likely be shunted to a different final stage (Stage 7) where Annette is either not present or is already dead, leading to a lesser ending.

Summary of Maiden Locations and Requirements

The table below provides a quick reference for each maiden's location and the prerequisites for their rescue.

The Best Ending Unlocked

Once you have successfully rescued Maria, Tera, Iris, and Annette, you can proceed to the final stages of the game. Upon confronting and defeating Dracula, the game will trigger the "Best Ending." This ending provides a more comprehensive and satisfying conclusion to Richter's journey, offering additional dialogue, character interactions, and a clearer resolution to the narrative. It also serves as a crucial bridge to future Castlevania titles, particularly Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, by establishing key plot points and character motivations.

This path is highly recommended for any player seeking the complete story experience and a deeper understanding of the Castlevania lore.