All Bosses S-Rank Guide

Achieve S-Ranks in Cuphead. Learn expert difficulty criteria, optimal loadouts, and strategies for mastering every boss.

Achieving an S-Rank on every boss in Cuphead is the ultimate test of skill, requiring players to defeat them on Expert difficulty with near-perfect execution. This involves meeting stringent criteria for time, parries, damage taken, and Super Art usage. Mastering each boss's patterns and optimizing your loadout are crucial for earning this prestigious rank.

S-Rank Criteria:

• Difficulty: Must be completed on Expert difficulty.
• Time: Boss must be defeated within a specific time limit (varies per boss).
• Parries: A minimum number of parries must be performed (varies per boss).
• HP Remaining: You must finish with at least 1 HP remaining (meaning no hits taken).
• Super Meter: A certain amount of Super Meter must be used.

General Strategies for S-Ranks:

• Master Boss Patterns: Deeply understand every attack phase and telegraph for each boss. This is non-negotiable.
• Optimize Loadout: Choose weapons and charms that maximize damage output and facilitate parries. The Charge weapon is often favored for its high damage, while Smoke Bomb is invaluable for evasion.
• Utilize Super Arts: Plan your Super Art usage to maximize damage during vulnerable phases or to meet the Super Meter usage requirement.
• Practice, Practice, Practice: S-Ranks require near-flawless execution. Expect to attempt bosses dozens, if not hundreds, of times.
• Specific Isle IV Example: For Inkwell Isle IV, achieving an S-Rank on 'Cooked to Perfection' requires meeting the criteria on Expert. The Moonshine Mob is often recommended for S-Rank attempts due to its manageable patterns, though the anteaters can still be tricky.

Key Takeaways: S-Ranking is the pinnacle of Cuphead mastery. It demands not only skill but also immense patience and dedication. Focus on learning one boss at a time, refining your strategy, and gradually working your way through the Inkwell Isles. The satisfaction of earning an S-Rank on every boss is unparalleled.