Castlevania: Belmont's Curse Wiki — Rune, Tarot Cards & Skills
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse Wiki — Rune, Tarot Cards & Skills
Quick answer: this wiki covers the Sinister Rune, Tarot cards and Arcana, skills, all 3 endings, 28 weapons across 7 categories, and 13–14 unique bosses across 16–18 fights. The first fight against Death is a scripted loss you cannot win. Updated through October 24, 2026.
Straight answers
- Where is the Sinister Rune? — A competitor-reported relic in a metal chest on a hidden lower ledge in the Clock Tower's Eastern Access Shaft, with a reported effect of +40% damage on your first hit against full-health enemies. One guide prints 4.0%; four others say 40%. It is not officially confirmed (level D). Route and the effect dispute: Sinister Rune.
- What are Tarot cards? — Every boss you defeat is sealed into a Tarot-card Arcana, an equippable ability. They are the game's main progression system, not a collectible side system. See Arcana System.
- How many skills are there? — There is no single skill tree. Rose's abilities come from three places: weapons (28 across 7 categories), Arcana (boss-granted Tarot cards), and traversal upgrades such as the Arcane Whip and Aerial Rush. See Weapons, Arcana and Builds.
- How many bosses? — Post-launch guides count 13–14 unique bosses across 16–18 fights, depending on whether rematches and the optional Saint Louis trial are counted. See Bosses and All Bosses in Order.
- How many endings? — 3 endings: Bad, Normal and True. See Endings.
- How long to beat? — 12–20 hours for most first playthroughs; 10–15 hours for the main story, 20–25+ hours for 100%. See How Long to Beat.
- Is the first Death fight unwinnable? — Yes. The first encounter with Death is a scripted loss, a story beat rather than a fight you can win. See Death.
- Family's Grace relic — the only relic confirmed so far. It is part of the Midnight Edition's bonus content; its in-game effect is still TBD. See Relics and Editions.
- Release date — October 15, 2026, all platforms the same day (Release Date).
The weapon and ending counts are converged from multiple post-launch guides — level C (not an official Konami count). The rune is level D; the relic and release date are official.
Guides
- Release Date — October 15, 2026 on all platforms
- Demo — the demo (live now) and save transfer
- Story — Rose Belmont in 1499 Paris
- Bosses — how many bosses, the full roster and strategies
- All Bosses in Order — the reported encounter order
- Arcana System — how defeated bosses become Tarot cards
- Weapons — the Vampire Killer and every confirmed weapon category
- Cestus — the close-range, fast-combo weapon type
- Combat & Controls — dodge, parry, healing and difficulty options
- Relics — Family's Grace and the reported Sinister Rune
- Sinister Rune — location route and the 40% vs 4.0% effect dispute
- Builds — Arcana and weapon combinations
- Characters — Rose and the reported 25+ cast
- Map & Areas — what we know about the world
- How Long to Beat — 12–20 hours for most first playthroughs
- Endings — Bad, Normal and True
- True Ending — requirements checklist
- Walkthrough — full route
- Platforms — Switch and performance details
- Editions — confirmed edition details
- Pre-Order — the Alucard Style bonus
- Music — the trailer song and 71-track soundtrack
- Trailers — official videos
- FAQ — quick answers
- Black Screen & Controller Fix — PC troubleshooting
Boss pages
- Death · Medusa · Carmilla
- The Fallen · Isaac · Joan of Arc · Talos
Fight order: All Bosses in Order
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