Vampire Survivors: Ode to Castlevania Boss Locations and Unlockable Characters Guide

Key Takeaways

1. Iconic Boss Battles: Face off against legendary bosses like the Giant Bat and Slogra & Gaibon as you traverse Dracula’s castle.
2. Unlock Unique Characters: From Belmonts to allies like Alucard and Shanoa, each character has unique unlock requirements tied to boss battles and rune discoveries.
3. Special Weapon Drops: Defeating certain bosses unlocks exclusive weapons that power up your arsenal and evolve to fit different characters.

The Vampire Survivors: Ode to Castlevania DLC captures the essence of Castlevania’s gothic thrills by adding new bosses, characters, and a castle filled with secrets. Players face legendary foes from Castlevania lore as they progress toward Dracula’s throne room. However, the journey isn’t just about slaying bosses; each victory over a powerful enemy unlocks new gates, regions, and rare character weapons. This guide provides a breakdown of where to find each boss and the characters you can unlock through strategic gameplay.

Navigating the Castle and Finding Boss Runes

In Vampire Survivors: Ode to Castlevania, each boss encounter is tied to specific rune locations within Dracula’s castle. Activating a rune spawns a boss, and while many are optional, beating these formidable enemies is often key to unlocking powerful items, weapons, or new characters. These runes can be found in diverse sections of the castle, from forests to towers, each offering unique battles and rewards. Let’s break down the location of each boss and how to prepare for them.

List of Boss Encounters and Their Locations

1. Stone Rose: Begin your journey by heading southwest into the forest area. Access this boss via either the top or bottom entry points.
2. Behemoth: To find Behemoth, start at the beginning and move northwest toward the top-left area. Upon defeat, Behemoth grants the Rock Riot weapon.
3. Giant Bat: Heading eastward from the start and crossing a bridge brings you to the Giant Bat’s rune. Victory here unlocks the Stallion Gate.
4. Giant Medusa Head: Continue east after the Giant Bat, then go up a staircase to the next rune and face the Medusa Head.
5. Slogra and Gaibon: Move west from the Medusa Head’s area to encounter this duo. Both bosses will fight simultaneously, each giving its own rune reward.
6. The Creature: After defeating the Medusa Head, go northward through the Marble Gallery, into the theater room where you’ll find The Creature and unlock the Fulgur weapon.
7. Doppelganger: In the Marble Gallery, head north and then west to reach a special 2D section where you’ll find the Doppelganger.
8. Puppet Master: From the Scorpion Gate, proceed northeast to encounter the Puppet Master and unlock the Scorpion Gate.
9. Paranoia: After the Puppet Master, venture south through the book-lined room to find the rune for Paranoia, unlocking the Capra Gate.
10. Blackmore: Travel west from the Paranoia rune, pass through a bloodstained wall, and navigate a maze to reach Blackmore’s rune.
11. Gergoth: Head northwest from the Capra Gate, backtracking to reach Gergoth’s rune.
12. Brachyura: From the Capra Gate, head southwest for the rune and obtain the Ice Fang weapon.
13. Zephyr: Ascend halfway up the Clock Tower, east of the Capra Gate, to find Zephyr’s rune, which unlocks the Gale Force weapon.
14. Abbadon: At the top of the Clock Tower, in a hidden room, lies Abbadon’s rune, granting access to the King’s Gate.

Unlockable Characters in Vampire Survivors: Ode to Castlevania

This DLC introduces a range of fan-favorite characters from the Castlevania series. Some characters, like the Belmont family members, are unlocked by completing specific battles and evolving weapons, while others are tied to exploration and discovery. Here’s how to unlock each character:

Belmont Characters and Allies Unlock List

1. Leon Belmont: Unlock Leon by opening the first coffin located east of the start, near the Tirajisu passive item.
2. Sonia Belmont: Find seven Heart Refresh items after opening the Stallion Gate to unlock Sonia.
3. Trevor Belmont: Defeat the Giant Medusa Head using Leon Belmont.
4. Christopher Belmont: Evolve the Alucab Sword, Alucard’s starting weapon, to unlock Christopher.
5. Simon Belmont: Simon is unlocked by evolving Christopher Belmont’s default weapon, the Jet Black Whip.
6. Juste Belmont: Evolve the Wind Whip, Simon Belmont’s default weapon, to unlock Juste.
7. Richter Belmont: Unlock Richter by evolving the Guardian’s Targe, Maria Renard’s default weapon.
8. Julius Belmont: To unlock Julius, find the second coffin after defeating the Puppet Master and passing through the Paranoia boss area. A hidden path lined with bloodstains leads to this prize.

Other Iconic Castlevania Characters

9. Grant Danasty: Evolve Trevor Belmont’s default weapon, the Water Dragon Whip.
10. John Morris: Evolve four weapons Raging Fire, Ice Fang, Gale Force, and Rock Riot across any number of runs to unlock John.
11. Jonathan Morris: Evolve the Hand Grenade, Soma Cruz’s starting weapon.
12. Soma Cruz: Defeat Gergoth with Julius Belmont to add Soma to your roster.
13. Charlotte Aulin: Locate seven Mirrors of Truth after accessing the Capra Gate.
14. Sypha Belnades: Defeat Slogra and Gaibon using Grant Danasty.
15. Yoko Belnades: To unlock Yoko, defeat Abaddon using Soma Cruz.
16. Alucard: Alucard is unlocked after defeating the Doppelganger with Trevor Belmont in the Marble Gallery’s north exit.
17. Eric Lecarde: Evolve Jonathan Morris’ starting weapon, the Javelin.
18. Hector: Discover seven Karma Coins after opening the Scorpion Gate.
19. Maria Renard: Complete a stage with Shanoa and Juste Belmont to unlock Maria.
20. Shanoa: Evolve the Iron Ball and Alucard Spear, default weapons of John Morris and Eric Lecarde.

FAQ

How do I activate boss runes in Vampire Survivors: Ode to Castlevania?

Simply walk over a rune symbol to activate it. An exclamation mark will appear, signaling the boss’s arrival.

What’s the best strategy for surviving boss fights?

Keep moving to dodge attacks, activate multiple runes carefully, and use unlocked weapons that counter each boss’s weaknesses.

Can I unlock characters in co-op mode?

Yes, co-op mode allows players to unlock characters, and progress is shared across all players in the session.

This DLC combines thrilling battles, iconic characters, and deep exploration, giving Vampire Survivors fans a nostalgic journey into the heart of Castlevania lore.