keepcalculator

06 Numbers and Powers

Castlevania Belmont’s Curse Best Relics Tier List

Card No. 06·41327 · Updated · Standard formula, shown below

Average pace 5.00 min/km
Average speed
12.00 km/h
Result
Finish time
50 min
You entered
Distance
10 km
You entered
You enter
Finish time, Distance
You get
Average pace, Average speed
Rounding
2 dp

This article ranks the best relics in Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse into a clear tier list, from S-tier must-haves to D-tier situational picks, so you know exactly which to prioritize for your run. It covers how relics work, how to choose based on your character, and common mistakes to avoid.

How Relics Work in Belmont’s Curse

In Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, relics are passive items that grant permanent bonuses once collected. They are found in chests, dropped by bosses, or purchased from the traveling merchant. Each relic occupies a slot in your inventory, and you can only equip a limited number at once—typically three to five, depending on your character and progression. Relics do not consume MP or require activation; their effects are always active once equipped. This makes choosing the right relics a core part of your build strategy, especially on higher difficulties where enemy damage and HP scale significantly.

Tier List Overview

Here is the quick tier list, followed by detailed explanations for each relic. Tiers are based on general usefulness across all characters and game stages, with S being the best and D being niche or easily replaced.

  • S-Tier: Crimson Stone, Gravity Boots, Time Stop
  • A-Tier: Holy Water Vial, Vampire Killer (relic), Silver Dagger
  • B-Tier: Throwing Axe, Magic Missile, Shield Charm
  • C-Tier: Healing Herb, Antivenom, Garlic
  • D-Tier: Crystal Ball, Iron Shield, Luck Ring

S-Tier Relics Explained

Crimson Stone increases your whip damage by 30% and adds a fire effect that can burn enemies over time. This is the single best damage relic in the game, and it stacks with the Vampire Killer’s base damage. It is found in the Clock Tower, guarded by a mini-boss. For any character, this relic is a must-have for both boss fights and clearing mobs.

Gravity Boots allow you to jump higher and slow your fall, giving you better control in platforming sections. This relic not only helps with exploration but also lets you avoid enemy attacks more easily. It is especially useful in the Underground Caverns and the Floating Castle, where precise jumps are required. The mobility it provides is irreplaceable, making it a top pick.

Time Stop freezes all enemies on screen for 5 seconds when you press the relic button (default: R). It costs 20 MP to activate, but the cooldown is only 15 seconds. This is a lifesaver in crowded rooms and against fast enemies like Medusa Heads. In boss fights, it creates a free damage window. The MP cost is manageable if you carry a few MP-restoring items.

A-Tier Relics: Strong but Situational

Holy Water Vial throws a flask that creates a damaging flame pillar. It is great for area denial and works well against ground-based enemies. However, it is less effective against flying enemies and has a slow start-up. If you are playing as Trevor, this relic synergizes with his sub-weapon, but for other characters, it is still a solid choice.

Vampire Killer (relic) increases your whip’s range and adds a holy damage component. It is a direct upgrade to your main weapon, making it useful for the entire game. However, it does not stack with the Crimson Stone’s fire effect (they cancel each other out), so you have to choose which one to equip. For pure damage, Crimson Stone is better; for range, Vampire Killer wins.

Silver Dagger is a fast, straight-flying projectile that costs 5 MP. It is excellent for hitting enemies from a distance and can be spammed. The damage is low, but the speed and low cost make it a reliable backup. It is particularly good against flying enemies that are hard to reach with the whip.

B-Tier Relics: Decent but Replaceable

Throwing Axe arcs upward and is great for hitting enemies on higher platforms. It costs 8 MP and does decent damage. However, its trajectory makes it awkward in tight corridors. It is useful in the Castle Keep and the Tower of Death, but you will likely swap it out for a more versatile relic.

Magic Missile fires a homing projectile that seeks the nearest enemy. It costs 12 MP and does moderate damage. The homing is a nice quality-of-life feature, but the damage is not high enough to justify its MP cost in most situations. It is a good choice for players who struggle with aiming.

Shield Charm creates a temporary barrier that blocks one hit. It has a 30-second cooldown and does not cost MP. This is great for surviving boss attacks, but the cooldown is long, and it does not help with platforming hazards. If you are confident in your dodging, you can skip it.

C-Tier Relics: Niche Utility

Healing Herb restores 50 HP when activated, but it is a one-time use and takes up a slot. It is useful in emergencies, but you can carry healing items instead, which do not take relic slots. Only equip it if you are in a pinch and have no other healing options.

Antivenom cures poison and grants temporary immunity for 10 seconds. Poison is rare in the game, and only a few enemies inflict it. Unless you are in a specific area like the Swamp, this relic is dead weight.

Garlic reduces damage from bats and other flying enemies by 50%. It is very situational, as flying enemies are not the main threat in most areas. It can be useful in the Underground Caverns, but you are better off with a damage or mobility relic.

D-Tier Relics: Avoid Unless Desperate

Crystal Ball reveals hidden rooms on the map. This is a quality-of-life relic, but it does not help in combat or platforming. Once you have explored the castle, it becomes useless. It is only useful for completionists.

Iron Shield reduces physical damage by 20%, but it slows your movement speed by 10%. The speed penalty is a big downside, and the damage reduction is not significant enough to justify it. You are better off dodging attacks.

Luck Ring increases item drop rates by 10%. This is only useful for farming, and it does not help in combat. If you are trying to get rare drops, it is worth equipping temporarily, but otherwise, it is a waste of a slot.

How to Choose Relics for Your Playstyle

Your relic choices should depend on your character and playstyle. For example, if you are playing as Trevor Belmont, you might want to focus on whip-enhancing relics like Crimson Stone and Vampire Killer. If you are playing as Sypha Belnades, who relies on magic, you might prefer MP-efficient relics like Silver Dagger and Magic Missile. For Alucard, who has a sword and shield, the Shield Charm and Iron Shield can be useful, but you still want the mobility of Gravity Boots.

Here are some general tips:

  • Always have at least one mobility relic (Gravity Boots or similar) to help with platforming.
  • If you are struggling with a boss, swap out utility relics for damage relics like Crimson Stone.
  • If you are exploring a new area, consider equipping the Crystal Ball to find hidden rooms, then swap it out when you are done.
  • Do not stack two relics that cancel each other out (e.g., Crimson Stone and Vampire Killer).

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

One common mistake is thinking that relics are permanently active once collected. In reality, they must be equipped in your relic slots, and you can only have a few active at a time. Another mistake is ignoring the MP cost of active relics like Time Stop and Holy Water Vial. If you run out of MP, you cannot use them, so always carry MP-restoring items.

Another misconception is that the Luck Ring affects boss drops. It only affects regular enemy drops, so do not expect it to help with rare boss items. Also, some players believe that the Shield Charm can block multiple hits, but it only blocks one hit per activation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use both Crimson Stone and Vampire Killer together?
A: No, they cancel each other out. Only one whip-enhancing relic can be active at a time. Choose based on whether you want more damage or more range.

Q: Where do I find the Gravity Boots?
A: The Gravity Boots are found in the Underground Caverns, in a chest guarded by a Bone Pillar. You will need to solve a small puzzle to reach it.

Q: Is Time Stop worth the MP cost?
A: Yes, for most players. The 5-second freeze is invaluable in tough fights, and the 20 MP cost is manageable if you carry a few Ethers or similar items.

Q: Do relics affect all characters equally?
A: No, some relics are better for certain characters. For example, Sypha benefits more from MP-efficient relics, while Trevor benefits more from whip upgrades.

Q: Can I sell relics to the merchant?
A: No, relics cannot be sold. Once you pick them up, they are yours permanently, but you can choose not to equip them.

Q: Is the Luck Ring worth using for farming?
A: Only if you are specifically farming for rare drops from regular enemies. It does not affect boss drops, and it takes up a slot that could be used for a combat relic.

Related

Formula used
in t | Finish time | min | 50 | 0
in d | Distance | km | 10 | 0 | 100000
out pace | Average pace | min/km | t / d | 2
out speed | Average speed | km/h | d / (t / 60) | 2

Each line is one input (in, sel, list) or one result (out: label, unit, formula, decimals). How the calculators work

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.

More cards in this drawer

The whole Numbers and Powers drawer →