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How to Solve the Graveyard Puzzle in Cuphead

A scene inspired by the Cuphead video game. A cup-headed character stands in a haunted graveyard surrounded by tombstones and twisted trees. A golden beam of light highlights one particular tombstone. On the right side, a blue character with a red hat and gloves watches cautiously near a tree. To the left, a cascading waterfall flows into a shimmering river, adding contrast to the eerie setting.

Table of Content

  1. Find the Boatman
  2. Obtain the Broken Relic
  3. Talk to the Climbing Contest Competitors
  4. Go to the Graveyard
  5. Challenge the Secret Boss
  6. Boss Strategy
  7. Obtain the Divine Relic

The Cuphead graveyard puzzle is a challenge found in its DLC (The Delicious Last Course). When the DLC was released, many players struggled to solve it, but in the end, it's quite simple.

Steps to Solve the Graveyard Puzzle:

Find the Boatman:

He appears on the three main islands, always at the edge of the map with an oar and a boat to take you to Isle IV.

A scene from the video game Cuphead. On a small island, Cuphead, the main character, stands next to a blue-robed figure holding a paddle. A wooden boat is docked nearby. Above them, a dialogue box offers two choices: travel to a new location (Isle IV) or stay in the current area. The island is surrounded by water, and the scene has the signature vintage cartoon art style of the game.

Obtain the Broken Relic:

Purchase this item from Porkrind’s Emporium for 1 coin.

A shop scene from Cuphead. A pig character with an eye patch stands behind a counter surrounded by various items for sale. One item, the "Broken Relic," is highlighted with an arrow pointing to it and the text "BUY THIS ONE." Its description reads: "Unknown. A simple bauble of unknown origin." The price for the Broken Relic is 1 coin. The shop has a rustic, cozy atmosphere with decorative elements in the background.

Talk to the Climbing Contest Competitors:

They provide clues about the order in which you need to interact with the tombstones.

Each competitor mentions a specific direction (up, down, left, right).

Speak to them in the order of their ranking. For example, the first-place winner corresponds to the first tombstone you should click, the second-place winner to the second tombstone, and the third-place winner to the third tombstone.

A collage of three screenshots from the video game Cuphead. Each screenshot features a character standing on a podium, participating in a contest. In the first screenshot, the character on the first-place podium proudly says, "I always win! I am downright awesome!" The second screenshot shows the character on the second-place podium, commenting, "If the judging was left up to me, I wouldn't be in second place." In the third screenshot, the character on the third-place podium laments, "Worse than last year! Down to third place."

Go to the Graveyard:

Interact with the tombstones in the sequence given by the competitors' clues.

For example, if the clues are "up," "right," and "down," activate the corresponding tombstones in that order.

A puzzle scene from the game Cuphead. A cup-headed character stands in front of a grid of gravestones, each labeled with directional clues: UP LEFT, UP, UP RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT, DOWN LEFT, DOWN, and DOWN RIGHT. The character is positioned at the gravestone marked DOWN in the center of the grid. Surrounding the puzzle are environmental details: a small river on the left, a fence, trees, and a blue character with a hat on the right side.

After completing the puzzle, the middle tombstone will emit a blue aura and give you the option to take a "Little Nap."

scene from Cuphead. The cup-headed character stands in a graveyard surrounded by tombstones and trees. A prompt on the screen asks, "TAKE A LITTLE NAP?" with two options: "YES" or "NO," indicated by a pointing hand icon. The setting includes a flowing river and eerie, atmospheric details.

Challenge the Secret Boss:

After correctly activating the tombstones and accepting the nap, a passage to the secret boss will open.

A scene from Cuphead featuring a cosmic confrontation. Cuphead, the main character, stands on a circular platform surrounded by a glowing green pattern. To his left is a blue angelic figure with a halo and wings, showing a sad expression. To his right is a red demonic figure with horns and wings, smiling mischievously. In the background looms a large purple skull with hollow eyes, set against a starry, dark cosmic environment. A small "HP: 3" indicator is displayed in the bottom-left corner.

Boss Strategy:

Always face one direction, shooting at the demon to deal damage.

Turn around only when the demon launches a fire tornado.

Leave some space to move forward and ignore the angel behind you, focusing on dealing maximum damage to the demon.

If you struggle with this fight, consider using Ms. Chalice to make it easier.

Defeat the boss to obtain the Cursed Relic.

How to Upgrade the Cursed Relic

Once you have the Cursed Relic, equip it in your inventory and defeat several bosses. While it remains cursed, it will inflict various negative effects on your character. 

However, as you defeat more bosses, the eye of the relic will gradually open more and more.

A split-screen image from Cuphead. On the left side, the game menu titled "CHARM" displays various equipped icons, including a heart, circular object, and an eye, as well as the item description for the "CURSED RELIC," which reads: "Jinxed curio that inflicts various status ailments." On the right side, the scene shows Cuphead in a garden with a bag labeled "ACME GROW," interacting with the environment. Details include a tire swing, plants, and a birdhouse, with "HP: 1" shown at the bottom.

Obtain the Divine Relic

Eventually, the Cursed Relic will transform into the Divine Relic, which grants beneficial effects to the player, such as the Smoke Bomb effect and faster parry charging.

A scene from Cuphead. The left side displays the "Charm" menu, where the selected charm is the "Divine Relic," described as a "Wondrous talisman that grants a variety of abilities." The right side shows the gameplay, featuring the cup-headed character in a garden with a tree, sunflowers, a birdhouse, and a bag labeled "ACME GROW." The character's health indicator, "HP: 3," is visible while they interact with an object on the ground.

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