This guide will show you the locations of all arcanas in Castlevania: Belmont's Curse.
Arcanas are rewards for defeating bosses, and you'll use them as special abilities throughout the game. They're required for specific endings, to access specific areas, and for 100% completion of the game.
Paris Streets
Arcana #1: Cursed Flame
Story-related. This is your first arcana, and you already start the game with it.
Arcana #2: Holy Cross
Obtained after defeating The Fallen at the Gate to the Catacombs.
Arcana #3: Infernal Pyre
Obtained after defeating Joan in the Upper Tower.
Arcana #4: Chains of Justice
You can get this arcana in the Palace of Justice. To do so, you need at least half of all the Health / Mana upgrades. After that, talk to The Judge and it will start draining your health and mana. As a reward, you'll receive this arcana.
Holy Innocents' Cemetery
Arcana #5: Petrifying Gaze
Obtained after defeating Medusa in the Serpents' Lair.
Arcana #6: Mirror Walk
Can be obtained in the Mausoleum of the Queens. For this arcana, you first have to complete Eleanor's whole questline in the Main Hall (See our complete guide for the Main Hall region). Then come back to this region to talk to her and finish the questline, and you'll get this arcana as a reward.
Catacombs of Paris
Arcana #7: Wheel of Chaos
Step #1
In Paris Streets > Street of the Tomb Masons, go through the hospital door. Inside, you'll find the Thrilling Eye relic, so grab it.
Step #2
Grab the Trembling Eye relic in Holy Innocents' Cemetery > Pillaged Tombs.
Step #3
In Catacombs of Paris > Circle of Greed, grab the Oozing Eye relic.
Step #4
Equip the 3 relics and then interact with the Gate of Flesh in Catacombs of Paris > Mammon’s Lair.
Step #5
Follow the single path in the new area and defeat Mammon (The Miser) to get the arcana.
Step #6
Same area as before. Grab the Ferryman's Obol in the boss arena. You'll need it to get the Freezing Path arcana from the Ferryman.
Arcana #8: Freezing Path
To get the Freezing Path arcana, you'll first have to get the Ferryman's Obol, which can be found in the area of the boss Mammon (The Miser). Then give it to the Ferryman at any Ferryman's Wharf to get the arcana.
Main Hall
Arcana #9: Masterpiece
Can be obtained in Main Hall > Brauner's Atelier. Break the statue using the Smash arcane power to make The Artist appear, and he'll give you this arcana right after.
Hall of Mirrors
Arcana #10: Life Drain
Obtained when you first arrive in the Hall of Mirrors during Eleanor's questline (see our Main Hall guide, which covers Eleanor's questline).
Library
Arcana #11: Blood Spikes
Obtained after defeating Carmilla (The Occultist) in Library > Observatory.
Clock Tower
Arcana #12: Fist of Talos
Obtained after defeating Talos (The Builder) in Clock Tower > Throne of the Builder.
Arcana #13: Chronomantic Dive
Obtained after defeating Isaac (The Zealot) in Clock Tower > Heart of the Clock.
Notre-Dame
Arcana #14: Soul Harvest
Obtained after defeating Death (The Shadow) in Notre-Dame > Choir.
Arcana #15: Stained-Glass Shard
Obtained after defeating Arthur in Notre-Dame > Chapel. To start the boss fight, you'll have to interact with the Excalibur sword stuck in the stone. To do that, equip the Fist of Talos arcana.
Arcana #16: Absolution
Equip the Infernal Pyre arcana, interact with the first stained glass window, then complete the challenge and ring the bell.
Equip the Freezing Path arcana, interact with the second stained glass window, then complete the challenge and ring the bell.
Equip the Chains of Justice arcana, interact with the third stained glass window, then complete the challenge and ring the bell.
Equip the Mirror Walk arcana, interact with the fourth stained glass window, then complete the challenge and ring the bell.
Finally, interact with the large stained glass window in the center of the area and defeat your cursed self to get the Absolution arcana.
These are all the arcanas available in Castlevania: Belmont's Curse.