I. Game Basics

Game Features

• Retro Cartoon Style: 1930s Fleischer/Disney-inspired animation
• High Difficulty Challenge: Boss-centric gameplay testing reflexes and skill
• Local Co-op: Supports 2-player local multiplayer
• Grading System: Earn C/S/P rank based on performance

Game Modes

Mode	Description
Regular	Standard difficulty, beginner-friendly
Expert	More complex boss patterns, required for S-rank
Simple	Simplified boss fights, but cannot progress story

II. Controls & Techniques

Basic Controls

Action	Button	Tips
Move	D-Pad/Stick	Mobility is key to survival
Shoot	X/□	Hold for continuous fire
Jump	A/×	Can adjust direction in mid-air
Double Jump	A/× in air	Essential for dodging and parrying
Dash	RB/R1	~0.25s invincibility frames, pass through projectiles
Parry	Press A/× while jumping	Use on pink objects to build Super Meter
Super Art	B/○	Spend 5 cards for powerful attack
Lock Shooting	Hold LT/L2	Fix shooting direction while moving

Core Techniques

1. Dash Invincibility Frames

• Dash provides approximately 0.25 seconds of invincibility
• Use to pass through dense bullet patterns
• Predicting projectile trajectories is crucial

2. Parry Technique

• Can only be used on pink-colored objects
• Successful parry:
  • Builds Super Meter (gains 1 card)
  • Increases grade score
  • Sometimes required in specific boss phases

3. Lock Shooting

• Hold the lock button to fix shooting direction
• Allows focused fire while maintaining mobility

4. Super Meter Management

• Maximum storage: 5 cards
• Full 5-card Super deals maximum damage
• Choose release timing based on situation

III. Weapons & Charms Recommendations

Base Game Weapons

Weapon	Characteristics	Best For
Peashooter	Default weapon, long range, medium damage	General use, beginner-friendly
Spread	Fan-shaped spread, high damage at close range	Close-quarters combat
Chaser	Auto-targets enemies, lower damage	When focusing on dodging
Charge	Chargeable, explosive damage when fully charged	Advanced players, boss fights
Roundabout	Boomerang-style, strong crowd control	Mid-range combat
Lobber	Arcing shots, high damage, slow fire rate	Stationary targets

Weapon Loadout Suggestions

• Beginners: Peashooter + Chaser
• DPS Focus: Charge + Spread
• Crowd Control: Roundabout + Lobber

Charms Recommendations

Charm	Effect	Rating
Heart	+1 HP (4 total)	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Beginner essential
Smoke Bomb	Full invincibility during dash	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Advanced
Coffee	Auto-charges Super Meter	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good for endurance fights
Twin Heart	+2 HP, but reduced damage	⭐⭐⭐ High forgiveness
Sugar	First parry auto-succeeds	⭐⭐⭐ Practice tool

DLC Weapons (The Delicious Last Course)

Weapon	Characteristics
Converge	Triple lightning spread that pierces entire screen
Crackshot	Tracking diamond projectiles that split into pink crystals
Twist-Up	Fires three mini tornadoes upward

DLC Charms

Charm	Effect
Astral Cookie	Play as Ms. Chalice with bonus HP and special moves
Broken Relic	Cursed charm that unlocks hidden puzzles and secret boss fights
Heart Ring	Restore 1 HP on 1st, 3rd, and 6th successful parry

Recommended Loadouts

Beginner Setup

• Weapons: Peashooter + Chaser
• Charm: Heart

Advanced Setup

• Weapons: Charge + Spread
• Charm: Smoke Bomb

Expert Setup

• Weapons: Charge + Roundabout
• Charm: Coffee / Smoke Bomb

IV. BOSS Strategy Guide

General Boss Principles

1. Observe First, Attack Later: First attempts focus on learning attack patterns
2. Keep Moving: Standing still = death
3. Prioritize Dodging: Survival enables damage
4. Use Terrain: Some levels have safe spots
5. Practice Parrying: Builds meter and increases grade

Inkwell Isle One

The Root Pack

First formal boss, relatively simple.

• Ollie Bulb (Potato): Watch for rolling attack, parry pink worms
• Chauncey Chantenay (Onion): Rains bullets when crying, watch positioning
• Horace Radiche (Radish): Fires tracking missiles, keep moving

Goopy Le Grande

• Transforms and grows larger, watch for jump attacks
• Parry pink fist to counter

Hilda Berg

• Zeppelin boss with multiple phases
• Watch for attack pattern changes during transformations
• Chaser works well here

Cagney Carnation

• Flower boss with seed attacks
• Watch for transformation phases

Ribby and Croaks

• Frog duo with slot machine phase
• Learn the pattern for each brother

Inkwell Isle Two

Beppi The Clown

• Carnival theme with varied attacks
• Watch for roller coaster tracks
• Parry pink balloons

Baroness Von Bon Bon

• Candy castle theme
• Prioritize defeating minions
• Watch for boss dash attacks

Djimmi The Great

• Genie boss with puppet phases
• Multiple form changes

Grim Matchstick

• Dragon boss, considered one of the hardest
• Three phases with fire attacks

Wally Warbles

• Bird boss in a birdhouse
• Watch for feather attacks

Inkwell Isle Three

Rumor Honeybottoms

• Bee boss with honeycomb maze
• Platforming elements

Captain Brineybeard

• Pirate ship boss
• Multiple ship parts attack independently

Sally Stageplay

• Theater-themed boss
• Four acts with different mechanics

Werner Werman

• Mouse in a tank
• Cat and mouse mechanics

Dr. Kahl’s Robot

• Giant robot with multiple targetable parts
• Long fight with many phases

Cala Maria

• Mermaid boss with petrifying gaze
• Watch for stone transformation

Phantom Express

• Ghost train with multiple cars
• Each car has different mechanics

Inkwell Hell

King Dice

• Must defeat 9 mini-bosses first
• Recommended path: 3-6-9 (lower difficulty)
• Each mini-boss has specific strategies

Mini-Bosses: Tipsy Troop, Chips Bettigan, Mr. Wheezy, Pip and Dot, Hopus Pocus, Phear Lap, Pirouletta, Mangosteen, Mr. Chimes

The Devil

Final boss, 4-phase battle:

• Phase 1: Fireballs and dragon heads
• Phase 2: Spider attack patterns
• Phase 3: Most difficult, requires skilled parrying
• Phase 4: Final form with all previous mechanics

Expert Mode Differences

• Increased boss attack frequency
• New attack patterns added
• Some attacks speed up
• S-rank requires: No damage + parries + fast kill

V. Secrets & Collectibles

Coin Collection (40 Total)

Inkwell Isle One Hidden Coins

• Tutorial: Complete tutorial for 3 coins
• Forest Entrance: Hidden path behind shop
• Tree Stump: Talk to NPC
• Air Platform: Parry 4 times consecutively, then talk to NPC

Inkwell Isle Two Hidden Coins

1. Circus: Behind the cart
2. Small House: Check behind buildings
3. NPC Interactions: Some NPCs give coins

Inkwell Isle Three Hidden Coins

1. Graveyard: Specific tombstones hide coins
2. Near Shop: Check every corner

Hidden Levels

Black-and-White Hidden Level

1. Purchase “Broken Relic” from shop
2. Talk to three mountain climbers in order: Middle, Left, Right
3. Enter hidden level with cursed relic

Shortcuts & Secrets

Inkwell Isle One Shortcut

• Complete specific bosses to unlock fast travel
• Some areas allow skipping regular enemies

Shop Locations

• Each Inkwell Isle has Porkrind’s Emporium
• Use coins to purchase weapons and charms

Achievement Guide

Achievement	Requirement
Pacifist	Complete Run ‘N’ Gun levels without killing any enemies
S-Rank	Complete Expert mode without taking damage
Full Collection	Collect all coins and secrets
Perfect Run	Earn all S-ranks

VI. DLC: The Delicious Last Course

DLC Overview

• New island with multiple bosses
• New playable character: Ms. Chalice
• New weapons and charms
• New mechanic: Ms. Chalice has unique abilities

How to Access

1. Find the new island in the main world
2. Talk to Chef Saltbaker to start DLC story

Ms. Chalice Abilities

• Double Jump: More mobile than Cuphead/Mugman
• Dash Parry: Can parry while dashing
• Roll: Longer invincibility frames
• Trade-off: Only 3 HP instead of 3/4

DLC Bosses

Glumstone The Giant

• Giant in the mountains
• Three phases with boulder attacks

Moonshine Mob

• Bug gang boss
• Four phases with different gang members

The Howling Aces

• Dog pilots in planes
• Three phases with aerial combat

Mortimer Freeze

• Ice wizard
• Three phases with ice attacks

Esther Winchester

• Snake oil saleswoman
• Four phases with desert theme

Chef Saltbaker

• DLC final boss
• Four-phase battle
• Requires mastery of Ms. Chalice abilities

The King’s Leap (Chess Bosses)

• The Pawns
• The Knight
• The Bishop
• The Rook
• The Queen

Graveyard Puzzle

• DLC contains tombstone puzzles
• Must interact in specific order
• Unlocks hidden rewards when solved

VII. Advanced Techniques

Speedrun Techniques

• Weapon Swap Exploit: Rapid weapon switching for multiplicative damage
• Optimal Routing: Plan shortest path to completion
• Boss Rush: Learn fastest kill methods for each boss

S-Rank Techniques

• No Damage: Basic requirement
• Parry Count: Each level has minimum parry requirements
• Time Limit: Must kill within specified time
• Super Usage: Proper Super usage increases DPS

Expert Mode Tips

• All boss patterns change
• Must relearn each boss
• Recommend mastering Regular mode first

Co-op Tips

• Role Division: One focuses on damage, one on reviving
• Revive Mechanic: Partners can revive downed players
• Coordinated Parrying: Some attacks require teamwork

Recommended Progression for Beginners

• First Playthrough: Use Peashooter + Heart, learn the game
• Collect Coins: Purchase Chaser and Smoke Bomb
• Practice Parrying: Practice on easier bosses
• Challenge Expert: Gradually attempt higher difficulties
• Perfection: Collect all S-ranks

FAQ

Q: The game is too hard, what should I do?

A: Practice on Simple mode to learn boss patterns, then challenge Regular mode. Use Heart charm for more forgiveness.

Q: Which weapon is the best?

A: No absolute best weapon – choose based on boss characteristics. Beginners should try Chaser.

Q: How do I get S-rank?

A: Requires: No damage + enough parries + fast kill. Learn bosses first, then attempt.

Q: Is the DLC worth buying?

A: Absolutely worth it! Rich new content, Ms. Chalice plays very differently.