TL;DR
- Purchase the Broken Relic from Porkrind’s Emporium for 1 coin before any boss fights
- Document all three climbers’ dialogue using screenshots for later reference
- Solve the eight-headstone puzzle using directional clues in correct sequence
- Transform Broken Relic into Cursed then Divine Relic for powerful abilities
- Summon Djimmi after puzzle completion for permanent health increase
Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course conceals a significant secret within Inkwell Isle IV that rewards persistent players with enhanced capabilities.
Cuphead DLC Broken Relic
Your first essential step involves visiting Porkrind’s Emporium to obtain the Broken Relic charm. This item costs merely one coin and represents the initial component in the puzzle chain. Strategic timing is crucial—purchase it immediately upon accessing the DLC area before engaging any bosses. The Broken Relic serves no combat function initially, so avoid equipping it during battles as it provides zero tactical advantages.
Pro Tip: Many players mistakenly overlook this affordable item or delay purchasing it until later stages. Acquiring it early ensures you’re prepared when puzzle opportunities arise. The relic’s transformation process requires specific conditions that become available only after progressing through certain game segments.
Adjacent to Porkrind’s shop, you’ll discover a podium featuring three mountain climbers. Each contestant provides unique dialogue detailing their climbing experiences and results. These conversations contain coded directional information essential for the subsequent graveyard puzzle.
Cuphead DLC Climbing Contest
Documentation Strategy: Capture screenshots or photographs of every dialogue exchange. The clues vary between game instances, meaning your solution will differ from other players’. I utilized smartphone photography for quick reference, though the game’s built-in screenshot function works equally well.
The climbers’ descriptions function as elaborate riddles referencing compass directions and positional relationships. Unlike static puzzles, this dynamic system ensures each playthrough presents unique challenges while maintaining consistent solving methodology.
Accessing the graveyard requires defeating both Glumstone the Giant and Mortimer Freeze first. Once these boss obstacles are cleared, you’ll encounter a cemetery containing nine distinct headstones arranged in specific formation.
Cuphead DLC Graveyard Puzzle
The central headstone serves purely decorative purposes, leaving eight interactive graves for puzzle resolution. Approach each marker and press the action button to summon spectral entities. Success demands not only identifying correct locations but activating them in precise sequential order.
NPC Assistance: A character positioned to the cemetery’s right offers contextual hints about required components: the Broken Relic and climbers’ testimonies. While helpful, his guidance doesn’t provide the actual solution—that requires your analytical skills.
Understanding the puzzle’s spatial logic proves essential. The eight operational graves correspond to cardinal and intercardinal directions, with climbers’ stories indicating activation sequence through directional references.
The puzzle’s core logic remains consistent despite clue variations. Each climber’s account contains directional indicators pointing toward specific headstones and their activation order. Common directional references include north, south, east, west, and diagonal directions like northeast or southwest.
Analysis Methodology: Cross-reference all three dialogues to identify consistent directional patterns. Look for sequential relationships—one climber might reference positions relative to another’s described location.
Frequent player errors include misinterpreting relative directions or activating graves in incorrect sequences. The puzzle resets after incorrect attempts, requiring systematic approach rather than random experimentation.
Time Investment: First-time solvers typically require 15-30 minutes for successful completion, depending on clue complexity and analytical skills. Experienced players can reduce this to 5-10 minutes with practiced methodology.
For particularly challenging clue sets, consider mapping the eight positions on paper and tracing described relationships visually. This spatial visualization technique dramatically improves solving efficiency.
Successfully solving the graveyard puzzle initiates the Broken Relic’s metamorphosis into the Cursed Relic. This intermediate form introduces gameplay modifications that alter your combat experience, preparing you for the ultimate transformation.
The Cursed Relic subsequently evolves into the Divine Relic, representing the puzzle chain’s pinnacle reward. This powerful artifact provides significant gameplay advantages through dynamic ability rotation and enhanced capabilities.
Djimmi Bonus: After completing the relic transformation, locate and interact with Djimmi the Great to receive a permanent health increase. This valuable upgrade strengthens your survivability against the DLC’s formidable boss encounters.
The Divine Relic’s randomized ability system ensures varied gameplay experiences across sessions, adapting to different combat scenarios automatically. This makes it particularly valuable for players seeking diverse tactical options without manual loadout adjustments.
Understanding this progression system’s mechanics enhances appreciation for the developers’ intricate design. The puzzle represents more than mere item acquisition—it’s a carefully crafted experience rewarding observation, analysis, and persistence.
Action Checklist
- Purchase Broken Relic from Porkrind’s Emporium for 1 coin
- Document all three climbers’ dialogue with screenshots
- Defeat Glumstone the Giant and Mortimer Freeze bosses
- Analyze directional clues and map to graveyard positions
- Activate eight headstones in correct sequence based on clues
- Collect Divine Relic and summon Djimmi for health bonus
No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » Cuphead Divine Relic: How To Solve The Riddle And Unlock The Secret Charm Complete guide to solving Cuphead's graveyard puzzle and unlocking powerful Divine Relic rewards
