Recommended Free Tools
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Part 3 of Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse takes Rose Belmont through the Catacombs of Paris, a route built around saws, spikes, Chaos Shards and enemies that punish hesitation. The reliable path is to use the Death Marks as your navigation system, obtain the Pair of Longswords before tackling the longest trap rooms, claim the Necro Charm in the Jaws of Limbo, and then collect the Whip in the Hall of the Fallen Angels.
There is one important boss caveat: Death’s first Catacombs encounter is a scripted story loss in normal play, not a conventional victory fight. Prepare for the runback, trigger the scene, and continue through the Collapsed Path of Orpheus to reach the Ferryman and Dracula’s Castle.
What you need before entering the Catacombs
Part 3 begins after Rose has defeated The Fallen, Joan of Arc and Medusa. Their keys open the underground Catacombs of Paris. This chapter contains the first Whip that deals damage and unlocks fast travel once the area is cleared.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
- Core movement: Holy Light, wall jumps and Sharpened Anchors are the tools that make the saw, spike and Chaos Shard rooms manageable.
- Checkpoint habit: Save at every Mirror of Life before committing to a long hazard sequence. The two most important saves are at the Quarry Elevator and the Realm of Old Night Mirror of Life.
- Navigation rule: In the middle of the Catacombs, green Death Marks are the intended route. If a room appears to have several exits, look for the marks before choosing a direction.
- Combat rule: Clear enemies before beginning a traversal attempt. A projectile, Fleaman or exploding Skull Spider can turn a safe jump into a death while you are already committed to it.
The chapter is less about grinding damage than about controlling space. Treat each room as two separate jobs: remove threats while standing on a stable platform, then cross the hazard pattern with no enemy pressure.
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
Catacombs route at a glance
| Area | What to do | Important result |
|---|---|---|
| Catacomb Entrance to Quarry Elevator | Descend through skull rooms, Ghosts, Chaos Shard walls, Skull Spiders, Bone Pillars, saws and spikes. Use Holy Light and Sharpened Anchors. | First Mirror of Life |
| Path of the Abyss and Crossroads of the Dead | Activate the lever, open the Mourning Bead chest and speak with the Spirit. | Death Mark clue |
| Death Mark route | Follow the green marks, defeat Biphrons, Skull Spiders and the Giant Skeleton, then return to the Crossroads. | Access to the Longsword lever and hidden chest |
| Gallery of Teeth and De Rais Necropolis | Lower the dragon skulls into ramps and cross the saw-and-spike rooms using movement abilities. | Progress toward Jaws of Limbo |
| Jaws of Limbo | Defeat Bone Pillars, survive the enemy gauntlet and pull the final lever. | Necro Charm |
| Throat of Hell to Hall of the Fallen Angels | Collect the Wise Heart Fragment and Ebony Claw, save at the Mirror, cross the Blood Pits and open the chest. | Whip |
| Death and Collapsed Path of Orpheus | Use the Lifts, trigger Death’s scene, then climb the escape route. | Ferryman door and Dracula’s Castle route |
First descent: reaching the Quarry Elevator Mirror
Move through the skull rooms
Start at the Catacomb Entrance and descend through the skull-filled rooms. Ghosts and Skull Spiders are placed to make you stop in awkward positions, while Chaos Shard walls restrict the obvious line. Do not rush past an enemy simply because the next platform is visible. Stand on a safe ledge, remove the room’s threats, and only then line up the jump or Anchor.
Handle the first Skull Spiders
A Skull Spider explodes after one hit. Strike once and immediately move away; a second attack is unnecessary and staying beside it is what causes most of the damage. If two spiders occupy the same landing area, wake one at a time and retreat to the platform you came from rather than fighting in the middle of the hazard.
Cross Bone Pillars and blades
Bone Pillars are dragon-headed obstacles that breathe fire. Their heads are the target. Attack while descending past the pillar or from the nearest stable platform, then wait for the fire pattern to finish before crossing. In the saw rooms, Holy Light lets you clear a gap without exposing Rose to the full blade cycle; Sharpened Anchors are safer when a direct jump would leave you short of the far ledge.
Continue through the spikes and reach the Quarry Elevator. Activate the first Mirror of Life before returning toward the Path of the Abyss.
Getting the Death Mark clue at the Crossroads
Open the Mourning Bead chest
From the Quarry Elevator Mirror, re-enter the Path of the Abyss and activate its lever. The lever opens the chest containing the Mourning Bead. Collect it before crossing onward; the surrounding route is designed to be revisited, so a missed lever can make the area appear blocked later.
Speak with the Spirit
Proceed to the Crossroads of the Dead and speak with the Spirit. The conversation provides the Death Mark clue: green marks indicate the correct path and tie the route to the Shadow card. Treat every green mark as a navigation instruction, not decoration. When a branching room seems to send you backward, follow the marks down the left side.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Pair of Longswords: the Death Mark route
Clear the left-side gauntlet
Follow the marks down the left route. Biphrons and Skull Spiders share the approach, so create a safe pocket before advancing. Hit a Skull Spider once, retreat, and then deal with the Biphron from a position where its movement cannot push you into a pit. The Giant Skeleton farther along is another positioning check: keep enough floor behind Rose to retreat instead of fighting with your back against a hazard.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Return to the Crossroads lever
After the gauntlet, return to the Crossroads. Operate the lever that lowers the dragon skulls into ramps. These skulls are not merely scenery; they create the platforms needed to reach the hidden chest. If the ramps are still high, you have not activated the correct lever.
Open the hidden chest
Use the new ramps to reach the chest containing the Pair of Longswords. This is Rose’s fast-combo weapon in the chapter. Its value is sustained, close-range pressure: it is useful when a room gives you a stable floor and several quick targets, but it does not replace the Whip’s reach or tip-damage timing.
Gallery of Teeth and De Rais Necropolis
Set the platforms before attempting the crossing
Operate the Crossroads levers until the dragon skulls form the ramps shown by the route. Then move through the Gallery of Teeth and into De Rais Necropolis. Confirm the platform arrangement before jumping into a saw sequence; attempting to improvise halfway through usually leaves Rose on the wrong side of a retracting route.
Use the safest movement option for each gap
- Holy Light: Use it for a controlled gap when a normal jump would require passing directly over a blade or spike.
- Sharpened Anchors: Use an Anchor to reduce the time Rose spends over a hazard, especially when the destination is offset vertically.
- Wall jumps: In vertical shafts, alternate wall contacts deliberately. Do not hold a direction into a wall and expect the next jump to correct itself.
- Timed drops: Wait for a saw to pass, drop to the next ledge, and immediately move to the side. A successful landing is not safe if Rose remains beneath the next blade.
Look for Wall Chickens and Virgin Mary Statues while progressing. Collect them from stable positions rather than detouring during an active saw cycle.
Jaws of Limbo and the Necro Charm
Defeat the Bone Pillars first
The Jaws of Limbo begins with Bone Pillars and an enemy gauntlet. Target the dragon heads and keep Rose on the platform that gives the most room to retreat. Fire from a lower or adjacent ledge can be safer than standing directly beneath a pillar’s breath.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Cross the final saw-and-spike route
The route becomes a sequence of saws, spikes and narrow landings. Clear each enemy group before starting the next traversal attempt. If a Fleaman lands on Rose, stop trying to jump and shake it off immediately; it continues inflicting damage until removed. Once the room is clear, watch one complete hazard cycle before moving. Learning the timing costs less health than reacting mid-crossing.
Pull the lever and claim the charm
At the end of the complex route, pull the lever and open the chest containing the Necro Charm. The charm increases damage after a kill, so it is strongest when Rose can chain targets in a room. It does not make the trap sections safe by itself; movement and enemy clearance still come first.
Throat of Hell: collecting the Whip
Collect the chapter items
Continue through the Throat of Hell and collect the Wise Heart Fragment and Ebony Claw. These pickups sit on the route to the next checkpoint, so do not leave the area before checking the ledges and alcoves around the traversal line.
Save at the Realm of Old Night
Activate the Realm of Old Night Mirror of Life before crossing the Blood Pits. This is the correct checkpoint for the longest remaining approach and the later Death runback.
Cross the Blood Pits
Use Holy Light and Anchors to minimize exposure over the pits. Direct jumps are faster when the landing is wide and the hazard cycle is predictable; choose the slower ability-assisted route when a missed landing would force a full restart from the Mirror. In the Hall of the Fallen Angels, open the chest to obtain the Whip, Rose’s final weapon family for this chapter.
How to use the Whip effectively
The Whip’s most important property is damage timing: the furthest point of the attack deals the most damage. Keep Rose far enough away for the tip to connect instead of standing inside an enemy’s body. Reposition between delayed attacks, and practice diagonal strikes because Rose can whip in multiple directions.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
| Weapon | Best use | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Pair of Longswords | Fast combo strings against enemies on a stable platform | Requires closer positioning and gives less reach than the Whip |
| Whip | Tip hits, diagonal attacks and safer spacing around hazards | Damage is highest only at the far end of the attack, so poor spacing reduces its benefit |
Use the Longswords when a room lets you stay mobile at close range. Switch to the Whip when an enemy must be hit from the edge of a platform, across a narrow gap or while you are aligning a traversal move. Neither weapon removes the need to clear a room before crossing it.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Enemy-by-enemy tactics
Ghosts
Ghosts appear early in the descent and are dangerous mainly because they occupy the same space Rose needs for a jump. Remove them from a stable ledge before moving toward the next platform.
Skull Spiders
One hit triggers their explosion. Strike once, retreat immediately and wait for the blast to finish. Never linger to add another attack.
Fleamen
A Fleaman can jump onto Rose and continue dealing damage. Create space as soon as it lands and shake it off before attempting a jump, attack string or Anchor.
Biphrons
Fight Biphrons where the floor is widest. Their encounter is a positioning test: remove them before entering the narrow part of the Death Mark route.
Skeleton Archers
Skeleton Archers turn a platforming room into a timing problem. Clear the firing position first, then wait for the next hazard cycle instead of crossing while an arrow can force a midair correction.
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Red Skeletons and Blood Skeletons
These skeleton variants should be handled before traversal. Keep Rose on a platform with room to retreat, finish the group, and only then commit to the next saw or spike sequence.
Skelerangs
Do not begin a jump while a Skelerang is controlling the landing zone. Move to a stable edge, eliminate the threat, and use the resulting clear window for the crossing.
Giant Skeletons
Fight Giant Skeletons with retreat space behind Rose. The goal is not to stand under the target and trade hits; it is to keep a safe line for backing away from attacks and nearby hazards.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsBone Pillars
Target the dragon heads. When descending, attack from the side as Rose passes the head, then wait for the fire breath to end before moving through. In a horizontal crossing, use the nearest safe platform rather than trying to rush beneath an active pillar.
Death: what happens in the first encounter
Prepare the runback
Before entering Death’s room, activate the nearby Mirror of Life and use both Lifts. These steps shorten the return route if you need to repeat the approach.
Do not treat it as a normal boss clear
Death is Dracula’s right-hand man and the Part 3 boss, but the first Catacombs encounter is effectively unwinnable for ordinary play. After the dialogue, Death usually defeats Rose in one hit, and a cutscene advances the story. There is no Arcana reward or new ability attached to this first fight. Your objective is to arrive prepared, trigger the scene and watch for the transition rather than spending resources on a conventional damage strategy.
Escaping through the Collapsed Path of Orpheus
Climb after the cutscene
Rose wakes in the Collapsed Path of Orpheus. Climb using Holy Light, wall jumps, Chaos Shard passages and Anchors. The route reverses the chapter’s central lesson: movement abilities are safer than forcing a direct jump through a broken section.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteCollect the alcove statue
Check the alcove for the Virgin Mary Statue while climbing. Move into the alcove when the immediate hazard is clear, collect the statue, and return to the main vertical route rather than attempting to jump out during an active cycle.
Use the Ferryman door
At the top, use the blue Ferryman door. A Mirror of Life appears near the exit. Pull the final lever to open the gate; the passage reveals the route toward Dracula’s Castle and completes the Catacombs section.
Quick Recap
Common mistakes and fast fixes
- Missing the Longswords: Return to the Crossroads, follow the green Death Marks down the left side, then operate the lever that lowers the dragon skull ramps.
- Getting lost after the Spirit: The green marks are the clue. They connect the Crossroads route to the Shadow card and lead toward the Longsword chest.
- Taking damage from Skull Spiders: One hit is enough. Retreat immediately after the strike.
- Being pinned by a Fleaman: Stop traversal and shake it off. Continuing to jump while it is attached compounds the damage.
- Falling in saw rooms: Clear enemies, watch one complete blade cycle, then choose Holy Light or an Anchor when a direct jump has little margin.
- Running out of health before Death: Save at the Realm of Old Night Mirror of Life and use both Lifts before entering the boss room.
- Trying to farm a Death reward: The first encounter has no Arcana reward or ability. It is a story transition, not a normal victory condition.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
