Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
To pass the Brittle King’s Test in Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, defeat Talos in the Clock Tower, equip the Builder Arcana, and use it on Excalibur in the stone inside the Brittle King’s chamber at Notre Dame. That interaction starts the optional boss fight. The safest strategy is to attack from behind with Arcane Whip swing points, using the Vile Trinket Relic to support your movement; the Alucard Sword and Shield offers a more direct way to teleport behind the boss.
How do I start The Brittle King boss fight?
The encounter cannot be activated until you have Builder Arcana. Progress to the Clock Tower, defeat Talos, then travel to Notre Dame and find the chamber near a Sage’s Sigil. Excalibur is visibly lodged in a stone there, with a plaque indicating that the sword must be drawn.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
- Reach the Clock Tower and defeat Talos to obtain Builder Arcana.
- Travel to Notre Dame and locate the Brittle King’s chamber near the Sage’s Sigil.
- Equip Builder Arcana before interacting with Excalibur in the stone.
- Use the Arcana on the sword. The stained-glass window begins the sequence that brings the Brittle King into the room.
As Dave Irwin’s GameSpot guide puts it, “All you need to do is have the right Arcana equipped to draw the sword from the stone.”
What do you get for defeating the Brittle King?
The Brittle King is described as the only truly optional boss in the game. Beating him grants access to Excalibur, one of the game’s most powerful weapons, along with the boss’s Arcana powers. Because the fight is optional, you can continue the main adventure without triggering it, but skipping it means giving up those rewards.
Popular on Amazon
- Medieval Paris, Where the Tolling Bells Herald the End - 1499: Paris is engulfed in flames as monstrous creatures suddenly emerge from the shadows. Armed with the legendary holy whip, the Vampire Killer, Trevor Belmont’s successor ventures into the burning streets and the looming castle to hunt down the beasts. Can they save the city from the brink of destruction?
- Satisfying Whip Action - The iconic whip of the series is now more important than ever! Crack your whip to move around freely like a trapeze artist! Master the whip mechanics and be creative to pounce on your prey like a wolf in fast-paced combats!
- A Large Selection of Weapons and Abilities - The whip is not the only tool at your disposal. You will need to strategically plan your next move in combat and make full use of all the weapons and abilities to stand a chance!
- Environment Hazards That Will make you grit your teeth - Biomes are packed with secrets, traps and puzzles. It is not just about muscles, it's about brains too!
- A New Art Style - Expanding further the series-classic gothic style, this unique colorful art style will let you discover the world of Castlevania like never before.
How can I get behind the Brittle King?
The boss’s large shield makes frontal attacks unreliable except during parts of his attack animations. Reaching his back is the intended way to create consistent openings.
Arcane Whip movement
Use the Arcane Whip’s swing points to pass over or around the boss, then attack from behind while he is committed to an animation. The Vile Trinket Relic is recommended for this mobility-focused approach, but it supports the tactic rather than replacing the required Builder Arcana.
Also popular on Amazon
- 17 Levels - Each one with its own atmosphere, foes and secrets to discover
- 5 Bosses - Made by the most sadistic of the devs, raised on the salt of the testers
- 150 or so weapons and skills - Spears, swords, bows, magic spells, shields, pets, frying pans etc; You name it, we got it
- Unlock the four original Dead Cells DLCs, giving you late-game content plus an entire new pathway to follow, with an alternative ending and tons of new enemies, weapons & outfits
- Battle through the corridors of Dracula’s Castle; Wield weapons against monsters to reach the throne room of the Dark Lord
Alucard Sword and Shield
If you have the Alucard Sword and Shield, each attack can teleport you behind the Brittle King. This bypasses much of his frontal defense and is the most direct alternative to swinging around the arena.
| Approach | Positioning | Equipment emphasis | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arcane Whip | Swing to the back, then attack | Vile Trinket Relic recommended | Missing a swing point can leave you in front of the shield |
| Alucard Sword and Shield | Teleport behind him with attacks | Alucard Sword and Shield | Requires having that equipment available |
| Frontal attacks | Stay in front and wait for openings | No special mobility item | The shield blocks or limits attacks outside his attack animations |
Which attacks should I dodge?
Survival depends on recognizing the attack that is starting rather than staying locked onto the boss.
Also popular on Amazon
- LIMITED EDITION: Official Limited Run Games release #251 of the Castlevania Dominus Collection featuring Order of Ecclesia cover art for Nintendo Switch
- GAME FORMAT: Physical DVD-ROM release, not a digital download, packaged in standard Nintendo Switch game case
- CONTENT: Action-packed collection of classic Castlevania games, rated T for Teen by ESRB
- PACKAGING DIMENSIONS: Comes in standard Switch case measuring 6 inches high, 3 inches wide, and 2 inches deep
- REGION AND LANGUAGE: US release with English language support, compatible with Nintendo Switch systems
- Sword thrust: Parry it if your timing is reliable; otherwise move clear of the thrust line.
- Shield bash: The impact releases glass shards. Keep moving and evade the projectiles; they travel relatively slowly.
- Jumping attack: The landing has a wide radius, so jump away or retreat far enough to avoid the full area.
- Raised shield and sunlight: This is the most dangerous sequence. Damaging beams appear, and you must read the pattern and move into the remaining safe space.
How do the Brittle King’s phases change?
The beam attack becomes harder to read as the boss loses health. Around half health, the light-beam patterns last longer and leave less safe floor. At roughly one-quarter health, beams fire from the boss’s sides and rise toward his head, changing where a safe position can exist. Keep your movement flexible instead of assuming that a spot safe earlier in the fight will remain safe.
What is the safest fight sequence?
- Enter with Builder Arcana already equipped so the Excalibur interaction has triggered correctly.
- Move immediately toward a route behind the boss using Arcane Whip swing points, or use the Alucard Sword and Shield if available.
- Attack from behind, then disengage before the next sword thrust, leap, or shield bash.
- When glass shards appear, continue moving until they pass rather than trying to trade damage.
- When the shield rises, stop attacking and identify the beam-free space.
- Expect longer beam patterns after the boss reaches about half health and side-emitted beams near one-quarter health.
- Repeat the back-positioning cycle until the Brittle King falls, then collect the Excalibur and Arcana rewards.
Why is the Brittle King’s Test worth doing?
This optional encounter concentrates two of the game’s most valuable rewards behind a short progression check: Builder Arcana proves you have defeated Talos, while the stone-and-sword interaction unlocks the fight itself. Once the shield and beam patterns are understood, a back-attack setup removes the main obstacle that makes direct damage ineffective.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Also popular on Amazon
- Classics that defined the Castlevania series.
- Includes the "History of Castlevania - Book of the Crescent Moon" ebook.
- This includes eight classic Castlevania games preserved on one disc with a full-color manual.
- The Castlevania Anniversary Collection on physical disc for the PlayStation 4. Also works on PlayStation 5. Region-free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I trigger the Brittle King fight without Builder Arcana?
No. The sword-in-the-stone interaction requires Builder Arcana, which comes from defeating Talos in the Clock Tower. Reaching Notre Dame before that does not provide the activation needed to start the encounter.
Is the Vile Trinket Relic required for the Arcane Whip strategy?
No. It is the recommended relic for the swing-point approach, but the essential requirement is access to Arcane Whip movement and a way to attack from behind. The relic improves that plan rather than serving as the fight’s key.
Also popular on Amazon
- 17 Levels - Each one with its own atmosphere, foes and secrets to discover
- 5 Bosses - Made by the most sadistic of the devs, raised on the salt of the testers
- 150 or so weapons and skills - Spears, swords, bows, magic spells, shields, pets, frying pans etc; You name it, we got it
- Unlock the four original Dead Cells DLCs, giving you late-game content plus an entire new pathway to follow, with an alternative ending and tons of new enemies, weapons & outfits
- Battle through the corridors of Dracula’s Castle; Wield weapons against monsters to reach the throne room of the Dark Lord
Do I need the Alucard Sword and Shield to win?
No. It is an alternative that teleports you behind the boss with each attack and can neutralize his frontal defense. Arcane Whip positioning remains the other documented route.
What tells me the beam attack is about to start?
The Brittle King raises his shield before sunlight beams emit. Treat that animation as a cue to stop attacking, read the beam pattern, and move into the open space.
Quick Recap
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.
