The Best Early Monster Abilities in Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow

The Best Early Monster Abilities in Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow

Key Takeaways

  • Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow introduced the mechanic of harvesting enemy Souls for combat abilities, like throwing bones or launching fireballs.
  • Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, the sequel, added more Soul types to collect, requiring persistence for rare drops like the defensive Spin Devil.
  • Players can acquire powerful abilities like Skull Archer’s bow attacks or Manticore’s extra scorpion tail attack for strategic advantage.

As a seasoned gamer who has battled countless creatures from the netherworld, I must say that the abilities in Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow are nothing short of magical. Among these, the one ability that stands out to me is the Mini Devil.


In the game “Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow,” an innovative gameplay feature was introduced that significantly enhanced the series. The protagonist, Soma Cruz, had the ability to engage in combat with enemies and collect their Souls for use in battle. Ranging from tossing bones to firing fireballs, the game presented a wealth of options.

In Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, you’ll find a sequel where Soma is once again the main character, and this time there are plenty more collectible entities known as Souls. These Souls manifest in three forms: Bullet, Guardian, and Enchant. Acquiring some of these Souls from monsters can be tricky and may require a bit of luck, so players might need to persist and try multiple times. The Souls that are most sought after by many players early on are those that demand grinding for.

8 Spin Devil

Create A Defensive Tornado

The Best Early Monster Abilities in Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
  • Location: The Lost Village
  • Soul Type: Guardian

In the initial sections of The Lost Village stage, you may encounter the Swirling Imp, which appears as if a devil is ensnared within a twisting maelstrom. This special power fixes Soma in position, with an ominous cyclone enveloping him.

As a gamer, I find this skill to be my ultimate lifesaver! With it, I can dodge enemy attacks while they’re unable to harm me. It’s incredibly handy when there’s an onslaught of enemies like zombie hordes or skeleton patrols, but keep in mind, it comes at a cost – it drains my magic reserves pretty quickly!

7 Ouija Table

Heal HP And MP Upon Sitting Down

The Best Early Monster Abilities in Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
  • Location: The Lost Village
  • Soul Type: Enchant

In the building above Yoko’s store, you’ll find the haunted Ouija Table – a rare and challenging artifact to obtain in The Lost Village. Once acquired, it allows players to use the Soul power, which restores both HP and MP when they sit on any chair within the game (perhaps explaining their numerous appearances). Another valuable healing ability can be obtained from The Creature, resembling a taller version of Frankenstein’s monster. However, this power is even more elusive than the Ouija Table, so players should keep both abilities in mind during their quest.

6 Skeleton Ape

Enhance Throwing Abilities

The Best Early Monster Abilities in Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
  • Location: The Lost Village
  • Soul Type: Enchant

On the opposite end of the linking bridge, which joins The Forgotten Hamlet with the subsequent region, resides the Skeleton Ape beast. This creature is known for hurling explosive kegs towards adversaries. Its skillset and name seem to be a tribute to Donkey Kong, a character renowned for barrel-tossing in various games.

The mastered talent doesn’t operate independently, but instead amplifies other skills, particularly those related to throwing objects. To illustrate, the Skeleton creatures imbue players with the power to hurl bones. Furthermore, the Skeleton Ape, in its ability, can propel that bone even farther.

5 Bomber Armor

Create An Explosive Bomb

The Best Early Monster Abilities in Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
  • Location: Wizardry Lab
  • Soul Type: Bullet

The Bomber Suit of Armor, resembling the Axe Armor, boasts a distinctive red hue. Unlike its counterpart, this armor has the unique ability to launch bombs at players. You can find it nestled within the Wizardry Lab. It’s equally challenging to defeat, but acquiring the attached skill can prove tricky.

In this scenario, players can strategically deploy explosives on the battlefield that will go off after a brief period. While it may not be ideal against swift adversaries, it proves to be quite powerful against bosses. Players can either use the bomb as a trap, similar to the “Bomberman” games, or bolster its potential with the Skeleton Ape skill.

4 Skull Archer

Use Magic To Enhance Arrows

The Best Early Monster Abilities in Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
  • Location: Wizardry Lab
  • Soul Type: Guardian

Among the game’s abilities, Skull Archer stands out as one of the most powerful, not only during the initial stages but throughout the entire gameplay. It’s reasonable to anticipate obtaining this ability from the Wizardry Lab’s main adversary without too much difficulty. With it, players can summon a bow and channel their inner Hawkeye, ruthlessly eliminating opponents.

Continuously employing this technique gradually decreases your MP, yet significantly boosts the power of your attacks, something that might not be immediately apparent to players. Employing around half or even a full bar of MP on a boss can quickly defeat them with just a few attacks. If used correctly, it could potentially turn the game in your favor, making it crucial for players to acquire this powerful ability as soon as possible.

3 Manticore

Grow A Trail To Add An Extra Attack

The Best Early Monster Abilities in Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
  • Location: Wizardry Lab
  • Soul Type: Guardian

In various role-playing games, such as “Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow” and “Dungeons & Dragons”, manticores are mythical creatures that appear. These creatures often take on different forms in stories, resembling a lion with a tail like a scorpion and wings similar to dragons. The tail of the scorpion is significant because it’s the source of an ability that players can acquire in these games.

Upon activation, Manticore acquires the power to transform Soma’s tail into a scorpion’s stinger, automatically striking enemies when players unleash their weapons. An additional attack in gaming can be incredibly beneficial, making this feature another essential addition for players immersed in the Castlevania adventure.

2 Une

Use Plants To Hurt Other Enemies

The Best Early Monster Abilities in Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
  • Location: Garden of Madness
  • Soul Type: Bullet

As a devoted admirer, I’d like to share my findings about this seemingly innocent plant that hides in the Garden of Madness, reminiscent of Poison Ivy’s handiwork from the Batman series. A couple of well-timed strikes while crouched can swiftly eliminate it. Although it doesn’t pose much threat to cautious players, the skill it bestows is certainly worth acquiring.

Players can deploy their own Trap Plant, draining life force from monsters prior to dissolving. Strategically placed Une is capable of inflicting significant damage on larger, slow-moving creatures such as bosses and common enemies like The Beast or Golem. This additional skill proves more effective when used with the Skeleton Ape.

1 Mini Devil

Create A Familiar To Follow And Protect Soma

The Best Early Monster Abilities in Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
  • Location: The Dark Chapel
  • Soul Type: Guardian

In the game ‘Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow’, you’ll come across a small, sinister creature known as a Familiar, often seen near The Dark Chapel, located a few areas into the game. Players have the chance to gain some abilities early on that will allow them to summon this companion to aid them in their journey.

From among these options, Mini Devil stands out as the top choice. It will accompany Soma, automatically focusing on enemies and attacking them using wind magic. However, deploying it will consume MP, but the damage it inflicts is substantial given the consumption. To conserve MP, players should strategically summon and dissolve Mini Devil in areas teeming with numerous monsters.

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2024-09-19 22:55