You’ve finally made it past the Malum District and the Red Lobster Inn. Honestly, the game feels like it’s hitting a stride here. You’re headed to the Grand Exhibition Lies of P players often cite as one of the most visually stunning but mechanically punishing sections of the entire experience. It’s a massive, sprawling museum of "progress" that has essentially become a graveyard for puppets and humans alike.
Getting through this place isn't just about swinging a big sword. It’s about atmosphere. It’s about understanding how Neowiz and Round8 Studio transitioned from the grime of the streets to the high-society horror of the world’s fair. If you're looking for the Saintess of Mercy Statue or just trying to figure out why a giant wrestling champion is screaming at you, you’re in the right spot.
Entering the Grand Exhibition: More Than Just a Museum
The Grand Exhibition isn't just another level. It’s a shift. By the time you reach the gates, you’ve likely dealt with the King of Puppets and felt that brief moment of "Oh, I might actually be good at this." Then the Exhibition humbles you. The architecture is inspired by the real-world 1851 Great Exhibition in London, specifically the Crystal Palace. But instead of steam engines and looms, you get carcass-human hybrids and puppets that move with a sickening, jerky fluidity.
Most people struggle with the verticality here. You aren't just walking down hallways; you're navigating rafters and balconies. One wrong step and you're falling into a pit of acidic waste or landing right in front of a shield-wielding elite puppet. It's brutal.
The enemies here introduce a lot of "Disruption." That’s the status effect that just kills you instantly if the bar fills up. No second chances. No health bar depletion. Just dead. You’ll see these tripod-like machines and strange growths on the walls. Keep your eyes on that bar. If it starts ticking up, back off. There is no "powering through" Disruption.
The Lorenzini Arcade Nightmare
Before you even get deep into the Grand Exhibition proper, you have to survive the Lorenzini Arcade. This place is a maze. It’s dark, cramped, and filled with the wine cellar from hell. You'll encounter these bloated carcass enemies that spray acid.
Pro tip: The wine cellar floor is flooded. If you see bubbles, something is about to jump out. Also, the keys. You need the Lorenzini Arcade Underground Passage Key to make any real progress. Don't just wander aimlessly. Look for the merchant near the fountain; he’s one of the few friendly faces left, and he sells some decent Throwing Objects which, frankly, are the secret easy mode for Lies of P.
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The Puzzles and the Saintess of Mercy
You’ll eventually find a room with two statues and a bunch of buttons. The Grand Exhibition Lies of P puzzle is one of the few times the game asks you to use your brain instead of your parry timing. You need to make the statues mirror each other. It’s not incredibly hard, but in the heat of a "souls-like" run, it can be frustrating.
- Find the statue that is already fixed.
- Rotate the other statue until it matches the orientation.
- Pull the lever.
Completing this opens the path to the Saintess of Mercy Statue. This is arguably the most important room in the mid-game. Why? Because it’s where you can respec. If you’ve realized that your "Motivity" build is actually garbage and you want to switch to "Technique," this is your sanctuary. You need Gold Coin Fruits to reset your level, P-Organ, and Legion Arm. It’s a literal godsend.
Simon Manus makes his first "real" appearance here, too. He’s the leader of the Alchemists, and his dialogue starts to peel back the layers of what the Petrification Disease actually is. He’s not just a villain; he’s a philosopher of evolution. Or a madman. Usually both in this genre.
Dealing with the Shield Puppets
The large puppets with the rectangular shields are the gatekeepers of the Exhibition. They are annoying. If you hit the shield, you bounce off, leaving you wide open. The trick isn't to break the shield. The trick is to dodge left. For some reason, their tracking on the right side is much better. If you stay on their left hip, they’ll whiff most of their bashes.
Or, use the Aegis Legion Arm. It’s the shield vs. shield meta. If you can time the explosion on the Aegis, you’ll stagger them instantly.
The Boss: Champion Victor
Then there’s the big guy. Champion Victor. If the King of Puppets was a test of your parry skills, Victor is a test of your movement. He’s basically a wrestler on steroids—specifically, "Ergo-enhanced" steroids. He doesn't have a weapon. He just has giant metal fists and a lot of anger.
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Victor is a two-phase fight, but unlike some bosses, he doesn't transform into a giant bird or a pile of sludge. He just gets faster. He starts using "Fury Attacks" (the ones where he glows red) more frequently. You cannot block these normally. You either have to land a Perfect Guard or be nowhere near him.
Victor’s Move Set Breakdown:
- The Charging Tackle: He’ll put his shoulder down and run at you. If you dodge too early, he tracks you. Wait until he’s about two feet away.
- The Five-Punch Combo: He swings wildly. It’s tempting to parry every hit, but honestly? Just back up. Let him tire himself out, then jump in for a heavy attack.
- The Elbow Drop: This happens mostly in phase two. He jumps high. Don't look at him; look at his shadow on the floor.
The biggest mistake players make with Victor is getting greedy. He has very short "down periods." You get one, maybe two hits, then you need to prepare for the next grapple. If he catches you with a grab, he’ll slam you into the dirt for massive damage.
Secret Items You Might Have Missed
The Grand Exhibition Lies of P map is dense. There’s a specific phone booth outside the entrance where Arlecchino, the King of Riddles, will call you. If you answer correctly, you get a Trinity Key. This opens a door inside the Exhibition that contains the Workforce Mastery Perk and some high-tier upgrade materials.
The riddle is: "What cannot be used but is taken away from you every morning?"
The answer: Sleep.
Don't miss the Quixotic record, either. You get it from the Red Fox and Black Cat if you give them some Gold Coin Fruit. It’s a great track for the hotel, and it helps push your "Humanity" score up. If you're going for the "Rise of P" ending, every record matters. You have to listen to them all the way through at the hotel for the points to count. You'll know it's working when you see the "Your springs are reacting" or "You feel warmth" message.
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The Alchemist Connection
As you navigate the upper rafters, you’ll find notes detailing the experiments conducted by the Alchemists. They weren't just trying to cure the disease; they were trying to create a "Superior Human." This is where the story gets dark. You see the bodies of people who were fused with puppets.
It explains why the Exhibition is full of "Carcasses"—those fleshy, mutated monsters. They are the failed results of the Alchemists' work. When you see a puppet fighting a carcass, just let them. Seriously. Stand back, let them kill each other, and then finish off the survivor. It saves you durability and pulse cells.
Essential Gear for This Zone
If you’re struggling, change your loadout. The Grand Exhibition Lies of P level rewards fire damage against carcasses and electric damage against puppets. Since this area has both, the Salamander Dagger or the Electric Coil Stick are your best friends.
- Amulets: Carry the Patience Amulet if you have it. You'll be doing a lot of dodging, and stamina regeneration is king.
- Defense Parts: Pack the best "Disruption Resistance" cartridge you own.
- Legion Arm: Falcon Eyes is great for sniping the bombers on the rafters before they can knock you off.
The rafters are the deadliest part of the level. There are puppets that throw electric jars at you while you're balancing on narrow beams. If you try to rush them, you’ll fall. Use a throwalbe like a Thermite or a Sawtoothed Wheel to knock them off their perch first. It's not "cheese"; it's survival.
Actionable Next Steps for Success
Once you clear the Grand Exhibition, the game changes. You get access to the Barren Swamp, which is a whole other nightmare, but the Exhibition is the final "test" of the mid-game.
- Go to the Saintess of Mercy Statue immediately after beating Victor. Even if you don't want to respec, just unlock the room so you can fast-travel there later.
- Talk to Simon Manus after the boss fight. Choose your dialogue carefully. Your "Truth vs. Lie" choices here heavily impact the late-game world state.
- Return to Hotel Krat and check in with Antonia. The story beat involving her illness progresses right after the Exhibition.
- Check the Golden Tree. You’ll need a fresh batch of Gold Coin Fruits for the upcoming areas, especially for the boss summons (Specters) if you use them.
The Grand Exhibition is a masterpiece of level design, but it’s designed to frustrate you. Take it slow. Don't let the Disruption bar fill up. And for the love of everything, don't try to out-wrestle Victor. Just move.