You’re standing in the entrance of Dracula’s Castle, and honestly, it feels a bit different this time. It’s 1944. World War II is raging outside, but inside these damp stone walls, Jonathan Morris and Charlotte Aulin are dealing with a vampire painter named Brauner who’s decided to hijack the dark lord’s real estate. If you’re looking for a Castlevania DS Portrait of Ruin walkthrough, you probably already know that this game isn't just about whipping candles. It’s about managing two people at once, jumping into cursed paintings, and trying to figure out why your whip feels like a wet noodle for the first five hours.
Most people mess up the early game by ignoring Charlotte. Don't do that. She’s not just a support character; she’s a nuclear option if you know how to charge her spells.
The Dual Hero Mechanic: Why You’re Failing
Let’s get one thing straight: you have to use both characters. Jonathan is your traditional sub-weapon guy. He’s got the Vampire Killer, but since he isn’t a direct Belmont, he can't tap into its full power yet. Charlotte is your mage. The "Partner" system is the heart of any decent Castlevania DS Portrait of Ruin walkthrough.
You can summon your partner with a tap of the R button. They’ll follow you around and attack, but they share your MP bar. If they get hit, you lose MP. If you run out of MP, they vanish. It's a risk. However, the "Dual Crash" attacks are where the real damage happens. You’ll find these throughout the castle—like the "Thousand Edge" or "Meteor"—and they consume a massive chunk of your bar to clear the screen.
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The best way to play? Use Jonathan for crowd control and Charlotte for bosses. Her "Heal" spell is a literal lifesaver, and "Ice Fang" can cheese several early encounters.
Navigating the Paintings
Brauner’s castle is weird. Instead of one massive interconnected map like Symphony of the Night, it’s a hub world leading into various paintings. Each painting is a self-contained level.
- City of Haze: Your basic introductory level. Get used to the controls here. The boss, Dullahan, is a pushover if you stay behind him.
- Sandy Grave: This is where the difficulty spikes. The rolling boulders and the sand traps are annoying. You’ll meet Astarte here. Pro tip: She can charm Jonathan, making him turn on Charlotte. If that happens, switch to Charlotte immediately and run away until it wears off.
- Nation of Fools: It’s an upside-down circus. It’s disorienting. You’ll want the "Gravity Boots" or high-jump abilities later to fully clear this out, but for now, just focus on surviving the Legion boss fight.
- Forest of Doom: Lots of poison. Bring antidotes. Or better yet, use Charlotte's "Purify" spell.
The game layout is deceptive. You’ll think you’re almost done, then you realize there are four more paintings later that are just harder versions of the first four. It’s a bit of a grind, but the loot is better.
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Unlocking the True Ending (The Part Everyone Misses)
This is the most important part of any Castlevania DS Portrait of Ruin walkthrough. If you just kill Brauner, you get the "bad" ending. The game just ends. To get the real ending and explore the second half of the castle, you need to save the twins, Stella and Loretta.
When you fight them, do not kill them.
You need the "Sanctuary" spell. It’s hidden in the Sandy Grave painting behind a wall you have to break. It takes a long time to cast. You have to distract the sisters with Jonathan while Charlotte charges the spell. Once it hits, they are cured of their vampirism, and the path to the true final bosses—Dracula and Death—opens up. Yes, you fight them both at the same time. It’s brutal.
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Essential Gear and Grinding
Stop buying potions. Seriously. They’re expensive and you’ll find plenty if you explore. Instead, focus on the quests given by Wind (the ghost guy in the hallway). He’s the one who gives you the best upgrades, including the "Double Jump" and new sub-weapons.
- The Mastery System: Unlike other games, your sub-weapons get stronger the more you use them. You get "SP" (Skill Points) for every enemy killed. Find a room with infinite spawning zombies (like in the City of Haze) and just stand there for twenty minutes. Maxing out the "Shuriken" or "Bible" makes Jonathan a god.
- Charlotte’s Spells: She doesn't learn spells by leveling up. She has to "absorb" them or find them. When an enemy casts a spell with a blue circle, have Charlotte hold the attack button to absorb it. This is how you get the best magic in the game.
- The Vampire Killer: To unlock the true power of the whip, you have to fight the "Memory of a Belmont" (Richter Belmont) after curing the sisters. Be warned: he’s harder than the final boss. He uses every trick from Rondo of Blood. Use the "Holy Water" and stay mobile.
The Dracula and Death Tag-Team
This fight is legendary for a reason. You’re fighting the two most iconic villains simultaneously. Death flies around with his scythes while Dracula teleports and shoots fireballs.
Focus on Dracula first. His hitbox is bigger. When they team up for a "Big Bang" attack, get to the corners of the screen. If you’ve been following a Castlevania DS Portrait of Ruin walkthrough correctly, you should have the "Cream Pie" or "Paper Airplane" sub-weapons. I’m not joking. The "Cream Pie" deals dark damage, which Dracula is surprisingly weak to in certain phases. It's hilarious and effective.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
If you want to 100% this game without pulling your hair out, follow these specific beats:
- Check every ceiling: Portrait of Ruin loves hiding secret rooms in the ceiling rather than the walls. If you see a weird crack, jump and hit it.
- Use the Map: The bottom screen is your best friend. If there’s a gap in the border of a room, there’s a secret there.
- Quest Priority: Complete Wind’s "Thieving Art" quest as soon as possible. It lets you steal items from enemies, which is the only way to get certain rare crafting materials.
- Element Matching: Enemies are incredibly sensitive to elements. If your whip isn't doing damage, switch to a sword with fire or ice. Charlotte’s spells are colored by element; pay attention to the resist messages on screen.
- Don't ignore the shop: Gold is actually useful here. Vincent (the priest) sells some high-end armor late in the game that makes the final gauntlet much more manageable.
Once you beat the game with the true ending, you unlock "Richter Mode" and "Sisters Mode." These are entirely different ways to play the game that ignore the RPG elements and focus on pure action. It’s like getting three games in one. Go back into the Sandy Grave and find that Sanctuary spell—it’s the difference between a 5-hour game and a 15-hour masterpiece.