You’re walking through the Grand Exhibition, minding your own business, and there he is. Lies of P Black Cat—or Claudia, if we’re being formal—is leaning against a wall with that smug mask and a sister who clearly does all the heavy lifting. He wants a Gold Coin Fruit. Again. You’ve probably already given him one at the Malum District, and now he’s back for seconds. It feels like a scam. Honestly, in a city full of bloodthirsty puppets and carcass monsters, a guy asking for botanical handouts feels like the biggest threat to your sanity.
But here’s the thing about the Black Cat. He isn't just a random NPC filler. He is one half of a tragic, slightly annoying duo that tests whether you're actually roleplaying as a human or just a machine following optimal build guides.
Who is the Black Cat anyway?
The Black Cat and Red Fox are Stalkers. In the world of Krat, being a Stalker usually means you’re a mercenary with a flair for the dramatic and a very loose moral compass. These two are different. They aren't the "honor and glory" types like Alidoro (the real one) or the Bastards. They are survivors.
Black Cat is actually going blind. It’s the Petrification Disease. That’s the "why" behind his constant begging for Gold Coin Fruit. It isn't just a snack; it's the only thing keeping his symptoms at bay. When you first meet them in Venigni Works, they seem like typical opportunists. They offer to help you, they take your stuff, and then they vanish when things get hairy. It’s easy to hate them. Most players do on their first run.
The game does a great job of making you feel used. You do the work, they take a cut. But if you pay attention to the dialogue—especially the stuff Cat says when he thinks you aren't judging him—you realize he’s terrified. He is a kid playing at being a legendary warrior while his body literally turns to stone.
The Gold Coin Fruit Dilemma
Should you give it to him?
Yes. Usually.
Look, Gold Coin Fruit is a renewable resource. You literally grow it on a tree in Hotel Krat. Unless you’re burning through Star Gazers and Specter buffs like crazy, you have plenty. Giving the fruit to the Lies of P Black Cat at the various encounter points (Malum District and Grand Exhibition) is the "Good Guy" path. It builds a weird sort of rapport.
If you keep feeding his habit, something happens toward the end of the game at Arche Abbey.
Usually, NPCs in Souls-likes end up dead or insane. The Black Cat gives you a choice. If you’ve been kind—or at least charitable—he and Red Fox will let you pass without a fight. He’ll even give you his mask. It’s a moment of genuine humanity in a game that’s literally about the struggle to define what being human means.
If you refuse? Well.
You have to kill him. And honestly? It’s a pathetic fight. He isn't a boss. He’s a sick guy with a spear. Killing him feels bad because he’s so clearly outmatched by P at that point in the game. He’s a "speed bump" fight, but the emotional weight is what hits. Red Fox’s reaction later if you kill her brother is... let's just say it makes the final trek up the tower a lot gloomier.
The Arche Abbey Encounter: The Point of No Return
When you reach the outer wall of Arche Abbey, the Black Cat is waiting. This is the culmination of the Lies of P Black Cat questline. He’s standing there, spear in hand, looking like he’s ready for a duel he knows he can't win.
If you gave him the fruit previously, he’ll ask for one more. One final fix.
- Give the Fruit: He thanks you. He sounds relieved. He hands over the Black Cat Mask and tells you to go ahead. You skip a fight. You keep your conscience clean.
- Refuse/Fight: You enter a duel. He uses a versatile spear moveset, but he lacks poise. You can basically bully him. Once he’s down, he’s gone for good.
There is a subtle nuance here regarding the "Truth vs. Lie" mechanic. Lies of P doesn't just track your dialogue choices; it tracks your "Humanity." Engaging with the Cat's plight, even if it feels like a rip-off, contributes to that internal tally that shifts P's awakening. Being "human" often means making the "sub-optimal" choice for the sake of empathy. Giving a rare fruit to a blind thief is peak humanity.
Combat Mechanics: If You Choose Violence
Maybe you’re doing a "No Mercy" run. Or maybe you just really hate his mask. If you decide to fight the Black Cat, you need to treat him like any other human NPC stalker.
He’s fast. He uses a spear that has surprising reach, and he loves to poke from behind a neutral stance. The key is backstabs. Human NPCs in this game are notoriously weak to the "circle-strafe and backstab" meta. He doesn't have the massive health pool of a boss like Laxasia, but he can punish you if you get greedy with slow, heavy weapons.
The Black Cat is susceptible to Acid. If you’re using the Acidic Crystal Spear or the Pandemonium Legion Arm, you can melt his health bar pretty quickly. But again, why would you? The reward for killing him is the same mask he gives you for free if you just hand over a piece of fruit that literally grows on trees.
The Mask and the Lore
The Black Cat Mask is one of the coolest looking headpieces in the game. It’s got that feline, sleek aesthetic that fits the "Stalker" vibe perfectly.
In the lore, masks are used by Stalkers to hide their identities and their "class." The Cat and the Fox aren't from noble lineages. They are the bottom of the barrel. By wearing the mask, the Black Cat isn't just hiding his face; he’s hiding his illness. He’s hiding the fact that his eyes are clouding over. When he finally gives you the mask at Arche Abbey, it’s a sign of total surrender. He’s done pretending. He’s giving up the persona of the Black Cat and just becoming a boy who wants to live another day.
It’s also worth noting his relationship with the Red Fox (Claudia). They aren't actually siblings by blood. They found each other in the slums. Their bond is the only real thing in their lives. If you kill the Cat, the Fox’s dialogue later is heartbreaking. She doesn't care about the Great Covenant or the Petrification Disease anymore; she just wants to kill the puppet that took her only family.
Strategic Summary for Your Playthrough
Most players should aim for the peaceful resolution. Here is the reality of the situation:
- Resource Management: Gold Coin Fruit is easy to get. You get one every 10 minutes or so. By the time you reach the end of the game, you should have 20-30 just sitting in your inventory.
- Ending Impact: While the Black Cat doesn't directly dictate which of the three endings you get (Real Boy, Free from the Puppet String, or Rise of P), your interactions with him affect your Humanity level.
- Efficiency: Skipping the fight at Arche Abbey saves you time and pulse cells. There are much harder fights coming up (looking at you, Laxasia and Simon Manus). Save your energy.
The Lies of P Black Cat represents the moral gray area of Krat. He isn't a hero. He isn't a villain. He’s just a kid who got dealt a bad hand and is trying to scam his way into a few more weeks of sight.
Actionable Next Steps
To ensure you get the best outcome with the Black Cat, follow these specific steps during your run:
- Visit the Gold Coin Tree regularly: Don't let it sit at max capacity. Harvest it every time you return to the Hotel.
- Don't skip the Malum District: Meet them early. If you miss their initial encounters, the final interaction at Arche Abbey might not trigger the "peaceful" option.
- Check your inventory before the Abbey: Make sure you have at least one Gold Coin Fruit on you before you start the climb up the tower.
- Listen to the dialogue: If you’re a lore hunter, don't rush the conversation. The voice acting for the Black Cat is excellent and provides a lot of context for why the city ended up the way it did.
By choosing empathy over efficiency, you unlock the true depth of the narrative. Lies of P is a game about a puppet becoming a man, and nothing is more human than showing mercy to a flawed, dying thief.
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Next Steps for Your Journey:
If you've already dealt with the Black Cat, your next major hurdle is the Red Fox further up the Abbey. Ensure you have another Gold Coin Fruit ready, as the same logic applies to her. Beyond that, start stockpiling Acid Abrasives and Attribute Purification Ampoules; the final boss gauntlet in Arche Abbey is arguably the steepest difficulty spike in the game, and you'll need every consumable you can carry to survive Simon Manus and the Nameless Puppet.