You're walking through a rainy, blood-soaked street in Krat when a telephone starts ringing. It’s loud. It’s jarring. And in a world where everything is trying to disembowel you, a ringing phone feels like a trap. Honestly, it kind of is. This is your introduction to Arlecchino, the self-proclaimed King of Riddles, and the Lies of P riddles he forces you to solve if you want those sweet, sweet Trinity Keys.
Most people mess these up because they overthink the lore. They start looking for deep, philosophical meanings in the clock towers or the puppets' eyes. Don’t do that. The answers are usually simpler than the game wants you to believe. If you miss a riddle, you aren't locked out forever, but you’ll have to find another phone later, which is a massive pain when you just want to open that green door you saw three chapters ago.
Why the King of Riddles Actually Matters
If you’re skipping these, you’re missing out on some of the best defensive gear in the game. Those Trinity Rooms—the ones with the big green triangle symbols—contain outfits, high-tier amulets, and Quartz. Quartz is life in Lies of P. Without it, your P-Organ (the upgrade tree, stay focused) remains weak, and you’ll find yourself getting flattened by bosses like the Green Monster of the Swamp.
Arlecchino isn’t just a voice on a wire. He’s a character with a pretty dark history tied to the fall of Krat. Listening to him rant between riddles actually fills in the gaps of why the puppets went haywire in the first place. He’s obsessed with the idea of puppets having human-like malice. It’s creepy. It’s effective. It’s very Neowiz.
The First Call: Krat City Hall
The first time you encounter the Lies of P riddles is usually near the Krat City Hall Courtyard. You’ll hear that distinct ringing near the bridge.
The riddle is about a "Morning" traveler who walks on four legs, then two, then three. It’s the classic Riddle of the Sphinx. You’ve heard this since elementary school. The answer is Human. It’s easy, almost a trick to make you think the rest will be a breeze. Arlecchino gives you your first Trinity Key, and you can use it back at Venigni Works.
Inside that first room? You’ll find the Blue Blood’s Tailcoat. It looks sharp, but the real prize is the hidden lore note.
The Tricky Stuff: Malum District and Beyond
By the time you hit the Malum District, the game stops playing nice. The second riddle is a bit more abstract. He talks about something that is tall when it's young and short when it's old.
It’s a Candle.
If you get this wrong, Arlecchino doesn't just hang up. He mocks you. He’s a jerk like that. But here’s a pro tip: if you fail a riddle, you can usually offer him a "Bright Red Apple" later to get back in his good graces, or simply wait for the next phone to ring. You aren't permanently screwed, but you are delayed.
The third riddle at the Grand Exhibition is where most players hit a wall. It’s not just a multiple-choice question this time. He asks: "What cannot be used before it is broken?"
The answer is an Egg.
But wait. There’s more. He doesn't just give you the key. He gives you a hint about a statue. You have to go down the hall, find the two statues of women, and rotate one so they face each other. Only then does the secret compartment open. This is the only time the Lies of P riddles require physical interaction with the environment, and it catches a lot of people off guard.
The Logic of the Late Game
As you get closer to Arche Abbey, the riddles turn into psychological tests. He asks about a bruise. He asks about a girl. By this point, you’re likely frustrated by the difficulty spike in the enemies, and Arlecchino’s rambling feels like a distraction.
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In the fourth riddle, found near the Krat Central Station (the second visit), he asks about something that "belongs to you, but others use it more."
It’s your Name.
Simple? Yes. But the atmosphere makes it feel heavier. You’re standing in a ruined station, surrounded by mutated carcasses, answering a phone call from a serial killer puppet. It’s peak Gothic horror.
The Final Confrontation with Arlecchino
Eventually, you’ll find the King of Riddles in the flesh. He’s at the bottom of Arche Abbey, tucked away in a final Trinity Room. He isn't what you expect. He’s a broken, decaying puppet sitting in a chair, surrounded by the remnants of his "art."
This is where the Lies of P riddles reach their climax. He asks you a final question: "Are you a puppet or a human?"
Now, this is crucial for your ending. If you are going for the "Rise of P" ending (the "good" one), you need to lie or tell the truth based on how much humanity you’ve accumulated. Usually, saying you are a Human is the "Lie" that grants you humanity if your springs are reacting.
He also gives you a choice about Venigni. You find out Arlecchino is the one who murdered Venigni’s parents. It’s a brutal revelation. You can choose to kill him or let him rot. Killing him doesn't give you much, but it feels right after everything he’s put the city through.
Quick Cheat Sheet for the Unprepared
If you just want the answers without the fluff, here they are in order:
- Riddle 1: Human
- Riddle 2: Candle
- Riddle 3: Egg (Then go rotate the statues!)
- Riddle 4: Ergo (Wait, some versions/translations vary—the "Name" answer is for the Station, but he often asks about the "Blue Flower" or Ergo late game. If he asks what makes the puppets move, it's Ergo.)
- Riddle 5: This is the "Truth or Lie" moment at the Abbey.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that you need all the keys to beat the game. You don't. You can finish Lies of P without ever picking up a single phone. However, you will be significantly weaker. The defensive parts found in the later Trinity Rooms provide massive resistance to Disruption and Shock, which are the two most annoying status effects in the final chapters.
Another mistake? Thinking the phones are one-time deals. If you hear a phone ringing and keep running because you’re being chased by a giant man with a log, don't worry. It’ll keep ringing. Or it’ll ring at the next location. The game wants you to engage with this content.
Honestly, the Lies of P riddles are Neowiz’s way of paying homage to Batman’s Riddler, but with a much darker, more tragic payoff. Instead of a green suit and a question mark cane, you get a rusted killer who is obsessed with the concept of the soul.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
- Listen for the Ring: Keep your volume up. The telephone ring is distinct and cuts through the music.
- Carry the Apple: Buy the Bright Red Apple from Polendina at the Hotel as soon as it's available. You might need it to bypass a failed riddle at the Opera House.
- Check the Doors: Trinity Doors are always green. If you see one, mark it on your mental map. You usually find the door before the key.
- Interact with Arlecchino: When you finally meet him, talk to him multiple times. There’s a collectible item (the Moon Worlder toy) that you need to give to Venigni to complete a side quest.
Don't overthink the riddles. They are meant to be solved by a tired player who has been fighting for their life for forty minutes. Look for the most obvious, poetic answer, and you’ll usually be right. If you’re stumped, just remember: the answer is rarely "a sword" or "a puppet." It's usually something mundane that humans take for granted. That’s the irony Arlecchino loves.
Go get those keys. That final suit in the last Trinity Room is worth the headache.