You've probably been there. You’ve torched every vulture in the desert, headbashed the Gnorcs into oblivion, and even tracked down that one egg thief who loves to taunt you. But you open the guidebook and see it: 367/400. Or maybe 398/400. It’s infuriating.
Cliff Town is one of those levels in the original Spyro the Dragon (and the Reignited Trilogy) that feels way smaller than it actually is. It’s a vertical playground, a sun-drenched Peace Keepers level that rewards curiosity and punishes those who just run in a straight line. Honestly, the way Insomniac—and later Toys for Bob—hid the spyro cliff town gems is borderline mean.
If you're missing a chunk of treasure, you haven't missed a single gem. You've missed an entire section of the map.
The Secret Ledge That Everyone Misses
Most players finish the main path, reach the "Return Home" vortex near the exit, and realize they’re short. Usually, they're short by about 33 gems.
Here is the thing: there is a massive hidden area behind the very building you start in. You can't see it from the ground. You can't even see it from the first bridge. To get there, you have to reach the highest point of the level. This is the plateau where you find the dragon Marco and a whole bunch of vultures.
Once you’re up there, don't just jump down. Instead, walk to the edge of the cliff behind Marco and look back toward the starting area. You’ll see a narrow ledge running along the back wall of the level. It looks like "out of bounds" territory, but it’s not.
👉 See also: Little Big Planet Still Feels Like a Fever Dream 18 Years Later
Glide across. You'll find several metal chests and loose gems tucked away where the camera barely reaches. It’s the single most common reason people never 100% this level on their first try.
Don't Forget the Cauldrons
Kinda obvious, right? Well, maybe not.
Throughout the town, you’ll see these large, bubbling cooking pots or cauldrons. The Gnorc ladies (the ones with the rolling pins) are usually guarding them. Many players flame the enemies and keep moving, assuming the pots are just background dressing.
They aren't.
Every single cauldron in Cliff Town can be flamed. Most of them contain a single gem, usually a gold or a green one. If you’re at 399/400, there is a 90% chance you left a gem sitting inside a pot near the end of the level. Check the ones right next to the exit vortex especially—it’s easy to get distracted by the "Return Home" prompt and forget to torch the last piece of kitchenware.
✨ Don't miss: Why the 20 Questions Card Game Still Wins in a World of Screens
The Rooftop Scavenger Hunt
Cliff Town is built on verticality. If you’re looking at the floor, you’re losing.
Once you get to the top area (where the whirlwind drops you off), take a moment to look down. You can glide to almost every rooftop in the lower town from here. Some of these roofs have lone red or green gems that Sparx might not pick up on if you’re just walking the streets below.
Tricky Spots to Double-Check:
- The Very Start: Before you even cross the first bridge, turn left. There are two red gems hidden in the tall grass. They’re basically invisible unless you walk right over them.
- The Pylon Glide: Near the top of the level, there are some stone pylons. If you glide around them, there are small ledges with treasure.
- The Metal Chest: There is a reinforced metal chest in this level. You can't charge it, and you can't flame it. You need to find the explosive rocket nearby. Light the fuse, and the rocket will seek out the chest for you.
Why Sparx Might Not Be Helping You
If you're playing the Reignited Trilogy, you probably know the trick where you press the left thumbstick (L3) and Sparx points toward the nearest gem. It’s a lifesaver. However, in Cliff Town, Sparx can be a bit of a tease.
Because the level is so vertical, Sparx might point you toward a wall. He's not broken; he's just pointing to a gem that is fifty feet above you or tucked on a ledge behind the building you're currently standing in. If Sparx is pointing at a solid rock face, it’s a signal that you need to find a whirlwind or a higher vantage point to glide down from.
The Math of 400 Gems
Cliff Town has a total of 400 gems. If you’ve cleared the enemies, you’ve accounted for a good portion of that, as Gnorcs in the first game always drop a gem the first time you kill them.
🔗 Read more: FC 26 Web App: How to Master the Market Before the Game Even Launches
The distribution is usually heavy on the lower-value gems, but those gold (10) and purple (25) ones are almost always tucked away in the "secret" glide areas. If you're missing a large amount, look for chests. If you're missing 1-5 gems, start burning pots and checking the grass at the very beginning of the stage.
Getting all the spyro cliff town gems is basically a rite of passage for completionists. It teaches you that in Spyro's world, the "boundaries" are often just suggestions.
Stop looking at the path in front of you. Start looking at the rooftops and the spaces behind the walls. Once you find that ledge behind the starting building, the rest of the 100% run becomes a breeze.
Your Next Step:
Head back to the plateau where Marco the dragon was standing. Look toward the start of the level and perform a long glide to the right, hugging the outer wall. This should lead you directly to the hidden ledge with the remaining chests you're likely missing.