You’re going to hate the rafters. Seriously. If you’ve made it past the Fallen Archbishop Andreus or you're just stepping into the rain-soaked courtyard of the St. Frangelico Cathedral, you already know Lies of P doesn't play fair. This isn't just another level; it’s the moment the game decides to see if you’ve actually learned how to parry or if you’ve just been getting lucky. This Lies of P cathedral walkthrough focuses on the stuff that actually kills people: the verticality, the decay pools, and that one Shield Skeleton that ruins everyone's day.
Getting Inside and Finding the First Stargazer
The approach to the cathedral is pretty straightforward, but don't get complacent. You’ll cross a bridge where those carcass enemies love to play dead. Pro tip: they aren't dead. Poke them first. Once you hit the St. Frangelico Cathedral Chapel Stargazer, you've reached your hub for the next hour of frustration.
To your right, there’s a path leading to a dark room with a chest. Grab the Hidden Moonstone. You’ll need it. To the left, the real nightmare begins. You’ll see a pool of "Decay" liquid. This stuff is basically the "poison swamp" trope of Neowiz’s soulslike. If that bar fills up, your health and weapon durability start melting. It's annoying. Walk around the edges, or just sprint through if you have enough Ampoules to clear the status effect.
The Rafters: Where Gravity Is Your Biggest Enemy
Most players lose more Ergo to gravity in the Cathedral than to the actual monsters. Once you climb the first ladder, you’re in the rafters. The geometry here is janky. One slight tilt of the thumbstick and P is plummeting to his death.
There are these bloated carcasses that throw acid at you from across the room. Do not try to outrun them while balancing on a thin beam. It won't work. Instead, use your Puppet String Legion Arm to yank them toward you or just use a thermite to pick them off from a distance. There’s a specific spot where a Large Carcass stands near a giant gear. Wait for the gear to rotate, then dash. If you hesitate, the gear pushes you off. Dead.
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Moving the Elevator and Opening the Shortcut
Eventually, you'll reach a mechanism that looks like a giant wooden crank. Interacting with this is non-negotiable. It moves the elevator, creating a permanent shortcut from the Chapel Stargazer up to the higher levels.
Expert Note: If you die before hitting this lever, you have to do the entire rafter run again. Don't be that person. Ignore the items on the side platforms until the lever is pulled.
Once the shortcut is active, you can explore the lower sections more safely. You’ll find the Crafted Cryptic Vessel behind a hidden wall near the rafters’ end. Take this back to Venigni in Hotel Krat later; it kicks off a side quest involving a decrypted photograph and a hidden stash in the Alchemist’s bridge area.
Dealing with the Elite Shield Skeleton
Before you reach the boss, there’s a room with a Shield Skeleton. He’s a jerk. He has a massive wooden shield that deflects almost everything. If you try to mash light attacks, you’ll bounce off, get stunned, and he’ll overhead slam you into the floor.
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The trick? Perfect Guards. Or, if you aren't confident in your timing, use the Aegis Legion Arm. It lets you poke him while staying safe behind your own shield. Alternatively, wait for his big shield bash move, dodge to his right (your left), and get two heavy hits in. He drops the Archbishop’s Diary, which adds a bit of lore about how Frangelico turned into a multi-winged nightmare.
The Path to the Boss Fog
The final stretch involves a long hallway filled with those crawling, exploding carcasses. Don't let them surround you. They build up Decay fast. At the end of this hall, you’ll find a lift. This takes you down to the boss arena door.
- Check the room to the left for a Star Gazer refill.
- Make sure you have Fire Abrasives. The boss is a Carcass, and Carcasses hate fire.
- If you're struggling, summon the Specter outside the door. He’s a great meat shield for the first phase.
Beating Fallen Archbishop Andreus
This guy is the first real "wall" in the game. He has two phases, and the second one is a visual mess.
In Phase 1, he’s a giant tongue-flopping slug. Stay in front of him. His attacks are slow but heavy. When he raises his hand high, wait a beat, then parry. When he does the red "Fury Attack" slam, you have to Perfect Guard it or get out of the way entirely. You cannot regular-block fury attacks.
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Phase 2 starts, and a humanoid figure pops out of his butt. Fun. Most people try to fight the humanoid side because it looks easier to hit. That is a trap. The humanoid side has faster, more erratic reach. Stay behind him and keep fighting the "slug" side from Phase 1. His move set on that side stays almost identical, making the fight way more manageable.
Essential Items You Probably Missed
The Lies of P cathedral walkthrough isn't just about getting to the boss; it's about the loot that makes the rest of the game easier.
- Black Cat and Red Fox: You'll meet these two NPCs near the entrance. Give them the Gold Coin Fruit if you have it. It’s worth staying on their good side for later chapters.
- The Trinity Room: There is a green door in the lower levels. You need a Trinity Key to open it. If you haven't solved the riddle from the ringing phone in Venigni Works, you can't get in yet. Inside is the Blue Bloodship Amulet, which increases your maximum Stamina.
- Electric Coil Stick: If you're still using the starting saber, consider swapping. The blunt damage and elemental shock from the Coil Stick (purchasable from the merchant in Elysion Boulevard) absolutely shreds the mechanical and organic enemies here.
Actionable Next Steps
Once the Archbishop is dead, don't just rush to the next zone.
- Return to Hotel Krat: Talk to Geppetto. He’ll give you the next objective and likely open up more P-Organ upgrades.
- Decipher the Vessel: Give the Crafted Cryptic Vessel to Venigni. He’ll give you a clue that leads back to the very first area of the game for a high-tier quartz and a new outfit.
- Check the Gold Coin Fruit Tree: It should be ready for harvest again. These fruits are your primary currency for buying Star Wishes to buff your Specter for the next big fight in the Malum District.
- Upgrade your weapon to +4 or +5: You should have found enough Moonlight stones in the Cathedral to get your main blade to at least +4. If you haven't, go back and check the side rooms in the rafters.
The Cathedral marks the end of the "early game." From here on, the bosses get faster, the parry windows get tighter, and the story starts questioning whether you're becoming more human or just a more efficient killer. Keep your blade sharp and your fire canisters full.