Surface Route: Level 5A – Curse Tower

BLK 5-0A: Whip the first two candles for Hearts. Defeat the Dragon Bones on the next ledge by jumping and whipping between its triple fireball volleys. Grab the Dagger from the candle above it, then Hearts from the next two. Carefully cross the next pit, defeating another Dragon Bones while avoiding falling onto the spiked rotating floor. Head up the stairs.

In the next area, immediately whip left to destroy the incoming Flying Gargoyle. Ascend the staircases, dealing with Flying Gargoyles from both sides. Whip candles for Hearts and Money Bags if needed, but prioritize avoiding enemies.

At the top of the stairs, jump right to the next ledge and ascend more stairs. At the top of the second set, the candle holds a Dagger. Jump right again to the next ledge, ascend a shorter staircase, watching for Flying Gargoyles from the right.

At the top, turn left, whip any Flying Gargoyles from the left, and jump across small ledges. A Gargoyle will appear on each side; whip the left one mid-air and quickly turn to whip the right one. Whip the candle for a large Heart and ascend the stairs.

Enter the next area and immediately defeat the Axe Knight Guard on the left ledge. Avoid its axes, and use a few whips or Sacred Water. Jump onto the ledge and whip the candle on the right for a large Heart. From this ledge, jump to the furthest left ledge, climb the small staircase, and whip the two candles for Hearts. Collect the Money Bag from the last candle and proceed to the exit.

BLK 5-0B: Avoid the Fuzz Busters circling the stone ledges. Collect Hearts from the first few candles. Ascend the first stone staircase on the right, ensuring the Fuzz Buster on the upper-left platform is not near. Go up that platform and left, then up the next staircase.

Jump to the right ledge and defeat the Knight. Take the stairs to the ledge above and defeat another Knight. The screen will begin to scroll down; move upwards quickly to avoid being caught at the bottom.

Jump right over a gap, take the staircase up, and defeat the Knight at the top. If quick, whip the candle above the left-jutting ledge for a large Heart. Jump right to the middle ledge, ascend the staircase. Walk to the edge of the top two steps and jump left to the next floating ledge. If time permits, whip the candle above for a Money Bag.

Jump to the left ledge, go up the stairs, and defeat the Knight on the next ledge. Whip the candle above the left ledges for a Money Bag. Leap from the lower ledge to the right ledge and ascend the staircase. Defeat the Knight, go left, up another staircase, and defeat another Knight. The screen stops auto-scrolling. Whip the candles for Hearts (large on the left, small on the right).

Take the staircase on the right to the next screen. Watch for Flying Gargoyles from the left; kill them with a single whip. Go up the staircase to the upper ledge and whip candles for items while heading left. Be cautious of Flying Gargoyles knocking you onto blue trap door segments, which swivel and cause you to fall. The furthest left trap door leads to instant death. Carefully watch for Gargoyles over the last trap door before reaching the exit.

BLK 5-0C: Collect Hearts from the two candles near the start. Jump to the left stone ledge and collect another Heart from the next candle.