Glumstone The Giant

Defeat Glumstone The Giant, Cuphead's grumpy gnome boss, by adapting to his multi-phase attacks and environmental changes on the third isle.

Objective: Defeat Glumstone The Giant and collect his ingredient.

Glumstone The Giant is a massive, grumpy gnome who serves as the boss of the third isle in Cuphead. This multi-phase battle tests your dodging skills and ability to adapt to changing environments and attack patterns. He's a formidable foe, but with the right strategy and loadout, you can overcome his stony disposition.

Recommended Loadout

To maximize your chances against Glumstone, consider the following:

• Primary Shot: Crackshot is highly recommended for its homing capabilities. This allows you to focus on dodging Glumstone's relentless attacks while still dealing consistent damage.
• Secondary Shot: Converge is excellent for when you can get close to Glumstone, especially during Phase 2. Its concentrated damage can quickly clear out smaller enemies and chip away at the boss.
• Charm:
  • Heart Ring (Ms. Chalice): If playing as Ms. Chalice, the Heart Ring provides an extra hit point, which can be invaluable for surviving tricky attack patterns.
  • Smoke Bomb (Cuphead/Mugman): For Cuphead and Mugman, the Smoke Bomb is a lifesaver. Its invincibility frames during dashes allow you to phase through projectiles and even the charging bears, making dodging significantly easier.

Phase 1: The Grumpy Giant

In this phase, Glumstone sits in the background, a colossal figure dominating the screen. Your primary focus here is on evasion and consistent damage.

Glumstone's Attacks:

• Acorn Barrage: Small gnomes appear on platforms to your left and right, lobbing acorns directly at you. These are relatively slow and easy to dodge with simple jumps or dashes.
• Charging Bears: Glumstone summons large, brown bears that charge from either the left or right side of the screen. These are telegraphed by a brief animation of the bear appearing before it sprints. The Smoke Bomb charm is exceptionally useful here, allowing you to dash through them. If not using Smoke Bomb, time your jumps carefully to clear them.
• Hand Clap Shockwave: Glumstone will raise his hands and clap them together, creating a large shockwave that travels horizontally across the screen. You must jump over this shockwave. It's a clear visual cue, so pay attention to his arm movements.
• Boulder Drop: Glumstone may occasionally drop large boulders from above. These fall in a predictable pattern, so watch for the shadows and move accordingly.

Strategy for Phase 1:

1. Positioning: Stay towards the center of the screen as much as possible to give yourself ample reaction time for all attacks.
2. Damage: use Crackshot to continuously chip away at Glumstone's health. If you're confident in your dodging, you can switch to Converge when he's stationary and you have a clear shot for faster damage.
3. Dodging Acorns: Jump or dash over the acorns. They are not fast enough to be a major threat if you're attentive.
4. Dodging Bears: This is where Smoke Bomb shines. Dash through them. Otherwise, time your jumps precisely to clear their path.
5. Dodging Shockwaves: Leap over the expanding shockwave when Glumstone claps his hands.
6. Dodging Boulders: Observe the shadows and move to a safe spot.

Phase 2: Inside the Belly

Once you deal enough damage, Glumstone will swallow you whole, transporting you to the treacherous interior of his stomach. The environment changes dramatically, and the focus shifts to platforming and clearing smaller enemies.

Environment and Enemies:

• Moving Platforms: The floor is replaced by a series of moving platforms that shift horizontally and vertically. You'll need to constantly adjust your position to stay airborne.
• Gnome Minions: Smaller gnomes will appear on the platforms, throwing projectiles at you. These are less threatening than Glumstone's direct attacks but can overwhelm you if ignored.
• Bouncing Mushrooms: Large, bouncy mushrooms will appear and bounce around the screen. They can be used as temporary platforms but also pose a collision hazard.

Strategy for Phase 2:

1. Platform Management: Prioritize staying on stable platforms. Use the bouncing mushrooms to reach higher areas or cross gaps if necessary, but be mindful of their unpredictable bounces.
2. Enemy Prioritization: Use Converge here if you can get close to the gnomes. Its concentrated fire can quickly eliminate them, preventing them from becoming a nuisance. Crackshot will still work, but it's less efficient for clearing groups.
3. Damage: While dodging and managing platforms, continue to shoot at Glumstone's exposed belly. Converge is ideal for dealing burst damage when you have a clear shot.
4. Adaptability: This phase requires constant movement and awareness of both the platforms and the enemies. Don't get too fixated on attacking; survival is key.

Phase 3: The Puppet Master

After surviving the digestive ordeal, Glumstone's puppet emerges, controlled by his grumpy spirit. This phase introduces new projectile patterns and a more aggressive enemy.

Glumstone's Puppet Attacks:

• Projectile Barrage: The puppet will shoot various projectiles, including homing missiles and spread shots.
• Gnome Summoning: Like in Phase 1, the puppet will summon gnomes to throw acorns.
• Platform Manipulation: The puppet might cause the platforms to shift or disappear, adding another layer of challenge.
• Giant Fist Slam: The puppet can slam its fist down, creating a localized shockwave.

Strategy for Phase 3:

1. Focus on the Puppet: The primary target is now the puppet. Use Crackshot for consistent damage while you focus on dodging.
2. Dodging Projectiles: Pay close attention to the types of projectiles being fired. Homing missiles require constant movement, while spread shots can be dodged by finding gaps.
3. Dealing with Gnomes: Quickly dispatch the summoned gnomes with Converge if they are close, or use Crackshot if they are further away. Don't let them build up.
4. Platform Awareness: Be ready to adapt to any platform changes. If a platform disappears, be prepared to jump to another or use a dash.
5. Final Push: This is the final stretch. Unleash all your focused attacks on the puppet. If you've managed your Super Meter well, now is the time to use it for a significant damage boost.

Defeating Glumstone The Giant rewards you with his ingredient, bringing you one step closer to fulfilling your contract.