Shopkeeper's Wares: What to Buy

Master Porkrind's Emporium. Best weapons (Spread, Chaser) & charms (Smoke Bomb, Coffee) to buy in Cuphead for overcoming bosses.

Porkrind's Emporium is the sole shop in Cuphead where You can spend their hard-earned coins to purchase new weapons, helpful charms, and even helpful hints. Choosing the right items is crucial for overcoming the game's increasingly difficult challenges, so understanding what each item does is paramount.

Porkrind's Wares: An Overview

Located on Inkwell Isle I, Porkrind's Emporium is run by the enigmatic Mr. Porkrind. It's your primary source for acquiring new tools to aid in your quest to collect soul contracts. The shop offers a rotating selection of items, but the core weapons and charms remain consistent throughout the game.

Essential Weapons to Purchase

While Cuphead starts with the Peashooter, several other weapons offer unique advantages:

• Spread: Fires a wide, short-range burst of projectiles. Excellent for dealing high damage up close, especially against larger bosses or groups of enemies.
• Chaser: Fires homing projectiles that track enemies but deal less damage. Ideal for players who struggle with aiming or need to focus on dodging.
• Lobber: Fires slow-moving, arcing projectiles that deal high damage. Effective against stationary or predictable targets, especially from above.
• Charge: Allows players to charge up shots for increased damage. Requires precise timing but can be devastating when mastered.
• Roundabout: Fires projectiles that travel forward and then boomerang back. Offers good coverage and damage potential.

Recommendation: Start with Spread and Chaser. Spread is fantastic for early bosses, and Chaser is invaluable for focusing on dodging while still dealing damage.

Crucial Charms to Acquire

Charms provide passive buffs that can significantly alter your playstyle and survivability:

• Smoke Bomb: Makes your dash invincible, allowing you to pass through enemies and projectiles unharmed. Arguably the most useful charm in the game, essential for many boss fights.
• Coffee: Slowly regenerates your Super Meter over time, allowing for more frequent use of EX Moves and Super Arts.
• Twin Heart: Increases your HP by one point (from 3 to 4 on Simple, 3 to 5 on Regular/Expert) but slightly reduces damage output. Useful for players struggling with survivability.
• Whetstone: Allows you to throw your parry projectile as a primary attack, dealing damage. This is more of a niche charm for specific strategies.
• Heart Ring: (DLC) Grants 1 HP but reduces damage dealt.

Recommendation: Prioritize Smoke Bomb. Once you're comfortable with dodging, Coffee is excellent for aggressive play, and Twin Heart is a good safety net.

Other Purchases

• Hints: Mr. Porkrind also offers hints for a small fee, which can be useful if you're completely stuck on a particular level or boss.

Strategic Purchasing

It's generally advisable to save your coins for the most impactful upgrades. The Peashooter is a capable starting weapon, so focus on acquiring the Smoke Bomb charm and then experiment with weapons like Spread or Chaser based on your playstyle and the challenges you're facing. Don't be afraid to replay levels to farm coins if needed.