Cuphead Guide and Boss Battle Strategies

Get written and video guides for Cuphead to help you through the difficult bosses and run and gun stages in the game!
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Cuphead released on September 29, 2017 for the Xbox One and PC. This Cuphead guide covers all of our Cuphead content, including boss battles, run and gun stage strategies and all of our perfect and no-hit videos so you can figure out how to defeat bosses and get through those pesky sidescrolling stages. Cuphead is mostly boss battles, so you can also think of this as a hub for all of each Cuphead boss guide as well as our video guides. Every bit of strategy content we have as well as Cuphead PC system requirements can be found in this Cuphead guide.

Recommended Videos

Cuphead Quick Tips

  • You can dash at any height in the air. Use this to cut your jump short or for added maneuverability while in the air to dodge incoming attacks and enemies.
  • Almost anything in the game that’s pink can be parried by pressing the Jump button (A) a second time in the air.
  • Parrying an enemy or projectile not only kills the enemy, but it also gives you a full stock of EX meter to use special moves.
  • It’s generally harder to parry to the left or above, so try to focus on parrying enemies to the right or below you.
  • Items in the shop change every time you purchase something. If you don’t see any items or abilities you want, buy something and it will be replaced with a different item.
  • You abilities earn new abilities by completing Mausoleum levels. There’s at least one Mausoleum (building with columns) in each world.
  • Access the equipment screen from the world map to add new items and abilities to your character.

Cuphead Written Guides

Cuphead Tips and Tricks
Get a boost to your skills with these helpful Cuphead tips and tricks!

Controls and How to Parry
We take a look at the Cuphead controls and teach you how to parry.

Best Weapons and Abilities
We take a closer look at the weapons and abilities you can pick up in the Cuphead shop.

Unlock Black and White Mode and Two-Color Mode
Find out how to unlock all of the secrets hidden in Cuphead.

Baroness Von Bon Bon Boss Guide
Learn how to take down Baroness Von Bon Bon in Sugarland Shimmy.

Floral Fury Boss Guide
Find out how to get a perfect score on the Cagney Carnation in Floral Fury boss battle in Cuphead!

Carnival Kerfuffle Boss Guide
Learn how to beat the Beppi the Clown in Carnival Kerfuffle boss battle in Cuphead.

Cuphead Video Guides

Best Weapons and Abilities
A video covering the best weapons and abilities you can pick up in the shop, located in all three worlds.

Aviary Action Boss Fight (Perfect Run)
A perfect run of the Wally Warbles in Aviary Action boss battle, found in Inkwell Isle Two.

Botanic Panic Boss Fight (Perfect Run)
An A+ grade in the boss battle for The Root Pack in Botanic Panic, found in Inkwell Isle One.

Carnival Kerfuffle Boss Fight (No-Hit Run)
A no-hit run through of the boss battle for Beppi the Clown in Carnival Kerfuffle, found in Inkwell Isle Two.

Clip Joint Calamity Boss Fight (No-Hit Run)
A no-hit run through of the boss battle for Ribby and Croaks in Clip Joint Calamity, found in Inkwell Isle One.

Dr. Kahl’s Robot Boss Fight (Perfect Run)
An A+ grade in the boss battle for Dr. Kahl’s Robot in Junkyard Jive, found in Inkwell Isle Three.

Floral Fury Boss Fight (Perfect Run)
Am A+ grade in the boss battle for Cagney Carnation in Floral Fury, found in Inkwell Isle One.

Forest Follies Playthrough (All Coins)
Find all of the coins in the run and gun stage, Forest Follies, found in Inkwell Isle One.

Funhouse Frazzle Playthrough (All Coins)
Find all of the coins in the run and gun stage, Funhouse Frazzle, found in Inkwell Isle Two.

Honeycomb Herald Boss Fight (Perfect Run)
A perfect run of the Rumor Honeybottoms in Honeycomb Herald boss fight found in Inkwell Isle Three.

Murine Corps Boss Fight (Perfect Run)
A perfect run of the Werner Werman in Murine Corps boss fight found in Inkwell Isle Three.

Pyramid Peril Boss Fight (Perfect Run)
A perfect run of the Djimmi the Great in Pyramid Peril boss battle found in Inkwell Isle Two.

Rugged Ridge Playthrough (All Coins)
Find all of the coins in the run and gun stage, Ruggedt Ridge, found in Inkwell Isle Three.

Ruse of an Ooze Boss Fight (Perfect Run)
A perfect run of the Goopy Le Grande in Ruse of an Ooze boss battle found in Inkwell Isle One.

Sugarland Shimmy Boss Fight (Perfect Run)
A perfect run of the Baroness Von Bon Bon in Sugarland Shimmy boss battle found in Inkwell Isle Two.

Threatenin’ Zeppelin Boss Fight (Perfect Run)
An A+ grade in the boss battle for Hilda Berg in Threatenin’ Zeppelin, found in Inkwell Isle One.

Treetop Trouble Playthrough (All Coins)
Find all of the coins in the run and gun stage, Treetop Trouble, found in Inkwell Isle One.

More coming soon!

Cuphead PC System Requirements

Minimum Requirements

  • OS: Win 7
  • Processor: Intel Core2 Duo E8400 3.0GHz or AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ 3.0GHz or higher
  • Memory: 2 GB RAM
  • Graphics: Geforce 9600 GT or AMD HD 3870 512MB or higher
  • DirectX: Version 9.0
  • Storage: 20 GB available space

Recommended Requirements

  • OS: Win 7
  • Processor: Intel Core i3-3240 3.4GHz or AMD Phenom II X4 40 or higher
  • Memory: 4 GB RAM
  • Graphics: GeForce GT 740 or AMD Radeon R7 250 v2 2GB or higher
  • DirectX: Version 9.0
  • Storage: 20 GB available space

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About the Author

Bryan Dawson

Bryan Dawson has an extensive background in the gaming industry, having worked as a journalist for various publications for nearly 20 years and participating in a multitude of competitive fighting game events. He has authored over a dozen strategy guides for Prima Games, worked as a consultant on numerous gaming-related TV and web shows and was the Operations Manager for the fighting game division of the IGN Pro League.