Cuphead Beginner’s Guide#

Basic Controls#

In Cuphead, mastering the basics is the first step toward clearing the game. The control scheme is simple on the surface but surprisingly deep, and every button has an irreplaceable role in actual combat.

Keyboard and Controller Controls#

Action	Keyboard	Controller	Notes
Switch weapon	Q or Tab	RB	Swap between your two equipped weapons

Core Technique: Parrying#

Parrying is the single most important technique in the game. When a pink object appears (pink projectiles, enemies with a pink glow, pink balloons, and so on), press jump a second time at the moment of contact (or hit the parry button) to pull off a parry. A successful parry fills one full card of your Super Meter, and you can chain parries across a string of pink objects to build energy fast. Keep in mind that parrying cannot be used infinitely in mid-air — your parry only resets after you touch the ground.

Inkwell Isle Two#

The difficulty starts to climb noticeably here. This island features five bosses and multiple run ’n gun levels, and introduces more complex bullet patterns and phase transitions.

Run ’n Gun Levels#

Run ’n Gun Basics#

Every level hides plenty of coins in corners, high ledges, and secret areas. On your first playthrough, focus on exploring instead of rushing to the exit. Make liberal use of parries on pink objects to build Super Meter, and unleash a Super Art to wipe the screen when enemies start to swarm you.

Coin Locations by Level#

Run ’n gun levels usually contain 3-5 coins. Some sit in plain sight, while others require hidden passages or smashing specific obstacles to reach. In the shop, every weapon and charm costs coins, so collecting all of them is absolutely necessary.

Shop System#

First Purchase Recommendations#

For new players, we recommend buying items in the following order (the full prioritized list appears in the shopping list section below):

Co-op Mode#

Playing in co-op changes the experience significantly: boss HP increases by 50-70%, health is shared between players, and bullet patterns become noticeably more chaotic.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Question	Answer
Best first weapon?	Spread — high close-range damage — works well against most bosses
Smoke Bomb vs Coffee?	Smoke Bomb for beginners — an invincible dash is more valuable than Coffee’s auto-charging meter
Can I beat the game on Simple?	No — Simple difficulty doesn’t award soul contracts — you must clear bosses on Regular to get contracts before you can fight the final boss
Is co-op different from single player?	Boss HP increases by 50-70% — health is shared — bullet patterns get more chaotic
Hardest achievements?	Pacifist (clear the game without killing a single enemy) and all S ranks — both take plenty of practice

Playtime#

Content	Estimated time
Main story clear	10-20 hours
All achievements (incl. DLC)	30-50 hours
S rank on every boss	20-40 hours
Full Expert clear	15-30 hours
All S ranks on Expert	40-80 hours

Recommended Shopping List#

Priority	Item	Price	Why
1	Smoke Bomb	4 coins	Invincible dash — the most important survival item
2	Spread
3	Chaser	4 coins	Auto-aim — lets you focus on dodging
4	Coffee	4 coins	Auto meter recharge — more Super Arts
5	Lobber	4 coins	Arcing shots — hit enemies behind cover
6	Twin Heart	5 coins	+1 HP — a lifesaver for beginners

Weapon Quick Reference#

Playstyle	Recommended weapon	Secondary
Close-range burst	Spread	Chaser
Safe ranged damage	Chaser	Converge
Balanced output	Peashooter	Spread
Plane levels	Chaser	Twist-Up
All-purpose beginner	Spread	Chaser

Key Points by Island#

Island	Key milestone	Buy first	Ready for the next island when
Inkwell Isle One	Beat Cagney Carnation	Smoke Bomb + Spread	All 3 soul contracts collected
Inkwell Isle Two	Beat Djimmi The Great	Chaser + Coffee	All 5 soul contracts collected
Inkwell Isle Three	Beat The Devil	Twin Heart (optional)	All 6 soul contracts collected
Inkwell Isle Four (DLC)	Beat Chef Saltbaker	Astral Cookie	Everything on the island is done

Difficulty Recommendations#

Player type	Recommended difficulty	Why
Complete beginner	Regular	Experience the full game content
Challenge seekers	Regular → Expert	Get comfortable first, then push yourself
Speedrunners	Regular	The most consistent fast clears
Achievement hunters	Regular + Expert	Both difficulties have to be played
DLC-first players	Regular	Finish the base game before starting the DLC

Common Abbreviations#

Abbreviation	Full name	Meaning
EX	Extra	Special attack that consumes 1 card of Super Meter
HP	Health Points	Your life total
DPS	Damage Per Second	Damage output per second
AoE	Area of Effect	Attack that covers an area
KB	Knockback	Pushback effect
PVP	Player VS Player	None — Cuphead is a pure co-op game

Common Beginner Mistakes#

Mistake	What to do instead
Only dodging and never shooting	Fire through gaps in the bullet pattern — offense is the best defense
Ignoring pink objects	Parrying charges your Super Art — it’s a core mechanic
Using the same gun against every boss	Different bosses call for targeted weapon swaps
Skipping charms	Charms provide crucial survival and damage options
Quitting when stuck	Beat other bosses to sharpen your skills, then come back

Beginner progression path: Clear Inkwell Isle One → buy the Coffee charm and the Spread gun → take on Inkwell Isle Two → master your parry rhythm → take on Inkwell Isle Three and King Dice → try Expert difficulty. Each step has a clear goal, which keeps you from bashing your head against a wall out of sheer stubbornness and getting frustrated.