Cuphead is Studio MDHR's hand inked run and gun built around 19 base game boss fights, six run and gun stages and three mausoleum challenges across three Inkwell Isles and Inkwell Hell. Every frame was drawn and painted by hand in a 1930s cartoon style, with a soundtrack recorded by a live jazz band. You get three hit points, no checkpoints inside a fight, and a letter grade at the end of every level.
Resource management and crafting determine how quickly your power scales. This guide covers what to prioritize, where to farm, and how to avoid wasting resources on the wrong upgrades.
Crafting Priority List
The order you should invest resources:
| Priority | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary weapons | Biggest damage increase per resource spent |
| 2 | Core build gear | Enables your role's key combinations |
| 3 | Defensive upgrades | Survivability for boss fights |
| 4 | Secondary weapons | Situational options for specific content |
| 5 | Consumables | Temporary boosts for hard content |
Resource Farming by Area
Inkwell Isle One
Key resources: Energy Beam super, first coins for Porkrind's Emporium Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Spread upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Inkwell Isle Two
Key resources: Invincibility super, ten more run and gun coins Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Spread upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Inkwell Isle Three
Key resources: Giant Ghost super from Mausoleum III, entry to Inkwell Hell Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Spread upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Inkwell Hell
Key resources: Base game ending, A and S rank targets Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Peashooter max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Inkwell Isle Four
Key resources: Ms. Chalice, three new weapons, three new charms Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Peashooter max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Inkwell Isle One to Inkwell Isle Two)
- Upgrade your starting weapons to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on Spread once accessible
Mid Game (Inkwell Isle Three)
- Push Spread to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Peashooter
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Inkwell Hell to Inkwell Isle Four)
- Max out Peashooter. This is your top priority
- Complete your build's core gear set
- Craft endgame consumables
- Optional: upgrade secondary weapons for variety
Crafting Mistakes to Avoid
- Spreading upgrades across multiple weapons: Focus one weapon to max before diversifying.
- Hoarding materials: Use them. The game provides enough if you farm efficiently.
- Upgrading the wrong gear: Check our builds guide before investing.
- Ignoring Inkwell Isle Three farming: This area has the best resource-to-time ratio in mid-game.
- Crafting consumables too early: Save specialty materials for late-game recipes.
Resource Efficiency Tips
- Parry the first pink object of every fight even when you do not need the card. Building the habit early means you reach five cards before the phase where a Super Art actually saves the run.
- Farm Inkwell Isle Three during mid-game for the best return on time
- Check the walkthrough to know when each resource becomes available
- Match your farming route to your build. Some classes farm faster in certain areas
More Cuphead Guides
- Cuphead Cuphead Overview
- Cuphead Best Builds
- Cuphead Tier List
- Cuphead Walkthrough
- Cuphead Beginner's Guide
- Cuphead Tips & Tricks
- Cuphead Weapons Guide
- Cuphead Combat Guide
- Cuphead Boss Guide
- Cuphead Maps & Locations
- Cuphead Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Cuphead, check out these related guides:
- Helldivers 2 Crafting Guide: action game with similar mechanics
- Black Myth: Wukong Crafting Guide: action game with similar mechanics
- Monster Hunter Wilds Crafting Guide: action game with similar mechanics
